News Briefs: Jan. 23

Senior Fabrezzio Bortolotti throws junior Andrew Schmidt to the ground. Photo by Audrey Kesler

East

Photo by: Haley Bell

A trivia night hosted by StuCo is scheduled for Jan. 25. For $25, groups of five may enter as a team with a teacher of their choice in their group. Half of the total profits from the event will be given to the winning team. The other half will be given to the winning team’s charity of choice.

“I think it could be a lot of fun with a great turnout and to have a winter event that really gathers a lot of students,” StuCo executive president Mazie Brooke said. “Also, teachers are involved which is unique.”

There will be 10 different categories ranging from pop culture to traditional school trivia, similar to the game Jeopardy.  

“We are trying to make [the questions] something everyone would know, like some are for athletic people, some are for current events people, some are for musical people,” Brooke said.

Various raffles and door prizes include gift cards and certificates to local shops and restaurants.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Local

Photo by: Izzy Zanone

The Shawnee Mission School Board approved two new staff members at their meeting Jan. 11.

The new staff members include former KMBC meteorologist, Erin Little, and senior vice president of Trozzolo Communications, Shawna Samuel.

Erin Little, the twelve year KMBC veteran, will be the new SMSD Director of Media Relations. Little will oversee all media relations for the district and serve as a spokeswoman. 

Shawna Samuel, a Johnson County native, will begin overseeing the district’s marketing, branding and written communications.

“I think I bring a different perspective to SMSD,” Samuel said. “I’ve been a student, a parent and am still a resident of Shawnee Mission.”

Little and Samuel are replacing Assistant Superintendent of Communications, Leigh Anne Neal, who is moving to a leading role in the district’s early childhood education program.

The new SMSD staff members begin Feb. 6.

National

Former President Barack Obama said goodbye to the nation on Jan. 10. The two-term president delivered his farewell address in his hometown Chicago at McCormick Place.

Obama spoke of the country’s accomplishments during his eight years in office which included shutting down Iran’s nuclear weapons program, taking out bin Laden and securing 20 million Americans’ right to health insurance.

He addressed his upcoming fears of racism, foreign threats and taking freedom for granted. Yet he also spoke of the great optimism he has for the upcoming generation and future years of the country.

“He ended up being a very likable president,” junior and Obama supporter Isabelle Cunningham said. “And I feel like even if you didn’t agree with him politically, everyone knew he was a genuinely good person.”

He was joined on stage that night by his wife, Michelle Obama, and his daughter Malia.

The former president teared up as he spoke of his wife and two daughters.

“For the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife and mother of my children, you have been my best friend,” Obama said to his wife.

Barack Obama ended his speech by thanking his staff members and volunteers.

“My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you,” Obama said in his address televised on CNN. “I won’t stop. In fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my remaining days.”

With his final remarks, Obama referenced his campaign slogan, the slogan that earned him the presidency eight years ago and gained him unyielding followers. The words “Yes, we can. Yes, we did. Yes, we can,” closed his farewell to the nation.