Habitat for Humanity unites North & South

A South tradition will be extended to North students, as both schools will be doing a Habitat for Humanity “blitz” build in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, June 20-27 and July 11-18.

A total of 60 North and South students will participate: one 20-student section from North and the other two from South. The trip, sponsored and organized by Interact, allows students to receive semester credit for the preparation, the work, and the final project when students return.

According to Mark Gallagher, organizer of the event, a “blitz” build is when seven houses for the homeless are built in one week. Gallagher expects success, as it is the second year of “blitz” building.

“When you come back from this trip, it’s amazing to see what you’ve all done and what you all learn,” senior Kristen Olson, who went on the last trip, said.

Horticulture dynasty wins 20th State Championship

GBS won their 20th state title in the past 27 IHSA State Horticulture tournaments at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, April 27-28.

Horticulture coach Jeff Yordy said, “We win because we put in more time than anyone else.”

Senior John Ferguson took first place, senior Cailey Hinz took third place, senior Zack Boyer took seventh, senior Ieva Pucinskaite took ninth place and senior Aurea Mujica took 16th place.

For the tournament, students needed to identify and have a thorough understanding of 300 plants. No South participant missed more than ten plants.

A 600-point test was administered, testing plant identification, plant knowledge, plant arrangements and plant judging. Competitors’ individual scores are added up to determine the team’s final score.

Compiled by Hallie Herrmann & Joe Hampton Staff Reporters