The Tiger Print — May 2024

Seniors reveal which Ivy League colleges accepted them

Students choose song to represent their last year at BV

The Tiger Print seniors look back on their high school journeys

editors-in-chief

Isaac Hudson

Ava McGuire

Rhylan Stern

assistant editor

Harris Jones

web editors

Jackie Chang Ella Lim

photo editor Ava McNiel

design editor

Katie Kennedy

adviser

Michelle Huss

staff members

Gaby Ayres

Ashling

Bahadursingh

Dayna Bemiss

Ashley BrixeyThatcher

Isaac Burton

Amira Dvorak

Callie Dyches

Audrey Erickson

Colton Fieger

Aspen Gallentine

Miranda Henry

Emily Kozlowski

Michael Leach

Emma McAtee

Cady Reynolds

Sami Sandler

Andrew Sharber

Nikoo Tahmasebi

Jonas Tills

Jessica Toomay

“The Tiger Print” is an official publication of Blue Valley High School, an open forum distributed to all students six times a year. This publication may contain controversial material. Kansas law prohibits the suppression of a student publication solely because it may contain controversial matter. Blue Valley Unified School District No. 229 and its board members, officers and employees may disclaim any responsibility for the content of this publication; it is not an expression of school policy. Student authors and editors are solely responsible for the content of this publication.

Letters to the editor are encouraged for publication. “The Tiger Print” reserves the right to edit all submissions for both language and content. Letters should be submitted to Room 518, emailed to thetigerprint@gmail. com or mailed to:

The Tiger Print

Blue Valley High School 6001 W. 159th Street

Overland Park, KS 66085

Senior Stats

senior superlatives

based on a poll of 48 seniors

most athletic

noah summers & jadyn wooten

most likely to be a hot Mom or dad

james ackerman & rypli donahue

best bromance

simon menees & joaquin acosta

most likely to be on broadway

allie heidemann & trevor lewis

most likely to be a CEO

most likely to fall asleep in class david jercha & geremi onentia

johnny perkins & mundeep kaberwal

best smile

eddy jiang & maia bajich

most likely to be president charlotte warren & noor haideri

CLASS CLOWn

henry monahan & mana faagutu

biggest yapper

most school spirit

best dressed

maggie richardson & juju mayers

best shoulder to cry on claire younger & harris jones

quinn sayers & amaris stephenson

biggest diva

brett jordan & abby mann

danny amezola & david edwards |

BV Sports Commitments

Rush brings excitement for seniors Go Greek

jessica toomay | staff writer

As senior year comes to a close, many are starting to think about future plans such as groups or clubs they would like to join in college. One of the more popular organizations incoming college freshmen think about joining is Greek Life.

For many, Greek Life is a way to get involved on campus and meet new people. This happens to be the case for seniors Maia Bajich, Coco Thomas, Ben Rothwell, Jenna Tinberg and Sam Dunton

Tinberg said she wants to join a sorority because of the atmosphere the women create.

“I want to rush at Arkansas because is really prominent there, and it’s a good way to make friends,” she said. “It’s important to be surrounded by people who have the same values as you. It’s important to find girls I want to be around.”

Rothwell agreed with Tinberg on wanting to join Greek Life because it provides opportunities to meet others.

“I want to rush to meet new people and have new experiences — just reach out a little bit,” Rothwell said.

Others, such as Dunton, believe both rush and Greek life are advantageous experiences for its participants.

“The connections are beneficial within fraternity and sorority life,” Dunton said. “Having some friends and some brothers have your back would be beneficial. Everything you get and learn throughout it would be beneficial.”

The process of rush brings several moments to be excited for. One thing Thomas is looking forward to is the experiences she is going to have.

“I’m excited for the events — there’s a lot of different events that go on within the houses, whether that be planned functions or a group of friends to go out to a game with or spend a

weekend [with],” Thomas said. “It’s things like that.”

While Thomas is ready for the experience, Bajich is awaiting the time she gets to meet the girls in each chapter who are similar to her.

“I’m excited to meet a lot of people are as driven and passionate about certain things as I am,” Bajich said. “Obviously to be in a sorority, you have to have a good GPA. Everybody’s driven, [and] everybody’s passionate about something. Everybody has different talents which you can learn from and grow together.”

While there are several moments to look forward to, there are also things people are scared about going into rush. The part Thomas is most nervous about is having to find the energy to get through the entire week.

“[During] the rushing process, you get pretty tired, especially talking to that many people at different houses and having pre-calculated responses,” Thomas said. “Being prepared for all the interview sessions and having energy throughout the whole process [is nervewracking].”

Bajich agreed with Thomas that she is worried about the amount of effort it takes to rush while also adding the fear of not being accepted by certain chapters.

“I’m nervous they’re not going to like me in certain groups,” Bajich said. “It’s also a lot of social battery you have to use when you’re going through it.”

Despite the fears and possible hard moments, Thomas believes rush is a great opportunity for college students, especially those who are going to different states.

“It helps out-of-state kids find a community,” Thomas said. “My sister and both my parents rushed and had a really good experience. It’s a good way to get involved with your school and meet a bunch of new people.”

Noor Haideri, 12

Which Ivy League schools did you apply to? Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton Which ones did you get into? “Waitlisted at Princeton, and I got into Harvard and Yale.”

What major did you apply as? “Biomedical Engineering.”

Where are you planning on attending? “I committed to Harvard. Interactions with both faculty and students were friendly and insightful [and] Harvard has a variety of opportunities from clubs to research. I’ll also be able to take classes at neighboring universities. I like the location in Boston, and the campus is beautiful.”

Did you think you would get into the Ivy schools you applied to? “I wasn’t sure.”

What was your reaction when you got in?

“I was really happy when I found out.”

What was your dream school and why?

“My dream school kept changing, honestly. I didn’t just have a single one.”

What are you looking forward to in college?

“Meeting new people and the ability to see new things and try new things.”

What advice would you give to underclassmen applying for college? “Try your best and whatever happens, happens. At the end of the day, the college doesn’t define you.”

Johnny Perkins, 12

Which Ivy League schools did you apply to? Harvard, Yale

Which ones did you get into? “Somehow I got into both, which is very exciting.”

What major did you apply as?

“I applied as a Statistics and Data Science major and also put an interest in the history of science programs.”

Where are you planning on attending? “Harvard University. Getting to live in Boston for the next four years really appealed to me, whereas the location of Yale did not excite me as much. I also thought as similar as Harvard and Yale are, Harvard seemed to have more well-rounded academic offerings, especially in STEM fields.”

Did you think you would get into the Ivy schools you applied to? “I did not. I decided to open it in the parking lot after the Royals game because I was just like, ‘I’ll rip it, I’ll open it.’”

What was your reaction when you got in? “We were freaking out — it was really surprising. We went to Shake Shack and celebrated it, so it was good. We were also just talking about how there are all kinds of jokes made about these schools — it’s weird, now, living in the moment.”

What was your dream school and why? “My dream school was Stanford. I love the campus there, and they had a program called Science, Technology, and Society that I liked, but I was fine to move on. I knew that even though I liked it so much, some of it was for really random reasons. I knew I’d find somewhere else I was happy with.”

What are you looking forward to in college? “I’m looking forward to knowing everything you do has a purpose and that everything you’re doing really matters. Sometimes in high school, it’s hard to feel motivated if you don’t think what you’re doing is getting you anywhere. It’s exciting knowing that in college, you make connections with people who will determine your career and you really become an adult.”

What advice would you give to underclassmen? “Do what you think sounds fun because I think some people get ahead of themselves by forcing themselves to do something. What schools want to see is that you do what you like, and you go as far as you can in whatever you do. That’s a good mindset to have — not only to get somewhere they’ll enjoy but also to just enjoy high school and have fun.”

Eddy Jiang, 12

Which Ivy League schools did you apply to?

Princeton, Harvard, Yale

Which ones did you get into?

“I was accepted to Princeton University, waitlisted at Harvard, and Yaled protected by Yale”

What major did you apply as? “English and Economics.”

Where are you planning on attending?

“I chose Stanford University because both my siblings will be in the Bay Area with me. I [was] deciding between Princeton and Stanford because Princeton’s academic rigor and intense focus on undergraduate education really appealed to me, but I love the weather at Stanford.”

Did you think you would get into the Ivy schools you applied to? “Yes. What, like it’s hard? I’m kidding. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever even imagine getting into an Ivy League school.”

What was your reaction when you got in?

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH — I screamed. I was very surprised. When you think of Ivy League, you don’t think of Eddy Jiang. You think of students with no lives who spend 40 hours a day studying, you think of depression, you think of students with no friends and you think of students with no social life. Just hard work, all day every day. On the other hand, me? My parents would often worry because of how much fun I was having. I was hardly working, not working hard.”

What was your dream school and why?

“My dream school was Mogwarts to study Rizzology, but unfortunately, I did not get accepted.”

What are you looking forward to in college? “I am looking forward to having fun.”

What advice would you give to underclassmen applying for college? “Just have fun.”

Mundeep Kaberwal, 12

Which Ivy League schools did you apply to? Harvard, Yale, Columbia, UPenn, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth Which ones did you get into? “Got into Columbia, waitlisted at Yale, Penn, Cornell and Dartmouth [and] rejected by Harvard and Brown.”

What major did you apply as? “I applied as a pure Computer Science major, and a few as Computer Science and Econ.”

Where are you planning on attending? “I am not planning on attending Columbia or the Ivy waitlisted schools because I’m set on being a CS major, and I want to go to one of my other options with better CS programs. They have core curriculums, and while that’s important for gaining a well-rounded education, it would be overcompensating for factors secondary to me. I chose Carnegie Mellon University over Georgia Tech because its focus on theory provides a stronger foundational understanding of CS.”

Did you think you would get into the Ivy schools you applied to? “I didn’t think I would get in. While there may be a bunch of BV kids that got into Ivies in years past, I didn’t think I worked as hard as they did to warrant an acceptance. This goes to show how you shouldn’t be comparing yourself to others.”

What was your reaction when you got in? “I found out through an unexpected email, which was my likely letter for admission. I was genuinely shocked, dumbfounded and happy. The likely letter also made me somewhat optimistic

about the remaining decisions.”

What was your dream school and why? “I didn’t really have a dream school because I didn’t want to get obsessed, and likely disappointed. However, MIT and Stanford would’ve been crazy and are probably my ‘dream schools.’”

What are you looking forward to in college? “I’m looking forward to the bright people I’ll get to meet who are cracked in their passions and being able to work with them in class and for how I’ll be able to grow as a person.”

What advice would you give to underclassmen applying for college? “Put [in] your best effort and don’t worry about the outcomes — you can’t be disappointed in yourself if you tried your best.

Brainstorm your Common App essay and supplementals so you can have amazing essays you’re proud of. Be sure to get help from others, especially for essay editing, and reach out to others to seek more perspectives.”

Graduates Just Wanna Have Fun

seniors describe plans for future at party schools

colton fieger | staff writer

When people decide which college they attend, they go through a myriad of factors that could sway their decision. Whether it’s Greek life, dorm rooms, dining halls, majors, clubs or the campus itself, a senior will look through every possible aspect of a school before choosing it.

One detail sometimes overlooked is the party culture at a school. Seniors Sammy Robertson and Claire Hannasch both have to navigate life with partying being a huge part of the schools of their choice.

“There’s definitely a party culture [at Tulane],” Robertson said. “It’s also a very tight-knit community that makes it adapt a lot to the broader New Orleans culture. I’m really excited for Crawfest and Mardi Gras.”

Though partying is a huge factor at Tulane University, it wasn’t a major part of Robertson’s decision.

“It honestly makes me pretty nervous that it’ll be too much going into it,” Robertson said. “My biggest fear is definitely being overwhelmed. I’m scared that it’s going to be a lot all the time, but I feel like it’s going to be fun.”

Hannasch, on the other hand, did consider the party life at Clemson

“I’d rather go to a party school than a super prestigious boarding school,” Hannasch said. “They know how to have fun but also maintain their prestige in academics.”

It is important to balance many new things in college, and Robertson and Hannasch said they will need to find a way to establish a stable balance between the party culture and other aspects of life at university.

“I really want to focus on academics,” Robertson said. “Tulane has such good academics that I think it’d be bad not to, but I really also want to have fun and have that social aspect. I want to try to do 50/50.”

In order to maneuver through the culture and be able to prioritize education, Robertson will enter Tulane with a strategy.

“By just focusing on my studies and being around people that will encourage me to do well in school as well as have fun [I can maintain this balance],” Robertson said.

When preparing to navigate the party culture at their respective schools, Robertson has a plan.

“[I want to] just have a close-knit friend group,” Robertson said, “And joining things that aren’t as involved in the party culture, so I have a little bit of both.”

Conversely, Hannasch has a simpler idea.

“Wing it,” she said.

University before finalizing her decision to go there.

BEAMING FOR BERKLEE

Senior to pursue dream of following music after high school

andrew sharber | staff writer

After being a musician for most of his life, senior Miles Gelman will follow his ultimate dream of attending Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts.

“I’ve been wanting to go to Berklee since seventh grade,” Gelman said. “When I first found out I was accepted, I decided ‘I’m going here.’ I set my mind to it, and I kept trying to pursue it.”

In doing so, Gelman is one of the only seniors going to college to become a musician with the hopes of making it far.

“I’m excited to play music and be surrounded by people who love music, play music and do everything involving music,” Gelman said. “I’m going to Berklee for filming and video scoring, which is writing [and] arranging music for movies, TV shows and that type stuff.”

While trying to make it his profession, Gelman will certainly experience many setbacks simply because of the competitiveness of college.

“I’ll probably be in debt for the rest of my life — it’s very expensive even with multiple scholarships,” Gelman said. “If that works out, great. If it doesn’t, oh well — I’ll be in debt.”

Despite the future challenges that may arise from choosing such a competitive school, Gelman wants to experience college to the fullest.

“High school has been really, really fun. Leaving it seems weird because you’ve always looked forward to high school your entire life and now that it’s over, I’m kind of questioning if I got everything I wanted out of high school,” Gelman said. “I’m excited to be learning new stuff, and I have never lived in a city before so it’ll be something a lot different than what I’m used to — hopefully I’ll be able to survive in the city life.”

M MENT IN TIME Senior discusses journey with photography

harris jones | assistant editor

The desire to capture a moment: it’s been ingrained in humanity since the dawn of time, to last in some tangible way after we’re gone. From markings on cave walls to renaissance paintings, humans have tried to freeze time in beautiful ways for those who come after.

One of such people is senior John Hudson, who, since taking photography classes, has developed a deep passion for the art.

“I found my mom’s film camera in our storage room over the summer, and it got me curious,” Hudson said. “The film got exposed either when we tried to shoot on it when we found it or 20 years ago, so I actually have no idea what is shot on it there.”

With the equipment provided by the school, Hudson

started his photography journey.

“I use the photo II film camera that has a light meter. It’s got a ton of cool features and it’s battery-powered, so it’s fully mechanized and rolls the film for you,” he said. “I really love film, specifically because of the time period it came from and how nostalgic it looks because of that. Also, I love the look of grain because it just has this gritty, natural feeling.”

Beyond just taking pictures Hudson has found himself falling in love with the process of development.

“The developing time when you’re in the darkroom to make a print is one minute for the silver gelatin paper we use, and it takes anywhere from 20 to 40 seconds before you’ll see your image start to appear,” Hudson said. “When it starts to appear, that’s like the coolest thing ever. It’s so great to watch something you shot just appear.”

As every artist has his muse, Hudson’s work largely focuses around nature.

“[I take pictures of] clouds; I like fields and decrepit, old, urban buildings,” Hudson said. “Taking pictures of people is not really my thing — when I do it’s usually of [my girlfriend].”

Over the past two years, the class has helped Hudson develop his skill and artistic image, including building a portfolio. With photogrpahy teacher Kristen Pickell being a big supporter of Hudson.

“Ms. Pickell definitely has helped me refine my skills, but I think she’s also challenged me to go and take pictures because I feel like sometimes I just don’t,” he said. “She’s challenged me to try new, more experimental things with the camera [and] with the darkroom processes. She’s super supportive of anything I want to try.”

harris jones

TAKEN IN THE CORN MAZE AT POWELL PUMPKIN PATCH

“I LOVE THE DIFFERENT TEXTURES RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND HOW HER HAIR MELTS INTO THE CORNSTALKS.”

A PHOTO I HAPPENED UPON AT A LOCAL TREE FARM “THE RANDOMNESS OF THE CHAIR CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A WOODEN CHAIR IN A GROVE OF TREES SPOKE TO ME.”

TAKEN AT WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK: A HAZY MEMORY OF JOY WITH MY FAMILY.

“THIS PHOTO EMBRACES THE SIMPLICITY OF FIGURE, LIGHT, AND SHADOW TO CREATE A NOSTALGIC-LOOKING IMAGE IN THE GLOW OF THE SUN AND SAND.”

TAKEN IN KAITLYN’S HOME

“I TOOK THIS PHOTO USING AN IN-CAMERA TRIPLE EXPOSURE, MEANING THE NEGATIVE HAS THREE SEPARATE LAYERS OF LIGHT EXPOSURE ON IT, ALL STACKED ONTO EACH OTHER. I LOVE THE VARYING EMOTION SHOWN IN EACH LAYER AND HOW THEY CONTRAST, WHILE STILL REMAINING IN THE SAME FIGURE.”

| PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY JOHN HUDSON

A Beautiful Future

Seniors plan to study cosmetology after high school

jackie chang | web editor

Hair styling, skincare, makeup and nails. Are any of those your hobbies and something you would enjoy doing as a career? If they are, meet these two students who are lucky enough to be doing just that. Pursuing their passions in cosmetology are seniors Gemma Leighty and Mattie Henley

“I have had an interest in beauty, makeup and nails since I was 6,” Henley said. “I’ve been doing my nails with my mom since I was 8. It was just a past[time] I’ve always enjoyed doing.”

Leighty also liked beautification since she was young.

“Don’t judge me [but] I was watching this James Charles video, and I was just like, ‘Oh, I kind of like this,” Leighty said. “I [also] used to experiment with my mom’s makeup. I would make a mess with it. Then in middle school, I really [got] into it and actually got real makeup and stuff.”

Leighty will be attending Z Hair Academy.

“I’m going to be studying how to do hair, skin and makeup,” she said. “Then I’m going to do a separate course on nails.”

After schooling, Leighty is thinking of working at a salon or doing wedding makeup.

Henley plans to study to be a nail technician through Bellus Academy’s 10week program and receive a certification for Kansas.

“I’m hopefully planning to move to Georgia because my sister lives there — I’d be able to share a house or an apartment with her until I get on my feet,” Henley said. “I’m going to be working in nail salons [and] then after I build up my clientele, hopefully, start being an in-home nail tech.”

Although doing nail art takes much precision, Henley finds the process relaxing.

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist so getting the right shape for the nail, getting the acrylic smoothed down — I like doing all that stuff,” she said. “It takes my mind off of life. It’s a little bit of therapy, and it’s just really enjoyable for me.”

Leighty chose cosmetology because she felt that it aligned best with her life.

“College I feel like isn’t the right path for me — I’m more creative as a person and so I think it would be the best route,” she said. “[Cosmetology is] interesting because it shows how creative you are in a whole different aspect in normal art.”

Because of her talent, Leighty has gotten requests from people to do their makeup.

“I am in show choir, so I sometimes help people with their makeup,” she said. “It’s really strong makeup, and sometimes I do it for Homecoming, too.”

Both the girls are anxious to get started on this new path of life.

“I feel very excited to actually go and do my own thing and be an adult,” Leighty said. “I know I’m going to do well on it.”

“I’m a little worried because I don’t know if it’s going to be a competitive environment,” Henley said. “I’m mainly excited just for the learning process and the experience of it.”

| feature may 2024 design by jackie chang

Gemma Leighty

Mattie Henley

The Sky’s the Limit

Seniors plan to pursue careers in aviation

ava mcguire | editor-in-chief

Flying planes might seem like a daunting task, yet many students from the class of 2024 are gearing up for the challenge. Whether it be a direct route or a four-year journey with multiple stops, seniors Jack Brewer, Rocco Behm and Micheal Liebrenz will be beginning their education in aviation and piloting careers in the fall.

For Behm, being a pilot was something he had always aspired to be.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, and I’ve always been interested in airplanes,” Behm said. “I like learning about aviation and transportation in general. I’m what I would call an aviation geek.

On the other hand, Brewer’s passion for aviation came upon him rather abruptly, as “it just hit me one day that I wanted to go on to aviation,” he said.

Liebrenz’s passion for piloting came from the positive outlook she had gained after reading headlines of pilot shortages.

“Commercial airline companies took away the need to have a degree because they want more pilots,” Liebrenz said. “It’s [a] guaranteed job.”

While Brewer and Liebrenz have chosen to go to universities to pursue degrees leading to a piloting career, Behm has decided to take a more direct approach through Kilo Charlie Aviation school in Gardner, Kansas.

“I chose it because the opportunities they offer after you’ve completed the program are really good,” he said. “It’s faster going the direct path. Your first day at the flight school, you’re in an airplane.”

Additionally, Behm looks forward to flight school because he considers it to be much more straight-forward than a traditional degree path.

“Most [colleges] I’ve looked at are four years, and [I’d] still have to get through those prerequisite classes and learn things [I] won’t even need to fly,” he said. “It’ll definitely be different than college [and] different than anything I’ve ever expected. I’m excited because it’s something I’m interested in, and it’s not something I’m being forced to do — it’s my own choice to go into it.”

Getting a degree from a college with the right environment was a significant factor for Brewer, which fueled his decision to attend the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus.

“It [offers] in-state tuition, and it’s close to home — I’ve heard really good things about the institute,” Brewer said. “There’s only about 1,000 students on campus. It’s more one-on-one interactions with students.”

On the other hand, Liebrenz has her sights set further, as she plans to attend Purdue University for the aeronautical engineering program.

“I’m interested in planes, and it’s

the closest to aviation,” she said. “It’s a top engineering program, [so it will] probably be hard — it’s going to be a lot of math and physics. I hear it’s one of the harder engineering schools.”

Each future pilot may be reaching their goals in different ways, but they all have a very similar end goal in mind: commercial airline piloting.

“When going into aviation, you actually start with private planes and then you build [partnerships] with regional airlines,” Brewer said. “That’s something [I’d like to] do — then build my way up to one of the bigger airlines.”

Piloting a commercial airplane comes with the chance for travel experiences, exploring new cultures and building connections, which each future pilot plans to take full advantage of.

“It’s definitely exciting, and I’m definitely nervous,” Brewer said. “It’s [all about] building trust in yourself because planes can be a little scary at first. There’s definitely some challenges along the way.”

Despite any setbacks these future pilots might face, Liebrenz points out that the risk will surely be worth the reward.

“While being a pilot has its challenges I would say it’s worth it in the end,” she said. “It opens doors for many opportunities, and with one of them being able to travel frequently, I’m excited for what my future entails.”

senior goes from sidelines to commitment RECOVERY ROAD TO

rhylan stern | editor-in-chief

Going into their final season of high school football, seniors were ready to “Protect the Standard” and were preparing for success. Senior Jason Burroughs, a varsity captain, was ready to lead his team to victory. What he didn’t know is that in the third game against BV Northwest he would have an injury impacting the rest of his season.

“I went for a tackle in the third quarter,” he said. “When I went for [it], two dudes landed on my foot and completely dislocated and broke my fibula.”

Getting back to walking after six weeks, Burroughs was told he could get back to playing sports after May and was unable to play the rest of the season. Although this may lead some injured athletes to be discouraged, Burroughs’ love for the sport and the support from his football family

“It was a long process because I had to wait,” he said. “I had offers before my junior season and before my senior season, but they weren’t the ones I wanted. It wasn’t until February where I got the offer I wanted. I was worried for a while, but it paid off. I was getting slept on because of my injury. When [UCM] took a chance on me, I knew it was going to pay off. They lost to the D-II National Champions by one point last year and they’re ranked number three this year. They are a really good Division-II school, and I’m excited to play.”

Despite the sentimental farewell to playing a high school sport, Burroughs reflected on what experiences he gained from his seasons and overcoming his injury.

“I learned to not take anything for granted,” Burroughs said. “You never know when it could be your last time, especially as a senior. So enjoy the workouts in the offseason and the talks with coaches and teammates. Enjoy doing everything.”

by rhylan stern

A New Start Line

Senior steps away from running

isaac burton | staff writer

When it comes to making a decision as to which college a student should attend, it can be very difficult. The more activities a high school student is involved in the more complicated that decision can become.

Senior Noah Summers reveals the complexities of ambition, his track toward college and the pursuit of passion beyond track. Many athletes come to a crisis of deciding whether or not to continue their sport into college because of the level of competition, preference of school, financial limitations or not wanting to continue that path.

Despite having an exceptional running history, Summers decided to not continue his running career after graduation.

“I knew if I was going to run, I wanted to give it 100%,” Summers said. “I knew when I went to college I wouldn’t have been fully focused on running.”

cross counTry records: 4K - 12:07

5K - 15:52.52 (Fourth in All-Time List)

| DESIGN BY AVA MCGUIRE

career

Rather than continuing running, Summers plans to explore getting an internship with a team at K-State. Athletically, he plans to get a gym membership.

“I’m still going to run when I’m up at K-State,” he said. “I’m going to get involved in intramurals, reffing and officiating.”

With the transition from doing a sport in high school to not doing a sport in college, there are skills and lessons to benefit from.

With that, he advises to “start taking it seriously early” and to “work when nobody is looking.”

“You have to get out there and do it,” he said. “That’ll give you the upper leg in the competition.”

Summers plans to continue his love for running while managing to find something that makes him happy.

“There’s pain right now, but it’ll pay off later,” he said. “Racing is one of the hardest things I can do, and it all pays off when I’m done.”

Track and Field records: 800m - 1:55.81

1600m - 4:23.34

4x1600m Relay - 19:40.89

Seniors Amaris Stephenson and Sydney Maxwell Student Union at Blue Valley.

“I know between friends, we had always talked about how it would be to have a Black Student Union,” Stephenson said. “I know other schools that my friends go to, they have one and they always talk about how fun it is and how it boosts the community. We were like, ‘I want that, so let’s make it happen — why not?’”

For Maxwell, it was clear there was a need for a space where students could come to gether.

“Last year with the vandalism stuff — it was just a lot,” she said. “It became more appar ent that we didn’t have a space to talk about it. I think it’s uncomfortable to go to your prin cipal, especially if you’re not like someone who’s a leader in school. So Amaris, Theshiona [Fleming], Phaelin [Jones] and I, we all came together to create this.”

Black Student Union provides an opportunity for students to commemorate over shared experiences and grow closer as a community.

“I enjoy the fact that we all get to come together and communicate,”

Maxwell said. “It’s not just talking about the bad things about being Black in Blue Valley. We’re also talking about the fun things.”

The scope of founding such a club is very large with fundraising being a current top concern, according to Maxwell.

“Being a junior last year and taking on such a big role within founding something like this — it was definitely very daunting,” Stephenson said. “It was harder to manage when we’re going to do this and when can we do that? But this year because of our team, our sponsors and admin being involved in the process, we’ve been able to do so much more than we could have ever imagined.”

We’ve been able to do so much more than we could have ever imagined.”

amaris stephenson 12

Founding BSU members discuss

Ultimately Black Student Union was founded to be a space where Black students can be celebrated.

“Of course it is a way for us to come together and have our intimate time,” Stephenson said. “More importantly, it’s for people to see how excellent it is to be Black.”

GOODNIGHT MOM & DAD

Tigers talk about separating for college

“It’ll be different [next year]. It’s a pretty lucky experience to be honest – to spend a little extra time with your kids.”

- Tim Kennedy, math teacher

“I get to have a second connection with one of my teachers because he is my math teacher this year. It’s pretty awkward sometimes. It’s hard for me to call him ‘Mr. Kennedy’ and not call him ‘Dad.’” - Will Kennedy, 12

“It’ll be weird with Jackson gone and [the] whole class really because I’ve known some of those kids since they were in kindergarten. It’ll be weird that Jackson doesn’t ask me for a pass to leave. [There will be] a hole in the school.”

- Jennifer Liekhus, attendance

“It’s been nice to have a little space up front at any point in time for whatever I need. When I’m checking out and my mom’s there, sometimes I end up staying like 40 minutes after I’m supposed to leave.” - Jackson Liekhus, 12

“I have tried to have really good boundaries between just being a mom but also being a staff member and communicating with teachers and staff. [Next year,] it might feel like something’s missing. But at the same time, I enjoy all the students. I mean, that’s why we’re here. It’s not just for my daughter.”

- Jayme Lock, administrative assistant

“I absolutely love having my mom work at my school. If I ever need something I can just swing by her desk, [but] college is such a fun experience, and I’m so ready for all the new things. My mom is my best friend so obviously it will be a little different not being able to just stop by and say hello.” - Abbagail Lock, 12

“I will miss him. I won’t be able to just go to his room if I needed to drop something off.”

- Kate Baker, math teacher

“It’s kind of weird but it’s really nice because I’m able to have my mom here to go talk to her. At the same time, it kind of feels like being on surveillance.” - Preston Baker, 12

“I will really miss seeing Brooklyn every day and hearing about her day after school. I don’t think it will really sink in until August that she has graduated and off to school doing her own thing. I will have to adjust to the new normal.” - Dianne Dunn, science teacher

“My first three years of high school, I had to ride with her sometimes. [On] late start days she still had to get there at the same time, so I would make her late sometimes.”

- Brooklyn Dunn, 12

FLY C P THE

seniors discuss in-state, out-of-state choices

emily kozlowski | staff writer

One of the biggest challenges seniors face when choosing a college is whether to stay in-state or travel away from home and go to a college out-of-state.

Of __ seniors surveyed, 48% are going to a college instate and 52% are going out-of-state, but why?

Senior Sara Schumacher chose to stay in-state because it’s the most suitable choice for her.

“I’m going to KU — it’s the best option for me,” Schumacher said. “It was financially better, and I was offered what I wanted.”

On the other hand, senior Drew Schimmel chose to leave Kansas and will attend The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

“I’m going to college out of state to escape Kansas [and] to live in a bigger city,” Schimmel said.

Both seniors agreed students will be in a unique environment depending on which option they choose.

“You definitely get more of the community you’re used to [in state],” Schumacher said. “With out-of-state, you would get different people — it’s just a different experience.”

As well as providing a new environment, out-of-state colleges can provide a variety of possibilities.

“Going out-of-state lets people experience new lifestyles and tap into certain internship and job markets,” Schimmel said.

Money also plays a big factor in deciding which university to attend, but in-state colleges can lower the looming debt most college students take on.

“It’s a lot of money, but you’re not spending as much [in-state],” Schumacher said. “You can put that toward other opportunities while you’re in college.”

Schimmel agrees money can influence someone’s decision and understands out-of-state colleges can be more expensive but believes they also provide more opportunities.

“Internships are probably better out-of-state, but the [return on investment for] tuition is probably worse,” he said, “It depends since it’s super personal and subjective, but if you’re chill with debt, why not go out of state?”

Schumacher believes staying in-state for college is preferable compared to going out of state.

“You get that same familiar feeling you’re used to, which makes the transition to college less scary,” she said.

prefer out-of-state prefer in-state based on a poll of 51 students

22| feature may 2024 design by emily kozlowski

Students discuss plans to dorm with friends made at Blue Valley Stuck With Me

sami sandler | staff writer

For most high school seniors the stresses of finding the right college, major, classes, fraternity or sorority and dining options are accompanied by finding the right roommate. Some have the looming question of if they will get along with their new living buddy. Some have no fear about this new experience. Seniors Owen Unrein and Cy Conaway are the second option.

“He’s one of my closest friends,” Conaway said. “I trust him a lot. There’s no stress of having to meet someone or make a first impression again.”

“Me and Cy are both going [in]to the same major. [Rooming with him] just felt right,” Unrein added.

The rooming process is unlike many others.

“Something I’m worried about would be boundaries. There’s a big difference in being close friends with someone and living with them,” Conaway said. “That level of honesty [with a roommate] is so strong because you want to make sure you’re both happy living together and that one person’s not miserable.”

Something Unrein said could be an issue is that they will be in the major together.

“Since our major is the same, we’re going to have a ton of the same classes and activities together,” Unrein said. “We [will] have to go back to our dorm [after] and spend [more] time together. We could just get irritable with each other and maybe a bit snappy.”

However, Unrein feels it shouldn’t be too big of an issue.

“Cy and I have that type of friendship where you can be around each other for a long period of time and it’ll be fine,” Unrein said. “We’ve never gotten irritated with each other in the past, and that will translate to college well.”

While figuring out the new dynamics of having a roommate, the aspect of peace and quiet comes to mind for Conaway.

“Silence is sometimes a really great thing to have,” Conaway said. “I know [for] a lot of people when they’re together [in silence] it gets really awkward, but I find this [to be] a strength.”

Silence is sometimes a really great thing to have.

The two friends have known each other since sophomore year and have gotten closer since. This was helpful in the college planning process and will make freshman year even more exciting for Conaway and Unrein.

“Having a plan early for who you’re going to room with is super helpful,” Unrein said. “It [is] just one element of stress that gets eliminated.”

CY’S STUFF

OWEN’S STUFF Irish

| PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY CY CONAWAY

Cy Conaway

goodnight stars,

goodnight air,

KANSAS

18-21 Program

Mikel Dawkins

Air Associates of Kansas

Jonas Schwartz

Baker University

Isaac Hudson

Bellus Academy

Mattie Henley

Benedictine College

Nolan Haas

Emporia State University

Megyn Mahloch

Fort Hays State University

Camille Liebergen

Johnson County

Community College

Tyler Anderson

Kai Banfield

Roslyn Bays

JJ Best

Madelaine Block

Cami Boyce

Bryson Bratton

Austin Casey

Joe Chambers

Colton Connor

Lauren Ediger

Cole Evans

Billy Flynn

Audrey Hart

Jace Hudson

Richard Jackson

Dawn Johnson

Dorian Kagay

Kai Keosay

Christian Lietz

Parker Long

Kiera Lovette

Rin Mahoney

Rehan Malek

Sarah Marchesano

Dylan Martin

Finn McBath

Liam McKinney

Callan McLain

Dean McNally

Zaida Medina

Jack Morgan

Megan Mullen

Yusef Nomaan

Prince Pangilinan

Alayna Rabin

Alexa Rolf

Madisyn Ruth

Katherine Stone

Daniel Svilarich

Kennedy Urbanek

Derek Verekhman

Eli Xiong

Kaylee Yepez

Kansas City Kansas

Community College

Owen Donaldson

Kansas State University

Morgan Arthur

Maia Bajich

Jack Browne

Hudson Byrd

Kenzie Campbell

Amy Collins

Katelyn Collins

Andrew Corporon

Aubrey Davidson

Isadora Earl

Mackenzie Franko

Carlie Friess

Lexis Gianni

Jordan Hinson

Mia Hoover

Thomas Hoskins

Emma Huck

John Hudson

Aubree Isaacs

Harris Jones

Grant Kozisek

Ryan Kreisel

Trevor Lewis

Abbagail Lock

Dane Minor

Ryan Molitor

Ashley Olson

Ethan Oppold

Ava Poland

John Price

Sophie Reed

Carsen Richards

Gabriella Rupp

Samuel Schellhase

Jack Schlagel

Noah Summers

Aaron Thomas

Ryan Thomas

Mattie Thornton

Michael Walls

Carter Wright

Kansas State

University Salina

Aerospace and Technology Campus

Jayden Bearb

Jack Brewer

Kilo Charlie Aviation

Rocco Behm

Pittsburg State

University

Kayla Andrews

Breck Lloyd

Lillian Milgram

Bennett Ramstad

Porter Starnes

University of Kansas

Joaquin Acosta

Sara Al-kofahi

Shahed Alhindawi

Danny Amezola

Andrew Antoine

Frankie Bahan

Eva Barker

Laney Boeger

Mae Briggs

Josselyn Bui

Evelyn Burgess

Bennett Calvert

Aryan Chaudhary

Avery Cukyne

Sayeh Daher

Stephen Danner

Liz Dreiling

Lincoln Earnshaw

Will Ewy

Kayvon Fardipour

Komron Fardipour

Nathan Ginther

Brooke Goswick

Alex Guerke

Brenden Hamo

Aliyah Haq

Angelina Harding

Patricia Harrigan

Nick Hays

Allie Heidemann

Nick Herrold

Lexi Holdman

Peyton Hugg

Haley Hutchison

Annie Jiang

Brett Jordan

Chris Ke

Matthew Killman

Ella Kirwan

Ethan Kohl

Hunter Lawson

Ryder Lenhart

Jackson Liekhus

Rylee Lippelgoos

Ava Luetje

Mo Mahfouz

Will Mason

JuJu Mayers

Ava McNiel

Keegan Murray

Kate Nichols

Dominic Passantino

Zane Resnik

Matthew Rodriguez

Nickan Safi

Quinn Sayers

Brady Scanlon

Bella Schneweis

Sara Schumacher

Aliya Siddiqui

Ellie Smith

Rachel Solomon

Dylan Stern

Rhylan Stern

Hailey Vande Garde

Ava Viscek

Kayleigh Willhoite

Claire Younger

Washburn University

Ava Bloyd

Jenae Lee

Z Hair Academy

Gemma Leighty

MISSOURI

Avila University

Christian Olson

Central Methodist University

Marisa Ruth Kaedden Sherry

Metropolitan Community CollegeMaple Woods

Chris Gulledge

Missouri Institute of Welding

Seth Stevens

Missouri State University

Georgia Loveland

Luke Nolkemper

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Mana Faagutu

Missouri Western State University

Will Kennedy

Rockhurst University

Johnny Maize

Madison Pointer

University of Central Missouri

Macie Berry

Jason Burroughs

Zech Pombo

Cameron Shafer

Grace Wagers

University of Missouri

Ashley Brixey-Thatcher

Ellison Clark

Davis Dwight

Kaitlyn Gravitt

Chanie Rankin

Cooper Veit

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Cy Conaway

Alexander Karoutzos

Simar Kaur

Laila Khalil

Holden Reid

Sara Lynn Rodriguez

Mya Turner

Owen Unrein

Washington University in St. Louis

Molly James

Andrew Kim

William Jewell College

Isabella Vaz

ARKANSAS

Harding University

Aubrey Hudkins

University of Arkansas

Julia Kingsbury

Ryder Moody

Abby Bowdoin

Deni Bowdoin

Garrett Claypool

Karsyn Cygan

Emery Davis

Robert Marshall

Miranda Mayer

Ava McGuire

Elle Moulder

Maggie Richardson

Ben Rothwell

Riley Smith

Jenna Tinberg

University of Central Arkansas

Addison Kessler

SWEDEN

Ida Frolund

GERMANY

Emma Kautz

UNITED KINGDOM

Durham University

Amira Dvorak

ITALY

Olivia Schiavon

WASHINGTON

Gonzaga University

Geremi Onentia

IDAHO

Brigham Young UniversityIdaho

Myah Dobbins

College of Southern Idaho

Brayden Petersen

CALIFORNIA

California Polytechnic

State University

Leah Martin

Pepperdine University

Coco Thomas

Stanford University

Eddy Jiang

University of California

San Diego

Akhil Venkat

University of Southern California

Lindsay Cho

Josh Gordon

OTHER

Gap Year

Ethan Clafton

Ella Smith

LDS Mission

Brandon Lovell

National Guard of the United States

KJ Thomas

Trade School

Esther Boyd

UTAH

Brigham Young

University

Ellie Moser

Southern Utah University

Ella Romine

Utah State University

Zoe Romine

SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota

State University

Brad Tullock

MINNESOTA

University of St. Thomas

Anthony Lonergan

COLORADO

Colorado State

University

Jay Jarvis

University of Colorado Boulder

Ava Coffman

Bryan Mizusaki

Jaysen vonSeldeneck

Brody Wingrove

NEBRASKA

Creighton University

Dominic Booth

Brooklyn Dunn

University of Nebraska-Kearney

Rhyan Mock

ARIZONA

Arizona State University

Kylie Dexter

Isabel Quintana

Tamar Reem

Embry-Riddle

Aeronautical University

Zyiah Duckworth

University of Arizona

Rypli Donahue

Ava Nguyen

Veronica Sobolevsky

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma State

University

Preston Baker

Allyson Sharber

Andrew Sharber

Kallyn Torgler

Jadyn Wooten

IOWA

Iowa State University

Luke Sogard

Morningside University

Ethan Vasquez

University of Iowa

Lincoln Dahl

Chance Rinkol

U.S. Army

Ciaran Curry

U.S. Marine Corps

Chance Taylor

Undecided

Laith Al-Reshiq

Elliot Chambers

Nick Fincher

Bodhi Gunananda

Simon Menees

Maddy Przybylinski

Savannah Stoltman

Workforce

Mo Ahmed, electrician

David Borisky, Wea

Creek Outdoor Services, LLC

Sean CasteelChampion, National Park

Service internship

Frank Christian, construction

Kenzie Coda

Ryan Fuller,

real estate

Ella Hibbard, cruise ship baker

Hayden Hughes, cruise ship performer

Connor McGinnis, post office

Brodhi McMillan, AMC

Liam Meyers, construction

Silmi Moknijia, fire academy

Karizma Nola,

food truck

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

James Ackerman

Drew Hass

Henry Monahan

Halie Schmidt

University of Central Oklahoma

Greta Likens

University of Oklahoma

Maggie McCrea

University of Tulsa

David Edwards

Reece Rawlings

Addison Ruisinger, EMT training

Tate Sewell

Unknown

Daniel Commerford

Selah Crespo

Ella Foley

Michael Green

Collin Jeffries

Ethan Ledezma

Bradley Rubyor

Tony Spiers

WISCONSIN

University of Wisconsin-

Madison

Melanie Schwartz

ILLINOIS

Southern Illinois

University Edwardsville

Claire Jones

University of Chicago

David Jercha

OHIO

Kent State University

Martell Buchanan

The Ohio State University

Sam Dunton

Pradyun Malviya

Maya Waymire

INDIANA

Indiana University

Dean Markes

Purdue University

Barrett Bergmann

Ethan Bienz

Becker Garretson

Jack Graves

Kate Kozlowski

Christina Li

Micheal Liebrenz

Ryan McAleer

Tyler Reynolds

Alan Wang

Charlotte Warren

Saint Mary’s College

Aya Merrell

MISSISSIPPI

University of Mississippi

Luke Hutton

Lexis Hampton

Abby Mann

Ava Wadman

ALABAMA

Auburn University

Dylan Bashara

University of Alabama

Victoria Stack

PENNSYLVANIA

Carnegie Mellon University

Carter Hagen

Mundeep Kaberwal

MASSACHUSETTS

Bentley University

Audrey Vore

Berklee College of Music

Miles Gelman

Boston University

Surya Rangaraj

MAINE

Bowdoin College

Bailey Tien

Harvard University

Noor Haideri

Johnny Perkins

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ainsley Hileman

Wellesley College

Catherine Li

VIRGINIA

Hampton University

Sydney Maxwell

GEORGIA

Georgia Institute of Technology

Liam Stewart

WASHINGTON, DC

Clemson University

Jahnavi Parasker

Drew Schimmel

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina A&T University

Lauryn Burroughs

TEXAS

Baylor University

Imani Ali

Amaris Stephenson

Texas Christian University

Emme Freeman

The University of Texas at Dallas

Arden Peterson

LOUISIANA

Louisiana State University

Noah Johnson

Tulane University

Sammy Robertson

FLORIDA

Eckerd College

Sydney Williams

Embry–Riddle

Aeronautical University

Ken Yao

Florida Atlantic University

Ella Fullerton

SOUTH CAROLINA

Clemson University

Claire Hannasch

University of Miami

Carol Portela

University of Tampa

Nathan Rose

University of Central Florida

Jessica Toomay

may 2024 map design by newspaper editors

Seniors recall favorite high school events Tiger Traditions

Favorite Tradition: Pre-Dance Assemblies

Why was this your favorite tradition?

“I really enjoy the games we play [and] I like watching it. I think it’s really just entertaining and fun, and it brings the school together. It’s a good way to connect with everyone.”

What has been your favorite assembly?:

“I really liked seeing the Homecoming one because I really liked seeing the homecoming candidates, and I love watching the Hungry Hippos game.”

Do you have any good stories?

“One time in musical chairs, me and Simon [Menees] were the final two, and then I lost. It was sad but it was so fun.”

Favorite Tradition: Homecoming Parade

Why was this your favorite tradition?

“The whole school comes together and the community as well.”

What was your favorite part of the parade?

“I have been a part of the tennis [float] for the past couple years, and I just love walking with my friends.”

Do you have any good stories?

“We used to roll out tennis balls [to the little kids] and that was nice.”

Favorite Tradition: Senior Assassins

Why was this your favorite tradition?

“I think it’s a fun final way to interact with all the people in your grade. There aren’t really a lot of activities in high school that everybody participates in because there’s so many different social groups but this is one big overlap of everybody just interacting with each other and having a good time.”

Do you have any good stories?

“I made a fake work schedule to trick somebody into showing up to a carwash and then I got them. -- It was a foot chase and I was wearing my slippers for some reason [and] they came off and I was running barefoot for a long time to catch this person.”

MCGUIRE

Joshua Gordon, 12

Laney Boeger, 12

Allie Heidemann, 12

Bailey Tien

Senior Soundtrack

class of ‘24

Tigers describe final year of high school with songs

I’ll Always Remember You by Miley Cyrus

“We may not be living the double life that Hannah Montana has, however, that does not make our time any less fleeting. She talks about the transition from one chapter in life to another. It’s nostalgically reflecting on what has been going on in the past, but it also mentions how we still have a very it’s going to be fun. Senior year can be a very emotional time, and this song truly amplifies and validates all of those feelings. We have unlimited potential with how we’re going to approach our future.”

Where’d All The Time Go? by Dr. Dog

Katherine Stone

“It’s crazy that my time in school is done. Like where did it all go? I’m not going to be in school anymore. That’s crazy, and what am I going to do with my life? I have no idea. So I feel old.”

Katelyn Collins

Katherine Stone

End of Beginning by Djo

“Even though I’m really excited for the next chapter in my life, there’s also some sadness that comes with graduating because I’m going to be leaving behind so many great people — senior year is bittersweet. You realize that next year in college, you are going to miss certain things about high school you never thought you would miss. I like the lyrics ‘just trust me you’ll be fine,’ because that is what my friends and family tell me when I express any anxiety.”

Night Changes by One Direction

“It reminds me about how fast these 12 years have gone by, especially the last 4. We are all grown up and excited to move on to the next part of life.”

Katherine Stone

Aliya Siddiqui

Preserving Memories

Camera lenses capture moments throughout senior year

December

“This was part of the opening scene of ‘Newsies,’ and it was one of the first dances we got to choreograph. It was so much fun to do ‘Newsies’ as my senior show because it is such an amazing show singing- and dancing-wise. I was able to see how much myself and others have grown doing shows throughout our years.”

-Ellie Moser

|

August

“Cross country was a significant part of my senior year and definitely what I will miss most about high school. I joined on a whim for the challenge. Between the long runs, cheering on teammates, C-team shenanigans and Breck’s mom’s muffins, what’s not to love?”

-Brody Wingrove

January

“In that photo, I was probably cheesing talking smack to somebody on the free throw line. Basketball has made me able to communicate with more people. It’s brought me a lot of friends and people I consider family, and it’s made me very disciplined and dedicated to everything I do.”

-Jadyn Wooten

February

“Doing the class dance has always brought me so much joy and has always helped me feel closer with my grade. It was important for me to participate because it was my senior year, and I want to leave feeling connected with my peers.”

-Mattie Thornton

REEVES

PHOTOS BY EMMA MCATEE, RHYLAN STERN, JACKIE CHANG, HARRIS JONES, AVA MCNIEL, ABBY

September

“Being a part of the tennis team has positively impacted my time at BV so greatly. The rich, familylike bond I created with the girls on the team is so enlightening. We have created such an uplifting atmosphere, it is truly like no other sport. No matter if we win or lose on the court, I know I truly have won by being on a team with these special girls.” -Kaitlyn Gravitt

March

“I loved being a part of Relay For Life. It’s a great way to get involved with the community and give back in such a special way. I’ll for sure miss it, as it’s brought me closer with my friends and my school community.”

-Noah Johnson

October

“Not only did I have Señora Sanflé as a Spanish teacher, she was part of my family. Her and my dad fought cancer through chemotherapy together a few years back. Having the Sanflé memorial at the pink out football game was my way of spreading her message to as many people as I can in order to continue her legacy.”

-JuJu Mayers

April

“In this photo I was in my flow state, pitch after pitch, it feels like that’s where I belong. The family created in the baseball program is unlike any brotherhood anywhere else in school — it’s always something I look forward to. Baseball, throughout high school, has been all positive for the most part. It has made my experience something I will always remember” -Nolan Haas

November

“What I love about performing is the ability to become someone different than yourself. It’s impacted my high school experience by expanding my self confidence and getting me connected with great people. When I graduate I’m really going to miss the theatre department because it’s such an amazing community.”

-Bennett Calvert

May

“I chose Mr. Scardino as my teacher I appericate because he has really helped me get through my last two years of high school. He has always encouraged me to do my best and believed that I could do anything.”

-Brooke Goswick

Saying Goodbye

Seniors discuss underclassmen they will miss

Senior Maggie Richardson will miss her freshman sister, Caleigh Richardson, more than any other underclassman after she graduates.

“I feel really sad leaving her because she’s one of my best friends,” Maggie said.

“I can’t imagine not waking up every day and being in the same house as her.”

Maggie is especially sentimental because, after graduation, both of Caleigh’s siblings will be in college.

“Caleigh, I love you, and if you ever want to talk, give me a call,” Maggie said. “We can chat whenever you can come visit me.”

Senior Aubrey Hudkins will miss sophomore Sophie McGovern most postgraduation.

“I played soccer with her last year on the high school team, and her and I just created a lovely friendship,” Hudkins said. “I just love her.”

Hudkins also had some words of advice.

“Use your time wisely,” she said.

| DESIGN BY AVA MCGUIRE

Senior Sara Al-Kofahi said she’ll miss sophomore Victoria Litwin after she graduates this year.

“She helped me out with assignments and made class more entertaining and fun,” Al-Kofahi said. They shared a Spanish class together, and bonded over their shared time. Al-Kofahi also wanted to share advice that helped her get through her years in school.

“Take as many opportunities as you can in high school,” Al-Kofahi said.

Pass ng the Tiger Torch

Seniors

discuss tradition of handing down gifts to

underclassmen

Senior Wills - Speech Team

What is the tradition? “We take everyone who’s in the forensics department, and we give up something to them as our last big senior piece of wisdom. I’ve gotten imaginary money, and hair dye before because people think I’m a ginger when that’s not correct.”

Traffic Cone - Cross Country

What is the tradition? “We have this heirloom — it’s an orange traffic cone that’s a little bit scuffed up, and it’s supposed to be handed down from the girls varsity team to the next generation. The origin of the cone is that it was obtained from the unspecified location of a rival school on a cross country run a couple of years ago, and it symbolizes our desire to beat our rivals. I was a junior when we got the cone, but it’s a funny tradition that just contributed to team bonding. We have a physical object to unite around — it’s very nice.”

Why is it important? “It’s important because it also symbolizes our devotion to our team and our common identity as defined in opposition to rival schools. It helps unify us, and it’s just a cool tradition.”

Why is it important?

“It’s fun to give a little ‘gift’ to the other students around you and is often very emotional. It’s the last time that the department is brought together before the seniors go to college. Being able to share advice and give one last speech to the underclassmen is a sad, yet

Kozisek

KarsynCygan

Banner Painting - Cheer Team

What is the tradition? “The senior who’s in charge of drawing and creating the [football] banner passes it down. Last year, I was really close with one of the seniors who handed it down to me, so she must have trusted me and that was a really cool thing. I gave it to [junior] Olivia Deaton, and I think she will be great at it.”

Why is it important? “It’s just a great way to add different things to cheer that make it cool to be in and increase team bonding and responsibility. It puts more emphasis on the effort put into the design. Instead of just being a silly little drawing it makes it something bigger and something cool for the school to see.”

Grant

Arden Peterson

Students discuss ways they pass time Time Wasters

Dominic Booth https://www.senior.com

Clash Royale

Apr 20, 2024 - “I’ll be on my phone, I’ll be on TikTok, I’ll be on Instagram, I’ll play Clash Royale — that’s a big one. If you want to waste time in class, hit that Clash Royale. You can get through five games while your teacher’s talking.”

Dane Minor https://www.senior.com

Instagram Reels

Apr 22, 2024 - “I don’t really do anything — I just play on my phone, scroll on Instagram reels and TikTok.”

Andrew Corporon https://www.senior.com

Be a Hallway Zombie

Apr 26, 2024 - “I watch a lot of shows when I’m bored. Sometimes I’ll make playlists on Spotify for fun, and that usually wastes a bit of time.”

Nick Hays https://www.senior.com

Don’t do all that Much

Apr 21, 2024 - “Well to be honest, I don’t do all that much when it comes to wasting time. Sometimes I’ll be in a performing art class, and when there’s not a reason to be wasting time, I’d rather not spend my time at home doing homework.”

Mya Turner

https://www.senior.com

NYT Games

Apr 25, 2024 - “I waste my time in school by playing the Wordle, Connections and the link crossword or just walking around in the hallway.”

subhead headline AND IN BV, THERE IS...

SENIORS SHARE CRAZY BV SIGHTINGS

“...someone [wearing] a dog collar and leash.”

Name: Jahnavi Parasker

What happened? “I was walking to class my sophomore year, and [someone] was wearing a dog collar and was walking around with it. I thought it was kind of weird, but as long as they aren’t hurting anyone, I don’t really care.”

“...a crazy amount of PDA, specifically in the Avenue of the Arts.”

Name: Keegan Murray

What happened? “It’s the Avenue of the Arts, so I expect to see some funky things, but if I’m feeling a little dangerous, I’ll walk down there. [The PDA has] different stages. You’ve got cuddling, then holding hands, and then full-on making out and kissing. [Once, I saw] two people in the commons after school and they were literally on top of each other. It’s just awkward.”

“...someone lighting a trashcan on fire.”

Name: Cole Evans

What happened? “I just walked into the bathroom, and there were teachers coming out with a trash can on fire, It was super funny.”

“...a kid face-planting in the middle of the hall.”

Name: Ryan Molitor

What happened? “Back when [there was] a trend of jumping up on someones shoulders and jumping over them, I saw someone do that and the kid [being jumped over] face-planted in the middle of the hallway. The kid wasn’t that hurt — I mean, he was a little bit, but it was a good experience.”

“...freshmen fighting in the art hall.”

Name: Audrey Vore

What happened? “In the art hallway my sophomore year during Tiger Paws, these freshmen started getting into a fight, and the people who chose to sit in the art hall were cheering them on, food started getting thrown and these kids started punching each other — it was really weird.”

“...someone [getting] abducted — I think.”

Name: Emery Davis

What happened? “I don’t know if it was planned, but [they] definitely got abducted, [maybe] by a group of friends. They were [underclassmen] and he just got picked up and taken to the bathroom.”

Lessons Learned & Loved

Seniors discuss favorite classes

AVA VISCEK

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at BV? “CAPS Bioscience.”

Who teaches this class? “Mr. Kessler. He knows everyone and actually tries to get us to do things instead of just giving us homework.”

What did you do in this class? “It’s bioscience research, environmental science, molecular medicine and bioengineering. Sometimes we’ll go outside to find snakes or something, and sometimes we’ll be in the lab. Our main culmination of the whole year is supposed to be a research project where you make a big poster board or scientific research papers.”

How did this class impact your future? “I was thinking about being a doctor [or] a veterinarian, but I think I would rather go into some kind of research. Even though it’s not the most financially fulfilling, that’s something I’m really passionate about.”

| PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY AVA VISCEK

ETHAN KOHL

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at BV? “AP Physics 2.”

Who teaches this class? “Mr. Deffer. He’s probably one of my favorite teachers that I have. I just really enjoy his class, and I enjoy learning the material there. I got to know him last year when I took Physics 1. He’s super laid-back and willing to be a teacher. He’s there to teach you.”

What did you do in this class? “We’ve been studying optics and magnification, so kind of like glasses and learning how light goes through them and how it affects where that image ends up in your eyes and how they work. Before that, [we were] working with electromagnetics. It was really tough, but it was really fun.”

How did this class impact your future? “It made me super passionate about physics and made me want to double major with one of my majors being physics. I decided I liked it so much, I’m just going to do the whole thing. Let’s go full into physics and computer science.”

MIA HOOVER

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at BV? “Jewelry 1 and 2.”

Who teaches this class? “Mrs. Sedillo. She was incredibly kind and supportive of everyone’s work in the classroom, no matter what it looked like.”

What did you do in this class? “We’ll make jewelry and stuff out of metal. You could really express yourself. There weren’t really any limitations to what you could do.”

DYLAN BASHARA

What is your favorite class you’ve taken at BV? “Woods 2.”

Who teaches this class? “Mr. Feuerborn. He made it a real wood shop experience and allowed us to build whatever we wanted. [It’s] a class that could be kind of stressful for some people because you’re really just straight-up doing woodworking. He just made it a really fun environment.”

What did you do in this class? “We really just got to build anything we wanted, so I built a cage for my tortoise, a table and a stool for my math class.”

How did this class impact your future? “It made me realize I liked the physical aspect of something, making measurements, being able to cut things [and] being able to physically see the effects. That goes into mechanical engineering — being able to physically see what you’re doing and work with it.”

BY DYLAN BASHARA

| PHOTOS SUBMITTED

| PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY MIA HOOVER

in the great green room, there was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon and there little kittens and a pair of mittens and a little toyhouse and a young mouse were three little bears sitting in chairs and two 38| columns may 2024 design by callie dyches

“Allow yourself to have balance and know it’s OK not to be like Gabriel and Troy.”

ashley brixey-thatcher | staff writer

Growing up we expected high school to be like the movies. Films showed people getting leads in plays, falling in love, having amazing grades and making memories. As many people are aware, the reality of high school is not as glamorous.

My freshman year was during COVID, which was already a rough start. Instead of football games and parties, I experienced life with my peers through Zoom. Soon, we started going to class six feet apart, making the most of our situation. It was not anything Netflix worthy, but for the class of 2024, it was our perfect at the time.

Soon the mandates started to lift, and we could slowly go back to school. It was sophomore year and I was ready for my moment in a Kansas-version of High School Musical.

I lived in this mindset of bliss. I created memories in theater and choir, even went to my first high school dance. I was able to make the most of a social life I was deprived of since middle school. I created amazing friendships and even fell in love.

Yet, being so focused on living my High School Musical fantasy, I forgot about the important part of school: school work. I let my grades slip and I fell behind. I was able to get pretty good grades at the end of that year and thought nothing of it when time came for summer.

Onto junior year. At the start of eleventh grade, I lived in a bubble of ignorance. I didn’t go to school much, yet I still focused on social aspects: choir, theater, show choir, musicals, plays and parties. Basically I did anything related

to school, except the work I needed to do. This all came and hit me like a bus in December of 2022.

I realized I used social events and friends as a mask of sadness. When the workload started to pile up, I froze, yet I got my stuff done. Although I worked through and came out with only two mediocre grades, I knew I needed a change.

During my second half of junior year, I moved in with my grandparents in Illinois. While there I learned I was capable of creating long-lasting friendships and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. I created a new life for myself through growth.

I tried new things, like joining the newspaper staff and evening finding a Christian faith. Though I changed and evolved, I knew that it was not my home.

Senior year, I came home. I took myself and developed new habits. Instead of missing 40 days of school at BVHS, I changed it to 4. I learned the importance of balancing a social life and an academic one.

Senior year allowed me to grow in ways I did not think was possible. I started volunteering with kids and at the food drive. I learned I could go to football games and wake up the next morning to do my calculus homework.

Through the challenges high school has brought, it also has given me memories for a life-time. I am thankful for the tough parts so I can recognize the good. Although movies like High School Musical create an ideology that high school has to be film worthy, allow yourself to have balance and know it’s OK not to be like Gabriel and Troy.

“What you put into something is what you are going to get out of it.”

jessica toomay | staff writer

As I began writing this column, I had several ways on how I wanted to start this. I went back and forth between whether I should spend the words talking about my high school experience and all of the hardships it has brought or all of the triumphs these four years have given me. As I thought through these ideas, I realized I would rather talk about what I have learned in my time here.

The second semester of sophomore year was when I first came to Blue Valley and I was terrified. I was so scared that I pulled out of some electives I was previously involved in to take easier and less scary classes because of how terrified I was.

I have always considered myself a person to get involved in and take on many things in my life; however, this new semester all I wanted to do was fit in and hopefully make some friends.

As the years have gone by and I am now in my final weeks of high school, I look back at that little girl from sophomore year and am sad she decided to make those decisions because she could have had a thousand times more fun that semester than she did. It is in this reflection that I have learned my biggest lesson and piece of advice that I can give you all: What you put into something is what you are going to get out of it.

they did not have to go through because of bad events that have happened, but I urge everyone to find something they enjoy in high school and put themselves into it because it will give you more out of this experience than you have had before.

This lesson not only applies to high school but to everything you will get to do throughout your life. From your first job to when you go off to college, I ask you to please put whatever you have into those experiences because it will make what you get out of them so much sweeter.

When you are put into a situation such as high school where you have access to an abundance of opportunities you have yet to experience, you should get involved in what makes you happy; however, make sure you are putting into them what you want out of them.

High school is something we have never experienced before, and we will never get to experience again. I know for a lot of people that high school is something they wish

This lesson has been a blessing for me to learn, and I try to attribute it to my life now as I am about to begin a new chapter of my life in a completely different state. Throughout high school, however, this has not been the only lesson I have learned. The other piece of advice I have been so fortunate to learn is that it is not what happens but how you react to it.

As we go through life, especially now, there are going to be several difficult hardships we are going to face, but it is how you decide to deal with those hardships that will truly shape who you become.

You can take what happens and turn it into fuel to become a better and stronger person.

Many things will happen to us, good and bad, and we have a choice in whether we want to run from it or face what happens head-on and allow it to teach us a valuable lesson.

I hope each and every one of you will grow up to be amazing people who have the best experiences in life, but I can not lie to you in telling you that it will be great all of the time.

There are going to be parts that suck and push you down, but I hope you all can take the advice from the lessons I have been so lucky to learn and use them to help you get through the hard times you will face throughout the next several chapters of your life.

“I am as comfortable with my regrets as you can be with such uncomfortable things.”

amira dvorak | staff writer

Someone, I’m sure, has told you once how important it is to stop every once in a while to smell the roses. Whether you took it to heart or scoffed at it, it’s no secret that this is much easier said than done.

Between jobs, sports, relationships and schoolwork, it’s a miracle any of us have any time to sleep at night, much less stop and “smell the roses.”

I, for one, have always been in somewhat of a hurry — not many people know (I don’t know why they would) that I fully intended to graduate at the end of my junior year.

Most people, if they know me at all, know me as a highachieving student with a schedule packed full of AP classes and straight As, so this may be taken as a brag of some sort, but in reality, I spent the first two years of high school totally miserable, just barely scraping by in my classes and speaking to absolutely no one.

It wasn’t some test of my abilities — I was completely fixed in the mindset of “just get it all over with as soon as possible” and couldn’t possibly imagine having to go through four entire years.

Never did I think in a million years that there could be anything to miss about high school, that I would stay beyond what was strictly necessary, or indeed, that there were any roses to smell along the way.

Truth is, I’ve had all my credits for almost a year now — a token of my quest to graduate early — and yet, I’ve continued to come to school every day.

High school is largely what you decide you want it to be. For my first two years, I decided it was horrible, and so it was. I wasted them — plain and simple — and I could spend endless hours wallowing in regret about how many more memories I could be walking away with, but that would be pointless — nothing but time lost on time lost.

I am as comfortable with my regrets as you can be with such uncomfortable things, and I now prefer to spend what little time I have left a bit more productively — in the garden, as it were.

Because soon, everything I have ever known will be thousands of miles away. Very soon, my entire life will be behind me in a very tangible way, and I’ll be faced with what very well could be the biggest series of unknowns I will ever see.

Too soon, really, none of us will have the chance to be silly little high schoolers ever again. But it is spring, and the roses are in full bloom. I urge you to take a moment to gather as many as you can, to stop and smell them — for while you may be lucky enough to keep them until they are withered and dry, they are only fragrant for so long.

“Laugh through the funny moments despite their stupidity, cry at the times when you think best to and realize these moments will eventually be behind you — for better or worse.”

andrew sharber | staff writer

Part of what makes high school so memorable is the experiences and countless memories that you ultimately make with the people you care about. Except, one thing that I regret most from high school is not taking the time to cherish the memories I had made in the moment.

It wasn’t until now that I felt as if you have no choice but to move on, despite recognizing the countless experiences and times that you have been through with others.

And if I’ve learned anything from high school, it’s that you should try to grow yourself as a person through the people who you are around and try to experience the most you can with those that you love.

Today especially, I find that I take those people for granted and often forget that while I see them today, tomorrow might be a different story. And while I would probably see them the next day and so on, just thinking of those you care about and how

much they mean to you holds a much greater value than had you thought nothing of it.

Recognizing who those people are to you personally is something that is always important. Because if they don’t mean anything to you, you probably don’t mean anything to them.

Originally feeling as if high school was something that all people are “doomed” for I always felt as if there was never anything to be found from it. Except, it was the exact opposite.

The memories you make in high school should be some you ultimately cherish and never forget. They should be memories you think of later on, just when you think you’re moving even farther in life. But, rather than thinking of them later on, try to notice them in the moment when you’re making them.

Try to think in the moment and realize that what you are experiencing is a blessing and something that you will cherish for later on in life. Laugh through the funny moments despite their stupidity, cry at the times when you think best to and realize these moments will eventually be behind you — for better or worse.

“Find

your light and shine it bright for those to see.”

ava mcniel | photo editor

As I entered Blue Valley High School, I imagined myself becoming just another face in the crowd, but little did I realize that joining Newspaper would become my stage for self-discovery and transformation in ways I never imagined possible.

When I first started at BV as a freshman, I was shy, introverted and struggled to connect with others, especially when my best friend moved away that year. I spent all of my time by myself, dreading each day of school and watching the clock throughout every class.

As the quiet, introverted freshman I perceived myself as, I never saw a future for myself. I never saw myself getting involved in any way, having a friend group again or even confidently talking to people.

At the beginning of my sophomore year, I was enrolled in film photography. My teacher Miss Pickell was so welcoming to me and the other students. She brought my love for photography out of me and helped me express it in ways I never thought were possible. That class was the root of my spark for photography.

my path throughout my first year of newspaper and provided me with special tips, camera accessories and information outside of class. My mastery of cameras only grew during first semester.

With the help of taking film photography II in my second semester of junior year, my passion for photography and cameras intensified. I started to submit my work for contests to get my art in the public eye.

Second semester I enrolled in computer graphics. Although I had already completed graphic design first semester, I thought the class would be different from graphic design. I was wrong. So for those wanting to take both, choose one. With my love for computers and my knowledge of graphic design, I was breezing through assignments and falling asleep in every class. I didn’t think much of my talent in graphic design, but my computer graphics teacher Mrs. Huss did.

At the end of my sophomore year, Huss suggested I join the school’s newspaper staff. Huss made me realize that I have a talent, and I’m able to put it to use for others to enjoy. I didn’t know much about newspaper at first, but I’d hear tidbits from my friend Rhylan every so often when I talked to her. I informed her I was suggested to join the staff next year, and she thought it was a great idea. Hesitant at first, I decided it was the right choice.

I began my junior year enrolled in digital imaging and newspaper first semester. The duality of these classes assisted me in quickly learning the dynamics of a digital camera. Mr. Mosier, my digital imaging teacher, supported

Throughout the rest of my junior year, I began to come out of my shell, speak up more and take on leadership roles in my newspaper class. Newspaper made me realize that I have a voice and that my words could make a difference. They mattered. Writing for the school newspaper gave me confidence, and it shaped me into a new person.

As I continued to get my photos across to people through social media, opportunities began to spark from every corner. People saw my work, and they showed tremendous appreciation for it. I was given the chance to work with so many amazing groups of people.

I have accomplished so much in the past four years of high school, and to my freshman self, that would have sounded like a dream.

For those who may have one to three years left of high school, you all have so much more to look forward to. Even if it might seem too late to join a club, enroll in a course out of your comfort zone or find a group of friends who accept you for who you are — it’s never too late. We’re all still trying to figure it out. So find your light and shine it bright for those to see. Continue to come out of your shell and make a positive impact on the world around us.

Thank you to all of my art and computer teachers who pushed me and shaped me into the person I am today. Thank you for teaching me the skills that now define me, and I appreciate all of the staff who made my high school experience one to remember — something I never thought would be possible for me.

And to my newspaper classes the past two years: the presence you’ve had in my life taught me I am capable of standing on my own two feet, and for that, I will always be grateful.

“Please don’t be a stranger.”

harris jones | assistant editor

When I started at this high school four years ago, following trying to become one with the wall in middle school, more than half of my peers were strangers. I have spent the last four years of my life inadvertently finding less and less of them to be.

When I first stepped through the doors, I was a relatively shy, quiet kid, and while some people still receive that more reserved version of me, plenty of people would call you mad if that’s how you described me. But that transition from shy and quiet to someone whose voice goes above a mumble could not have possibly happened without newspaper.

I originally had no plans to be in newspaper. I wanted to be in yearbook, which thank god that didn’t happen because I quite possibly might be the worst photographer to grace this staff in a while or maybe ever. But I picked newspaper, transferring in on the second day of my sophomore year because newspaper was the one I had a friend in, and I needed a tech credit.

At the time I simply had no idea that newspaper would be where so many of my friends to come would be from.

There were Sofia Hughes, Harrison Melton (my namesake), and Kaitlin Green who worked to draw me out of my shell, even if none of them are around anymore.

Now there are Ava, Rhylan and Isaac who hear me go on about nonsense every morning. Yes Rhylan, Harry Styles is going to commit a cancellable offense — I just know it.

Then there’s the full staff of people whose names will all

be in the back of this issue who I love dearly but there are too many of you to list here.

And of course Mrs. Huss who watched me go from 21st Century Journalism where I didn’t speak to it being a miracle when I’m quiet in the morning during editors’ hour. Truly, thank you, for giving me a place to discover having a voice.

A gap was bridged in between that time where I grew as a person — maybe it was the care of people around me to not let me fade away into the background, maybe it was giving myself a voice by always having an opinion to write about or maybe it was just that I stopped being a stranger to myself and stopped letting so many people be strangers to me.

There are a million heartbreaks and a million joys you will go through in a lifetime — sometimes there are a hundred of each in one day — but you do not have to go through either alone, and honestly after experiencing the care of the people on this staff and those I’ve made friends with outside of this, why would you want to?

And so I, with the rest of you, stand at a crossroads, surrounded by people I’ve known for years, and some I may never have even spoken a word to.

There are some of you whose lives I have already been deeply intertwined with for years, and whose lives I will probably be a part of as long as we are both on this Earth. There are some of you I may fall out of touch with but who I will still reminisce about when my hair is gray. There are some of you I may stumble across a decade from now, my name will escape you and your name will escape me, and we’ll both wonder if that’s the person we were thinking of. And there are some of you who I may never see again after graduation.

So, if years from now you find yourself in some dingy place and think for a second you recognize me by laugh alone, please don’t be a stranger.

“Thank you, Blue Valley, for not making me do anything at school this year.”

isaac hudson | editor-in-chief

Ihave been so excited to write this senior column since the second semester of my freshman year. Ever since May of 2021, the end of my first semester on staff, I have been dreaming of writing this page. And yet now, when it is finally time to sum up my experience at this school, on this amazing newspaper staff, I’m drawing a blank.

Over the last couple of months, maybe since the beginning of my last semester of high school, I have started to have this creeping feeling in the pit of my stomach, a feeling that there is no point in coming to school anymore, that nothing I will do from January to May is really going to matter.

I’m already committed to a college, my grades and GPA are in a good place and I am (mostly) caught up in all my classes. So why should I even be going to school? And that’s when I realized it: whether by design or by accident, this very laid-back senior year has given me the time to pursue so much outside of academics.

Namely, my interpersonal relationships. Being able to spend so much extra time with my girlfriend, my group of close friends, my bandmates, and my family has allowed me to deepen those relationships in a way I never could have if I was taking five AP classes.

I feel so lucky to have been afforded all this extra time — time to hang out with people and go to coffee shops and movies and go on long walks and eat good food (and bad fast food) and go to concerts and stay up late and sleep in and so on and so on.

I feel so lucky to have been on this staff for three and a half years. Every August, I have missed the seniors of the year past, and now that I am one of those seniors, I don’t know how to feel.

In a weird way, I think it will be hard to separate in my brain the time I have been on staff for The Tiger Print and the time that I will be on staff for the Baker Orange.

I feel so lucky to have been coeditors-in-chief with Ava and Rhylan, to have had Harris as our assistant editor, and to have had Mrs. Huss to help us out along the way.

So thank you, Blue Valley, for not making me do anything at school this year. It was much more valuable than you could ever know.

| 45 may 2024 columns design by callie dyches

“Being able to help lead my favorite class felt like the biggest achievement — it was the first time I considered myself to be a real journalist.”

ava mcguire | editor-in-chief

My parents used to tell me stories about the fun they had as a part of their high school’s yearbook staff, so naturally, I knew I wanted to take 21st Century Journalism just so I could be in the yearbook class the next year.

At the end of freshman year, I was sitting nervously in French class waiting for the letter that would say “Congratulations, welcome to the 2021-2022 Yearbook Staff!” I would finally find where I belonged in high school.

After the letter was delivered, I sat in silence staring at the words on the page. “Congratulations, welcome to the 2021-2022 Newspaper Staff!” I was in disbelief. I had applied for yearbook — why had I been put in newspaper?

I marched up to Mrs. Huss and asked why I was on the newspaper staff. She didn’t give me an exact answer but instead asked me to trust her — but I did not want to.

I spent the summer dreading the first day of class, convinced I was going to quit immediately. I walked into Room 518 with frustration and anxiety. I would have left class that day and gone straight to the counseling office if it wasn’t for what I saw in the staff.

From that very first day, I could tell the staff members of The Tiger Print were extraordinarily smart, sophisticated human beings. I was inspired to stay because of the charisma in the room and the mutual respect and admiration between the leaders and staffers.

I had no idea what I was doing on staff at first, but I knew I wanted to stay. It took some twists and turns and some ups and downs, but I eventually developed a love for writing and designing.

Telling the stories of my school community gave me connections I wouldn’t have expected. Diving deep into meaningful matters opened my eyes to other perspectives.

I was mortified at the idea of writing an opinion, but once I realized I could use my writing to tell the student body a message I wanted them to hear, I fell in love with

| columns may 2024 design by callie dyches

opinions, too.

I finished my first year of newspaper with 24 new friends and a lot to look forward to. I was named a publication editor for the 2022-2023 school year, and I felt on top of the world. Being able to help lead my favorite class felt like the biggest achievement — it was the first time I considered myself to be a real journalist.

Throughout my second year on staff, I grew my relationships with others on staff and felt like I was starting to truly belong. I was sure the confidence I felt during this year would prepare me for the editor-in-chief position.

I was adamant to uphold the legacy and practices of the former editors to a T — if I did exactly what they had done, everything would be perfect.

After the first issue this year, I realized this couldn’t be the case. I was trying to act as a leader I wasn’t, and I realized not every issue or staff would flow the same way others had, and that’s OK. It was the perfect opportunity to create something uniquely our own.

The experience I’ve had in newspaper has given me a passion for journalism that I am so excited to continue into my future.

But I think above all, newspaper gave me some of the best friends I could have ever asked for. Many have graduated, many have only just joined staff, but the memories these staffers have given me throughout the years have been the most enjoyable.

The newspaper gods knew what they were doing when they sent me Emma and Harris. Thank you for being my besties and putting up with my over-the-top dramatics. I am beyond blessed to have my co-EICs Rhylan and Isaac — you are my rocks and have helped me grow so much. Mrs. Huss, you’re an angel. Thank you for putting up with us.

You all have been some of the strongest pillars in my life, and I love you dearly.

So, Huss, I think it is fair for you to say “I told you so.”

“If you have your group, hold them tightly and don’t let go.”

rhylan stern | editor-in-chief

In April of my first year on staff, I learned what senior columns were. I was so excited hearing about how much fun they had on staff and even in high school. While I was looking forward to being in this exact moment in time, reflecting on my time in high school, writing my own senior column and eager to graduate, I wasn’t ready to be speechless. I didn’t know I would have so much to say, yet only a page to say it. But I’m going to try.

After the isolated freshman year with everyone six feet apart from each other, I didn’t have much hope for the rest of my time in high school. I felt lost with my place in the world and like I had no group I belonged to. I wanted to finally have a normal experience — the high school teenager experience.

Then I took 21st Century Journalism, and despite my class being eerily quiet and no one ever making a sound, I was eager to learn more about the world of journalism, and since I was scared I wasn’t going to have a good high school experience, I realized I needed to get involved.

And I wasn’t ready for what high school was going to bring me, but sophomore year led me to room 518 and the beautiful friendships with the people in it. Over my three years on staff, I’ve been able to work with incredibly talented staff members and work under and alongside the best editors, just to experience what are some of my favorite memories at Blue Valley.

And this is a lot coming from me, the girl who Huss thought HATED journalism because she never spoke her first year.

From Editors’ Hour rants that we force Huss to listen to and the uncontrollable laughter when Ava says something completely uncalled for, to making fun of Isaac’s design inspo (I promise we love it) and arguing with Harris over whether or not Harry Styles will get canceled in the future.

Or the moments at almost every football, basketball or baseball game imaginable and taking pictures, laughing and smiling endlessly with the girls on the sidelines — and laughing even more when we almost — and actually did — get hit or tackled. I’ve enjoyed every moment in Room 518 and more importantly, I found my group of people.

If you take anything from what I’ve said, it’s that everything happens for a reason. Find your group of people — the group that laughs with you, cries with you and supports you in every major moment of high school, because you’ll always want those friends by your side. Whether you haven’t found your group in high school — you’ll find them eventually — or if you are just about to graduate without a group by your side, high school isn’t the end and you’ll come across thousands of people in your lifetime.

But if you have your group, hold them tightly and don’t let go. Laugh with them, smile with them, cry with them and most importantly, love them unconditionally. You need people around you — it’s just part of being human.

And while I know not everyone will have the same experience as me, know that you need to step out of your comfort zone and just live. Form memories and meet new people.

That’s what I did.

Because of it, I have the most amazing memories from the past three years on The Tiger Print. So thank you to my co-editors, the staff writers and especially Huss — I’m sorry for seeming like I hated your class when I actually loved it.

If it wasn’t for all of you I don’t know where I’d be. I wouldn’t have stepped out of my quiet, isolated box and wouldn’t have stumbled upon a place that was waiting for me. In this place, the one that I wasn’t looking for, I found my second family, my second home — my people. All in Room 518.