Highlighting the acheivements of twelve outstanding and well-rounded seniors
PG. 06
Bearcats showcase where they’ll spend their next seasons
PG. 23-24
Showcasing the accomplishments of six incredible scholar athletes
PG. 40-42
The 2024-25 school year will continue the two Lunch A/Lunch B schedules despite the announcement of one lunch in March.
Safety concerns and lack of kitchen infrastructure were the reasons that forced the admin to make the decision of two lunches. The PRHS kitchen does not provide enough food production space, does not have enough kitchen staff to feed all students at once, and the admin overall does not have enough supervision staff.
Students are confused and feel that they have not been listened to. After PRHS students were given a survey for their preference of having one lunch or two lunches, the majority of the student population voted in an administration survey on January 13 , 2024 to have one lunch in the future.
Jessie Wesch, the PRJUSD Food Service Director, plans the menus and manages the staff for all 11 district sites and two outside sites, Almond Acres Charter Academy and San Ardo Unified. Overall, she is the person who has informed PRHS that one lunch is unattainable at the moment.
When Wesch heard about the survey result she began calculating the numbers, resources, and staff management in hopes to advocate for the
Student safety is always top priority, and Wesch said that since we have had two lunches there has been a decline in fights on campus, as well as vandalism. One lunch would require more supervisors during lunch to prevent fights from arising, or apples clogging the toilets.
Wesch said that it would be more likely to have one lunch if students would be more responsible for their trash and surroundings.
Also, the calculations found for the amount of food to be made with current space and resources would be implausible.
Although the existing kitchen cannot provide for all PRHS students at once, Wesch is willing to face a challenge, listen to students, and look into an upgrade for the future.
Wesch has to feed the approximate 6000 students in our district. There are a total of about 3,500 lunches and 3,000 breakfasts on a daily basis. Alone at PRHS, with two lunches, it still requires roughly 500 lunches to be made at once. One lunch would be double, or 1000
lunches, but the school does not have double space, staff, or supervision.
At the high school eight cafeteria workers serve 2,000 meals per day, but it is common for them to call out, or they have to step in as a substitute when staff will take the day off at other school sites, according to Wesch.
Staff shortages make it difficult to be able to prepare all meals with over 2000 students present, especially since the population has grown from the pre-Covid years of one lunch.
Her information disappoints hundreds of students, who prefer to have one lunch because it is easier to communicate and socialize with everyone on campus at the same time.
Sophomore Maxwell Toohey-Bergvall eats alone everyday other than Wednesdays because he does not have lunch with his friend group, like many students.
“Having one lunch will help me hang out with my friends more and make better social connections,” Toohey-Bergvall said.
Once students found out that their wish would not be granted, they universally felt that their voices were unheard. Many conversations around campus are about the unfairness of advertising one lunch then abruptly reporting that news as false.
However, there is a lot of information, funding facts, and personnel issues that students are unaware of. And the survey was not released by Wesch, the one making the executive decision.
Wesch said, “It’s a realistic goal that I can accomplish…I’m very proud of all the students who have said yes to the survey because that really is vocalizing your needs and wants, and I think that’s very powerful. You can make change. And I really want to make good food.”
One, two, three, go Bearcats!!! Loud cheers and screams in War Memorial Stadium echoed with the memories of seven vibrant years. This year, Tori Loney, the spirited cheer and stunt coach as well as a PE teacher is departing.
Originally, Loney worked at the district for 10 years and later worked at PRHS for 7 years as a PE teacher and also a cheer/stunt coach. She reminisces about the countless moments of joy shared with her students, each year bringing new faces along with new stories.
As a stunt and cheer coach she experience students themselves.
“You’re coaching, not just during the couple hours of practice, but you’re having to deal with teenage drama and emotions and personalities and you’re dealing with teaching students not just those life lessons, but how to manage through all of those different parts of growing up and becoming a young adult,” Loney said.
From spirited pep rallies to successful victories, PRHS has been the canvas of her passion, painted with the colors of community, enthusiasm, and tradition.
She finds herself on the threshold of a new adventure, she will be assistant principal at King City High School.
“That I’m not really leaving I’m still living in our community. I’m excited
for new things. I think it’s important that we always challenge ourselves to try new things and do something that scares us that maybe might be a little difficult and they should, you know, push to do something exciting in their life,” Loney said.
Loney reassures her cherished community that she’s not truly leaving; her heart remains woven into the fabric of Paso Robles. The decision to embrace new horizons isn’t merely about to start on a different path—it’s about embracing the spirit of courage and growth. It’s a reminder to her students, and to us all, that life’s greatest adventures often lie beyond the familiar shores of comfort.
“I think it’s important that we always challenge ourselves to try new things and do something that scares us that might be a little difficult and they should, you know, push to do something exciting in their life,” Loney said.
The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District has elected the new superintendent that will be taking over for Dr. Curt Dubost starting Jul 1, 2024: Jennifer Loftus.
As a teenager, she attended PRHS and graduated in 1992. Loftus was born in central Illinois, but moved to Paso Robles, California early in life.
She is now returning to PRJUSD with aspirations to actively listen to the community’s needs and execute them in ways that will benefit everyone as a whole.
For the last seven years, Loftus has been the Executive Director of Educational Services for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District in Santa Maria, California.
opportunities to work with the diverse parts that make up education.
“As the superintendent, you must be familiar with all aspects of running a school district… understanding special education, district finance, and being a strong instructional leader,” Loftus said. “The superintendent role requires a deep understanding of legal issues and staying abreast of what is on the horizon for education.”
I WANT TO ENSURE OUR FOCUS STAYS ON IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND THAT WE ARE BEING VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT CREATING INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR OUR STUDENTS’ FUTURES
Throughout her time working in education, she has had various job positions: Interim Assistant Superintendent, principal, assistant principal, a state level and private consultant, director, executive director, and as an adjunct professor for new teachers. From these experiences, it has given her the
JENNIFER LOFTUS
Loftus’s main goal is to guarantee that the students are being accounted for, as politics can frequently distract the community from this goal.
“I want to ensure our focus stays on improving outcomes for all of our students and that we are being very thoughtful about creating instructional environments that are designed for our students’ futures,” Loftus said.
Being a former Bearcat, Loftus is eager to return to the school district and aid the community to success.
by Chloe Van Pelt, Op/Ed Editor
FORMER BEARCAT, PRHS CLASS OF 1992
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
INCLUDE: INTERIM ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STATE/PRIVATE CONSULTANT, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR FOR NEW TEACHERS
EXEC. DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SANTA MARIA-BONITA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Special Olympic athletes at PRHS took a trip down to the SLO county Cuesta College campus to compete with other athletes in basketball, track, cheerleading, and bocce.
Over 50 student athletes and student allies began their day with a parade planned by Stuart Hamill, the Assistant Principal for the class of 2024, while the rest of PRHS cheered them on. Band members attended in support with their musical instruments led by the band teacher, Humberto Cera. This is the second consecutive year that PRHS has been able to participate since COVID.
Special Olympics is a truly inclusive event that included about 600 athletes of SLO county, and 700 community members for spirit and support. It is adaptive to students with any disabilities to give them the opportunity for a universal experience.
PRJUSD staff included Sue Knupper, the adaptive physical education teacher, coaching basketball, Christian Emmons, a special education teacher managing the track activities, Codie Wilshusen, one the cheer coaches, dance teachers, and track coaches practiced with the cheerleaders for months prior.
Students enthusiastically put their game face on as they walked to fields, courts, or tracks. As they walk to their starting sport they are followed with a bearcat who voluntered to
help these students. Some students were helping them cheer, others helped to coach their basketball game and some stood on the sidelines cheering them on.
Many of these students were exited to be there and that’s all that mattered.
Freshman athlete Bryce Magana said, “I don’t care if I lose or not, I’ll still be happy.”
Paso High Theater Company puts on their rendition of the classic musical Chicago singing, dancing, and acting into the scene like a celebrity, and all that jazz! With opening night on April 19th, 2024, Chicago is different from other plays that the Theater Department has put on in the past 3-4 years.
The original play was created in 1975, written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and has been played over 10,000 different times. The play is still playing on Broadway to this day, making it the second longest running show in history behind The Phantom of the Opera.
With darker tones mixed in with comedic absurdity of the corrupt Cook County Jail and desires for fame led by Roxie Hart portrayed by Alyssa Wesley (11), Chicago is not as wholesome as one would expect. Based on an original event that occurred in 1924, Beulah Annan and Belva Gaetner who had both murdered their husbands. The two main characters Roxie Hart(Beulah) and Velma Kelly(Belva) played by Danika Nutile (12) were inspired by these semi-successful murders who turned their lives around in the desire for fame.
Chicago possesses a large cast of characters, all of which have their own unique personalities. But a certain character with one of the biggest personalities is criminal
Chicago made the long awaited debut after months of work and rehearsals with a record-breaking amount of cast members
by Elijah Mayo, Director of Photography and Envrionmental Editordefense attorney Billy Flynn played by Shane Mullinix(11). Mullinix’s role is complemented by a character with the complete opposite type of personality of Amos Hart played by Asher Moore(12). Asher’s role is a quiet and timid husband that seems to do almost anything for his wife, and eventually fades into the back of the stage by the end of the play.
“Playing that kinda character is just like a reset. It’s a huge change from other characters I’ve done. A lot of the time I come up with little fidgets and stuff that I can do that I don’t actually do in real life. Just so I can give that character an extra touch which I really enjoyed doing for Billy,” said Mullinix.
These characters bounce from scene to scene, all interacting with each other in various different types of ways while maintaining a cast of over 80 actors of different experience levels. All participating main characters had an understudy, which was an individual who they could practice with in order to get better at certain choreography. With such scenes as Me and My Baby and the CourtRoom scene, which were stated to be the hardest scenes to practice and choreograph from Wesley.
“The Court Room scene had 32 different little sound cues that go in between lines, which is insane for our stage
manager and our like sound team to execute, but I’d say me and my baby were the hardest to program and the courtroom scene was the hardest to block and get down. But my favorite scene was We Both Reached For The Gun,” said Wesley.
We Both Reached For The Gun, another difficult scene performed by Wesley and Mullinix was one of the largest scenes in the entire showing. With a multitude of reporters and over twenty people in one scene all having to memorize a dance and song revolving around the two actors that was primarily inspired by the productions and movie.
“You would not believe the amount of time that went into that number, the timing on the track so fast. Shane and I did our choreography on our own. We took inspiration from previous Broadway and tour like productions and, and the movie. So we kind of just mix that all together,” said Wesley.
With combinations of movie, broadway, and creative thoughts from the multitude of teams, Chicago is a new type of play for the Paso High Theater Company that brought new ideas to the forefront and took risks we haven’t seen yet. From scandalous dresses and sparkling makeup, Chicago took the school by storm and was a successful send-off for the school year.
The class of 2024 started out our high school experience… a bit unconventionally. The uncertainties of COVID separated us physically, and we were left unable to experience the many firsts of our freshman year: our first football game, school dance, even high school class were left to second semester or our sophomore years. Locked away in our homes, we were prevented from seeing anyone but our families. We were, oftentimes, all too alone.
But don’t mistake the lack of face-to-face contact as a total lack of connection. We made due, and connected, more than ever, to the landscape of televised creative media.
The firsts of freshman year were plucked from our favorite teen shows rather than real experience. From “The Office” to “Friends”, we weren’t just trapped behind the Google Meet screen; we were willingly hypnotized by the stories we streamed online that inspired and brightened us from inside our bedrooms.
So, Crimson found it all too fitting to choose “TELEVISION” as our ’24 senior issue theme. Television is a unique media- not as confined by runtime as movies, not as interpretive as literature. Television is a celebration of the little details of our human condition, the subtler development of our lives. Of seasons and seasons of little moments and tension building to a kiss, a battle, a confession. When we couldn’t get to know each other, we got to know these characters, and they provided comfort and relatability alike.
This issue is an ode to those days and how we’ve grown past them into our own stories. We hope you don’t switch the channel!
Editors In Chief
Kalani Gaviola
Elise Mathers
Serenity Wulfing
Directors
Elise Mathers News
Margot Klo News
Kayla Degnan Sports
Serenity Wulfing Social Media
Kalani Gaviola In-depth
Cassidy Heer In-depth
Michelle Rosas Carmesi
Naomi Velasco Carmesi
Braydon Hoier Review
Editors
Chloe Van Pelt Op/Ed
Raffy Fuentes World
Kai Stolzfus People
Brian Arndt Health
Georgia Domenghini PopCulture
Serenity Wulfing Sports
Dayana Aispuro Carmesi
Amelia Peterson Blind Date
Quinn Kobayashi Blind Date
Eli Mayo Environment
Photography
Eli Mayo Director
Mateo DeAlba
Zane Wilson
Owen Winstead
Reporters
Blair Bishop
Web
Sebi Radojevic Director
Adviser
Jeff Mount
Website www.crimsonnewsmagazine.org
Email crimsonnewsmagazine@ gmail.com
Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded newsmagazine produced by the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. Crimson reflects the majority opinion of the staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students. We are happy to talk with you further about our content, subscriptions in U.S. Mail, and advertising on our pages.
From one of his favorite animes of all time, One Punch Man animated in 2015 by Madhouse. Hulsman connects to the main character Saitama due to not thinking he does a lot, but in reality inspires many different students with his intelligence and kindness. About HULSMANn’S Poster
Experiences in leadership keeps Hulsmann’s passion lit to change the future of educationby Elijah Mayo, Director of Photography and Environmental Editor
Aman of leadership and confidence that weaves his way through the school jumping from club to club, John Hulsmann is always around to make connections and keep busy. And when we say busy, we mean busy. Hulsmann is the president for both the Business (while also completing the business CTE Pathway) and Esports clubs, while maintaining the future of the Chess Club, the sport swim, and a multitude of AP and Honors classes and the CTE Pathway of Child Development.
Primarily playing League of Legends (LOL) in his Esports activities, Hulsman finds joy in a multitude of other video games. As the team captain for LOL, he has created deeper bonds and lifelong friends because of the game. While Hulsmann enjoys the competitive side of games, he finds true joy in single player games as well.
His favorite video game series is Resident Evil, having beaten almost every game in the eight titled entries, and even attempting to speed run it. Gaming has heavily impacted Hulsmann, and is used as a creative outlet for him to try new opportunities and stretch his creativity to better his critical thinking skills.
polo his junior year and joined back with the swim team his senior year.
Despite the difficulty of balancing all of these extra activities on top of school, Hulsmann still finds time to hang out with friends and his boyfriend Milo Lozano(12). They originally began dating in the summer of their freshman year, and have been together for three years. Lozano has acted as a pillar of support for Hullsman to fall back on when he faces struggles of missing assignments and scheduling for sports and clubs. The relationship came as a surprise for Hulsmann’s parents with his father being Catholic and mother being Christian, but were ultimately supportive of his bisexuality.
I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG AND IT’S BEST TO START THAT YOUNG. JOHN HULSMANN, 12
One of his best friends Liliana Voorheis(12) has stuck with Hulsmann for the past two years. Despite their ideological differences, the two of them have developed a support system to keep one another on track of their classes and mental health.
• 2 YEARS ESPORTS CLUB
PRESIDENT
• 2 YEARS BUSINESS CLUB
PRESIDENT
• 3 YEARS WATER POLO
• 2 YEARS SWIM
“John’s changed my life. He’s made me so much more confident in myself and just helped me not care what other people think of me anymore,” Joseph Childers, sophomore said, a friend of Hulsman. Childers after he offered him a place in the ESports Club. Since then, the two of them have been inseparable, with Hulsmann teaching Childers about the world and how to navigate through it.
All of these activities fuel his desire to connect with others. Originally starting high school feeling closed off to his classmates, Hulsman joined the Business and Early Child Development class in his Sophomore year. Guided by his sister who was originally in the business pathway, the business club president, and played swim along with water polo.
Hulsmann took both pathways and combined them together for a future career, although he dropped water
John Hulsman es un líder dinámico y participante activo en varios clubes y actividades en su escuela secundaria. Se desempeña como presidente de los clubes de negocios y deportes electrónicos, mantiene su participación en el club de ajedrez y el equipo de natación, y se destaca en las clases AP y de honores mientras cursa el camino CTE en desarrollo infantil. A través de su pasión por los juegos, particularmente League of Legends y Resident Evil, Hulsman fomenta amistades y genera confianza
“He really has inspired me to be a better person. He’s so much different then I am but he’s been able to show me the different beliefs he has and why he has them, and that’s made me much more open and firm in my own beliefs,” Voorheis said.
Because of this positive reinforcement, Hulsmann has the desire to approach the American Education System and change it for the better. He began with the Bear Kittens and continued his educational journey by applying to a multitude of colleges for scholarships. With his highest payed scholarship being $50,000 dollars, and getting into nine out of the 10 colleges he applied to.
With plans on going to Point Loma for college in order to fulfill his dreams of connection, He plans to be an elementary school teacher and wants to keep his love of others bright and help all the children he can to make their futures better.
en otros como su amigo Joseph. A pesar de las luchas iniciales con las conexiones sociales, Hulsman encontró su nicho en los clubes escolares y los deportes, incluida una relación de apoyo con su novio, Milo. Inspirado por sus experiencias, Hulsman aspira a reformar el sistema educativo estadounidense y planea convertirse en maestro de escuela primaria después de recibir becas y ser admitido en la universidad. Su objetivo final es crear entornos inclusivos y experiencias positivas para que los niños prosperen en el futuro.
Unapolgetically feminine and intensely spirited, Natalie, just like Barbie, inspires those around her and take on a multitude of very different roles throughout the community, thus echoing Barbie’s mantra of “you can be anything.” Boyd watched Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse and enjoyed it’s humor and storytelling.
• MID-STATE FAIR PRINCESS
• JAZZ N’ COMPANY COPRESIDENT, 4 YEARS ADVANCED DANCE
• ASB SECRETARY
• VARSITY TRACK & FIELD
Boyd leaps to new heights at TCU after a royal four years in high school filled with spirit and perseverance
by Kalani Gaviola, Editor-in-Chief
Princess, dancer, secretary, or scientist- there is no role that is beyond senior Natalie Boyd. This Barbie can be anything, and, throughout her time in high school, she has, exploring her various interests, and preserving through struggles in her family life.
One of Boyd’s most significant roles is as the Jazz N’ Company (Advanced Dance) co-president.
“(Dance) is how I express myself,” Boyd said. As president, she is responsible for leading warm-ups, choreographing dances, and more. “I also love performing for people and being onstage and making up my own little dances. It’s a really big part of my life.”
Boyd has been dancing since age three, competitively dancing for nine years before stopping in 2021, and has been a part of Advanced Dance all four years of high school.
Boyd described “looking up to” past Jazz N’ Company presidents, and how her admiration inspired her to reach towards the role her senior year.
“It’s really exciting being able to lead the underclassmen and welcome new people to the class, and just being able to make a positive impact on everyone so they feel included,” Boyd said.
the pageant helped her develop many skills, including interviewing, building confidence, and “walking in heels.”
Boyd also is ASB secretary (former Social Media Director), a Track & Field athlete, a Link Crew leader, a member of Superintendent’s Council, a researcher on the Field Studies Astrometry Course, and a part-time worker at Moondoggies. Boyd was notably voted “Most Spirited” in the Yearbook for her involvement in leading cheers and hyping up the crowd at football games.
Do not mistake her positivity and spirit as naivete, however. In 2020, Boyd faced what she described as her biggest challenge: her beloved father having a brain aneurysm and stroke that left him permanently disabled.
BAD THINGS HAPPEN BUT THEY BRING YOU RESILIENCE. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE IN MY LIFE.
NATALIE BOYD, 12
Dance, too, is partly what inspired her run for Mid-State Fair Queen the summer after her junior year, which ended in Boyd winning 2nd Runner Up Princess and the Talent Scholarship as one of the pageant’s youngest contestants.
“When I was a kid, I did competition dance, and we danced at the pageant every year. It would always be so fun to meet the contestants and watch them compete. I always looked up to them, and that inspired me (to apply),” Boyd said. “Running then winning was a full circle moment.”
Boyd’s duties as Mid-State Fair Princess included daily fair appearances, posing for photo opportunities, presenting fair awards, putting on kids events, and more. She received $250 in scholarship money as second-runner up, and $100 for winning the talent competition. She noted
“It was really hard because my dad was a really active guy and we were really close,” Boyd said. “Seeing (the stroke and aneurysm) kind of take that away from him was really hard.”
This event forced Boyd to grow up faster than many of her peers. She describes having be “very independent” during this time, getting her license as soon as possible and often making meals for herself, so her mother could focus on caring for her father. Boyd also assists in caring for her father, a time commitment she estimates to be around 20 hours a week.
Dance teacher Jennifer Bedrosian has known Natalie since she was four year old, and describes being proud of her growth. “I’ve noticed that she has really gained confidence in herself throughout her years as a dancer. It has been a true gift to watch her journey these past 14 years,” she said.
For college, Boyd will be attending Texas Christian University to study Sports Broadcasting. Her previous role in leadership as Web and Media Director pushed her towards that path after she “really enjoyed” being fully creative creating graphics and advertising.
“She has a gift at seeing something unique in the ordinary,” Bedrosian said. “Such a creative and talented choreographer and she carries that into her daily life. I’m excited to see what he does in the future.”
atalie Boyd, al igual que Barbie, asume una variedad de roles en la comunidad, incluido el de líder de Link Crew, secretaria de ASB, investigadora de estudios de campo y más. Baila desde los cuatro años y actualmente es presidenta de danza avanzada. Busca inspirar a los estudiantes de primer año de la clase y ayudar a que todos se sientan incluidos. También ganó el segundo lugar como princesa en la Feria del Medio Estado de California, lo que le permitió ganar un total de
350 dólares en becas. Ella ha sobrevivido a través de problemas familiares, con un derrame cerebral que dejó a su padre discapacitado y dejó a su madre y a ella a cargo de él. A pesar de esto, sigue siendo positiva y emocionada por su futuro en la Texas Christian University como estudiante de Radiodifusión Deportiva y explorando más a fondo sus actividades creativas.
Senior Gandhi Olivo shows his complex personality in and a goal to become a linguistics professorby Margot Klo, Co-News Director
Senior Gandhi Anastacio-Olivo quietly walks to room 1026 at Greendale Community College (PRHS) to his fourth period class carrying his black backpack, wearing his favorite pair of tan pants and a brown hoodie enters Aaron Cantrell’s classroom ready to encourage sophomore students with his quiet intellect and sweetness.
The start of Olivo’s journey started in his sophomore year; when low grades forced him to take summer school. He went from failing some of his sophomore year classes, to passing all his classes by his junior year.
“It made me realize how important it is to stay on top of my academics and even if I’m not having straight A’s because that’s just gonna stress me out. At least having passing grades. I feel very academic-adjacent, in the sense that I love to learn about a wide variety of topics -- especially in the humanities and social sciences,” Olivo said in reference to his summer school experience.
encouraging them to be better students and consistently work hard. He is able to help sophomores through his quiet intellectualism and gentleness that helps students’ willingness to try within the classroom environment.
Outside of room 1026, Olivo enjoys reading about linguistics and worldly issues as he is the co-chair of the ACT, helping with coordinating events like the Chalk N Talk.
Other than serving an important role within the ACT, Olivo is also involved in two other cultural clubs on campus and is the social media director for AYA (API Youth Association). He is also a very active member in M.E.C.H.A. and has participated and helped set up the Baile for two years. His favorite memory in high school was his first Baile that M.E.C.H.A had was the day of his birthday and someone else’s and they sang to both of them and since then has become a cherished memory for Olivo. “Hearing everyone sing to us was really nice,” Olivo said.
I’VE LEARNED THAT I LOVE TEACHING PEOPLE. GANDHI OLIVO, 12
Olivo’s character is Abed, an akward, quiet yet talkative person that is able to discover his passion. Like Olivo, Abed is intelligent, smart, and kind once people get to know him.
The next year, Olivo signed up for five AP classes to challenge himself and give himself a second chance. The challenges he faced in his sophomore year and his ability to overcome those challenges has been one of the most impactful experiences he has had during his high school career. “It made me realize how important it is to like, stay on top of my academics and even if I’m not having straight A’s because that’s just gonna stress me out,” Olivo said.
Out of the nine total AP classes that Olivo has taken throughout his high school career, he has received a 5 in AP Environmental, a 4 in AP Language, a 4 in AP Statistics, and a 3 in AP Calculus AB, but he is most proud of his achievement in passing all of his tests.
Olivo, according to PRHS AP Language teacher, Aaron Cantrell, is inquisitive, hardworking, and driven. Most importantly, Olivo is extremely kind and cares about the plight of others. Olivo’s story is a Cinderella story. “Gandhi’s grades didn’t used to be as excellent as they currently are. He’s a Cinderella story. He decided to step up his game and should take hard classes.” Cantrell said.
Olivo’s willingness to help others led him to becoming a Teacher’s Assistant for Cantrell’s fourth period class, English 2. Olivo aids the sophomores by
• CO-CHAIR OF ACT CLUB
• MECHA MEMBER
• TOOK 9 AP CLASSES
• OVERCOMER
Clubs are important to Olivo because he is able to interact with others with similar interests. Olivo enjoys being a part of clubs because, he said, you are able to socialize with people you may not normally associate with. Olivo’s involvement in clubs has made him “more conscious of the world around,” Olivo said.
Lyrika Cross, senior and friend of Olivo, enjoys having “really deep and meaningful conversations with him,” Cross said. Cross and Olivo met each other in the eighth grade because they had the same AVID class that year.
Olivo has aspirations of getting his doctorate in linguistics so that he can eventually teach. He truly believes that being a professor is his calling because he likes helping the people that are around him. “Going far in education has always been a goal of mine because my parents didn’t really have a chance to go through schooling before immigrating to the U.S., and I’ve learned that I love teaching people,” Olivo said.
In the upcoming fall, Olivo will be attending Cuesta College for sociology and will later transfer into a four year university for linguistics and get a postgraduate degree and become a professor.
andhi Olivo se embarcó en un viaje transformador desde tener dificultades académicas en el segundo año hasta sobresalir en las clases AP y servir como asistente de maestro dedicado. Su notable cambio refleja su compromiso con el aprendizaje y su naturaleza de buen corazón, lo que le valió elogios tanto de profesores como de compañeros. La pasión de Olivo por la lingüística impulsa su participación en clubes y su aspiración de convertirse en profesor, inspi-
rado por el viaje de inmigración de sus padres y su amor por la enseñanza. Como co-presidente de ACT e involucrado en clubes culturales como M.E.C.H.A., Olivo valora la oportunidad de conectarse con otros y ampliar su comprensión del liderazgo y la comunicación. Su participación en diversas actividades, junto con sus actividades académicas, da forma a sus aspiraciones futuras de obtener un doctorado en lingüística y marcar la diferencia a través de la educación.
Williams resembles teacher and main character Jess from New Girl. Though she does see some characteristics of Jess in herself, Williams dedicates much of her success to the close relationships she has with her friends. “It’s safe to say she [Jess] relies on those around her. I cherish the friendships I’ve made over the years and that’s a big part of why I’m so accomplished.”
• WATERPOLO & SWIM 4 YEARS
• CLASS OFFICER 4 YEARS
• EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CTE
PATHWAY COMPLETER
• GIRLS STATE DELEGATE
• SKILLSUSA 2ND PLACE REGIONALS AND STATE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Senior Abigail Williams doesn’t say no to getting involved and helping others, guiding her to pursue a teaching career so that she can set an example for future generations by Elise Mathers, EIC
Holder of a lengthy list of accolades, awards, and achievements, senior Abigail Williams has dove into a variety of programs and extracurriculars at PRHS, showing success and leadership titles in each and every one of them. Her involvement has been dedicated to working with others on a team or in programs that work to serve others.
Known by her peers as a spunky, no-nonsense go-getter, Williams has established a comfort in complex projects, publications, programs, and classes.
Taking on leadership roles began in middle school when she joined AVID. Being part of AVID in middle school gave her a sense of understanding of her school and a feeling that she was helping others, both of which she knew she wanted to continue.
“I got a sense of ‘I can do something’, I can go to college, I can be something,” Williams said. “I always knew I wanted to work with kids someday. At the time, I was interested in being a social worker.”
At the time, Flamson Middle School hadn’t had an AVID student run for class officer, which motivated Williams to run for class Secretary.
“Being in that position and being able to make choices and control what I did in the school year was something that I really liked being part of. I knew that I could be a voice for others who wanted to have a say too.”
When it came time to write college application essays, the subject of many of Williams’ essays revolved around the impact her teachers throughout the years have had on her.
Her childhood dreams of being a social worker have since changed into aspirations of becoming a teacher - specifically to younger aged students.
“I wrote my college essays on the impact teachers have made on me and how I needed support throughout my childhood - that’s where I got the inspiration from. I want to teach little kids,” Williams said. “The biggest thing for me is that I want to be for them what my teachers were for me.”
The mentor relationship Williams plans on studying further in her future is already being seen by her peers.
Jade Wagner, sophomore and current El Roble Yearbook Editor in Chief, describes Williams as a role model and one ofWagner’s biggest supporters.
“My favorite thing about Abi is the way she’s always there for others. In academics, in sports, in extracurriculars, to her friends--she’s always dedicated and hardworking in whatever she’s a part of. She has been a role model for me these past two years, especially after my succession of her role the following year in yearbook,” Wagner said.
THROUGH MY PERSONAL LIFE AND STRUGGLES AND WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, EVEN THROUGH HER OWN DIFFICULTIES.
In high school, Williams continued her streak as a class officer and began her journey as a waterpolo player. Girls waterpolo did not have a JV team at the time, and Williams was a varsity athlete as a freshman. When swim season came around, she was JV captain and Lion’s Club award recipient.
“I kind of just did everything to do everything. I didn’t want to walk away from my school and say ‘I just sat by the planters every year and didn’t do anything,’” Williams said. Williams truly did do everything. On top of waterpolo, swim, yearbook editor-in-chief, bearkittens, and ASB, Williams spent her summers volunteering at the Paso Robles Library, won several medals at SkillsUSA competitions, went to Girl’s State, and balanced a workload of classes beyond a typical six course high school schedule.
Abigail Williams, una estudiante de último año muy destacada en PRHS, ha sobresalido en numerosos programas y actividades extracurriculares, demostrando liderazgo y dedicación a lo largo de su trayectoria. Comenzando con su participación en AVID durante la escuela secundaria, obtuvo un sentido de propósito y un deseo de ayudar a los demás. Williams ha ocupado varios puestos de liderazgo, incluyendo oficial de clase y editora en jefe del anuario, y ha participado en deportes como waterpolo y natación,
JADE WAGNER, 10 05.23.24
Williams stepped away from the Editor in Chief role, sticking close with Wagner as she made the transition into the position.
“As an editor-in-chief, she held my hand through the learning process and saw my potential which she helped me recognize and develop. As a friend, she continued to support me in my own venture as an editor, in my photography as an ambassador of sorts, and through my personal life and struggles and was always there for me, even through her own difficulties.”
In the fall, Williams will be attending Fresno State to major in Child and Family Sciences with a focus on child development. She is a completer of the PRHS Early Childhood Education Pathway, already having earned a Child Development Associate Teacher Certificate from Cuesta. Williams also plans to pursue her masters degree in Early Childhood Education.
ganando múltiples premios. También ha sido voluntaria en varias ocasiones y ha competido exitosamente en SkillsUSA. Inspirada por sus maestros, Williams aspira a convertirse en educadora de la primera infancia y asistirá a Fresno State para especializarse en Ciencias de la Familia y del Niño. Sus compañeros, incluyendo a Jade Wagner, la consideran un modelo a seguir y una mentora de apoyo.
georgina abreu
leila barela basil bailey april angel
joseph andrade sabriah andersen gaven adams
laila flores
aiden gibson kalani gaviola
sonny garrett alberto garcia
chloie dow jovana flores ana flores
michelle flores hope ellsworth nevaeh dyer
macie dow
ava cox
georgia domenghini
kayla degnan
kylee dayton
chris da luz
azucena cuarao
lyrika cross
kacie callahan
isaac contreras james cogan
robert clark
elie chavez
joshua cantrell jailyn campos
gabby bodenshot
brielle burt korden bright natalie boyd
connor bowman patrick boling angelina bogdan
jaime barnett gavin blythe katie blaney mia bikle
CELEBRITY
FAVORITIE
Chavez’ character is based on Bernadette Rostenkowski. Just like Rostenkowski, Chavez is very easy going and quick to make new friends. Her outgoing personality and goofy sense of humor causes little confrontation with anyone. Chavez connects to the tv-show itself, as it is STEM based.
Chavez is the ASB president, a tri-sport athlete, scholar, and an inspiring leader at PRHS
by Serenity Wulfing, EICIn the bustling halls of Paso Robles High School, one name stands out among the crowd: Elie Chavez
Always with a smile on her face, she glides through campus with a never ending to-do list that lingers in her backpack. Forced to take it out during every class, Chavez is prepared for a busy week of academic pursuits. As the current ASB president Chavez’s journey is an inspiring testament to hard work and dedication.
Chavez has been in Leadership for four years. She started her leadership role as the director of Campus Climate and Culture before being elected by the PRHS student body as ASB President her senior year. In her position as president Chavez directs the Leadership class, oversees events, plans community fundraising, and participates in chair meetings with the board of trustees. She was a Link Crew leader her junior and senior year. Her leadership extends beyond the walls of PRHS, as she serves as the Student Board Trustee at Tuesday board meetings. She represents PRHS students to ensure the trustees are aware of what students need to obtain a quality education in a safe and welcoming environment.
2022, Mountain League Champion 2022, PRHS softball Defensive player of the year, All Spring Team, and Scholar Athlete during her time on Varsity Softball.
With the pressure of sports, Chavez also holds an academic GPA of 4.84 weighted, with a total of 16 honor and AP classes under her belt.
With the pressure of sports, Chavez also holds an academic GPA of 4.8 weighted, with a total of 16 honor and AP classes under her belt. Top ones including, AP Physics 1 and 2, AP Chemistry, AB Calculus, As college looms on the horizon, Chavez will be attending the University of San Diego, where she is majoring in mechanical engineering, a field traditionally dominated by men; where only 13.6% of mechanical engineers are female and 86.4% are male. But Chavez is eager to break barriers and be a woman in STEM.
I DON’T REGRET ANY OF IT. IT’S PART OF WHO I AM AND I’VE LEARNED A LOT OF LESSONS
ELIE CHAVEZ, 12
“Ultimately, I want to work for NASA and be a part of building propulsion systems for satellites in space,” Chavez said. But Chavez’s journey hasn’t been without sacrifice. Balancing her academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and social life has required her to make tough choices along the way.
ASB PRESIDENT
LEADERSHIP 4 YEARS
16 HONOR AND AP CLASSES
VARSITY SOFTBALL 4 YRS
Chavez shone as a tri-sport athlete: she excelled on the varsity softball infield as shortstop for four years; she was the DS and Libero on volleyball for two years; she guarded the goal in varsity soccer for one year. She holds the title of captain for both volleyball and softball in her senior year.
She has won Lions Club Awards every year of high school: two for volleyball and one for softball. She was named All League for softball during freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Soccer named her MVP Goalkeeper of the Year and 2024 All League.
Along with those accolades, Chavez was awarded 2nd Team All-League in 2021, First Team All-League in
“I’ve sacrificed a lot,” Chavez said. “I sacrifice a lot of my social life, where I have to tell my friends I can’t go out because I have to study or I have a game. I haven’t had a summer for the past 10 years, because I’ve been playing travel softball. But, that’s just my work ethic, and it has helped me a lot. I don’t regret any of it. It’s part of who I am, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons.”
Chavez is not just a high school student: she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her dedication to excellence, and her passion for leadership, sets her apart as a true role model for her peers. ASB president was just the beginning of her leadership prowess that will also launch in the future.
Elie Chávez, una destacada en Paso Robles High School, encarna la dedicación y la excelencia en lo académico, los deportes y el liderazgo. Desde sus funciones en ASB y como miembro del consejo estudiantil, hasta sus logros en softbol, voleibol y fútbol universitario, el compromiso de Chávez con el servicio y el éxito es evidente. A pesar de las exigencias, mantiene un GPA estelar de 4.8 con numerosos honores y clases AP. La decisión de Chávez de especializarse en ingeniería mecánica
en la Universidad de San Diego desafía las normas de género en los campos STEM, lo que refleja su determinación de romper barreras. Sacrificando las actividades sociales y los veranos por sus objetivos, el viaje de Chávez está marcado por la disciplina y el trabajo duro. Su ambición de trabajar para la NASA y contribuir a la exploración espacial subraya aún más su impacto inspirador. Chávez es un modelo a seguir, inspirando a sus pares y a las generaciones futuras con su pasión, liderazgo y resiliencia.
Greys Anatomy is a show about medical interns learning thier way through their new lives of being doctors. Sinton was inspired by the show the first time she watched it a few years ago. She says the show inspired her to do something in the medical field. She was drawn to one character in particular, Christina Yang. Yangs confidence stood out to Sinton because she never let anyone boss her around, and thats what set her apart from the other residents.
• 2022-23 ADVANCED SENIOR SHOWMAN AT CALIFORNIA MID STATE FAIR
• 4-H MEMBER
• CRIMSON CLOSET COFOUNDER
• 1 YR VARSITY TENNIS
• 4.67 GPA
Senior Campbell Sinton excels in school and in the 4-H show ring
by Georgia Domenghini, Pop-Culture EditorHead, hands, heart, and health are the four principles (or leaves of the clover) that a person in 4-H should embody. Senior Campbell Sinton has all of those down to a T. She excels in any field she steps into, much like one of her idols Christina Yang from the hit ABC TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. In Grey’s Anatomy, Yang is a surgical intern who strives for the best, and becomes the best. Sinton shares that charactictic with Yang, and it shows through all she does.
She has been raising animals in the 4-H program since middle school and has quickly excelled to the top. At first, Sinton started raising sheep, but then switched to cows where she found her passion.
“I think one of my friends was doing it, and I was like oh that sounds fun. So I joined and then it took off from there,” Sinton said.
In 2022 and 2023, Sinton won Advanced Senior Showmanship at the Mid State California Fair, and in 2023 she was 3rd Overall Intermediate Beef Showman for the California Youth Livestock Association. On the weekends, she will also go to jackpot shows, which are one-day events that kids can bring their animals to to win prizes without auctioning off their animals. The most Sinton has auctioned off one of her steers for is 12,000.
USC. From the moment she stepped onto the UCLA campus she knew that was where she wanted to be. However, she didn’t believe she would get in, and turned her attention to UC Davis.
“I kind of had my sights set on Davis and then I got into UCLA and I was like, Oh my God, I had to go,” she said.
During Sinton’s junior year, she and two of her classmates, Ava Cox and Audrey Dawes, in her Business Communications class wanted to come up with a project they could take to SkillsUSA. After bouncing around many ideas, they came up with the idea for the Crimson Closet. Crimson Closet is a free clothing store on campus that is mainly geared towards students who are unable to get new clothes otherwise. Since its start in spring of last year, the Crimson Closet has served many kids Wednesdays and Thursdays during tutorial. Crimson Closet advanced through the regional level, and the state level winning a gold medal.
CAMPBELL IS MATURE BEYOND HER YEARS, THOUGHTFUL, INNOVATIVE AND DETERMINED TO MAKE HER MARK IN THIS WORLD. SHE IS A WORLD TRAVELER, ADVENTURE SEEKER, AND ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST STUDENTS I’VE EVER MET!
BREANNE OVERTON, BUSINESS TEACHER
“I’ve known Campbell since kindergarten and I’ve seen how hard she works in every endeavor she takes on. Not only in her academics but in 4-H. She’s constantly working with her animals and putting the time in to reach the goals and results she wants,” best friend Gabby Silva, senior, said.
Sinton excels in the show ring, as well as in the academic world. She has maintained a 4.67 GPA and has dedicated herself to getting good grades in school. She played one year of tennis during her sophomore year as well, but gave it up to focus on her animals. Along with all of this, Sinton has gotten into some of the most competitive schools in California. She applied to 12 schools, and was accepted to UCLA, UCSB, UC Davis, Baylor, TCU, Cal Poly SLO SLO, ASU, Chapman, and
Breanne Overton, business teacher and Crimson Closet advisor, spoke highly of Campbell: “I have not only had the honor of having Campbell as one of my students for the past 2 years, but I have also been privileged enough to see her and the founders of Crimson Closet compete at the regional, state and national level of SkillsUSA for their Community Service Project. Campbell is mature beyond her years, thoughtful, innovative and determined to make her mark in this world. She is a world traveler, adventure seeker, and one of the brightest students I’ve ever met!”
Although going to college in a new big city will be daunting, Sinton is most excited to meet different people from all walks of life, and for her new found freedom college will bring her.
“I feel like college is obviously hard and their classes are crazy, but I think you’ll have a little more downtime, and like you’re not always drowning in work. I mean, probably but I don’t know. I’m just curious to see how that is.” she said. After college, Sinton dreams of becoming a Physician’s Assistant. She loves the thought of being able to help people everyday and make a difference in someone’s life. Sinton also loves that she will get the freedom to switch specialties, so she will always be able to try new things.
Campbell Sinton personifica los principios de 4H: cabeza, manos, corazón y salud. Sobresaliendo en la crianza de animales desde la escuela secundaria, particularmente vacas, ha obtenido los máximos honores en ferias y espectáculos, e incluso ha subastado un novillo por 12.000 dólares. Con un expediente académico estelar, un GPA de 4,67 y aceptación en universidades prestigiosas como UCLA, Sinton tiene igualmente logros en el aula. Su liderazgo se
extiende al servicio comunitario, cofundador Crimson Closet, una tienda de ropa gratuita para estudiantes necesitados, que ganó premios en Skills USA. A pesar de sus impresionantes logros, Sinton sigue siendo humilde y espera con ansias los desafíos y oportunidades de la universidad, donde planea perseguir su sueño de convertirse en asistente médico, impulsada por su deseo de ayudar a otros y marcar una diferencia en sus vidas.
JOHNSON
CLASS OF 2024 COUNSELORDear Class of 2024: You’ve done it! You’ve navigated the challenges, soared above the setbacks, and risen to success. I am enormously honored to have co-traveled these last four years alongside each one of you and proud of the growth and accomplishments I have witnessed in your journeys. Your class is collectively and individually strong and noteworthy. As you prepare to go beyond this blink of an eye called high school, please remember that we believe in you and are confident that you are well prepared for your next steps, whatever that path may be, as you have built resiliency, learned to think critically, gained knowledge, developed problem-solving skills, and learned to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. I’m grateful for the privilege of getting to know and serve you in my counseling role. My best wishes and hopes for you as you launch into your future and life beyond PRHS.
JENNIFER MARTINEZ PSYCHOLOGY
CHRIS CLINE SPANISH
“All I know is that I don’t know nuthin’”-Michaels (or Socarates, if that is your thing)
KRISTY LECHUGA MATH
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2024. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished during your time here at PRHS. As you move forward into the future, I am excited for the opportunities and successes that await y’all. You’ve shown incredible growth and resilience, and I hope you realize just how proud we are of each and everyone of you. The memories they have created will last a lifetime, and we are honored to count them as Bearcat alumni.
NICOLE ANDERSON GOVERNMENT & ECONOMICS
By Raffy Fuentes World-Editor and Kai Stoltzfus People-Editor
AARON CANTRELL ENGLISH
EVAN HOLTZ SCIENCE High School was probably the easiest time of your life. Now comes the hard part. You need to work to establish who you are and what you stand for. Listen to others, have conversations and if in the end you disagree you don’t have to hate each other, but you do have to respect their personal opinion because, just like your opinion, it is rooted in experience. Life doesn’t get easier, the challenges change. Keep a village of strong, happy people around you to support and help you develop who you are. The Bearcat village will always be here for you, you just have to reach out and ask for help. Go Get Em Bearcats, Love Mrs. Martinez
You’ll be on you way up! You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers as they soar to high heights.
- Dr. Seuss
You have shown strength, courage, resilience, and determination to make it this far. Through all the late nights and early mornings, studying and tests, practices and competitions, you have experienced successes and failures that have shaped you into the young adults we get the pleasure of sending off into the world. We hope you take what you have learned and go out and work to make the world a better place. Encourage cooperation, fight injustice, support others, and leave things better than how you found them. There are more successes and failures to be had, so continue to work hard and do your best, lean on those around you, and give yourself and others grace when you stumble, for nobody is perfect. As you work through the problems you will face, remember everything you have accomplished and don't forget to make the stinkin' units cancel! Go Bearcats! :) Love, Mr. Holtz
It has been a wondrous adventure to be your economics, and in some cases government, teacher this year. I hope that I have taught you even an ounce of what you have taught me this year. You have all shown such growth and promise for the future. As you embark on this new adventure, remember a few things: you can do whatever you put your mind to no matter how challenging it is. You are making the right choices to get you to where you want to be, even if you take some detours along the way. No one else knows your mind or your path and only you know yourself as well as you do. People always have opinions and will always tell you something is right or wrong, remember that is for them. Be respectful to yourself and those you hold dear. You only have this one life, live it in a way that you will be able to look back at 90 and say ‘man I did that’ and not be sad wishing you had done the thing. Do the thing. Try the thing. If you don’t like one choice, you can always change it. No job is forever if you decide you want to do a different one. Your life is yours and what you make of it is all up to you. Just know I am proud of you guys. You have been a great senior class and I am honored to have been a part of your high school journey.
Dear Graduating Seniors, as your journey at Paso High comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you on reaching this significant milestone. Your dedication, perseverance, and hard work have brought you to this momentous occasion, and I couldn't be prouder of all that you have accomplished.Throughout your time here, you have demonstrated not only academic excellence but also leadership, resilience, and compassion. You have left an indelible mark on our school community, and your contributions will be remembered for years to come.As you prepare to embark on the next chapter of your lives, whether it be furthering your education, pursuing your passions, or entering the workforce, I have no doubt that you will continue to achieve great things. Remember that you carry with you the values and lessons instilled in you during your time as a student, and I encourage you to approach the future with confidence and determination. May your futures be filled with success, happiness, and fulfillment!
JENNIFER BEDROSIAN LEADERSHIP & DANCE
A tough year watching the “lasts” for this special crew of Bearcats. I’ve watched many of grow up since you were toddlers. Thank you for making these past four years so memorable. From dance and leadership to link crew and lunch crew. I could count on your beautiful faces to make me smile each day. Kalani, Natalie, Jewliana, Gillian, Ava, Kayla, Georgia, Carina, Gabby, Emma, Kyah, Rosa, Katie, Ashley, Elie, Brooklynn, Clowie, Ashlee, Marlie, Brielle, Jolie, Shelbi, Mateo, Max, Bennett, Dakota, Jack, Aidan, Uli, Izzy, Caden and Ruby it has been some of my favorite moments as a teacher to get to watch you grow from your freshman year (on a screen) to your senior year as an adult. I’m lucky. And to have my daughter Peyton twice a day for four years (and we still love each other, lol) has really been a blessing to be part of all that. I appreciate all of the students who walked through my doors of 510 and 503, or out on the track. You know who you are, and each of you know how you made a difference to my programs and to me. I've known quite a few of you since you were little dancers :) So, with a heart full of love and sadness, I want to thank you for making it happen, walking the walk, taking the time to make a change. Wherever your next journey leads you, find the spirit in the program, look for the good…I’m so proud of you. Shine…and Let’s Go Bearcats!
SHELBY LAMENDOLA
Heya Seniors! You’re dazzling and remarkable as you escape from Paso. Gosh, I’m impressed by so many of you as you compete, act, dance, cavort, and thrive. To think of you as lil freshmen! Love well and find ways to be compassionate, creative, humble, and adventurous. Our world needs your best you. A toast to my talented and funny se nior journalists— KG, EM, SW, KD, SR, MR, EM, GD, OW, MDA— We travelled far, produced rad content, had type 2 fun and frisbees, and equipped you with some wonderful memories and skills. Come back and brag about your achievements. I love yall.
“You’re a little scary sometimes, you know that? Brilliant, but scary.” When I hear this quote I think of how awesome being considered scary is when it is paired with intelligence, strength, kindness, integrity, drive, and accountability. Because with those traits there is nothing life can toss at you that you cannot handle, and if there is anyone I want to be molding the world of tomorrow, it is an army of Hermione Grangers. To the class of 2024 Bearcat Healthcare graduates: It has been an honor to watch you grow, not only as students and professionals, but as people. You have left the school and our Healthcare program stronger, you have made me a better teacher, and for that I am truly grateful. Always remember that you are different, you’re special; you are a Hermione. Continue to work hard, make no excuses, and create the future you want for your self. Be scary!
Congratulations! I have had the true pleasure of seeing many of you live out Bearcat PRIDE both in the classroom and outside of it. I have been beyond proud to see the difference makers you have become. It has been a true pleasure to witness the work ethic, dedication and heart that has, at times, left me without words. You have touched the lives, hearts and minds of the Bearkittens in ways you may never fully see, but just know that you had a part in making their lives special. I am so very grateful for the heartfelt conversations, meaningful moments shared and just to be a small part of your story. It’s really a strange thing to have some of you share years in the program with me, see you achieve such skill, grow as a person tremendously, become literally indispensable then say “goodbye”. Even though I am so very sad to see you go, I’m also confident in the journey set before you. It has been inspiring to see you find your passion and share it with each other and the children. Keep pushing to learn, grow, inspire and model for others around you. Lift each other up. Spread that knowledge, compassion and heart I have seen so often on your new season in life, school and work. Please know, my door is always open and I hope you return to inspire other Bearcats in the future!
Rangel is almost always jumping into action helping those around her staying humble and kind through it all. Dora offers education for younger children, teaching spanish and essientials to kids that are watching. Rangel’s ability to work with children while also teaching them diversity in cultures and languages. Dora and Bianca share in their acts of service.
Vamos! Let’s Go!” Whether she is helping translate for fellow Bearcats, teaching the next generation in Bearkittens, or addressing the vast football game crowd while cheering, senior Bianca Rangel is always trying to better herself and those around her, exploring a variety of activities around campus while maintaining strong academic standing with a 3.7 GPA and at least seven honors/AP classes. Her pathway completion of Early Childhood Education pushed her into the direction of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, or ultrasound, at a vocational school, or trade school, in Los Angeles, CBD College.
Rangel began the pathway her sophomore year, engrossing herself into the experience of shaping the children, doing activities that expose them to the diversity of cultures that surround them. Having been in programs such as ELD herself, Rangel sees herself as an overcomer who tries to advocate for those who are in similar situations to what she has gone through.
“I always thought that if I had spare time, why not actually do something with it, rather than just sit at home. So I focused all of my energy to helping out those who come from similar backgrounds as myself and my family, my advocacy more so towards our Hispanic community,” Rangel said.
not made a difference in the school, but I do know this, there will be a big gaping void when Bianca leaves PRHS. She has left her mark in so many places here and in so many ways.” Martinez, who has been her advisor and co- Stunt coach, said. “She will be greatly missed by students and staff alike. From academics to athletics to student class officer, to Career Technical education as well as SkillsUSA, Bianca runs the show in all areas,”
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH SHE FINDS A WAY. SHE CAN MAKE ALMOST ANYTHING HAPPEN AND SHE DOES IT WITH A SMILE.
JENNIFER MARTINEZ
Rangel is a part of over 11 extracurriculars, with over half of them involving some type of leadership role, such as Class President, Superintendent Student Advisory Committee, PBIS, Link Crew, a Director in Bearkittens, and a translator, just to name a few. All of her roles in leadership stem from her background, to increase the adversity and diversity at PRHS, making it a better place for the entire student body. Advisor, coach, and mentor, Jennifer Martinez, has been beside Rangel in making changes for the entire school and has seen her grow in leadership abilities, academic standing, and her athletics.
Rangel has also immersed herself in the sports realm of high school athletics, bringing her leadership skills to cheerleading. Entering high school, Rangel decided to try out for the cheer program to do something while the pandemic was still ongoing, leading her to make the freshman team, being awarded most improved for the 2020-2021 season. She continued onward with this path, making varsity stunt as a freshman later that year and varsity cheer as a sophomore, contributing to many league, CIF, and even a state win with her teams. Earning three Lions club awards from her team, for exhibiting leadership, teamwork, and a great work ethic. Junior Kiana Martinez, has known Rangel for three years and has been a teammate with her throughout that time, becoming close friends due to similar family situations that were occuring.
“She is always bringing a smile into practice whether she is having a bad day or not, and as a strong and respected leader. She is strong and wild but doesn’t over power or not take your opinion into consideration.” K. Martinez said.
Rangel has taken all the opportunities that she has seeked out, leading her to grow into someone who inspires others. Overcoming adversity while also trying to teach the next generation on how to stand up for themselves.
• CLASS PRESIDENT, 2 YEARS
• CHEER, 4 YEARS
• STUNT, 4 YEARS
• BEARKITTENS, 2 YEARS
• SKILLS SILVER MEDALIST
“The list is shorter to explain how she has
Bianca Rangel encarna liderazgo y dedicación en lo académico, extracurricular y deportivo. Con un GPA de 3.7 y la finalización del programa de Educación Infantil, aspira a estudiar ecografía médica de diagnóstico. La defensa de Rangel por la comunidad hispana surge de sus propias experiencias, lo que impulsó su participación en más de 11 actividades extracurriculares, muchas de las cuales involucran roles de liderazgo. Su asesora, Jennifer Martínez, elogia el impacto significativo de Rangel en la comunidad escolar
Just like Dora the Explorer, Rangel can now look back fondly at high school and say, “Lo hicimos! We did it!”.
y predice que su partida dejará un vacío. El liderazgo de Rangel se extiende a las porristas, donde obtuvo reconocimiento por sus contribuciones y trabajo en equipo. Conocida por su positividad y respeto por los demás, inspira a compañeros de equipo como Kiana Martínez. El viaje de Rangel personifica la resiliencia y la tutoría, reflexionando sobre su experiencia en la escuela secundaria con orgullo y logros. Al igual que Dora la Exploradora, Rangel abraza sus logros con el sentimiento: “¡Lo hicimos! ¡Lo logramos!”.
Moore is just like Finns, always enjoying taking on adventures as a new character in the plays hes been apart of. Similar to Finn, Moore has a strong community of supporters and friends to help him along his journey.
Stage center with just a spotlight on his face creating an adventure on stage for everyone to enjoy, Asher Moore is a driven, passionate, and creative high schooler who has been directing his life into a show. Moore grew up participating in gymnastics, softball, and piano while making sure he stayed focused on school.
Moore joined theater his sophomore year since he felt drawn to the stage when he was younger. After seeing the productions of Puffs in 2020 at PRHS and the production, Hamliton, in San Francisco. Moore instantly fell in love with theater playing the gambler in Addams Family the Musical. After Addams Family he audition to join Acting 3. This year he has now gone into acting 4, and directors practicing Other shows he has participated in include: Lion King kids, Anything Goes, Fairy Cakes, Finding Nemo, and Chicago the Musical (teen edition).
“It’s just very freeing, it’s like an escape, I guess. Once you’re on stage all the issues you might have don’t really matter at that moment. It’s a very validating experience,” Moore described about how he feels on stage.
• 4 THEATER CLASSES
• PREFORMING ARTS CTE COMPLETION
• 2023-2024 DRAMA CLUB CO-PRESIDENT
• 4.0 GPA
Moore is truly grateful to Nutile for always supporting him throughout his journey.
“I’m most proud of his confidence throughout the last few years. He is a completely different person from freshman year to now. A characteristic of Asher that I find most admirable is the way he is so inclusive and open to other people that he might not know,” Nutile said.
Someone else he has thank is his parents.
“They always try to push me to do my best in school or any other thing I was involved in,” Moore expressed about how his parents have always been there for him, pushing him to do sports when young and supporting him to pursue his dreams of theater.
(DRAMA) IS JUST VERY FREEING. ONCE YOU’RE ON STAGE ALL THE ISSUES YOU MIGHT HAVE DON’T MATTER.
ASHER MOORE, 12
Moore stays busy by being part of the Monarch Conservation club, copresident of Drama club, and a student director in Acting one. In Drama club he helps on approving purchase orders, sets up events for the theater department, and orchestrates promoting upcoming productions. As a student director he is working with students, and being there for them. He says it’s a very different experience than being an actor, but it’s also something that he enjoys doing, since when he was in acting he always looked up to his student director and now he wants to be someone to look up to.
He has been working with his students alongside Danika Nutile creating a play for acting.
“I’ve known Danika since we were 10 and have been in the theater department together. She’s really talented. I’ve always looked up to her,” Moore said.
Over the last few years in high school they’ve been working side by side in different plays at the high school making their bond even stronger than ever before.
Estudiante Asher Moore ha estado en el programa de teatro por los ultimos 3 años. En la escuela el ha sido parte de varios shows de teatro. Moore encontro la pasión por el teatro cuando vio el show de Puffs en 2020. Luego en su segundo año de la preparatoria el entro a la primera clase de actuación. De allí siguio participando en actuación y ha sido parte de seis shows en la preparatoria. El dice que le da
Having the dream of theater wasn’t always his plan until he had really participated in a play in PHTC (Paso High Theater Company). Moore mentioned that part of the reason he loves theater is Marcy Goodnow and the way she leads the program.
“Goodnow creates a very safe environment that everyone can just let their creative juices flow and it’s a very judgment free zone,” Moore said.
Goodnow has seen him grow since he joined acting his sophomore year. She has described him as someone who is creative, kind, has an amazing work ethic, and is a leader.
Goodnow has been his director for 3 years.
“I love seeing Asher connect to a character on stage. There is a very obvious time when he figures out who his character is. One of my favorite times seeing this was in CHICAGO when he played Amos. He was able to connect to his character and the audience would audibly “Awww” as he sang ‘Mister Cellophane’. It was magical,” Goodnow said.
Moore will attend Oregon State pursuing theater. His grandparents also went to Oregon and he has always loved the beauty that Oregon has to offer. One of the things Moore is most excited about going to college is meeting new friends and being a part of a new community. He will step into the spotlight thanks to all the confidence that PHTC gave to him at the PRHS.
gracias a sus padres y amiga, Danika, por siempre estar apoyandolo en lo que quiera estudiar. Ademas de eso el tambien le da las gracias a su maestra de actuación Sra. Goodnow por crear un espacio en donde estudiantes se sientan seguros. Moore ahora va ir a seguir sus sueños en la Universidad del Estado de Oregon siendo parte de teatro.
About Barajas’s Poster
Though some might cringe at Spongebob, the light hearted, outgoing character defies all norms. Barajas admires the show for its character and rejection of cringe culture. In Bikinni Bottom, everyone can be who they are, even a Squirl can live under the sea.
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Not Eve Barajas but she is an activist at PRHS
Whether it’s being recognized by the state senate and legislature or being the first Bearcat to qualify for Allstate Choir, this is not senior Eve Barajas’s first time making headlines. It all started in middle school when the then eighth grader stepped up to be involved in the Equality Club. After serving as president for a year she was promoted to high school. In her sophomore year she was approached to help begin another equality club at PRHS. Right around the time she began as president a school wide issue occurred and they as a club decided to change the equality club to the equity club.
“Equity made more sense than equality. The analogy we used was like, equality is everyone having the same staircase and equity is also adding a chairlift or a ramp for people who can’t necessarily walk up stairs,” siad Barajas.
After an incident involving the destruction of a pride flag left some unsatisfied, Barajas figured she, along with the new Equity club, could step up to make a difference.
“We gained equality, you know, everyone’s allowed to use the same spaces. So let’s step it up and raise it so that everyone is at the same level,” said Barajas.
• Honor State Choir
• Recognized by State Senate
• Founder of Equity Club
• Head Speaker at Coming Out Against Hate
by Cassidy Heer, InDepth Editoris like the equity club here at the high school. It was really small because it is middle school and everyone was scared then, but Eve joined the club, she even became the president and I followed in her footsteps. I was also really inspired by her,” said Rodriguez.
“I feel like she’s always had that passion and the strive to help others. Now that we are in high school she has had more of an opportunity to help in that sense,” said Rodriguez.
When asked how she started being an activist and began helping others, Barajas explained she never understood how people had to act or be a certain way to be liked.
“I’m one who has never understood things like gender norms, like this is feminine, or this is masculine, or like people who like this should do that, none of that has really made sense to me. I just don’t believe people should be shoved into boxes,” said Barajas.
WE GAINED EQUALITY, NOW LET’S STEP IT UP AND RAISE IT SO THAT EVERYONE IS AT THE SAME LEVEL EVE BARAJAS, 12
This began with the Coming Out Against Hate ceremony where locals gathered in the performing arts center to celebrate their pride and speak on the touching matter of Gay Rights. Barajas became a leading speaker in the movement and was even recognized that summer, along with her fellow club members, at the State Capital.
Barajas didn’t stop there; she dedicated her junior year to focus on inclusion on campus. With events such as Coming Out Day and Pride Night which was similar to a dance and provided a safe space for anyone to come and socialize.
As Barajas wraps up her four years at highschool, her impact through activism has made a difference not just on events at school, but on people specifically. Fellow Senior, Daniel Rodriguez, who has known Eve since their days at Lewis Middle School has admitted to the influence Eve has had on him.
“In middle school we had a little equality club, which
This is what led Barajas to join the Paso High Theatre Company.
“It’s awesome, and theatre is weird, if you really think about it. It’s just really vulnerable. Everyone who is in theatre is just really real. When you’re in that class everyone can just be themselves. It’s a great feeling and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it,” said Barajas.
While balancing her duties in activism and inclusion, Barajas has also juggled her love for choir. Barajas was accepted into Regionals for a choir competition, but was the only person in PRHS history to qualify for All State Choir.
Barajas has been in the honor choir for four years and hopes to pursue her talent in college as a music performance major.
Even as Barajas follows her career in choir, she plans to stick with her beliefs in activism and believe she doesn’t need to “fit into one box”.
“I will definitely be dedicating myself just to have every space be comfortable for everybody. I will always be an advocate for people to feel safe and loved wherever they go. That’s something that I do to this day. I think even if I’m not necessarily in a club environment or activism environment, it’s just one of those personal philosophies that I know. People should be able to exist anywhere,” said Barajas.
enior Eve Barajas se destaca por su activismo y talento musical. Desde la escuela secundaria, defendió la igualdad y luego dirigió el Equity Club en PRHS, organizando eventos como Coming Out Against Hate. Sus esfuerzos obtuvieron el reconocimiento del Senado estatal. El activismo de Barajas se extendió a la promoción de la inclusión en el campus con eventos como el Coming Out Day y la Pride Night. Su influencia se siente no sólo en los acontecimientos sino también en las personas, como su compañero de último año Daniel Rodríguez. El activismo de Barajas surge de su
creencia en romper las normas de género y abrazar la individualidad, lo que se refleja en su participación en Paso High Theatre Company. A pesar de su activismo, Barajas sobresale en el coro, convirtiéndose en la primera estudiante de PRHS en calificar para All State Choir. Ella planea dedicarse a la interpretación musical en la universidad mientras continúa abogando por la inclusión y la aceptación.
NEW SEASON AT...
ABOUT MARTINEZ POSTER Cal Poly
Rosa’s character is Jane a bright passionate young woman who fulfilling her dreams even though there is a series of obstacles in her way. Both like Jane and Rosa keep preserving until their dreams turn into reality.
AVID President Rosa Martinez showed her passion for dance and teaching through her time at the Youth Arts Center and PRHS by Dayana Aispuro
When the music starts to play, there is nothing that could stop Rosa Martinez, ready to turn to the direction her dreams go, leaping to her goals and ambitions. She sways to the rhythm the beat plays, her feet following the tone her heart makes. Tackling down every obstacle with a big smile on her face, she takes charge of anything impossible to possible.
As a young girl, she was twirling, driven by an innate love for movement that only grew over time, dedicating over 12 years to mastering its complexity. Her passion burned brighter as years passed during high school. She joined PRHS Advanced Dance team for two years, creating choreography for dance stages and football fields. Martinez starred in the spring dance show “Skyline” with her own choreography, as well as taking extracurricular classes such as AP Spanish, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, and AP Calculus AB. She sustained all of it with a 4.2 GPA.
AVID and math teacher Kristy Lechuga observed that Martinez is, “Someone who really wants to see others succeed, and she’ll do everything that she can to help out a friend and even someone who she just met. She’s very caring and is definitely going to go far in life.”
Martinez serves as AVID president this year, after choosing AVID six years ago. She praises the program for its numerous opportunities. AVID was on Martinez’s list even throughout middle school, where it provided growth in the community and on campus. Her relationship grew more and more fond with her boyfriend and senior Jazir Ortega. He knows how much work she puts in school and the activities she enjoys, influencing him in turn to thrive for the best.
SO FOR ME, THERE’S ONLY WINNING FROM HERE AND IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE I GO. I’VE ALREADY DONE SO MUCH AND I’VE ALREADY ACHIEVED A LOT.
ROSA MARTINEZ, 12
“She made me just a better human overall. She’s just inspired me to get better at my schoolwork and improve my drive and my overall life,” Ortega said. Along with achievements there are always struggles and obstacles in the way. Her immigration status is one of them.
• AVID PRESIDENT
• 2 YEARS ADVANCED DANCE
• 4.2 GPA
• TOOK 4 AP CLASSES
Martinez demonstrates her leadership in her AVID class and gives back to the community by volunteering through local opportunities.
“I like to give back because personally a lot of my teachers, parents and friends have just given so much to me, and, my community service is just a way to give back to people,” Martinez said.
The Paso Robles Youth Art Center sharpens her skills, and lets her share her knowledge with eager young minds. Martinez installs the same enthusiasm for ballet in them that had first captured her heart. She teaches girls ages 6 to 11 with nurturing teaching, and fosters in them a sense of discipline and creativity while they pirouette and plie.
Cuando la música comienza a sonar, no hay nada que pueda detener a la senior, Rosa Martínez, lista para tomar la dirección que siguen sus sueños saltando hacia sus metas y ambiciones. Superando cada obstáculo con una gran sonrisa en su rostro, haciéndose cargo de cualquier cosa imposible, Martínez es capaz de usar este talento para educar, coreografiar e inspirar.
Su amor por la enseñanza llevó a Martínez al Centro
“Being undocumented in the United States. It just puts up the question of, is it’s gonna be worth it or not, but I always look at it like I’m able to have, like, free education here. So for me, there’s only winning from here and it doesn’t matter where I go. I’ve already done so much and I’ve already achieved a lot,” Martinez stated.
Martinez remains undeterred in her pursuit of education and empowerment. She applied for seven colleges and got accepted to all four UCs and three CSUs. She plans to major in Education and Liberal Studies at Cal Poly, aspiring to become an elementary school teacher, shaping the minds of the future generation with her passion and dedication.
de Arte Juvenil de Paso Robles, donde perfeccionó sus habilidades y compartió su conocimiento del ballet con mentes jóvenes entusiastas desde los seis hasta los 11 años. Su pasión por la danza ardió más a medida que pasaban los años durante la escuela secundaria, uniéndose a la danza avanzada. equipo durante dos años, creando coreografías para espectáculos de danza y canchas de fútbol.
• 10 SCIENCES
• HEALTHCARE
Jovana Flores aims so high
Her delicate hands holding her violin, her ears and eyes waiting for her cue on the stage after preparing weeks to perform at her best potential. Those same hands performing CPR on a mannequin ready to get certified. Multi-talented senior Jovana Flores has dove into a handful of things during her high school career.
Academically, Flores has been pushing herself since middle school. Getting straight A’s to build that determination and motivation for high school. She says a big part of that motivation and strive for success stems from her mom. She says she sets high expectations for her but they have pushed her to achieve great things. She knows she expects so much for her because she knows she can achieve them and because she wants the best for her.
ABOUT FLORES’ POSTER
Flores’ characters are both Dipper and Mabel. She has that constant positive energy like Mabel and is ignored by her to be positive in even bad situations. She says Dipper has influenced her to be more rational.
PATHWAY COMPLETER
• HONORS JAZZ
• FSC PROGRAM
“Regardless of her hardships, she is still around and fighting for us[her brothers and her] to get the best education we can,” Flores said.
by Michelle Rosas, Carmesi Co-Directorkind soul with anyone she meets. Cortes met her in their sophomore year. Her first interaction with Flores “was very friendly, I transferred classes and got to sit in her table group and she was very welcoming”. Cortes says that she has a very fun personality and is always enthusiastic but is also very persistent. She always gets her work done and always asks questions when she needs help with something.
Flores also has been in MEChA, ACT club, and interact club. A big reason why is because she sees a lack of representation and though there have been some changes, more can be done.
IVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WERE I DIDNT FEEL SAFE AND THATS WHY I ALWAYS TRY TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORATANT.
JOVANA FLORES, 12
“I am a very structured person and I set these expectations for myself and I have to get to them and if I do reach them- well that’s cool but that’s the goal,” she said.
A passion for science comes from a memory in middle school. She says that in seventh grade and that year her science teacher awarded her with an excellence award in science. “I was crying and shaking, I couldn’t believe it,” after that moment she knew that’s what she wanted to do in the future. Alongside the sciences she was already taking, she was interested in the healthcare pathway. In those classes she learned she wanted to apply her love for science with health care and wants to become some type of doctor.
A big reason why she wants to become a doctor is because she wants to help others. She starts this in school by trying to be very positive towards others even if they’re not so positive towards her.
A peer of hers, senior Sofia Cortes says she has a very
“I’ve noticed that there’s not much equality in our school and I’ve also realized that if nobody steps up to do it then it’s not going to be done and if a group of people do stand up for something than it’ll happen.”
Flores also loves running and it’s one of her favorite pastimes. She started cross country and Track and Field in the sixth grade and continued in high school. She did track and field her freshman and sophomore year but had to stop. Although she still runs outside of a team, she got an internship because of her healthcare pathway and couldn’t join track since the internship was after school four days a week. That internship let her gain job experience which she is very grateful for. She got to answer calls where she often had to translate to those who were not as comfortable speaking English, and she enjoyed that. With all that stress, Flores admits it’s very difficult and sometimes she cries but she pulls herself together and talks to someone that can help her get through it.
Flores also continued her skill and was in our school marching band and jazz. She started playing violin in sixth grade becuase her parents suggested it. She went off to high school and followed that. She played violin for an additional two years at our high school and got into the Honors Band. Her junior year she decided to try a completely different Instrument. She chose to pick trumpet to challenge herself.
Terminado su último año en la prepa, Jovana Flores se está preparando para continuar su carrera de ciencias. Flores dice que el momento que encontró su pasión por las ciencias fue cuando su maestra le dio el premio de “excelencia en ciencias” en la secundaria. “Esa no me empeze interesando mucho en las ciencias y escogí seguir el camino de ciencias en la prepa,” Flores dijo. Ella tiene un amor por correr y deportes como Cross country y Track and Field. Empezó esos deportes en la secundaria y todavía continúa aunque no lo hace
por la escuela. Tuvo que parar su deporte favorito porque tuvo un internado que tenía después de escuela.. Sus amigos y alumnos la describen como una persona con un buen corazón. Flores quiere ayudar a más gente que pueda. Por eso en la escuela está en MEChA, ACT club, Interact club y en link crew. También es una razón porque quiere estudiar ciencias biológicas, para agarrar una carrera en donde pueda ayudar más personas y empezará con estudiando ciencias biológicas en Cal Poly SLO.
About Mckanna’s Poster
McKanna chose Regular Show because he relates to the learning life lessons through non-traditional methods and crazy adventures of Mordecai and Rigby. He admits this may not be the best way to learn these lessons, but it’s “just the way life took me.”
Hayden McKanna makes his high school years count, excelling in football, Child Development—making great relationships along the way
by Brian Arndt, Health EditorIts hard to talk about senior Hayden McKanna without bystanders in earshot commenting on how great of a guy he is.
McKanna is a standout senior for the class of 2024. He has played four years of varsity football, completed the Bear Kittens CTE pathway along with interning at Kermit King, and, most notably has been a leader and trusted friend to those around him, known by many as one of the nicest kids around.
Football has been a key part of McKanna’s time in high school. Being brought up to varsity as a freshman set the tone of excellency and dependability that followed him throughout his time at PRHS.
“I saw what potential I had when I first got brought up (to play on varsity) so it was nice being able to build off of there and grow as a football player, but also as a person growing into leadership roles and learning how to be someone that people can rely on in and outside of football,” McKanna said.
McKanna attributed football to teaching him responsibility and helping him make strong bonds with other students and coaches. He says his football coach, Matt Carroll, was a mentor of his, “He’s a great guy and helped me become the leader I am today,” McKanna said.
From football he gets his leadership traits, but his drive for success has a deeper story. McKanna explained in 8th grade his cousin passed away. This early experience with loss pushed McKanna to not waste his time in high school, and life in general. “I just turned 18. He never got the chance to turn 18 you know so I have to make it count. I feel he deserves to see it through me,” McKanna said.
McKanna’s excellence in the Bear Kittens CTE pathways is something he worked hard for and added many responsibilities to his plate, but he enjoyed the process all the way through. He is a Bearkittens director and was noted as one of standout students. This experience in school inspired McKanna to pursue it during his own time by interning at Kermit King on Thursdays to help with kindergarten classes. His motivation to do this without any monetary compensation stems from his childhood.
I ALWAYS WISH THAT I HAD EXTRA HELP WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL … TEACHERS WILL HELP THE KIDS BE AT THE LEVEL THEY NEED TO BE, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE TO HELP THEM BEYOND THAT.
HAYDEN MCKANNA, 12
Carroll had similarly positive things to say about McKanna. “Hayden McKanna is one of the most coachable, intelligent, and hardworking plays I’ve ever been associated with. He was all about putting the team first.”
• Four Years Varsity Football
• Child Development CTE Pathway Completer
• Bearkittens director
• Intern at Kermit King
“He was a really talented freshman who went out there and performed really well for us,” Carroll continued. “By the time he was a senior, it was like having another coach on the field. Just a great leader of our program.”
Hayden McKanna es más que una simple estrella en el campo de fútbol; es un modelo de liderazgo y amabilidad en su escuela secundaria. Sobresaliendo en el fútbol universitario durante cuatro años, McKanna le da crédito al deporte por enseñarle responsabilidad y fomentar fuertes vínculos con sus compañeros y entrenadores. Su dedicación a las actividades académicas, particularmente en el camino CTE de Bear Kittens y su pasantía en Kermit King, refleja su impulso hacia
“I always wish that I had extra help when I was in elementary school … teachers will help the kids be at the level they need to be, but it’s important to have someone to help them beyond that,” McKanna said. He brings this motivation to help others in high school as well. Sophomore, Tre Clark, explains McKanna is a super understanding person who took him under his wing this last football season. Whenever Clark would get upset that he wasn’t getting thrown the ball as a wide receiver McKanna would give him some words of encouragement: “Telling me that me being there really made a difference and it made me realize that it’s not really about me. He helped me mature,” Clark said.
Clark spotlightted a variety of good memories he had with McKanna and urged readers: “If you don’t know Hayden, you should get to know him well.”
el éxito y su deseo de marcar la diferencia. Inspirado por una pérdida personal, McKanna está decidido a aprovechar al máximo su tiempo y ayudar a otros en el camino. Conocido por su comprensión de la naturaleza y su tutoría, McKanna deja un impacto duradero en quienes lo rodean, ganándose la admiración y el respeto de sus pares. En esencia, el carácter y los logros de Hayden McKanna lo convierten en una figura destacada que vale la pena conocer.
After seven years at PRHS, Christopher Cline is leaving to teach at K-8 Georgia Brown
Whether intentional or not, character Dwight Schrute from The Office seems to be the icon of the show. Similar to that of The Office, PRHS seems to have a Dwight of their own. Spanish teacher Christopher Cline has been known for his passion and comedic demeanor for all seven years of teaching Bearcats a foreign language.
After seven years of being a Bearcat, and seven more to go elsewhere, Spanish teacher Chris Cline will be saying goodbye to us at the end of this year to pursue a different teaching position. Those who have had Cline as a teacher may remark on his outgoing personality or creative assignments, but one thing is clear: his devotion to PRHS and teaching.
With a degree in Spanish Literature from UC Berkeley, Cline has spent his 22 year long career teaching all subjects: english, history, science, math, and spanish. At PRHS, he has been a Spanish 1-4 teacher.
An ELD teacher at heart, he will be moving to teaching sixth grade English next year at the new K-8 Georgia Brown school, where he will return to the dual-immersion program that started his career in Paso.
“I want to return to the place where I started, to the place that attracted me to Paso, the place that my children went to,” Cline shares.
Cline has taught in multiple areas: Wilson Elementary in Oregon, Flamson Middle School and Liberty High School in Paso, then to PRHS where he has been ever since. Even after over half a decade of teaching here, Cline still loves the environment.
“I enjoy being part of the team I guess, of teachers, students and parents and getting kids into adulthood and citizenship and careers or adult life,” he remarks.
While the future holds great promise for this special character, we won’t forget the lasting impact Cline has had on our school, one of deep devotion and playfulness.
“I will miss working with young adults who are working toward the next phase of their lives and don't really know what to do, it's always nice to be part of the process,” Cline said.
After 20 years of teaching art and ceramics, Josh Gwiazda is retiring, but will not be forgotten for what he has done for the school. From artwork around campus, to fighting for better bullying policy, supervising equity and chess club, and starting billiards club, Gwiazda has made an impact that will not be forgotten
When Gwiazda started working at PRHS in 2004 , after leaving his job as a skydiving instructor, he taught general, advanced, studio, and AP art classes. After eight years in these positions, he was asked to teach Ceramics, where he would stay for the following 12 years.
Gwaizda committed himself to sparking student extracurricular involvement, and connecting with students through the games. Gwiazda advised Chess Club for 15 years and started Billiards Club in 2018.
“I think chess is a good strategic game which exercises the mind and kids love it, so being the club adviser I was able to share that with other people and organize countywide chess tournaments,” Gwiazda said.
He also supervises the Equity club. “Equity club is a passion of mine because of course I’m married to a man, and I feel that all kids deserve a safe place to be at school and have the right to express themselves freely,” Gwiazda said.
Gwiazda joined a team of teachers in fall 2022 to help students organize the ground-breaking Coming Out Against Hate event, in which hundreds of students, parents, and community members learned of mistreatment and threats experienced by LGBTQ+ students.
Gwaizda experienced a challenging time in his career behind the microphone at the school board. “At one point they were trying to strip our bullying policies down . . . so
by Brian Arndt, Health Editor
speaking in front of a school board that’s not friendly is a huge challenge.”
Saul Bautista (12) describes Ceramics class as a relaxed, fun working atmosphere, “(Gwiazda) is really goofy. By the second day everybody is comfortable and it’s just a fun environment,” he said. Bautista, with his clay coated pants, spends his tutorial, nutrition, and any other school time he can find in the Ceramics room. Bautista is majoring in Business Administration in college, but plans on taking some Ceramics classes after high school.
Gwiazda explains that some of his proudest moments as a teacher was seeing his talented and passionate students display and sell their ceramics in the art studios in downtown Paso Robles. He is glad to leave some artwork on campus such as the International Sign in the quad, built in his classroom. “We made all the compass tiles . . . it points to all the countries that our international students come from each year to give them a feeling of belonging here,” said Gwiazda.
Over his 20 years of teaching he explains the hardships that come along with the job. He explained becoming a beginning teacher three times: “first learning how to teach art, being a brand new first year teacher, second learning how to teach ceramics, and third learning how to be an online teacher distance learning with COVID.” He was thrown into the kiln when he was told he had to teach ceramics and learn on the job.
Looking into the future, Gwaizda has some plans for his retirement: “Number one, I can throw out my alarm clock. Number two, I get to spend more time with my family and my dogs. Number three, I want to learn to be a better gardener and cook . . . and maybe a little bit of travel.” He plans on pursuing a new career as a pool table mechanic. “Why would anybody want to do pool tables? It’s hard work, but it brings joy and happiness into this world,” Gwaizda said.
PRHS says farewell to beloved English teacher Aaron Cantrell, departing for an indefinite leave after teaching for 28 years. Cantrell has taught just about every English course that PRHS offers across his 28 years of teaching, currently teaching AP Language and co-teaching 10th grade English. He has been pushing students to think and write well since 1996 at PRHS.
Cantrell’s impact on our campus hasn’t just been in his English classes. When Cantrell first started to teach at PRHS he was the assistant coach for the wrestling team, the adviser and starter of programs including the “Academic Booster Club,” which helped raise money to award scholarships to graduating students. Cantrell founded the JOI (Junior Optimist International) club, now the Optimist Club. He is the Interact adviser, the founding advisor of GANAS (Growth Always and Never Stop), the adviser of FCA and past advisor for the Conservative Club.
A former colleague of Cantrell, Sean Pierce, spoke of his leadership well: “ Mr. Cantrell and I formed the Honors English and Advanced Placement (HEAP) Team in 2003, when he began teaching AP English. A few years later, Mr. Mount and Mr. Arnette joined the team. As the leader of the team, Mr. Cantrell emphasized the concept of EX CELSIOR, to keep reaching ever higher. The results speak for themselves on our AP English Walls of Fame in the 1000 building. It’s also important to note that Mr. Cantrell was the first AP teacher to collaborate with former AVID teacher Anne Sponhauer to welcome AVID students into our program without any prerequisites.”
“They say it’s better to burn out than to rust out. So I wanted to stay busy,” Cantrell said. His busy success had a huge impact on many stu dents, although he disagreed in his well-known humble fashion.
Cantrell said his favorite memories are everywhere. “They are all centered around kids who realize that they have more power than they think that they have. So this just happened: a certain student that I like a lot and respect a lot, got accepted to her dream school, and didn’t think that she could. And so all of my favorite memories all involve people realizing that they are more powerful than they think they are. And by the way, all of my all my worst memories– note: there aren’t a lot of these but there are a couple–my worst memories are always people saying it’s im possible or they doubt them selves or they think that things can’t get better because of rea-
sons. Those are my least favorite things,” Cantrell said.
These memories are what led Cantrell to create a program like GANAS because of students like Elias Duenas who helped him realize that bad grades aren’t always a cause of bad students but rather the cause of bad situations. So Cantrell founded GANAS to help students improve their grades by having a mentor guide them and also had students connect with members of our community if they had any interest in their job. He rejoices in the fact that Dr. Sayne has brought an amazing group of citizens together to help our youth under the BEST prgram (Boys’ Empowerment Support Team).
“He’s a very outgoing person. He promotes discussion and really tries to get you to express your own opinions. He’s very geared towards having everyone discuss things rather than keep opinions to themselves,” Kyle Dart, a current student of Cantrell’s AP Language and member of GANAS said.
“It’s important to note that Mr. Cantrell has always pushed all of his students to reach their highest potential, whether they are college-bound or not. Likewise, Mr. Cantrell has always pushed his colleagues to keep improving their programs, to make PRHS the best it could be. He has been a great teacher, colleague, and friend to countless people (myself included) since he arrived in Paso Robles almost three decades ago, and he will be greatly missed while he’s away,” Mr. Pierce said. His outgoing personality and search for truth inspired Cantrell to advise the Conservative Club. “Among my favorite things, too, would be that time that Hunter Breece said that we should go to the Board and ask them to get rid of our mask mandate. And they did that night, and I was told by a board member that that might have been the domino that
Cantrell was also the forefront of one of the beautification projects on our campus including most of the school’s rose bushes. He insists that rumors of his helping with the murals are “fake news.” 100% of the credit for those goes to Mrs. Wilson and her wonderful student plus Mr. Steve Kalar. As Cantell stated before, the walls of the 1000s Building can look like
We have so much to thank Cantrell for at PRHS, although he may be leaving his legacy will stay behind and continue impacting the future students of PRHS.
After 17 years of teaching, adored and loved by many students and staff, Deborah McPherson will be departing from campus as a teacher, temporarily. This decision wasn't easy, she said, spending months talking with others and being in turmoil with herself. McPherson is known for her unconditional love for her students, connections with them. For many she is the person they go to when they need advice or just someone to talk to. She has made an impact in the hearts and futures of many students even those who have already graduated that still keep in contact with her. From the beginning, she explained, her best interest was and still is for her students, making her step out a little more difficult, but she plans on still coaching Track and Field and being there for students – just not in the teacher position.
Apart from impacting the lives of students, McPherson is also a person of change, someone who wants to make changes and does it. She wants to make a change for the better and she has. She has brought back the color guard program, co-advises BSU, has headed up the ELD department, teaches U.S history, and is now taking up Ethnic Studies. She has made changes within these programs. With her, the color guard grew
from 2 girls to over 14 students on the field and represented us at football games and in parades across the county. With her help BSU club is now being recognized by the state BSU organization and working with the local NAACP, and it continues to be the only one in the county.The English learners scores increased, and more were reclassified in the years she was EL coordinator than in several past years combined. With her help students found their way out of a system they were trapped in. Last year becuase her hard work and love for her students she received the District Teacher of the Year award.
by: Georgia Domenghini, Pop-Culture Editor
rom 2009 to 2024, Anatomy and Physiology has easily become the most popular science elective, with over 120 kids Jon-Paul Ewing took over the class Kathy Egan in 2009.
Then it was a single period elective course, and now it has been transformed into most students favorite science class, and along with it, Ewing becoming one of the most popular teachers.
Ewing moved to Paso in 1983 when he was two years old, and has been here ever since. He attended Georgia Brown for elementary school, Lilian Larson for middle school, and Paso High from 1995-
In high school, Ewing was a 4-year varsity Cross Country and Track athlete, as well as a PRHS wrestler in his off seasons.
He was also involved in Leadership, FFA, the Hiking and Environmental Club, and YCF (Youth Christian Fellowship).
He also met his now wife and PRHS AP Biology teacher, Gaylene Ewing. They have been married for 20 years and have been teaching at paso together since 2011. After high school, Ewing went on to attend Cal Poly SLO and double majored in Biological Sciences and Ecology & Systematic Biology. He also minored in Spanish, Soil Science, and Land Rehabilitation.
Ewings calling to be a teacher came from influential PRHS guru , Mark DiMaggio, who invented the GEO elective that Ewing has directed since DiMaggio’s retirement.
“[He] challenged me to look at the world differently. He was unlike any teacher I ever had, he treated his students with respect and valued our opinions despite our very limited life experiences. I figured that I had about 70-80 years of life on this planet, I want my life to positively impact as many others as possible, teaching is my calling to do that,” Ewing said.
He began his teaching career at Paso in 2004 as a student teacher, then a full time sub in the spring of 2005, and then started teaching in the fall of 2006. Since then, he has taught
This year she hasn’t felt like herself, finding herself complaining about things which isn’t like her at all. She is a person of change and has felt that this year that wasn’t happening. Though she isn’t from Paso, it has become her home and wants to see it succeed. For that reason, she will take a break from teaching to get her administration credentials to become the change she and many others want to see. But don’t worry Paso Robles High, she’ll be back.
Beloved science teacher Jon-Paul Ewing moves forward, bringing his talents to Georgia Brown
over 10 different courses: Biology Investigations, ELD Biology, Earth Science Investigations, ELD Earth Science, College Prep Biology, Honors Anatomy & Physiology, A.V.I.D., Marine Biology, Science Academy 1, Global Environmental Options (GEO), and Science Academy 3. Ewing also created and taught two Field Study Collaboratives (FSC): Marine Intertidal Monitoring Project and the Astrometry Field Research Seminar, and he has been the Science Department Chair for eight years. In addition to these courses, he also coached boys cross country and track from 2006 to 2017. He stopped in 2017 so he would be able to spend more time with his son Jupiter, now age eight.
“We had great success, building a program from 8 boys in 2006 into a state-level competitive program with over 60 boys,” Ewing said.
Some of Ewing’s favorite classes to teach have been Anatomy and Physiology, Marine Biology, and GEO. He spent five years trying to persuade the school to let him offer Marine Biology. Unfortunately, he had to give the class up to ensure GEO was able to keep running. Senior Kyah Jimeson, has been in his class for two years. Anatomy and Physiology her junior year, and GEO her senior year.
“I have been Mr. Ewing’s student for the past two years and in these years I have really grown to know him not just as my teacher but as a person. He is super dedicated to his classes and will do anything in order for his students to succeed. What he teaches prepares us for the real world and does all of this while still keeping his students best interest at heart,” she said.
Ewing has always considered PRHS to be his home , and for many years only expected to leave the school when he retired. He saw that there was a need for him at the Georgia Brown campus in the upcoming years in order to build a strong science program so these students are better prepared for high school. Something that will be hard to say goodbye to, though, will be his students.
“Seriously, the best part of my day is laughing and interacting with my amazing students. I have been fortunate to be on the sidelines for the last 18 years cheering you on,” Ewing said.
Basil Bailey
Congratulations! I am so proud to be your Mom. You have worked so hard to get here and have persevered through so many obstacles and bumps in the road, but you never gave up. I have loved watching you discover who you are and who you want to be. I cannot wait to see where you go from here and what adventures life has in store for you. Love, Mom
Katie Blaney
“So here’s some advice I wish I would have got when I was your age... Live every week, like it’s shark week.”Tracy Jordan and Mom
Gavin Blythe
We are so proud of you, and all of the things you have accomplished! We are excited to see what your future holds! Just remember, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
(Wayne Gretzky) We love you! Mom, Dad, and Fiona
Leila Barela
Your passionate personality has driven you to excel at anything you set out to do. From teaching yourself to read, to playing sports, to collecting stars at Starbucks…you give it your all. Looking forward to seeing where it takes you next! Look out world. We love you to the moon and back! Mom & Dad
Gabrielle Bodenshot
To our Stinker and my Baby Bug… We are so excited for your next chapter and newadventures. Be bold, be brave, stay true to yourself, and keep that crown on straight! Look out Oklahoma, y’all got my girl headed your way! Go Pokes! We love you the mostest! Mommy, Justin, & Presley
Connor Bowman
Shaye Bennett C-Bow!! Congratulations on an amazing academic and athletic high school career. We’ve enjoyed watching you grow up over the past 4 years and we’re excited for what the future holds for you. Remember that hard work always pays off and showing up on time is the first step towards success. Enjoy yourself at Cal Poly (not too much though ;) and call your mom often.
You stole our hearts the day you were born. We cannot believe you are already graduating high school. It has been a long, hard road, but we knew you could do it! We pray your future will be filled with happiness and that you never forget how much you are loved. Hold your head high and never lose your beautiful smile, you are stronger than you know. Great job! Mom & Dad
Brielle Burt
we are so proud of you, and all that you have accomplished. We can’t wait to see what you do next. Go Mustangs! #2028
Patrick Boling Natalie Boyd Korden Bright Joshua Cantrell
Congratulations, Patrick! Every year has felt like a graduation of sorts with all the steps you have taken. We take such pride and pleasure in being your parents that we want to not only say we love you, but also thank you.
Congratulations on this big achievement! We are so incredibly proud of all you have accomplished. Going forward know that God has a plan for you – have faith. Be aware that you are loved infinitely. Keep working hard and believing in yourself and success will follow you wherever you go. TCU will be the better for having you on campus! Go Frogs!
Love, Mom, Dad and Tommy
Elie Chavez Isaac Contreras
Congratulations Elie, We are fiercely proud of everything you have accomplished during your time at PRHS, from Academics to Athletics to Leadership. Your ambition is inspiring and we know you will do great things. Your next greatest adventure is about to begin, so go out and be awesome! We love you, Dad, Mom & Diego.
Georgia Domenghini
Congratulations Korden True Laing Bright! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! Your ability to learn and comprehend and your knowledge of history astounds us! Continue to be our bright shining son!
Robert Clark
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you’ve imagined”. Congratulations! I’m so proud of you!
Congratulations to our Georgia Lou on an incredible high school career! We are so proud of all your accomplishments and grateful for the positive experience you created for yourself. You worked hard, stayed focused, had fun, made lifelong friends, and always held your dreams close. We are beyond excited to see what your future holds! We love you so much, our Dancing Queen! XOXO from Mommy, Daddy and Gracie
Hope Ellsworth
Congrats Hopie! We love you more than you’ll ever know!
This is just the beginning of your amazing journey and we are super proud of you. We can’t wait to see what your future holds, remember to never look back and keep your eye on the goal! Love, Mom, Dad, and Brooke
Kalani Gaviola
Congratulations Josh! As you go forward in life, make good choices and live up to your potential. Believe in yourself, trust the Lord and know that we’re proud of you. We’ll love you forever, We’ll like you for always, As long as we’re living, our Joshy you’ll be! --Mom, Dad, Amy, Joe and Caleb
Kylee Dayton
We are extremely proud of all your accomplishments. You possess a kind soul and have so much to look forward to. We believe that you will achieve great things. Stay true to yourself, see the good in people and the world, work hard, and accomplish your dreams. Don’t let fear hold you back from pursuing the best that the world has to offer. ¡Adelante mijo, no se raje!Love, Mom and Sarah
Nevaeh Dyer
We are all so incredibly proud of all that you have overcome throughout life! Your a dreamer and the dreams are big I have no doubt that wherever or whatever you choose in life you will succeed! Your mom would be incredibly proud of you! Keep reaching and shining bright the world is yours to explore! Success is not an accident, success is actually a choice! (Steph Curry) Love grandma, auntie Steph & Kassie, uncle Jeramie & Trev and cousins Maddie, Dallyn, Landyn
We are so proud of you, Kalani! You are a shining star! Since you were a child, you have been empathetic, creative, brilliant, and everything we hoped, and dreamed for. We love you always, and forever! We cannot wait to see what you do to make this world, a better place! Love, Father, Mama, and Malia… Lucky & Joy!
Arwyn Guccione
Congratulations! You are an amazing human being and we’re so impressed by all you’ve achieved so far. We can’t wait to see all of the exciting things to come for you in the future!
“It doesn’t matter how strong the opposition is. It doesn’t matter how fearsome the world is, it doesn’t matter how cruel the world is. Fight!” Love always, Mom and Dad
Congratulations, we are so proud of you. Follow your dreams where ever they may take you.
We are so proud of the beautiful, amazing women you’ve become! We love you more!!
Shelbi Griffith Go Bearcats and Go Mustangs!!
Rylie Helberg
Congratulations, you’ve worked so hard and we’re so proud of you! We’ve watched you grow and achieve so much, and know you have a bright future ahead. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey, we’re excited to see the person you’ll become. Love Mom and Dad
Evan Jordan
To our amazing Evan aka Cheddar-Bob, Congratulations on your high school graduation! We’re bursting with pride for all you’ve achieved. Here’s to a future filled with even more success and happiness. We love you! Dad, Mom, Layla & Clayton
Andrès Lomelino
Natalie Herrera Kyah Jimeson
As you step into the future, know it’s bursting with bright opportunities just for you. We couldn’t be more thrilled. Your smile lights up our world, and we’re so proud of the joy you bring wherever you go. Keep shining because your journey ahead is filled with endless possibilities, and we’ll be right here cheering you on every step of the way. We love you!
Drew Kimpton
Drew we are so proud of you! In your most challenging moments, you’ve shown strength and courage that I don’t think you comprehend. Take a moment to reflect and be proud of yourself, then keep pushing forward. You can do anything! We love you!!
Andrés: From the dust behind the plate to the space above the rim, always dedicated. We will be your loudest cheerleaders as you play your hardest on the court of life. Looking forward to seeing you cast into a new direction to see what’s biting. A few mountains still to climb. May there be happy trails. Love, Mom and Dad.
Skylar McEntire
Kyah, you’ve truly blossomed into an incredible young woman, breaking out of your shell and embracing the world with your passion for dance. You’ve faced challenges head-on and conquered them with grace and determination. We admire your strength and resilience. As you graduate high school, know that we’re here cheering you on, ready to witness the amazing things you’ll achieve. Congratulations, Kyah! Love Mom and Dad
Bethney Lemon
Bethney, congratulations and we are so proud of you! It’s been a joy going to your sporting and band events, and seeing you grow to become who you are today. You’re the beth. “You have proved yourself to be a kind, loyal, strong, honest and truly magical friend. Just looking around this room at all the new friendships you’ve made, I know there’s nothing more I need to teach you.” -mlp Three cheers to you on your graduation day!
Caelee Martines Elise Mathers
Caelee, We are so proud of all your accomplishments. To us, you will always be our little girl but we know you have grown into a strong, independent woman. You have the world at your feet. You can do anything if you put your mind to it, and we will always be there cheering you on! We love you, and wish you everything!! Congratulations!! Love, Mom & Dad
Kade Mitchell
Congratulations Sky! We are so proud of all your hard work & accomplishments that have brought you to this pinnacle point in your life. We can’t wait to see where this next big chapter takes you! We are excited for all your new adventures ahead. It’s time to spread your wings & fly high! Have fun at Cal Poly. We will miss you so much. We Love You! Mom, Dad & Hailey. BO & Bella too! XOXO
Millie Moerman
Annnnd scene! You never cease to amaze us, Ellie Girl. We are so happy for you and excited to see what you will write in the next chapter of your life. Remember Colossians 3:23 - Good job, Little Cakes. Love you, mean it!
Kade, we are so proud of all that you have accomplished over the last 4 years. We admire your work ethic, determination, integrity, and so much more! Watching you excel in many areas of your life has been a joy! Congratulations on a job well done. We look forward to your next adventures. We love you! Love - Dad, Mom, & Macey
To my beautiful daughter Millie Moo. You are such a sweet and caring person. You make me proud everyday to be your mother. You are a bright star in our lives and couldn’t imagine life without you. I am crying right now because I love you so much and I can’t believe that High School is over and you are already 18! The years have flown by too fast and I am not ok with that :(. Happy Graduation 2024. Hawaii, Florida, Disneyland and Disneyworld here we come to celebrate our graduate. Love, your mom, Mike, Megan, Maddie, Ginger, Penny, Maui and Kona
Kameron Paine
It took a lot of hard work to reach this goal, you had to show up every day. I hope you feel great about what you’ve accomplished, and I hope you’ll continue to be a person who put’s in 110% day in and day out for those things that are worthwhile and important in life.
Benjamin Moreno
Ben, I am beyond proud to be your mom and am so excited to see what the future holds for you! These past few years have flown by and I can’t believe you are graduating! Congratulations son! We all love you so much!
Joshua Nau Congrats Josh! It’s been wonderful watching you grow. You make us so proud. Who’s got it better than us? Love, Mom and Dad Kyra Otte We are so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished and impressed with the young woman you’ve become. We are excited to see what the future holds for you at Oregon State University! Aim for the stars! Go Beavs!
Roxanne Perez
To our amazing daughter, congratulations on this incredible milestone! We are so proud of your hard work, dedication, and growth. Remember, this is just the beginning of an exciting journey. Keep chasing your dreams and never stop believing in yourself. Love you always! -Mom & Dad
Keegan Railsback
Keegan! We are so incredibly proud of all the amazing things you’ve accomplished. You have overcome so many obstacles. Your artistic talent is stunning and it’s been wonderful watching your skills grow. We know you will continue to work just as hard to achieve your goals. We look forward to seeing all the spectacular things we know you can achieve. We love you so much! -Mom and Dad
Bianca Rangel
Bianca, we are extremely proud of all of your achievements in all of your high school years. You have grown into a mature, kind, and overall extraordinary human being (Alien). We wish you all the best and remember we love you always. Mom
Emma Roby CONGRATULATIONS
Emma!!! We are so very proud of you and all of your accomplishments! You are going to do amazing things out in the health care field, and you will make a fantastic nurse one day! Montana State University is lucky to have you! From Bearcat to Bobcat, go get it!! Love Mom, Dad, Spencer and Samantha
Austin Savage Christensen
Bennett Reed
Bennett ~ We are so proud of the young man that you are growing into. Your sharp wit and adventurous spirit is sure to carry you far in life. While you are out exploring the world and living life to its fullest, don’t forget to call home. We love you more than you will ever know. Love, Mom and Dad
Chris Rocha
Congratulations Chris! Where did these years go?! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. We love you so much! Love, Mom, Dad and brother Ryan
Your daddy & I are so very proud of you !! You continue to be such a blessing and absolute pleasure to raise. What a fine young man you are becoming and are. You are a excellent hunter and that makes your dad & grandfather so xtra proud and has provided you with such a great group of men and friends. It has given you a facet that will always be part of you and you will excel. You will accomplish great and wonderful things. Love you to the moon and back mister!!
Love Mom,dad, brothers,sisters,nieces and nephews
Marlie Thompson
We are SO proud of you and we love you so much. While we’ll miss your endless energy and enthusiasm, all the hugs, and the bedtime tuck-ins, we are so excited to become a Sun Devil family and see where you go from here as you enter this exciting part of your life. We love you! Love, Dad, Alex, Cal, Hannah and Abby
Sadie Wagner
Dakota Rickerd
Dakota Smokey Rickerd - You’ve never met a stranger in your life. A friend to all. Adventure awaits you in Colorado. Dream big. Live simply. Laugh loudly. And don’t forget to call your mama. We are so proud of you. Go shine your light! Love, Mom, Dad & Ethan
Jasmine Rosales
Lakyn Rodriguez
We are proud of you and excited for your new journey. We are proud of everything you have accomplished and excited for what the future holds for you. Love mom and dad.
Gabby Silva
Gilian Ritchey
YOU DID IT BABE! Now on to bigger and better things. This is your time to take on the world! Dad and I could not be more excited to see how all of your hard work pays off in the future which you are designing for yourself. We will be here to support you and cheer you on. XO Mom and Dad
What a wild ride it has been! Congratulations, you did it!! I’m so proud of you for buckling down and getting things done on your own. You’re such a strong, beautiful young woman with tons of heart, now it’s time to show the world what you can do! I can’t wait to see it. I love you Salad Bowl!!!
We couldn’t be prouder and more excited for you and all you have already accomplished. Your humility and kindness will follow you throughout your life’s journey. You have the ability to do anything you set your mind on. We can’t wait to witness the future that you’ve earned and deserve.Love Mom and Dad
Eric Soto
We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished academically and personally. You amaze us with your talents. We have enjoyed watching you grow in your theater performances and are excited to see what the future brings you! We love you! Love, Dad, Mom and Paul
Hailey Summers
Watching you grow and blossom into the remarkable person you have become has been the greatest privilege of our lives. You continually amaze us with your kindness, strength and determination and we couldn’t be more proud of all your success and accomplishments. As your high school years come to a close remember you have the power to shape your destiny. Chase your dreams, touch the stars and never forget how worthy you are. We love you, Mom & Dad
Van Thompson
Congratulations, Van, on your high school graduation! Your hard work and focus have paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder of you for getting into UCLA. Since middle school, you’ve been determined to pursue a psychology degree, and now you’re on your way to making that dream a reality. You’ll always be our baby boy, and we can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you!
Sadie Lee, We’re so proud of you! You’ve worked incredibly hard to grow in the areas you love, regardless of what others were doing. You’ve grown from our Little Sweet Pea into an amazing young woman with integrity, curiosity, gratitude, and wisdom. We delight in who you are, and we’re so excited for your next adventure . . . after we all get a little rest! Love Dad and Mom
Claire Wells
Dear Claire, We are so incredibly proud of all you have accomplished in your high school career! You lead with the perfect balance of inspiration and grace as a Captain of your Cheer and Stunt teams. Your focus and drive in your academics as well as athletics is truly admired by all. You are beautiful, strong, smart, funny, capable, and all the things that make you the unique and precious person you are. We love you with all of our hearts! Love Mom & Dad
Elle Wagnard
Clowie Tidwell
I blinked and you were all grown up. I can’t believe how fast the time flew by Clowie. Mom and I are very proud of how hard you’ve worked and what you have accomplished in school. We have been blessed in the young lady that you have become. Keep going ! Can’t wait to see what you do next !! Mom and Dad love you more than you can imagine. Good dreams !!
Elle, Congratulations! Here she comes Cal Poly! You did it!! Your determination and grit is inspiring. You deserve it all and we couldn’t be more happier for you!
Thank you for being you, always our girl. Love,Mom and Dad “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” Walt Disney
Colton Wells
Dear Colton, We are so incredibly proud of who you have become! You are so kind and considerate, smart, strong, funny, capable, and beautiful inside and out! You are an amazing Water Polo player and Swimmer and it was a treat watching you play throughout your high school career! Your future is so bright and we know you will go so far in this world! We are excited to celebrate all your successes with you! We love you so very much! Love Mom & Dad
Gracie Weyrich
Maddie VanPelt
There will never be enough words to say how proud I am of you. We didn’t get the easy road to get here, but we got here together. I’m honored and blessed to be your Mama. “My little girl/You’ve gone and stole my heart and made it your own/You don’t ever have to feel lonely/When you look back on the years” Congratulations! We’ll be cheering you onto the next chapter! Love you, Mama, Chloe and Abby
Gracie Florence Weyrich ~ Congratulations on your Graduation ~ Class of 2024! We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. We know that you will do great things in your future. You have accelerated in everything that you do and are such an amazing athlete and person. Congratulations on being accepted to USD with your Biology major and being recruited to play on the women’s college soccer team. Go Torero’s!! We are so proud of you and love you very much, Mom, Dad, Jordan, Kyler & Conner
Abigail Williams
Words fail us at times to describe the depths of pride, love, and excitement we have for all that you are. Your ability to embrace the world, the gifts within it, and to tackle the challenges as they arise separate you like no other. We are so proud of the person you are and the young lady you are. You’ve accomplished so much in such a short time but more admirable than what you’ve already achieved is the heart that you live by and defines you. Tackle the world in front of you and show it how much you have to contribute. You’ll touch the lives of many…no more than that of our own. We love you Abigail. Dad, Mom, Hailey, Kennedy, and Nathan
Dressed in her black concert attire, flute in hand, she entered the stage, composed. Standing tall, she addressed her audience, “Hello my name is Daisy Garcia. In the face of a nerve racking performance, she mentally recites a Hannah Monta lyric “By day, I play the part in every way of simple, sweet, calm and collected.” Glancing at her accompanist, nodding for her cue, she lifts her flute to playing position. Taking a deep breath, senior Daisy Garcia plays her first of many notes.
“Music is so broad! It’s just like, wow, you know, there’s just so much out there waiting for me to play. It’s so exciting to know that I get to play all of these songs, and feel all of these emotions, it’s perfect,” said Garcia.
The immense devotion and warmth Garcia has for music hasn’t always been the same. Her music career first began when her parents pushed her to join the middle school band class in sixth grade. The initially hesitant Garcia admitted she worried she would turn into the stereotypical “band kid” and even planned on quitting after middle school. It wasn’t until her parents surprised her with her first flute in ninth grade that Garcia grew to love the opportunities music gave her.
“My parents pushed me to continue music because they saw every opportunity as a way for me to succeed. Being new to the country, they saw every opportunity as one worth grabbing. That’s how I grew up, you know, there weren’t as many
Aopportunities offered for them (in Mexico) when they were my age, that’s why I knew I had to take this one (opportunity),” said Garcia.
Now, the 17 year old performs in PRHS Marching band, Concert band, and Jazz band. Outside of school Garcia is in SLO County Honor Band and Jazz band along with solo flute performances and her church choir.
While juggling practices and jazz combos Garcia says a majority of her life is spent on music. Within one week Garcia estimates that she spends at least 20 hours dedicated to music, including private flute lessons, at-home practice for solo classical pieces, fundamentals on jazz soloing and reading music for group performances.
After graduation Garcia will attend Cal Poly SLO, majoring in Wine and Viticulture to pursue agriculture invitation while minoring in music. Taking after her father who is a vineyard manager, Garcia grew to love nature and plans to commit her life to pursue sustainability and to help what she loves the most. Garcia hopes to continue performing for many audiences to come and contribute her actions to the restoration of the environment.
In June, wearing a crimson cap and gown, diploma in hand, Garcia will walk across the stage at graduation. She will once more recite Hannah Montana in her head, and take her final bow as a bearcat.
fter a long school day filled with multiple AP classes, such as AP Physics 2 and AP Calculus BC, in order to maintain his 4.6 GPA, senior Kade Mitchell heads back to his white Chevrolet truck. He reaches in the back and retrieves his practice shirt and gray pants as he suits up as the Boys baseball Team Captain and promptly reaches the field at 3:45 to start daily practice.
The choice was clear who the team captain should be, as Mitchell is the only senior playing on the baseball team this year.
“Being the oldest person on the team, that kind of pushes me to take a leadership role,” Mitchell said. “It’s kind of cool that I get to mentor my teammates and let them know what does and doesn’t fly.”
Baseball has been a major part of Mitchell’s life, as he has been playing the sport for over 13 years and has been able to maintain a batting average of .333. Although he doesn’t plan to continue playing the sport at the university level, he continues to grow his skill at practice and at home daily. Being a role model for many of his teammates allows Mitchell to pass on experiences and lessons he has learned through his own four years of highschool.
However, Mitchell doesn’t just shine on the field as he
by Sebi Radojevic, Web Directorhas worked diligently to ensure he can pursue a career he enjoys as he is majoring in Materials Engineering at Cal Poly SLO. Mitchell has been fascinated with science and building throughout his life.
“It’s always been a really cool topic for me, so that’s why I just kind of wanted to focus on it because I was interested in the classes and I was good at it, too,” Mitchell said.
Throughout high school, Mitchell has taken many advanced classes structured around mathematics and equations - a total of four sciences and four math classes.
On top of his busy schedule filled with classes and baseball, Mitchell reserves the weekend for working at his job at Blast N Brew. As Kade turned 18, he began to pick up more responsibilities and harder tasks at his work.
“As soon as I turned 18, they just gave me my own solo shift, and I was alone for eight hours.” Mitchell said. “At work I cut vegetables, do food prep, and make pizza and other specific dishes. It’s definitely improved my cooking.”
Mitchell has been able to continue pursuing the sport he has loved his whole life while balancing difficult classes and maintaining a job. As he prepares to go to Cal Poly he reflects on PRHS and the memories and friends that were involved with all four years of high school.
IWn the busy halls of Paso Robles High School there’s a star dominating class rankings, Senior Gabriella Silva. Despite her struggle with shyness, Silva has grown out of her shell with the help of her passions for golf, dance, and academic excellence.
Driven by determination, Silva’s academic journey has been very successful.
“I’ve always been motivated for my academics, always setting goals, raising the bar, and being in competition with myself”, Silva said. Her drive has come from a young age, Silva says her older brothers and parents were good role models instilling the values of drive and dedication.
Silva’s academic resume has been impressive. She has been participating in GATE classes since elementary school, through middle school and into high school, taking 23 AP or Honors classes out of 24 classes total in her four year career at the high school.
Her personality is nothing short of her academic inspiration.
Senior Elle Wangard speaks highly of her friend, saying “Gabby
hether she’s leaping and spinning in the dance studio, winning a gold medal at SkillsUSA for the Crimson Closet, or staying on top of her astronomical GPA, Ava Cox is a girl who lives in many worlds.
Cox started dancing at 7 years old. She has been a part of Advanced Dance for four years, and she is the Vice President of Jazz’n Company in Advanced Dance while also being a member at Artistry in Motion Dance Studio.
“If someone were to come up to me and tell me it’s possible to work harder than Ava I would laugh, because they obviously have no clue who she is. Even though she left some pretty big shoes to fill I wouldn’t choose anyone else to have as a big sister, “ said freshman Julia Cox, Ava’s little sister.
Her junior year, Cox along with Campbell Sinton and Audrey Dawes, wanted a project that would be competitive and original at SkillsUSA in their Busness Pathway. The Crimson Closet, a spin off of the original Cinderella’s Closet — which was a free prom dress shop event — is now their well-known brainchild, a place on campus where students in need of clothing can go to shop for free. They’ve created a thrift store experience and culture that hundreds of students
have visited.
is smart, funny, and comforting. My favorite thing about her is how easy she is to talk to”.
Through her four years of high school, Silva has racked up achievements in extracurriculars as well. She is a four year advanced dance member, her passion for movement led her to become the co-social media director this year. On the golf course, she’s a three year varsity player, receiving titles as co-captain, coMVP, and recipient of the Lions Club Award.
On April 30, Silva announced she will be attending Cal Poly SLO and majoring in Biological Sciences, a major with a 4.2% acceptance rate according to The Tribune. Her ultimate goal is to attend PA school after completing her undergraduate studies.
Reflecting on her life, Silva claims “my family, my passions, and my determination have shaped me into the person I am today”. As she prepares to take on her post high school life, Silva represents attributes many would love to have.
“We learned about how there wasn’t a good space for students in need of clothes to be able to receive them, and thought: we need to make a safe space for our students to gain easy access to clothes,” Cox said.
Crimson Closet continues to serve students every Wednesday during Tutorial.
Crimson Closet won First Place last spring at the state level SkillsUSA competition. Cox and fellow creators collected their gold medals dressed in red blazers, a foreshadowing of the professional world and high achievement that lies ahead.
During her senior year, Cox applied to seven schools and was accepted to nearly all of them: University of Oregon, University of Nevada Reno, Chico State, USC, Cal Poly SLO, CSU Fullerton, and SDSU.
Next year, Cox will attend SDSU and major in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. She also plans to add a second major of Journalism to pursue a career in media.
by Zane Wilson, Photographer
Not only a leader at this school, but a leader of the future. Three sport academic scholar, Tristen Salgado demonstrates as an example not only to his peers, but future Bearcats.
Throughout Salgado’s high school career he has participated in three varsity level sports: football, basketball, and track. With 449 yards ran and four touchdowns this past season, football has been a main focus all four years of Salgado’s athletic career. Football has taught Salgado determination and grit, putting in a lot of work, especially during the off-season to better maximize his capabilities.
“So I think sports have just given me a way to challenge myself more than just academically. It combines, you know, that physical aspect with also having to think, so that challenge has just been really fun to try to access,” Salgado said.
Salgado involved in the Child Development Pathway (Bearkittens) where he represents as a role model and teacher to potential future bearcats. Salgado originally took this class by
accident last year, and decided he enjoyed it so much he would take it again his senior year.
“It’s like the greatest thing I could have done all year. It’s the high point of every day, I swear it’s like the greatest thing ever,” Salgado said.
In completion of 17 AP, Honors, and Cuesta classes while sustaining a 4.3 GPA, academics have shown to be a focus in Salgado’s life. Along with developing academic leadership, Salgado was nominated by teachers and veterans from the American Legion as one of the top leaders at PRHS to be a participant in Boys State, a program that gives top incoming seniors a perspective on practical operation of government.
With four years of high school wisdom, Salgado gives advice to his peers and future bearcats:
“Everyone wants it to be a popularity contest, but it doesn’t have to be and people really don’t care. And if they do, then, that’s their problem, but I don’t think anybody should take high school too harshly on themselves,” Salgado said.
by Michelle Rosas, Video/Carmesi Director
Fby Blair Bishop, Reporter
Switching in between costumes and scripts, Danika Nutile said, “I shall practice my curtsy,” as Scar from The Lion King.
Nutile has played in many Paso High Theatre Company (PHTC) productions, including Scar, the villain in The Lion King. This school year, Nutile has played Titania in Fairycakes, Dory in Finding Nemo, and Velma Kelly in the spring musical Chicago.
Nutile began her theater career in 2017, and has been in nine productions since her freshmen year. She has been through Acting I-IV at PRHS, as well as Director’s Practicum in the Acting I class. Nutile wrote and directed a One Act for the Acting I class, taking steps to pursue musical theater.
Alongside her acting skills, she is a Mezzo singer. Nutile has been singing for seven years, four of which she has been training with a professional. Nutile has sung in the range of tenor, alto, and soprano. Knowing when and how to take breaths while singing and dancing is a difficult skill to learn, but one that Nutile has mastered.
rom using colored pencils to fill in drawings her dad made her, to using colored pencils on pieces she sells for $200, senior Natalie Herrera finishes high school with academic successes while thriving at art.
Herrera stands out as she has maintained a 4.6 GPA with 15 AP and honors classes while still focusing on art in and outside of school.
The origin and love for art stemmed from her dad who is an artist and digital/web designer.
“I remember when my dad would hand draw me things and I would be amazed by what he drew. Then I would color it, perfectly in the lines. I’ve always been a perfectionist,” Herrera said.
Growing up with an artist influenced her as she saw the amazing pieces her dad would make. She started drawing as soon as she could pick up a crayon. Her dad and her bonded together through art.
As she got older, she started winning more and more awards for her art. One of her earliest in middle school being the Martin Luther King Art contest where she placed first, later winning a couple Arte de Tiza awards.
Apart from her stage presence, Nutile has become a leader in the company. Nutile takes pleasure in the Drama Club as copresident.
Tobi Rowins, a junior and peer perspective said, “She’s made connections with everybody, and does her best to understand everybody.” Nutile is also supportive in making sure that everyone around her is doing well.
As the head of the theater department, Marcy Keyser-Goodnow has been a teacher for Nutile all four years at PRHS. Goodnow has seen Nutile’s dedication grow throughout the years, and inspire others as she does. Each year, Goodnow has watched Nutile “attack” a larger role.
“I think Danika is a prime example of someone who had interest in theater, but didn’t really know she had the skills she has. Once she figured it out, she figured out ways to get as much experience as she could,” Goodnow said.
After graduating in June, she plans to go to college for musical theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York that has an acceptance rate of 22%.
She currently works at Studios in the Park downtown where she can showcase her art. There, she has gotten various offers for her art as admirers wanted to buy them off of her. Some pieces mean a lot more to her than others, she sold one of her most memorable pieces for $375.
“It makes me happy when people want to buy my art because they connected with it and I made them feel something with it.”
She helped start the Art Club in 2023 and now in 2024 she has become the president. She plans fun events to welcome anyone at school to have fun and relax with crafts.
With the help of her favorite teacher to guide her, Clarisa Wilson, says she met Herrera her freshman year when she took an art class. Since then, Wilson says Hererra has spread positive in every class she has with her. “She’s an amazing artist and truly a great person. Natalie always puts her best into everything she does, down to the last details.”
Herrera will be following her passion of art at Southern Oregon University as an art major in the Fall.
From keeping up with high school with a 4.1 GPA, smiling as one of the two poster children of the CTE Floral Program, to owning KJ’s Market Fresh Flowers, senior Kejia Zumbrunnen has stood out from the rest. This 18 year old spends her free time running her floral business; whether it’s arranging flower designs, or tackling the financial side, Zumbrunnen said she typically spends two hours a day working towards her business-KJs Market Fresh Flowers.
Yet her current passion for floriculture wasn’t something she expected. It all started her freshman year of high school when Zumbrunnen joined PRHS floral design class. Not knowing it was a design class, Zumbrunnen expected it to be about gardening and give her knowledge about horticulture to help her provide food for her family. She quickly found out it was a class centered around design techniques using flowers driving her to find her passion.
“Joining floral opened my eyes up to so many different career paths and opportunities,” Zumbrunnen said.
The florist is currently working 2-3 times a week for The Floral Parlor based in downtown Paso where she makes sure that the flowers are processed and helps with events. From
by Chloe Van Pelt, Op/Ed Editor
this opportunity of working outside her own business, she has gained customer service skills while also growing her personal floral design skills.
Floral teacher, Therasa Clark, had nothing but positive things to say about the last four years with her.
“She’s definitely a leader,” Clark said. “She always sets a good example of hard work, and you can tell that she’s dedicated to her work.” From Clark’s floral class, she has been able to practice her leadership while guiding others through the world of floral design.
In her last four years attending PRHS, she has been involved in FFA, varsity tennis, four years in presidency for her youth group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club, and attended three pop up events where she is able to showcase her designs.
In the Fall at Utah State University, this petal queen will double major in agricultural business and horticulture plant sciences with the hopes of one day growing her business to open a flower shop storefront and nursery. KJ’s Market Fresh Flowers is just the beginning of what she has planned for her love of horticulture in the future.
“I just fell in love with the class and how we did things. I’m excited to see where this path will take me,” said Zumbrunnen.
Room 604. It is the portal of my 4 years at PRHS. It is the exit to the outside world (parking lot to my car) and the entrance into a class unlike any other. Room 604, has been more than a journalism class, it has been my sanctuary. The last three years in Crimson have had their ups and downs with many tears of sadness and many tears of joy shed. And, to say the least, I am grateful for every moment I have ever spent inside the walls of Crimson.
Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would be a part of this class. My two older sisters were heavily involved in the class and it took them many nights to convince me to join. Despite my unwillingness to join, I joined. Only to discover that I quite enjoyed the class. Following my sister’s steps I became EIC in my junior year. I want to give a huge thank you to my sisters: Ysabel Wulfing and Rayvin Wulfing, for always encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. For pushing me and encouraging me every step of the way.
However, Crimson would not be the same without beloved English teacher and advisor Jeff Mount. Mount has been a huge part of my success for the last 4 years. Starting as a freshman in his English class and ending as a program leader in my senior year. He has pushed me to excel and do the best of my abilities. He has taught me grammar, to be a good journalist, to use Photoshop, InDesign, and illustrator, and most importan––tly a power paragraph.
As the school year draws to a close and graduation looms over the horizon I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this program. It has taught me so much that words can’t even be expressed. Although I won’t be going to University for communications, this class will serve as a great resource for me in my future career. As I prepare my farewell to PRHS and embark on new adventures, I carry with me the invaluable lessons learned in Room 604, forever grateful for the experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.
Idon’t I don’t think any class exists as such a clear manifestation of my growth in high school more than my journey in Crimson.
I loved the idea of the class from the start- I’ve always enjoyed stories, writing and reading them alike and the marriage between objectivity and subjectivity present in journalism seemed like the perfect extracurricular. But the class in reality, for my first year, was a struggle. I was shy and awkward, almost standoffish at times. I didn’t have many friends in the class, and though my work was top-notch, my in-class bonding skills were decidedly not.
When I returned the next year, however, a lack of upperclassmen in the program forced me into the Editor-in-Chief position, and I can confidently say that this push has allowed me to grow so much as a person. I knew how to suitably write. But being EIC taught me how to design, lead, and connect in a way that I believe will follow me throughout my life. Each year of EIC has brought such unique struggles and opportunities to grow and I am extremely grateful for that.
Crimson is not always easy, and sometimes it is quite detestable- but the connections save it. I have so many thanks to give. Thank you in particular to my sister, who illuminated my first year of Crimson with her guidance. Thank you to my co-EICs throughout the years, Miguel, Serenity, and Elise, who have supported me through the latest late nights and have impressed me so thoroughly with their competence. I know, without a doubt, the three of you will take the world by storm. (Even you, Serenity <3). Every issue has been a true labor of journalove, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the effort the three of you put in.
And finally, thank you to Mount. He is the one who initially saw potential in me as EIC when I doubt many of our classmates did. He hasn’t stopped believing and pushing me further and further. This program is lucky to have you.
From the stress of a deadline to the jubilance of a block period game, Crimson has been the best thing I did in high school (and I did a bit). Underclassmen- I know you won’t, but savor it.
“Personal Invitation: Crimson or YB”, the short subject of an email inviting me to what I didn’t know yet, would be the most fulfilling part of my time at PRHS. Just like many others on this campus I suffered through Honors English 9, but I always enjoyed writing and accepted Mount’s invitation within an hour.
Where I expected simply a course of rigorous writing and production I found a second home. Right off the bat, Crimson was so much more than storytelling. I’m incredibly grateful for a special connection with the community I feel this program gave me. I discovered my passion for news and informational writing pretty early on, and through that I was able to cover so many intense topics that continually stretched my brain (and also got me into trouble more than once..).
I was never an athlete, not an ASB or leadership kid, and though I tried out several different visual and performing arts, Crimson became my safety net. I want to give a special shout out to the Nov. 2023 Boston Convention trip. There aren’t many students who get the privilege of saying they traveled across the country with their class. Having a trip so huge so early on in the school year turned this class into a family. The tight knit dynamic of this class is like no other I’ve been part of, and to the Crimson class of 2023-24, you all hold such a special place in my heart. I will miss you all incredibly, but I leave with so much faith and confidence in each and every one of you.
Of course, this class would not be what it is without our incredible adviser, Mount. I owe so much to this program and none of that would be possible without you. I feel sorry for the generations who won’t have the privilege of calling you their teacher, they are truly missing out. Thank you for believing in me.
Though I’m not going off to be a journalist, I know that the things I learned in room 604 don’t just apply to journalism. In the whirlwind that was high school, Crimson was a constant. Saying goodbye feels very bittersweet, but all good things must come to an end. The last three years have been nothing short of amazing and I feel honored to have even been a small part of such an incredible program.
The bright, animated seniors that make up our “Crimson Network” change the channel- and say their goodbyes to Room 604
J- Carmesi codirector - 3 years crimson - top designer - Cuesta COMMIt
oining this class three years ago, I never expected myself to grow in the ways that I have. From avoiding sports as much as possible to becoming the Director of that section, Crimson has let me try many different things that have pushed me out of my comfort zone. I will forever be grateful for what I have learned, and aim to use those skills throughout life. Crimson let me solidify my love for English, and to continue to pursue some type of path with it in the future while at college. I hope that I have made an impact on every person who has walked through room 604, this classroom will hold memories, both good and bad, for a lifetime. Thank you Journa-fam for everything and for Crimsonites to come, try anything, be open to everything, you never know what will be your niche.
- Sports director - varisty cheer & stunt
- 3 years crimson
- Hope international University COMMIt
- pictured as “Courage the cowardly dog”
This class has been such a big part of my life. Being in this class for three years has helped me grow so much as a person. I’ve made unforgettable memories and have met great people. This class has introduced me to a passion for design and has taught me things that no other class can. I highly recommend this class to anyone. Journalism has been one of my favorite things about high school. Goodbye 604, thank you.
Iremember how overwhelming the feeling was entering Crimson for the first time. I wasn’t aware that this program would be my most notable high school accomplishments. It’s hard to sum up my indescribable experience while being a part of this program, but I’ll try! From San Fransisico to Boston, I have had so many unforgettable memories and experiences because of this class. Whether we’re placed third in the nation, first in the state, or not at all, there is no squad I would rather be a part of. I want to thank Mount for being the best mentor for our program and staff. Thank you to my Review Bro, Nolan Severson, for helping me feel comfortable in the program my first year. I’m thankful for my Big Dawg, Braydon Hoier and the unbreakable bond we set as brothers. Thank you to all the EICs for the sleepless nights you guys have sacrificed to ensure we produce the best magazine. My main takeaway from deciding to join this journalism family is to not be afraid to try something new. One random day my sophomore year I decided to try something new and I discovered my passion as a result. Thanks to Crimson, I can pursue communications at UC Davis the next four years of my life!
05.23.24
- Web director - Bearcat sports report
- 2 years crimson - UC DAVIS COMMIt
- Pictured as gumball from “the amazing world of Gumball”
rimson made me into the person I am today. If not for it, I wouldn’t have realized that my dream of film was fully possible with my set of skills. The people in it were and are phenomenal, and I couldn’t think of a better class to have spent my last year of high school in. It’s an extremely welcoming and loving environment that I had the pleasure of experiencing. From staying at a late night way too late bottle flipping, to creating pag es that won awards, journalism will always have a place in my heart and my writing.
- Director of photography
- environmental editor
- 1 year crimson
- Uc Santa cruz
- Pop culture editor
- Advanced & competition dance, 4 years
- 1 year crimson
- Baylor COMMIt
- Pictured as Daphne from scooby doo
Iam so glad I chose to take this class my senior year, and wish I would’ve taken it sooner in my highschool career. I’ve learned so many skills I can take with me throughout my life, and I’ll always love my Journa-fam!
- Photographer
- Hobbyist chef
- 1 year crimson
- Cuesta COMMIt
- Pictured as Speedy Gonzales from looney tunes
The memories and experiences I have gone through at PRHS will forever shape who I am as a person. I have learned so much through my classes but Crimson was different. With Crimson I learned so many new skills like taking photos or editing then with photoshop and lightroom. I have had such a great time designing magazines and doing fun things. I will definitely miss highschool but I am looking forward to what the future holds for me and I can’t wait to start college and begin my life.
Journalism was not a class I thought I’d end up taking, but I am so glad I did. I not only got amazing opportunities such as a great trip to Boston with the class, but I also learned a lot and made new connections with people. The things I learned from this class carried on into my day to day life especially with photography. I will definitely miss this class, #journalove.
- Photographer - varsity volleyball
- 1 year crimson
- Cuesta COMMIt
- Pictured as robin from teen titians
Volleyball Band AG Cross Country
“I want to thank the volleyball program for deepening my passion in the sport, and specifically my team-
“To the band and Mr. Cera: I’m very thankful for what I’ve learned in the years I was in band and I’m super excited to see where you all go in the coming years!”
“I want to thank Mr. Gwiazda because he’s the only one that would play me in chess”
“Goodbye PRHS, shout out to Mr. Boswell, Coach Carroll, and the teachers in the AG department, and friends I’ve met while I was here, I was mainly here for the diploma, so I could go community college.”
“Later Paso High it was a good run. Thank you Coach Carroll for all the support and believing in me.”
“I want to thank the healthcare pathway the high school because it provided me with a lot of oppurtunities for internships and to meet new people .”
“I want to thank Coach Huff, the rest of my coachs, my teammates in Track and Cross Country for pushing me to be the best runner I could be”
“The art program has taught me so much and helped me grow as a person and artist. Thank you to Mrs. Wilson and Mr. Gwiazda for teaching me so much”
She is currently deciding between Cal State Northridge and Concordia University Irvine.
Even after a full day at school, Dyer continuously shows up, transforms, and performs her best at all her basketball practices, games, track practices, and meets. She is one of the few D1 (or D2) athletes of her senior class.
• • PR OF 42’7” IN SHOT PUT
• AVERAGED 10.7 POINTS PER GAME HER PAST BASKETBALL SEASON
• 4 YEARS VARSITY FOR TRACK AND BASKETBALL
ASenior Nevaeh Dyer ends her high school career, but will continue her athletic endeavors throughout collegeby Quinn Kobayashi, Blind Date Co-Editor
high school student by day, senior Nevaeh Dyer hides her talents, until she is presented with a practice, game, or meet where she transforms into a D1 performing athlete.
On one of these occasions, April 17, 2024, at a home track meet against San Luis Obispo High, the advisor of the shot put ring called out “Dyer, on deck”, and Dyer took in her last deep breaths before she entered the ring. She stepped into the ring, squatted down into place, with the shot put firmly against her neck and a high elbow, and began her spin movement to launch the ball. When the weight of the ball was released from her hand, the stress left with it as she saw the ball drop past the 40 feet mark.
When her mark was finally announced, she learned that she had obtained a new personal record with a distance of 42 ‘7”.
Dyer has found much success in throwing shot put for track and field and is also very talented in basketball, though she prefers throwing more because of the solitude of the sport.
“I would say I enjoy track over basketball since it’s an independent sport and I can just rely on myself,” Dyer said.
Dyer is still deciding between two colleges that have different offers for her. Cal State Northridge offered for her to play D1 in both track and basketball, and Concordia University Irvine has offered for her to play D2 in track.
begins to compete in shot put for track and field.
Deborah McPherson, Dyer’s throwing coach that has been supporting her the past three years, knew from the start that she had the potential to go far.
“We were in Arroyo Grande at her first track meet… and she threw around 28’ on her warm up throw. I challenged her, and I told her that if she hit 30 ”, I’d buy her lunch. Her first throw, she threw about 29’, and I mean, you could just see the potential she had,” McPherson said.
She started throwing shotput and discus for track and field her sophomore year. She quit softball after her freshman year, 2021 season, because she wanted to try something new. Thus, she started track and field her sophomore year to not only find a new passion, but to also complete her P.E. credits.
AT HER FIRST TRACK MEET, SHE THREW ABOUT 29 ”, AND I MEAN, YOU COULD JUST SEE THE POTENTIAL SHE HAD. THROWING COACH, DEBORAH MCPHERSON
Inspired by her dad to start playing basketball, Dyer began playing the sport in second grade with her elementary school team, Virginia Peterson. She shared that a lot of coaches have helped her throughout her journey in the competitive sport, but especially Coach Hall, who has “pushed her to be able to do what she does today,” Dyer said.
She continued to play basketball with her elementary and middle school, Lewis, teams, as well as with YMCA and club teams until she started playing in high school. All four years in high school, Dyer made the varsity women’s basketball team.
This past 2023 season of basketball, Dyer averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals per game, and her free throw percentage was 78%.
As the seasons shift, so does Dyer with her sports, and she
Nevaeh Dyer se destaca como atleta D1 y como estudiante dedicada. Con un nuevo récord personal en lanzamiento de peso de 42’7”, demuestra su talento y dedicación en el atletismo. A pesar de su éxito en el baloncesto, Dyer prefiere la soledad del atletismo y encuentra satisfacción confiando únicamente en sí misma. Oportunidades ofrecidas por Cal State Northridge y Concordia University Irvine, ella contempla entre jugar D1 en atletismo y baloncesto o D2 en atletismo, el viaje
“I had been playing softball for a long time. I wanted to try something new and now I found another sport that I really love,” Dyer said.
Her sophomore year, she was throwing 29’, but with focus and hard work, she has increased her distance by over 10’. At the first meet of the 2024 track and field season, Bearcat Relays on Feb. 24, 2024, Dyer threw 36’ 7 ”. Nearing the end of the season, Dyer currently has a personal record of 42 ’ 7 ”, which she threw at the Paso Robles/San Luis Dual meet. Dyer not only brings far distances to the throwing team, but also humor and a helpful personality.
“She’s really helpful. You can tell she knows what she’s doing, so if I was ever struggling with anything, she would help with my form. She’s a perfect balance of messing around and being funny, but she’s also there to improve and work hard,” said Sara Espinoza, one of Dyer’s teammates over the past season.
Dyer plans on either playing both track and basketball at Cal State Northridge or just track at Concordia University Irvine throughout the entirety of her college career. She is excited to meet people and find new groups to join regardless of where she commits.
“I feel as though she wants to do really well. She knows she has to put the work in, and I think there’s still another level that she hasn’t untapped,” McPherson said.
de Dyer ha sido guiado por entrenadores que lo apoyan, en particular el entrenador Hall. encontró su pasión, mejorando constantemente su distancia de lanzamiento de peso. Los compañeros de equipo de Dyer aprecian su amabilidad y humor, lo que la convierte en un activo valioso. Mientras mira hacia la universidad, Dyer está ansiosa por seguir sobresaliendo y explorando nuevas oportunidades.
Senior Dom Marquez reflects on his countless accomplishments in his wrestling careerby Sebi Radojevic, Web Director
enior Dominic Marquez approaches his car and grabs his bag. He enters the locker room and suits up for another day of wrestling practice, continuing to prepare for another weekly upcoming tournament.
“If I’m trying to lose weight, I’ll make sure to put on more clothes for practice so that I sweat more,” Marquez said. “Sometimes after practice if I need to cut I’ll go to the gym and stay in the sauna for a while then run a lot.”
Wrestling has been a major part of Marquez’s life ever since he was 6 years old, when he was living up North in Susanville, CA. He gained a passion for the sport through encouragement from his father and inspiration from Austin DeSanto, who is a three time all-state wrestler in Pennsylvania for Exeter High School. While Marquez is unsure whether he wants to continue to pursue his career in wrestling past highschool, he aspires to become the best wrestler of his abilities.
Marquez’s effort has clearly worked in his favor as he has placed and won many various tournaments. In highschool, Marquez has placed in at least twenty four different tournaments. “I’ve placed at every tournament besides state and one other one, those are the only two tournaments I haven’t placed in.”
About Marquez’s Poster
Much like Dwayne Johnson in Young Rock, Marquez is consistently dedicated to his goal. Both Johnson and Marquez gained inspiration for thie own wrestling careers from their fathers.
• Placed in 24 tournaments
• Top 10 sophomore year CIF
• Top 24 junior Year CIF
• Top 12 senior Year CIF
• Wrestling since 6
place in the tournament.” During his sophomore year, Marqez began to become close friends with many of the senior wrestlers on the team.
“I became friends with a lot of the seniors on the team such as Peyton Kilbert, Treyvon Bridewell, and Ian Rodriguez.”
His junior year, his success in the sport continued as he qualified for the CIF state tournament. He continued to persevere and train throughout the school year and during the offseason to prepare for the tournament. However, Marquez placed in the top 24, which was lower than he was hoping for. Although he was semi-disappointed with his placement, he was able to beat the wrestler that was ranked 9th, which he claimed is his biggest accomplishment during that season.
I COULD TELL THAT HE HAD A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF HIM FROM THE START, AND HE KNEW A GOOD AMOUNT OF MOVES AND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHAMPION.
NATHANIEL YBARRA
Even since middle school, PRHS Wrestling Coach Nathaniel Ybarra also noticed Marquez’s extraordinary commitment and skill in the sport.
“ I could tell that he had a bright future ahead of him from the start, and he knew a good amount of moves and what it takes to be a champion.” Ybarra stated, “ He had a really good fireman’s carry that he would get kids in, he just had talent.”
Senior year, Marquez was able to place for State again, being ranked 20. He persevered to place better than last year, and he succeeded. As he made his way through the tournament he ended up placing as the twelfth best California high school wrestler. “The state tournament for wrestling, it’s just one division. There’s not all these other divisions, so when you are in the top 12 of the state, you are out of all the schools in California and there’s only 11 people above you. So that’s the difference with wrestling and a lot of other sports.” Ybarra explained.
One nod to Dominic’s success is that he is a very slick and quick wrestler. Although he may not be the biggest on the mat, he is the slickest and that gives him a major advantage.
When Marquezstarted his high school wrestling career his freshman year, he had made the Varsity team during COVID. Although COVID limited his ability to practice and meet with the team, Dom would still attend every team meet at Centennial Park because the wrestling room at the school was inaccessible. On top of that, he would condition at the gym to make sure to get down to the correct weight he needs to be. In Marquez’s first freshman tournament debut, he placed second. Sophomore year, the wrestling team entered back into CIF and Marquez was ranked as a top 10 highschooler in the 115 lbs weight class. “We ended up winning CIF my sophomore year,” Marquez said, “So I took second
El estudiante de último año, Dominic Márquez, se acerca a su auto y agarra su bolso. Entra al vestuario y se viste para otro día de práctica de lucha libre, y continúa preparándose para otro próximo torneo semanal.
La lucha libre ha sido una parte importante de la vida de Márquez desde que era joven, cuando se apasionó por el deporte gracias al estímulo de su padre. Si bien Márquez no está seguro de querer continuar su carrera en la lucha libre después de la escuela secundaria, aspira
“Those moves, they work for Dominic because he’s slick.” Ybarra stated, “So it takes a certain individual to hit the moves, which is good because I think everybody should try to aspire to be like a slick wrestler.”
Currently, Marquez has begun to take a leadership role in the wrestling room during practices. Ybarra claims, “During practice, Dominic would definitely show the kids a higher caliber of wrestling, he would hit those more complex on the newer wrestlers.” On top of that Marquez has been a model figure of what someone can accomplish with dedication and commitment. As he prepares to graduate in June, he is incredibly grateful for the program and the friends and memories he made through it.
a convertirse en el mejor luchador según sus habilidades. Los esfuerzos de Márquez claramente han funcionado a su favor, ya que ha clasificado y ganado varios torneos. En la escuela secundaria, Márquez ha participado en al menos 24 torneos diferentes.
Márquez también ha sido una figura modelo de lo que alguien puede lograr con dedicación y compromiso. Mientras se prepara para graduarse en junio, está increíblemente agradecido por el programa y los amigos y recuerdos que hizo a través de él. NEW SEASON:
best protagonist in track
by Kalani Gaviola, EICSbest protagonist in FOOTBALL
enior Peyton Bedorsian is jumping off to San Diego State University this fall after a successful four years as PRHS’ top pole vaulter in Track & Field.
Bedrosian began her athletic career as a gymnast from a very young age, but when her passion for the sport dried up, Bedrosian describes searching for something to do to keep active. Enter: pole vault.
She began pole vaulting in eighth grade, and continued throughout her high school career.
“Pole vault is a very difficult event as it pushes you both mentally and physically. Part of the reason I love it so much is because of how rewarding it is when you are able to meet your goals whether it is achieving a personal record or overcoming a mental block.”
Bedrosian’s current personal record is 12’9, and she is the school recorder holder for pole vault. This year she won both Mountain League championships and Division 1 Central Section championships. She is ranked top 10 in the state for pole vault.
When asked about her success, she thanked her coaches Jim and Codie Wilshusen for their support, as well as her parents and grandparents. “They’ve pushed me on my best and worst days,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without their help.”
best protagonist in sOCCER
Varsity soccer 2 years, Varsity track 4 years
Commited to D1 Soccer at University of San Diego, starting Spring of 2025
First Team all League, COMVP of Sunset League, Offensice Player of the Year for soccer
In the heart of Paso Robles, amidst the intensity of Friday night lights, one name echoed through War Memorial Stadium with each thundering touchdown – Conner Bowman. He has played three years on Varsity football and Varsity basketball.
Bowman’s journey began like many young athletes’, with a passion for sports ingrained in his DNA. Being that Bowmans dad played D1 track and his mother playing D1 volleyball.
“I’ve been playing sports all my life, but in high school, I focused on basketball and football,” he said.
As a multifaceted athlete, Bowman showcased his versatility on both the hardwood and the field. In basketball, he commanded the court as a small forward, averaging 10 points per game in his senior year. But it was on the football field where he truly shone, as a running back, averaging 83 yards per game, totalling 744 yards in his senior season.
Although Bowman highlights an accomplished basketball and football career, he will be hanging the cleats up after high school and moving on to college. He will be attending Cal Poly SLO next year and majoring in business.
best protagonist in golf
Boatman’s PR is considered to be D1 caliber (according to NCAA)
Ocean league MVP in 2023
PR of 70, shot at the River Course of Aliasal
Boatman is going to Cal Poly to major in mechanical engineering
Mackenzie Ruppe
Recognizing athletes who have worked day and night to reach their goals
by Serenity Wulfing, EIC, Braydon Hoier, Review Editor
Haggmark
Daillak
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Brian Arndt (10)
girls TRACK AND FIELD
Rylie Helberg (12)
SWIM
+ 47.24
100 Free
beach volleyball
Kiley Bowman (9)
Mark Boatman (12)
Elie Chavez (12)
boys tennis
Antonio Cardiel (12)
Bennett Reed (12)
Garrett Haggmark (11) baseball
Alexander Portwood -Hermanson (9)
GIRLS SWIM CIF
SWIMMERS: Mackenzie Ruppe, Summer Colegrove, Tiffanu Santoro, Zoey Bixler, Macie Dow, Maddie Van Pelt, Emily Santoro
BOYS SWIM CIF
SWIMMERS: Drais Thai, Garrett Haggmark, Ezra Smeltzer, Robert Clark.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
CIF Division III
2nd place in the championship.
Seniors: Bryson Wakeman, Wade Willis, Bennet Reed, Maxwell Berry, Owen Winsted, Jordan Prowse.
Mackenzie Ruppe (12)
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Varsity consists of six pairs and over all winning 46 games as a team. The Varsity roster consists, Skylar McEntire (12), Ashlee Wescom (12), Kenzie Cobb (12), Olivia Heinbach (11), Kai Stotlzfus (10), Kiley Bowman (9).
TRACK & FIELD
Track and Field had a succesful endevor at the CIF D1 Championship.
Tyler Dailik holds a new school record for fastest 3200. Masters qualifiers: Peyton Bedrosian, Neveah Dyer, Justin Wilshusen, Brian Arndt.
Stephanie Roman Sabiron (11)
Boys baseball placed 1st in Ocean League and faced Bullard in D1 CIF where they lost 3-1. The team consists of mostly undercalssman with a couple juinoirs and only one senior: Kade Mitchell.
Girls softaball placed 5th in Mountain League. They have four seniors: Brielle Burt, Elie Chavez, Shelbi Griffith and Aalia Torres. SOFTBALL
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