With the recent ban of gay marriage in North Carolina and President Obama announcing his support of gay marriage, there are a lot of arguments between why people view it as wrong or right.

I personally think that we all should have the right to get married. Whether you’re a girl and you want to marry a girl or you’re a guy and you want to marry another guy. We are all American — we should all have the same rights.

There are many reasons why people view same-sex marriage as wrong.

No. 1: God and the Bible.

First of all, not everyone believes in the same God, or places the same high reverence to God in their lives.  The Bible is not a legal document on how to run our country. The people who want to live according to the Bible should have that right – and they do in the First Amendment. Those who don’t follow the Bible’s teachings shouldn’t have laws forbidding them from  living their lives as they choose.

No. 2: A relationship is between a man and a woman.

That’s not always true. There are more than romantic relationships. A relationship can be between a mother and daughter, father and son, sisters, brothers, friends.

You can platonically or romantically have a relationship. But no matter what type of relationship a person has they shouldn’t be judged or isolated or treated differently than others.

No. 3: It’s unnatural.

In this world the things we view as finite aren’t. Even things such as gender or sexuality are not certain.  The world is gray, when more people start to realize that the world will be a much better, more accepting place.

 The competition was strong, but Katie Hodges wins this award for her crisp and compelling writing, the broad sweep of her interests, and her forceful, intelligent opinions that graced not only the Stampede but the pages of the Great Falls Tribune this year.

She’s a natural and stylish storyteller who cuts quickly to a story’s heart. She digs deeply for details and knows what her readers need. She chooses her words carefully, but her writing is never leaden or stiff. It flows so well that reading it seems effortless. That’s a rare ability for someone so young.

Her writing alone qualifies her for this award, but the breadth of her prolific contribution to the Stampede is remarkable too. She covers news and sports and writes features, editorials and columns – all with the same easy grace. She’s fearless in the subjects she tackles in her editorials, especially those that challenge school policies. Her logic is impeccable and persuasive.

Toss in the fact that she’s a good designer, and it’s easy to see why Katie is the MVP of an impressive staff. The paper will miss her next year, but I suspect it won’t be long before the rest of the state acknowledges her talent too.

In February, Downs was named the 2011-12 Gatorade boys soccer player of the year for the state of Montana, but he says he has more to do.

“It boosted my confidence, and to me it means I reached the next step,” he said. “But there’s still a mountain to climb.”

At 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, Downs had 14 goals and 8 assists last fall. He was nationally recognized for the award that only one other CMR student has ever received.

“My goal for next season is to win state.”

“I think it’s a good thing,” McClain said. “We hear our band, choir and orchestra play when most students don’t go to their actual concerts.”

The annual Performing Arts Assembly took place May 1 in the Bill Will auditorium. The show displayed the talents of Chanteur choir, Russell Ayres, Symphonic Band, the drama department, Chamber orchestra, and the Russtones, all of which McClain said she enjoyed.

 “I really enjoyed the electric violin and the performance by the jazz band and Libby Carlson’s solo,” she said. “We got to see our [drama] seniors perform for one of the last times.”

After she watched her fellow classmates perform, McClain said she was inspired by how talented they were.

“I really do wish I could sing and play all of those instruments,” she said. “This assembly just makes me jealous of those people.”

Journalism teacher Beth Britton agrees that it’s important for the student body to see these performances.

“I think it’s a good way for [the students] to practice audience etiquette,” Britton said. “They get to see how passionate and talented their peers are and make them want to join.”

Britton, who advises the CMR journalism classes, says it’s a good way to see her students in a different light.

“It’s nice to see your students successful in another arena,” she said.

While this show is an annual occurrence, Britton said she is taken aback by the talent of the student body every time she sees them perform.

“I really am always amazed,” she said.

“I moved to Great Falls in second grade and I met a girl who sang at church. I admired her and she taught me how to sing,” freshman Victoria Spiewak said.

Spiewak likes singing so much she has taken it to a new level.

Spiewak traveled to Seattle on April 20, 2011 to try out for X-Factor, a singing competition judged by three professionals and occasionally the fans. Contestants sing for the chance to win $5 million and a recording contract.

Spiewak is into a lot of music, but she loves singing “All Time Low.” For her audition, which she said was a crazy experience, she performed “Remembering Sunday” by the band.

“The set–up was 24 booths with a judge in each one,” she said. “Everyone was a family because everyone got the chance to know each other by waiting to get into the audition.”

Spiewak is going to audition again later this year in the hopes of achieving her dream.

Starting in elementary school Lehotsky played in the school band and continued to play in the high school symphonic band. Currently playing the bass clarinet, Lehotsky said it wasn’t the first instrument she learned to play. While actually starting on the clarinet, when the option to play bass clarinet appeared she jumped at it.

In addition to both of those instruments, Lehotsky also managed to learn how to play the tenor saxophone.

While playing these instruments for years, she said she has given them names, not including the clarinet because it’s not good enough for one.

“The tenor sax is named­­­­­­­ Kianus. He’s a Jupiter,” she said.

Band isn’t her only activity. Track caught her attention in middle school, and it is still a sport she is passionate about.

“I fell in love–they’re my friends,” Lehotsky said, referring to shot-put, discus and javelin.

Having a family with an athletic background influenced Lehotsky to try out for track and volleyball.

“I have a pretty athletic family…my mom played volleyball, my dad played football and track, and my bro did football and track,” she said.

Lehotsky referred to track as a sport she enjoys, especially when she’s throwing javelin.

“I feel like a harpoon whale killer.”