GATORHAWK May 2022

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF EAST COLUMBUS JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Volume I, Issue 4
May/June 2022

In this Issue
• East graduates
its 30th class of
seniors
• Listening to our
first Poet Laureate
• Off-campus prom
scores a hit with
students

GATORHAWK 1

GATORHAWK

To Our Readers:

Presented here is the fourth and final issue of GATORHAWK Magazine
for the 2021-22 school year. The staff writers outdid themselves in creating
four amazing issues of GATORHAWK, all from scratch.

These online (and printable) magazines are perhaps the best thing we’ve
created in Gator Media. The magazine is definitely unique, not just locally,
but statewide.

In fact, it is so unusual there is not a contest category in which to enter it
with the student journalism associations we are members of.

For the past four years, East Columbus Junior-Senior High School has
enjoyed a class dedicated to Gator Media and journalism each semester
because we have had four English teachers.

Due to state budget constraints, East might lose one of the English
positions. That means the three remaining English teachers will split an
additional grade’s worth of English students among themselves.

That also means there will no longer be room for a specialty class like
Gator Media.

And that means that the GATORHAWK magazines, Swamp Life yearbook
and the new GATORHAWK website will all be extracurricular.

If this cutback and change does indeed happen, Gator Media will be
looking for students who can rise above the pack and volunteer to help write
stories and capture images.

Their only reward will be the undying adoration of the Gator Media
instructor and the feeling that they have accomplished something wonderful
and that they have been a part of something special.

With that said, we hope you enjoy this issue.

Fuller Royal
Gator Media Instructor

Staff Writers in This Issue

Jade Bright, Raegan Horrell, Charley Tilley
Harmony Somerville, Victoria Perdue,

Sara Sessions, Zaryiah Robinson, Ian Masters,
Gracie Gazaway and Joshua Martin

GATORHAWK 2

INSIDECelebrating 30 Years: 1992-2022
VOLUME I, ISSUE IV • May/June, 2022

On The Cover 4 Justin Wellons
Class of 2022 Senior Parade 6 Gracie Gazaway
10 Aubrey McDuffie
Senior Ella Coleman was all-smiles as a 14 Prom
beautiful Lake Waccamaw evening greeted 26 Saying Goodbye
participants in the 2022 East Columbus 30 The Graduating Class
Junior-Senior High School Senior Parade. 36 Thaiz Rodriguez
Inset images, from left: Zaria McKoy, Joandy 41 Brent Tilley
Martinez-Reyes, Zach King and Autumn 43 Teleah Robinson
Webb. East began the parade tradition in 44 Sara Sessions
2020. 46 Milique Bellamy
48 Charley Tilley
50 Lilly Rogers
56 Rakyah Jacobs
60 Jermaine Faulkner
62 Pablos Barrios
64 Zaryia Robinson
68 RaeKia Robertson-Williams
70 I’Naya Carr-Graham
72 Moana

GATORHAWK is published monthly by
Gator Media. All stories and photographs
are copyrighted 2022 by East Columbus
Junior-Senior High School and Gator
Media. Gator Media’s instructor/advisor is
Fuller Royal. He can be reached at
[email protected] or 910.646.4094.

GATORHAWK 3

Rising senior helps
create high school
group for aspiring
Gator poets

By FULLER ROYAL

Gator Media Instructor

Rising East Columbus Junior-

Senior High School senior Justin

Wellons is the school’s first-ever

By FULLER ROYAL poet laureate.
Gator Media Instructor Wellons, 16, is part of a program

that will some day be statewide. For

During the past six years, East Columbus now, the Columbus County Schools
Junior-Senior High School has produced a is establishing the prototype, which
number of law enforcement professionals. encourages each high school to
select someone with a gift for
Inclubefore entering patrol school.” writing poems.
Andrews added that a career in law
The project is being
enforcement is a very prestigious one. He said
spearheaded by North Carolina

students should know that it’s not always easy, Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green.

but “it is worth it in the end.” “My freshman English teacher

“Whatever your goal is don’t be afraid of is the reason I am into poetry,” said

failing,” Rogers said, offering advice to current the son of James and Wendy
students. “The only thing worse than failing is Wellons, of Hallsboro. “We were in
never trying and living with that regret your class learning about poetry and
whole life.” something about it just stuck out to
me. I was able to understand it

really well and I was able to write

my own poems. With his

Wellons is encouragement, I found the love
and talent I have for poetry.”

That encouragement led

school’s Wellons to enter his first A.R.
Ammons Poetry Contest. He placed
third with one honorable mention

first poet in the high school category.
Wellons already had an interest

in writing lyrics for songs, but he

laureate soon realized that song lyrics were
basically poems, with music.

“I started with lyrics, but I’m

in pilot liking my poetry,” he said. “My
poetry style is emotional, very in-
depth. You have to think about it

program and you can take it however you
want it.

“I like to write about feelings,”

he said. “Not necessarily any

specific feeling, but whatever I am

feeling at that time. Whatever words

are coursing through my head. I

pick and choose the words that go

GATORHAWK t4ogether the best.

The Columbus County
Schools introduced the
first poet laureates for the
system’s four high
schools at Celebrate the
Arts. At left, ECJSHS
rising senior Justin
Wellons was named Poet
Laureate of East
Columbus Junior Senior
High School by North
Carolina Poet Laureate
Jaki Shelton Green, to
Wellon’s left. Wellons is
one of the first high
school poet laureates in
North Carolina. East
English instructors
Melissa Robon and Tara
Williamson were
instrumental in bringing
this program to East.

“My poems reflect things that have form of free expression, our spoken word.
happened to me and things that I have Our goal is to help more people get in
heard happen to others,” he said. “There touch with their emotions through the
is a certain mystique to the emotions that arts.”
one feels, that you can relate to what you
are seeing.” When Wellons isn’t in school, or
writing, he his making sandwiches in
Wellons understands the weight of the Whiteville at Sub-Sational.
responsibility on his shoulders.
His plans include a stint in the military
“I have a responsibility to not only the - Navy or Army. He said he would like to
school, but also Miss Jaki herself,” he work with civilian affairs.
said. “I want to help make her dream a
reality.” “I also want to experience foreign
cultures and to travel,” he said. “I will
The first step for Wellons at East is continue to write, even in the Army.
working with a group of poetry fans and Poetry is something that is embedded in
writers at school to create a poetry group your soul. It doesn’t just come and go.”
and someday, a poetry class.
His advice to would-be poets: “Don’t be
The group is called the Young Poets scared. Don’t worry what others might
Society, a play on words from the 1987 think as long as it’s your truth. It’s going
Robin Williams’ film, “Dead Poets to be good because if your poem reflects
Society.” who you are as a person, the poem will be
worth it.”
“We wanted something that would
reflect who we are,” he said. “We are a

Left: Justin Wellons addresses an early meeting of the fledgling Young Poets Society at East
Columbus Junior-Senior High SGcAhToOoRl.HRAigWhtK: T5he student-designed logo for the new Young
Poets Society.

Gazaway proud
of her Native
American
heritage

By IAN MASTERS

Gator Media Staff

Gracie Gazaway is a 17-year-old

graduating senior at ECJSHS.

She said the things she likes best

about East are the friends she has

made in her years at the school.

Gazaway lives in Whiteville with

her mother, Rebecca Troyer; her

step father, Tim Troyer; and her

brother, Grafton Gazaway, a rising

sophomore at East.

She said her favorite class is art

because it's an entertaining class

and it always makes her feel better.

Her favorite teachers include

Alicia Pickett, Jeff Rudnick, Anna

Slaughter, Brittany Edwards and

Fuller Royal.

Mentors in her life include

Pickett, because she inspired

Gazaway to want to be a teacher, and

classmate Ian Masters, who inspired

her to work toward her dreams.

Gazaway’s accomplishments

include membership in the National

Honor Society and the National Beta

Club.

She also has been a regular on

the school’s honor roll.

Her activities outside of school

include beading, video games,

painting and crochet.

Gazaway, her mother and

brother, are part of the Potawatomi

Tribe, which is native to the Great

Lakes and the upper Mississippi

River region.

Its language originates from the

Algonquins with similarities to the

Ojibwe and Ottawa. GATORHAWK 6
Gazaway said that when

researching the Potawatomi, readers

may see it referred to as Nishnabe or
Nishnabek.

These are words in the language
that mean “people” or “the people.”

The word Potawatomi can also be
translated to mean “people of the
place of fire.”

Gazaway said there are a few
bands that stem from the Potawatomi.

Gazaway is a member of the
Citizen Band, but there is also the
Pokagon Band, Prairie Band, and
Walpole Island Band, among others.

A tribal band is a collection of
families and clans within a tribe that
share ancestors or origins.

Citizen Band, in particular, got its
name because it was among the first
of its tribe to move to Oklahoma’s
Indian Territory, thus agreeing to
become “citizens.”

Within the tribe, eagles are an
important part of the culture.

It is believed by some that they
carry prayers to the heavens on their
wings.

The Potawatomi take good care to
protect them, utilizing an eagle aviary
run by the tribe in Shawnee,
Oklahoma. It’s near the Citizen
Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage
Center.

It is also common among tribal
members to order eagle feathers from
the aviary that have been safely
collected from the leftover molt of the
eagles in their care.

These are used on graduation caps
and as spiritual objects. They may
also be included in regalia.

There is a lot of culture and
history surrounding the Potawatomi
people.

GATORHAWK 7

College Visits

On these pages, East Columbus Junior-Senior High
School juniors and seniors visit Southeastern
Community College in Columbus County and Cape
Fear Community College in Wilmington. The field trips
allowed the seniors and juniors to see the dozens of
local options available to them upon graduation this
year and next.

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GATORHAWK 9

Aubrey McDuffie plans
on nursing career

GATORHAWK 10

By SARA SESSIONS One thing Mcduffie would change
about East is the school spirit.
Gator Media Staff
“I feel it has gotten better, but
East Columbus Junior-Senior High because of COVID, the kids have lost a
School graduating senior Aubrey lot of it,” she said.
McDuffie wants to become a nurse.
She said she would some day like to
The daughter of Jeanna and Dan visit Greece
McDuffie said her favorite teachers at
East have been Brittany Edwards, Alicia “It is so beautiful and not many
Pickett and Muriel Sellers. tourists go there,” she said. “It has
always caught my eye, pretty and
“They always make class fun but, elegant.”
they also make you feel important and
feel like you are cared for,” she said. McDuffie’s dream job is to be a
“And they take the time to get to know nurse because she has always had a
you.” passion for caring for others.

She said her favorite subject is math Something she would do over again
because it is challenging. is her high school years.

McDuffie said she loves the teachers “I truly only got two real years of my
at East because, “they genuinely care high school experience due to COVID
about your well-being.” and I wish I could redo that,” she said.

Her role model is staff member Alina McDuffie plans to attend the
Freeman because, “she is such a strong University of North Carolina at
and independent woman. She cares for Wilmington for a bachelor’s degree in
others without letting people walk all nursing.
over her.”
“I feel like I would be best in
McDuffie is in the National Beta Club pediatrics, but I will figure that out
and the National Honor Society. She is a when I get there,” she said.
school marshal, a National High School
Scholar and was awarded a Golden Leaf In 10 years, McDuffie sees herself
Scholarship. working as a nurse and having started a
family, or at least trying to. She also has
Her in-school activities include FFA, a younger brother, rising ECJSHS
softball, tennis and bowling. freshman, Will McDuffie.

Out-of-school activities include
working at Maze Craze in Hallsboro and
involvement with the Lake Waccamaw
United Methodist Church youth group.

She loves to garden and spend time
on the lake.

She said her strengths include
listening without judging; keeping a
positive attitude, even in the hardest of
moments; being reliable and being
trustworthy.

Her weaknesses include not being
able to say “no.”

“Even when it seems like I have a
million things to do, I still say yes,” she
said.

McDuffie’s favorite team is North
Carolina State University. Her favorite
show is The Vampire Diaries and her
favorite movie is Mama Mia and any
Nicholas Sparks movie.

She said the Internet emoj that best
describes her is the smiley face because,
“I am a happy person and I smile a lot.”

GATORHAWK 11

Junior Varsity Softball versus West

This page: East Columbus Junior-Senior High School rising
senior Aziyah Patrick studies the pitcher to see when it’s
safe to steal a base. Top right: Rising junior catcher Kelsie
Watts receives a pitch. Bottom right: Rising sophomore Rylie
Graham and Patrick share a laugh.
GATORHAWK 12

GATORHAWK 13

PROM
ROM P

PROProm Night, ECJSHS Style
On these and the following following pages, East
Columbus Junior-Senior High School juniors and
seniors celebrate their annual prom in style. The
prom was held off campus at Cook’s Farm in
Riegelwood. The images on these pages were
captured from the Facebook pages of ECJSHS

OM PROstudentsandtheirparents.Enjoy.

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GATORHAWK 24

Varsity Girls Soccer

Left page: East Columbus Junior-Senior High
School rising junior Josie Welch pushes the ball
up the field with help from rising junior Hannah
King and graduating senior Zaria McKoy. Right
page: Graduating senior Alaina Spaulding makes
a sprint to intercept the ball.
GATORHAWK 25

Saying Goodbye

East Columbus Junior-Senior High School is saying
goodbye to some of its staff and faculty. At press time,
the following staffers will not be returning. Clockwise,
from bottom left: JROTC Sgt. Maj. Andrew Crockwell
is taking a job at a school closer to his home. Media
specialist Amy Malpass is retiring. Assistant Principal
Chica Threadgill is going to the central office. English
II teacher Melissa Robon is taking a job with the New
Hanover County Schools. Interim English III teacher
Judy Petteway is returning to her retirement. Assistant
Principal Bobby Godwin is going to West Columbus in
the same position.

GATORHAWK 26

Congrats!

Congratulations to 1st Sgt. James Alston on his selection as the 2022-23 East Columbus
Junior-Senior High School Teacher of the Year. Alston just completed his third year at East
working with and teaching in the school’s JROTC program. Alston also helps with
extracurricular activities working as a coach for several sports. A feature-length article in
GATORHAWK Magazine will be published when school resumes in the fall.

GATORHAWK 27

An annual Lake Waccamaw Event

East Columbus Junior-Senior High School
students know this critter too well. Every
spring, sometime from late April until early
May, mayflies emerge from Lake Waccamaw
and light anywhere they can. There are nearly
200 species of mayflies in North Carolina and
around 3,000 worldwide. Biologists have
reported in the past that the greater the mayfly
swarm, the healthier the lake is.

GATORHAWK 28

Access/Order Any Issue

All four issues of GATORHAWK Magazine are available online at Gatorseast.com. Click on
GATORHAWK Magazine on the menu bar. Each issue nay be viewed, downloaded as a PDF or
purchased.

GATORHAWK 29

Photos by Alina Freeman

William Edward Akins, John Brian Alsup, Joan Avellaneda, Lauren Deanna Babson, Kyle Hunter Baines,
Makenna Lynn Baldwin, Destiny Ashanti Renee Ballard, Cassidy Elizabeth Barsh, Milique Tashaun Bellamy,
DiAanya Ari Black, Quincy Isiah Blanks, GeNya Denell Bozeman, Kenneth Ray Bracy, III, Suzeth Carol Bravo-
Jaimes, Jaheim Asad Cosam Brown, Da'Nyla Ayanna Burney, Sanauwa Yani Campbell and I'Naya Parrish Carr-
Graham.

Also, Liberty Grace Carroll, Ella Bess Coleman, William Brenton Coleman-Campbell, Samuel Logan Crosby,
Janyia Shenell BrineeCummings, Kirstin Shenee Cummings, Aaliyah Semaj Dixon, Trey Shawn Dukes, Laney
Nicole Duncan, Alan Wayne Ellis, Patrick Ray Faircloth, Jermaine Maurice Faulkner, Jr., Matthew Elliott
Felmlee, Darrion Katerral Foxworth, Nyvadia Ph'Nique Freeman, Dariah Vontanaysha Galloway and Brodey
Michael Ganey.

Also, Keandra Olivia Gaskins, Gracie LaDawn Gazaway, Haley Lynn Gilbert, Jalen Wendell Graham, Amier
NyAsha Gray, Thomas Seth Green, Henry JaWaun Hall-Webb, Oliver Horst, Jennifer Lee Hunt, Edwin Everardo
Ramirez Islas, Jasmine Yvone Jackson, Faith Alyssa Jacobs, Rakyah Chailee Jacobs, Fred Antony Jaimes
Carachure, Yoena Tapia Jaimes, Nevaeh Jacqueline Jean Jones, Legend Genesis Kelly, Zachary Derek King and
Jeffrey Monroe Lawhorn.

Also, Morgan Nakayla Leviner, Garrett Ryan Little, Tyrese Mandril Livingston, Keyla Noemi Lopez,
Cody Seth Lowery, Harley Daylon Lowry, Yamile Lozano, Leydy Itzel Martinez, Andres, Zittlali Martinez,
Joandy Rodolfo Martinez-Reyes, Ian Ty Masters, Aubrey Leigh McDuffie, Zaria Joan Aaron McKoy, Gabriel
Titus Lee McMillan, Gabrielle Marie Meares, Ashby Medina Fernandez, Kaylee Marie Mitchell and Marcell
Talitha Mitchell.

Also, Treston Ramon Mitchell, Abigail Suzanna Moore, Aniyah Joesette Moore, Frederick Oneil Munn
Jr., Zachary Kuron Murphy, Jordyn Nichole Murray, Yoselin Tapia Palacios, Anastasia Rae Patrick, Maya
Nadine Patrick, Donna Victoria Phelps, Jaquan Omarion Radford, Monica Noel Cherry Randall, Connor
Luke Reagan, Hannah Nicole Redwine, Rae-Kia Shaniya Robertson-Williams, Zaryia Malieka Robinson,
Thaiz Hetzabel Rodriguez, Lillian Gray Rogers, Macelyn Gray Rogers, Katie Ruiz Carachure and Markell
Joshua Aron Simmons.

Also, Bralyn Darrion Smith, Kiley Leanne Smith, Alaina Faith Spaulding, Noah Michael Hunter
Sutherland, Jada Krysee Terry, Rylee Ann Tew, Samantha Nikole Tidball, Matthew James Vaccaro,
Tashanti Alexze' Walker, Riley Banks Watts, Autumn Nichole Webb, Reginald Anzhaun Webb, Emilie
Elizabeth Williams, Brynnan Chase Wilson and Carol Ann Zehring.

GATORHAWK 32

Smile

Carlton Hubbard, in photo at left, urges
the junior varsity Gators basketball team to
smile. Hubbard, from Carlton Hubbard
Photography, in Fayetteville, brought his
staff over in May to photograph all of the
school’s middle school, junior-varsity and
varsity sports teams.
GATORHAWK 33

‘Thank you teachers’

Top photo: Members of Lake Waccamaw’s United Methodist Church, including ECJSHS parent Amy Sessions,
right, had breakfast on hand for the staff and faculty in May as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. Bottom photo:
Rising senior Damien Cruz-Perez and rising junior Kailey Marlowe make the rounds carrying treats to teachers.
The school’s student council, National Beta Club and National Honor Society provided thank-you gifts and
snacks for the staff and faculty.

GATORHAWK 34

Diamond action

Above: East Columbus Junior-Senior
High School rising senior Aaron
Mitchell hurls one toward a batter. At
left: Graduating senior Jermaine “JJ”
Faulkner prepares to knock one into
the outfield.
GATORHAWK 35

Rodriguez
wants career

in business
administration

GATORHAWK 36

By HARMONY SOMERVILLE Breath by Nicholas Sparks.
Her favorite app is TikToc.
Gator Media Staff Her favorite team is the Los

East Columbus Junior-Senior High Angeles Dodgers and her favorite game
School graduating senior Thaiz is Monopoly.
Rodriguez is the daughter of
Juan Rodriguez and Lorena Valdez. Something that many people don’t
know about Rodriguez is that she can
She said the best thing about East play volleyball and soccer.
is, “the diversity because everyone is
equal and there aren't any outcasts.” Her dream job is to one day run her
own office/office system.
Rodriguez’s favorite class is
JROTC because she said it has taught If she was to win $1,000,000, she
her many ways to look at life. said she would use it to buy her dream
house and car, and then use the rest to
Her favorite teacher is Sgt. Maj. invest in her future.
Andrew Crockwell because he inspires
her to be a better person. If there was one thing she could
change about East, it would be to have
She said her parents are her biggest more clubs and more outdoor activities
support system because they believe in for students.
her and all that she can accomplish.
One student Rodriguez has looked
Being certified in Word software up to is graduating senior Joandy
and being a JROTC executive officer Martinez-Reyes because, “he is
are two of the things that Rodriguez is confident and bold.”
proud to have accomplished.
She said one of her strengths is that
Rodriguez said that one thing she is she is able to help people she cares
good at is giving advice to other people. about when they're in hard situations.

When she isn't participating in the In 10 years, Rodriguez sees herself
JROTC program, she can be found in her dream home, working in her
working at AutoZone. office.

Something she enjoys outside of If she could do anything over, it
school is attending car shows with her would be the year and a half she
dad to show off his lowrider cars. missed due to COVID.

After high school, Rodriguez plans Even though she is leaving East,
on earning an associate’s degree she still has other family members
in business administration. coming up including her sister
Catherine and brother Kenneth
A few of Rodriguez’s favorite things Rodriguez, both rising 11th graders
include the singer Romeo Santos, the and, brother Kevin Rodriguez, a rising
music of Bachata, the movie Dear eighth-grader.
John, the television show Grey's
Anatomy and quesadillas.

Her favorite book is Every

Track Meet

Members of the East
Columbus Junior-Senior High
School track and field team
recently participated in a
conference meet at West
Columbus High School. Top
left: Rising sophomore Rylie
Graham leaps a hurdle. Top
right: Graduating senior
Jeffrey Lawhorn runs with
the pack. Bottom: Rising
junior Matthew George
releases a discus. Opposite
page: Pablo Barrios
summons his second wind to
finish a lap.



WHATCHA READIN’?

East Columbus Junior-Senior High School rising senior Sara Akins, 16, reads A
Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham. It’s the story of a psychologist who discovers
that her father was a serial killer. When she was 12, he murdered numerous girls and
buried them on his property. She is older now and girls start going missing again.
Working with a reporter, she sets out to solve the cases. Since the beginning of the
year, Akins said she has read 10 books. Her favorite author is James Patterson. “His
books are so good they make you want to keep going,” she said. “They are in a series
so you have to get the next book. There is so much detail, but you never get lost.”
Akins said she also loves crime books – mysteries and thrillers. She is a fan of
Natasha Preston’s thrillers and murder mysteries. She said she always likes the books
better than their movie versions. “I read because I can create movies in my head,” she
said. “When I read, it takes a back seat to everything else.I am so fixated on the book I
become a different person.”

Tilley would like to act

By VICTORIA PERDUE Carolina at Pembroke or East Carolina
University.
Gator Media Staff
His dream job would be working as
Rising ECJSHS freshman Brent an actor or a YouTuber.
Tilley resides in Riegelwood with his
two siblings and mother. In 10 years, he still sees himself doing
those things.
He is the younger brother of rising
East junior Charley Tilley. If he won the lottery, the first thing he
would do is buy a house.
The 13-year-old said his favorite
things about East Columbus are its staff He said his biggest weakness is that
and the opportunities the school offers. he is very stubborn and he often acts
silly.
His favorite class is band, which is
taught by his favorite teacher, Anna His biggest strengths are that he is
Slaughter. friendly and he gets along with people.

Two of the people who inspire him His favorite movie is Forrest Gump
the most are actors Tom Hanks and and his favorite television show is
Christian Bale. Community.

Tilley said he has no achievements, His favorite app is Duolingo and his
but that will change in the near future. favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird.

His favorite activity outside of He said that the emoji that best
school is making YouTube videos. describes him is the bus emoji.

HIs future plans include college, Tilley said that the place he would
preferably the University of North most likely want to visit someday is
Paris.

910.770.1834

GATORHAWK 42

Robinson plans to be travel
nurse or midwife

By JADE BRIGHT Places she dreams of visiting
include Tokyo, Japan and Jamaica.
Gator Media Staff
Her future plans include attending
East Columbus Junior-Senior North Carolina A&T or the University
High School rising junior Teleah of North Carolina at Greensboro to
Robinson hopes to be nurse. receive a biology or nursing degree.

The 15-year-old daughter of She enjoys Rap and R&B Music.
Triston Robinson and Amanda Her favorite movie is Acrimony and
Canady said she likes that East has so her favorite television show is Grey's
many academic opportunities and Anatomy.
different staff and faculty members
who are there to guide her during her She loves stew beef, TikTok, and
journey. the Chicago Bulls.

Her favorite She said the
class is JROTC. angel emoji best
describes her.
“Not only do you
learn military She is one of the
material, but you few female trumpet
also learn life skills players in the
and it provides you ECJSHS band.
with lifelong
knowledge,” she Her dream job is
said. to be a traveling
nurse or midwife.
Her favorite staff
members are If she won
JROTC 1st Sgt. $1,000,000 she said
James Alston and she would buy a
guidance counselor house, pay it off,
Brad Carey. buy three vehicles,
pay them off, share
“They both some with a few
never fail to uplift family members and
and set good save the rest.
examples for us
students,” she said. If she could
change one thing
Robinson’s role about ECJSHS it
model is her would be the
grandmother because she has had a number of students
big impact on her. because it is “crowded.”
Graduating senior Alania
“She always tells me to strive for Spaulding is a student Robinson looks
the better, and always be who you up to because, “She gives the best
are,” she said. Robinson said she is advice when it comes to education and
truly grateful for her. she maintains good grades.”
Robinson said her strength is
Robinson said she is good at being being independent and her weakness
supportive to others. is her attitude.
In 10 years, she sees herself settled
Her in-school activities are in a home, finishing college and
JROTC, the Gator Band and maybe raising a child.
basketball. She doesn't wish she could redo
anything over again because
Her out-of-school activities include everything happens for a reason.
cleaning and working as a waitress.
She also likes to spend time with
certain people and to sleep.

GATORHAWK 43

Sessions has designs

NCSU

on engineering degree

By CHARLEY TILLEY Gator Media staff.
Her favorite teachers include Alicia Pickett
Gator Media Staff
because, “she’s super understanding and will
North Carolina always be there for you when you need her;”
State-lovin’ Sara Bryan Fowler, because, “he knows how to
Sessions, a rising make class fun and can explain the
sophomore at East things he’s teaching really well;” and
Columbus Junior- Brittany Edwards because, “She’s
Senior High good at teaching and can help you
School, has her better understand the material.”
eyes set on Outside of school, Sessions can
attending NCSU be found participating in various
to major in activities with her youth group at
engineering. Lake Waccamaw United
Methodist Church, hanging out
The 15-year- with her friends and family, and
old daughter of going to the lake.
Scott and Amy Some day, Sessions hopes to
Sessions is visit Hawaii, Greece and revisit
involved in Costa Rica.
numerous One thing she would like
activities to change about East is the
including: school food.
playing softball Ten years from now, she
and tennis, hopes to be happy in a
serving as the successful career.
sentinel for
East’s FFA
chapter and being
a writer on the

Bellamy wants job that
Defensive concentration

ECJSHS senior Gator player J.J. Faulkner doesn’t take

will allow him to travelhis eyes off his opponent during a recent basketball
game.

By ZARYIA ROBINSON He also enjoys gaming and going to
church.
Gator Media Staff
Bellamy said he would love to visit Africa
Graduating East Columbus Junior-Senior some day because he is an African-American
High School senior Milique Bellamy, 18, lives and would love to learn more about the
at Lake
Waccamaw. culture he didn't
get to learn
He has a about growing
younger brother, up in America.
Malcolm
Bellamy, who is a He plans to
rising freshman. attend college to
His parents are further his
Bryan Bellamy education so he
and Teandra can build a
Baskerville. stable future for
himself.
He said they
are the ones who His favorite
have inspired music genre is
him the most Rap, he loves the
because of their movie Friday,
constant his favorite food
encouragement is pasta, and his
and their doing favorite book is
the best with the Meditations.
“hand they were
dealt.” The app he
uses most is
The thing he Snapchat and
enjoys the most the game he
about East is the enjoys playing
diversity and the the most is COD.
way people can
fit in regardless His dream is
of who they are. to find a job
His favorite related to
course at East is traveling
science because because he loves
it's the class that seeing new
“stresses him out things, but he’d
the least.” also enjoy a
stay-at-home job
His favorite because he
teacher is Tara values his free
Williamson time.
because of her
energy and how she helps him get through If he could
the day. change one thing
about East it would be the atmosphere. He
Bellamy is good at sports and art in school believes it needs to inspire students to work better
because he enjoys drawing and playing without them feeling worn out.
recreational sports in his free time. He believes his main strength is his work ethic
and his main weakness is his lack of motivation.

21st Century Grocery Pickup

East Columbus Junior-Senior High School rising senior Dwayne Dawson
looks over a checklist of groceries he needs for a customer at the Food
Lion where he works in Whiteville. His customer’s order was a mix of
perishable and non-perishable items and he had to correctly time the
packing of the groceries with the customer’s arrival.

Prolific school journalist not
sure about future career

By SARA SESSIONS She is historian for the ECJSHS
chapter of the FFA.
Gator Media Staff
Tilley has been a prolific writer in the
Rising East Columbus Junior-Senior Gator Media program with an output of
High School junior Charley Tilley, is the stories that was rewarded by her being the
daughter of Heather Tilley. named the first senior writer for
GATORHAWK Magazine.
The things she likes most about East
are “The people and the fact that we have Outside of school Tilley loves going to
so many opportunities to make the lake or beach and hanging out with
memories.” friends.

Tilley’s favorite classes are agriscience A place she would like to visit in
and animal science. Greece because of its beautiful culture.

“I have just learned so much in those If she were to win $1,000,000 she would
classes and Alicia Pickett and Bryan go on a nice trip somewhere and then save
Fowler make class fun,” she said. the rest. She said she would love to do the
past two years over because COVID had
Her favorite teachers are Pickett and messed those years up.
Brittany Edwards because, “They have a
genuine love for their jobs and it really In 10 years she sees herself successful
shows when they teach.” and happy in whatever she is doing.

Her accomplishments include Tilley as two younger brothers: Brent,
membership in the National Beta Club a rising freshman, and Jase, a rising third-
and the National Honor Society. grader.

GATORHAWK 48

Fund-raising

East Columbus Junior-Senior High
School student council members sell
cupcakes as a fundraiser. Top photo:
ECJSHS science teacher Martin
Migue purchases a couple of the
cupcakes. Left photo: The cart arrives
in English IV teacher Tara
Williamson’s room.
GATORHAWK 49

Rogers plans to major

The ECJSHS graduating
senior lists her strengths as
being organized, determined
and goal-oriented.