New members take oath of excellence.

By Faith Ajayi

The ranks of McKinley's chapter of the National Honor Society are swelling. Twenty-nine seniors and juniors were inducted on May 29, 2008. Acceptance into the National Honor Society is based on a student's excellent performance in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Scholarship means that a student has a 3.2 or higher grade point average. Service is defined by the amount of hours a student has devoted to serve the community without incentives. Leadership is based on the student's problem-solving strategies, ability to work well with others, dependability and resourcefulness. Character means that the student is respectful, cooperative, honest, and reliable.

Karen Vanegas in China with two new friends.

By Talishia Sears

Rising senior Karen Vanegas is an active member of The China Exchange Program, sponsored by Chinatown Community Culture Center. She has been in the program since the 10th grade, along with other students from different public schools in the city. She traveled to China in the summer of 2007.

By Faith Ajayi

Should money and other material possessions be incentives for students to perform well in school? What happens when the school administration no longer has abundant money? What happened to the good old joy of learning and wanting to gain knowledge? What happens when parents have reached their limit and cannot afford to buy another gift for students? Paying students for good grades is causing a major debate in schools across the nation.

By Karen Vanegas

If sophomores do well on the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DCCASS) test, Principal David Pinder has promised to shell out $13,000 to take them to King's Dominion. Pinder has offered to take most of the funds he would receive as a bonus to cover the cost.

This is the third year McKinley has taken the DCCAS. The first year, McKinley students took the Stanford 9 test, and 40% made proficiency. The following year, the DCCAS was introduced, and 50% in made proficiency; the next year, 60% made it.

Charles Jones shows off his trophy.

By Veronica Jones

Freshman Charles Jones and his teammates are the JV Eastern Conference Champs in the Wheelchair Basketball League Junior Division. Physical Education instructor, Mr. Gonzalez, has been Jones's advocate.

"It all started when I took my first semester of gym," said Jones. "I would be playing ball during my class period and then one day, Mr. Gonzalez asked if I would like to play for a team. Without a doubt, I took the offer."

Gonzalez researched wheelchair-able teams around the District and was lucky to find one near Jones's neighborhood. Jones attended the tryout and was chosen.

Victor Rivera passes off to Dwayne Allen.

By Ashley McBride

McKinley's Outdoor track team trained extremely hard the last couple months to prepare for the Penn Relays. This year they accomplished something they have been aiming to do for a while. The boys 4x400 team placed third in their heat. While this may not seem like a big accomplishment to some, they placed well among schools from around the country that have had a track program for decades.

By Veronica Jones

McKinley has teed off its second year of golf. Coach McClinton Brown is the MTHS sponsor. The golfing program is under the DCIAA, which sends a bus to pick up the members for practice. Former Channel 7 newscaster, Paul Berry, pays for the lessons, while former pro-golfers give the actual lessons. The golf equipment is included in the price of the lessons.

First place winner Michael Drayton.

By Faith Ajayi

Michael Drayton, Melanie Kates, Sharde' Banks, and Mariah Slade are among the winners of Washington, DC's Eighth Annual Poet Laureate's Poetry Awards for Senior High School Students.

Drayton won the first prize, the Poet Laureate Prize for his poem "Angel Fire II" and he received $500. Kates won third prize, the Gwendolyn Brooks Award for her poem "The Pianist" and she received $350. Banks won fourth prize, the E. Ethelbert Miller award for her poem "Ode to My Love-Ode to Music" and she received $300. Slade was awarded the first honorable mention for her poem "Self-Consciously" and she received $100. All the winners are members of the McKinley Technology Poetry club, mentored by Ms. Ellwell. The rest of the winners were students from Duke Ellington School for the Arts.

Model U.N. team dicusses strategy.

By Talishia Sears

McKinley's Model UN team, sponsored by Ms. Lee-Palis, participated in the annual Model United Nations Conference. Tenth graders Stephanie Navarrete, Marciel Rojas-Rosario, Alexis Harris, Les'Lee Lewis, Christopher Lopez, Robert Young, Angel Davis, Takiyah Edmondson, Bernard Thompson, and Mariah Brown attended the event. The students were divided into three committees: Economic Committee Latin American Caribbean, General Assembly, and Security Council.

Marching band prepares for parade route.

By Leah Smith

The Mckinley Tech Marching Band participated in the annual Apple Blossom Parade in Winchester, Virginia, and won third place. They competed against schools from Maryland and Virginia. They were the only band from DC. There are currently 68 members of the band, including the drum line.

"This was really our first time competing. We had all our members, instruments, equipment, and uniforms for the first time," said Ms.Bennett, band director. "I am truly happy and proud of them for getting 3rd place. Some bands they competed against have been together for years and we just really formed."