The Standard Volume 7 Issue 8 - Senior Issue

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blue valley southwest | senior issue

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never forget 2017 photos commemorating the senior class

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9 (1) Posing, senior Amira Bajracharya takes a selfie at the peaceful rally held at school on Nov. 11. (2) The crowd cheers after Southwest scores a three-pointer with 7:38 left in the first half at the boys varsity basketball game on Feb. 10. (3) Performing in the Repertory theatre show, “I and you,” senior Faith Knapp acts the part of Caroline, a girl who has a liver disease.

(4) Clapping and screaming, seniors Lauren Haught, Karie Wu and Macie Bokelman cheer on the Southwest drumline at Relay for Life. (5) Senior Ryan Davis (right) cheers on the varsity football team on Sept. 1 vs Blue Valley West. (6) Stopping the ball, senior Grant Peterson competes in the boys state soccer semi-final game on Nov. 4.

(7) Seniors Matt Nixon, Jake Christie and Ryan Davis cheer on the senior class during an assembly. (8) Senior Abby Fry participates in the rally at school on Dec. 9. Her sign reads “Peace Prospers.” (9) Laughing, senior Kate Bowling watches her Sweetheart royalty video at the assembly on Feb 10. (10) Senior Uma Desai dances in the diversity assembly on Feb. 16. (11) Performing, senior Jared Crain plays his instrument after the Homecoming football game. (12) Performing in the theatre mainstage show “Snow Angel,” senior Trevor Seyl

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wraps his arm around fellow cast members.

(13) During the diversity assembly, senior Sean Brewster cheers after getting an answer correct on KaHoot. (14) Chasing after a Blue Valley High opponent, number 21 senior Daniel Foulon aims to catch the ball to prevent an interception during the fourth quarter of the boys varsity football game on Oct. 7. (15) In a production of “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” senior Jackson Dorris’s character sings about his magic foot. photos by: Donna Armstrong, Megan Flood and Summer Lyon

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senior columns O

n par with the rest of my high school journalism career, I am up writing this column at 2 a.m. the day it is due. If I have learned anything from my three years spent in room 118, it is how to prolong doing my work until the absolute last possible moment and then staying up till 4 a.m. to finish it all.

On a more serious note, the countless hours I have spent working on “The Standard” since I entered room 118 the summer before my sophomore year have shaped me into the “person” I am today. The words “journalistic style” were a foreign concept when I entered this room so many years ago, and now I can’t write papers for English class without cringing every time I place an Oxford comma. I used to struggle to adjust the lighting on my camera, yet now I find myself wishing I was able to change the ISO on my iPhone.

When I joined staff sophomore year, I didn’t have the slightest clue as to how this class would impact my life. While my time spent in room 118 has been the most challenging of my high school career, it has been the most rewarding. I have met a variety of people with eclectic personalities, and each of them will stick with me once I leave these hallowed halls. I have learned to step out of my comfort zone to ask grueling questions during an interview and to look like an absolute fool while trying to get a specific angle for a photograph. However, the most important thing I have learned from room 118 is to pursue my passions, specifically, my passion for photojournalism.

This year, our staff was composed primarily of new staffers. Though we had a few bumps along the road, the new staffers dove into their new tasks with fervor and drive. Seeing this, along with hundreds of meetings with counselor Kristi Dixon, showed me that it’s OK to pursue my passions, even though it may seem daunting and, at times, scary. Next year, I’m heading off to pursue my passion for photojournalism at George Washington University. So, Class of 2017, I encourage you to do the same, relentlessly pursue what drives you, even if it is frightening. | donnaarmstrong

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hen I walked into room 118 the second semester of my freshman year, the only thing I was thinking was “this was a big mistake.” I had chosen to join the newspaper class after completing the prerequisite, and I knew absolutely no one as the only freshman. I quietly took a seat in the middle of the room, and as the rest of the class filtered in and sat on respective sides of the class (leaving me stranded in the middle), my conclusion seemed to solidify. I didn’t know if I would actually be able to fit in with these people, let alone produce anything worth putting in the paper. From attempting to contact my first sources to struggling to learn an entirely new writing style, that semester could be summed up in one word: rough.

Despite the stress and confusion my first semester on staff caused, for some reason, I signed up for the class again sophomore year. Each story got a little easier to write, and I soon found myself signing up again and again for junior and senior year — I was hooked.

Keeping with newspaper has, by far, been the best choice I have made in high school. Nothing has been so much work, yet has come with this many rewards. Going extreme lengths to track down sources results in the best interviews.

Staying up until three in the morning to perfect a draft ends in better stories. As I finish my final issue, I look back upon the class and am grateful that I dragged myself into a world of comma sandwiches, Columbus day and way-too-late editor’s notes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. | lilliehoffart

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or a large portion of my life, I have wanted to leave Kansas when I graduated high school. After applying to 14 colleges this past fall, last week I finally decided that I will be attending California Polytechnic State University and fulfilling my aspirations of seeking a new home. I will be leaving Kansas for the next four years and, quite possibly, forever. As excited as I am with this nine-month process of a decision, I couldn’t help but think about the things I am leaving, what and who I have to say goodbye to and the changes ahead of me as I sat down to write this.

One of the biggest and hardest goodbyes will be to this staff and to The Standard.

At the end of my freshman year, I enrolled in newspaper for the technology credit, planning to drop it at the end of the proceeding year. Fast forward three years and I am finishing my 22nd issue on staff and eighth issue as the editor-in-chief. Over the past three years, I have formed friendships that will and have lasted beyond the doors of room 118 and I have grown from the shy sophomore who was scared to talk to people and was quite the opposite of confident. I have learned how to communicate with strangers and be comfortable and confident with not only myself, but my abilities. I have delved into an array of topics that have allowed me to diversify my thinking, adjust my perspective and become a more well-informed individual. I have found a group of individuals that I meshed with.

Writing my last piece on The Standard means this timeframe and learning experience is coming to a close.

By the time you are reading this, I will have fulfilled my final duties as editor-in-chief and I will be saying my final farewells to a class I have contributed the most time to during my time at Southwest, the class that has caused me the most stress, but the class that has contributed the most back to me. I am extremely thankful for the opportunities newspaper has provided me, for the lessons I have learned and skills I have acquired and for the friends I have made.

This will be one of my hardest goodbyes in the path to one of my most exciting steps of life. It has been an honor to tell your stories, Southwest. Without you, I wouldn’t be the individual I am today. Peace out. | delaneyoliver

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enior Josie Henzlik will study visual communications at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, California. Henzlik said she originally thought she’d pursue something in the medical field after college, but she said she was never really enthusiastic or eager to do so. Instead, Henzlik opted for a future that would incorporate what she is passionate about.

“I’ve always loved fashion and being creative and I was like ‘OK, you know what? I love this, I’m going to make a career out of this,’” Henzlik said.

According to the institute’s website, FIDM focuses on design and creative business and strives to orient their school and classrooms around future employment.

Henzlik said she will only have classes two days a week, and will work in a professional environment on her days off.

“They make you get an internship or a job because they want you to start,” Henzlik said. “Fashion, it’s

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all about who you know so they just want you to start getting yourself out there, meeting people, networking.”

Although Henzlik is going into the fashion world, she said she wants to work with the behind-the-scenes aspects of photo shoots.

“My major is visual communications, so it’s styling photo shoots and actually styling people for events and all that kind of stuff,” Henzlik said. “It’s not the actual designing, but working with the clothes.”

Attending a fashion and design school, in which a majority of the courses are creative rather than commoncore related, Henzlik said she is eager to work hard at something she is devoted to. In addition, she said she encourages everyone to pursue their passions and aspirations and break away from societal norms.

“I think it’s really important to follow your dreams even if it doesn’t really seem practical, because if you work hard enough, you can make anything happen,” Henzlik said.

d i v e r g e n t seniors describe their alternative career paths

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crolling through Facebook in seventh grade, senior Diana Henry said she stumbled upon a video that shaped her hobby and future career: cosmetology — specifically, cutting hair. Henry said her love for hair has only grown since seventh grade.

“In seventh grade, I started teasing my hair and it kind of went from that,” Henry said. “Then the next year, I ended up dying my hair and then I ended up cutting it. I still cut and dye my own hair and it’s been six years.”

Henry will be attending a Paul Mitchell school after senior year, followed by two years at Johnson County Community College to take business classes. She said her end-goal is to co-own her own salon with a friend. In addition, Henry said she specializes in layering hair but also dyes hair, most routinely her own.

“My hair’s been every color of the rainbow besides yellow,” Henry said. “I went through a very experimental phase with hair. I’ve probably dyed my hair around, I want

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to say 30 to 40 times since I’ve started. That seems probably about right. [The] first year I dyed it, I think I dyed it every two weeks, and now, I really only dye it four times a year, on average.”

Beginning in seventh grade, Henry taught herself all the techniques and skills she knows about hair through YouTube videos. Seeing as she said she loves hair and everything it’s associated with it — cutting, dying, the science behind it — Henry said she’s excited to share her passion with others.

“I’m really excited to cut hair with people [...] I’m excited to be with a bunch of people who have that same personality as me: very outgoing but have dyed hair,” Henry said. “Hair is such an art to me, and so is makeup.

Don’t get me wrong, my face is fine, so is my hair, but it’s always better [when styled]. I want to be in a place where everyone has excessive amounts of hair and everyone has dyed hair and everyone’s eyebrows look nice.”

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rowing up with the hopes of being in law enforcement or the military, senior Zach Glynn will join the Coast Guard after high school.

Glynn said he started to explore options besides college his junior year, the military being one on his radar, but he said it wasn’t until this year that the likelihood of him going into the military became probable. Since he’s had his heart set on being a part of coast guard, Glynn said his family has been very supportive.

“They’re excited,” Glynn said. “I mean, my mom doesn’t want me to go, but at the same time she’s very excited and proud for me to be serving other people.”

Glynn said he starts his journey on July 25, when his eight-week long boot camp begins. He said boot camp is where some of the unclear aspects of his career will be decided, such as what he will be doing and where he will be stationed.

Glynn said communication is slim-to-none during the boot-camp process, with the exception of one weekend off.

“The first night I get there I can call my parents and say ‘I made it here safe. I won’t be able to talk to you for like

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h the next month and a half,’” Glynn said. “Then, around week six or seven, our commanding officers will let us out for the weekend.”

Without college as a transition, Glynn said he acknowledges that he will be out in the real world, but he said he thinks he will be ready for it after adjusting to his new lifestyle.

With that in mind, Glynn said he will miss aspects of his current life and, although he thinks he’s ready for what’s next, he is nervous.

“I think it’s going to be scary at first, coming home and not having your dogs run up to you or having your sister or brother say hi or waking up in the morning and walking downstairs and knowing that your mom’s not there to make you food or your dad’s not there to watch TV with you or just joke around,” Glynn said.

Although Glynn said he has apprehensions about the unpredictable and unforeseen side of his career, above all else, he said is looking forward to it.

“I’ll be able to just have the best time of my life and make new friends and see where life takes me,” Glynn said.

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areer guidance is common in helping students determine what their future looks like, according to edsource.org. However, senior Connor Uhrich decided what his future would hold on a whim.

Uhrich said he originally took jewelry junior year as a “joke class,” but he ended up falling in love with it. Uhrich will be attending the Gemological Institute of America in Carlsbad, California, to major in jewelry making. He said he is excited to receive his education because it will give him a leg up in the future.

“Most jewelers don’t want you unless you’ve had an education, well, gone to a jewelry school,” Uhrich said.”So, [my education] is the next step to me becoming an actual jeweler.”

Uhrich said in the future he would like to own his own jewelry shop and primarily work with wedding bands and rings. When it comes to Uhrich’s personal style, he said he enjoys working with sterling silver and keeping his pieces clean and simple.

“I melt down my own sterling, like forks or anything or

forks and knives that are sterling, or other pieces of jewelry that are sterling, and I melt them down and I make my own ingots,” Uhrich said. “Then I either make the ingots into my own sheet metal or my own wire, so every single piece I’ve made with sterling, it’s more intimate because I personally have made that from start to finish.”

Depending on the size and detail of a particular project, Uhrich said he spends, on average, three hours on every jewelry piece he produces. He said in high school alone he has made around 70 or 80 pieces, including rings, necklaces and earrings.

In the pieces Uhrich makes, he said he prefers to use matte finishes and not add color. He said he strays away from enamel or adding patinas — color — because it overshadows what the metal is supposed to look like.

“I’m really into simplistic,” Uhrich said. “I like the metal to speak for itself.”

| eliannaoliver

c o n n o r

Sarah Allison Logan Auch Macie Bokelman McKenzie Canon Garrett Clark Jake Christie Grace Davis Ashley Easterday Adaleigh Emerson Sara Fanous

University of Arkansas

Reese Crawford

Harding University

Arkansas

Lauren Burrow

University of Arizona

Danielle Dragovich Lillian Snow

Northern Arizona University

Mason Defoor

Arizona State University

Arizona

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List as of April 28

Georgia

Margaret Knapp

University of Central Florida

Florida

Michael Taylor

University of Colorado Boulder

Jessie Norcross

Red Rocks Community College

Cooper Ast

Colorado State University

Parker Baith

Colorado Mountain College

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1

1

David Arterburn Grant Bradley Reid Briney Cheyenne Butter

Johnson County Community College

Emily Edwards Claudia Freeman Laura Hansen Arian Mohammadi Lukas Scheumann

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4

163

Johnson County Community College / ACCESS

Charles Williams

Hutchinson Community College

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4

1 3

1

23

22

1 3

Hayden Dahm Braden Dow Paige Erickson Alexander Gianino Nathan Gish Lillian Hall Justin Hill Lindsay Hissong Brooke Jalbert Johnson Jennings Abigail Johnson Emma Johnson Jennifer Jones Jack Kennedy Landen King Shayna Lane Michael Lochner Andrew Loveall Grayson Martin Tatum Mays Christian McLeod Madisyn Messenger

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Coast to Coast

1 Taya Kuheana Anh Lai Valeria Lobitz Katherine Lucas Coleman Lyon Konrad Marshall Garrett McQuigg Madison Minard Casey Morgan Devon Orth Lauren Pasco Grant Peterson Charles Pfeffer Halle Pistorius Edward Purdum Elizabeth Putnam Mikayla Rayburn Emma Rose Jackson Reeves Jack Sailer Jenna Schmidt Calvin Schroeder Derrick Serrano Andrew Thomas

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2

1

2

1

1

1

Missouri Southern State University

Alexandria Clark

College of the Ozarks

Hannah Waddell

3 Avila University

Neil Bhatia Aine DeSieghardt Alex Goldwasser Travis Hampton

University of Central Missouri

Alyssa Schumacher

Southwest Baptist University

Noah Rich

Missouri Western State University

Noah Rich

Missouri Welding Institute

Zachary Lassman Kirsten Lee

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Erin Thompson

Missouri State University

Ross Wagers

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map of the different destinations of this year’s seniors

Virginia

John Marsh

UTAH

Utah State University

Amira Bajracharya

University of Texas at Austin

Bailey Cockerham Raegan Rast

Texas Christian University

Palmer Embry

Southern Methodist University

Austin Patterson

Prairie View A & M University

Daniel Foulon

Baylor University

Texas

Cameron Richey

Vanderbilt University

Tennessee

Megan Brown

South Dakota

South Dakota State University

Finn Murphy

Villanova University

Pennsylvania

Audrey Carr

University of Oklahoma

Olivia Swyers

Oklahoma State University

Nicole Charest

Oklahoma City University 8

Iowa State University

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Colorado

Kate Bowling

University of Southern California

Louis Pagenkopf

Santa Monica College

Madison Barnes Emma Webber

San Diego State University

Connor Uhrich

Gemological Institute of America

Josie Henzlik

Michael Velazquez

Hailey Livingston

Madeline Russell

Fort Scott Community College

Johnathon Kramer Brett Sabath

Fort Hays State University

Tanner Howe Patrick McClure

Barton Community College

Samuel Thomas

Baker University

Kansas

Katherine Wasmer

University of Iowa

Kendal Erwin

Morningside College

Iowa

California State University, Fresno

Delaney Oliver

University of Notre Dame

California Polytechnic State University

Renita Wilson

Thorne Banks

Indiana University — Bloomington

Indiana

Eunice Lee

Northwestern University

Shane Logwood

Loyola University Chicago

Trenton Hailey

DePaul University

Illinois

Quinlan King

Piedmont College

Karie Wu

California Lutheran University

California

Emory Fullington Jordan Garrett Nigel King Brady Lierz Matthew Nixon Kristen O’Keeffe Avery Pollitt Dane Pedersen Mallory Reasoner Landon Smith Lily Smith Emily Tolar

Zachary Agre Gabe Angermayer Cameron Bates Steven Blair Morghan Caldwell Olivia Carney Meredith Casey Halli Clark Beau Constant Jared Crain

Kansas State University

Brandon Schuster

Kansas City Kansas Community College

Lauren Haught

Kansas City Art Institute

Ricky Cauthon Eleanor Chramosta Corbin Dentinger Austin Dixon Denise Dixon Ian Fines Laura Fotovich Carter Gehl Tyree Hilboldt Colton Hisle Jacob Hudson Brian Hunt Maxwell Huwe Henry Jenab Jordan Kattan Jakob Lopez Chase McAnany Joshua Neill Nate Pickens Cody Ratterman Garrett Reilly Darius Reeves Austin Robinson Luke Ruf Ryan Salge Patrick Seagraves Garrett Speer Dalton Tuley Klarissa Ware Celina Wehr Brennah Welch Erin White Aaron Yarbrough Brianna Ahrens Sheridan Barnhart Sean Brewster Emily Bucksath Robert Burchett Kohlsen Burton Summer Cohee Greer Corcoran Ryan Davis Uma Desai Grant Echavarria Angela Fornelli Noah Frederick Jamie George Evan Haas Sydney Howe Cole Huffman Matthew Jaeschke Jack Johnson Kelsey Kampschroeder Lily Klima Brittany Kooken

University of Kansas

Lauren Semple

Truman State University

Rachel Basore Levi King Caterina Lightner Brittany Meckler Emily Peuser Kara Torgler

Pittsburg State University

Mikayla Frey Diana Henry Fiona Kraai

Wichita State University

Paul Mitchell The School

Missouri

Rachel Aron Erin Xu

University of Minnesota

Minnesota

Abby Pearch

Hope College

Michigan

Emily Magness

Wellesley College

Lillian Hoffart

Northeastern University

Abby Fry

Franklin Olin College of Engineering

Grace Bottaro

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Oklahoma

Grant Gruenhaupt

Syracuse University

Lea Warnke

New York University

New York

Londyn Bogseth Jacob Wilson Dean Ziegelman

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Keegan McClellen

Community College

Keith Andrews

Montana State University

Montana

Samuel Gettings

William Jewell College

Emma Hanny

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Sophia Bokarae Duane Clemons Ava Davis Julia Patton

University of Missouri

Claire Nelson Grace Waddell Olivia Waddell

Massachusetts Nebraska Central

Caleb Ash

Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana

Alexys Collichio Jackson Dorris Jacob Ginsberg Trevor Seyl McKenzie Weber

Washburn University Christopher Esposito Taylor Godwin Megan Meckler

Lindsey Tobin Cole Wastler Johnny Weaver Katharine Wu Lansten Yew

Dylan Pandjaris Skylar Peters Broc Putnam James Rickert Samuel Rose Ally Scanlon Allayna Scheumann Nicole Shaner Michael Stack Andrew Stene Nathan Stone

Iskender Tavaldiev

American University in Central Asia

Viktoria Komornikova

Abertay University Scotland

Ondrej Cerny Andrea Lo Giudice Zheling Yi

INTERNATIONAL

Jordon Blond Xavier Borowiak-Miller Chad Allen Buzzell Braedon Fletcher Adrian Galamba Carsyn Greet Garrett Grubbs Aaron Kaldahl Skylar Stedman

OTHER

Zach Glynn Scott McKinzie

military

Kelan Baird Trevor Bryant Blake Childress Lily Inghram Mikhale Johnson Jillian Morand Nithin Saripalli

Undecided

Logan Johnsen

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wisconsin

Donna Armstrong Aashka Varma

George Washington University

Washington D.C.

Alexa Kathol

Liberty University

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Sports & Performing Arts Signings Swimming Logan Johnsen

University of WisconsinGreen Bay

Softball

Abby Pearch Hannah Waddell McKenzie Weber

Hope College Avila University Wichita State University

Soccer

Sam Gettings

William Jewell College

Volleyball

Emily Magness Wellesley College

Football

Brett Sabath Ross Wagers

Fort Hayes State University Missouri Southern State University

Lacrosse

Quinlan King

Piedmont College

Equestrian

Hailey Livingston California State UniversityFresno Raegan Rast Texas Christian University

Wrestling

Johnathon Kramer

Fort Hays State University

Baseball

Rushing, senior Sam Gettings chases after the soccer ball at the boys varsity state semi-final game on Nov. 4. Photo by Donna Armstrong.

Reid Briney Johnson County Community College Tanner Howe Barton County Community College Chris Esposito Washburn University Patrick McClure Barton County Community College Micheal Velazquez Morningside College

Pointing to a spot in the distance, Eva, played by senior Bailey Cockerham, asks for help to find her way home. Eva was a phantomlike young girl who seemed to be lost in time.

The theatre department performed “Snow Angel” on Nov. 17, 18 and 19. Photo by Summer Lyon.

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Band Thorne Banks Morghan Caldwell Meredith Casey Hayden Dahm Angela Fornelli Alex Goldwasser Lillie Hoffart Christian McLeod Sam Thomas

Indiana University Kansas State University Kansas State University Kansas State University University of Kansas University of Central Missouri Northeastern University Kansas State University Baker University

Theatre Bailey Cockerham Jackson Dorris Travis Hampton Faith Knapp Trevor Seyl

Texas Christian University Wichita State University University of Central Missouri University of Central Florida Wichita State University

Debate Alexa Kathol

Liberty University

Choir Alexis Collichio Chase McAnany Erin White

Wichita State University Johnson County Community College Kansas State University Belting her final note, senior Alexis Collichio performs her solo at the Jazz Cafe concert. The Trebelaires and the jazz band performed in the commons in a “coffee shop atmosphere,” as described by choir director Taryn Gervais.

Photo by Emma Olinger.

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senior superlatives most likely to be found at the gym Lindsay Hissong & Johnnie Kramer

worst case of senioritis Butch Clemons & Donna Armstrong most changed since freshman year Travis Hampton & Carsyn Greet

most likely to have art displayed in a museum Grant Gruenhaupt & Liz Putnam most likely to win the Nobel Prize Dean Ziegelman & Renita Wilson

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most likely to be on snl Finn Murphy & Trevor Seyl

most likely to be ID’d at 30 Lansten Yew & Faith Knapp

most likely to get a letter to Hogwarts Grace Davis & Neil Bhatia

biggest KC sports fans Lilly Snow & Austin Dixon

most involved Matt Nixon & Kate Bowling

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facts about the class of 2017

72%

of seniors have skipped a class

290

seniors are graduating in the class of 2017

33%

of seniors said football is their favorite sport to watch

TARDY TRACKER 166 members of the graduating class are surveyed

45%

of seniors have been to the tardy tracker 1-3 times

15 percentage of students attending SW each year 100%

28%

75% 50%

of seniors said their favorite subject is science

25% 0%

Two years

One year

2%

5%

Three years

All four years

3% 90%

The number of jobs students have held

14%

58%

Freshman

of seniors have left the country at least once

4%

of seniors said Rogue One was the best movie of the year

Senior

35%

19%

26%

23% 21% 15%

of seniors have gone through 4+ phones of seniors have only had one phone in high school

6%

Junior

Sophomore

66% 14%

the most difficult year in high school, according to seniors

6% 0

5%

of seniors have been pulled over five or more times

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4+

25%

of seniors are in 5+ clubs or societies

26% of seniors are Democrats

37% of seniors are Republicans

28%

of seniors could vote in the national election

of seniors could not vote

72%

51%

of seniors prefer waffles over pancakes

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