GATORHAWK February 2022

loves his school basketball

Troy said it feels great to be on the of a Wimpy Kid series. He is a fan of the
school’s varsity team as a freshman. original Space Jam with Michael Jordan
and Spongebob Square Pants. His favorite
“I didn’t think I could do it,” he said. “I meal is chicken alfredo.
got the call and I took the opportunity.” He
said the other players accepted him as if he After his basketball career runs its
were, “one of their own.” course, he wants to be either an engineer or
work in sports medicine.
He plays small forward and power
forward. He said he considers East to be a great
school and he’s glad he’s enrolled there.
He said he is right at home on the court.
“I don’t have room for nervousness,” he
said.
Outside of school, he is active in his
church, Victory in Jesus Ministries. His
father is the chaplain at N.C. Boys and Girls
Homes.
He likes to “chill” at the house and to
work on his basketball skills.
He reads the Bible and enjoys the Diary

GATORHAWK 51

No Strings Attached
Alex Benton
11th Grade
CCS Virtual Arts Show
Gold Key

GATORHAWK 52

Gabriel Hutchings is a fan of Clint Eastwood’s 1993 action film, “Heartbreak Ridge.”

Hutchings likes the outdoors

By GATOR MEDIA STAFF He said he plans on going into the military
or “doing some dredging.”
Gabriel Hutchings loves building and
fixing things. He loves country music and eating
spaghetti. The Clint Eastwood film Heartbreak
The 13-year-old son of Dawn Hutchings Ridge is his favorite movie. His favorite game
and Brent Johnson is an eighth-grader at East is basketball and his favorite sports team is
Columbus Junior-Senior High School. the Philadelphia 76ers.

He is originally from Deland, Florida. He said that if he ever won a million
He said the thing he likes best at East is its dollars, he would give it to his parents.
sports program. His favorite class is science
and his favorite teacher is Coach Zach Sellers.
He considers his mom and dad to be his
role models.
His favorite activity in school is JROTC.
Outside of school, he said he likes working
with his pigs and cows. He also enjoys working
and fishing.

GATORHAWK 53

Bright
would love
to work at
Tractor
Supply

By GATOR MEDIA STAFF

Jayvon Bright is a 12-year-old
seventh grader at ECJSHS. His
mom is Kimberly Freeman.

Bright likes the teachers best at
East.

He said English-language arts
is his favorite class, “because it is
easy.”

He said that freshman Sara
Sessions is his role model,
“because she is smart.”

His favorite teaher is Courtney
Malpass because, “she is fun.”

He said he is proudest of
making good grades. In school, he
loves to play baseball. Outside of
school, he likes riding his dirtbike
and going fishing.

“I want to work at an outdoors
store because I can help country
people out any time,” he said.

He likes Rap music and the
Walt Disney animated film
Frozen. He also likes fried chicken,
Spongebob Square Pants and Diary
of Wimpy Kid. His favorite team is
N.C. State.

The laughing emoji best
describes him, “because I laugh a
lot and I can’t control it.”

His dream job is to be a Tractor
Supply worker because, “Why
not?”

If he won a million dollars in a
lottery, he said he would buy a
house and fill his garage with
dirtbikes and four wheelers.

GATORHAWK 54

Graham wants to doctor kids

By GATOR MEDIA STAFF “I plan to go to college to study to be a
pediatrician,” she said. That is her
Eighth-grader Milana Graham is the dream job.
13-year-old daughter of Meki and Graham likes Rhythm &
Haynes Graham of Lake Waccamaw. Blues music, pizza and Tik
Tok. Her favorite movie is
She said the best part of being at Red Notice, her favorite
East Columbus Junior-Senior High book is Wonder and her
School is being a part of the favorite team is the
school’s athletic program. Charlotte Hornets.
She said the emoji
Her favorite class is history that best describes
with Ebony Murchison. her is the “crying
one.”
Her favorite teacher is She said something
Allison Edwards, her most people don’t know
volleyball coach. about her is that she is
“double-jointed.”
“She always pushes for the She said that if she won
best in me,” Graham said. a million dollars, she
would buy a new
She is inspired by her car and “bank
church’s youth director, Fred the rest.”
Pedro, who also works at East.

“He always helps me with
my walk in my faith,” she
said.

A regular on the A/B
Honor Roll, she is a
member of the
National Beta
Club and is
in the AIG
program. At
school, she
plays
volleyball,
basketball
and softball.
Outside of
school, she
is active with
her church’s
youth group.

Coach leaves

Five-year ECJSHS Head Football Coach James Hobbs left in January to take a job with
a middle school closer to his Shallotte home. Hobbs came to East in the summer of
2017 and guided the Gators through five seasons. Hobbs also supervised the school’s
weight training program and its Iron Gator recognition awards.

GATORHAWK 56

Saying so long

Friday, February 4, was the last day at East Columbus for history teacher Dwight

Mullins. Mullins came to ECJSHS four years ago, replacing retiring history teacher

Crystal sFcrhinoko.lMsouclliianlss, twGuhdAoieTshaOpdoRsciotHimoAnmWculotKesde5rfr7toomhiPsehnodmeer .CWouhnilteyaetvEearystd, aMyu, lhlianss taken a
middle began a

sociology class and helped coach junior varsity football.

Happy birthday cadets

Each month, East Columbus Junior-Senior High School’s JROTC Gator Battalion recognizes the cadets who
have birthdays during the month. On Feb. 11, the Gators took advantage of spring-like weather to go
outside, enjoy some fresh air and soak up some sunshine. Top photo: Sgt. Maj. Andrew Crockwell serves
up his delicious hamburgers and hot dogs. Bottom photo: Learning some dance steps. Inset: A game of
kick ball.

GATORHAWK 58

GATORHAWK 59 Sunflowers
Jayson Holmes
12th Grade

Carroll hopes for FBI career

By GATOR MEDIA STAFF

Liberty Carroll is senior at East Columbus Ju-
nior-Senior High School.

“Getting to grow up and experience life with peo-
ple I've known since elementary school has been very
enjoyable,” she said of her time at East. “Watching
everyone, including myself, grow into who we are has
been very meaningful to me.

“The friendships I have made throughout my
schooling have helped me get through the highs and
lows that come with high school.

“I am grateful for the amazing people who have
been in my life.”

She said there are several teachers at East who
have made high school a good experience for her.

“Mrs. Brittany Edwards, Mrs. Mariel Sellers and
Sgt. Maj. Andrew Crockwell have really pushed me to
become the successful student I am today,” she said.
“Without them I don’t know where I would be
academically.”

She said that all three are supportive and positive.
“Even when tasks seemed impossible, they encou-
raged me to do what they knew I was capable of,” she
said. “They believed in me when I didn’t believe in
myself. I can’t thank them enough for everything
they have done for me.”
She said her favorite class has been agri-science
with Brian Fowler.
“It was very interesting and hands-on,” she said.
“I really enjoyed working in the shop and greenhou-
se.”
After high school she plans to attend a four-year
university.
I have yet to decide where I want to go, but I am
very fond of Appalachian State University and the
University of North Carolina at Wilmington.”
She wants to major in criminology and minor in
psychology.
“I am interested in working with the FBI,” she
said.
She has cheered and played soccer since her fres-
hman year. She has been active in the National Beta
Club, National Honor Society and student council.
She is also a marshal.
She works at Walmart and is a member of the
Waccamaw Siouan Tribe.

GATORHAWK 60

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF EAST COLUMBUS JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Advertise with Us

Gator Media has a special offer for potential advertisers.
Purchase a full page or half-page ad in the Swamp Life
yearbook and receive a corresponding-sized ad in each
issue of GatorHawk Magazine for one year.
Full-page ads are $200 per year. Half-page ads are $125
per year.

GATORHAWK 61

GATORHAWK 62

GATORHAWK 63 Christmas show

Before ECJSHS students and
staff went home for the
Christmas holidays, they were
entertained by the school’s arts
department. ECJSHS’s bands,
chrouses and dancers
performed before a packed
cafeteria of at least 300 parents.
The event was held in the
cafeteria because the school’s
auditorium was still undergoing
renovations to its stage lighting
and curtains.

Sunset
Kaylee Dale
8th Grade

GATORHAWK 64

910.770.1834

GATORHAWK 65

GATORHAWK 66

NCSU grad is home at East

By HARMONY SOMERVILLE former Mama Gator during the 2020-21 school
year.
Gator Media Staff
When she is not at school she can be found
Do you like the game Guitar Hero? Well, at the beach, watching East’s teams play
ECJSHS animal science and horticulture sports, eating good food or shopping with her
teacher Alicia Pickett does. It is one of her friends.
favorite activities.
She said she became a teacher because she
The fourth-year teacher is also active in loves learning and using her creativity.
numerous capacities at East.
She didn’t plan on being a teacher, but it
A resident of Leland, she is single with no fell into place as well.
children. Her hometown is East Bend in
Yadkin County, where she attended The people who have influenced her the
Forbush High School. most were the strong women who helped raise
her.
She attended North Carolina State
University where she earned a bachelor’s of Her hope for East Columbus students is for
science degree in field crop technology and a them to become happy, positive and successful
bachelor’s of science degree in agriculture members of society.
education.
She loves 70’s Rock, her favorite movie is
Prior to East, Pickett taught at South Matilda, her favorite show is My Name is Earl
Rowan High School in China Grove. She came and her favorite food is Japanese.
to East because she wanted to move closer to
the beach and the position fell right into place. Her favorite book is Where the Red Fern
Grows. She said she’s not much of a phone
The best things about East, she said, are the person, but when she is on it she mostly uses
staff and the students. She is proud to be Snapchat. Her favorite sports teams are NCSU
and ECJSHS.

GATORHAWK 67

One Last Look …

ECJSHS National Beta Club members Connor Reagan and Oliver Horst discuss
upcoming projects and events lined up for the club to undertake during the spring
semester.

GATORHAWK 68