![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
On May 9, a parade of students emerged sporting a certain kind of spirit wear sold in Rock Ridge’s school store, The Phoenix Peak. This was not a coincidence, but a movement by the store in conjunction with the school to commemorate the initiative “May I Serve.” Rock Ridge’s contribution to the celebration was offering a unique set of attire based around military children and students with disabilities.
A large selection of the shirts promotes positivity and awareness of disabilities in general. One such shirt reads “Break the stigma,” a message about the stereotypes often placed on those with disabilities and their competence to complete jobs of all types.
Another shirt depicts the instantly recognizable Phoenix logo colored royal purple overlaid on an American flag. Purple has long been used as a symbolic color for military children. The school recognized the importance of children in these circumstances and thus created a shirt commemorating them, thanks to school counselor Ashlee Erestain who reached out to the Marketing I class. Numerous students choose to enlist in the armed forces directly or attend one of the many academies around the country. Others are simply children of military families who face the struggle of constant relocation. Nevertheless, the shirt helped promote the school program for everyone related to the military.
The store has made a tremendous effort to spread the word of the “May I Serve Day” initiative through these shirts, and has covered a great number of the bases that impact both students at Rock Ridge and their parents.
“The awareness helps,” marketing teacher Ben Stodola said. “Every time someone wears it they might be like, ‘Hey what’s this for’ and there’s a different story tied to them.”
