the standard
blue valley southwest | senior issue 2021
2 | contents / the standard / senior issue 2021
contents
3 | Senior Letters 6 | Signings 8 | Map 10 | Superlatives 12 | Survey 14 | Photo Essay
on the cover
Senior Joyce Yu holds a graduation cap and a mask representing the senior class graduation May 22. photo illustration by Siri Chevuru volume 11 / senior issue bvswnews.com @bvswnews on Instagram, Twitter & Snapchat
the standard
editor-in-chief keithan sharp
online editor karley kent design editor siri chevuru social media manager sahar baha business manager rebecca suku staff writers ellie phillips erica peterson logan brucker macy kennedy adviser rachel chushuk The Southwest Standard is published seven times a year for students, faculty, and surrounding community of Blue Valley Southwest. It is an open forum for student expression. Therefore, the opinions expressed within this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the administration of Blue Valley Unified School District #229. Letters to the editor and reader responses are encouraged for publication. The Southwest Standard reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content and encourages letters to be no more than 350 words. All letters must be signed and names will be published. The Standard 17600 Quivira Road Overland Park, KS 66221 Website: bvswnews.com Email: bvswnews@gmail.com
senior letters / the standard / senior issue 2021 | 3
senior letters
the seniors of the newspaper staff share their final thoughts on their high school journalism journey
Keithan Sharp
After many pitches, interviews and rough drafts, my journey in newspaper has come to a close. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent in room 118, and the lessons I gained as editor-in-chief are endless. I set out this year to accomplish something in newspaper. I didn’t want to be just another editor or the one filling up the position for 2021. I set out to create the very best version of The Standard, to balance many different perspectives and to do my part to inform, inspire and, hopefully, entertain the school. I can say with full confidence that I am pleased with the job this year’s staff did. We created five great issues, in addition to a one-of-its kind special edition issue for the 2020 Election and a senior issue for the class of 2021. We did all of this in an extremely precarious educational environment, shifting from virtual to hybrid to in-person, but we never let the challenges get to us, and we finished every task at hand. None of this would have been possible without the guidance of Mrs. Chushuk, who led us through every issue and helped us navigate the year. It took a special kind of staff this year, too — a staff that could work remotely and figure out a way to finish the job even when there was nobody in the room to ask for help. We did it, though, and I am honored to say I was a member of The Standard. I may be done with newspaper, but hopefully the success we had this year will carry on to the next staff, and we can improve every year. As I continue on to future endeavors, I will be focused and motivated for what’s to come, but I won’t forget where I come from, either. Luckily for me, the newspaper will always be a part of who I am.
4 | senior letters / the standard / senior issue 2021
Rebecca Suku
The fact that senior year has almost come to an end has still not hit me. The past year has been a blur and all of us have faced challenges that we would have never expected. However, I do think I learned to enjoy and be grateful for the simple things and appreciate the people around me more than ever. Over the last few years at Southwest, I’ve met some incredible friends and staff who have been supporting every step of the way. From dancing at the diversity assembly, to spending Timber Time laughing with my friends and singing our hearts out at Homecoming: there have been countless fun moments. I will never forget the AP Lang food parties, chaotic physics group projects and the eventful newspaper field trips. I stumbled upon newspaper because a friend urged me to join a fun class that would give me a break from my packed schedule. Looking back, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Newspaper has helped me find my voice and given me a creative outlet to express my views and delve deeper into my interests. I gained insight into the world of journalism and discovered my passion for writing and designing. Being a small staff, we were still able to produce quality issues this year and I am so proud of all our accomplishments. To everyone on staff, you are so kind and talented and I know you guys will do great next year! Mrs. Chushuk, thank you for being such an amazing adviser and for all the help, encouragement and popcorn. I will miss you (and Paul) so much! As I begin this new chapter of my life, I will bring all of the lessons I’ve learned and memories I’ve made at Southwest along with me. Although I am sad to be leaving high school behind, I am so excited to see what the future holds for all us.
Siri Chevuru
As soon as high school began, it came to an end. I was always excited to graduate and explore different places and meet new people. High school always seemed to be moving so slow and it was almost exhausting to continue at the snail’s pace. However, I can hardly remember the four years that are so prominent in my life. Everything I’ve experienced is lumped into a chapter and with the simple action of flipping a page, I leave everything behind to start a new chapter. It feels as if the chapter is rather a book that’s now being put away on a shelf soon to be forgotten. To be honest, if you said I’d be in the Newspaper when I was a freshman I’d be surprised. Deciding to take this class was impulsive, but I never looked back. The class has become more than just a class. I made many friends, learned a lot and ultimately came out a better and stronger person. I remember the time when I opened my rough draft it would be filled with yellow and corrections. I was so bad it took a whole year to learn how to write a proper story. Admittedly, this year has been nothing close to what it was before. We didn’t have you our usual donuts after we finished our issues, nor the chance to steal candy from Churbs’ bin. And a lot of new things came about this year. Trust me, I did not anticipate having a table flipped on me … it’s OK, you’re still amazing Churbs! To everyone in the class, I’m so grateful to have met all of you. You made the experience more memorable. I can’t wait to see what you all will do next. And to Mrs. Chushuk, thank you for always offering advice and motivating us to reach our highest potential. Leaving Southwest, there’s a lot of things that I’m going to miss, and Newspaper is definitely one. And so I get ready to put down the pen and flip the page to my next chapter.
| elliephillips | ericapeterson
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6 | signings / the standard / senior issue 2021
senior signings college signings for the class of 2021
band Bennett Tuel Abigail Stapley Connor Anderson Niki Noland Kaitlyn Still Tyler Dorsch Liam Olinger
With the wind ensemble, senior Niki Noland plays her clarinet on Dec. 17. Photo by Lianna Shoikhet.
esports
basketball
Grace Boyer Michael Knickerbocker
lacrosse Ian Keylon Luke Jones
Ethan Rayburn Connor Fitzmorris
vocal music Alyssa Cangelose Caroline Hoggatt Hannah Young
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soccer Natalie Wilson Kylie Stonestreet Lexie Ruf Hannah Phillips Jade Jones Sydney Beck Carlin Blake Jaylie Hicklin
wrestling Mack Hubbel Pinning his opponent, senior Mack Hubbel competes in a wrestling quad on Dec. 19. Photo by Sophia Rose.
baseball Camden Dayton Mason Holton Cal Kilgore Ben Kudrna Tyler Massey Luke Schmedding
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football Tanner Curry Tristen Everard Junior Keuwo
track & field Eden Schwarz Lauren Heck Emily Ervin
equestrian Sophie Cornthwaite
theatre Alyssa Cangelose
Senior Alyssa Cangelose performs in “Now. Here. This.” on April 27. Photo by Logan Brucker. | elliephillips | ericapeterson
4
Arizona State University Kaitlyn Crader Jameson Malmkar Grand Canyon University Jaylie Hicklin Ottawa UniversitySurprise Matthew Johnson
Arizona
University of Alabama Alyssa Arnett Kenna Plaster
Alabama
List as of May 10
1
4
3
Aurora University Jessica Somogye Columbia College Chicago Presley Scogland
Illinois
University of Central Florida Sophia Henke University of South Florida Alex Ermgodts Ashley Hendricks
1
Johnson County Community College Awni Alazzeh Tesse Caldwell Cortez Dyson Ali Elmasri Alec Fitts Regan Funkhouser Jack Gillihan Aden Gurwell Ben Hansen Jonathan Hayward Michael Koch Nick Latty Patrick Magee-Weddington
1
5
1
Pittsburg State University Kelliann Kerringer Chas Kneisler University of Kansas Faris Abouodah Connor Anderson Sahar Baha Austin Black Bailey Bowles Nick Bowron Sophia Brandt Alyssa Cangelose
2
1 3
11
138
2 21
2
2
2
2 1
Kayden Williams Connor Williamson Abigail Willson Brinn Wilson Crystal Ye Joyce Yu Washburn University Marin Schwarz Bennett Tuel Wichita State University Tyler Dorsch Tyler Feldman Niki Noland Olivia Parsons
6
the next step 1
Washington, D.C.
University of Washington Hayden Dreyer
Washington
University of Virginia Hudson Langham
Virginia
Brigham Young University Lexi Lindman Kate Sawaya Utah State University Abigail Stapley
Utah
map of the destinations of this year’s seniors
University of Missouri Emily Ervin Mira Hentschel Remy Newgent University of MissouriKansas City Sean Khan Aatif Syed William Jewell College Camden Dayton
4
1
2
8 | map / the standard / senior issue 2021
Kansas
University of Iowa Anna Heise Keithan Sharp
Iowa
Indiana University Bloomington Egan Li Purdue University Jordan Hunter
Indiana
Loyola University Chicago Alex Swanson Northwestern University Karthik Sathish Southern Illinois University Cooper Robinson University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigne Nityanta Saripalli
Florida
Colorado
Baker University Grace Boyer Ethan Rayburn Benedictine College Hannah Phillips Luke Schmedding University of Colorado Blue Valley 18 to 21 Boulder Tanya Falkner Aditya Chowdhury Gabriel Ricci University of Colorado Max Rivard Denver Coffeyville Community Jake Cleary College Veronica Minster Tyler Massey Kate Tucker Fort Hays State University of Colorado at University Colorado Springs Mason Holton Natalie Wilson Independence Community College Tanner Curry Tristen Everard Florida SouthWestern State College Hunter Tenholder
San Diego State University Carlin Blake University of California, Davis Tushar Kotamraju University of California, Los Angeles Sarah Lee University of Southern California Luke Langham
California
University of Arkansas Madison Fischer Maya Gregory Rachel Hammons Katherine Heyka Sydney Meschwitz Brooke Pelfrey Patience Peterson Hayden Porter Lance Teague Lindsey Vitha University of Arkansas at Little Rock Mack Hubbel
Arkansas Jake McArthur Aidan Pate Colin Perry Rain Pickering Jordan Schneider Kayla Schnettgoecke Ayden Stander Nick Stegeman Noah Walton Noah Williams Johnson County Community College Fire Academy Jonathan Cauble Kansas City, Kansas Community College Caroline Hoggatt Kansas State University Arian Alhosseini Thomas Appleby Cayd Bezanson Hannah Broyles Matthew Claar Jordan Courtney Brooke Davis Thade DeYoung Eric Faltermeier Mackenzie Feldman Laura Forrest Julia Havens Kenna Hiebert Blake Holland Grant Kollman Mandy Kooken Ashley Lamfers Kagan Leiker Gigi Loffredo Harrison Powell Tanner Prock Blake Roth Caden Schaffer Kassidy Schultz Sydney Stanton Lily Wassall Lauren Weber Matthew Young Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus Kaden Christiansen Austin Yarbrough
Alexander Chipak Matthew Clardy Anna Comstock Carson Craft Braden Crank Ashley Cruce Cora Davis Michael Earney Yaseen El-Demerdash Chase Entwistle Jordan Funk Sophya Galan Braeden Gembala Hannah Ginsberg Leah Goldstein Mitchell Hansen Bailey Hart Mason Hatch Lauren Heck Madison Hill Trendan Hitchcock Subhan Jamal Alex Jones Reece Klusman Anakha Krishna Sam Limback Gwen Looney Adam Marshall Matthew Morris Gabrielle Muir Jamie Neiman Xuan Nguyen Alex Ogren Alex Ott Olivia Palmer Ben Pardo Isabella Passantino Shay Patel Tina Robertson Emilyn Ruhnke Gretta Sailer Eden Schwarz Lianna Shoikhet Jessica Slezak Kaitlyn Still Rebecca Suku Lauren Taylor Aditya Vorakkara Ella Wallace Justin Weaver Avila University Connor Fitzmorris Central Methodist University Michael Knickerbocker Culver-Stockton College Jade Jones Drury University Hannah Young Kansas City Art Institute Jillian Artus Linn State Technical College Payton Fugate Missouri Southern State University Kylie Stonestreet Missouri University of Science and Technology George Bilyea Missouri Valley College Junior Keuwo Missouri Western State University Liam Olinger Rockhurst University Luke Jones Ian Keylon Saint Louis University Siri Chevuru University of Central Missouri Sydney Beck Lexie Ruf
Missouri
Michigan State University Avery Kotel University of Michigan Owen Li
Michigan
Louisiana State University Ben Kudrna Emma Van Pelt
Louisiana
Dallas Baptist University Maddie Kelly Texas Christian University Megan Hanahan University of Texas at Austin Chinmay Krishna
Texas
University of Oklahoma Rory Stanfield
Oklahoma
Miami University Merritt Ellis
Ohio
North Dakota State University Tyler Specht
North Dakota
Colgate University Lily Spinner New York University Olivia Richey
New York
New Mexico State University Cal Kilgore
New Mexico
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Cole Justice
Nevada
University of Nebraska Katie Charest Grace Roberts
Nebraska
*Seniors who did not respond to the senior survey are not listed
Ryan Bates Mason Behrens Marshall Edwards Jonathan Geddie Ava Hernandez Brett Hill Emily Hope Corbin Kreimendahl Katelyn Kreimendahl Kaleb O’Keefe Jake Rafanan Jason Shoemaker Samuel Spitler Brooks Thompson Seth Wright
Other
United States Marine Corps Griffin McClellen
Military
Meelan Cain Ethan Head Carson Hornung Nathan Kaiser Tyler Leachner Keagan McKinney Reese Renzi Trent Shannon Gweneth Sullivan
Undecided
University of East Anglia Sophie Cornthwaite
International
Georgetown University Kristina Wu
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s e r v i o t i a n l se super
10 | superlatives / the standard / senior issue 2021
Best school spirit
Most likely to be ID’d at 30
Anna Heise and Luke Schmedding Lexie Ruf and Aden Gurwell
Most likely to never come back to Kansas
Lily Spinner and Ashley Hendricks
Most likely to be on a reality TV show Megan Hanahan
Most likely to be a millionaire
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Nityanta Saripalli and Karthik Sathish
Most changed since freshman year
Bella Passantino and Reece Klusman
Most likely to become a pro athlete Best dressed
Carlin Blake and Ben Kudrna
Worst case of senioritis Lily Wassall and Cayd Bezanson Lauren Taylor and Cal Kilgore
12 | infographic / the standard / senior issue 2021
senior stats
160 students surveyed about their senior year
47%
42% 33% 25%
Meeting new people Being on my own
Moving away Staying close to home
Hybrid In-person
What are you looking forward to post graduation?
Online
Favorite fast food drive thru Chick-Fil-A 25% Raising Cane’s 10% Sonic 18% Other
Favorite Learning Mode
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What will you miss most about high school? Friends
“I will remember what school was like before a pandemic and all of the fun events and how impactful they were on me. They were truly such fun times.” | senioralexjones “I will always remember when Ian Keylon drank 10 things of Kool Aid in AVID and threw up blue vomit in the 300 hall bathroom.” | seniorconnorfitzmorris
Sports
Staff
Other
Did you participate in.... Yes No
Messages to teachers “Thank you Coach TJ Taylor, for supporting me not only on the court, but as an individual. You’ve pushed me to be a better athlete, role model, and an adult!” | seniorkaydenwilliams “Mr. Hawks, every day is a good day when in class. No matter the score or the work. The only thing about the class I hate is the amount of time we spend outside the classroom.” | seniorreidmccants “Mr. Foote. We don’t say this enough, but you took on a group of students who felt broken and hopeless after losing [Dan] Schmidt. Despite the pandemic, you still put on incredible shows and made an effort to get to know us and give us opportunities I never dreamed of. Thank you so much for all you do.” | seniorhannahyoung
58%
42%
A fake dance? 59%
41%
Assassins? | rebeccasuku
14 | photo essay / the standard / senior issue 2021
looking back...
Senior Tesse Caldwell waves her flag during the band halftime show in her sophomore year. Photo by Abigail Defoor. Senior Tanner Curry runs the ball at the green and white scrimmage in his junior year. Photo by Alyssa Arnett.
Senior Tina Robertson performs with the Glitter Girls at their regional competition on Feb. 27.
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Seniors Jessica Somogye and Alyssa Cangelose perform with the Choraliers during their freshman year choir concert. Photo by Abigail Defoor.
Senior Rebecca Suku dances at the diversity assembly during her junior year. Photo by Lianna Shoikhet.
Seniors Liam Olinger, Subhan Jamal and Ali Elmasri sing the Alma Mater during their first assembly freshman year. Photo by Sally Rose.
Senior Arian Alhosseini tees off at the Country Club of Leawood on March 4. Photo by Sydney Meschwitz.
16 | photo essay / the standard / senior issue 2021
Senior Jonathan Hayward plays the trombone during the band halftime show in his sophomore year. Photo by Abigail Defoor.
Seniors Katie Charest, Laura Forrest, and Maddie Kelly participate in the activities fair in September 2017. Photo by Bryce Beck.
Senior Ashley Hendricks performs in the dress rehearsal of the spring musical “Now. Here. This.” on April 27. Photo by Sydney Meschwitz.
Senior Hannah Phillips paints a pawprint on Nov. 14. Photo by Leah Goldstein.
| loganbrucker | karleykent
