Many people go to YouTube for various reasons. Students watch YouTube for reasons ranging from entertainment to educational purposes.

“Well, I go on YouTube for multiple reasons.” senior Trey Lykins said. “Mostly, I go to satisfy my musical needs, and or to get a good laugh, but sometimes I also go for school purposes. Or, due to my friends pointing me in the direction of certain videos.”

Many go to YouTube to pass the time, in other words, they are bored.

“Because I get bored and I have nothing to do,” freshman Sherry Stout said. “Oh, and to look up funny videos.”

There are people who use it for school-related activities, such as sophomore Ruby Estes.

“I personally go to YouTube not just for entertainment,” Estes said. “It is useful when songs are needed for school media projects or when going over a dance for Pom at home and I have no other way to get it.”

President – Clay Thomas

Vice President – Trent Russell

Secretary – Kaitlyn Cristie

Treasurer – Mackenzie Johnson

Changes for next year are going to be interesting.

“Really excited to have an opportunity to lead the school, I believe there should be able to be senior parking and the Wes Leonard heart week during football because more people come to football games and we can raise more money awareness for the cause,” new President Clay Thomas said.

“We have had a very good year,” sophomore runner Ethan Hartzell said. “We will do well. No matter what, I will be proud of the team.”

Coach Mike Spielman agreed with Hartzell.

“Boys and girls have had really really good seasons,” Spielman said. “We hope to have many people qualify for state. Both teams should be vying for the regional title.”

The meet will be at Liston Stadium which might give Baldwin an edge over the other teams.

“It will be at Liston Stadium which will give the runners a little bit of home-court advantage,” Spielman said.

BHS was able to host regionals because they submitted an application.

“Typically, schools turn in volunteer sheets (for hosting the meet),” BHS Athletic Director Gary Stevanus said. “The activity association called us and told us we are hosts.”

Although hosting the track meet provides an advantage for Baldwin runners, there is a lot of work involved.

“It is a major undertaking,” Stevanus said. “We have got roughly 75 workers. But it is good for the kids and the community.”

The meet begins at 3:30, fans can follow the up to date action at tickertiming.com

Round one of the 2012 NBA playoffs is over and done teams are gone and moving on. The Oklahoma City Thunder destroyed Dallas in four straight games. Now, the Thunder will play the LA Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals.

Major problems have been going on with these two teams, these teams hate each other. It has the start to become a major rivalry. The Thunder took game one with a marvelous game from sixth man of the year James Harden.

Harden was not the only one getting awards for work this season. Miami Heat forward LeBron James won his third MVP award this year, his third MVP in the last four years. James is the leader of this Miami team that can make a deep run this year. The only team standing in there way is the Boston Celtics sense the bulls are out. The Celtics and Heat should meet again in the East Finals. Boston has been a huge problem for the Heat. Now that Miami forward Chris Bosh is hurt the Heat have some serious problems.

The LA Clippers have finally beaten the Memphis Grizzles in a seven game series. Point guard Chris Paul took over game seven, now the Clippers have a tough test coming up, they have to play the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs have an easy ride here, the Clippers do not stand a chance with this Spurs offense firing on all cylinders. Point guard Tony Parker, who should have been the MVP this year, is still focused on that one goal of winning a championship.

The final this year will be played by Bayern Munchen against Chelsea Futbol Club. The first game of the final will be played at Bayern’s home field on March 16.

A major upset happened in the Knock Out round between Barcelona and Chelsea. Chelsea played at Barcelona and won 1-0 in a huge disappointment from Barcelona.

Barcelona had only lost one other game in the entire season and were not expecting this outcome. When Barcelona played Chelsea in the second game at Chelsea they tied 2-2 from a late goal by Fernando Torres. This put Chelsea on to the final against Bayern Munchen.

Bayern Munchen had played another excellent squad. Real Madrid, with its star player Cristiano Ronaldo, played against Bayern and won at home 2-1 and lost 1-2 away. Then in penalty kicks Bayern pulled away with the W.

Many were upset by this unfortunate series of events. Bayern Munchen and Chelsea were the clear underdogs but somehow pulled it off.

“Chelsea had a good strategy of counter-attack against Barcelona,” said sophomore Russell Cloon, a BHS soccer player and European soccer fan. “I think was happy with the outcome of the Barcelona game and Real Madrid games because Chelsea is my second favorite team and Bayern Munchen is my third favorite.”

“I think that Bayern Munchen will win because they are home and many of Chelsea’s defenders have red cards and are ineligible to play,” Cloon said.

BHS teacher Danielle Balsman and Student Council put together an event called “Pack The Track” in memory of Leonard. Many people attended this event.

Jason Crowder was one of many teachers who came out to support the cause.

“I walked a good mile,” Crowder said. “Pack the Tack was a really good idea to get the students involved for such a good cause.”

Parents, teachers, and students were committed to come out at such a early time.

“This event was a success for being so early in the morning,” Balsman said. “120 people came out to support the cause and we raised $1,000.”

Balsman sent fundraised money from last year’s event to the Wes Leonard Heart Team. This website’s mission is to honor Leonards life using a team approach, combining the efforts of his loved ones and other existing foundations in the pursuit of a common goal. For example, one goal is to try to get all school staff members including coaches and coach assistants to be CPR and first aid certified and stay current within American Heart Association and American Red Cross standards.

“We were able to send $500 to the Heart Team website,” Balsman said. “One of the Heart team’s goals is to make sure all public and private schools have an adequate amount of AEDs. By sending a donation to the Heart Team we hope to see AED amounts increase and lives saved so that others have a chance at, ‘just one more game.”

One such student is junior Mason Bandré. Bandre has been preparing for the AP US History test that he took today, May 11.

“Mr. Martin gave us review sheets and practice questions,” Bandré said.

Counselor Natalie Schmidt-Konkel thinks that is only one of the ways to prepare.

“Make sure to be paying attention in class,” Schmidt-Konkel said. “Teachers have been through training and know how to prepare students. Also, utilize resources on the College Board website.”

Senior Louis Joslyn took an AP test last year and he is taking the AP Government test this year. He has one piece of advice.

“Study more than you think you need to,” L. Joslyn said.

It appears that Baldwin has followed this advice in the past few years.

“In general, students do well on the AP tests,” Schmidt-Konkel said.

Currently, three tests have taken by students. There are two exams remaining, next up is the AP Government test on May 15.

Entering the national competition, sponsor Pam Davis was not certain how the team would do.

“I was really hoping to be in the top three, but I had heard a lot of great things about the Connecticut team, and I wasn’t sure we would win,” Davis said.

The team made it into the top three, and were later selected as national champions to the excitement of many.

“I was speechless for a few minutes,” Davis said. “I was thrilled to be the only team that has its name on the large traveling governor’s trophy twice.”

For more information of the national championship team, watch the video below containing interviews with a few of the team members.

To prepare for the big events, the team made their food over and over again and timed it at least four times before hand.

“ I was looking forward to spending time with the group of us going to have a blast,” Schwartz said.

In the past, Baldwin students did very well at the Culinary competition. As a prize they earned a team trophy and a medal per team member.

The team works really we together, they have a good rhythm and stick to it each time.

“We all stay calm and know what were doing so it wasn’t that bad at all,” Schwartz said. We made our food items countless times, it got to the point where I no longer really wanted to eat my crab cakes when in the beginning I hated sharing them.”

Along with the culinary team, the management team of junior Mackenzie Johnson, Caleb Gaylord, and sophomore Bella Villaca, also went to competition. Their goal was to create their own personal restaurant idea with an entire menu which was presented to judges.

These students were involved in a variety of activities at BHS and they all feel that having the chance to get involved was one of the highlights of spending a year in America.

“I liked doing activities that are connected to the school like sports and clubs,” Fredstrom said. “We don’t have that in Sweden.”

Being in sports has been one of Soy’s favorite things to do.

“I loved having support from my teammates and having a good time,” Soy said.

Life in America has no doubt been different for them. They have all had things they have had to get used to and were pleasantly surprised by some of the things they have experienced.

“Before I came here, my stereotype of Americans was a fat guy going to McDonalds in boots carrying a rifle,” Boehme joked. “I was glad to find out that this is not true.”

For Antunes, the shopping was one of her favorite things about America.

“Everything is cheap and nice and pretty here,” Antunes said.

All of this year’s exchange students have enjoyed their year and are both happy and sad to be going back home over the summer.

“It’ll be sad because I made friends here, but of course I’m excited to see all of my friends in Germany,” Conath said.

Fredstrom feels the same way about returning home.

“I went into it knowing that I would have to leave, but it’ll still be really weird,” Fredstrom said.