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By the time of the election in 2016 many seniors will have the ability to vote for who they think is the most suitable President for the United States. Since it will be the first time many students are voting they have been paying more at- tention to the candi- dates and their views. One of the important issues for students is col- lege and student aid. “Bernie Sanders’ col- lege stuff seems nice, especially with where I’m at in life right now, but it’s unrealistic,” se- nior Callie Pancoe said. Students express opinions on upcoming election PATIENCE JURGENS REPORTER Features7 The Thunderbeat Oct. 30, 2015 Another issue stu- dents care about was foreign policy. “We need to address inequalities in gender, class, and race,” senior Drake Mitchell said. “Also in foreign policy is- sues because we live in an interconnected world.” Mitchell believes that there are two candidates most qualified to ad- dress social inequalities and foreign policy issues. “Even though I’m a Republican, Hillary Clinton looks good. As well as Jeb Bush,” se- nior Drake Mitchell said. Pancoe agreed with Mitchell, but had differ- ent views when it came to handling other issues. “[I am a] Sectionalist, but more lenient toward republican views on fi- nances,” Pancoe said. Pancoe expressed her political views on the current candidates and their experience. “There’s an interest- ing dynamic that comes with all these candi- dates because a lot of them lack experience in politics, but they’re the most successful,” Pan- coe said. “I think that says a lot about what people are expecting.” All three stu- dents were not fond of republican candi- date Donald Trump. “He’s aggressive and he’s unprofessional,” Pancoe said. “It will make a really big divide when it comes to the voting, es- pecially if he decides to run as an independent.” Araujo steered clear of policies when talking about Trump. “Regardless of policy, I just don’t like [Trump] as a person,” Araujo said. Araujo then went on to say why he thought the teenage genera- tion would pay atten- tion to the election. “As sad as it is, I think what’s going to keep people most informed on the race is the sensa- tionalism of it, as we’ve seen with Trump,” Araujo said. “Once it becomes hip, young people en- tertainment news, I think people are going to get more invested in it.” Pancoe expand- ed on why she thinks the teenage genera- tion isn’t well informed. “Civic education needs to be improved drastically because we’re only taught it once or twice in our school dis- trict alone,” Pancoe said, “We’re putting power in these people’s hands, but not acknowledg- ing that most of these people aren’t educated.” Each student be- lieves that their gen- eration should pay more attention to poli- tics and to the election. “You’re voting for the way your govern- ment is run. You’re vot- ing for the people that are going to make the laws. They will deter- mine what you can and can’t do,” Araujo said. When it comes to voting, Mitchell gave ad- vice for the students who will be able to vote in the upcoming election. “Don’t vote on party lines. Just pick the best candidate,” Mitchell said. Pancoe also gave advice about vot- ing in the election. “It’s really easy to go with the flow of things and go with your parents opinions and go with your friends opinions,” Pancoe said. “In all re- ality, the success of the government depends on each individual per- son’s opinion. Don’t fol- low the mob mentality.” Seniors receive scholarships for unique talents BRYN ESTLUND REPORTER As seniors, students look for many scholar- ship opportunities to help pay for college. When thinking of schol- arships, sports like and academics first come to mind. Some Bellevue West students are get- ting scholarships from talents outside the box. Seniors Hannah Hidal- go, Dillon Brannen, and Jade Miralles are taking the steps needed to re- ceive these scholarships. Hidalgo is using her art awards to acquire scholarships. One award she won was a Silver in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, a nationwide contest. “It’s not necessarily a scholarship but due to its prestige it makes it so I can apply and get a lot of art scholarships because of its title,” Hidalgo said. “It’s not a straight up ‘here’s the money.’” Art has created suc- cess for Hidalgo, but it is notthefocusofher future. “I want to start out with fashion merchandis- ing, hopefully at Drexel University, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania,” Hidalgo said. “I also am looking for a university with a fine arts major because later on I would like to doctor in psychology and maybe major in art. With that I can do art therapy, which would be super cool.” Brannen ob- tained his scholar- ship through rugby. “There aren’t many colleges in the U.S. that offer rugby scholarships since it isn’t a main sport, but the few who do, have some pretty de- scent scholarships and to get one is a pretty big honor,” Brannen said. Brannen’s offers came from Grand Can- yon University, Mis- souri University, Spring Hill, and Louisville. Miralles, like Bran- nen, has earned schol- arships through a unique talent: theater. Last year, Miralles participated in a college audition and received her scholarships from Hastings, Midland and secured UNL’s Johnny Carson award. This year, she received a schol- arship from Doane. “It’s surprising, it’s something I really, really just enjoy doing and the fact that it can be recog- nized in these ways, the fact that people sup- port me in what I do and recognize what I love to do. It makes me feel like I’m going some- where,” Miralles said. Currently Miralles plans on going to UNL to set her on the right path for her future plans. “I want to go to UNL; I feel like that’s the level to be at then I want to branch off from there,” Miralles said, “I don’t know exactly what I want to do. I like directing and I like acting, I like both. I don’t know that part of the future but I’ll work with the cards I have.” Students may not be know where fu- ture takes them, but for now they are work- ing with the cards (and scholarships) they have. “Overexposed” wins Hannah Hidalgo a Silver in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. Hidalgo created this piece with oil and hot glue on canvas. Photo courtesy of Hannah Hidalgo

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