ViewerFridayFebruary 26

2016

Volume 63Issue 8

InThis

Issue

SportsVariety Online

photo by Eva HoffmanBriana Cline, 10, and Nate Fredrickson, 12, model their North Star Co. apparel.

While Mounds View offers a variety of business-oriented courses, “How to Run a Company 101” isn’t one of them.

However, this hasn’t stopped many Mounds View stu-dents from starting their own businesses.

This past December, sophomores Max Janes, Matthew Meloch, Ty Koehn and Levi Scott started their own clothing line, North Star Co. to provide name brand styles at an afford-able price.

“Max and I were talking about how much clothes like Patagonia, The North Face and Vineyard Vines cost, and we wanted to help people with that problem,” said Meloch.

North Star Co.’s $20 long sleeve shirts feature the company logo—white mountains encircled by the company name—and are available in black, gray and white. Customers can order shirts by direct messaging the company at

@North_StarCo on Twitter.The boys of North Star Co. are not the only ones at

Mounds View who have started their own company. Some other student-run businesses include Galleb and Arima.

Created by seniors Furqan Syed, Hassan Lubega and Shihab Ahmed, Galleb is a company dedicated to designing websites and apps.

“I have been creating companies for my entire high school career, but I’ve always wanted to create a company in an industry that I’m super passionate about,” said Syed. “[That’s] why I pursued coding and computer science,” said Syed.

While Galleb has only been in business for about a month, the company has already won the Congressional App Challenge for one of its iOS apps, “Learning Spanish.”

Lastly, Arima, founded by Kofo Mustapha, 11, is a small company that sells embroidered patches, custom pins and but-tons, necklaces and stickers.

“When I created Arima, I was 14, and I just felt that this would be a great way for me to share what I love doing,” said Mustapha. “I have always loved making handmade gifts for friends, and [I also] felt that this would be a great way for me to make money since I was too young for a job.”

Regardless of their product, many founders of student-run businesses strive to learn real-world skills.

“We hope to use the opportunity of entrepreneurship to learn the soft skills that high school can’t always teach like communication, negotiation, doing work on a self-initiated basis,” said Syed.

OscarPredictions

Student companies find success

For more than a century, American high schools have named valedictorians, typically based on who has the highest GPA and who is the “best representative” of the graduating class. That role, however, may soon become a relic of the past.

Mounds View has never recognized a valedictorian, and many peer schools are stopping the practice as well. Of the metro-area schools researched, only Roseville Area High School still names a valedictorian.

“Students are under a great deal of pres-sure, and if a school’s true meaning is about learning, there is no need to rank and sort children,” said Principal Jeffery Ridlehoover.

Until 2009-2010, Mounds View pub-lished class rank and recognized the top ten graduates, based on GPA, at graduation.

Class rank was removed with the col-lege application process in mind.

“Even with a 3.2 GPA, a student could be number 200 out of 400 students,” said Scott Wiens, dean of post-secondary ser-vices. “Not publishing class rank actually helps our students.”

In fact, in 2009, only three-tenths of a point separated the top student from the fortieth ranked student.

Other high schools such as Wayzata and Eden Prairie have also dropped class ranking and valedictorian. As more and more high schools around the country discontinue class ranking, a growing number of colleges are no longer asking for it.

“There are still some schools, such as selective Ivy Leagues, that request an indi-vidual ranking in their application process, but I haven’t been asked for that in seven or eight years,” said Ridlehoover.

Often citing a holistic approach, many of these schools have also stated efforts to move beyond the GPA.

Instead of honoring a valedictorian or publishing class rank, Mounds View presents the Principal’s Award and recognizes stu-dents graduating with Honors, High Honors or Highest Honors. Whereas the last three depend on GPA, the Principal’s Award is directly chosen by Ridlehoover.

“I don’t just look at academics. I choose someone who’s in extracurriculars, involved in the community, and has the intangible qualities of being a good person,” said Ridle-hoover.

While this year’s senior class was able to request adding class rank to their tran-script, this practice will be discontinued next year.

Top of the class

by Kallie Slotvigstaff reporter

by Kailey Newcomestaff reporter

Schools expand honors to top ten percent

BoysHockey

IceCastles

infographic by Eva Hoffman

Mounds View has never had a valedictorian and just recently stopped publishing class rank due to the high level of student achievement.

Here are a few statistics to show why Mounds View doesn’t have a valedictorian or class rank.

Valedictoriana student, typically having the highest academic achievements of the class

The Principal’s Awardan award chosen by the principal that looks holistically at the chosen student

Approximately

of the 2016 senior class has

over a 4.0 GPA which equates to

students who receive highest honors

In 2009, only

of a point separated the top student from

the 40th ranked student

GPA graduate with honors

GPA graduate with high honors

GPA graduate with highest honors

<1.751.75-1.99

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2.0-2.242.25-2.49

2.5-2.742.75-2.99

3.0-3.243.25-3.49

3.5-3.743.75-3.99

>4.0

Num

ber o

f Stu

dent

s

5

1619 18

32

40 41

5752

51

43

3.333

3.667

4.000

Students who earn a...Class of 2015 GPA distribution

10%

38

3/10

2 editorials Friday, February 26, 2016

top 10

109

87

65

43

21

Dance moves for Silverbelle

2015-2016Viewer EditorsEditor-in-Chief Emily Ruan

Managing Editor - Copy Persis Ke

Managing Editor - Design Eva Hoffman

ONLINE Managing Editor Alex Jiang

Business ManagerJordan Counihan

NewsDaniel Yong

EditorialsKevin Sabeti-OseidFurqan Syed

FeaturesEmily MosesKatrina Renacia

SpreadSamuel KwongKatie Karjalahti

VarietyAaron Voiovich

ReviewsMatthew Cooper

SportsJordan CounihanPersis Ke

GalleryAmber Zhao

PhotographersEva Hoffman, Julia Sacay

CartoonistClare Carroll

Adviser Martha Rush

The Viewer is published by the student editors at:

Mounds View High School1900 Lake Valentine Road

Arden Hills, Minnesota

Sauk Centre Publishing

Viewer Mission Statement1. To publish news, information and opinion articles for and about student, faculty and administration activities, interests and policies. 2. To maintain high ethical standards with regard to fairness, personal and legal rights, responsibilities and accuracy.3. To provide a forum for free and responsible expression of student opinion and present well-balanced, locally researched coverage of issues of broader student interest.4. To strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspect of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision.5. To welcome diversity and increase the scope and depth of our coverage in order to heighten mutual understanding and awareness throughout our entire school community. Articles and letters to the editor appearing on the editorials pages represent solely the opinions of the writers and do not represent in any way the viewpoint of Viewer, our advertisers, Mounds View High School or its staff.The editors of the Viewer welcome and encourage the publication of all viewpoints.

StaffJeman Park, Rigney Cunningham, Ben Davis, Jackie Gaworski, Marley Jones, Sunny Lim, Jack McCoy, Kailey Newcome, Jake Rosenow, Kallie Slotvig, Kenan Smith, Ben Yoch

From the dawn of time, entrepre-neurs have driven humanity forward. Immortalized inventors such as Thom-as Edison, John D. Rockefeller and Bill Gates were not only innovators, but also entrepreneurs who were able to transform their ideas into reality.

Currently, there is a large miscon-ception that age is a prerequisite for pursuing entrepreneurship. In real-ity, entrepreneurship is fostered by creativity, a trait that teenagers already have. There are many successful young entrepreneurs, and more high school students should pursue their own ventures.

Entrepreneurship is an incredible opportunity for teens and college stu-dents of all ages to get some hands-on experience and learn critical problem-solving skills.

Michael Stitsworth, former Associate Dean at the University of Chicago and senior advisor to venture capital start-up firm Vastago Ven-

tures, said, “Being part of a start-up is a great way to see if you’re cut out for the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur—it’s sort of a way to try out a version of your future self with-out taking too much risk. I’ve found that the best young entrepreneurs are those who see patterns in situations and opportunities, while others look at the same thing and see only chaos.”

There are a lot of opportunities for teenagers to get the resources needed to make a company. For example, popular entrepreneur shows like Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den have featured and funded many young entrepreneurs. David Karp, founder of Tumblr, began pursuing his entrepre-neurial passions as a teenager, and was guided by experienced mentors on his journey. On May 2013, Yahoo purchased Tumblr at an evaluation of $1.1 billion, rendering David Karp a millionaire at the age of just 26.

Furthermore, entrepreneurship

is one of the most relevant tools in developing skills necessary for wide varieties of future employment.

“Most people will experience total career changes a half dozen times or more… In the very near term, almost every career and job will have an entrepreneurial dimension. Get-ting experience in a start-up while you’re young prepares you to examine and solve problems later on from an entrepreneurial perspective,” said Stitsworth.

The golden age of entrepreneur-ship is often unknown to those resid-ing within that age. Students should pursue their own problem-oriented so-lutions to gain real-world experience and attempt to affect the world in their own way. By maximizing the use of their golden age, high school and col-lege students possess the opportunity to defy societal norms and spell out their own legacies across the globe.

The golden age of entrepreneurshipHigh school could be the best time to start a company

photo illustration by Eva Hoffman

Pop itLock it

Polka dot itCountry-fy it

Hip hop it

Move sideto side

Stick it

Put your hawk in the sky

Jump to the left

Glide

With the Democratic race gaining steam, media outlets have portrayed Hillary Clinton as the inevitable winner of the nomination. While Clinton is lauded as a progressive, we must look at the ways she’s sold out to banks, oppressed people of color, and easily changed her stances to follow the popular view. Democrats should look for other candidates like Bernie Sanders if they want to elect a sincere candidate in November.

Recently, Sanders has gained publicity with his political mantra of fighting for economic equality. Clinton tried to follow suit by portraying herself as a president who would tear down big banks. In an op-ed she wrote last year, she stated, “As president, I would not only veto any legislation that would weaken financial reform, but I would also fight for tough new rules, stronger enforcement and more accountability.”

These statements are hypocritical for a candi-date who, along with her husband, earned over $7.7

million in speaker fees from banks like Goldman Sachs. In 2008, Clinton voted for the Troubled As-set Relief Program, which authorized the govern-ment to spend $700 million to bail out big banks. Her ties to Wall Street reveal her to be a complete hypocrite when it comes to the issue of oppressive capitalism.

Some claim that the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) PAC endorsement of Clinton dem-onstrates that she is the only sincere advocate for black people. In reality, the CBC’s endorsement doesn’t truly reflect any leadership for expanding rights for people of color. In fact, CBC member Keith Ellison tweeted that the decision to endorse Clinton was never even voted on. It’s also important to note that Hillary Clinton supported Barry Gold-water in the 1964 presidential election, a candidate who voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In contrast to Clinton, Bernie Sanders has actu-ally been fighting for black rights. Along with his focus today on issues like Black Lives Matter and institutional oppression, Sanders has been chal-

lenging racism since college. When he was aware that his university was refusing to rent off-campus buildings to black people, Sanders helped lead a sit-in at the administration building that prompted the university president to form a commission to study the school’s housing policies.

It is also important to take note of the Clintons’ lobbying to expand the war on drugs and mass incarceration, two things that systemically oppress people of color. These are policies that continue today, sometimes called the New Jim Crow. They have led to people of color being disproportionately arrested for drug use while white people, who have statistically been proven to use at similar amounts, are often only given probation.

With all of these flaws in consideration, it’s clear that Clinton isn’t the hero she is portrayed to be. If the Democratic Party wants to truly elect a nominee with experience for combating social prob-lems, they must question if Hillary Clinton truly has the presidential qualities to do it.

editorials 3Friday, February 26, 2016

The United States has a long history of con-troversial presidential elections, but this election has given a whole new meaning to controversy. Well-known businessman Donald Trump, currently the leading Republican candidate, has established a reputation as an outspoken bully.

Choosing Trump as the Republican nominee will only lead to bigger problems and disharmony within the Republican party and the American popu-lation. Republicans must look for alternative options like Ohio Governor John Kasich if they hope to nominate a viable presidential candidate.

In contrast to Kasich, who has promoted him-self as a positive candidate, Trump has repeatedly abused the media spotlight he’s received by making disparaging comments about fellow opponents. For example, rather than criticizing Republican politi-cian Carly Fiorina’s political views, Trump targeted her appearance.

“Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that?” he asked.

Trump’s frequent outbursts are not only unpro-fessional, but also provide fuel for his opponents, weakening the Republican cause. For example, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was able to easily use Trump’s comments about illegal immigrants to mock him.

“Somebody like a Trump comes along and says: ‘I know the answers! The answer is that all of the Mexicans, they’re criminals and rapists. We gotta hate the Mexicans, those are your enemies. We hate all the Muslims, because all the Muslims are terror-ists’,” said Sanders.

Trump’s rhetoric also lacks common sense. He has argued in favor of building a wall on the Mexican-American border. This unreasonable plan wouldn’t even fix the immigration problem. In the past, walls such as the Berlin Wall failed to prevent people from crossing. Even if the proposed wall could stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the

U.S., it wouldn’t solve the problems that arise from the many illegal immigrants already living in the country.

In contrast, Kasich is a candidate that has proved to be moderate and experienced. His experi-ence as the Ohio governor for over six years and as senator for four years has given him the skills to govern a large group of people. Kasich also dem-onstrated leadership by opposing a budget proposal and and refusing a pay raise when he was a senator.

When Trump first declared his intent to run for president, many saw his campaign as a joke. However, after winning the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries by a landslide— receiving 35 percent of total votes in New Hampshire and 32.5 percent in South Carolina—there is no doubt that Trump’s campaign is on the path to victory.

If voters don’t quickly switch to a moderate candidate like John Kasich, the Republican party may be forced to support an unfit nominee.

Top Candidates Disappoint

by Kevin Sabeti-Oseid and Furqan Syededitorials editors

by Jake Rosenowstaff reporter

Clinton is not the answer

According to NBC News, Donald Trump is dominating national polls for the Republican party with more than 38 percent of the vote. For the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton is easily surpassing Bernie Sanders in total delegates after a win in Nevada. Now that Trump and Clinton have clearly established themselves as the frontrunners of their parties, the question remains: Do

these candidates have the qualities necessary to lead this nation?

Trump must be stopped

cartoon by Clare Carroll

4 features friday, february 26, 2016

Taking a break from social media

As social media becomes a larger part of students’ lives, more people are starting to see the benefits of unplugging, at least temporarily.

Over the last few years, English teacher Steve Morrissette has given his students an optional assign-ment to show them the benefits of unplugging from social media. Students choose whether or not to elimi-nate a major technology in their lives for a week.

After a week, students write a reflection on the experience and what they learned from it. “We are seemingly consumed by technology to augment our relationships and school, as a means to escape. That’s a reason why we give it to students,” said Morrissette.

The main goal of his optional assignment isn’t to end the use of technology but to show how influential it is in student’s lives. “A way to see how influential something is is to take [it away],” Morrissette said.

As part of the assignment, Erin Renshaw, 12, deleted her phone’s Snapchat app. “It was nice to have less notifications coming in on my phone for that week… I was able to concentrate on other more important things,” she said. “Instead of being on my phone, I got to spend time reading more books.”

As Renshaw experienced, Morrissette believes that social media has become a serious distraction that has potentially harmful effects.

“There is lots of talk about students’ mental health and homework,” he said. “I think a large part of this is students aren’t able to get things done because [social media] has become a distraction.”

Along with Morrissette and Renshaw, Principal Jeffery Ridlehoover strongly believes in the benefits of unplugging from social media from time to time. “It’s become addictive,” he said. “It’s important for all people to live in the real world.”

While Ridlehoover considers unplugging to be very beneficial, other people like Spencer Tuominen, 10, believes that it is only necessary sometimes.

“Social media is good for entertainment and con-nection to others,” said Tuominen. “But, it’s better to talk in person because then you can add depth and emotion to the conversation.”

Like Tuominen, Renshaw, also believes in the im-portance of unplugging. “I’m a firm believer of living in the moment,” she said. “I don’t think that people could enjoy the present that much if they’re just too busy on their phones.”

by Ben Yoch staff reporter

Señora Foss looks forward to jubilaciónSpanish teacher Gloria Foss has spent the last

32 years living her dream. But like all dreams, it is coming to an end. At the end of this year, Foss will be retiring.

Even as a teenager, Foss always knew what she wanted to be in the future. “I always wanted to be a teacher, even when I was young,” she said. “I loved school, I loved teaching, and I always had a lot of ideas.”

While Foss was originally a social studies major at Concordia College, she switched her major to Span-ish after studying in Spain. “Initially, I didn’t like the idea of teaching Spanish,” she said. “But I was always in love with the idea of teaching, and I was ready to teach just about anything.”

After graduating from college, Foss spent a year working for Brown Photos and Thermoking before landing a teaching position in the district.

Foss taught at Irondale for her first two years of teaching, before coming to Mounds View. She taught mostly Spanish and one English class.

According to Foss, teaching has been a perfect fit. “I love everything about being a teacher. I love correcting… I love trying to make my students un-derstand the concept behind things,” she said. “I love being with kids every day because it makes me laugh all day long and I especially love bossing [students] around.”

Although she loves her job, it hasn’t always been easy. “My first year of teaching was really hard. I was teaching one class of English to a rough crowd in Irondale… and I was super pregnant,” she said. “It was just really hard to be in a brand-new place and not be so physically comfortable at that point.”

Daily interaction with students has put her pa-tience to the test. “I have had a couple students who are super negative thinkers, and some of them think that it’s my job to make them learn,” said Foss. “But the truth is, it’s my job to teach, and the student’s job to learn.”

Despite its downsides, teaching is full of perks. Throughout her three decades of teaching, Foss has taught thousands of students. “All of my students have impacted my life in their own little ways… by the way they think, and by the way that they deal with their life

and problems,” she said. “It helps me understand not only what’s going on in school but in the society as well, as far as teenagers are concerned.”

Highlights of Foss’s career includes going on summer trips to Spain and Costa Rica with her stu-dents, winning Winter Carnival Royalty, and being recognized in the girls basketball teacher appreciation ceremony.

“I appreciate my students as much as they appre-ciate me, so whenever a student invites me to an event, I normally try to go,” she said. “I go to all the theater plays and Cultural Explosions, and I’ve also been to a few sports games.”

Though she’s excited to retire, Foss admits that she will definitely miss some aspects of teaching. “I’m gonna miss the kids a lot. They’re very interesting and they make me happy,” she said.

As she looks toward retirement, Foss is excited about her future opportunities. “I’m going to do a lot of things. I’m going to maybe publish some children’s books and do lots of art,” she said. “I’m going to sleep late every single day and do a lot of traveling… and maybe be a private investigator.”

by Katrina Renacia features editor

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

illustration by Eva Hoffman

It’s 4 a.m. and they’re heading out to make breakfast at Simpson Housing Services in Minneapolis. This isn’t a recommended Volunteer Club, Diversity Council, or Nation-al Honor Society activity—it’s simply Student Council gifting its time.

For Student Council Co-President Henry Alexander, 12, volunteering at Simpson back in 2013 left a lasting impression.

“It’s an experience that has stuck with me since—it was very powerful,” said Alexander. “I didn’t really know the people on Council well at that time. But after, even when I saw them in the hallway—we had a very shared experience.”

Dances, though important and appreci-ated, are surface-level Student Council work. Volunteering, fundraising for charities and representing the voices of the student body to administration are where presidents Alexander and Grant Delaune, 12, spend most of their time.

“When we ran, both Grant and I saw a huge opportunity,” said Alexander. “The responsibilities in place are very generic: do things to help the school and the community. We thought there was a lot we could do with community service and the resources we have. The goal was to move beyond the reputation of party planners.”

By increasing communication and mak-ing themselves as approachable as possible, Alexander and Delaune hope to foster their connection with the student body and shed light on what it really means to be a part of Student Council.

“[We have hopes of] finding ways where [students] can work towards something they’re passionate about,” said Alexander. “Maybe it’s Council just organizing an event where students of the school can work together to solve certain issues. Maybe it’s having forums with administration to open those doors. It’s about finding ways to work with [students] rather than just listening to them and carrying out their suggestions.”

In addition, Alexander and Delaune hope to improve Council from within: they’re planning a project geared towards mentoring middle school Student Council members.

“Both of us did middle school student council and can attest to how in middle school… compared to high school, you really don’t have any responsibilities or roles,” said Delaune.

“[In high school] we actually have a bud-get, a lot more freedom, and more opportunity to take leadership,” said Alexander. “There are a lot of kids in Student Council who see it for what it is and end up dropping out. We want to make sure that we help in the process of developing great leaders,” he said.

The presidents’ job has been made chal-lenging by the constant transition that the Council and school have undergone in recent years. Their previous adviser, Shannon Bel-land, left in 2014, and social studies teacher Jon Zetzman took the position.

“Last year, and even this year, council unity has dropped a little bit,” said Delaune. “That’s something Henry and I have tried to foster again, that sense of community. But now that Zetzman’s settling in, I think we’re on a good path.”

The yearly change in presidents has caused Council’s dynamic to shift consider-ably. Even so, Alexander and Delaune believe they have brought much needed diversity to council.

“[Now] there are people coming from different groups,” said Alexander. “Council is supposed to be representative of the students and so it should represent the views of all the students. I think we’re going in a direction where that is more pronounced.”

In hopes of easing the transition into the 2016-2017 school year, the presidents are actively involving future leaders in their deci-sions.

“It’s about saying, ‘This is going to be your ship in a few months. How can we move it in a way that you can take this forward and build it in a way that’s not starting from ground zero every year?’” said Alexander.

In the end, Alexander and Delaune want to ensure a positive future for members of the organization and the community that it serves.

“That’s what all the groups in the school are about—we cultivate the culture of Mounds View,” said Alexander. “The goal for the student council is to act as a leader in that community... and help [students] carry out their high school experience.”

by Emily Moses features editor

photo and graphic by Eva Hoffman

LEADERS EMBRACE VISION

Student Council: behind the festivities and fundraisers

features 5Friday, fEBRUARY 26, 2016

by Jack McCoystaff reporter

While Student Council actively engages in com-munity, their most well-known responsibility is putting on school dances.

Two weeks prior to a dance, like this weekend’s Silverbelle, a lot has to come together. From reserving gym space to design planning and actual construction, Student Council spends countless late nights making sure dances run smoothly.

“One year we did a ‘Night in Paris’ theme,” said Student Council Co-President Henry Alexander, 12. “Joe Caughey (12) and I spent three days after school making this huge Eiffel Tower out of cardboard.”

This hefty workload isn’t unusual. “I know during Homecoming week, I only got four hours of sleep each night,” said Alexander. “Coffee was essential.”

According to Alexander, though each dance re-quires the same basic planning, Council members still find ways to make them unique.

“Creativity fluctuates, but we have a lot of great people that really take ownership for the events,” he said. “Even if it’s the exact same dance as last year, there are always going to be different things to do.”

Though the dances require a great deal of work, Student Council members and presidents alike feel

lucky they’re allowed to host so many. “When you look at dances, [most] other schools

have only one,” said Delaune. “The fact that we are allowed to have six not only reflects on the council but equally on the student body. It’s awesome that we have the ability to do this.”

Over the past few years, Council has worked to increase dance attendance; according to adviser Jon Zetzman, over half the student body went to the Homecoming dance this year, compared to about forty percent of students in 2014.

A lot of this success is attributed to the hard work that both the presidents and council members contrib-ute. At weekly Wednesday morning meetings, Council members discuss what changes they want to make to the school and plan events like food drives, dances and spirit weeks.

“It’s a ton of fun, but also hard work,” said longstanding member Sam Lerdahl, 11. “We have to spend a lot of time brainstorming for creative ideas to improve the school, and there are some difficult deci-sions involved.”

At school, these creative ideas have included devoting days toward recognition of groups such as custodians, bus drivers, teachers and lunch servers. Outside of school, Student Council has chosen to volunteer with various community organizations.

On February 13, Council members volunteered at a furniture bank called Bridging. “Bridging offers families with an opportunity for families to walk through the warehouse and pick up things they need for their living space,” said Alexander. “We spent the morning helping out; it was really great.”

In addition to its Bridging, Student Council heartily supports the community through charity work with Simpson’s Housing Services and Feed My Starving Children. One of Student Council’s biggest accomplishments this year was donating profits from the Halloween spirit week to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf.

After original donations were calculated, the sum of $2,000 was effectively matched by another com-pany.

“We definitely saw improvement this year,” said Delaune. “We ultimately made a $4,000 dona-tion, in addition to the 1,000 or so pounds of food we received.”

In recognition of its members’ hard work, Student Council is up for the National Association of Student Council award this year, which will be announced in April.

In addition, on Feb. 22, Student Council represen-tative Morgan Kerfeld, 11, was elected president of their state divison.

Co-presidents promote change

Mind games boost brainsThat math test is just around the

corner, but you can’t focus anymore and decide to take a break. While your first instinct might be to grab for your phone, a better option would be to engage in some brain games. Although coloring a picture book or filling in a Sudoku puzzle might not sound as fun as surfing Youtube, there’s more to these activities than meets the eye.

According to scientists, there is a biological element that contributes to the drive to solve puzzles. The human brain consists of two separate lobes

called the right and left hemispheres, connected by a band of tissue called the corpus callosum.

While the right hemisphere controls creativity and the left works more logically, when you do puzzles or other mind-engaging games, you put both to work. These mental exercises are proven to help sharpen memory and improve brain function.

There is a possibility that participating in daily puzzles may even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Some scientists believe that when one

repeatedly does mental challenges, it strengthens connections between both brain hemispheres. This helps improve memorization, learning, and understanding, and leads to a higher resistance for the disease.

One popular way to get a daily brain workout is through coloring books. Adult coloring books, in particular, have intricate designs which can be filled in with a vast array of colors.

Crayola has recently come out with a line of coloring books that offer both a brain workout and a form of stress relief. According to the American Art Therapy Association, coloring is occasionally prescribed as a form of therapy due to its stress-relieving properties.

However, if you aren’t the artistic type, a traditional jigsaw or crossword puzzle has the same calming effect on the mind.

“I like to be able to solve things when I know that there is only one definite answer. It makes me feel in control and calm when I find the solution,” said Katie Sheldon, 10.

With how stressful school can be, engaging in exercises that work the brain can help to relieve some of the pressure students face. Scientists are continuing to study the benefits of daily puzzles as they continue to get more and more popular.

In Chinese Checkers, each player starts off with 9 marbles at a corner of a star-shaped board. The goal is to get all of your marbles to the opposite corner from your starting point. While Chinese Checkers is often assumed to have originated in China, the game was actually invented by German game company Ravensburger in 1892. With American interest in oriental objects surging in the 1920s, the name of the game was changed to Chinese Checkers.

Go is one of the oldest games played around the world today. Known as “Weiqi” in Chinese, this game originated in China more than 2500 years ago. The objective of this two-player board game is to occupy a greater territory with your stones than your opponent’s. Although the rules of Go are very simple, the game has earned a reputation for taking a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.

GOCOLLECT

M200 SALARY

AS YOU PASS

by Marley Jones staff reporter

PARKPLACE

M350

When talking strategy, sometimes it’s best to just go hands-on—an adventure that social studies substitute teacher Bill Nara pushes Mounds View students to start.

With Nara as adviser, the Strategy Game Club meets in the library every other Thursday to play board games that get you to think.

“There’s a lot of Candylands, but board games are extremely sophisticated now,” said Nara. “They create historical battles with political intrigue, skills with trading and negotiating, treachery, poker

faces—all nice aspects of reality.”The club hopes to extend the reach

of their perspective through the Winter Board Game Festival on Feb. 26 in the Commons. Check-ins and walk-in registration for tournaments are from 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the rest of the festivities running from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This includes tournaments for both Ticket to Ride and Acquire, as well as open gaming for a more casual experience. Concessions will be available starting at 6:30 p.m.

“A good game is like writing a novel or reading a play: it all comes down to the last roll of the dice,” said Nara.

MEDITERRANEAN AVENUE

M60

M200

PENNSYLVAINIA RAILROAD

WORDBANKBATTLESHIPCHECKERS CHESS CLUE MANCALA

MONOPOLYPICTIONARYRISKSTRATEGOUNO

by Alex Jiang online managing editor

The answers to the wordfind and crossword can be found here or at www.mvviewer.org/latest-issue/

-Sunny Lim

-Sunny Lim

Mind games boost brains

With over 800 names, Mancala is one of the most diverse games in the world. The word mancala originates from the Arabic word “naqala,” which means “to move.” In this two-player game, the objective is to capture more stones than your opponent. An ancestor of the modern board game and one of the oldest games in the world, Mancala still manages to entertain people of all generations.

Checkmate! This catchphrase is frequently used to mark the end of the most popular game in the world. Chess includes 32 pieces consisting of kings, queens, rooks, bishops, knights and pawns, with the goal being to capture the opponent’s king. This game has no specific origin, which has caused a debate among many countries. However, a majority of researchers believe that the strategic game hails from India during the 6th century A.D.

That math test is just around the corner, but you can’t focus anymore and decide to take a break. While your first instinct might be to grab for your phone, a better option would be to engage in some brain games. Although coloring a picture book or filling in a Sudoku puzzle might not sound as fun as surfing Youtube, there’s more to these activities than meets the eye.

According to scientists, there is a biological element that contributes to the drive to solve puzzles. The human brain consists of two separate lobes

called the right and left hemispheres, connected by a band of tissue called the corpus callosum.

While the right hemisphere controls creativity and the left works more logically, when you do puzzles or other mind-engaging games, you put both to work. These mental exercises are proven to help sharpen memory and improve brain function.

There is a possibility that participating in daily puzzles may even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Some scientists believe that when one

repeatedly does mental challenges, it strengthens connections between both brain hemispheres. This helps improve memorization, learning, and understanding, and leads to a higher resistance for the disease.

One popular way to get a daily brain workout is through coloring books. Adult coloring books, in particular, have intricate designs which can be filled in with a vast array of colors.

Crayola has recently come out with a line of coloring books that offer both a brain workout and a form of stress relief. According to the American Art Therapy Association, coloring is occasionally prescribed as a form of therapy due to its stress-relieving properties.

However, if you aren’t the artistic type, a traditional jigsaw or crossword puzzle has the same calming effect on the mind.

“I like to be able to solve things when I know that there is only one definite answer. It makes me feel in control and calm when I find the solution,” said Katie Sheldon, 10.

With how stressful school can be, engaging in exercises that work the brain can help to relieve some of the pressure students face. Scientists are continuing to study the benefits of daily puzzles as they continue to get more and more popular.

?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•? •?•?•?•?•?•?•? •?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•?•? •?

•?•?•?•?•?•? •

CHANCE

by Marley Jones staff reporter

BOARDWALK

M400

When talking strategy, sometimes it’s best to just go hands-on—an adventure that social studies substitute teacher Bill Nara pushes Mounds View students to start.

With Nara as adviser, the Strategy Game Club meets in the library every other Thursday to play board games that get you to think.

“There’s a lot of Candylands, but board games are extremely sophisticated now,” said Nara. “They create historical battles with political intrigue, skills with trading and negotiating, treachery, poker

faces—all nice aspects of reality.”The club hopes to extend the reach

of their perspective through the Winter Board Game Festival on Feb. 26 in the Commons. Check-ins and walk-in registration for tournaments are from 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the rest of the festivities running from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This includes tournaments for both Ticket to Ride and Acquire, as well as open gaming for a more casual experience. Concessions will be available starting at 6:30 p.m.

“A good game is like writing a novel or reading a play: it all comes down to the last roll of the dice,” said Nara.

BALTIC AVENUE

M60

M200

READINGRAILROAD

Across

2) Includes knights and

bishops

6) A guessing game with

ships

7) Guessing word game with

pictures

8) Includes tiles with letters

11) Simulates a person’s

travel throughout their

life

13) The name of the game is

the number one in

Spanish

14) Represents capitalism

15) Originated in Egypt. Also

known as Draughts

Down

1) A game of luck with dice

3) Called “Count and

Capture,” or “sowing

game”

4) Based on the ancient game

Pachisi

5) Win the most green cards

9) Murder mystery game

from England

10) Includes tiles with

numbers

12) The goal is to surround

more territory than the

opponent

-Sunny Lim

-Sunny Lim

8 variety Friday, february 26, 2016

A favorite of the Twin Cities for 30 years, The Grand Ole Creamery specializes in deli-cious and unique homemade ice cream. With two hundred flavors in rotation to choose from and homemade waffle cones to die for, ice cream heaven is only 23 minutes away.

Walk into The Grand Ole Creamery and the smell of waffles and ice cream is in the air. The cones are made on waffle irons right in front of the customer, offering some free entertainment as you wait in line. A mystery malt ball is included at the bottom of every cone for free, providing a surprise at the end of the tasty treat.

The Grand Ole Creamery offers 31 rotat-ing flavors each day, making for a daunting decision. Luckily, the staff anticipates your bewilderment and lets you sample as many flavors as you like. In addition, if you can’t decide between two choices, you can order a combination. Some of the more unique offer-ings include apple pie, Marshmallow Man, pina colada, nut roll and Black Hills Gold, a rich version of cookies and cream with a pecan

base. However, if unorthodox flavors aren’t your thing, the shop also offers classics like chocolate, strawberry and chocolate chip.

Homemade cones are $6 for a single scoop, while the split single (two flavors) is $7 and the double is $8. Although the prices may seem high, they are offset by the huge portion sizes. Beyond waffle cones, cake and sugar cones are also available, as are malts, shakes, floats and sundaes.

If you’re a hard-core ice cream fan, The Grand Ole Creamery is the perfect place for you. With scoops the size of softballs and handmade waffle cones, you’ll leave with your craving for ice cream satisfied.

by Rigney Cunningham staff reporter

by Jacob Weightman guest writer

Ice Castles

Grand Ole Creamery

The perfect place to chill and close out the last of winter

With spring around the corner and the weather starting to warm, now is the perfect time to visit Ice Castles in Eden Prairie.

Over 25,000 tons of ice were used to turn an ordinary park field into an expansive and exquisite winter wonderland. The stalactite-encased walls of blue-tinted ice make for a truly breathtaking sight.

Within Ice Castles’ chambers, visitors will see many tun-nels, passageways and alcoves, as well as concealed fountains and sculptures. From a winding ice slide to a maze built into the walls of ice themselves, there’s no shortage of things to do. The immense attention to detail and many hidden secrets en-rich the experience by allowing for much exploration. Visitors may even stumble upon Frozen’s princesses Elsa and Anna.

If things are getting too cold, Ice Castles also has its own bakery where one can warm up with some reasonably priced beverages and cookies. You can’t go wrong with a sweet apple cider and a decorative sugar cookie to match.

A nighttime visit shows the castles in a whole new light. The ice’s natural hue is enhanced by vibrant lights trapped within the walls that showcase a plethora of colors against the night sky. Jugglers, firebreathers and spinners congregate within the castle walls, delighting crowds with their perfor-mances.

Ice Castles provides an incredibly unique experience. Due to the warming weather, the castles may close before March, so there’s no time to lose. With live performances, a delicious bakery and many icicle-encrusted corners to explore, Ice Castles is a must-see for anyone willing to brave the cold.

photos by Jacob Weightman

photos by Rigney Cunningham

reviews 9friday, february 26, 2016

Marvel’s wise-cracking, fourth-wall-breaking, fan-favorite comic book character Deadpool has had an interesting journey to the silver screen. After 2009’s abysmal X-Men Origins: Wolverine literally sewed the mouth shut of the character whose nickname is “the merc with the mouth,” a solo Deadpool movie was deemed very unlikely by studio heads at 20th Century Fox. But when animated test footage was leaked (likely intentionally), fans of the character had overwhelmingly positive reactions. The project was greenlit, and after much debate over the film’s rating, the R-rated Deadpool has finally arrived.

Deadpool is essentially one part revenge story and one part love story. Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a special forces operative turned mercenary. When he meets escort Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) in a New York City bar, the two begin a romantic relationship that lasts until Wilson is diagnosed with terminal cancer a year later. Fearful of a life without her, he enlists in an experimental program that grants him accelerated healing abilities and cures his cancer, but leaves his face hideously scarred. Wilson takes on the persona Deadpool to hunt down the man responsible, Ajax (Ed Skrein), and undo the mutation.

It’s immediately apparent from Deadpool’s hilarious opening credits that this is a different kind of superhero movie. Deadpool revels in its R rating; it’s a gleefully profane, self-referential comic book movie that perfectly portrays the character. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect movie.

Deadpool prioritizes comedy above all else, and for good reason. The main staple of the Deadpool comics has always been the antihero’s sense of humor. What viewers should know going in is that that sense of humor is incredibly crude. Deadpool has a plethora of lewd quips that make fun of everything from typical genre plot points to Ryan Reynolds himself. For the most part, it is very funny, but there are still some jokes that don’t quite hit their mark. The film never manages to be as clever in its humor as, say, 2012’s The Avengers, but it’s still an amusing time. However, those looking for more mature comedic wit will likely leave disappointed.

For the most part, Deadpool’s action sequences are incredibly well done and befitting of the film’s tone. One early shootout sees Deadpool with only 12 bullets as he strategically eliminates his enemies while counting down the ammunition to the camera. First-time director Tim Miller frames the action in a smart and efficient way, and never resorts to despicable

shaky cam techniques. Unfortunately, the final CGI-intensive set piece feels unnecessary and out of place in a film with a much smaller scope than most modern-day comic book movies.

Ryan Reynolds was born to play Wade Wilson. The actor hasn’t always chosen the best roles in the past, but he owns all the quips and sarcasm necessary for the character. The supporting cast is also strong, but there aren’t any standouts. Ed Skrein’s Ajax is an unmemorable villain, never given a meaningful backstory and only serving as an instrument for Deadpool’s revenge.

Deadpool is one of the best adaptations of a single comic book character to date. Every defining characteristic is in the movie—for better or for worse. Deadpool fans will adore it, but those seeking something with a more intelligent comedic tone won’t appreciate what is ultimately an entertaining but non-impactful action comedy.

by Matthew Cooperreviews editor

Recently, adding zombies to existing media has been a huge trend. In 2009, author Seth Grahame-Smith tried to attract younger readers by adding the undead to Jane Austen’s timeless classic, Pride and Prejudice. Now, writer and director Burr Steers unleashes his adaptation, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. While the movie does elicit some chuckles and jumps, it is nothing more than a mediocre attempt at fulfilling its promise as a romance, comedy and horror film.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies follows the exact storyline of Pride and Prejudice with zombies carelessly thrown in. In the late 1800s, a zombie apocalypse threatens the safety of humankind, and London is the central target.

Citizens train for combat in order to resist joining the army of the undead. At the forefront of the resistance is Colonel Darcy (Sam Riley), who lives

with his friend Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth). Soon these men encounter the Bennet sisters. Elizabeth (Lily James) and Jane (Bella Heathcote) woo them with not only their beauty, but their zombie-killing skills. These young heroes have to band together to defeat the undead army and save their city, while falling in love at the same time.

James’ Elizabeth Bennet carries the film, with her clever wit and convincing kick-butt attitude. Unfortunately, her leading-lady role is diminished by the uncharismatic acting of Riley, who manages to keep the same expression throughout the entire film. Booth and Heathcote are neither admirable nor awful, but serve as adequate supporting characters.

Despite these disappointments, actor Matt Smith plays the part of the arrogant and snotty Mr. Collins, a pastor determined to marry Elizabeth, exceedingly well. He gives the film a much-needed comedic aspect and his scenes are the best of the entire movie.

The zombie sequences include the expected blood and gore, but fail to connect to the overall plot in a

meaningful way. Moreover, the scenes are meant to be comedic and poke fun at the story and characters, but most of them have only cringe-worthy humor that doesn’t produce much laughter. Even worse, the scenes feel slapped on as an afterthought, resulting in a sloppy pace.

Overall, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a mediocre movie. It underwhelms in both the horror and romantic genres, but will elicit a few chuckles and scares. Zombie fanatics aren’t likely to be wowed. As for Jane Austen, she’s probably rolling over in her grave. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was disappointing and will easily be forgotten.

by Kailey Newcomestaff reporter

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and mediocre

The VerdictDeadpool is an incredibly faithful adaptation of the fan favorite character—for better and for worse.

83

The Verdict

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a poor excuse for both a horror and a comedy.

48

Deadpool is a faithful and entertaining

adaptation

What is this, a newspaper headline?

photos fair use from collider.com, foxmovies.com, movieinsider.com, moviepilot.com, sciencefiction.com, and wpclipart.com

After winning Conference for the first time in 23 years, the boys wres-tling team is looking to finish the season strong.

In addition to winning Conference, the team also had other great fin-ishes this season, placing second at Osseo, sixth at Big Bear (37 teams) and ending the season with a record of 15-7.

Their success is due in large part to the close-knit team bond. “All the guys on the team are extremely close, and it makes the hard

practices and long tournaments much more fun,” said Benji Keillor, 12. “The best part about being on the wrestling team is knowing you’re

with all of your friends,” added Rowan Morgan, 9. The captains, seniors Keillor, Tanner Day, Seth McDougall and junior

Jack Graham, have high hopes for the team. “Most guys on our team have a chance to go to State this season, and that’s one of our goals,” said Graham.

Coach Dan Engebretson also has high expectations. “I would like to send seven to ten individuals to State,” he said. “We are a young team and our young guys are wrestling like veterans.”

Among those talented young players are Morgan and Nick Dunagan, 9, who have both had standout seasons. They are currently ranked fifth and tenth in the AAA state rankings, respectively.

Dunagan credits his success to his inspirations and hard work. “I always try to work really hard in practice, even when I want to give up,” said Dunagan. “My coach really motivates me to never get down on myself and never give up, as well as my teammate Tanner Day who never stops working hard.”

Morgan also finds inspiration through his teammates. “I look up to Benji Keillor because he’s a great captain, friend and partner,” said Mor-gan.

Engebretson believes that the team members motivate themselves. “This is a very close team that has very high goals for themselves,” he said. “They feed off each other and believe they can beat everyone they wrestle. They are very hard workers and easy to motivate.”

While the boys finished third at team sections, Dunagan, Day, Keillor, Morgan and Daniel Van Oort, 10, will be advancing to the state meet on Feb. 26 and 27.

.

by Jackie Gaworskistaff reporter

photos courtesy of Benji KeillorRowan Morgan, 9, competes at the Foley tournament.

MV wrestling hits the mat

10 Sports

Captain Tanner Day, 12, competes at the Foley tournament.

photo courtesy of Benji KeillorAndrew Bjorklund competes at the Osseo tournament.

State FinalistsFreshman Nick Dunagan, Senior Tanner Day,

Senior Benji Keillor, Freshman Rowan Morgan,

and Sophomore Daniel Van Oort

photos courtesy of Joy Gretsch Boys hockey celebrates after a big goal.

sports 11Friday, February 26, 2016

SpringSports

Preview

1. How many spring sports does Mounds View offer?a. 8b. 13c. 11d. 9

2. When was the last time Boys Baseball won Confer-ence, Sections, and State?a. 2014b. 1977c. 1996d. 2013

3. Which spring sport won State last year?a. Girls Track and Fieldb. Boys Baseballc. Girls Golfd. Boys Tennis

4. How many event groups are within track and field?a. 2b. 9c. 7d. 4

5. What is the maximum number of clubs a Girls Golf player can have?a. 14b. 7c. 16d. 10

6. How many State Tourna-ments take place after the school year ends?a. 7b. 9c. 11d. 5

7. What’s the registration fee for a spring sport?a. $170b. $100c. $220d. $190

8. Which teacher also coaches Girls Golf?a. Phillip Richardsonb. Ross Flemingc. Lucas Shogrend. David Phelps

9. Where will Girls Softball be going this spring break?a. Disney Worldb. Disneylandc. Alaskad. Hawaii

10. How many Boys Baseball members have signed letters of intent?a. 0b. 8c. 1d. 3

Answers: 1.c, 2. d, 3. d, 4. c, 5. a, 6. a, 7. d, 8. c, 9. a, 10. d

Boys hockey seniors lead through difficult season

With a new coach and a fairly young team, boys hockey had a rough start this year.

“We have a new coach this year so it’s a little different in terms of dynamics,” said Assistant Captain Alex Plasencia, 12. “It took a little bit to adjust to the new coach, but it wasn’t super hard.”

Beyond a new coach, their team dynamic was also affected by the loss of 12 seniors. “This season was different than last season in a lot of ways,” said John Reim, 12, one of the team’s two captains. “I had a close relationship to a lot of the guys last year so it was a pretty different team after 12 graduated.”

With all the changes, Reim and the five other seniors stepped up into leadership roles.

“Over the last three or four years I would say that I have become more of a leader,” said Reim. “I have really accepted my role not as just scoring, but doing whatever it takes so the team

has success, and knowing individual success will follow.”

Reim has taken the role of being a vocal leader, taking the underclassmen under his wing and spending time with them outside of games and practices. This added responsibility helped him see the team in a new light.

“Being a leader has really opened my eyes this year,” he said. “It’s difficult to balance being everyone’s friend and doing what is best for the whole”

For captain Evan Mattson, 12, leading meant getting out of his comfort zone. “This year was a transition for me as a player. It was the first time that I had ever played defense,” he said. “Our coach thought it would be a good idea to put me on defense because of my experience. It was a new way to look at the game I have been playing since I was four.”

Despite the challenges, the team still enjoyed many highlights this season. The most memorable game, by far, was against East Ridge, on Feb. 11. Down by two goals with one minute remaining on the clock, the boys scored

three goals in the next 33 seconds to come out on top.

While this miracle ending wasn’t common throughout their season of close games, coach Scott Brokaw thought it was a reflection of the team’s attitude and fast play. “I feel like we are much better than our record [9-14-2] shows, and the boys have competed hard every game,” he said. “Surely we’d like more wins, but we have consistently put ourselves in a position to win and played competitively.”

Despite a bittersweet end to their final season, in a 4-1 loss to Hill Murray in the Section Tournament, the seniors enjoyed the time spent together.

“This year is a year to remember, as it is my last year of playing hockey with the boys that I grew up with,” said Mattson. “All the fun road trips and locker room memories have made the past 14 years of our hockey journey very memorable.”

“As a group they [the seniors] had huge hearts,” added Brokaw. “They always went as hard as they could, and they were solid leaders in our locker room and on the ice.”

by Katrina Renacia and Persis Ke features editor and managing editor

Left: Joe Marcoullier, 12, makes a save. Center: Alex Plasencia, 12, crosses center ice. Right: Tyler Smith, 12, looks to make a pass.

12 gallery Friday, February 26, 2016

The Mounds View Information and Learning Center (ILC) has two 3D printers of its own. The printers are free for students to use, and no previous experience is necessary. Projects students have already created include chess pieces (now used daily in the ILC), iPhone charging stands, replacement parts for Xbox con-trollers, and various Physics Fair and Robotics Team parts.

Here’s how to use the printers:

1. Choose what you want to print and design a template. Many students use the TinkerCad or Autoinvent programs to create their templates, but Thingiverse also has ready-made templates online. 10 x 8 x 8 inches is the maximum size.

2. Bring a picture of the design and the finished template (in an STL file) to Nancy Weinhagen or Becky Stouten in the ILC. As of now, there is no sign up; the ear-lier you arrive, the better. Priority is given to smaller projects and those for school and activities. You can use the school’s filament or bring your own.

3. Print! A couple hours to a couple days later (depending on project size and printer settings), your 3D printed object will be ready.

Although the Information and Learning Center (ILC) has only added its 3D printers this year, some Mounds View students have already gone above and beyond the realm of casual printing. Seniors Alex Nelson and Sam Olson are two of these students, both with their own stories behind their printing passions.

Olson, who built his own printer, based his initial designs off of models he’d worked with from XYZprinting, a company dedicated to 3D printing.

“I was pretty much just going off of a few pictures for the basic design, and then, from there, I was just hoping what I had changed would work,” said Olson. “It probably took about 200 hours of work.”

After his printer was complete, he couldn’t wait to try it out.

“My most memorable printing moment would probably be after setting up my first big print and waking up the next morning to find that it hadn’t completely failed,” Olson said. “To see the fully completed model sitting there is just awesome.”

Nelson also built his own 3D printer, using an original design and 3D printed parts. He’s used it to make several ventures into the professional world.

“I printed the entire system of bronchi in the lungs on a $1.2 million printer at my work for Boston Scientific—absolutely stunning,” he said.

In another instance, Nelson brought a self-compensating camera support to a job interview. “I’m pretty sure that’s what got me the job,” he said.

Other objects in Nelson’s portfolio include camera mounts, cupholders, robotic arms, wave generators and “so many keychains.”

However, Nelson has his doubts about the introduction of 3D printers into the ILC.

“3D printing is a fledgling new technology which needs to be further developed… before it is ready to be an everyday household item,” said Nelson. “Their immense learning curve as well as unreliability doesn’t belong in a school yet.”

Regardless, he believes that this new technology can lead society in a new direction.

“Through the refinement and widespread use of printing in the future… everyone can reap the benefits of the human superpower: the ability to make,” he said.

by Alex Jiangonline managing editor

Mounds View students get familiar with 3D printing

photos courtesy of Alex NelsonScreenshots from a video entitled “A Day at Work” by Alex Nelson explaining his daily duties at 3D Printing Alley where he helps people 3D print objects.

Objects 3D printed by Alex Nelson, 12. From left to right, a bronchi for the lung, a car, and a phone