Standing behind a small wooden podium, Cocalico High School senior Maggie Cardin addresses a large audience about her own personal experiences with suicide. She carefully explains the warning signs, and how by using the word Aevidum, every single person in the audience could save a life.

    Aevidum has been her mission, as she and a team of students spend most of their time working on trying to get the word out across the state and the nation. She’s having great success.

    So far this year, she has spoken to thousands of students from across the state, and has been commended by many national mental health experts.

    “If I could make a difference in one person’s life, all of what I’m doing would be worthwhile,” Maggie said.

    In addition to Aevidum, Maggie is highly involved in school. She is the class president, a co-editor-in-chief of the yearbook, and is a member of National Honor Society and Student Government. In addition, she is involved in lacrosse, tennis and swimming.

    “All of the school activities that I have been involved in have made me a well-rounded person,” Maggie said. “I will use the lessons I’ve learned from them for the rest of my life.”

       Tonisha Weinhold sits in her first block class, Yearbook Training, and wonders what she can do that's different and exciting.

       She picks up a scissors and begins to cut. "I like this because it's not your usual poster, not your usual sign."

       She's definitely right on the money. Her monstrous lava lamp, mounted on wood, and standing tall in the school cafeteria is anything but usual.

       "Our ten foot lava lamp is for Tuesday Night Live," she says.

       The yearbook class that Tonisha is a part of is not only in charge of writing and producing a yearbook, but running a successful talent show for Cocalico High School.

       As a senior in the class, Tonisha's creative and innovative ideas make a great impression on her class, and the school.

       "Tonisha is a dedicated creative student. She gives 110 percent every time," says her teacher, Mr. Joe Vulopas.

       In addition to Yearbook, Tonisha is also an avid reader, writer and piano player. She loves to play volleyball, and hang out with her friends.

       Tonisha is the daughter of Gerald and Debra Weinhold of Reinholds.

       As for her future, Tonisha has committed to Harrisburg Area Community College for nursing.

       “I'm interested in nursing because I love to help people, and I want to make a difference.”

    Senior Karen Holzwarth sits at her computer in room 203 finishing up her page for the 2010 yearbook cover. She completes it by adding the title, “The Talon,” with the Text Tool and saves the Photoshop document onto the server. The yearbook class will eventually vote on three covers to decide which is the best.

    “I liked how all of us got a chance to make a cover and have people vote on it, instead of having just one person do it,” Holzwarth said.

    Holzwarth, a Cocalico senior, has taken four yearbook classes in her high school career. This talented photographer captured many pictures that were featured in the 2009 book. For her senior year, not only has she designed a cover for the book, but also was assigned other pages to complete.

    If one ventured into the auditorium on club days, you would see Holzwarth involved in Cocalico’s Aevidum club, which is making the public aware of the warning signs of suicide and depression. She is currently working on a mural that will be displayed somewhere in the school.

    “We are making a mural to show that we won the National SADD award,” she said. "It shows all the hard work that we have put into the club over the past three years.”

    Katie Rathman stands with the other Aevidum club members as they wait for Cocalico’s name to be called at the SADD State Convention. The members already knew that Aevidum had won the national award. However, Rathman and the other members smiled with pride as they were recognized for all the hard work that they put into the Aevidum club.

    The Aevidum club at Cocalico High School focuses on making the public aware of the warning signs of suicide and depression. Rathman has been very involved in the club throughout her high school career. She helped organized the Aevidum double-header basketball game and also the trip to the SADD State Convention.

    “I work with the other club members toward getting stuff done for future events,” said Rathman.

    Another major event that she is planning currently is the Aevidum kick-off conference, which will be held at the end of March.

    Rathman is also the captain and only senior of the Cocalico’s girls’ basketball team. She might play in college depending on where she attends.

    “Even though I’m the only senior, the underclassmen have been great in stepping up and helping me with the leadership,” said Rathman.

    Aside from basketball and the Aevidum club, Rathman is also involved in Student Government, National Honor Society, and soccer. In her free time she likes skiing and spending time with her family and friends.

    Rathman will attend college to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. She is planning to attend either Slippery Rock University, Eastern University, or Bloomsburg University.

    “In the future I’m looking forward to getting a degree in physical therapy so I can help others,” said Rathman.

    Senior Kaley Hess cuts through the water and hits the wall with a first place finish as she completes the last lap of the 100-yard breaststroke race. She looks anxiously at the clock on the wall to see her time, and immediately gets out to talk to her coach about what she can improve on.

    “I love to compete, but the clock is always my biggest competitor,” Hess said. “No matter who I swim against, it’s always there to challenge me.”

    Hess has been on the Cocalico swim team all four years of her high school career. She has also swam on a club team, Five Star Swim Club, for nine years.

    Even though swimming takes up most of her time, Hess also contributes to the Cocalico’s high school newspaper as managing editor and staff writer.

    “She is our managing editor and she is very enthusiastic and hardworking. She helps us keep on top of all of our deadlines,” said Jere Kimmich, the newspaper advisor.

    To add to her busy schedule, Hess is also a member of the National Honor Society, LEO club, and the youth group at her church, Cocalico Community Chapel. She has prepared for college by taking several AP English classes, and is planning to attend either Grove City College or Messiah College to study communications. Her dream job would be to become a food or movie critic.

    “I am excited for college because it will be a new challenge,” said Hess. “I’ll be sad to leave the friends and family that I have become so close to, but I’m excited to start something new.”

    Her fingers grasp the paper. Holding the printed golf story in her hand, Cocalico High School senior, Stacy Weaver discusses improvements to the page with another yearbook member. After editing the classes’ stories, Weaver is working hard in preparation for the first Yearbook deadline. As one of the current editors, Weaver is finding herself challenged each day.

    "I've always believed we never grow if we aren’t challenged,” says Weaver. Being editor is a lot more time consuming than the previous years in yearbook," she said, but she seems to rise to the occasion providing the yearbook staff with some organization. “I’m very organized. I keep a lot of checklists, and try to keep everything on track,” says Weaver.

    As she checks off her checklists in yearbook, Weaver is also forced to count down the days left in her senior year. In addition to yearbook, Weaver spends her time volunteering in LEO Club, National Honor Society, working on the pages of a new SADD Magazine, as well as being involved in her church Youth Group. “Senior year is bitter sweet,” says Weaver, “but the experience is worth it in preparing for college.”

    Next fall, Weaver is planning to go to college to major in political science, and is considering becoming a lawyer.

    Looking through the viewfinder of his camera, Justin Roth snaps some scenic photos of the lovely Reamstown Park for his Digital Photography class. This Cocalico senior has an eye for creativity and design.

    “His greatest talent right now is how he embraces technology and effectively uses it,” said Joe Vulopas, the Cocalico High School yearbook advisor.

    In addition to Digital Photography class, Roth has taken the high school Yearbook class for three years, and spends his senior year as an editor.  

    “Yearbook incorporates journalism, photography, and design,” said Roth.

    Besides yearbook and photography, Roth is also involved in the journalism class, the SADD club, and is also the president of the German club.  

    Roth plans to attend college for graphic design and is looking to go to Lebanon Valley College or Moravian College. 

    "One goal I have for college is to become the yearbook editor," said Roth. "After college, I want to design movie posters or advertisements."