• • September 16: SWENext Interest Meeting (One Lunch, Schola) •
  • • September 16: Pickleball Club Lunch Social (One Lunch, 250) •
  • • September 16: Astronomy Club (One Lunch, 223) •
  • • September 17: Ballroom Dance Club (One Lunch, 250) •
  • • September 19-21: NAS Oceana Air Show •
  • • October 4: Homecoming 2025 •
  • • Hall Dec (ALL CLASSES, FULL WEEK) •
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
Braden Ward

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor

Braden Ward is a third year journalist and currently serves as the commentary editor for The Current. Braden plays for the school’s baseball team and hopes to become an officer in the Navy or Air Force.

All content by Braden Ward
Meme depicting the Federal Government’s use of stimulus.

Senior twins Sophia and Isabella Libonate enjoy time together on a Disney Cruise in December 2019.

Twins prefer unique perspectives despite similar genes

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
March 26, 2020
Students fill out their finance chart at one of the stations in the schola on Jan. 23, 2020.

Finance game sparks unexpected emotions

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
January 24, 2020
Chart representing the AFC and NFC Super Bowl contenders as of Dec. 18.

[Photo] Super Bowl front-runners for the NFL’s 100 season

January 3, 2020
Chart representing the AFC and NFC Super Bowl contenders as of Dec. 18.

Super Bowl front-runners for the NFL’s 100 season

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
January 3, 2020
Jostens representative explains the process of ordering cap and gowns on Nov. 13, 2019 in the auditorium.

Old Dominion University's Engineering Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Rafael Landaeta presents an overview of their engineering program along with seven upperclassmen on Nov. 16, 2019.

Some college majors prove more valuable than others

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
November 19, 2019
Band students tour James Madison University on July 5, 2016. A study done in 2012 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that the average starting salary of music education majors was only $36,400.

The student parking lot, a perfect example of depreciation. The hundreds of cars parked in the lot lose hundreds of dollars money every day as a result of depreciation. Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2019.

New car ownership reeks of depreciation

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
October 6, 2019
Senior Xavier Adams browses Katie Anderson's catalog of books on Sept. 20, 2019.

English teacher opens up mini library in classroom

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
September 21, 2019
The girls volleyball team hold up their tournament trophy shortly after their victory over Kellam on Aug. 31, 2019.

Girls volleyball starts season strong with opener, tournament win

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
September 7, 2019
Locals mourn the 12 victims at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center Memorial on July 7.

Junior starts “Hope for VB Victims” fundraiser

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
July 22, 2019
Juniors Mica Jenko and Hunter Gibboney stand at the General Booth Chick-fil-a where they work. Photo taken on March 30.

Students look for summer work as school year wraps up

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
June 14, 2019
A large crowd gazes at the stage as singer Charlie Wilson performs at Something in the Water on April 28.

That’s a rap, Something in the Water proved a success

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
May 11, 2019
Governor’s School students stand in front Sun Voyager sculpture in Reykjavik, Iceland. Photo taken on April 20

Governor’s School students travel to Europe for spring break

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
April 28, 2019
Xzavier Funderbunk rushes for the ball against Cox on March 14.

Four-year soccer starter looks to succeed in last season

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
April 8, 2019
Map for the Something in the Water music festival details where specific events will take place at the Oceanfront.

Pharrell’s highly anticipated Virginia Beach music festival tickets on sale

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
March 11, 2019
Protests such as the march pictured on the top (from The Stream) lead to the consequences pictured on the bottom (from Yahoo Finance and Organic Consumers Association).

Consequences of higher minimum wage outweigh benefits

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
March 3, 2019
Test-takers pack up to return to their second block classes after they turned in their answer sheets.

AMC test, designed to promote problem-solving skills

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
February 15, 2019
Many Democrats such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (left) and Senate Minority leader Charles Schumer (middle) continuously fight President Trump’s (right) proposal of a border wall.

Record long government shutdown ends

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
January 30, 2019
Senior all-state defensive back and Maryland commit Tayvion Land hugs head coach Joe Jones on senior night at Kellam high school.

VHSL class six all-state football teams rosters released

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
January 17, 2019
ESPN preaches the views of the most politically correct group in the country: social justice warriors. Photo from the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education.

[Photo] Politics and sports, ESPN learned the hard way

December 20, 2018
ESPN preaches the views of the most politically correct group in the country: social justice warriors. Photo from the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education.

Politics and sports, ESPN learned the hard way

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
December 20, 2018
ESPN preaches the views of the most politically correct group in the country: social justice warriors. Photo from the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education.

General details for the city-wide SCA run event.

Xander Jedlick walks with his family on the Kellam football field for the Dolphins senior night on Nov. 9.

From JV bench to varsity starter

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
November 30, 2018
Juniors will register first followed by freshman and then sophomores.

Students soon to register for next year’s classes

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
November 18, 2018
English teacher Jessica Scheible collects federal cards from her 2A study block on Nov. 2.

School administration aims at 100 percent return on federal cards

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
November 5, 2018
Class of 2020 receives ring information from Josten's representative in the auditorium on Oct. 31 during their advisory block.

[Photo] Juniors attended Jostens ring assembly during advisory

Meilani Bitanga, Copy Editor, Staff Writer
November 5, 2018
The junior varsity football team takes the field at Princess Anne.

Junior varsity player development has lost its value

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
October 24, 2018
Jackson Ploeger connecting a school laptop to a printer.

Humans of OL: Jackson Ploeger

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
October 21, 2018
The Dolphins run onto the field prior to their 10-6 win against Landstown at Ocean Lakes HS on Sept. 29, 2018.

Varsity Football holds on to beat Landstown in a nail-biter

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
October 6, 2018
IMG_7977

The dates of the three Online Learning days activated.

Freshman Jaelynn Holloway completes her Virtual Learning assignment for her Japanese class.

Virtual learning days activated due to school cancellations due to Hurricane Florence

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
September 23, 2018
From top left: Christina Frierman, Leah Nelson, John Parker, Mike King, Kathy Turner, Dot Neal, Carlin Conoway, Eric Jaworski, Shirley Hall, Dr. Claire LeBlanc, James Imbriale and Fara Wiles pose at the teacher conference.

Teachers and administrators participate in annual conference to address student empowerment

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
September 4, 2018
Rising sophomore Carson DeMartini visits Virginia Tech after verbally committing to play baseball at the Division I college.

Rising sophomore baseball player verbally commits to Virginia Tech

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
August 13, 2018
This is one of the main offices of the non-profit organization The College Board; located in Reston, VA. Photo credit: Joseph Freeman and Associates.

College Board wields too much power upon high school students

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
June 19, 2018
The homepage for Schoology linked with Google Drive. Photo Credit: Betterbuys.com

Google Classroom to be replaced with Schoology

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
April 15, 2018

Threats from North Korea spark safety concerns, return of civil defense

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
February 28, 2018

Destruction of nuclear families revealed in statistics

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
January 5, 2018

Wrestlers prepare most for the upcoming season with morning lifts

Braden Ward, Commentary Editor
November 14, 2017
Freshmen met in the schola for their second meeting of the year. Back to front, left to right: Shashank Simha, Preston Brady, Chance Phillips, Alex Logg, Andrew Hammock, Jacob Park, Alan Mach, Ethan Nguyen, Brian Nguyen, Dylan Win, Yoland Gao, Haina Lusk, Briana McDonald, Arielle Keaney, Cyonni Perez, Aneshi Patel, Brice Howe, Justin Arenas, Jeannie She, Reese Thornton, Andrea Ayala, Keish Patel, Katherine Shi, Sam Cutler, Jason Querubin, Israel Olukanni, Logan Flanagen, Ryssa Ralibiran, Julianna Taxer, Sara Pompi, Victoria Gille, Bailey Wargo, Larry Eyalla.

Class of 2021 gains momentum with second class meeting

Braden Ward and Lauren Nery
October 4, 2017
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