According to ninth grade counselor Gabriela Murphy, the Ignite program is designed to help the freshman make a smoother transition from middle school to high school. Upperclassmen meet with the a group of five freshman and give activities aimed to help them learn how to make choices, deal with situations and make better grades. Last year was the first that the program was integrated in the school.

“There was marked improvement,” Murphy said. “We had fewer students sent to alternative and had fewer students failing.”

Even mentor sophomore Gianna Johnson has seen the effects of the program and the improvements made in the freshmen.

“I have seen a great difference with my group of freshmen this year,”  Johnson said. ”They’ve really become more mature over the past couple of months.”

The lessons taught by the mentors have helped to improve the freshmen’s grades and has encouraged them to seek extra help, according to mentor sophomore QuinTasia Jackson.

“Since we taught the STAAR lesson [which is a method of learning how to make better grades] my freshmen have brought their grades up tremendously,” Jackson said. “They actually started doing their howmework and going to tutoring.”

According to Murphy, the program has had a positive impact for the freshman thanks to the mentors.

“This year we’ve had great mentors who are serious about the lessons they do with the freshmen, ” Murphy said. “That has created a positive impact with the ninth graders this year.”

In order to spark interest, Kay recruited some freshman volunteers to help work the Academic Decathlon meet LHS hosted.

“We had 41 student volunteers working the meet, the majority being freshmen,” Kay said. “It was to allow them to see how the competition works.”

By recruiting the members as freshman, Kay hopes to slowly build a team and as each new class of freshman come in, continue to recruit in order to replace the graduating seniors.

“I want to start a young fresh team that could work their way up together,” Kay said. “This potentially gives them three years to compete in Aca-Dec.”

After seeing the need so an additional academic outlet besides UIL Academics, Kay hops to revive the Aca-Dec program for those who may not necessarily  be interested in science.

“I saw some students who were searching for another academic outlet to get into that isn’t science based,” Kay said. “Aca-Dec allows for a wide variety of academic interest.”

According to Kay, Academic Decathlon helps a student to learn and gain knowledge in a variety of subjects and gain life skills that are necessary for success.

“We’re trying to cultivate well rounded individuals that move into adult hood and independence,” Kay said.

Related Story: LHS Should be Embarrassed 

“For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to this country,” said Obama in the opening paragraph of the speech. “Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken.”

From that high note attention was soon turned to the economic collapse, and what could be done to salvage the poor state of the country. The president spoke enthusiastically about the economy, and insisted that the state of the Union is growing stronger, not weaker.

His plan for the rebuilding of Wall Street drew applause from Democrats, but Republicans were hesitant to clap as Obama praised the auto bailouts that Republicans have come to resent. Obama called for more regulation of business that left a bad taste in the mouths of the more conservative congressmen. His focus on bringing jobs back to America, however, brought praise from both sides of the aisle as he spoke about new tax reforms for citizens and companies.

“My message is simple,” said Obama. “It’s time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me those tax reforms, and I’ll sign them right away.”

Obama continued to emphasize the need for domestic industrial growth, as well as creating more American jobs, and used the need of preparing Americans for these new jobs as a segue into educational reforms. He spoke about the importance of teachers and how a good teacher can change a child’s life.

“Instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones,” said Obama. “In return, grant schools flexibility: To teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.”

He went on to speak on tuition and how college could be made less expensive with cooperation between the states, students and colleges. From there the president tackled another tough political topic – illegal immigration.

While Obama has supported defending the border and keeping it locked down, Republicans believe his administration has been too lax on illegal immigrants who have made it into the U.S. already. Obama defended his policies and called for new immigration reform that would allow hardworking illegal aliens to earn their citizenship in the U.S.

“Let’s at least agree to stop expelling young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, and defend this country,” he said. “Send me a law that gives them a chance to earn their citizenship, I will sign it right away.”

Continuing on the theme of job creation, Obama encouraged the development of clean energy and wasting less money by developing the resources America already has. He laid out plans to lower spending of manufacturing plants that produce energy by 100 billion dollars. He also talked about the need to drill for oil and natural gas in America, instead of depending on foreign oil from Middle Eastern countries.

Along with development of new industries, Obama stressed a need to speed up construction projects that would boost the economy by creating thousands of jobs for Americans.

“During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the businesses who still use them today,” he said, continuing on to detail his plan for building. “In the next few weeks, I will sign an Executive Order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects.”

President Obama talked about protecting the environment but reducing outdated and foolish regulations that hinder businesses and industries. But he made it very clear that he would not back down from regulations that would keep another oil spill, such as the incident with BP oil two years ago, from happening again.

Industrial companies would not be the only ones faced with new regulations, however, and Obama heavily emphasized that Wall Street would not play by its own rules, and that it would face new regulations and restrictions that would keep its behavior in check. This drew great ovation from Democrats but again left Republicans, who worry that the government will take too much control over the business sector, sitting in their seats.

Obama called for more responsibility from the financial sector, and unveiled the creation of a Financial Crimes Unit with the task of hunting down fraud and crimes committed by financial firms. Along with the new unit he wants new penalties and legislation to punish firms that commit fraud and steal people’s money.

“We will also establish a Financial Crimes Unit of highly trained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect people’s investments,” said Obama. “This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.”

Speaking heavily on responsibility, Obama waded into rough waters with his goals and ideas on class taxation. Obama and the Democratic congressmen have more than once called for the rich to pay a higher percentage of taxes than the middle and lower classes. This stance has repeatedly angered Republicans, who believe the rich shouldn’t be forced to bear the nation’s  financial burdens on their own.

“Tax reform should follow the Buffet rule: if you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent on taxes,” said Obama, followed by an ovation from the Democratic congressmen.

Turning from the economic woes, Obama focused on a critical cornerstone of American life and politics – the military. He spread out his plans to strengthen the country’s military while cutting dollars spent on its maintenance, and brought applause from both Republicans and Democrats over the issue.

“I have proposed a new defense strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget,” he said. “ To stay one step ahead of our adversaries, I have already sent this Congress legislation that will secure our country from the growing danger of cyber-threats.”

Obama used the issue of the military to bring the speech back to where he started, and emphasized the importance of Americans working together and watching each others’ backs in these desperate times. As the 2012 election year drudges on, Obama’s plans hinge on the voters as they will weigh this speech and decide if he should have his way in the presidential election this November.

“If you take the Drivers Education Class here at school instead of online classes,” Instructor Guyla Bryan said, “the State offers a 10 percent discount off students insurance every year for staying on their parents’ insurance throughout college.”

Bryan said their are mutlitple requirements for the drivers education class:

•V.O.E. form that students can pick up from the front office
•Not having more than four absences in a nine-week class or more than eight in an 18-week class in any one class
•Be at least 15 years of age
• Have at least one parent or legal guardian who has had a Texas Drivers License for the last three years with insurance and with no D.W.I.
•For students to be eligible to take the test to receive a Texas Drivers License students have to be 16 years of age and have driven for at least 6 months.
•If students are already 18, a six-hour class is available one Saturday each month.

Both the girl’s and boy’s teams placed first overall. Swim Coach Andy Stewart said he was very proud and pleased with the team’s efforts and victories.

“The team performed well,” Stewart said. “They were motivated and aggressive for the entire meet.”

Lufkin placed first  in 20 different events. Juniors Jason Grosman and Julian Williams were two of four swimmers whose relay placed first in the 400-yard Freestyle event.

“Winning first felt great,” Williams exclaimed. “It was like eating frosted flakes.”

Grosman also was satisfied with the team’s performance and his own – first place in the 400-yard Freestyle relay and in the 500-yard Freestyle individual.

“The entire team did great, and it’s cool seeing everyone do well because of our hard work,” Grosman said.

Coach Stewart mentioned that around this time of the season the swimmers begin to feel tired, but that was not the case during last week’s meet.

“The meet was ran very quickly, so there wasn’t a lot of time to rest between events, and we were dominating pretty much every event,” Stewart said. “Under circumstances like these, some teams have a hard time maintaining focus and intensity. We focused beyond all that and had quite a few best times.”

Besides more than a dozen first place victiories and  quite a few best times, another achievement was accomplished. Junior Sophia Humphreys broke another Lufkin record at the meet in the 100-yard breaststroke event.

“Two down, two to go, well for this year,” Humphreys said. “My goal for next year is to embellsih the record board with my name. And ovverall, the team did really well and winning first in majority of the events is always a great feeling.”

Journalism teacher and student newspaper sponser Mike Zimmerman continues a fundraising venture he began several years ago.

“A few years ago,” he said, “I noticed how many large organizationswere selling candy, and other items to raise funds and decided we should do something too.”

Zimmerman had done some prior research and discovered that that there wasn’t a single group selling hard candy, specifically Jolly-Rancher suckers.

“I thought that this would be a good choice because they don’t melt like chocolate and students don’t have to take pre-orders,” Zimmerman said. “Also, there are only 50 suckers in a box and that makes it much easier for students to carry and less money to keep up with.”

But that changed this year when students in the journalism classes and newspaper classes started selling a new type of sucker that comes in larger boxes of 100 suckers each.

“We thought we would test the waters and see how the new suckers would sell because Neches Wholesales (the retailer of the suckers) had received the wrong delivery from their supplier,” Zimmerman said. “And as soon as students went to the halls, started selling faster than the traditional suckers.”

The new suckers have a fruit chew in the center of the lollipops, which sophomore Kasey Chaves said has helped her to sell more suckers.

“The grape and cherry flavors sell the best,” Chaves said. “I mostly sell to random people, but I do have some regular customers.”

Chaves has been trying to outsell last year’s and all-time top seller junior Daisy Rojas who sold 900 suckers last year within a two-week selling window.

“I like the competition and I am determined to win,” said Rojas.

The sale ends this Friday.

As of now, Busch has no ride for next year and he is unsure if he will earn another ride next year.

Kurt Busch has been with Penske Racing since 2006 and signed a contract for six years.  Now those six years have come to pass and Busch has left the 22 car.

Busch is positive about this change, however, and he had a pause for thought over the Thanksgiving break.  He wants to bring the fun back in NASCAR, and he thinks leaving the team would be a good idea.

Meanwhile Penske Racing has been looking for a new driver to replace the 22 car.  They are scratching their heads with this decision.

Although Kurt has no ride, he is still positive about the future and still has a pep in his step.

Busch realized  he needed a  ”fresh start.”  A new team will help him out in that ordeal, but he is uncertain what his next step after parting with Penske will be.

“The students on the staff have really been energized this year about all the new additions in the 2012 yearbook,” Adviser Tim Krause said. “The staff and I think the book is always great and this one will be even greater.”

The book will feature more than 500 pages plus an increase in the number of color pages as well as a new feature that allows access to digital content.

“With the additional content available through the QR (Quick Response) Codes, it is an even greater deal plus getting a free copy on your iPad is two books for the price of one,” Krause said.

These codes will link to video content and photo slideshows that will provide even more coverage of the many activities involving the student body at LHS.

“Check out our teaser video and see if you don’t agree,” Krause said.

Students may order online at Balfour.com by selecting the yearbook icon and choose Lufkin High School. Then follow the instructions for the rest of the process. Students can also enter what name they would like to be printed on the cover of the 2012 FANG.

“Getting to spend time with family and discussing what we’re thankful for. It’s a great way to spend quality time together,” says Levi Forsythe .

“Dressing, turkeys, pumpkin pie, and peach cobbler,” are Brittney Pearson’s favorite foods for the Thanksgiving feast.

But that is not what Thanksgiving is all about. It’s a holiday that is celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada, and is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

It all started off with a group of English Protestants who wanted religious freedom from the tyrant rule of England who had banned the protestant religion due to a disagreement between him and and the Church of England.

They traveled to America seeking freedom and expecting an easy journey. They faced many hardships the first year. It was a long bitter winter, and the Europeans did not know how to adapt.

Many died from starvation and inadequate housing condition. They finally figured out how to survive and get by all thanks to the natives, for teaching them, and it included a lot of hunting.

While the pilgrims were hunting, the Wampanoag Indians heard the shots and the Wampanoag’s took the shot as the start of a war. The leader, Massasoit, went with 90 of his men to see if the rumor was true and was relieved when they were told that the pilgrims were just hunting.

So to celebrate, they hunted for three whole days and gathered everything needed to create a meal and they all at down and had what we call now Thanksgiving.

“The reception was to recognize the one percent of seniors that made a high score on the PSAT they took October in their junior year,”  Superintendent Roy Knight said.  ”We have the largest student per capita to score this high than any other school in the region.  So we recognize how special this is.”

And the importance does not go unnoticed by the students, who were proud to have their hard work recognized.

“I studied night and day, so I’m really happy to have been finally recognized for that,”  senior William Cook said.

For some of the students’ parents, this honor was in fact something they had already foreseen.

“I am very proud of my son,”  said Darren Bennett, father of National Achievement Outstanding Participant Erik Bennett.  ”I expected him to do well.  He’s always been a very good student.”

The honor also created a sense of optimism for the students and how the award will help them achieve their dreams.

“I’m excited about how the award will help me toward college and scholarships,”  National Hispanic Scholar and Merit Scholar Lauren Hoepfner said.

The following students were recognized:

National Merit Scholars:

• William Cook
• Daniel Feld
• Lauren Hoepfner
• Wilson Vier
• Ruth Watkins