23-year-old Sosan Firooz is taking a stand for her home country of Afghanistan by becoming the first female Afghan rapper.

MCPS may already go above and beyond the Maryland State Board of Education’s newly adopted guidelines for gifted and talented (GT) education, but the county has yet to take GT labeling to the state-condoned extreme. The Feb. 28 GT legislation suggests that schools monitor their students from pre-kindergarten, a dangerous move that threatens to widen the achievement gap and contribute to the deceleration of curricula across MCPS.

It’s the second half, and the boys’ JV basketball team (3-7) is just starting to get in rhythm. But only getting energized towards the end of the game is normal for the team, as they have three buzzer beating wins so far this season, and have made a name for themselves as a comeback team when they have won.

Wearing jersey number 43, senior Olivia Nono’s presence captivates on the court as she selflessly leads her team. Standing poised and at the ready, she calls out to teammates, giving direction, and then sprints, blasting ahead of the crowd, as she rushes to defend the basket.

Is print media dying? It’s a question that professional publications have struggled with over the past decade. In 2009, the Baltimore Examiner went all-online, and newspapers like the New York Times continue to debate how much of their content should be made free to the public online.

Imagine: You are a freshman at the University of Maryland. Senior year of high school, you applied to a range of colleges, scouring state schools and private universities for a competitive, top-ranked swim team. You chose your state school, and, with a sizeable amount of scholarship money under your belt, you suit up for your first practice of the season.

There was a loose ball, and a pileup ensued. The play moved to the other end of the court, and everyone in the stands followed the action, except for Dawn Smith, senior Gabrielle Smith’s mother, who was focused on her daughter. Blazer shooting guard Gabrielle didn’t get up and follow the play like everyone else. She lay on the gym floor curled up in a ball.

The girl's soccer team ended a successful season with a positive attitude and a strong record of 7-1-1 to boot. As the season progressed, the girls grew closer and were able to work together more successfully.

Andrew, a 2010 graduate, and his younger brother Peter, a current senior, were and are both key players on the Blair football team. Growing up in the same household, Andrew and pushed each other to be the best athletes possible, which made them the players they are today.

It is the mission of the new athletic director, Rita Boule, to help foster an inclusive athletic community in the school. By encouraging an overall athletic culture, Boule will help the school grow and define itself as a well-rounded and exciting place to be.