As the winter season progresses to its end, the spotlight at our school isn't only on the basketball court. Another dedicated team is preparing for its competitive season: Hiawatha High School's very own Forensics troupe.

Firstly, many people, even some HHS students, do not know what our forensics team is. And it isn’t about science or the collection of evidence from crimes.

“Forensics is a speech and drama competition. In a nutshell, it's competitive acting,” HHS Forensics Coach Katie Miller said.

This activity offers a stunning range of categories. From memorized solos and duets to original persuasive speeches and improvised acting, there’s a niche for every interest.

“The pieces can range from a goofy mall Santa to a child who just jumped off the roof. The pieces can be anything,” junior Chance Rudder said. 

Coach Miller helps students find the perfect fit by focusing on their interests, believing that enjoyment leads to a better performance.

The team said they’re buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming tournament season.

Coach Miller said she’s most looking forward to “the look you see when a competitor finds success in what they have been working so hard on.” 

Apart from the coach, there are also the veteran members, like senior Israel Ross who is eager for the State Championships, calling them “fun and challenging,” while junior Oliver Tawzer simply looks forward to performing their pieces this year no matter if they break or not.

While medals are a welcome reward, members agree the true value lies elsewhere. They were asked to complete the sentence, "Forensics isn't about _______, it's about _______," with heartfelt answers.

“Forensics isn't about just the acting, it's about having fun even if you didn’t give it your best,” sophomore Abella Woessner said. 

Other responses, like Ross, also said, "... isn't about how much you win, it's about the skills and memories."

Many forensics members said that the skills gained are profound and lifelong. 

“Public speaking! You speak in public more than you realize,” Coach Miller emphasizes.

Additionally, Woessner highlighted the development of empathy and understanding emotions, while Israel Ross points to gaining composure under pressure.

For beginners, the forensics team gave some advice.

“Try, it's ok to fail,” Coach Miller said. She also said to embrace the process

Meanwhile, veteran members suggested picking a piece you connect with and watching others perform.

In addition to not knowing what forensics is, many people have misconceptions when it comes to this activity.

Some of the Forensics members and Miller expressed that other people might think that it’s a boring activity or it’s about crimes or related to science, even deemed as not fun. In reality, sophomore Timothy Mowry said the team environment is supportive and makes sure that the activity is fun. During long tournament days, the team is “busy” but also decompresses together, forming a tight-knit community.

So, that leaves the question, why should HHS students join Forensics? 

“The experience is fun, and you might find things out about yourself you didn't realize existed,”  Coach Miller said. "As an adult I can tell you, the amount of growth you get as a person in Forensics is huge and it's a master class on life skills you don't realize you need. I get messages from past students all the time telling me how Forensics prepared them for college, job interviews, the workforce, and more. Not to mention, it's fun.”

As Mowry puts it, it offers “new experiences and opportunities you will never forget.” 

For anyone with a passion for performance, a topic they want to defend, or a desire to step out of their shell, the Forensics team is waiting in the wings for you.

Starting on July 1, 2026 many careers will no longer be deemed professional by the Department of Education. A few of these careers are nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, teachers, social workers, dental hygienists and more. This means that the people going into these fields are only eligible to borrow $20,500 per year and $100,000 in total for their education, while people going into careers deemed professional are able to borrow $50,000 per year and $200,000 in total. These jobs are no longer deemed professional because of a decision by the Trump administration. 

This decision was finalized on July 4, 2025, when the Trump Administration signed President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” into law. This bill will significantly affect federal taxes, credits, and deductions. One of the major parts of this bill is that it will eliminate the Grad Plus Program, which is a federal student loan program available to students attending graduate and professional schools as mentioned before. 

The crackdowns of this bill will drastically impact the amount of people going into these fields because of the lack of affordability. This is dismissive to the citizens of America because higher education has never been considered affordable and now it is going to be considered even less affordable. 

According to SCNC.com, in 2022,  61% of people ages 18-22 did not attend college, with the majority of them saying it was due to cost and this will only continue to rise. Not only will these necessary jobs be less affordable, they will also carry less prestige. 

These careers are very obviously necessary to American life, so why are these careers being invalidated? There is no exact answer as to why except the idea of wanting to eliminate extra debt caused by government student loans. But, people have begun to realize that there is one thing in common with all of these careers. They are all female dominated fields. Female dominated careers are heavily concentrated in care, education, and administration. According to the International Labour Organization, in the United States,  88% of nurses are female, 93% of childcare workers are female, 96% of dental hygienists are female, and 77% of teachers are female. Along with other careers on this list being female dominated. Therefore, many citizens of the U.S. see this change as an attempt to limit females from becoming as successful as men because of the lack of affordability and status in fields that females specifically excel at.  

This is important to know and stay up to date about because it could drastically impact everyone's daily life, especially in Hiawatha because the majority of our doctors are women. This is also important to keep in mind as our seniors are making decisions about their future careers. Regardless of the government's idea on professionalism, these careers are necessary and deserve to be supported in the same way.

It’s two in the morning and you and your wife are sound asleep in your bed, when your bedroom wall explodes and the most elated special forces in the world rushes in capturing you both. Events very similar to this occurred on Jan. 3 in Venezuela, with their president Nicolás Maduro being taken. He was then brought to New York to be indicted under US law for charges of narco-terrorism, with the justification from the government being that he allegedly allowed the exportation of drugs into the United States resulting in the deaths of American citizens. With the evidence not being concrete and the legality of the raid being questionable, Maduro’s capture has left public opinion split. 

In regard to this conflict, a common question being asked is whether it’s justified for a nation to cross international borders to arrest a person in a different nation for crimes committed in their home nation.

“Any country should be allowed to take action against a person if that person is causing the deaths of its citizens,” Hiawatha High School sophomore Aaron Tyler said.

A more specific question is whether a nation’s leader can be abducted, as in this case.

“As long as the election is free and fair, a different country shouldn't be able to depose an elected leader,” HHS senior Phoenix Entriken said.

While Entriken’s viewpoint makes a lot of sense, there is evidence that recent elections in Venezuela have not been free and fair. That being how since 2013 Maduro has been elected 3 times even though the country has been declining in many ways. This includes one of the worst hyperinflation crises in history with the inflation rate being 65000% in 2018. This was after years of high inflation which forced over 7 million Venezuelan Citizens to flee the country to afford food in the largest humanitarian crisis in South American history, according to World Vision.

The further question here is whether breaking international law is justified if it saves lives. 

The majority of HHS students said they agree that laws can be broken if they save lives, and even if they don’t agree with US action in Venezuela, they would appreciate gas prices going down. US companies like Chevron, Exxon, and ConocoPhillips are already making deals to explore the largest oil reserve in the world.  

This year's Super Bowl LX match up is the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. It will take place on Feb. Eighth, 2026 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Both the Patriots and the Seahawks have had impressive seasons, with both ending 14-3.

The Patriots sophomore Quarterback, Drake Maye, has had Patriot fans excited for this season, with ESPN calling him “their new Tom Brady.” He has had an unexpected turn around for the Patriot program after a 4-13 season last year. Even though fans are hopeful, they are still predicting a loss.

The Seahawks are predicted to win by 4.5 points this Super Bowl. They have been highly competitive this year, challenging everyone they play. Many people online have also made some connections to their past Super Bowl wins. Seahawk fans have noticed that every time a new Catholic pope is elected the Seahawks win. They have won in 2005, 2013, and now they hope to win in 2026.

The Super Bowl always causes high emotions for teams and fans but this year has involved so many with the Halftime performance choice.

This year's half time performance will be by Bad Bunny. He is a Hispanic performer and is a big part of most Hispanic households. Even though he is the most streamed artist on the planet (as of 2025), many people have voiced their disagreement for the NFLs decision; even President Donald Trump said it was a “ridiculous” choice. 

The rise of immigration problems from ICE have also affected the overall opinion on this matter. Bad Bunny has not hid his own opinion at all, supporting causes like LGBTQ+ rights and Puerto Rico, and also expresses his dislike for ICE.

“This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” Bad Bunny said in an interview with CNN. 

Along with Bad Bunny, others will be performing. Charlie Puth will be singing the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile will sing America the Beautiful, and CoCo Jones will perform Lift Every Voice and Sing.

This year, Hiawatha High School (HHS) has continued its senior “part-time” policy where some senior students only need to appear for classes that are required for graduation. The schedule changes began in and will continue through all of the second semester. Many part-time senior students said they are already feeling the positive effects. 

HHS Senior Lucas Lancaster said that these shortened days are “goated,” going further to say that “going to school is easier now.” He said that he feels he can “get more work done now because [he has] less distracting side-work, and [he is] significantly less tired and stressed.” When asked what he does in his free time he said that a majority of the time he would be at school he is instead practicing baseball. 

Another HHS Senior, who asked to stay anonymous, said the policy has caused his mental health to improve significantly, going further to say “[he doesn’t] dread coming to school now” and also said his nutritional health has improved from eating food at home. When asked what he does in his free time, he claimed he worked on “scholarships, health insurance stuff, and looked/applied for jobs.”

Many other seniors had similar thoughts about the positives of half days. However, not all people feel the same on this subject with some teachers sharing concerns.

Long-serving HHS teacher Kathy Lindstrom said that she believes that these days are “good if they are being used productively, but not if they are used just to go home and be lazy.” She went on to say “if a senior has exhausted most of their electives and they have done a workplace experience then they should be allowed to have half days, but that should be a requirement.”

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly and if you are looking for some recipes to cook up, I have gathered a couple for you to try. Whether you are single or sharing with someone special, these recipes are sure to make your Valentine’s Day more sweet. One is a cookie recipe for a quick mid-day bite, and the other is a chocolate lava cake, perfect for a delicious dessert after dinner.

Pink Heart Print Cookies

Ingredients:

½  cup butter, softened

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

¼ cup coarse pink sugar*

1 cup Milk Chocolate M&M’s, Valentine’s Day Blend

*To make pink sugar mix sugar with a couple drops of red food coloring 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg; stir in milk and vanilla. 

2. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt; beat into butter mixture, on low speed, until dough comes together.

3. Roll dough into ¾-inch balls. Arrange balls (two per cookie) so that they are touching on one side, about 2 inches apart, on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Press thumb into each ball to create elongated diagonal indentation; form the bottom of each cookie to create heart shape. 

4. Sprinkle each cookie with pink sugar, Arrange M&M’s inside indentations. 

5. Bake in batches, for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool on a baking sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to rack; let cool completely.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Ingredients:

½ bittersweet chocolate, chopped

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes, plus more for pan

3 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus more for pan

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract

⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Confectioners’ sugar, to serve (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees and butter a 10-ounce cake pan. Dust the pan with granulated sugar. 

2. Combine the chocolate and tablespoons butter in a heat-safe bowl over a pan of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, combine in a bowl and microwave, in 30-second blasts, stirring in between, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute.) Remove from the heat and set aside. 

3. In a medium bowl, combine the 3 tablespoons sugar, egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and salt. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is thick, foamy and pale, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour until smooth.

4. Using a spatula, add the chocolate to the egg mixture and stir gently until combined.

5. Pour the mixture into the pan. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are set and puffed, but the center is still soft when lightly pressed. (You can also cover and refrigerate the batter up to a day in advance. Add an additional minute or 2 to baking time if you are baking the cake directly from the refrigerator.)

6. Use an offset spatula or small knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the pan. Place a plate over the pan and carefully invert the warm cake. Use an oven mitt or clean kitchen towel to remove the pan, dust the cake with confectioners’ sugar and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Starting in the year of 2016, the Duffer Brothers created a show that has become a part of many lives and will never be forgotten. Stranger Things is Netflix’s biggest show and has been watched by over 1.2 billion viewers worldwide. This 1980s-based show is an easy one to get hooked on. The story began with Eleven, a girl with supernatural powers, who met these four outcast boys. As the show goes on, viewers experience character growth, emotional feelings, and the supernatural elements that make the show so special. 

    The newest and final season released on Nov. 26 after Season Four left off on a cliffhanger. Many fans had crazy theories on what characters would become or do in this season. After the release, I knew what the biggest aspect of this season would be, character development. Seeing each individual main character go from a scared, weak person to a strong, powerful person was perfect. Every single actor created a performance that made the show one of the biggest ever. 

      “I wish that Season Five felt more like it left off of season four, instead of having an 18 month story gap. Season Four left off on a huge cliffhanger with the town splitting in half,” Hiawatha High School junior Braylen Siebenmorgen said. “Then, the start of season five just showed the split being covered with metal plates. Season five felt like an entirely new point of the show.”

      One of the biggest controversies in the show is the actors growing up. Without being able to stop actors from aging, fans noticed some actors playing younger characters were too old for the role. With the show releasing episodes for nine years, they could not do anything about actors not looking their characters' age anymore. Although it would have been nice to see these characters still look like the kids they were, to really show how young they were, recasting was not an option. I connected with each character for who they were and how they grew during the show. 

“A moment in Season Five that stuck out to me, emotionally, was the finale episode and just getting all the nostalgia during the final scenes with the main characters,” Siebenmorgen said. “The main actor that stood out to me was Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna.) He played the villain role so well, I think most people could agree with me, that he was one of the best characters in the show.”

      Season Five left an ending that allowed me to be satisfied with the characters’ happy endings but also sad it's over. I wish the main character, Eleven, would have gotten a better ending because of her impact on the whole story. The open ending took away some of the satisfaction of the show being over. 

Overall, Stranger Things will be a show that is not forgotten. It will forever be one of the biggest shows that was on the top of every chart. The Duffer Brothers will go down in history as two of the greatest writers, directors, and producers for creating the most successful show to stream on Netflix. 

If you’ve been on any social media recently, you might have seen the shocking amount of missing children reports in Kansas. Some of them have been in places close to us, such as Sabetha, Topeka, and Elwood, and some of them might even be someone that you are acquainted with. While some might leave a comment on these posts offering condolences or prayers or just scroll by, it’s hard not to wonder just where these kids go. Consequently, it may be easy to fall into the common misconception, and the worst possible outcome, that the majority of missing children and adolescents are the result of abductions. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the most common reason for a child going missing is voluntary runaways. This can be for a number of reasons big or small, but the most frequent causes are unfortunately related to said children or adolescents being in a dangerous or uncomfortable living environment at home. 

Additionally, while not being the most common, another situation that is beginning to rise when it comes to missing children is cited as “online enticement” by misisngkids.org. This website says that “this occurs when someone is communicating with a child online with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. We see many circumstances where a child may believe they are in a romantic relationship with someone they’ve met online and decide to leave home to meet that person…”

While both of these scenarios are often very complex, and it may be difficult to understand why someone would want to run away without being in a similar situation, it is important that these cases are taken seriously. When children run away, they are exposed and vulnerable to getting into other dangerous situations such as trafficking, drugs, homelessness, and kidnapping. It is extremely important for local communities such as ours to provide children who might be in situations like this with outlets and assurance, so they do not have to resort to running away like the tens of thousands that do every year.

As you may know, it’s officially Valentine’s Day season. Since some of us aren’t the luckiest, here's the best way to spend your Valentine’s Day all alone.

• Movie Night/Binge watch 

  • One of the best things you can do for yourself, regardless of the day, is giving your favorite show/movie a watch. “Sometimes to find joy within myself, turning on my favorite show or movie changes my mood and makes me more relaxed,” junior Kylie Nelson said. 

• Baking

  • If you’re more of a hands on, something fun kind of person, you would probably enjoy doing some baking. Luckily, Hawk Eye writer Aya McPeak wrote her article about some special Valentine’s treats you can do this year. Check it out in the halls or on our website.

• Treat Yourself (shopping + fun)

  • Something you can do to get out of the house is treat yourself. Who doesn't love shopping for themselves, getting some new clothes and just enjoying yourself? “Personally, shopping for me is the best thing ever because I can get anything I want because I have no responsibilities and nothing else to spend my money on,” junior Rhilee Eicher said.

• Self Care

  • Spending days with other people is boring anyways; the best thing you can do for yourself is have a fun self care day. Essentially, you could just do all of the things listed above and make a day out of it; ending off with a nice, long, comforting bath or shower. 

• Walk + Music

  • Now, one of the best things you can do for your well being is getting some exercise. Taking a nice walk and enjoying some of the pre-spring air is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s not only healthy to spend time alone, but it gives you a sense of priority for your own well-being.