GATORHAWK April 2022

Thom Billington in 1989 writing a piece for a newspaper, especially
when applying the rules of journalistic
Billington. writing.
It was a no-brainer. I told Allison and she
thought the name was a perfect fit. I agreed, I went back to Thom and said, “This is
but she didn’t know the backstory of that great, Thom, but you need to add your
name. byline to mine.”
When I began work as the chief
photographer for The News Reporter in 1987, He said, “No. That’s your story. It’s my
the newspaper’s editor was Thom job to make your story sound as good as it
Billington. He was a newsman from the old can.”
days – trained in all ways of journalism –
radio, television and print. And he was a I have never forgotten those words. I
machine when it came to churning out news share those same words with my media/
stories, feature stories, editorials and journalism students as I edit their work.
photographs. Just as Thom found with me, I have found
He lost count of his press awards and that as time goes on, I have to do less editing
professional accolades. with my students as they learn the ropes.
I was a photographer who happened to
also be a writer. The first big story I ever Thom believed in “plussing” things, a
wrote, I turned into Thom for editing. I can term used by Walt Disney to make things
still see him working on my story, the ever- better even when it wasn’t expected. And
present cigarette dangling from his fingers. just like Disney, Thom wasn’t always loose
In no time, he was finished. with compliments. You would hear them
I went back to my computer monitor and from third parties.
opened the story. I couldn’t believe how
much better my story read. He moved a My dad, who was on the Whiteville City
paragraph here and a sentence there. Council at the time, told me that after a
Writing a paper for a high school or meeting, he talked with Thom a bit. Thom
college English class is very different from covered city government.

My dad said Thom told him that he was
enjoying my work at the paper and that I
was one of the few photographers he had
ever worked with who was as enterprising
as I was.

Enterprising. I had never been called
that before. I felt honored.

Thom’s words and methods have
remained with me ever since. I left The News
Reporter in the fall of 1991 to run my own
photography studio. As I was leaving, Thom
was diagnosed with terminal cancer and
just a few months later, he was gone.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of
Thom.

I don’t write or edit a story that I don’t
think about his dry wit and laughter. He was
a master writer, a master editor and a super
intelligent man who could read between the
lines and see through the malarkey that
people would sometimes try to feed him.

He would be so proud that his words still
benefit young, potential news writers.

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Talented East junior undecided
on career path after high school

By HARMONY SOMERVILLE world it would be Bora Bora because “it
looks relaxing and is beautiful.”
Gator Media Staff
After high school, he plans to go to
Marching Gator Trombonist Andy college, but he isn’t sure what career he
Perez, a junior at East Columbus Junior- plans to pursue after that.
Senior High School, has been
in band since sixth grade. His favorite song is It Was a Good Day
by Ice Cube. His favorite movie is Rush
The son of Maria Andres and Custodio Hour 2, his favorite television show is
Perez has two brothers, Alek, 2, and Demon Slayer, his favorite food is tostadas
Aiden, 8.
Student council
He said the part of being at East that is inspired Perez to do
most enjoyable for him is “the teachers more for his school
teach well, have respect for their students to make it a better
and make it worth learning.” place.

Math III with Brittany Edwards is his and his favorite game is Genshin Impact.
favorite class. The emoji that best describes Perez is

“I really feel like I'm truly learning the laughing emoji. He says this is
math and I enjoy being in there with my because his friends always make him
friends,” Perez said. laugh.

His favorite teacher is English III His dream job is to be a house investor
teacher Judy Petteway because, “she because “they make a lot of money.”
really got student council up and
running.” If Perez were to win the $1,000,000
lottery he would use the money to help his
Student council inspired Perez to do family and repay them back for all the
more for his school to make it a better things they’ve done for him.
place.
If he could change one thing about
Perez’s parents are the ones who East, it would be the level of school spirit
inspire him. He said his parents have done because he says there’s just not enough.
so much for him and they’ve made him
the person he is today. Perez said his strengths are that he is
real and honest, he thinks things out
He is proud to be a community helper carefully and he is good help. A weakness
and is also proud of having “super clean, of his is sometimes being scared to talk to
fresh outfits.” people his age.

He is good at soccer and Call of Duty. In 10 years, Perez sees himself making
His in-school activities include the money in a job that he truly enjoys.
National Beta Club and the National
Honor Society. One thing he wishes he could do over
He is the junior class secretary on the again is his freshman year of soccer
student council and plays on the soccer because it was his best year.
team.
When Perez isn’t at school he can be
found working the register at KFC.
During his free time he enjoys playing
video games and doing random shopping.
If Perez could visit any place in the

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Sports standout King wants
to take care of animals

By CHARLEY TILLEY
Gator Media Associate Editor

Animal-loving eighth grader Jenna King says there is nothing she would
King has her eyes on becoming a change about East. She loves the
veterinarian technician. environment of the school and the ability to
spend time with her friends and teachers
The 13-year-old daughter of John King who inspire her.
plays a variety of sports for East Columbus
Junior-Senior High School’s Hawks. Several of King’s strengths include
kindness and honest. She’s always willing
Outside of school, King can be found to help in whatever way she possibly can.
playing sports (especially softball),
attending Red Hill Church, hunting or Ten years from now, King hopes to be a
fishing. graduate from the University of Florida and
a successful veterinarian technician.
Her favorite class is physical education
because she can stay in shape and is able to
practice and improve her basketball skills.

Her favorite teacher is Allison Edwards
because of “how caring and compassionate
she is to each and every person she comes
across, whether you’re one of her students
in her class, on a team she coaches or just a
student in general. She’ll always do her
best to help you in everything you do, and
she really believes in you.”

In school, King plays on the Hawks
volleyball team, basketball team and
softball team.

Accomplishments King has achieved
include being inducted into the National
Junior Beta Club and being part of the
Hawks volleyball team as the undefeated
conference champions.

A place King would like to visit is
Florida, not only for the gorgeous scenery
and historic features, but because that’s
where she wants to attend college.

She wants to play softball for the
University of Florida

King’s role models and mentors are her
dad and God because, in her words, “they
have been there my whole life.”

An emoji that best describes King is the
softball emoji because all she does is play
softball.

King’s dream job would be working as a
veterinarian because she loves animals and
everything to do with them.

If King ever won a $1,000,000, she would
donate some to her church, her family, and
put the rest toward her savings account for
college.

GATORHAWK 54

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.

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Watching for a win

East Columbus Junior-Senior Senior High School junior varsity Gator baseball
players Gavin Patick, Joshua Jacobs and Caden Carroll watch from the dugout as
their teammates on the field work to keep the opposing team from scoring.

Reading as a good works project

Members of East Columbus Junior-Senior High School’s National Beta Club take turns reading
to young students at Acme-Delco Elementary School during a recent service project. The club
completes numerous good works projects throughout the year. Images by Melissa Robon.

GATORHAWK 57

Firehouse clean-up

Members of East Columbus Junior-Senior High
School’s National Beta Club spend an afternoon
cleaning up the Buckhead Volunteer Fire and Rescue
GDpAreoTpOjeacRrttHmsAtehWnet Ksatsu5pd8aernttsofutnhdeeirrtaankneueaal cghooydeawr.oIrmksages
by Melissa Robon.

GATORHAWK 59

AVID introduction

The entire staff and faculty of
East Columbus Junior-Senior
High School participated
recently in an introduction to a
program the school intends on
implementing in the fall.
Achievement Via Individual
Determination (AVID) is
professional learning for
educators to help close
opportunity gaps and improve
college and career readiness
for high school and middle
school students, especially
those traditionally under-
represented in higher
education. AVID helps
teachers tap into the way
students naturally like to learn.
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Baines wants to work as

GATORHAWK 62

personal trainer

By JOSHUA MARTIN plans on attending
Southeastern Community
Gator Media Staff College and working to become
a personal trainer for D1
East Columbus Junior- athletes. He hopes to help them
Senior High School senior Kyle improve their skills.
Baines has attributes both
academic and athletic. Baines said that if he could
visit any place in the world,
A senior class that he would choose to travel
representative on the East to the Bahamas.
student council, Baines is also a
member of the National Beta “It's a beautiful place and I
Club and the National Honor would love to be a part of the
Society. culture and experience life
there,” he said.
When not in the classroom,
Baines enjoys playing Baines said that his
basketball; it is one of his strengths include his ability to
favorite hobbies. place himself around the right
people who want to achieve
“Keeps me in shape and great things in life. Other
healthy,” he said. strengths include the ability to
be a great friend and taking
Baines said the thing he pride in the things he does.
likes best about East is the
students. One student who Baines
looks up to is fellow senior J.J
“I like the students because Faulkner.
most of us have big dreams and
it makes you wanna do better “He is a two-sport athlete
and it's a good environment to and works hard inside and
be in,” he said. outside of the classroom.

Tara Williamson is Baines’ If given the option to go
favorite teacher because “She back in time, Baines said he
actually cares for her students would go back to middle school
and she jokes around with her so that he could take his
students. She tries her hardest classes more seriously and
to help you anyway possible, better prepare himself for the
and makes it interesting to years to come.
learn stuff.”
In 10 years, he sees himself
Baines is also part of the with at least an associate’s
East’s bowling team, the Alley degree and a license for
Gators. personal training.

Outside of school, Baines is He wants to be in a serious,
an associate at Food Lion in healthy relationship, and he
Leland. He enjoys playing video wants to be impacting a lot of
games and keeping himself in people’s lives in positive ways.
shape. After high school, Baines

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Jaimes considering construction
business for future endeavor

By CHARLEY TILLEY A place Jaimes would like to visit one
day is the Grand Canyon because, “it
Gator Media Associate Editor looks cool.”

Real Madrid fan Yahir Jaimes has his Something a lot of people don’t know
eyes set on becoming a construction about Jaimes is that he is skilled in
businessman. origami and in music.

The 16-year-old sophomore son of Rosa What would he do with a $1,000,000
Jaimes and Urbano Cruz says that JROTC lottery win?
is his favorite class at East Columbus
Junior-Senior High School because “it’s a “I would donate some of the money to
fun course.” various orphanages, use some of it to help
my family, and the rest of it to possibly
He said JROTC enhances his help myself,” he said.
leadership skills and helps him gain the
confidence and self-discipline skills that A student Jaimes looks up to is
are necessary to thrive in any ECJSHS junior Andy Perez because “he’s
environment. a good student overall and always tries to
improve.”
He said he is inspired by his parents
because “no matter what, they always try Jaimes says the one thing he wishes
their hardest and persevere in whatever is he could do over is his freshmen year
happening at that moment in their lives.” because his grades weren’t as good as he
wished they had been.
Some of the in-school activities and
clubs Jaimes participates in include the A strength that Jaimes has is the
National Beta Club, JROTC and FFA. ability to learn and adapt to any sport
quickly. A weakness that Jaimes thinks
He also plays right-midfield for the he has is English class.
boys' soccer team at East.
He said that Brittany Edwards is his
Outside of school, Jaimes can be found favorite teacher because “she’s a kind and
working at his job at San Juan or playing genuine person who really cares about
soccer. According to Jaimes, his biggest her students.”
accomplishment and honor was his
induction into the National Beta Club. Jaimes has four siblings, but none of
them attend ECJSHS.
Jaimes isn’t sure what his plan after
high school is, either going to college or Over the next 10 years, Yahir hopes to
enlisting in the military. become a dad and be successful in
whatever it is he does.

Intersecting forces

An East Columbus Junior-Senior High School Hawk softball player slides under the
defending team’s catcher as she scores a run during a recent game.

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Livingston wants to be a nurse

By SACRED SUTTON how hard life has gotten for her.”
Livingston has taken honors classes
Gator Media Staff
since her freshman year.
East Columbus Junior-Senior High She said she is good at “reading the
School sophomore Tyra Livingston wants to
attend a historically black college to earn room” and interacting with other people's
degrees in nursing and business with the energy.
ultimate goal of being a travelling nurse.
Her main school activity is cheerleading.
Livingston, 16, is the daughter of Talise Her out-of-school activities include
Jacobs. They reside in Bolton. cosmetology and yard work.

She said her favorite class is JROTC, When she has free time, she likes to read
because, “it is helping me become a better and to watch Netflix. She said she has always
leader.” wanted to visit Dubai.

Her favorite teachers include 1st Sgt. Her favorite music styles are Rap, and
James Alston, longterm substitute teacher Rhythm and Blues. Her favorite movie is
James Clethan and agriculture teacher Blood Red Sky. Her favorite show is Stranger
Alicia Picket. Things. Her favorite food is shrimp egg rolls.
Her hidden talents include her ability to do
She said Alston is one of her favorites hair and her love of the arts.
because he understands her and gives her a
better outlook on life. She said her strengths include listening
and learning.
“Mr. Clethen is understanding and is
very down to earth,” she said. In 10 years she wants to be rich and out
of Columbus County.
She said her mother is her inspiration
because, “she has never given up, no matter Her older brother, Tyrese Livingston, is a
senior at East and will graduate in June.

PIZZA VILLAGE at 40

On April 19, 1982, Pizza Village opened its doors for the first time. In the
four decades since, tens of thousands of guests have enjoyed the unique
menu first created by Helen Kay and Pete Padrick when they took a huge

chance and moved their family with two daughters to Whiteville.
On April 19, 2022, Pizza Village celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Come out and enjoy 40-cent glasses of tea and order from
Helen Kay’s and Pete’s historic menu.

910.642.5812

Connor Reagan plans
career as anesthesiologist

By FULLER ROYAL treasurer the year before that,” he said.
Outside of school, he has held a steady
Gator Media Instructor
job and has been involved with the youth
“I have most enjoyed making new and music ministries of his church.
friends and creating bonds that will last a
lifetime,” said East Columbus Junior- He said people might be interested in
Senior High School senior Connor Reagan learning that he plays the guitar, ukulele
of his experience at East. “I have also and piano.
enjoyed playing soccer and basketball
with amazing teammates and coaches.” “I also sing bass,” he said.
“I would encourage underclassmen to
Reagan said the teacher who has had take automotive because you will learn
the most influence on him is auto skills that will be helpful to you
mechanics instructor Arthur Moore. throughout your lifetime,” he said. “I also
encourage you to work hard to keep your
“Mr. Moore has made a big impact on GPA up if you plan to attend college.”
my life,” Reagan said. “He has taught me
skills and life lessons that will last me the
rest of my life. I am very thankful to have
had him as a teacher and mentor.”

Reagan’s favorite core subject was
math.

“It came easy to me and challenged my
ability to keep learning more, even though
it could be tough,” he said. “My favorite
elective course was automotive because of
the bonds I made with some great people
and also the skills I learned that will serve
me well into my future.”

After high school he plans to attend
SCC to obtain an associate’s degree in
science and then transfer to a four-year
university to major in pre-med.

“I then plan to enter medical school to
study anesthesiology,” he said. His career
goal is to be an anesthesiologist.

In school, he has been active with the
National Beta Club, the National Honor
Society and sports.

He was awarded defensive MVP for
soccer during his senior year.

“I was on the Principal’s List my junior
year and at my previous school, I was class
president my sophomore year and

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Moore
wants to
be lawyer

By SARA SESSIONS

Gator Media Staff

Neveah Moore, the daughter of
Brooke Baldwin, is a sophomore at
East.

She plays volleyball, basketball
and softball.

The Lake Waccamaw resident
loves to hang out with her friends,
watch Grey's Anatomy and play
sports.

When asked what she would do
with $1,000,000, Moore said, “I would
give back and help everyone who
has ever helped me.”

Moore wants to be a lawyer
because “I love to help people and I
feel like being a lawyer would be a
great way to do that.”

Her favorite book is The Night
and her favorite app is Snapchat.

Moore loves to watch the
University of South Carolina girls’
basketball team play.

Her favorite teachers are Alicia
Pickett and Marcus Skipper because
“they are nice and make it easy to
learn.”

Her favorite subject is civics
because “it is interesting and I like
learning about the past.”

Moore is a member of Mount
Sinai Church.

She said she would like to visit
Bora Bora someday because “it is
pretty and away from everything.”

In 10 years, Moore sees herself
married with two to three children
and working at her dream job.

Moore’s younger brother,
Trenton Moore, is an eighth-grader
at East.

Sophomore hopes to be therapist

By RAEGAN HORRELL
Gator Media Staff

Adriana McKenzie-Lewis is a
Sophomore at East Columbus
Junior-Senior High School.

The 16-year-old daughter of
Mercia McKenzie-Lewis and Renaldo
Lewis said one of the things she likes
best about East is Swamp Chomp.

Her favorite class is JROTC, and
her favorite teacher is JROTC’s 1st
Sgt. James Alston.

“I enjoy his teaching style,” she
said. Alston is also her role model.

McKenzie-Lewis is good at
sculpting and painting. She is a part
of the student council and she loves
to read in her free time.

Her favorite activity outside of
school is hiking.

McKenzie-Lewis said a place she
would like to visit someday is Japan
because she wants to try the food
there.

She plans on going to college so
she can earn a degree in therapy.

McKenzie-Lewis enjoys most
music and eating pizza.

Her favorite movies are the Harry
Potter series and her favorite
television show is Voltron.

Her favorite apps are Webtoon
and Snapchat. She said her favorite
games are Gebeta and Monopoly.

McKenzie-Lewis said the emoji
that best describes her is the one
with one eyebrow raised because she
is constantly questioning things.

One of her hidden talents is that
she is double-jointed in her thumbs.

McKenzie-Lewis’s dream job is to
be a therapist.

She said one thing that she would
change about East is time school
starts. “Eight a.m. is too early,'' she
said.

A student who McKenzie-Lewis
looks up to is Quention Johnson. Her
strengths are arts and crafts, and her
weakness is meeting deadlines.

One Last Look …

In this Alina Freeman photo, Cainan Patrick and Tyrese Simpson chat with a classmate during senior basketball
night at East Columbus Junior-Senior High School.

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