Buckeye Girls State 2016

My Time at Buckeye Girls State 2016

Juliana Discher

The ladies of Stowe City, LaBounty County

Buckeye Girls State is a week long program designed to educate young women about government functioning and what it means to be a good citizen. BGS pledges to teach more about state, county, and city government in one week than in a semester of high school. Through their immersive and hands on experience, I can attest to this claim. This year, the camp was held at University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio. Through the sponsorship of the American Legion Auxiliary, I was given the privilege of attending the 70th annual session of Buckeye Girls State.

Day 1: Sunday, June 12

I came to camp with a lot of apprehension. I've been to many summer camps before--journalism camps, leadership camps, and soccer camps--yet I felt a pit of uncertainty in my stomach. The four hour drive from Mason to Alliance was occupied by meticulously rereading my packet, attempting to decide what position to run for, and stressing out over last minute details. Things took a turn for the better when I arrived on campus and was greeted by cheerful BGS workers donning bright red shirts. I was pleased by how quaint and lovely the campus was. After I registered, I climbed three flights of stairs in King Hall and unpacked. Stowe City, La Bounty County was my home for the week. I had no idea at the time that I would form such close knit and genuine relationships with the 35 other girls and 2 counselors belonging to Stowe City.

The first day flew by. We had our first city meeting and attempted to learn each other's names through a silly animal ice breaker. Juliana Japanese Water Beetle became acquainted with girls like Sadie Sheep and Maria Manatee. We had a nice opening ceremony where we were kindly greeted by the BGS coordinators and the 2015 BGS Governor, Claire DeBruin. The Naturalization Ceremony declared us citizens of BGS for the week. I had my first meal at Mount Union and I was thoroughly impressed by the variety and quality of food. The dessert--brownies, ice cream, and cookies--OH MY! Despite the initial nerves, day one was a success.

King Hall; my home for the week.
We had no A/C, but we survived.

Day 2: Monday, June 13

Today was the first of many where we had Flag Ceremony promptly at 7:15 AM. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem, shared an Auxiliary moment of the day, and had an inspirational quote to set the mood. Flag Ceremony strengthened my inner patriotism. It also taught me the proper way to say the pledge; when people say the line, "one nation under God" they typically pause after nation. Since there is no comma there, that's wrong. I had no idea I had been saying it incorrectly all these years. 

We were able to attend workshops of our choosing. In the Leadership and Campaigning session, our leader gave us great advice on how to campaign effectively. She taught us the art of the Elevator Speech and how to approach somebody when campaigning; be genuine, friendly, and upbeat. She also suggested to hand out business cards stating our name and position. I decided I wanted to run for Senator. My government teacher had done a unit on Congress and I liked the debate style in the Senate. Additionally, the idea of proposing legislation was appealing. I believe I'm aware of the needs of my constituents.

We had our first County Party Caucus and we brainstormed ideas for our party platform. In order to avoid the tension that could arise from breaking up into actual political parties, we were divided into Nationalists and Federalists. I was a Nationalist. Issues that were salient to us were education reform, the tampon tax, the wage gap, and environmental reform.

Emma (on the left) and I bonded over our passion for Ultimate Frisbee.
Maria (on the right) is a great dancer and has a big heart.

Stowe City was named after Harriet Beecher Stowe,
the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Day 3: Tuesday, June 14

During our County Party Caucus, I received the endorsement for Senator after delivering a short speech. I had to file a petition and pay a fee to get my name on the primary ballot. It was nice that our procedures for running for office were similar to the real life ones. Today was a big day for campaigning. I tried to find a balance between getting my name out there and not being too pushy.

I found it effective to just have genuine conversations with people. Quality over quantity was my goal in this case. Only after a heartfelt conversation would I mention that I wanted to 'Disch out the laws' as Senator. I learned so much from the other girls. Everyone was shocked when I told them I come from the largest public high school in Ohio with a class of 861. Many girls I talked to had class sizes smaller than 100. We all had diverse upbringings.

We were all from different regions of Ohio,
but Alliance was our home for the week.

My strong friend Trisha who did an amazing
job on State Highway Patrol.

Day 4: Wednesday, June 15

Election day! Self doubt would occasionally wash over me, but quickly be replaced by confidence. Even if I didn't get elected Senator, BGS has a 0% unemployment rate and finds a job for everyone. (If only America could say the same) The knowledge that there were other options settled my nerves. After the results from the Primary Election were posted, I was excited to see my name on the list. My campaign mate Mailani, who was also running for Senator, made it as well. During the County Caucus, we had an opportunity to introduce ourselves and share something interesting about us. I'm able to make a realistic sounding baby cry so I did that as my talent. People seemed slightly scared, but impressed by it.

After additional campaigning, General Elections went underway. During the State Caucus, the state level positions were announced. I was so excited for the three girls in my city who got state positions. I was disappointed that my good friend LeeAnn wasn't elected governor, but she handled it very maturely. She really impressed me. Out of the 18 girls who initially ran for Senator, I was one of the five lucky girls from my county to be elected. When Mailani saw both of our names on the election results sheet, she shrieked and gave me a bear hug. It was a moment of pure joy. 

Each night, we wrote 3 warm and fuzzy notes to people in our city.
Warm and fuzzies are compliments and notes of encouragement.
I absolutely loved writing and receiving them!

My roommate and I had to create a business and pay taxes for it.
Our hallway's theme was Olympics so we went with Rio de Janeiro.

Day 5: Thursday, June 16

Today was my first day on the job! This was one of my favorite days of the week. On a whim, I decided to run for Majority Whip within the Senate and I was elected. It was nice to have an additional leadership position. Before camp, I was aware that there was a code of conduct within Congress, but I wasn't knowledgeable on the specifics. I learned a lot about parliamentary procedure. For instance, when you want to table debate, you say "I move the previous question." It was cool how official we made things.


We were given the privilege of having three guest speakers bestow their wisdom upon us. The first was Greta Johnson, representative of the 35th district of the Ohio House of Representatives. Representative Johnson had an openness and confidence that I truly admired. She was down-to-earth, bubbly, and honest. I respected her liberal views and the feminist mentality she embraced. Even now as I view her Tweets on Twitter, I wholeheartedly hit the like button. One piece of advice she gave was that she "surround(s) (herself) with incredible and supportive women,". In society today, women need to back each other up and support one another.

Next, Christina Hagan, member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 50th district, spoke to us. Representative Hagan is an inspiration to youth interested in pursuing high goals. At the mere age of 22, she was appointed to be a Representative. She is the youngest female to have ever served in Ohio's legislature. Hagan was still in college when she was campaigning for her seat in the House. She taught me with hard work and maturity, age doesn't matter if you're determined to achieve your goals. I respect her perseverance. 
Last, but not least, Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor spoke with us. I was astonished at the amount of protection and secret service she had to ensure her safety. Lt. Governor gave us three main points of advice: be prepared for opportunity, be passionate about what you do, and make every day count. She shared with us that she's giving serious consideration to running for Governor. I was grateful that she could take time out of her busy schedule to speak with us.

Representative Greta Johnson really inspired me. I look up to her as a woman role model
and as a government official. I was so lucky to have gotten a picture with her.

Representative Christina Hagan was extremely professional and moralistic.

Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor

Day 6: Friday, June 17

My second day on the job was even better.  I appreciated the mature level of debate and discussion that went on in the Senate. We passed legislation on issues such as body cams on police officers and tax exemptions for small businesses. We overrode two bills the governor had vetoed. It was nice to be able to band together and get that 2/3 vote necessary in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

To celebrate the week, we had a city party that lasted until 1 in the morning. We played Telephone Charades and had a blast. It began to hit me how much I would miss the girls of Stowe City. From chanting "S-T TO THE O-W-E" at the top of our lungs to cramming ten girls in a dorm room, there was never a dull moment. I formed an irreplaceable bond with this group of 35 girls. I would miss the sweet smile of Mailani, the angelic voice of Elena, the loyalty of Melissa, and all the other special traits each girl embraced.

The State Highway Patrol had a helicopter brought in for girls to explore.

My sweet friend Melissa. 

My toothbrush buddy Megan.

My beautiful friend LeeAnn, probably one of the funniest people I've ever met.
She ran an amazing campaign for Governor.

My kindhearted roommate Hannah.

Day 7: Saturday, June 18

During our closing ceremony we conducted a joint session of Congress to show all of the BGS girls what parliamentary procedure is like. BGS Director Carol T. Robinson announced I was one of the fifteen girls selected to move onto to the next level of the Senate Youth Program. I could potentially win a scholarship and get to travel to Washington D.C. to meet members of our national government. I was so honored when I heard my name.

The last day of camp was an emotional one. Although I was ready for air conditioning and the comfort of my own bed, this was an experience of a lifetime. There were some sad departures, but as I like to say "It's not a goodbye, but a see you later." 

The dream team of counselors, Marley and Lisa.

My Nationalist lanyard that I grew accustomed to

Thank You's:

• Thank you so much to American Legion Post 194 for selecting and sponsoring me to attend this camp. You have given me an amazing opportunity and I am truly grateful.
• Thank you to my amazing counselors, Marley Kennedy and Lisa Miller.
• Thank you to the University of Mount Union for the wonderful stay. 
• Thank you to Representative Johnson, Representative Hagan, and Lieutenant Governor Taylor for sparing time in your busy schedules to speak with us.
• Thank you to my parents for encouraging me to pursue my passion for government
• Thank you to my government teacher Chip Dobson for sparking my interest in Congress
• Thank you to my AP Psychology teacher Angie Johnston for pushing me to apply
• Thank you to the girls of Stowe City who I had the pleasure of befriending. You will all always have a special place in my heart and if you ever need anything, I will be there for you girls.

Bass retires after 18 years as Band Director

Mason band was and will remain all about that Bass.

As of June 1, band director Bob Bass is officially retired. Bass served as Band Director at Mason High School for the past 18 years. His decision to retire as a teacher from the Mason City School District was based on personal reasons.

Public Information Officer Tracey Carson released in a media statement that every season has its time and they accept Bass’ decision to go. Carson said Mason City Schools is truly grateful for what Bass has contributed to the program.

“We appreciate all that Bob Bass has accomplished while leading our Mason Band Program for the last 18 years,” Carson said. “More than the national recognition (consistently ranking as one of the top marching band programs in the US, being the only Sousa Flag and Sousa Shield band in the state, and most recently marching in the 2016 Rose Parade) we appreciate the pride he cultivated in his students, staff and community.”

According to Field Commander Katy Byerly, Mason’s band program would not be at the level it is today without the incredible leadership of Bass.

“Mr. Bass has really transformed the band program,” Byerly said. “In his time here we’ve gone from 50 members to 350. We’ve become nationally ranked both in concert and marching band. Under his direction, we got accepted into the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. He’s changed the values and goals of the program.”

Byerly said the news of his retirement came with a great deal of shock and questions.

“He’s talked of retirement for a while, but it came up as kind of a surprise,” Byerly said. “Normally he tells us what’s going on, so it was kind of a shock to hear that it was his last day. Once you have a nationally ranked band, with the hours we put in and how influential he was, there are a lot of questions. Who is going to take over? Are they going to be as good?”

Mason Middle School Band Director Susan Bass will take over as interim MHS marching band director. Bass joined the instrumental team at Mason City Schools in 2000. A nationwide search will soon ensue to find the right fit for the award-winning program.

One of Bass’ recent accomplishments was helping take the MHS Marching Band to the Rose Parade in January 2016–only 20 high schools nationwide are invited each year. In 2014, Bass was elected into membership of the American Bandmasters Association (ABA). The current ABA membership is comprised of approximately 300 American and Canadian band conductors and composers who are elected into the organization through a selective, rigorous nomination process.

Senior marching band member Jenna Montes said Bass won’t be remembered solely for his accomplishments, but as a genuinely caring individual.

“Mr. Bass was the kind of teacher that taught you how to be a good person first, and how to be a good player second,” Montes said. “I’ll always remember his passion for music and our school. Even though there are over 300 kids in the program, it was always clear how much he cared for each one of us.”

BY THE NUMBERS:

1: Number of times Mason band has taken part in the Rose Parade.
4: Mason’s rank out of 95 bands at the 2015 BOA Grand Nationals. Mason has placed higher each year since initially making finals in 2011.
18: The number of years Bass has served as Band Director at Mason.
300: The number of American and Canadian band conductors and composers who have been elected into the American Bandmasters Association; Bass is one of the ABA members.
350: The approximate number of MHS marching band members this year.

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=38076 

2015-2016 Spirit Rock

The Spirit Rock was purchased by Student Government and sits outside the front office of Mason High School. It has become a way to advertise events like homecoming and celebrate Comet Pride. Clubs like SIBS, Student Government, and National Art Honor Society did some of the paint jobs this school year.

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=38052

Assistant principal headed to new post at Little Miami Intermediate School

Juliana Discher | Staff Writer

Mason High School Assistant Principal Dan Distel hopes he will be remembered as an administrator who was always fair and supportive to students as leaves Mason to pursue a head principal position at Little Miami Intermediate School.

May 24, 2016 will mark Distel’s last day overseeing the halls of Mason High School. Distel has served as assistant principal for the past three years and was a teacher from 2004-2013. He taught freshman and seniors alike in AP U.S. History, American History, World History, and Contemporary Social Issues.

Principal Dave Hyatt said Mason High School will greatly miss having Distel on staff.

“Mr. Distel’s efforts here over the past 12 years as a former teacher, coach, and current administrator have greatly impacted student lives in the Mason community,” Hyatt said. “The things we’ll miss most about Mr. Distel include his approachability, his sense of humor, his ability to keep things in perspective, and most importantly, his passion to serve all students from all different backgrounds.  We wish nothing but the best for him as he continues his journey in educational leadership.”

Distel initially sought out a position at Mason after earning his bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University. He earned his master’s degree in education administration from Xavier University. His journey at Mason began when he student taught here in 2001 and 2002.

“I went to Colerain High School, so I am a Cincinnati kid,” Distel said. “I worked as a volunteer wrestling coach at Mason and made some connections through that. I had a family member who went through the high school and that got me connected to get the student teacher gig.”

Although Distel said he didn’t initially plan to become a teacher or administrator, he ended up following in the footsteps of his parents, who both work in the education field.

“I grew up as most kids–I was very interested in being anything other than somebody who spent their whole life in a school,” Distel said. “My dad is an administrator and my mom is retired now, but she was an intervention specialist. I spent most of my life in schools. I didn’t think I was going to go into it, I actually started as a business major in Athens, but about two years in, I realized I had only taken courses in history and humanities. I realized I really enjoyed the subject matter and that was my introduction into teaching.”

Distel said he will rely on friends and family for support as he handles the stress of a bigger role.

“I always lean on others for help,” Distel said. “A part of being in education is being willing to ask for help and ask questions. I’ve wanted for a while now to have a building level responsibility beyond assistant principal. I’m comfortable going into this position because I know that there will be great mentors and those who would be willing to support me.”

Despite the differences between Little Miami and Mason, Distel said he feels confident about entering the district.

“Little Miami is a smaller school district,” Distel said. “There is a difference in terms of history of the district. Little Miami has gone through some serious financial issues that they’re on the back end and coming out of. They have always maintained a high degree of academic expectations.”

There are certain duties Distel said he won’t feel remorse about leaving, but what he will miss the most are the students and faculty he is departing from.

“I won’t miss parking,” Distel said. “I don’t think I will miss eating lunch with 900 of my closest friends for two hours a day. I will miss having such great conversations with students. I will miss the people. I come to work everyday with my friends. When it comes to the students, they’re capable of so much and perform at such a high level. Walking into this building everyday and seeing the things they do is humbling and makes me think about what I didn’t do in high school. It inspires me and others.”

Distel said he hopes he leaving a legacy as someone who truly cares.

“I hope students don’t think of me as the assistant principal who was out to get them, but enjoyed the school experience with them,” Distel said. “With teachers, I hope they think I supported them in educating kids. Overall, I just hope I connected with people. One of my beliefs in life, if you connect and form good relationships with people, you’ll find success. That’s always been my number one goal.”

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=37401 

Ultimate Frisbee Coverage

I began playing Ultimate Frisbee in January of this year. Soccer had been the only sport I'd played previously, but I was ready for a new experience and new challenge. New year, new sport. I had never played a school sport before and I felt like this would be the perfect opportunity to have a low-key sport to play.

Mason Ultimate Frisbee has allowed me to meet so many new and kind people. It works well with my schedule because I am very involved in extracurriculars, but still have time for this sport. Although people often scoff or chuckle when I tell them I play Ultimate, I'm glad I took the time to learn and play the game. I plan to play my senior year and play as an intramural sport in college.

I really enjoyed MBC's coverage of the sport and I was so honored to be interviewed for one of the stories. Check out their great work below.

Check out MBC's CSPN coverage of Ultimate Frisbee, which I am featured in

Read Mallory Elder's story about Ultimate

Check out 8:30 of MBC's broadcast to see an additional Ultimate story

Students feel 'unprepared' to file tax despite Financial Literacy

Juliana Discher | Staff Writer

W-2, W-4, 1040EZ–for a teenager struggling to file their own taxes, these terms can cause bouts of panic, frustration, and shivers.

April 15 is the traditional filing deadline for U.S. federal income tax returns every year. Teenagers don’t have to file taxes if they are a dependent of another taxpayer; however, they have to file if their investment income is over $1,000, if their earned income is greater than $6,100, or if taxes are withheld from their paycheck. This means for many high school students with part-time jobs, filing taxes is required.

Senior Mariam Saad tossed her W-2 form in the garbage when she got in the mail for the first time.

A W-2 reports annual wages and the amount an employer withheld to pay federal and state income, Social Security and Medicare taxes. Saad said she was unsure of what to do with the form.

“I didn’t remember anything from Financial Literacy, so I threw my W-2 away the first time,” Saad said. “The next year when I got my W-2 form, I went online on H&R Block, but it was still really confusing. It said I would only get $20 back as my refund so I just ignored it. It was all just a hassle.”

Financial Literacy teacher Carmen Scalfaro said that it’s unlikely for a teenager to be audited because they don’t make a lot of money. An audit is when the Internal Revenue Service examines your taxes more closely to verify that your income and deductions are accurate.

Scalfaro said Financial Literacy prepares students to file.

“We go through simulations where students fill out 1040EZ forms, which are perfect for teenagers who have part time jobs,” Scalfaro said. “Most teenagers will get refunds, but some do have to pay more in taxes, so it’s important for them to know how to fill them out. I like that the class is given to sophomores, but sophomore year, only about half of students have a job and by the time they’re juniors a lot more will be working. So it could be more real to them as juniors, however, I don’t think there is anything wrong with preparing students for something they will see in the very near future.”

Sophomore Spencer Hathaway who is currently enrolled in Financial Literacy said he thinks the class does a good job covering the basics of filing taxes, but could go more in depth.

“If you’re working for a company, you have to fill out a W-4 and Financial Literacy prepares you for that,” Hathaway said. “When you get an actual career and start making more money though, I don’t think the class covers it enough.”

There are different ways to file taxes besides doing it alone, such as online websites or hiring an accountant. Hoh said that the first time filing is confusing for everyone, but it becomes easier with experience.

“I took Financial Literacy, but by the time I had to fill out my taxes I had already forgotten how to do it,” Hoh said. “So instead I decided to use TurboTax, but even that was confusing. It tries to walk you through it but there were a lot of questions I didn’t know the answer to and had to consult my mom about.”

Many students resort to having their parents file their taxes for them or other outside help. Senior Joey Barto said it becomes more of the parent’s burden to help children fill out tax forms or to do it for them entirely.

“My dad and my grandpa do most of the taxes, but they wanted me to try to do it last year,” Barto said. “I was so lost; they threw random letters and numbers at me. I had no idea what they were talking about.”

Barto said he had difficulty retaining and using the tax information covered during his sophomore year in Financial Literacy. Barto said Financial Literacy should be a senior mandatory class in order to be beneficial for students.

“Financial Literacy is such a good idea for a class, but most people don’t remember anything from it,” Barto said. “It should be a senior only class. Sophomore year, unless you’re one of the older sophomores who has a job, you don’t realize how important the information is.”

See the Full Story: http://thecspn.com/?p=36524

Interactive Quiz: Match up each teacher to his or her secret

Juliana Discher I Staff Writer

Take the Quiz Here: ://thecspn.com/?p=35931