Charlotte Latin School Class of 2021 Senior Edition, The Hawk Eye newspaper

He sails the wide open seas with great precision and can execute a devastating cradle on the mat.

See page 3

Where will the senior flock spend the next four years?

See center spread

He sings, he composes, he acts— turn to page 4 to identify this Renaissance man.

See page 8

THE HAWK

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The Student Newspaper of Charlotte Latin School

Vol. 41 No. 3 9502 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28227 May 2021

She rides like the wind—and has the ribbons to prove it.

See page 7

First prom where no girls kicked off their heels to dance.

See page 12

EYE

Letters

May 2021

THE SENIOR EDITION 2021 T h e h e r o’s j o u r n e y

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Head of Upper School offers wisdom as graduates take next next steps

By Lawrence E. Wall

It’s been forty years since I was graduated from high school, and comparing my understanding of the world now with what I understood then, I am struck by the truth that for all the things age has taken from me it has given more. This is particularly so in that most important of all fields of human expertise, knowledge of oneself.

Further, when I consider the things that fostered most the acquisition of such knowledge, the top

contributor is undoubtedly adversity. I was one of four children, just one of four. I was no one’s special project.

We had no money. We had no network of important connections. My parents had not gone to college. My great inheritance was my faith, passed down through a family that wouldn’t have survived without one. So I grew up in the expectation that if I did my part, then God would help with the rest, opening some doors and closing others as He

Class of 2021 gathers outside of Thies for its annual college tee day (seniors removed masks only briefly for the photo). Photo by April Baker

knew best. I was blessed with excellent intelligence, but failing ninth grade Algebra I was a comeuppance I’m glad was sent me early, because it taught me discipline and not to squander my opportunities. It was easy for me to look around my public high school and see where my life would go if I didn’t get serious about my opportunities to learn and distinguish myself.

I carried this through all of the challenges of high school, college, graduate school, and a career that started at a tiny Episcopal School that was about to close its doors when I joined its faculty. Until I was 37, it seemed that my incline would always be steep. So I learned early that if anything I wanted was going to happen, I had to make it happen, although you’d be very wrong to take away from that statement the idea that I think I did it alone. Along the way there were always those marvelous people

who’d been placed in my path, and always just in time.

So, to the Class of 2021, you who have so admirably led our Upper School students through three semesters of frustrations, scarcities, and uphill climbs, you can see from my own life that I welcome you sincerely to a special club. You’ve been dealt a hand that you would not have chosen, and yet you have dug deep to redeem everything within your power to re-imagine and to re-make. You have amazed us with your innovation, your focus on the needs of others, your unshakeable priority on friendships and on being together as much as you could. In a way, you have made the hero’s journey early in life, and coming up from the abyss, you have the hero’s knowledge of self.

You’re smart enough to know that the World will challenge you yet, but life has given you a mirror and

forced you to look into it, and you have not yet blinked.

Carry that with you, remembering all of those around you, including your parents and teachers, who also were tested, and remember that you have the fortitude and the excellence, and I hope the faith in something greater than yourselves leading the Universe, to see you through lives that are incomparably richer precisely because of the struggle. Ease seldom produces true leaders.

I WELCOME YOU SINCERELY TO A SPECIAL CLUB. Wall smiles behind his mask at the 2021 convocation exercises in the Student Activity Center. Photo by Lori Davis

The value of opinions and voices StuCo president encourages courage in face of societal pressures

By Johnston Lloyd

From the time I was a little toddler learning to walk and talk, my dad has always told me “to be courageous and to always be you.” And if there is one word to describe the Charlotte Latin Class of 2021, it would be courageous.

Whether it’s in the classroom, on the sports field, or on the stage, we have embodied the meaning of true courage as a class. We are fearless competitors who will stop at nothing to succeed in all walks of life, willing to take chances and do whatever it takes to reach the goals we set for ourselves. In all aspects of our school life we dem-

Friends share a brotherhood moment.

onstrate different types of courage, whether that be physical courage on the

sports fields, on the theatrical stage, or intellectual courage in the classroom, we utilize different types of courage in different situations.

While courage as a whole (and these specific types of courage) are vitally important abilities in life, the most important type of courage is social courage.

Social courage, simply put, is the ability to be yourself and express yourself unapologetically.

In this generation, our lives are particularly filled with outside pressures that seek to alter our opinions and shape them into what others want. Whether it be as simple as scrolling through your Instagram feed or watching the news, these days there are constant pressures for us to change our views to better align with others. Do not give into these pressures; do not ever give into these pressures.

To speak your mind and to share your opinions are two critically important abilities in life. It takes a certain courage to share your honest opinions with people around you as you don’t always know the reaction it will elicit, but the power of this sharing is

immeasurable. The greatest gift you can give yourself and others is to share your thoughts because the free exchange of different opinions and ideas is the single most important thing in this world.

On such a small scale like school this expression of your own ideas may not seem all that important because it’s merely sharing your thoughts on random things such as the French Revolution or the meaning of Margaret Fuller’s essays.

However, as we grow up and explore the real world by ourselves, the impact of sharing our opinions grows in exponential magnitude.

One day, Class of 2021, we will be passing laws, operating in surgery, building houses, and arguing in court where expressing our opinions becomes evermore important.

Right now, it is rather easy to express ourselves and our opinions as they are often on trivial issues, but as our opinions grow in importance, it takes more and more courage to express our views, so the importance of learning social courage now cannot be understated. Social courage is quite difficult, don’t get me wrong, but it is an abil-

White out night in Jamaica during senior spring break trip. Photo by Jewel Grande Monetego Bay Photography

ity that is so vital that we should commit ourselves to it day in and day out.

Find your voice. That doesn’t mean that you have to share your opinion or even have an opinion on anything and everything, but find what you’re passionate about and find your voice within that and express it. Most importantly: you always have a voice; as big or little as you think that voice may be, you always have that voice, so use it. Embrace different viewpoints because the free expression of ideas however different those ideas may be will always unite us.

While we all go our

separate ways for college in the fall, keep in mind one thing: don’t change, don’t ever change. You are amazing just the way you are and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. We are a special class, Class of 2021; we have made friendships to last a lifetime so cherish them.

Stay in touch and don’t be a stranger; high school may be over but our relationships aren’t. The party’s not over; it’s just begun.

Letters.................................1,2 Profiles..............2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Features.....................10,11,12 Class Photo...................Center

Letters & Profiles

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Letters & Profiles

May 2021

Embrace the arena

Student body president challenges class, take risks to find success

By Cole Lavelle

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” —From Theodore Roosevelt’s speech “Citizenship in a Republic,” delivered at the Sorbonne, Paris, 1910 Dear Class of 2021, As many of you know, Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” quote is plastered in giant letters across a wall in the wrestling room. When I was a freshman wrestler, as tradition holds, I had to recite the quote in front of the entire team, and it has resonated with me on a personal level ever since and influences how I view myself and the world around me. Moreover, this quote is relevant to how I personally navigate within our smaller Latin community. “Man in the Arena” is also relevant to how we, as the Class of 2021, will excel once we

Senior mat Hawks pose beneath their senior posters in the gym. Photo by Leah Custer.

matriculate into the new, beautiful, scary, and all too-real world of college that awaits us beyond the protective boundaries of 9502 Providence Road.

When I read “Man in the Arena,” one word immediately comes to mind…courage. In wrestling, it means the courage to leave it all on the mat, no matter the discomfort and difficulty.

But, in the context of what the next four years and beyond hold for us, it’s the courage to take risks.

Risks that will cause us to go beyond our comfort

zone. Risks that will cause us to wildly succeed.

And risks that will cause us to miserably fail. But then again, there is “no effort without error and shortcoming.”

If I had to choose any message to send our senior class off with, I would select this theme of courage. Don’t timidly settle for less or even average, but bravely seek out and relentlessly work for fruitful opportunities.

I have witnessed plenty of these acts of courage and bravery within our class and I encourage you all to

continue said acts postgraduation.

An example of when I personally took a risk was when I joined the wrestling team in eighth grade. For those who remember what I looked like back then, this shouldn’t require much explaining. But for those who don’t, the words “Cole” and “wrestling” had never met each other in a sentence prior to Coach Paige, and for good reason.

Imagine me now, but with a much, much smaller frame and way more awkward looking. I agree, eighth grade Cole had no business wrestling, but that was a risk I was willing to take.

Now that it’s all said and done, I look back at this

decision as one of the best choices I have ever made.

Like I mentioned, the various acts of bravery do not go unnoticed. Easily one of the greatest acts of courage that I have ever witnessed is Sophie Egan’s ultimate bounce back.

Imagine being diagnosed with myositis (muscle inflammation), a disease with no known cure.

Imagine not being able to participate in so many of the things you love and enjoy, all due to something beyond your control.

Imagine having your whole world being turned upside down. Personally, I can hardly fathom the physical and emotional adversity that accompany such a

Class of ‘21 mat Hawks Bruno Lahass, Buchanan Perrigo, Marshall Hanson, Kyle Smith and Cole Lavelle pose after a successful Middle School wrestling tournament.

Vi n t a g e d r e a m

Runner explains significance behind State’s jacket

By Lucy Dempsey

Sophie Egan ‘21 (middle) runs her a 5K with the support of teammates Lane Tayloe ‘19 (left) and Helena Berens ‘22 (right).

diagnosis. Despite these unimaginable hardships, Sophie always came to school with an enthusiastic smile on her face, eager to seize the day. She could have easily allowed her life to fall apart, but Sophie courageously chose to persevere.

During the cross country season of my junior year, I had the honor of sharing the trails with Sophie. Here she embodied the line: “the credit belongs to the [woman] who is actually in the arena.” Despite having literally every reason not to, Sophie boldly chose to risk one more 5K and fantastically triumphed.

Sophie’s bravery profoundly stands out to me (and countless others) as what it means to truly have the courage to go outside of your comfort zones and engage in risks.

I can honestly go on endlessly about the cour-

age that our class displays.

Bruno Lahass embracing the opportunity of wrestling up at a weight class nearly 100 pounds above his actual weight (and laying the SMACKDOWN on PD at States). Kate Coppage’s gutsy and nail biting performance to win it all for the varsity girls tennis team. Marshall Hanson and Harrison Kaplan going to the Naval Academy to one day serve our nation. Katie Chai taking on the challenge of helping produce thousands of face shields for frontline workers. The list goes on and on.

The Class of 2021 has displayed courage and taken on risks in so many ways. So, Class of 2021, don’t change. Keep courageously taking those risks in the years to come. That way, we “shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

My state’s jacket is very important to me. That's why it is my favorite piece of Latin memorabilia. The year right before I came to Latin (2016), everyone on the XC girls’ state's team was given the vintage jackets to keep since Latin was changing their branding. I watched all the older girls wear their super-cool State’s jackets, and I had missed them by a year.

Each year, I wished I could have had the opportunity to receive a State’s jacket. Every year when it came around to handing the top 10 girls their jackets, I told the story of how I wished I had come a year earlier to be able to have one of the vintage jackets.

My senior year, while wal king with Coach (Sintayehu) Taye and telling the same story for the thousandth time, I got to the pile of the jackets. There was one jacket on top of the pile.

Coach (Mike) Weiss said that while he was looking through the old XC stuff, he had found one more vintage State’s jacket. He told me that because I was the only senior girl on the State’s team, I could keep it.

It was one of the best

Llerenas Soto and a teammate in her treasured State’s vintage jacket.

feelings ever because I had wished for all of my years at Latin that I could re-

ceive one of the super-cool jackets.

—Maria Llerenas Soto

Profiles

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Profiles

May 2021

From open sea to singlet

Dean Omirly battles adversaries with support of friends and family

Omirly shreds his Sunfish in the ocean.

“I love wrestling because there are no external factors that impact the outcome of a match. It is only me and my adversary.”

—Dean Omirly ‘21 For Dean Omirly, family and friends have been his support system for anything he sets his mind to. Omirly has always been grateful for how much everyone cares

about him and the extent to which they have helped him. “I’ve been aided by them my whole life, and good things have happened to me because of them,” Omirly said. The activities that Omirly pursues represent his characteristics overall.

Team sports such as wrestling and sailing still allow the athlete to isolate himself within a team setting and focus solely on the opponent.

This collection of individuals who have remained loyally in Omirly’s corner helped him as he achieved his next step from Latin, an academic and athletic career at Wesleyan University. Omirly especially likes wrestling because of its intensity. “It’s me versus someone else and I can control everything, so if I lose then I know I did not do something right and I need to fix something,” Omirly said.

However, Omirly has not always focused on

more on schoolwork and my wrestling craft,” Omirly said.

Omirly’s father used to sail “big boats” and his older brother followed suit when he was ten years old. It’s no surprise that Omirly developed a love Omirly gracefully slices through the frigid water as he for the sport, chases a personal best in a regatta. as well. Omirly on the lacrosse field, domiwas six years old when he started travelling with them nated his wrestling competition and excelled in the around the nation, watchclassroom. Confident his ing his brother compete in support system will have regattas, typically on the his back, Omirly stands East coast. “After a couple poised to achieve his future years of watching, I regoals. Omirly epitomizes ally wanted to get out what it means to be a Latin on the water myself,” Hawk; so for now, that’s a Omirly said. pin on 13 years of Latin life.

Omirly started formal sailing lessons at eight years old, and at nine, he joined the race team program at Wrightsville Beach each summer where sailors spend six hours a day, five days a week on the water. By the time Omirly turned fifteen he had received his Level 1 certification, which allowed him to teach children how to sail.

With support from his friends and family, Omirly pauses his instruction of novice Coach David Paige congratulates Omirly followOmirly proved himself sailors for a squad picture. ing a victory on the mat.

wrestling as his primary sport. He was really serious about lacrosse entering Middle School and wanted to pursue a career with it at the next level. Everything changed when his older brother made him stick with wrestling, saying that the discipline would help him and it would be worth it in the long run. Once Omirly entered Upper School, however, his experience changed drastically.

He won States his freshman year and he found a passion for the sport. That win catalyzed a turning point.

“I became more of an introvert and started focusing

Q&A: The rewards of service

Abhinav Krishnan honors culture and community by giving back Q: You have engaged in many hours of service while in high school and earned the Congressional Medal. What drew you to community service, and what has been your favorite project so far?

A. I’m going into biochemistry next year for college, so I got an opportunity at Atrium Health Pineville, and I volunteered nearly 400 hours. I would say my favorite experience was the hospital, because I got to see different perspectives.

I got to see different types of people, different environments, and I got to put smiles on people’s faces.

Volunteering at the hospital was really one of the most important things for me.

Q: Can you talk a bit about the importance of your culture and giving back to it? Why is it important to you and how has the experience changed you?

A: I feel most at home in the Indian community.

When I was 16, I visited India—that wasn’t my first time, but it was the first time I was really mature and understood what was going on. There was only so much we could do, and I wanted to do something instead of

nothing. Being a minority here, not everyone around me looks like me, and finding those people, you get a kind of sense of home, and an understanding of who you are. Nothing changes about me when I’m with the Indian community.

Q: What would you say is your favorite memory from playing sports for Latin?

A: I did swimming. I started off my season doing 100 free, and my time at the beginning of the year was 1:03. My coach was motivating me, and at the end of my freshman season, I broke the 1:10 mark. I felt a validation of something that I worked towards paid off.

Q: One thing you had to do for the Congressional Gold Medal was go on a five-day exploration. What was it?

A. I chose New York City, which held a lot of meaning for me because after my parents moved here, they stayed there for about eight years. My goal was not to use any transportation other than my feet and the subway. I walked approximately seven miles a day for five days and looked at

everything.

Q: Would you say this experience changed the way you looked at your parents?

A. 100%. I took my parents for granted, but the exploration made me think that if they could do that, I could overcome anything.

Q: What do you hope your life will look like after high school?

A. I’m majoring in biochemistry; I want to be a surgeon, so I have to go to medical school. I want to be not only financially stable but content with what I’m doing and give back to my community.

Q: What else would you like to share with the Hawk flock?

A. Learning how to do things for myself really impacted my life, and that’s my advice to other people.

If the reason behind why you’re doing something doesn’t have you in it, don’t do it.

Krishnan on his exploratory trip to New York City.

Profiles

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Profiles

May 2021

Q&A: Never run from adversity Sophie Egan keeps positive outlook, inspires fellow Hawks

Egan displays her trademark smile (and a friendly plant).

Q: If you are comfortable doing so, would you explain your health crisis?

A: I was diagnosed with Post Mycoplasma Myositis, a really rare disease that has an autoimmune response and destroys the body. Because of it I was extremely weak to the point where all my muscles atrophied and any movement was incredibly painful (like my muscles were on fire). I had to use a cane to walk, and as a 15-year-old I got a lot of stares from people. I frequently go numb because my pain receptors were overused so much. Now whenever I do any activity that would cause me pain, my body completely shuts off any feeling that can be

incredibly disorienting. I also get large rashes when my nervous system has a reaction to something, meaning I can be stressed and I’ll develop red splotches all over my body.

Q: What were your, your parents’ and your friends’ reactions to your diagnosis?

A: I was so relieved and happy when I was diagnosed. I had gone five months without any answers and it was extremely stressful. I was just decaying and consistently getting worse, but no doctors knew what was happening to me.

My family and friends were so happy; it was the first sign of hope we had been given in so long.

Q: What types of activities did you have to table or reconsider once your health became a concern?

A: I had to quit everything.

I had been a year-round swimmer and a three-sport athlete my entire life, so that was super-emotional to quit. It felt like my identity had been taken from me. I was also unable to do a lot of things like just hanging out with friends; we couldn’t go anywhere because I could not walk far enough.

Q: How and when did you recover? Describe your

journey to recovery.

A: I am still in recovery and I might be for the rest of my life. Immediately after I was diagnosed, I was put on antibiotics and steroids to stop my body from destroying itself. But even though I didn’t have the infection that caused everything anymore, my body was so damaged, it now works completely differently. Even two years later I am in constant pain, my muscles atrophy really easily, so I have to make sure I am actively keeping them strong.

It messed up my heart and the way my body regulates it, meaning it is still incredibly difficult to do sports or just walk up a lot of stairs.

There is little research on Myositis so there’s a lot the doctors don’t know about what happened to my body and what recovery will look like for me. We aren’t sure what effects are going to last forever or what poten-

Egan relaxes during a visit to the beach.

tial issues I will face in the future, but we will deal with them as they happen.

Q: How did your friends and family help out during this time period?

A: I was constantly being judged and treated differently by others because of my condition so it was nice when my friends would just treat me normally. It felt like sometimes the only thing people talked to me about was my disease and since I didn’t have many answers for the questions they asked, it made me feel a lot worse, though Egan hikes while on vacation to Boone’s Cave.

I know that wasn’t their intention. I liked I am and that I do anything when my friends didn’t because I got through that mention it, and if they year. I also see how inaccesdid, I liked that it was the sible the world is for people punchline of jokes, dealing with disabilities and how with things through humor. disabled people are treated.

Q: What kind of change or It was like people thought I growth did you experience was stupid or couldn’t think from this and how do you for myself because I had a incorporate it into your cane, and that’s not uncomeveryday life? mon. I am now very atA: I have a huge appreciatuned to my body, though.I tion for what my body can know and take account of do and when I accomplish everything I feel and can things now. I also have a more or less figure out what lot more self-respect for it’s cause is, which I think is myself. I know how strong cool.

A composition in the key of unique Behind the scenes with Matthew Marcus, a work of art

Left to Right: Kate McCracken, Matthew Marcus and Matt Cosper. Cosper gives his actors notes for the ball scene in “Pride and Prejudice” from the 2020-2021 film production. Photo by Abbe McCracken

Music has always been one of Matthew Marcus’s passions, but it’s just one of the many notes in his song.

Marcus performed in the theater, wrote musical compositions, belted out songs, rocked out to the guitar, drew artwork and crafted origami, all while tackling the stress of schoolwork without having skipped a beat.

Matthew Marcus: a creation of his own.

Marcus joined Latin in sixth grade and has participated in the arts ever since.

His favorite production was “Beauty and the Beast” from 2020. “My friend Connor Smith played Gaston, and I played LeFou.

LeFou gets slapped and battered around a lot, so I got to do a lot of falling and rolling while playing this goofy, high-energy character. We sang and acted together, and the confident strongman and dimwitted lackey dynamic was a lot of fun to play into,” Marcus said.

Marcus believed that acting was more than just pretending to be someone else. “When you're acting, you can take away your inhibitions and play into the parts of yourself you normally don't get to express,” Marcus said. “Beauty and the Beast” allowed him to express his wacky side, which is part of what made it so much fun. The other side of theater is what the audience does not see—behind the scenes. Marcus came a long way since elementary school; he was

Left to Right: Matthew Marcus, Sydney Wargo and Alison Moore get ready in the green room for “Beauty and the Beast” on February 20, 2020. Photo by Abbe McCracken

Matthew Marcus conducts the NCMEA Director’s Choir in performing “Invitation to Love,” the third movement of his piece, “Whether in Darkness or in Light” on November 11, 2019.

Photo by Mitchell Marcus

nominated for a Blumey Award in 2021.

In his free time, Marcus writes musical pieces for the Upper School choir, solo voice, guitar, piano, and musical theater. One of his songs, “We’ll Go No More A-Roving” won the 2019 Young Composer’s Showcase Award and was performed by the choir in the Prism concert this year, as well as by The World Youth Honors Choir. His song “Invitation to Love” was performed by the inaugural NCMEA Director’s choir, and “Whether in Darkness or in Light” received the 2019 Young Composer’s Showcase Award. “I love creating my own works and expressing myself through music,” Marcus said.

Marcus also sings in the choir and has partici-

pated in the North Carolina 2019 Honors Chorus, the 2019 All-State Choir Men's Ensemble, the World Youth Honors Choir at Interlochen, the Interlochen Festival Choir, and two virtual choirs. On the guitar, Marcus plays songs he has written in front of crowds. He played in the school’s concert in the quad and Mosaic night.

Outside of school, he joined the nonprofit Melodic Minors for grades 9-11 (but not this year due to COVID) to put on free concerts at arenas such as the Ronald McDonald House, Brookdale South Charlotte, the 7th Street Market, and Charlotte Latin School for the Special Olympics. His favorite song on the guitar is “Cherry Wine” by Hozier.

“The guitar part is played fingerstyle and contains the harmony, doubles the vocal melody, and introduces its own melodic ideas in between everything else.

It mixes all those elements together to make one cohesive, beautiful guitar part,” Marcus said.

By the end of the school year, Marcus had his hands full juggling the Blumies, Latin’s One Acts, AP exams, and musical composition competitions, but that is

“James and the Giant Peach, Jr.” actors hang out in the lobby after a performance on February 4, 2017.

just the rhythm by which he rolls. He stayed up late on school nights to finish his homework and was often exhausted. “No matter how well I managed my time, the things that always got me through it were having a good sense of humor about it and remembering that I was doing all of these activities because I loved them or because they would help me succeed in the future,” Marcus said.

Magic Carpet (Jennifer Kim) tosses LeFou (Marcus) across the stage during “Beauty and the Beast,” February 19, 2020. Photo by Abbe McCracken

Profiles

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Profiiles

May 2021

Q & A : Va u l t i n g h i s w a y t o s u c c e s s Kieran Amin leaps into Latin community

Q: What life lessons have both swimming and track taught you?

A: Many people assume that both swimming and track are not team sports but individual sports. That’s just flat out wrong. Neither sport will go very far with only one athlete. My sophomore year, we got second in states for swimming to Cary Academy because they had more swimmers.

Each person was getting a small number of points but it adds up quickly. I think I learned from these sports that each person can make a difference on the team and it’s certainly not an

individual sport.

Q: You have an older brother [Kaelan Amin ‘19] at UNC-Chapel Hill, and you’ve been a Carolina fan all your life. What experiences are you looking forward to most next fall?

A: I’ve grown up a Carolina fan my whole life. I remember so many different UNC basketball games. I’m very excited for UNC as it was a good fit for me both academically and socially. I’m looking forward to rushing Franklin Street after a Duke loss.

Q: Can you talk about your siblings [Kaelan Amin ‘19 and Anya Amin ‘23] and their impact on you?

A: Until high school, my siblings and I were not as close. When I entered high school, my brother was a junior and helped me make friends and fit in. He’s always looked out for me and I know he will look out for me at UNC. He is really good at finding people he knows I will get along with.

My sister is so determined it’s crazy. She won’t Kieran Amin works diligently in the Charlotte Latin give up on anything School engineering lab. Photo by Cole Lavelle

Amin teaches some younger students Taekwondo. Photo by Nilma Amin

and although it can get annoying sometimes, it’s a great quality to have in life.

I have learned from both of my siblings and have mixes of their personalities: I am determined but can just as easily be laid back.

Q: Coming to a new school freshman year can be tough. What activities did you get involved in to become part of Latin?

A: I joined cross country to meet friends. The team was very friendly and Coaches [Mike] Weiss and [Sintayehu] Taye were great. I loved the atmosphere of cross country. After it had ended, some kids in my English class told me I should join swimming. They were trying to recruit new people and little did I know that I would continue this sport

through my senior year and those two guys would become my best friends. Then a junior in band told me to join track with him and try pole vault. I decided to give it a go and enjoyed it. My sophomore year is when I joined debate and Student Council.

Q: What kind of service have you been involved in?

A: From Middle School, I began to volunteer at my Taekwondo dojo and teach little kids. Once I got to high school, I started volunteering at iCanBike, an organization that helps children with disabilities learn how to ride bikes.

That experience really opened my eyes to how much we take for granted.

There were kids who had a hard time balancing on the

bike while others were even afraid to pedal. I think one lesson I learned from this was patience. Many of these kids never attempted to ride a bike and it can be a scary first experience for them.

A: Can you talk about your experiences as a member of the executive council?

A: I joined Student Council my sophomore year as a senator. I am currently on Executive Council as secretary. This showed me how much time and effort is given into planning the school dances or pep rallies, things I’m sure many students take for granted. I enjoyed being able to hear my classmates’ feedback so we could improve our events. One lesson it taught me was that it’s impossible to please everyone. When planning our events, we just decide on what the majority will like.

Q: What lessons have you learned from participating in pole vaulting, a challenging field event?

A: A junior in band told and try pole vaulting and I had no idea what that was.

I decided to try it and I definitely struggled at the beginning. Our first meet, I didn’t manage to get the starting height and I was pretty bummed. Coach

Educating the future

Amin, cont. from above

Students promote diversity and inclusion with BSA

By Jaya Iyer

Hawk field team friends Kieran Amin and Cole Lavelle. Photo by Connor Little

[William]Halverson, the pole vault coach, is great at cheering us up and making sure we will improve. Pole vaulting is an interesting sport because there is a big mental component to it.

When you begin to doubt yourself and don’t believe you can clear a certain height, it begins to weigh you down.

I learned to have a clear mind when jumping and try to remain confident and upbeat.

Educate first. This is what Forrest Williams and Kaylah Hooper strived to do. As 2021’s leaders of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) club, these students believe that facts are not always black and white.

Creating a sense of community on a wide color spectrum is the main goal of their club at Charlotte Latin and beyond.

Both seniors joined the club their freshman year: Williams was looking for a safe place with other Black students while Kaylah was searching for her place in the world of diversity; it clicked for both of them.

Her junior year, Williams was nominated as a leader and enjoyed it enough to continue this year. Hooper applied to be a leader her senior and was accepted.

After four years of participating in the club, these young women have mastered the ideal meeting workflow.

“We get Forrest Williams. together Photo by St. John Photography

and we decide what we want to talk about, and then we create a slideshow, and we start off with the goal or the objective. We educate first, and then after that it is mostly just discussion because BSA is important for the students to speak,” Hooper said.

Valuing the students’ opinions, the leaders allow club members to select the themes for the meetings, which have varied from colorism and microaggressions to Black History Month and the Black diaspora. Hooper also included themes she learned about in a diversity conference she attended.

This year, clubs weren’t the same due to the pandemic—half of the students participated at school socially distanced with masks while the other half signed in from home; however, Williams and Hooper persevered in order to create a welcoming environment for all students.

Unfortunately, certain fun aspects of the club, such as enjoying treats with one another, were not possible within the safety protocols, but the main purpose of the club remained the same. “The nature of our club has always been to

teach and educate, so as those who were leading the conversation, it really didn’t change much,” Williams said. Meetings took place through Google Meet, which the leaders admit created a distance between those at school and those at home. Though the conversations may not have flowed as naturally, the technology allowed the remote students the ability to listen to what was taking place in person.

Besides being in charge of the club, Kaylah Hooper. Photo by St. WilJohn Photography liams and Hooper also took on the responsibility of planning the school’s only assembly this year. For Martin Luther King Jr., Day, they decided to have alumni share their stories with the school in a prerecorded video, which allowed virtual students to view easily and for those who missed it to watch in their own time. “It hit the

students better because these are alumni. They used to walk with us, and we are walking down a similar path, so we felt like it was appropriate to have them speak in the assembly,” Hooper said. The feedback that they received made their hard work worthwhile.

“I heard a lot of comments and conversations were started because of this assembly, so that’s always really nice to hear,” William said.

Although departing Latin will be bittersweet, these young women will continue to educate others by teaching them to appreciate the beauty in a multi-colored world. Williams plans to attend Howard University and pursue studies in social justice. “I am really excited to get to understand something more about African Americans and also lots of other cultures and ethnicities that we don’t talk about in our everyday school setting,” Williams said. Hooper has committed to Clemson University. “There will definitely be opportunities for me to try to practice some of the skills I have learned over my High School and Middle School experiences,” Hooper said.

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Profiles

May 2021

Planting seeds of service

Katie Chai cultivates family tradition of honoring community values

Chai’s father and grandmother.

“I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.”

—Henry David Thoreau Katie Chai is a planter of seeds: seeds of ideas, seeds of thoughts and seeds of service. Chai organized the CLTMedi face shield project, brought everyone together and worked as a communicator. Like a gardener who plants the seeds and nourishes the soil to encourage their growth, Chai also had faith in the potential for the project’s success.

Chai brought together many people, such as her father and different Latin teachers, to facilitate the

Chai continued, “My experience with service in high school through CLTMedi and elsewhere has continually paralleled my grandmother’s story with this seed. Service cannot be done alone, nor can generosity be achieved without others. The greatest acts of service are accomplished as a community. I am so proud to be a part of such a community at Charlotte Latin, and I am excited to carry forth our mentality of service-learning into college and beyond,” Chai said.

Chai emphasized further the lessons she learned from her grandmother’s evolution of the project. story, and how those lesChai cultivated the talents of everyone in her project’s sons informed her path of service. “My grandmother garden and brought them all together so that the face grew up during the Korean War, so she was uprooted shields could end up in from her home a lot. Durhospitals where they were ing this time, I believe she needed. found solace in the little Chai’s inspiration for things, like her pet chicken her project, as well as her philosophy of service, came or her garden.”

This story inspired from her grandmother.

Chai by teaching her the “When my grandmother value of teamwork. Chai was 14, she planted a seed. needed “bees” to help polShe watered it every day, linate her garden, as well. but it did not bloom. It Chai learned an effective was only when she moved leader doesn’t take over but her seed to a community instead brings out the best garden that it was able to in others.

“I wouldn't see bloom. The bees needed the my role in this project as pollen from the other plants much as leadership, more to bring my grandmother’s as a communication perflower life, “ Chai said.

son,” Chai said. “I definitely think everyone’s efforts with this project shone through as a community. It was definitely a team project. If I was the person who could facilitate the conversation between the doctors and engineers, I was always happy to do that.”

Chai was able to gather people such as her father, Dr. Seungjean Chai, an oncologist at Atrium Health, Mr. Tom Dubic, Design and Innovation Chair, and Dr. David Taylor, Middle School engineering teacher, to work on this project.

Additionally many students

and families joined in and worked together. “Everyone was super-happy to help, especially during a time when there wasn’t a lot of hope. Everyone was just stuck inside and really eager to just join together and help,” Chai said.

Chai’s project proved that not all seeds require soil to grow. With her grandmother’s garden, she recognized that nothing flourishes without a community. In her own project, Chai was a gardener of ideas and a nurturer of people. She had faith, and the “wonders” followed.

Chai with her father, mother and grandmother.

Bringing the spice of life

Zoe Spicer contributes that something extra to Latin’s flavorful mix of quality, but this hasn’t stopped her from being remarkably humble.

Spicer’s interest and skill in debate has been blooming since before she was in high school. “Mr. [Jonathan] Peele came to my Middle School enrichment Zoe Spicer. Photo by St. John Photography class to tell us about speech Imagine every day walk- and debate…I was hooked,” ing down the same simple Spicer said. Her experiences path. It’s a very nice path, lived up to the excitement wooded with trees, with Peele predicated the activity much to see and explore. would hold. “I’m so glad I Suddenly the path turns joined the activity because off in different directions, it’s become one of the best but each appears to hold parts of my high school various interesting sights experience,” Spicer said. within. This is the reality Spicer recalled a sigof most people’s futures. nificant memory debate Then there is Zoe Spicer, recalled for her. “My bigwho graduates from Chargest accomplishment in lotte Latin having laid the debate is probably getting groundwork for dozens of second place at the Yale paths from which to choose, debate tournament because all leading to success. that was sort of my breakSpicer’s accomplishments out performance,” Spicer were as varied as her intersaid. This wasn’t the only ests. She achieved national time Spicer achieved high recognition multiple times accolades in debate on an for her skills in debate, won incredible scope. “I’m also a National Scholastic Gold proud of the fact that my Medal for her artwork, par- partner Shreyas [Iyer] and ticipated in numerous clubs I have been ranked as high at Latin (one of which she as second in the country founded, the Civic Awarein Public Forum Debate,” ness Club) and became Spicer said. president of the NC ChapDespite the fact that she ter of Beyond Resolved. She achieved impressive honors has committed to a path during her time in debate,

Spicer acknowledged that those who have been by her during these experiences were her greatest inspirations. “I’ve looked up to some successful debaters and hoped to someday be as smart and articulate as they were. These have included my teammates, Gavin Gwaltney and Gauruy Singh and also successful debaters from other schools,” Spicer said.

On top of her serious debate skills, Spicer is also an impressive artist who earned multiple awards.

“My biggest accomplishment in art is probably winning a Scholastic Gold Medal for my oil painting, ‘Burmese Orphanage’,” Spicer said. Although it hasn’t played as big of a part in her life recently, she made it clear that art wouldn’t be going away. “I don’t do as much art anymore, so I’d say my future aspirations regarding art have to do with making sure it’s always a part of my life,” Spicer said. She also said that this passion has been with her for a long time. “I’ve loved art since I was very little,” Spicer said.

Despite the fact that art and debate seem to be her two biggest passions, she

enjoys them for very different reasons. “I love art because it’s emotional and beautiful, and I love debate for the friends I’ve made around the country and for the portable skills like public speaking and argumentation that I’ve learned through the activity,” Spicer said.

She also notes that in the grand scheme of her life, she is very happy with where she’s ended up. “I think it’s not worth worrying about the little things because I’ve stayed true to myself and overall, I’ve done the best I could in my high school experience,” Spicer said.

Spicer has been very active in various aspects of the community inside and outside of school. At Charlotte Latin, she has been a class senator, a co-captain of the CLS speech and debate team and a lead layout editor for Blue Review, on top of being the co-founder of the Civic Awareness Club, which she leads.

Outside of Charlotte Latin, she is the president of the North Carolina Chapter of Beyond Resolved. This is a very important organization which focuses on supporting minorities in

the world of debate, including women. She says her experiences have contributed to her dedication to this important organization. “Having experienced sexism in debate myself and having had many of my friends who have experienced the same, I’m proud to help make the debate community more inclusive for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.,” Spicer said.

Spicer’s next path will take her to college for four years. Latin will be losing just a little bit of the flavor that she added to every activity in which she participated, but she leaves behind the quality of legacy only a highly-seasoned professional can.

Debaters and coaches at the quarterfinals of the Harvard Debate Tournament. Photo

by Jonathan Peele

Profiles

7

Profiles

May 2021

Galloping to victory

Haley Barnes rides her way to a successful future

Haley Barnes. Photo by St. John Photography

Imagine a little girl pestering her parents for a pony-themed birthday party; when she turns five, she finally gets the celebration she has always wanted. This girl spends her birthday petting all the ponies, her bright smile growing with each second. Little does she know, this is just the beginning of her future as an equestrian, all because

of one woman who noticed that big, bright smile.

Today, that pony-obsessed birthday girl is Haley Barnes, a nationally-ranked equestrian. She is also a talented artist, a member of the Cum Laude Society, and a leader of the Gender Sexuality Alliance Club (GSA) at Charlotte Latin School.

The person really responsible for Barnes's trajectory into competitive riding was a woman her parents hired to bring the pony to her fifth birthday party. She noticed immediately Barnes's passion for the animals. “The woman wanted to set up riding lessons with me, so she went up to my mom to find out if I knew my left from my right, and here we are thirteen years later.”

Over her twelve years at Latin, Barnes has developed tremendous respect for the students' and teachers' dedication to the school.

“Everyone at Latin is really committed to putting everything they have into their work, and I love seeing everybody throw themselves into their passions.”

Her passion for horses has gained her many achievements, including her status as a USEF Reserve Champion where she

riding career will depend on how much free time she has in college.

“In and around the college I am attending there are a lot of good farms, so I will try to keep up with it on weekends just not at the same high competing level as before,” Barnes explains.

Thirteen years ago, the little girl with the bright smile had no idea how far one ponythemed birthday party would take her. Now, she is riding her way into a future filled with possibilities.

“Jumper,” Barnes’s featured cover artwork Review.

Barnes competing on her horse, Oley, at the Splitrock competition.

was ranked second nation- successful as an equestrian, ally on two of her horses in her time spent on the road their respective divisions. to and from competitions Barnes also became an grew. Barnes shared her undersaddle winner at the secret that has kept her one Devon Horse show in 2019 of the top students in her and claimed the NCHJA class. “While it looks very Junior Rider of the Year in chaotic, my planner keeps 2018. Barnes holds the title me ahead of the game. I as the youngest NCHJA also keep good communirider to win the award. cation with my teachers to Her passions also make sure I am staying on helped her achieve more top of my work.” than just wins in competiAs with any busy, suctions. Barnes created and cessful high school student, chaired the Equestrian Aid Barnes credits a strong Foundation (EAF) Junior support system with helpBoard where she focused ing keep her on track. on financially supporting Barnes is particularly riders and their families with traumatic injuries. She specifically created this plan to repurpose the EAF’s disaster relief fund for equestrians impacted by COVID-19 to support staff.

Barnes initiated a national fundraising campaign, resulting over $225,000 in financial relief offered to date.

As Barnes became more Barnes at her fifth grade birthday party with Anna the pony.

for Latin’s award-winning 2019-2020 Blue

grateful to her father, as well as her friends, in supporting her equestrian career. “I definitely give credit to my dad. He is the one who has taken me to horse shows over the years. With all the late night drives and early mornings, he has been amazing. Also, my friends.

We always joke that I don't exist on Fridays because I am at a horse show. The fact that they all put up with my crazy schedule and stay supportive is amazing.”

Today, Barnes claims that, although she loves it, continuing her horseback

Barnes and Oley’s post-win walk.

Barnes and her horse, Golden Glock WS, summer 2020. Golden Glock was ranked #2 in the country last year and is currently #2 ranked for this year. Photo by Abbe McCracken

*As of May 13, 2021

William Collin Adams Wake Forest University Isha Agrawal Carnegie Mellon University Kieran Samir Amin University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Jane Elizabeth Balanda Wofford College Isabelle Katherine Baldecchi University of Colorado James Grant Barlow Virginia Tech Haley Anne Barnes University of Virginia Caroline Harris Bell Clemson University Ethan Isaac Bershad Cornell University Eugene Adjei Boakye University of North Carolina Wilmington Jenna McLallen Bowman Virginia Tech Pheriby Margaret Bryan Elon University Javaris Ahmad Bufford Undecided

Sydney Eileen Burke University of South Carolina-Columbia

Lily Carmen Dal Cin North Carolina State University

Graham Allen Calton University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Abby Payne Davant The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Giancarlo Carpinelli Clemson University

Andrew Thomas Dorsel Bucknell University

Emma Caroline Carter Hobart William Smith Colleges Katie Haeyun Chai University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Andrew Yang Chang New York University Annabel Sing-Yun Chen Clemson University Molly Mitchell Clark Clemson University Kate Jane Coppage University of South Carolina-Columbia William Andrew Cowan University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Grace Glass Crutchfield University of Miami Adam Gabriell Cyzner Wesleyan University

Jack Baker DuPuy University of Richmond Sophie Elizabeth Egan University of Oregon Elena Gisele Egge Washington University in St Louis Julian Alexander Evans Macalester College William Kennedy Flouhouse Clemson University Chloe Christina Floyd Villanova University Lindsay Emiko Flynn University of Michigan Caroline Webb Gargagliano Appalachian State University Anaïs Belgique Gentles Loyola University Chicago

Cameron Christine Gipson The University of Alabama Cameron Christine Gipson The University of Alabama Mary Gale Godwin Rhodes College Marshall James Hanson United States Naval Academy Sarah Nicole Hargrave Appalachian State University Charles Jackson Harris University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Samuel Edward House Queens University of Charlotte Sallie Bowerman Hughes College of Charleston Elizabeth Roswell Hunter University of Virginia Anna Marie Iannotti Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Shreyas Srinivasan Iyer University of Southern California

Brice Alan Hart Hayden University of Colorado

Harrison Andrew Kaplan United States Naval Academy

Riley Andrew Haynie University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Mehr Khandelwal University of CaliforniaDavis

Margaret Ann Hidell Louisiana State University

Stephen Young-Jin Kim Georgetown University

Ryan Daniel Hirsch University of South Carolina-Columbia

William Landon Knight Rochester Institute of Technology

Hannah Grace Hollingsworth Washington University in St Louis Kaylah Shanelle Hooper Clemson University

Elizabeth Augustine Kreshon George Washington University

Abhinav Krishnan Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Bruno Melo Lahass niversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Nathaniel Christopher Lambert Boston University Cole Alexander Lavelle Vanderbilt University Ethan Li University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ryan Gregory Lietz Lehigh University Claire Emmaline Little Emory University-Oxford College Maria Llerenas Soto North Carolina State University Elizabeth Gary Carter Lloyd University of Virginia Johnston Moore Lloyd University of Virginia Matthew Ryan Marcus Vanderbilt University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Katherine Marie Sanger Wofford College

Neely Grace Tye University of Georgia

Olivia Evelyn McClellan Clemson University

Constantine Nicholas Omirly Wesleyan University

Prateek Vihaan Sanisetty New York University

Caroline Wilson Van Nort The University of Arizona

Jake Blount Mermans University of Utah

Sarah Catharine Pappas Auburn University

Diana Grace Scott East Carolina University

Caroline Rose Wall Radford University

Harri Raj Seto Purdue University

Sydney Ella Wargo High Point University

Kyle Benjamin Smith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Arden Brett Warren The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Lillian Annelies Bechtler Smith Virginia Tech

Forrest Alexandria Williams Howard University

Brian Scott Sobel Washington University in St Louis

Olivia Williams Wake Forest University

William Elliott McCabe United States Military Academy

Brock Anders Middendor Sewanee—The University of the South Chase William Montgomery Babson College Alison Elizabeth Moore University of Southern California Jackson Edwin Morgan University of Miami Luke Johnathan Morgan Centre College Hope Amanda Morrow Coastal Carolina University Grady Dean Mulligan Texas Christian University Margot Kellogg Neligan University of Notre Dame Tyler Michelle NeltnerDevine Centre College Erik Nels Oldre

Elizabeth Ann Patten College of Charleston Kaila Mckenzie PelfreyJones The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Paul Buchanan Perrigo Belmont University Sullivan Patrick Phillips The University of Alabama Eliza Pennington Poole Texas Christian University

Zoe Nai-yi Spicer Duke University

Christopher Scott Ronek Hampden-Sydney College

Demetra Zoe Stamatakos North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Elizabeth Anne Rose Amherst College Julian Erik Rush Gap Year Nathan Kayvan Samii Middlebury College

Vivian Alexander Workman University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Madison Quyen Yee University of CaliforniaLos Angeles

Julianna Danielle Stephenson East Carolina University

Joy Yu Rice University

Kwame Wayne Thornhill Gap Year

Daniel Danfeng Zhang Williams College

Ella Jane Tune California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Vincent Weishen Zhou University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Profiles

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Profiles

May 2021

Rounding the bases

Nathan Samii hits a home run with Middlebury future

By Tommy Beason

all the work that has been put in over the last fourplus years that has gotten me to the point where I have the ability to be a leader, so it’s just trusting my skill and trusting the process,” Samii said. He strives for greatness, working hard in the classroom and on the field.

Academically, Samii really looked forward to attending his calculus class this year. “I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much but it has really come to me,” Samii said. He also identified with the challenge of being a student-athlete. “Latin is hard Samii throws out a runner on a ground academically, so balancing ball. Photo by Angel Trimble all the work you have to Baseball is a game of fail- do in the classroom with ure, learning from mistakes the work you have to put to improve yourself and pre- it in the weight room and paring for the next opporon the baseball field to be tunity. Baseball, America’s pastime, is also a long game where each player receives many opportunities in the field and at the plate. As a star Hawk baseball player, Nathan Samii knows a lot about the ups and downs of the game. After graduation, he will be taking his talents to Vermont where he will play for Middlebury College.

As a senior captain, Samii deals with the pressure by trusting his skills and ability. “There is prestalks game plan with Coach Alpert sure, but then again, I know Samii before a game. Photo by Angel Trimble

Samii smiles after the Hawks take the lead. Photo by Angel Trimble

the type of player you want to be can be tough,” Samii said. “It’s hard to balance but you find that happymedium with experience.”

On the field Samii has confidence in himself, but he gives credit to those who have helped him along the journey. “Out of all the coaches that have guided me throughout my time at Latin, I would say the most impactful have been either Coach [Daniel] Cooke or Coach [Eddie] Hull,” Samii said. “In between my sophomore and junior years, that offseason I started working with them when Coach Cooke came to join our program, and I developed as a player more than ever.”

Through a pandemic and a wrist injury that led

to a long recovery, Samii continued to stay motivated about his road ahead and the challenges it might hold. “College has been my motivation, knowing that all of the work that I have put in the classroom, in the weight room and on the field has paid off and taken me to the next level is a great feeling,” Samii said. “I am still working towards getting a starting spot on the team next year as a freshman. Baseball has always been there for me, even through a pandemic and my tough wrist injury.”

As a proud Latin Lifer, Samii reflected on the friends and memories he has made over his time as a Hawk. “What has Nathan Samii, Thomas Pinckney and Ryan Hirsch pose before a past Latin homecoming. Photo by Lori Samii

made Latin feel like home is the community,” Samii said. “I’ve had great friends for the last 12-15 years, and the teachers are also so nice and accepting. There is never a problem you can’t approach your teacher about. Latin overall has a great community and a great sense of home.”

The long game has only just begun for Samii; as he transitions to a Middlebury Panther, he will always remember his Hawk heritage.

Hope Morrow shows gratitude for extended Latin flock

By Lucy Dempsey & Mary Stewart Hunter

community; she could to go to their rooms or offices whenever she needed them, grab snacks or just talk if something bothered her.

Morrow was also a two-sport varsity athlete this year and captain of the soccer team. She struggled with making the decision to play on a club soccer team (which ultimately cut her playing time short for the Hawks). Morrow said, “I do love being on the varsity soccer team. I didn't get to do that in the beginning

of my high school career because of the club, but it's been a great experience, especially being a captain, because I get to mentor the younger players.”

Morrow made the most of her athletic career while wearing the blue and white, even though last year’s soccer season was abbreviated due to COVID-19. Morrow said, “I haven't been able to play much varsity soccer, but one of my favorite memories we created this year was beating Cox Mill.

Even though it was a scrimmage, it was pretty cool.”

Although Morrow loves athletics and grew to apre-

ciate having her parents on campus, those aren’t the only reasons why she considers herself a loyal Hawk. Morrow said, “Relationships between teachers and students are really great at Latin. It’s like a family relationship.”

As Morrow prepared to leave the familiar quad (and snack-filled parental offices) on Latin’s campus, she takes with her Hawk-filled memories she will keep forever.

Morrow said, “Enjoy the moments you have... appreciate your classmates because the year will go by before you know it.”

Morrow performs her special drop kick for the Hawks. Photo by Scott Moulton

Having one parent as a teacher is hard enough, but imagine having two—if you guessed it would be even harder, you would be right. Hope Morrow dealt with that reality starting in Middle School at Latin, where both of her parents [Matt, Asst. Head of Middle School and Barbara, computer science teacher] work.

Morrow also had the frustrations of being a new seventh grade student, too. “I used to hate having

my parents work at Latin because in seventh grade, people either had my mom or dad for science, but now it's nice to go to their classroom and talk with them or get away from the stress of school,” Morrow said.

Having to overcome the awkwardness of seeing her parents everyday of her Middle School years was more difficult than she thought it might be.

However, Morrow learned to appreciate having her parents as part of her Latin

Morrow and good friend Mary Gale Godwin ‘21 pose for a photo. Photo by Lindsay Flynn ‘21

Morrow and her family gather at a family wedding. Photo by Matt Morrow

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Profiles

May 2021

Rowing with the crew

Q&A with Harrison Kaplan, future officer and engineer

By Robby Gette

Q: What drew you to rowing, and what about it has motivated you for as long as it has?

A: I began rowing because I was injured during a summer workout for the football team. This was the summer before freshman year, and my parents and I decided that the risk for football was too high.

My mom actually knew someone on a youth rowing team around here and she basically forced me to go to a “learn to row” camp at the beginning of the school year. Even though I assured her I would hate it, I pretty much immediately fell in love with rowing and have never looked back. As for what continues to motivate me, it’s really all about the people on the team. It’s such a team-focused sport that you can’t even imagine not

showing up and giving your all, and it has led to some of the closest friendships I’ve ever had.

Q: Where do you row and in what capacity?

A: I row on the Charlotte Youth Rowing team at Lake Wylie, which is a YMCA team. It’s very competitive, and we travel all around the southeast to participate in races. I have actually gone as far away as Boston to compete in a national race, but for the most part, our team goes to Tennessee and Florida for our big races.

Q: I understand you plan to join the Navy. What activities have prepared you for a life of military service, and why is this a path of interest for you?

A: I have wanted to join the military since I was in the second grade. The Naval Academy is one of the hardest ways for me to achieve that goal, so I decided that I would take up the challenge. I’ve always been interested in the service and courage that cause people to volunteer for Kaplan with his crew team after qualifying for the national the military championship. He will compete in June for a national medal.

and the history and traditions of the Marine Corps has drawn me in that direction. Throughout high school I have participated in a program called the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC), a JROTC-like organization run directly by the Navy. I always look forward to our monthly drills and have risen up to a leadership role that I feel has prepared me well for the challenges I will meet at the Naval Academy.

Q: What motivated you to begin volunteering for the American Red Cross?

A: One of my teammates had sent a message to the team asking for people to come donate blood at an upcoming drive. I attempted to sign up online, but I found that due to an illness that my grandfather had before I was even born, I was ineligible to give. I decided that even if I couldn’t donate blood, I could still make a difference and immediately signed on to volunteer at drives. That was back in sophomore year and since then, I have gone to blood drives as often as my schedule will allow.

Q: What about nature and the outdoors appeals to you so much?

A: I’ve always been superinterested in the way things work, especially space and

the stars. For me, being outside is a chance to get away from life for a little bit and just enjoy the things around me. Pretty much my favorite thing to do when I have time is to go hiking and see whatever cool things I can find, whether that be a really nice view or an unusual design on a tree. Also, especially in the summer, I like to stay out late enough to see the stars come out, because I think it’s fascinating to look up and see all the pieces to a giant puzzle that we’re trying to put together.

Q: What else might we not know about you (special interests [academic, extracurricular, anything at all]) readers may find surprising or interesting?

A: My schedule is so busy that I don’t have much time for anything else. However, I am really interested in engineering and physics, and I am certainly going to study those subjects in college and beyond. Also, I love to read whenever I get the time, particularly historical fiction (like the Jack Ryan series).

Q: What do you think and/ or hope your life will look like after senior year?

A: After senior year, I’ll be headed off to the Naval Academy, where I’m sure I’ll be challenged and also have the time of my life (at

See Charles Run

least that’s what I’ve been told). Throughout those four years I will get a ton of experiences that I never thought I would get, like flying military aircraft, becoming part of the crew of an aircraft carrier and rowing with one of the best collegiate teams on the East Coast.

Sometime in senior year I will make my service selection, and I hope to serve as an officer in the Marine Corps doing either combat engineering or field artillery. I am obligated to serve for five years on active duty after college, but I haven’t decided yet if I am going to make the military a career or I am going to come out as an engineer after my five years.

Kaplan’s parents document his acceptance to the Naval Academy with a photo.

Charles Harris reinvents himself for a strong finish to senior year

By Connor Little

While he may have started as a what he calls a “troublemaker,” Charles Harris has blossomed into a scholarly young man, even if it took a tree falling on his head to do so.

When he first came to Charlotte Latin School, Jackson Harris said his reputation was one of mischief and trouble rather than the studiousness for which he is known today. In second grade, he decided to change his name to Charles, and he also began to change his behavior. The name stuck; his reputation also improved but did not change completely.

One day, during a walk in the woods with a grandfather, a tree fell on his

head, causing a traumatic brain injury. “My grades started to improve and I became more respectful to teachers. My fellow Lifers like to say the tree branch knocked some sense into me,” Harris said.

As he became a better student, Harris also became more devoted to his favorite activity, running.

“The biggest thing running has taught me is that friends matter,” Harris said.

Mentioning friends such as Harrison Klingman, Cole Lavelle and Kieran Amin, Harris said pushed they him and he in turn pushed them on the trails and track.

While running led him Charles Harris and Jake Mermans enjoy a night to grow closer to friends, out on the town. Photo by Ellen Harris the greatest relationship he made through running is with his cross country and track coach, Coach [Mike] Weiss. “Coach Weiss is like Indiana Jones because in the classroom, he likes to prompt us to question history and discuss the nuances and context of said history, while, in the outdoors, he is more adventurous and enjoys biking, running, and more,” Harris, said.

As their relationship has grown over the years, Coach Weiss has taught The cross country team starts a race at McAlpine Park.

Harris many lessons, especially how to be a good captain. Once during practice, Harris noticed a promising young runner wasting warmup time. Displeased, Harris erupted, telling off his younger schoolmate.

Coach Weiss told Harris Harris if he could help his younger teammates improve while also connecting with them, he would be an even better captain.

While Harris has learned many lessons running on the trails, one of the biggest lessons he’s learned was in the classroom with Amanda Labrie. Harris recalls an English class with Ms. Labrie from sophomore year. “I wasn’t the best

student I could have been in that class. I was overparticipating in a very rude way,” Harris said. However, they grew closer over a trip to Spain, where they spoke French to each other (French was Labrie’s college major).

When it was time for Charles to choose his senior English class, he chose Labrie’s to prove to both him and her that he had improved as a student.

“It’s one of the best English classes I have ever taken,” Harris said.

While Jackson Harris may not have grown to become a more intuitive student, Charles Harris definitely did.

Harris, dressed as The Flash, poses for a picture with his various devilish friends.

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May 2021

Hawks for Life

Hawks recall unbreakable bonds and favorite athletic memories

By Tommy Beason

the course of the Hawks’ athletic careers. Cameron Gipson was a part of the JV field hockey team during her freshman year when they had to run the “lake loop.”

She remembered everyone was lacking in motivation until one of their teammates, Sallie Hughes, provided some comic relief. “Sallie decided to take it upon herself to purposely fall into a huge mud puddle so that we could all get a good laugh before we helped her up and raced Freshman Dean Omirly stands in shock after winning the back to the finstate wrestling title. ish line,” Gipson Charlotte Latin has alsaid. “This has been a memways excelled athletically, in ory that has always stayed a variety of different sports. with me because after that Not only do the athletes the whole team had a better win, but in the process they bond, and we were always create memories that they able to think about that and can look back on for the laugh our way through the rest of their lives. rest of the ‘lake loops’ we Participating in prachad to run.” tices or games everyday Sometimes the best team after school led to quality bonding memories came as time with teammates and a result of the worst condicoaches that also created tions. It was Maria Llerenas unbreakable bonds over Soto’s sophomore year and

Just after finishing a race on the "Spartan-like course,” Llerenas Soto and members of the cross country team celebrate joyfully.

With the cleats still on their feet, Elizabeth Hunter celebrates a state championship victory with Mary Gale Godwin.

ed back to freshman year when he played on the JV soccer team against Charlotte Country Day at home for the championship. A very close game led to penalty kicks where Sam Shumate emerged as a hero. “The veteran goalie for the team saved the shot and won the game,” Boakye said. “Immediately the crowd and the bench started roaring and we all went on the field. Even those who hadn’t played were ecstatic that we could all win together.”

Jackson Morgan, a member

Egan and members of the cross country team share candy and bond over a braceletmaking craft activity.

time for the last race of the cross country season.

The state tournament was upon them and Coach [Mike] Weiss had warned the runners about the poor weather conditions. “We woke up that morning to a Spartan race-like course.

We knew none of us would be PRing but were told to just run our best race. We

took our warm-up sweats off and our spikes sunk into three inches of mud.

We got to the line and after the gun went off, our only goal was to stay upright.

We jumped through shinhigh puddles and just like an obstacle course, foot placement was key and one wrong step meant you were on the ground,” Soto

Egan and cross country teammates have fun on the bus ride back from training camp in the mountains.

of the varsity tennis team, reflected on a sophomore memory from the varsity tennis team. An extremely fun road trip helped bring the team together. “My experience going to the annual tournament in Florence, South Carolina not only improved our abilities on the court but our bond as a team was immensely strengthened, and it was a real disappointment that COVID took that experience away this year,” Morgan said. With the pandemic affecting everyone all over the world, the Hawks may have had limited fans in their stands, but they worked hard to create energy within their own teams.

Charlotte Latin students are well-known for creating good times and fun memories on campus, but teams and friends recall special experiences made off-campus, as well. Sophie Egan recalled her favorite athletic memory, which was the annual cross country camp freshman year. ‘I was new, and my team welcomed me with open arms and so many laughs,” Egan said.

“Every year before school starts, the cross country team goes to a camp in the mountains for three days.

We run, most importantly, but we also make bracelets and have movie nights of our most important running hero, Steve Prefon-

said. “My teammates and I all finished with burning red cheeks and cuts and bruises all over our legs but laughing and retelling our own race experiences. We all jumped into a pool of water that had accumulated behind the finish line and the team moms brought us hot chocolate. I don’t think I have ever had that much fun at a cross country race and knew it would be one I would never forget.”

Although sports can be fun without success, there is nothing like the feeling of winning. EJ Boakye reflect-

With medals on their necks and smiles on their faces, Maria Llerenas Soto and Mary Schleusner pose proudly for the camera.

favorite athletic memory taine.” throughout her four years During high school sports, of varsity soccer was beatathletes from all different ing Providence Day. “Wingrades face off in competitive battles to the finish. ning the state championship during my freshman Dean Omirly, a star “mat year against Providence Hawk,” won an individual Day has to be at the top of state title as a freshman the list,” Hunter said. wrestler. “I did not have For the class of 2021, full confidence in myself because the kid I was going teams were like families.

No matter what sport or up against was a senior,” activity these senior Hawks Omirly said. “After the last whistle blew I was so tired I participated in throughout was in shock with what was their years in high school, happening.” Omirly showed many agree that they will how athletes can overcome remember the friendships they built and the fun they their own self-doubt to had forever. grow not only as an athlete but also as a person.

As a part of the NCISAA conference, the Hawks have many rivals. From Country Day to Providence Day, many teams prepared for a chance to sneak a win against the alwayscompetitive Hawks. Elizabeth Hunter agreed that beating conference rivals was always memorable After defeating Providence Day and winning the state title, Elizaand impor- beth Hunter and the girls’ soccer team flash victory smiles. tant. Her

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May 2021

Sharing a meal and ideas Finally together Seniors connect with Mr. B. and each other

Seniors reunite during social

By Hailey Kim

a larger gathering.

Chuck Baldecchi, current head of school, recognized the conditions were not optimum uder Mr. Baldecchi, Isha Agrawal, Pheriby Bryan, and Javaris Bufford enjoy these mandates their lunch in the conference room. Photo by Michelle Godfrey for buildSocial distancing, work- ing relationships with this ing from home and virtual year’s seniors. learning were all newlyIn order to overcome coined phrases with which these obstacles, Baldecchi everyone became familiar set up smaller lunch gathas a result of the pandemic, erings with three to four and they changed every seniors to get to know them aspect of daily life. Simply better. “I do think a meal meeting friends for a meal puts everyone at ease. There became difficult due to is something less formal COVID-19’s restrictions. about the meeting that I The awkward six-feet-apart hope allows the student to safety rule (as well as the open up more. I have found mandatory masks) made it to be a good setting,” conversations and connections difficult. Even maintaining the tradition of meeting with groups of seniors for lunch in the head’s conference room became challenging.

Arch McIntosh, Latin’s previous head of school, Delicious lunches provided by FLIK for began the tradition; howthe seniors and Mr. B to enjoy during ever, in the absence of COVID-19, he could enjoy their discussion. Photo by Michelle Godfrey.

Senior boys hang out together at the senior social. Photo by Hunter Murphy

helped relieve the pent-up stress in the seniors.

Many seniors stated they enjoyed listening to throwback pop music from the 2010s and dancing to Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. “I definitely remember the ‘Cha-Cha Slide’ and the ‘Cupid Shuffle’ because those songs are iconic,” Adam Cyzner said. The vibe was light throughout the night.

The only thing that can beat a good laugh is good food—it’s the cherry on top of the night. And of course, Charlotte Latin provided a Hawk favorite: Chick-filA. “It was very good, and everybody was satisfied with their sandwich,” Mehr Khandelwal said.

The smoky campfire and the friends that surrounded it filled the usually bare lake field lot with laughter and warmed the cold March night. The campfire’s atmosphere contributed to making good memories of the night. “My favorite part of the senior social was sitting around the fire with my friends,” Nathan Samii said.

No one can break the bond between people who survive the treacherous journey called high school, no matter how much time passes before they see each other again. That bond extends to teachers, too. “I enjoyed seeing Mrs. Murphy as well as my friends,” Ellie Patten said.

By Hailey Kim, Connor Little & Ryan Lupfer

Baldecchi said.

Baldecchi always made an effort to know and connect with the students to better understand their educational experiences.

However, through sharing these meals Baldecchi and these students (who may not know each other that well) get the chance to ask questions and share their journeys, struggles and all.

“I want to learn about them, their family, interests. I also ask for them to tell me about their college process: how many schools they have applied to, do they have a favorite?” Baldecchi said.

Questions did not focus solely on the college process and personal interests, however. “I also ask for them to tell me what their favorite part of or tradition at Latin that you would hate to see lost? I follow that up by asking what [they] would like to see changed or added? I also allow them to ask me any questions they may have about Latin or my leadership,” Baldecchi said.

The students also got to share opinions about school and various topics with each other. “I think the experience was good and liked listening to the opinions of my other classmates,” Isha Agrawal said.

Finally, after a long year of isolation, seeing faces on screens and almost an entire year of the hybrid learning schedule, the seniors gathered together with their entire grade in a social setting on Latin’s campus.

On Friday, March 12, the twelfth grade attended the school’s first senior social.

Because of COVID-19, the class of 2021 lost all of the traditional social class gatherings, such as the senior retreat, the homecoming game (and Touchdown Tailgate, with the accompanying homecoming dance) and the Sadie Hawkins Dance—not to

mention the many informal events that comprise Hawk life.

StuCo, feeling the need to make up for the lack of social events, presented this idea of the senior social.

With the help of Hunter Murphy, Dean of Dtudents, they set up a get together of the seniors in the parking lots of the lake fields. “I was so excited to see everyone I hadn’t seen this year,” Sophie Egan said.

After a tense junior year dogged with remote learning and a hybrid schedule senior year that limited physical contact to half the grade on every other day, seeing friends for the first time in almost a year really

Seniors pose for Mrs. Murphy at the senior social. Photo by Hunter Murphy

Seniors gather to enjoy food around the campfire at the senior social. Photo by Hunter Murphy

Seniors share a laugh and warm up by the fire at the senior social. Photo by Hunter Murphy.

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May 2021

Shall we dance?

Prom changes venue, weather cooperates, sneakers become required accessories

By Ryan Lupfer with Hailey Kim and Connor Little

Prom-goers show their excitement at the opportunity to spend time together at the dance.

Considering the last eighteen months found everyone forced to wear masks, it seemed only logical the prom gave a nod to the ever-present pandemic for its theme. The Maskerade Ball, prom 2021 for Charlotte Latin School’s senior class (and for juniors invited by seniors) provided the opportunity to wear colorful and exciting masks to coordinate with the evening’s formal attire.

Unlike homecoming or the Sadie Hawkins dance, prom always promised a live band for attendees to enjoy, and this year was no exception. Crowd favorites

like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Sweet Caroline,” had the seniors cheering and dancing.

This year, in an effort to keep prom goers as socially distant as possible, the administration set up some fun party games. At the midfield line of the turf field there were multiple cornhole boards and Kan Jam kans set up.

Before prom, some students attended small gatherings at local country clubs or went to friends’ houses to take pictures and eat some catered food. However, some attendees followed a more traditional prom

experience, frequenting 131 Main or Cafe Monte.

When asked about the overall experience, the responses were overwhelmingly positive. “It was an extravagant evening with my companions—absolutely thrilling,” Claire Little ‘21 said. Sharing similar sentiments, Madison Yee ‘21 was extremely grateful for the opportunity to just have a prom. “The prom experience was great! It was fun to have a school dance this year despite the pandemic,” Yee said.

Considering the need to stay masked, wear sneakers and A trio of dancers get into the spirit of the evening and show off their teamwork and footwork. hold the prom outside, Sophie Egan ‘21 weekend was not dedicated said. Brock Middendorf was pleasantly surprised to the event. Students were ‘21, like Omirly, would with the event. “It was betchoose to attend a prom if able to have lots of time to ter than I expected, more given the choice. “Prom is rest and not worry about lively and felt like a normal such a special, quite unique going to school or doing prom,” Egan said. experience shared among homework the next day.

This year seniors were acquaintances that enjoy a Dean Omirly ‘21 prefers dismissed early on Friday to prom to a homecoming or special evening under the get ready for prom, which stars,” Middendorf said.

Sadie Hawkins dance. “I was a welcomed change of In a year that took away prefer prom over all other pace and privilege. Another dances because it is just so much from the class of bonus to having prom on a 2021, students were exthe upperclassmen and it weekday was that the entire has a classier vibe,” Omirly tremely thankful for the

Seniors get a workout on the dance floor.

Adam Cyzner gets a lift from Alison Moore.

A little chill in the evening air doesn’t stop the dancing. All photos at prom by Alex Roberts

Prom goers show off their stylish kicks. Photo by Mehr Kandelwahl via Instagram

chance to attend their first prom of their Latin careers

and were grateful it became a memorable event.

MASTHEAD Co-editors in chief...........................Connor Little, Hailey Kim, Ryan Lupfer Staff......Tommy Beason, Lucy Dempsey, Robby Gette, Neely Hume, Jaya Iyer, Lydia McNichols, Mary Stewart Hunter Adviser.........................................................................................Lori Davis