Sarah Harper


Name: Sarah Harper
Position: Online News Editor
Graduation Year: 2012
Sarah Harper loves blackberry pie, beach trips and Pushing Daisies.


Stories (48)


Peep art

By Sarah Harper | April 17, 2012, 9:39 p.m. | In Entertainment »

The annual Washington Post Peeps Diorama Contest has announced this year's winners and posted a photo gallery web site, if you'd like to take a peep! Luckily, store aisles are still brimming with leftover boxes of marshmallow bunnies and chicks, and SCO has created a step-by-step guide to constructing a Peep diorama for those looking to gain a head start in the 2013 contest.

An "elementary" character

By Sarah Harper | Feb. 22, 2012, 6:49 p.m. | In Entertainment »

In 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes to the public in "A Study in Scarlet." Now, 125 years and 60 novels later, the enigmatic detective in the deerstalker hat is as popular as ever. To celebrate the anniversary of Doyle's most cunning and celebrated creation, SCO reviews three welcome cinematic additions to the Holmesian canon.

Pro/Con: Longevity of chain bookstores

By Melissa Haniff, Sarah Harper | Jan. 31, 2012, 2:01 p.m. | In Op/Ed »

But is online retailing really a better option as opposed to in-store shopping?

Pepco fined $1 million for unreliable service

By Sarah Harper | Jan. 13, 2012, 5:31 p.m. | In Local »

The Maryland PSC fined Pepco $1 million for failing to uphold cost-effective electrical maintenance and restore power in a timely manner.

Expect the spectacular

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 18, 2011, 12:39 p.m. | In Features »

Blair's Students for Global Responsibility hosted its annual fundraising event and musical extravaganza, the SGR Spectacular, on Friday to raise money for Doctors Without Borders.

Starr holds second Town Hall meeting

By Sarah Harper | Nov. 11, 2011, 1:06 p.m. | In Local »

On Nov. 9, Superintendent Joshua Starr and Student Member of the Board (SMOB) President Alan Xie hosted a formal Town Hall meeting at Quince Orchard High School. Students were encouraged to email or post questions on Twitter prior to the meeting, which took place from 10:53 to 11:33 a.m., during Blair's fifth-period block. County faculty and students could view the live broadcast on the event at the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) website and its public television station, Channel 34.

International News Roundup for Oct. 9 – Oct. 22

By Sarah Harper | Oct. 25, 2011, 2:26 p.m. | In International »

Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril announced the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who, after the killing of Osama bin Laden, became the world's most wanted man. His 42-year reign came to an end when rebels captured him and his son Muatassim in the town of Surt, Gaddafi's birthplace.

Blair to compete in first "It's Academic" of the season

By Sarah Harper | Oct. 21, 2011, 11:18 a.m. | In Local »

This Saturday, the Blair Academic Team will compete against National Cathedral and South Lakes in "It's Academic," NBC's high school quiz show. The show, Blair's first televised event of the season, will air on Dec. 3 in the 11 a.m. time slot. Senior Daniel Hafner, captain and third-year member, is optimistic about the upcoming show, and about Blair's shot at the 2012 regional title. "We've got lots of talent," he said. "We're one of the best teams in the county [and] our chances are really good, as long as we keep working hard."

National News Round Up for Sept. 17 - Sept. 24

By Allison Daitch, Sarah Harper | Sept. 24, 2011, 10:39 p.m. | In National »

President Obama offered to waive provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, which has been at the heart of educational controversy for nearly a decade. As early as this November, the Department of Education will allow states to apply for the removal of test standards, the expansion of state input in school and district curriculums and the increase of flexibility in federal education spending.

How to survive the apocalypse without really trying

By Sarah Harper | Sept. 16, 2011, 12:18 p.m. | In Humor »

So the question isn't when the world will end, but how. In order to prepare for the worst-case scenarios, SCO proudly presents the Idiot's Survival Guide to the Impending Apocalypse!

Montgomery County Council dictates library funds

By Sarah Harper | June 10, 2011, 1:15 p.m. | In Local »

On May 26, the County Council approved the Fiscal Year 2012 operating budget that will go into effect on July 1. The plan allots Montgomery County Public Libraries total of $27.6 million for next year.

A model theory

By Sarah Harper | May 28, 2011, 4:14 p.m. | In Lifestyle Blog »

If Cycle 16 of "America's Next Top Model" was any indication, this show has far overstayed its welcome and should be swept into the reality trash pile.

Pruning Ivy tuition

By Sarah Harper | May 26, 2011, 1:56 p.m. | In Op/Ed »

Bloated tuition and living costs have limited the selection pool, and applicants without a comfortable family income are repeatedly shut out from the education they deserve.

Blazers announced as U.S. Presidential Scholars

By Sarah Harper | May 18, 2011, 8:24 p.m. | In News »

On May 2, seniors Eli Okun and Sandra Yan were chosen as two of the nation's Presidential Scholars. The Presidential Scholar Program selects up to 141 high school students within the United States and its territories for exceptional academic and civic participation.

A "Mic" to remember

By Sarah Harper | May 1, 2011, 7:52 p.m. | In Features »

Every few months, Blair's award-winning literary arts magazine Silver Quill sponsors Open Mic, a showcase for creativity and talent. Though performances range from poetry to music to writing, the turnout is always remarkable.

Board of Education selects next MCPS superintendent

By Sarah Harper | May 1, 2011, 4:48 p.m. | In Local »

Last Monday, the Maryland Board of Education (BOE) selected Joshua P. Starr as its candidate to replace Jerry Weast as Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) superintendent.

An elegant "Elephant"

By Sarah Harper | April 26, 2011, 1:27 p.m. | In Movies »

The circus has a timeless tradition of ostentation, and director Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend") does not shy from bold, showy backdrops in his latest film, "Water for Elephants."

Blazers receive National Carson Scholars Fund

By Sarah Harper | April 6, 2011, 2:02 p.m. | In Local »

Last month, freshman Shaun Datta and sophomore Hannah Weintraub were awarded the Carson Scholars Fund.

Blazers participate in Junior National Swim Meet

By Sarah Harper | April 3, 2011, 12:44 a.m. | In Blair »

Two Blair students, senior Eric Ruggieri and junior Niklas Hammond, competed in the National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) Junior Nationals in Orlando, Florida last month.

Swim and Dive places 12th at Metro Championships

By Sarah Harper | March 8, 2011, 1:18 p.m. | In Blair »

Blair Swim and Dive (7-0) came 12th place in the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships (Metros) last week with a combined score of 187.5. The boys' team took 11th place with 125.5 points and the girls' took 17th place with 62 points.

A high-stakes game

By Sarah Harper | March 4, 2011, 10:26 p.m. | In Op/Ed »

For college athletes, stiff competition is the name of the game. It's a competition to be healthy, both mentally and physically. In short, it's a competition on and off the field.

Montgomery County reaches "majority-minority" status

By Sarah Harper | March 2, 2011, 9:30 p.m. | In Local »

Montgomery County is one of two Maryland counties whose minority population became the majority this year, according to the national census released in early February.

Snyder's snit

By Sarah Harper | Feb. 22, 2011, 1:40 p.m. | In Sports Blog »

Superbowl Sunday is behind us, but Dan Snyder isn't ready to let go of the game. Snyder, who is the current owner of the Redskins, filed a libel lawsuit against the Washington City Paper in early February.

Swim and Dive places fifth in County Championships

By Sarah Harper | Feb. 21, 2011, 3:50 p.m. | In Blair »

Blair swim and dive (7-0) came in fifth overall in the County Championships this weekend, falling just behind the tough Division I teams.

Swim and Dive dominates divisionals

By Sarah Harper | Feb. 13, 2011, 11:18 a.m. | In Blair »

Blair swim and dive (7-0) took first place at the Division II Competition this Saturday with a combined score of 819, defeating the closest competition by more than 100 points.

All tapped out

By Sarah Harper | Feb. 1, 2011, 9:31 p.m. | In News Blog »

Even though timeline of this messy, drawn-out affair traces back six years, there's no telling whether the tabloid will be able to again slip its way out of this situation.

Swim and Dive slinks past Jaguars

By Sarah Harper | Jan. 23, 2011, 11:59 a.m. | In Blair »

Blair's swim and dive team (5-0) defeated Northwest this Saturday, clinching the win with a combined score of 181-161.

Navigating the Golden Globes

By Melissa Haniff, Sarah Harper | Jan. 16, 2011, 1:36 p.m. | In Entertainment »

As the days have wound down before the stars come out to celebrate their accomplishments in the film and television world, these SCO experts have been awaiting Sunday's Golden Globes for months.

Pro/Con: Continuing corollary sports

By Sarah Harper, Valerie Hu | Jan. 13, 2011, 10:23 p.m. | In Op/Ed »

This year, MCPS partnered with the Special Olympics to establish a corollary athletics program. The program is intended to give students with and without mental and physical disabilities a chance to participate in an interscholastic athletics team and largely restricts other varsity and junior varsity athletes from joining the teams.

Blair robotics participates in FRC kickoff

By Sarah Harper | Jan. 10, 2011, 9:54 p.m. | In Local »

The Blair Robotics team attended the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) kickoff event for its 2011 Robotics Competition (FRC) this weekend. Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, founded FIRST, an organization that combines technology and sports.

Swim and Dive win divisional relay carnival

By Sarah Harper | Jan. 9, 2011, 5:30 p.m. | In Blair »

Blair swim and dive (3-0) placed first overall in the Division II relay carnival this Saturday with a combined score of 68, edging out the closest competition by 10 points.

Kindling the holiday spirit

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 22, 2010, 10:42 p.m. | In Lifestyle Blog »

Garlands and wreaths are hanging from storefronts. Candles are flickering behind windowpanes. At last, the days of hectic holiday shopping are numbered.

Math department offers HSA prep

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 20, 2010, 11:49 p.m. | In Local »

The Mathematics department is offering a preparatory class for students taking the Algebra I High School Assessment (HSA) to ensure that Blair passes the required Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) rate for 2011, which has increased by 8.8 points from last year's rate.

Swim and dive swipes victory from Cougars

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 19, 2010, 12:20 p.m. | In Blair »

The Blair swim and dive team (3-0) secured a solid win over the Quince Orchard Cougars (1-1) on Saturday morning, making a clean sweep of almost every event.

Lots of latkes

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 6, 2010, 11:27 a.m. | In Entrées »

The holidays are a time of sharing old traditions and making new ones, especially in the kitchen. The latke is a well-loved, versatile classic: these golden-brown crisps can be mixed and matched with any topping or other dish.

Give thanks for food banks

By Sarah Harper | Nov. 22, 2010, 9:46 p.m. | In Food »

Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate with family and be grateful for the best parts of your life, not to mention the famous holiday dinner. Roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes covered in gravy, soft bread rolls, buttered squash and homemade pumpkin pie – what's not to love? But now, more than ever, families below the poverty line are struggling to bring food to the table.

The missile dismissal

By Sarah Harper | Nov. 15, 2010, 7:30 a.m. | In News Blog »

A KCBS news helicopter filmed the image and within hours, the video went viral. Experts across the country were weighing in and dubbing the incident as the "Mystery Missile."

Off the field, in the red

By Sarah Harper | Nov. 2, 2010, 7:09 p.m. | In Features »

As the cold snap of fall brings this sport season to a close and teams are in the midst of playoffs, most coaches and athletes have endured a season more financially challenging and unstable than ever before.

Governor's election sheds light on state issues

By Sarah Harper | Nov. 1, 2010, 6:33 p.m. | In Local »

With the Maryland gubernatorial election drawing to a close today, incumbent Martin O'Malley and former Governor Robert Ehrlich have switched the focus from name-calling to reemphasizing their respective political platforms.

Alfred Hitchcock presents

By Marjorie Fuchs, Sarah Harper | Oct. 30, 2010, 10:39 p.m. | In Movies »

Nothing compares to the thrills and chills of an Alfred Hitchcock film. His trademark screeching violins, shadowed cinematography and gripping plot twists have revolutionized the psychological thriller genre and captivated audiences for more than half a century.

The law of the Bandz

By Sarah Harper | Oct. 19, 2010, 11:24 a.m. | In Humor »

It's the latest fad sweeping Blair hallways. You can snap 'em to your wrists, switch with friends or just show off your favorites – simply put, Silly Bandz are irresistible.

Construction begins on Silver Spring Library

By Sarah Harper | Oct. 5, 2010, 11:41 a.m. | In Local »

The site for the new Silver Spring Library has been undergoing construction throughout September, lthough interior design plans and the current budget proposal for the library are under revision.

Grade "A"

By Sarah Harper | Sept. 20, 2010, 5:46 p.m. | In Movies »

Will Gluck's latest film, "Easy A," is an updated version of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," complete with laughs and a great set of characters.

Gold things come in threes

By Sarah Harper | Sept. 19, 2010, 5:51 p.m. | In Sports Blog »

The elite gymnast is a product of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Dallas, Texas, the same gym that trained Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin, 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold-winners respectively.

It's a (Monster) ball

By Sarah Harper | Sept. 9, 2010, 2:36 p.m. | In Music »

Lady Gaga's second world tour, titled "The Monster Ball," came to the Verizon Center in D.C. on Tuesday, Sept. 7. The concert, which sold out mere minutes after tickets went on sale, combined Gaga's lyrical talent with her signature theatricality and resulted in a mind-blowing production. For a staggering three hours, the artist's blend of catchy pop choruses and glam rock hooks kept the audience on its feet and dancing.

Mud slinging

By Sarah Harper | Aug. 10, 2010, 11:06 p.m. | In News Blog »

After the explosion of Deepwater Horizon's drilling rig, it seemed as though British Petroleum (BP) was sadly lacking a how-to manual on cleaning up the largest oil spill in history.

Every "Cloud" has a silver lining

By Sarah Harper | Aug. 1, 2010, 8:13 p.m. | In Movies »

The film makes for an enjoyable watch on a Sunday afternoon, but is ultimately confusing and predictable, due to poor editing and mediocre cinematography.

Storm causes massive local damage

By Sarah Harper | Aug. 1, 2010, 2:39 a.m. | In Local »

Early this week, Pepco announced that 301,000 Maryland and Washington, D.C. residents lost electricity as a result of the storm on Sunday.



Images (4)


Photo: Latke necesities

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 6, 2010, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Latke mash

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 6, 2010, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Latke pan

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 6, 2010, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Final latke

By Sarah Harper | Dec. 6, 2010, midnight | In ‎Latest »