Raleigh, North Carolina USA

Thursday July 31, 1997

Final Edition

Sanderson Web Masters Reach Goal

Graduates Overcome Senior Year Obstacles to Complete Their Thinkquest

Raleigh -- Three Sanderson high school seniors have completed an entry for Thinkquest, a highly competitive contest to develop educational resources for the world wide web. Incredibly, these students; Dan Amerson, Hayden Stack, and Dax West; refused to give in to the highly contagious illness, senioritis, which was claiming the majority of their classmates. While those around them had lost all motivation for academic pursuits, this trio was diligently planning, researching, and formatting their web site.

The Thinkquest team, under the direction of their coach, Sanderson teacher Gray Rushin, has entitled their project "Chemical Carousel: A Trip Around the Carbon Cycle." Tackling a topic of such universal relevance and importance as the biogeochemical carbon cycle has been quite a challenge for the students. "The carbon cycle affects us all, but there really is very little comprehensive information about it. We tried to tie together the many processes involved to give an overall view of how important the carbon cycle is to everyone," explains Stack, one of the chief researchers in the project. The students all worked as chemistry laboratory technicians for Mr. Rushin at SHS. Using one computer in the chemical stock room, they put together the project's foundations. They did not stop when they received their high school diplomas either. Over the summer, they have been working on individual tasks assigned by West, the team leader. They keep in touch by e-mail and lunch meetings.

These recent graduates are the first Sanderson students to enter the Thinkquest competition. This contest which is only open to students ages 12 to 19 inspires these young minds to create inventive educational tools. When asked whether they will win, West states, "Of course we would all like to win, but if we don't, we hope that our site will at least be useful to students and educators learning about the carbon cycle."

Amerson Brings to Life Carbon Hero

Raleigh -- Dan Amerson, a rising freshman at NCSU and technical expert for the Sanderson Thinkquest team, recently brought to life a personified carbon atom. Amerson and his team call the scientific hero "Captain Carbon." The Captain was originally sketched by Sanderson high

Captain Carbon was created by this Thinkquest team to give a personal viewpoint on the carbon cycle. Amerson was able to utitlize this concept effectively in

Sabotage Suspected in North Raleigh School

Raleigh -- A recent phone cord slashing at Sanderson high school has led to serious questions around campus. Authorities say that the crime was "intentional and directed at a particular target." The cut phone line has been hooked up to the SHS Chemistry Department's computer. Three lab techs from the school were using the computer as a base of operations for their Thinkquest project.

The slashing impeded this project, halting all internet connections, while the crime scene was under investigation. Dan Amerson, the team's technical expert, however, was not about to let such a heinous crime interfere with the completion of the project. He quickly pulled out his trusty Swiss Army Knife and remedied the problem by splicing the phone line back together. Authorities have made no arrests in this crime. They do, however, suspect school rivalry as the saboteur's motive.

West Possesses Leadership Skills in the Face of Unfair Allegations

Raleigh -- Dax West, team leader for Sanderson's carbon cycle masters, has been under intense critique by other team members. She has been dubbed "worse than a teacher" by her teammates on numerous occasions. When asked to comment on labeling their leader with such a politically incorrect term, team members were quick to defend West. Hayden Stack, a team researcher, stated, "It all started as a joke. When she first started assigning tasks, the sarcasm was very heavy. This situation has simply gotten out of control. Dax has always been fair about assignments and deadlines. We all respect her as team leader, and feel she has done a great job."

West, for her part, has taken it all in stride. In a break between working and telling technician Dan Amerson what to do next she stated, "You cannot lead others without being subject to criticism."

Coach Sticks with his Team Despite Many Changes

Cary -- Chemistry teacher Gray Rushin has been through many changes during the second semester of this school year. On March 25, his daughter Sydney Elizabeth was born, upsetting schedules and sleep as babies do. Rushin also accepted a new teaching position at SAS Institute's new

In the face of all these exciting changes, it would be easy to forget past commitments. Rushin, however, remains a loyal coach to his Thinkquest team. Having undertaken the responsibility of coaching his three lab assistants in their project about the carbon cycle, he stands by them all the way. Though it came down to the deadline, the students just completed their entry...with a little help from their coach.

Chinese Fortune Comes True for Raleigh Student

Raleigh -- "Your co-workers take pleasure in your great sense of creativity!" When Hayden Stack read this prediction in a fortune cookie last December, she never dreamed it would come true.

Stack, a Sanderson High graduate, is part of a team working on a Thinkquest project about the carbon cycle. She has made many creative contributions to the web site starting with the postcard concept. "I never believed in fortune cookies. I guess even Confucius hits the mark occasionally," said Stack. "But I'm no fortune cookie follower."