Del Norte Talon | Senior Issue 2015

The Del Norte Talon.

SENIOR ISSUE 2015

Spread your wings

CONTENT NEWS 3 SPORTS 7 COLLEGE MAP 13 ARTS & STYLES 15 OPINIONS 19 OPINIONS 26 SAYING GOODBYE 29

A SPECIAL THANK WITHOUT YOU GU PLEASE KNOW TH SPENT WITH US

A LETTER

When I g DVD’s, cell pho Facebook and I high school 1,00 you, too, will fin

One thin ating. Some fut imagine --- yet w things that seem

So what d leadership will b need decision m and encourage first published a ward thinking is world collide. A NEXT. Want to In short, practic

When it c score or what co you continue to all else.

“The supreme qua

Dwight D.

K YOU TO MS. SCHELHORSE AND MS. MATTHEWS! UYS, WE WOULD BE AN UNKEMPT, DULL TALON. HAT ALL THE HOURS (SWEAT, TEARS, ETC.) YOU HAVE ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. WE LOVE YOU BOTH!

R FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

graduated high school, the world was a very different place. We did not have digital cameras, laptops, ones, debit cards, or flat-screen TV’s. The worldwide web did not exist. Google, YouTube, Twitter, Insta-Gram were not even concepts let alone designs or proposals. It probably sounds like I attended 00 years ago, during the Dark Ages. But before you go harassing my generation, recognize, very soon, nd yourself in conversation with the next generation feeling as dated and as old as I so often do now. ng I’ve learned: change is as certain as the sunrise. And change is exponential – it is actually accelerturists predict we will advance by as much as 20,000 years in the 21st century alone! It’s impossible to we can see advances in technology and medicine occurring at unprecedented rates. Certainly, many m impossible today will be commonplac7e tomorrow. does all of this have to do with you – Class of 2015? In a rapidly changing world like ours, strong be more important than ever. In this century, perhaps more than any other before it, the world will makers who will model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, the heart. According to Kouzes and Posner, authors of the seminal work The Leadership Challenge almost 30 years ago, the most admired characteristic in leaders after inspiring, competent, and fors honesty. Yep. Good ole fashioned honesty. It’s the intersection where old school and brave new And it is an interpersonal quality that never goes out of style – one that never ceases to be NOW and o be a person with great influence? Tell the truth. Keep your promises. Admit when you are wrong. ce personal integrity. comes to realizing your greatest leadership potential, integrity matters more than your GPA or SAT ollege or university you ultimately attend. As you prepare to take flight, Nighthawks, it is my hope as o explore and develop your unique gifts and talents, that you will pursue the quality of honesty above

ality of leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible.” . Eisenhower

PRINCIPAL MIZEL

NEWS

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

BY AHANA CHAKRABORTY

ART BY CHELSEA SONG

With massive droughts in California, flooding in Texas, and tornados throughout the Midwest, people can hardly ignore the impact environmental changes can have on humanity. However, many students at Del Norte are concerned about the lack of environmental awareness on campus. One student even said that the only time they can recall Del Norte promoting environmental conservation was “the brief statement in the announcements on Earth Day about water conservation”.

Most students at Del Norte are aware that California is experiencing the worst drought in a century.

However, what many students do not realize is how it will impact our daily lives. According to the United States Geological Survey, the effects of this drought include a drastic decrease in water levels (both surface and ground), land collapse, loss of vege3

tation, and seawater intrusion. There are now emergency regulations requiring an immediate 25% reduction in the amount of urban water being used statewide. NASA also states, for the drought to end, we would need 11 trillion gallons of water.

But that’s not the only terrifying environmental issue facing us today. A second major problem centers on a seemingly innocuous insect: bees. While bees are just annoying insects for most people, the decline of bees, now an endangered species, holds much darker implications.

According to Yale University, “one of every three bites of food eaten worldwide depends on pollinators”.

Bees are major pollinators, and with a 30% decrease in the bee population every year, it seems that major sources of food are also on the decline.

A major reason for the death of bees is the use of pesticides. These

toxic products, used to protect crops from insects in order to maximize profits for large farms, are dangerous and lethal to the pollinators vital to our existence. Such chemicals are leading to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), or Vanishing Bee Syndrome.

So how can Del Norte help?

As a school, we can work together to keep the environment clean and maintain the pristine condition of nature. Classes can take turns participating in beach clean-ups, or just picking up trash anywhere, even on campus. Bee-friendly trees and flowers can be planted, and garden pesticide use can be reduced. Students can work together to conserve water and ensure that we do not waste our already-dwindling supply. The smallest actions can have a large impact, and everyone should make an effort to make whatever difference they can.

THE TALON

NEWS

FINDING REFUGEES A HOME

BY MAYA DAHLKE

San Diego Refugee Tutoring (SDRT) is an organization that provides one-on-one tutoring and integrated academic support to refugees.

Located at Ibarra Elementary School in eastern City Heights, its mission is to achieve social justice through educational access. SDRT provides academic support for financially underprivileged students who are not able to access expensive academic resources. It also gives an opportunity for Del Norte students to expand their horizons through volunteering with the program.

SDRT was first established by a group of teachers in 2008 with the objective to support underprivileged students. This group of teachers included Ms. Melissa Phillips, who

THE TALON

taught many refugees in her own classes, but realized they needed more help than a typical classroom could potentially offer. This year, the the SDRT club was introduced at Del Norte by seniors Joshua Lee and Katrina Salinas. Advised by Ms.Schelhorse, the club tutors students weekly in addition to collecting donations to benefit the program, including book and toy drives.

SDRT also also hosts several camps during school breaks, which raise awareness and provide more academic support to refugee students.

Salinas explains that last summer, a few Del Norte students organized a week-long summer camp for the students. “Most of their families are not used to western culture, and don’t

make plans for the summer. This is where we come in and plan fun activities to get students out of the house.”

Ciara Pelletier (12), a participant of last-year’s summer camp, describes her experience as “probably one of the highlights of my summer. It was such an amazing experience, and it was definitely a lot of fun along the way.”

The week-long camp was a success, and the team plans to host another one this summer. If you’re looking for a refreshing and meaningful activity this summer, you might consider looking into SDRT. Email Flora Park and Quree Jung at delnortesdrt@gmail.com for more information.

4

NEWS

BECOMING GLOBALLY AWARE

BY CLAIRE AQUINO

At Del Norte, “Global Awareness” is emphasized not only in our mission statement, but also at programs offered through the school.

While studying abroad is typically reserved for college students, Nighthawks have different opportunities each year to take teacher-led trips around the world.

Next summer, science teacher Mr. Hendricks will be taking students to Iceland, where participants will explore mountains, valleys, and other landscapes. A close look at Iceland’s geology, particularly tectonic plates, will “give students a better appreciation of nature’s beauty and how other people live,” Mr. Hendricks explains.

Foreign language teachers also take

5

advantage of international trips, allowing students a chance to immerse themselves in a language. Mr. Tu, who teaches Chinese at Del Norte, has led some of these trips to China in the past. While visiting key cities in China, such as Beijing and Shanghai, students learn about the history of China, from ancient dynasties to modern times. “Students have a chance to contrast and compare between Beijing and Shanghai. They get to see how...China has changed,” says Mr. Tu.

Spanish teacher Mrs. Amaya previously supervised a trip to Costa Rica. This year, she will be teaming up with fellow Foreign Language teachers Mr. Barboza and Ms. Mer-

ritt to host a trip to Spain on June 15, 2015. In Spain, key cities, like Barcelona and Madrid, showcase the country’s history through museums and monuments, such as castles and cathedrals. Mrs. Amaya says, “The purpose for our trips is to immerse ourselves in the Spanish language and to learn more about the culture of different Spanish speaking countries.”

Visiting other countries is a great way to experience first-hand the various cultures around the world.

Even if you’re not trying to learn a new language, leaving the comforts of 4S Ranch and visiting an unknown country can be an eye-opening experience when learning about the world around you.

THE TALON

NEWS

DEVIATING FROM THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

BY FLORA PARK

Most students go through high school the traditional way--four years and then a diploma. For many, that is the only option.. But what happens when extenuating circumstances occur and the traditional path doesn’t quite cut it? Luckily, Del Norte offers a variety of options for students to graduate high school using alternative programs. Poway Adult School, Poway Virtual Courses, New Directions Independent Study, summer school, and early graduation are available to fit students’ unique needs. Together with the rest of Poway Unified School District, Del Norte strives to provide all students with the best option to help them earn a high school diploma or equivalency.

Both Poway Virtual Courses and Poway Adult School allow students to take a course of their choice in addition to the five daily classes they have within our trimester system.

These two options allow students to earn more credits per trimester, accelerating their learning. Though students are required to have a faceto-face meeting with a teacher at least once a week, these two course options are mainly independent and require utmost diligence and self-control.

Occasionally, students experience circumstances which prevent them from attending a typical school day. Maybe they are involved in an outside artistic or athletic program, or they have health issues which do not qualify them for home tutoring. They might work at full-time jobs for financial support, or maybe they transferred into Del Norte without enough credits. These students may pursue the New Directions Independent

THE TALON

can use summer school for remedial purposes, summer school can also be used to take extra courses or to finish required courses ahead of time.

However, summer school is only available district wide and due to lack of resources, not all students are able to be enrolled.

Finally, for those who have already completed the required amount of credits and believe they are ready to take the next step forward in their educational career, there is the possibility of graduating early. Some students may consider this option if trouble arises in their private life and they have to move away from Del Norte, or if they need a year of rest due to some other reason. Other students have utilized this opportunity to take what is known as a “gap year” where they study abroad or volunteer for an extensive period of time.

At Del Norte, the number of students who participate in these programs is miniscule. While it may sound ideal to graduate early or to attend online courses with little supervision, all of these choices require a high level of individual responsibility.

Study program. In New Directions, students are assigned to an instructor They are not for everyone, and often for one or two simultaneous subjects. require extensive proof of eligibility They meet weekly to take tests as well and collaboration between student, parent, and counselor. as complete labs for any of the science courses, which allows for a great The most important thing to keep in degree of flexibility, but also requires mind when making decisions about your high school education is whethhard work and commitment. er or not a path works for you. For

Summer school is possibly students who feel concerned about the most famous choice--if only in name. Most people consider summer the traditional path, please remember school to be the stereotypically banal, that Del Norte’s counselors are more than happy to discuss all available prison-esque purgatory portrayed in options. movies. In reality, although students

6

SPORTS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR & SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

BY JEENA LEE

Prior to June 3rd, the various Head Coaches at Del Norte nominated 109 athletes amongst a total of 1,200 participating student athletes to honor at the Del Norte’s annual Athlete of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year Banquet. Of these outstanding 109 honorees, four athletes, Kayla Evans, Parker Lappin, Mackenna Grewe, and Evan Jameson received the Scholar Athlete of the Year and Athlete of the Year awards, respectively.

Scholar Athlete recipients display both academic and athletic excellence. Both Kayla Evans (12) and Parker Lappin (12) participate in two sports; basketball and volleyball, and football and baseball. Evans is a two-year team captain for her Volleyball team. She not only performed well on the courts, helping her team win 3 League titles, but also earned high grades, ending her second trimester of her senior year with a 4.04 GPA. Lappin was on the Varsity team for both Football and Baseball since his Sophomore year. Not only has Lappin broken various school records 7

during his four years with the Football team, but he has been recognized as an AP Scholar with distinction.

The Athlete of the Year recipients Evan Jameson (12) and Makenna Grewe (12) were noted for their achievements in Cross Country and Track and Field (for Jameson), and Field Hockey, Soccer, and Lacrosse (for Grewe). Recognized for both Cross Country and Track and Field, Jameson has set seven out of ten possible school records in Cross Country alone, and also set the 5K school record with an impressive time of 15:33. He was the Avocado East Individual League champion, and is the second overall runner in San Diego, after having won a CIF race by 14 seconds. Grewe was team captain for two of her three sports: Soccer and Field Hockey. During her career with the Field Hockey team, Grewe was able to hold the school record of goals and assists. She was also voted on First Team All League for Lacrosse, having scored the most goals.

Described as “tenacious, persevering, and hard working,” Grewe will

be continuing Field Hockey at Iowa State.

Throughout the night, there were many other impressive athletes, including Carisa DeKalb (12) and Nathan Marin (12). DeKalb, who was nominated for Scholar Athlete, is a two-year team captain for Cross Country and is the first and only Nighthawk Leadership Award recipient. Marin, who was also nominated for Athlete of the Year, is an 8-time CIF champion, and 6-time League champion for Track and Field. The night concluded with the Nighthawk Ambassador Award, a tradition that started two years ago. The award acknowledges those with high character as well as academic success, and was awarded to Randi Buccat (12) and Quenton Meeks (12).

Other nominees for the coveted Athlete of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year include: Grayson Farnham(11), Cameron Hepworth(11), Ruby Mandell (11), Jiselle De Anda (12), Christa Hoffman (12), and Anna Webb (12).

THE TALON

SPORTS

RUNDOWN OF CIF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

BY NICHOLAS LI

Throughout the entire school year, our Del Norte sports teams have done a great job showcasing their Nighthawk talent on the fields, courts, mats, pools, and rinks. Many of the sports teams have advanced to the CIF’s (California Interscholastic Federation) and League Championships with impressive results.

Overall, each individual sport came out with a satisfying win and loss record. Girls Water Polo emerged out of the pool with a win loss record of 17 and 11. They finished second in League while being seeded 6th in Division 2 CIF. Girls Soccer also continued their winning tradition with a win loss record of 13 and 4. They placed first in League and advanced into CIF as the number 1 seed. Del Norte Wrestling finished the season with a 10-6 win loss record placing second in League and receiving a fourth seed bid into CIF. Our Girls Cross Country team ran strong, finishing League with a 9-6 record. They ended 3rd in League and seven of these phenomenal runners advanced to the Cross Country State Champi-

THE TALON

onships. These are only just a few of the tremendous feats of the Del Norte sport community.

For many of the teams, goals for next year include competing for League titles, advancing into CIF playoffs, with the ultimate vision of “winning it all”. In Girls Basketball, they have never experienced a losing season and hope to continue that streak in the years to come. The Boys Cross Country team hopes to build on the success from this past season and develop the younger athletes in order to win a League title and qualify for the State Meet. Our Roller Hockey team plans to recruit hard to replace the two graduating seniors they lost this season. In Girls Tennis, they want to practice hard over summer at tournaments and camps to get ready for the fall season. Boys Basketball returns a lot of young players, with high expectations. They hope to finish in the top four of Division 3.

During the CIF and League Championships, our sports team have had fantastic memorable moments.

In Girls Volleyball, they went 8-0 in

their first tournament of the year to win The Fall Classic. It was the first volleyball tournament championship in school history. During the tournament, the team also collected the program's 100th overall victory. In Boys Water Polo, the most memorable game was the home game against Fallbrook in which our water warriors won in a close battle 7-6. Speedo savant goalkeeper Cameron Hepworth had 18 saves that game which is believed to be a school record for saves in a single game. Our Boys Soccer team went six straight games without getting scored on. They also shut out San Dieguito Academy, who was ranked second overall in the county at the time. In Field Hockey, they managed to win the Helix Highlander Cup for the second time in three years. In quadruple overtime, Field Hockey beat Valley Center 1-0 in sudden-death shootouts to solidify their League position.

This year, every Del Norte sport has continued to achieve excellence and surpass already high expectations.

8

SPORTS

NEW BEGINNINGS

BY MASON SHIELDS

AP Studio Art teacher Patrick Coleman has now taken on another major leadership role as the new Head Varsity Football Coach. First and foremost, Coleman’s passion for football stems from the fact that he believes that the sport of football provided the environment for him to be the successful person that he is today.

He believes participation in athletics also gave him core values such as hard-work, self-discipline, and a team-first mindset. As the leader of the football program, Coleman has taken it upon himself to build this “team first” environment and develop players that can be known as leaders both academically and socially within the classroom settings.

A dedicated teacher and coach

9

who spends his time after school juggling practice with his teaching responsibilities, Coleman has already began preparing for the upcoming season by conducting voluntary spring and summer workouts four days a week as well as holding camps.

Regarding the pressure of this new position, he says, “I don’t know if there is outside pressure. But I have a lot of high self-expectations that I place upon myself. There are lots of players who dedicate their lives to this sport and I want to give them as much success as I can.”

These high expectations have come from holding multiple coaching positions at schools like Madison, University City, and Oceanside High Schools for a total of 17 years.

Winning a state title has been the pinnacle of his career as coach thus far. Additionally, Coleman has built up a resume of his own as an AllState Linebacker in Colorado and as a collegiate football player at Wisconsin University. Because he knows the nuances of the game from first-hand playing experience, Coleman wants it to be clear what skills are required for each position. Looking down the road to next year, Coleman plans on building upon the Del Norte football tradition by achieving a winning season, beating all Poway Unified rivals, and eventually finishing the season by becoming League and C.I.F. Champions.

THE TALON

SPORTS

COLLEGE SPORTS PLAYERS

BY NOAH BROWN We have compiled a list of all graduating seniors who will be continuing with sports in college.

FOOTBALL QUENTON MEEKS School: Stanford University Division: Division 1 MONTRICE JOHNS School: New Mexico State Division: Division 1

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL KAYLA EVANS School: UC San Diego Division: Division 2 HAILEY GORDON School: Vanguard University Division: Division 1

FIELD HOCKEY MAKENNA GREWE School: University of Iowa Division: Division 1

CROSS COUNTRY EVAN JAMESON School: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Division: Division 1 CARISA DEKALB School: Norwich University Division: Division 3

BOYS LAX JACK SIEGER School: Norwich University Division: Division 3

ACROBATICS & TUMBLING ANNA WEB School: Baylor University

THE TALON

BOYS SOCCER

TRACK & FIELD

CHRISTIAN DEGUZMA N School: UC Santa Cruz Division: Division 3

EVAN JAMESON School: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Division: Division 1

ROLLER HOCKEY TATU KUNTO School: Miramar College Team: Gulls 18AAA North American Ice Hockey in Prospect Hockey League

GIRLS SOCCER DOMINIQUE DILLER School: Lipscomb University Division: Division 1

RUGBY MAKAI CLEARWATER School: Brigham Young University Division: Division 1

SOFTBALL BRYN BURROS School: University of San Diego Division: Division 1, West Coast Conference

SWIMMING ALLIE CARTER School: Pepperdine University Division: Division 1 SYDNEY SCHUETTE School: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Division: Division 1 CHRISTIAN LEON School: UCSD Division: Division 2

BOYS TENNIS Name: Peter Trhac School: Palomar Community College Division: National Division, Southern Conference

CHEERLEADING JULIANNA YOO School: University of San Diego

BASEBALL

DANCE

ADAM CONNORS School: Concordia University Division: NAIA Division 2 BRYAN KIMBRELL School: Westmont College Division: NAIA Division 1

MEGAN ARNOLD School: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Division: Division 1 Jazz

10

SPORTS

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

BY JOHNATHAN LANSANG We asked Del Norte athletes to described their most memorable moments this past 2014-2015 season. Here’s what they said.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

GIRLS TENNIS

Beating Westview was probably the most memorable game of our season.

Jill Innumerable (11)

Our most memorable moment was probably at our last home game. When most of the matches were done all the teammates gather around the last court and cheer on the last match. It is extremely memorable because cheering as a team is when everyone gets super close and win or lose you made a lot of great memories.

Aimee Han (10)

BOYS SOCCCER When we went on a six game winning streak without getting scored on once.

Eddie Gomez (12)

CROSS COUNTRY

Being less than a point behind LCC at one meet was the most memorable because they have been our biggest competition for the past couple of years and to get so close was just really exciting and gave us hope.

Lindsey Kang (11)

For me, the most memorable part of cross country was standing at the end of the races and cheering my team on.

It was great watching my teammates push themselves to the limits and cross the finish line knowing they put everything they could into the race.

Tierney Hambleton (12)

FIELD HOCKEY

BOYS WATER POLO

GYMNASTICS

The most memorable moment of this season was the day that we won League. We had a game in Valley Center and we knew that if we won, we had the League title. The game went into overtime, then into the round of shootouts. We were all so happy when we finally won because we worked so hard all season, and have been waiting for this since last year.

Savannah Kennedy (11)

In our final game before CIF’s started, I made the game winning goal when the ball went to the bottom right corner of the goal, past the goalie, and our team was able to then place in a higher seed in CIF’s.

Takuma Maruo (12)

BOYS BASKETBALL Beating San Dieguito Academy to win in overtime.

Mason Shields (11)

BOYS VOLLEYBALL The most memorable moment of volleyball for me was goofing around on the bench with Kai and Murray.

Ish Verma (11)

GIRLS BASKETBALL

GIRLS GOLF

GIRLS WATER POLO

The first time we beat RB. It was one of the best moments of the season because everyone put in their best effort that day, and we were awarded with a dinner and a ride in our Coach’s limo afterwards.

Alisa Nguyen (12)

It would be when we finally beat Poway in overtime by one goal in the last few seconds.

Sara Koeck (12)

11

Definitely beating Poway for the first time in school history.

Mallie Green (12)

THE TALON

SPORTS

GIRLS LAX The most memorable moment was probably when we had an amazing game against Westview in CIF’s, and lost a heartbreaker in overtime, but still played amazing together.

Makenna Grewe (12)

TRACK AND FIELD I watched, intensely as my teammates and I competed for the League title. At the end of the meet, I learned that we had placed first in all but two events. The Del Norte Varsity Boys were straight League Champions for the fourth year in a row, and with dignity, at that. The celebration speeches had become routine, and we were on to bigger and better things. CIF championships were just around the corner; we had bigger fish to fry.

Young Woo Son (12)

FOOTBALL I would definitely say hanging on in a nail- biter against Fallbrook to win our senior night.

Parker Lappin (12)

DANCE Our most memorable moment would be dancing for Lauren Mahoney in our Spring Concert.

Megan Arnold (12)

CHEERLEADING I would have to say our most memorable moment was the cheer camp we went to over the summer. It was honestly one of the greatest weeks ever, and that’s where our team really bonded.

Juli Yoo (12)

BOYS TENNIS Our most memorable moment was last year when we won CIF’s. We struggled through some tough schools; schools

THE TALON

where the odds were not in our favor. But all of us played incredibly well, clutching the Semi-finals and Finals, ultimately winning CIF’s for the first time in Del Norte tennis history. As our number one player Peter Trhac finished off the last opponent, we all rushed onto the court filled with both disbelief and excitement.

Thomas Chin (11)

BOYS GOLF Watching my brother pass me up to become #1 on the team was the most memorable moment this season. He played better than me in most matches, won League finals and did the best at CIF’s.

Chris Wang (11)

BOYS BASEBALL We had an amazing 9-8 comeback win against Point Loma capped off by Marco Young’s walk-off home run.

Grant Hylton (11)

BOYS LACROSSE Senior night was special for many reasons. First and foremost we won the game against Olympian, the first win for our senior night in Del Norte history. Not only did we beat them, but the ceremony defied everyone’s expectation and was made that much better because of the great turnout of students and teachers there to support our team.

Parker Chin (12)

SWIM The Iron Man relay meet was definitely a memorable moment for me this season. It differed from normal meets because it only consisted of relays (two-men and coed) rather than the individual meets that we normally participate in.

Even though we were shooting for first, we came away from this meet in second and considering this being our first meet, was pretty good.

Josh Wang (11)

12

COLLEGE MAP Aftahi, Kayla - San Diego State University - San

Downs, Andrew - Santa Monica College - Santa

Diego, CA

Monica, CA

Agarwal, Aakash - University of California, Santa

Doyle, Shane - California Polytechnic State University,

Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

Alcantara, Leilani - San Diego Miramar College - San

Eide, Olivia - University of Washington - Seattle, WA

Diego, CA

Elizondo, Eric - St. Louis University - St. Louis, MO

Alegre, Joey - University of Southern California - Los

Eugenio, Cailah - University of California, Irvine -

Angeles, CA

Irvine, CA

Alsaied, Ammar - San Diego State University - San

Evans, Kayla - University of California, San Diego -

Diego, CA

San Diego, CA

Andrews, Murray - University of California, Berkeley

Fallentine, Leilani - Brigham Young University, Hawaii

- Berkeley, CA

- Laie, HI

Arambulo, Maui - University of California, San Diego

Fang, Angela - University of California, Berkeley -

- San Diego, CA

Berkeley, CA

Arnold, Griffin - Brigham Young University, Idaho -

Feringa, Ryan - St. Edward’s University - Austin, TX

Rexburg, ID

Friedl, Ben - University of San Diego - San Diego, CA

Arnold, Megan - California Polytechnic State

Gallanagh, Catherine - Deferred/Travel - Clemson

University, San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

University - Clemson, SC

Balisi, Nicole - California State University, San Marcos

Gilbert, Gillian - Portland State University - Portland,

- San Marcos, CA

OR

Barmettler, Hayden - University of California, San

Glatt, Abby - California State University, San Marcos

Diego - San Diego, CA

- San Marcos, CA

Bennett, Nooah - University of Washington - Seattle,

Glover, Hannah - Occidental College - Los Angeles, CA

WA

Gordon, Hailey - Vanguard University of Southern

Betancourt, Chelsea - California State University, San

California - Costa Mes, CA

Marcos - San Marcos, CA

Green, Malachi - Loyola Marymount University - Los

Blankenship, Katie - Dominican University of Califor-

Angeles, CA

nia - San Rafael, CA

Grewe, Makenna - University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA

Borer, Kyle - California Polytechnic State University,

Grossman, Courtenay - John A. Logan College -

San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

Carterville, IL

Borowy, Alexandra - University of California, Santa

Guilding, Maddie - University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa,

Cruz - Santa Cruz, CA

AL

Brennan, Mackenzie - California Polytechnic State

Harris, Brooklyn - Grand Canyon University - Phoenix,

University, San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

AZ

Bretschneider, Kara -- University of Washington -

Hasell, Eddie - Boston College - Boston, MA

Seattle, WA

Hoffman, Brendan - San Diego State University - San

Broberg, Mallory - George Mason University - Fairfax,

Diego, CA

VA

Hoffman, Christa - University of California, Davis -

Buccat, Randi - University of Washington - Seattle, WA

Davis, CA

Bui, Quinn - University of California, San Diego - San

Hoffman, Elisa - University of Washington - Seattle, WA

Diego, CA

Holbel, Paul - University of California, San Diego - San

Burnett, Ellie - Fashion Institute of Design and

Diego, CA

Merchandising - San Diego, CA

Hu, Leeann - University of California, Berkeley -

Bustria, Jenna - California State University, San

Berkeley, CA

Marcos - San Marcos, CA

Jackson, Jourdan - California Polytechnic State

Calo, Cristina - San Diego Miramar College - San

University, San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

Diego, CA

Jakubowski, Kourtney - University of Alabama -

Carff, Robby - University of South Carolina - Columbia,

Tuscaloosa, AL

SC

Jayaraman, Vaibhav - University of California,

Casadona, Matt - California Polytechnic State

Berkeley - Berkeley, CA

University, San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

Jimenez, Roma - California State University, San

Casebolt, Geneva - University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ

Marcos - San Marcos, CA

Casey, Thomas - University of California, Santa

Joseph, Addison - University of Washington - Seattle,

Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

WA

Chauvin, Jason - California Polytechnic State

Juan, William - University of California, Irvine - Irvine,

University, San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

CA

Chhugani, Karishma - University of California,

Jung, Celeste - Pratt Institute - Brooklyn, NY

Riverside - Riverside, CA

Jung, Marie - University of California, Davis - Davis,

Childers, Andrew - University of California, Santa

CA

Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

Jung, Michael - University of California, Los Angeles -

Clements, Kayden - Bethany College - Lindsbord, KS

Los Angeles, CA

Connors, Adam - Concordia University - Portland, OR

Kakihara, Mikayla - Colorado Christian University -

Cortes, David - University of Washington - Seattle, WA

Lakewood, CO

Cruz, Toni - University of California, Irvine - Irvine, CA

Kelchlin, Harrison - California Maritime Academy -

D’Souza, Hailey - University of San Diego - San Diego,

Vallejo, CA

CA

Kerai, Vern - San Diego State University - San Diego,

de Anda, Jiselle - University of California, Riverside -

CA

Riverside, CA

Kidwell, Dillon - San Diego State University - San

Deguzman, Christian - University of California, Santa

Diego, CA

Cruz - Santa Cruz, CA

Kim, James - The School of Artisan Food - Notting-

DeKalb, Carisa - Norwich University - Northfield, VT

hamshire, United Kingdom

Dessert, LeAnna - Purdue University - West Lafayette,

Kim, Jean - University of California, Berkeley -

IN

Berkeley, CA

Diller, Dominique - Lipscomb University - Nashville, TN

Kim, Terry - San Diego State University - San Diego, CA

DiPrima, Nick - Weber State University - Ogden, UT

Kindig, Austin - University of Puget Sound - Tacoma,

Doan, Christopher - University of California, San Diego

WA

- San Diego, CA

Koeck, Sara - University of Washington - Seattle, WA

Dong, Stephanie - University of California, San Diego

Kuhse, Brianna - University of Nevada, Reno - Reno, NV

- San Diego, CA

Kunto, Tatu - San Diego Miramar College - San

Dorn, Phoebe - Pratt Institute - Brooklyn, NY

Diego, CA

13

DEL NORTE COL

Congratulations Class of 2015; you have reached 31 states along with that you’ve aloways got a place in Del

SERVING OUR COUNTRY: HARRISON KELCHINCA MARITIME ACADEMY MARINE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

1 2 3 MASCOTS WEIRDEST

COLLEGE

(NIGHTHAWKS FTW)

8

8

29

13

16

SAN DIEGO SU

CAL POLY SLO

U OF WASHINGTON

UC SAN DIEGO

UC BERKELEY

MOST POPULAR COLLEGES

home of the

NIGHTHAWKS

THE TALON

COLLEGE MAP

LLEGE MAP 2015

Kurth, Hunter - San Diego Miramar College - San

Popik, Mark - University of Utah - Salt Lake City, UT

Diego, CA

Pyka, Anthony - Oregon State University - Corvallis,

Labrador, Chris - San Diego State University - San

OR

Diego, CA

Raman, Swetha - University of Southern California -

Lach, Jordan - Gonzaga University - Spokane, WA

Los Angeles, CA

Lane, Cory - University of California, Los Angeles - Los

Rennecker, Lauren - University of California, Santa

Angeles, CA

Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

Lau, Joyce - San Francisco Art Institute - San

Rojas-Domke, Maximilian - MiraCosta College -

Francisco, CA

Oceanside, CA

Lee, Jeena - Emory University - Atlanta, GA

Ross, Melanie - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem -

Lee, Joshua - Dartmouth College - Hanover, NH

Jerusalem, Israel

Lennan, Bryce - University of California, Berkeley -

Salinas, Katrina - University of California, Santa Cruz

Berkeley, CA

- Santa Cruz, CA

Li, Benjamin - University of California, Berkeley -

Santos, Matthew - University of California, San Diego

Berkeley, CA

- San Diego, CA

Li, Flora - Harvard University - Cambridge, MA

Schuette, Sydney - University of Nevada, Las Vegas -

Liu, Tony - University of California, Berkeley - Berkeley,

Las Vegas, NV

CA

Shih, Austin - University of California, Berkeley -

Lloyd, Conor - University of Oregon - Eugene, OR

Berkeley, CA

Lobo, Sean - University of California, Berkeley -

Shiller, Ari - University of California, Los Angeles - Los

Berkeley, CA

Angeles, CA

Lunardhi, Alicia - University of California, San Diego

Shin, Justin - Columbia University - New York, NY

- San Diego, CA

Shrivastava, Ashi - University of California, Santa

Lynn, Morgan - University of Southern California - Los

Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

Angeles, CA

Siaweleski, Chris - Gran Canyon University - Phoenix,

Ma, Kevin - University of California, Berkeley -

AZ

Berkeley, CA

Sieger, Jack - Norwich University - Northfield, VT

Magahis, Camille - University of San Francisco - San

Singh, Aman - University of California, Davis - Davis,

Francisco, CA

California

Makatini Sibongile - University of California, Santa

Smith, Erik - Babson College - Wellesley, MA

Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA

Son, Young Woo - New York University - New York, NY

Marin, Nathan - Northern Arizona University -

Song, Chelsea - University of California, Berkeley -

Flagstaff, AZ

Berkeley, CA

Maruo, Takuma - University of San Diego - San

Squeo, Giuliana - San Diego MIramar College - San

Diego, CA

Diego, CA

McGlone, Michael - California State University, Long

Stark, Julia - University of Florida - Gainesville, FL

Beach - Long Beach, CA

Steinberg, Rachel - University of Denver - Denver, CO

McGuire, Shannon - Gonzaga University - Spokane, WA

Stone, Reece - Gonzaga University - Spokane, WA

Medina, Becca - University of Oregon - Eugene, OR

T’Kanchi, Parisa - University of California, Santa Cruz

Meeks, Quenton - Stanford University - Palo Alto, CA

- Santa Cruz, CA

Moody, Kirsten - Northern Arizona University -

Tao, David - University of California, Berkeley -

Flagstaff, AZ

Berkeley, CA

Moody, Morgan - Sonoma State University - Rohnert

Taylor, Natalie - University of Mississippi - Oxford, MS

Park, CA

Terzioglu, Tugce - University of California, Los Angeles

Morris, Justin - University of California, San Diego -

- Los Angeles, CA

San Diego, CA

Torres, Mick - Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ

Mosteller, Jessica - Rider University - Lawrenceville, NJ

Trepanier, Zoe - Brigham Young University - Provo, UT

Muñoz, Janerys - University of California, Irvine -

Trinh, Megan - California State University, San Marcos

Irvine, CA

- San Marcos, CA

Muthukumarasamy, Ashwin - University of California,

Turner, Aidan - Pepperdine University - Malibu, CA

Berkeley - Berkeley, CA

Wade, Samantha - Northern Arizona University -

Nafez, Amer - University of California, Santa Barbara

Flagstaff, AZ

- Santa Barbara, CA

Wang, Roy - University of California, San Diego - San

Nair, Malini - University of California, Berkeley -

Diego, CA

Berkeley, CA

Webb, Anna - Baylor University - Waco, TX

Nelson, Adra - Brigham Young University - Provo, UT

Webb, Drew - Texas Christian University - Fort Worth,

Nguyen, Alisa - University of California, San Diego -

TX

San Diego, CA

Winkowski, Charles - San Diego State University - San

Nguyen, Teresa - University of California, San Diego

Diego, CA

- San Diego, CA

Wintersteen, Cat - University of Oregon - Eugene, OR

Nickolay, Amy - Texas Christian University - Fort

Woodruff, Bailey - California State University, Long

Worth, TX

Beach - Long Beach, CA

Ninberg, Jessica - University of Redlands - Redlands,

Xie, Danielle - Bryn Mawr College - Bryn Mawr, PA

CA

Yoo, Julianna - University of San Diego - San Diego, CA

Ninh, Katie - University of California, San Diego - San

Yu, Michael - University of California, Los Angeles - Los

Diego, CA

Angeles, CA

MELANIE ROSS

Noet, Madeleine - California Polytechnic State Universi-

Zhang, Casey - University of California, Davis - Davis,

HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

ty, San Luis Obispo - Cal Poly, SLO

CA

JAMES KIM

Oh, Daryl - San Diego Culinary Institute - San Diego,

Zhang, Daniel - University of California, Los Angeles

CA

- Los Angeles, CA

Pahuja, Sagar - University of Illinois at Urbana-Cham-

Zhang, Richard - Columbia University - New York, NY

paign - Urbana-Champaign, IL

Zhangada, Amie - University of California, Berkeley

Panganiban, Abeygail - University of San Francisco -

- Berkeley, CA

San Francisco, CA

Zhu, Julia - Yale University - New Haven, CT

Parrish, Austin - University of California, Davis - Davis,

Zhu, Yunheng “Daniel” - Duke University - Durham, NC

h 2 countries. But in the end, the most important thing to remember is l Norte, the Home of the Nighthawks!

MYRON CUENCA UNITED STATES NAVY CORPSMAN

GABE WIGHT UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AIRCRAFT MECHANIC

5

4

1. STANFORD TREE 2. UCSC BANANA SLUGS 3. UCSB GUACHOS 4. U OF ALABAMA ELEPHANTS 5. THE NEW SCHOOL NARWAHLS

71

32

26 2

15

15

SCIENCE, MATH, & TECHNOLOGY

UNDECIDED

BUSINESS

HEALTH & MEDICINE

SOCIAL SCIENCES

MOST POPULAR MAJORS

THE SCHOOL OF ARTISAN FOOD, UK

109

74

2

IN STATE

OUT OF STATE

OUT OF COUNTRY

WHERE DID THE NIGHTHAWKS FLOCK TO?

CA Patek, Itamar - University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA Pelletier, Ciara - Biola University - La Mirada, CA Plantier, Emily - Cornell University - Ithaca, NY

THE TALON

14

ARTS AND STYLES

THE FINAL SPIN: COLOR GUARD SENIORS

BY LEIGH LEVINSON

After giving their final concert of the year on May 29, Del Norte’s Color Guard celebrates their hard work throughout these past months and says goodbye to their amazing senior team members.

Color Guard’s final number featured Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk”. Unlike other pieces, this performance showcased a different, hip hop style and even highlighted some of the dance moves from the music video itself. Since their competition season is over, the concert was simply a way to end the year with pride as well as to relax and just have fun.

15

As the year comes to a close, the Color Guard team is also saying goodbye to an amazing group of seniors who have built the team into the successful group that they are.

Camille Magahis joined the team as a freshman, and since then, Color Guard has been a significant part of her high school career. She explains, “Being in Color Guard has opened so many opportunities for friendships not just within the team itself but in the Music Program in general.” In addition to friendships, Magahis says that, through her role as the co-captain and lieutenant, she has devel-

oped valuable leadership skills such as communication and coordination.

All six of the amazing Color Guard seniors, Camille Magahis, Annie Lee, Megan Trinh, Alicia Lunardhi, Sam Ferreira, and Parisa T’Kanchi, have been role models in the program. They have impacted their teammates by helping everyone find their passions and by creating countless memories for the entire team. Their leadership and friendship through the Marching Band and Winter Guard seasons truly defined the essence of the team.

THE TALON

ARTS AND STYLES

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD “NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM”

BY MALINI NAIR

On Thursday, June 4th, Del Norte conducted an event unique to this school: Night at the Museum.

The event involves drawing & painting, mixed media design, theater, ceramics, photography, 3D animation, web design, digital media production, internet publications, architectural design, and AP studio art classes.

Students in the various elective classes had the opportunities to showcase the original pieces they worked on throughout the trimester. Their final portfolio also served as a final exam.

Mrs. Smolonsky, our new photography teacher, comments, “The electives department was so excited for this Night at the Museum,

THE TALON

as it was our final one of the year.”

The event was an opportunity for self-expression, as students are often allowed a longer leash when making the decision of which art pieces to put on display. They prepared for the event weeks in advance, and had opportunities to pull from their work throughout the trimester to display their favorites among the many.

Mrs. Smolonsky also informed us that “The photography portion of the event was all organized by students. They plan everything from decorations to displaying their work, and some even have certain jobs for the evening to assure everything runs smoothly.”

Needless to say, all of the teachers were very proud to see their students best work on display for the public during the night. The Night also included performances from the choir, band, jazz band, wind ensemble, orchestra, flags, and more.

The year’s final showcase was a great way for the elective classes to come together and display everything they have learned throughout the trimester in their respective classes.

Even though this has been the last “Night” of the school year, the tradition will continue on with new classes of talented Nighthawks in the Fall.

16

ARTS AND STYLES

SWIRLING COLORS: VAN GOGH’S ART

BY ASHI SHRIVASTAVA

The name “Vincent Van Gogh” is not a stranger to any of us.

Whether it is in Art, History, or English classes, we have heard the name referenced several times before. Some people know him for his infamous suicide and some know him for his marvelous paintings, but not many knew him when he was still alive.

Born March 30, 1853, Van Gogh lived the majority of his life in

poverty, without any recognition for his immense talent. It was not until 1901, eleven years after his death, when 71 of Van Gogh’s paintings were displayed in an art gallery in Paris. This exposure shot Van Gogh to stardom and he became the most well-known Dutch Rembrandt painter of all time.

Although Van Gogh was never famous for his art when he was alive, he still continued to paint because it was what he loved to do. Art kept him sane, much like our favorite hobbies help keep us balanced. Van Gogh may have gone through numerous illnesses and struggles in his life, but the one thing that was consistent for him was his love for all things

art-related.

Van Gogh’s passion for the arts leaves a massive impact on all who delve into his history as an artist.

Personally, Van Gogh inspires me to do what I love and pursue my dreams through the obstacles that might hinder me and make me want to give up on pursuing what it is I love. Whether it is paintings like “Starry Nights” or “Potato Eaters”, I don’t think I will be looking at Van Gogh’s art quite the same way. Instead of a brilliant swirl of colors, I’ll also see the hidden pain and sadness that Van Gogh encountered in his lifetime. However, nothing could mask the true love of art that can be seen through his countless colorful masterpieces.

ART BY OUR VERY OWN: VINCENT VAN GOGH

PASSING THE TORCH: DANCE SENIORS

BY JOSHUA LEBOW

As Del Norte’s Dance Team prepares to pass the torch from their graduating seniors to their rising seniors, they look back on the school year and reflect on the performances they have given for the student body.

According to Dance Captain Megan Arnold (12), the current coaches Sharaya and Hailey will continue in the same positions next year. But after current captains, Lexi Sweiss (12) and Arnold, graduate, Sam Dunlap (11) and Justin Pham (11) will take over as next year’s captains.

As the current captains reflect on this year’s most cherishable moments, they also think back to what makes dance most enjoyable to them.

Arnold and Sweiss tell us that, “We most enjoyed choreographing danc17

es in all different styles because it is very rewarding to see how the dance team’s hard work has paid off in concert.”

“A Night on the Town” took place on May 14th and 15th, inviting Nighthawks from all grades to witness dances to “rat pack songs”. They had prepared for the concert from January to May, practicing every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 PM along with some additional practices.

Arnold says the concert performance “turned out really well” and there was a “great audience turnout”. The team believed that it was the “best performance” yet.

Throughout the year, the team had the opportunity to showcase their dances during pep rallies and football games. According to

Arnold, the “team’s love for Beyonce” influenced their song choice during these performances, and many routines were choreographed to the sassy rhythm of Beyonce’s music.

Overall, the seniors of the dance team seem to have grown and learned a lot from the experience.

Dance Senior Kara Bretschneider (12) tells us that being on the dance team has helped her to “develop more confidence” She has “also learned that perfection is not an attainable goal.

So there you have it, Nighthawks. We’ll miss the 2015 seniors next year, and dance will undoubtedly never be the same without them, but we are sure that the dance team will continue to amaze us with new leadership, new songs, and new moves.

THE TALON

ARTS AND STYLES

AND THE CURTAIN FALLS: THEATER SENIORS

BY ASHI SHRIVASTAVA

The seniors of Del Norte’s Performing Arts Department are getting ready to bid the stage farewell, but not without a final bow. The stage has become a home to these seniors, so it is with bittersweet sadness that they leave their acting careers at Del Norte but also with excitement that they start new adventures in their future homes.

Zoe Trepanier has been a part of the Drama Department for all 4 years, but that is nothing compared to her overall acting career of 13 years. The stage has made her more self-confident and has taught her how to “think on [her] feet” since there’s no stage without a little improv. And although she’ll miss her favorite Del Norte play, Pirates of Penzance (2013), in which she acted in the ensemble cast, she’s ready to move forward and step into the Drama Department at Brigham Young University, Utah.

Much like Trepanier, Brennan Bunn has also been a part of the Drama Department for the 4 years of his high school life but he “never started acting or directing in main stage shows until junior year”. He had the honor of playing the part of Professor Faber in Fahrenheit 451 (2014) and that left a lasting impression on him because of his love for literature.

Bunn’s love for the stage reflects in the many things that he’s learned from being behind the curtain. He has learned to be “fearless” and said that the “interesting situations” he’s been put in has motivated him to “break down a lot of insecurities” that he previously had. Bunn is excited to learn more from the stage as he completes his double major in Theater and Film Studies at Seattle University in Washington.

Unlike Bunn and Trepanier, Liam Dryden’s acting career at Del Norte started at the beginning of this

year. His favorite play, The Wedding Singer (2015), inspired him to continue learning how to “manage time efficiently” and “become more social” as he continues acting at Miramar Community College before transferring to University of California at San Diego.

Trepanier, Bunn, and Dryden will look back on Del Norte’s Drama Department with nostalgia as they miss the friends they have made and the stage they’ve grown on. But it is only good memories they take with them, such as Bunn’s favorite memory of a “group of guys singing ‘Dancing Queen’ by ABBA before a show just to get pumped up.”

While these are only a few of the talented Nighthawks leaving Del Norte’s Performing Arts Department, others include: Nick DiPrima, Cory Lane, Aidan Turner, Maddie Parker, Shane Doyle, Julie Millay, and Eric Elizondo.

BRENNAN BUNN

LIAM DRYDEN

ZOE TREPANIER

THE TALON

18

FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT: BLACK CULTURE CLUB

BY HANNAH GLOVER

Originally called the Black Student Union (BSU), Del Norte’s Black Culture Club’s (BCC) presence has impacted the school for several years. The club transformed from the BSU to the BCC with the arrival of history teacher Paris Brown, who serves as the current Faculty Advisor of the club. Brown says the mission statement of the club is to "educate anyone who wants to learn about black culture and to bring awareness about issues having to do with African-Americans here in America."

A recent group effort to bring awareness to these issues was the installation of “wanted” posters featuring African-Americans who were killed as a result of police brutality.

Club president LaTreiell Scott reflects on the effects of the project: "We got some negative tweets and some staff complaints, but we also had a bunch of teachers who were in support of the posters and thought it was a good way to spread awareness.”

Keeping to their original goal of education, the BCC held an infor-

19

mal lunchtime meeting following the demonstration to ensure that staff and students alike had the opportunity to understand the purpose behind the posters. Brown explains, "There was a full classroom of students and about 12 staff members.” One of the topics of the meeting was to defend against some of the more negative responses to the posters. Scott recounts, “We explained that we weren’t targeting law enforcement, but that we were simply telling people what was happening.”

One of the primary obstacles that faces the BCC is misunderstanding. This is why education and awareness is such an important part of their club. According to Brown, “The African-American population comprises about 2% of the Poway School District. There are a lot of things that students may not know about African-Americans because their information may come from the news or other similar sources, so we really want to demonstrate that that picture is not who we are.”

The BCC itself is an inclusive club which advocates unity. Its fifteen current members represent several different ethnicities, including Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and Caucasian. According to Scott, “the most important thing about the club is the unity between all cultures."

In sync with this message is their next project, which is to merge with other culture-centric clubs around Del Norte and create a Multicultural Club, which would ideally get on the club roster next year. The anticipated Multicultural Club has been having forums for the past 3 weeks, with Mr. Brown, Mr. Mizel, and Ms. Dafoe all aiming towards the establishment of the club.

The BCC is also working on putting on a Multicultural Festival in August that would showcase the diverse array of cultures that make up Del Norte.

For more information on The BCC or The Multicultural Club, contact LaTreiell Scott at latreiellcheriamor@gmail.com.

THE TALON

FEATURES

SPOTLIGHT: GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE

BY HANNAH GLOVER

Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club has existed at Del Norte for the entirety of the school’s six years. Biology teacher Julie Cheskaty has been the advisor of GSA since its inception, when two students approached her about starting the club. Cheskaty remembers, “they said I was the third person they came to about being a possible advisor. They were like, ‘you’re the third person we’ve talked to and everyone else already has clubs’ and I asked, ‘did anyone send you my way?” Cheskaty recounts that the students said no, and that she responded wittingly, “Well, you found the lesbian on campus!”

It was a memorable beginning for such an important club. GSA provides a supportive environment where LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning) students can connect and find acceptance among their peers. However, Del Norte’s GSA membership has “fluctuated”, according to Cheskaty.

She says, “We have had times where there are 15-20 people in here, but there have also been times where there are 3-4. Most of the time it is a smaller number.”

Del Norte’s LGBTQ community is not as small as the club’s membership might make it appear.

Club President Madison Harden says, “There are a lot of people in the LGBTQ community at our school who are very open about who they are, and will stand-up for themselves and those around them who can’t do it for themselves.” Cheskaty feels that these individuals haven’t joined GSA because Del Norte staff and students

THE TALON

have “built a community that is accepting” and that “people feel so comfortable on this campus” without the necessity for a designated club.

However, even though things have tangibly improved for LGBTQ

students here at Del Norte, the national issue remains critical. GSA’s annual Day of Silence demonstration has been a consistent project for the club. The Day of Silence is important because “gay, lesbian, trans, questioning, and bi individuals are silenced because people feel they should hide that part of who they are.” Cheskaty continues, “Oftentimes people who are honest about that part of themselves are humiliated and bullied. Religious faith and fear can often keep people silenced, so that day is there to recognize them.”

Cheskaty speculates that “the campus needs an overarching club

that is more about human rights for all people.” This club would ideally encompass multiple issues in addition to being specifically focused on LGBTQ rights. However, GSA is still an impactful part of Del Norte culture. Part of the reason why clubs like GSA are so important is because they remind people of the responsibility each of us has to stand up for others and fight for equality. Harden says, “Students should still be joining GSA because there are still plenty of our classmates that need an environment where they feel safe to talk and where everyone can build a better sense of community with all genders, and sexualities.”

Harden adds that Cory Lane, the Vice President of GSA has had a huge role in having the club be heard by the student body. Lane, graduating this year, reflects on his time in GSA: “When I was a sophomore, the president of the GSA left her “throne” halfway through the year. It was a huge learning curve to take her spot that year and then the subsequent year. Coming to a new environment, I was not very excited to explain to everyone that I had two moms, but the GSA helped me be more open about myself and more open minded to the LGBTQ community. I am so proud to see Maddie come out of her shell and take the leadership position.

She knows I will be there if she ever needs any advice!”

To find out more about GSA and how to get involved, contact Madison Harden at delnortehsgsa@gmail.com

20

FEATURES

TRUE TALES OF THE ORCH-DORKS

BY FLORA PARK

You sometimes see them around school. The “orch-dorks”, with their violin cases and cello stoppers and sometimes, very rarely, well-rosined bows in hand. Passersby may praise these students as they pass through Del Norte’s halls; however, there are some musicians among our flock who go unnoticed, for they display their talents in orchestras outside of school.

Students like Austin Nguyen (10) are involved in both in-school orchestra and out-of-school orchestra.

Along with the school’s orchestra, which he says is more related to creating bonds and relationships, Nguyen also participates in the New Youth Orchestra, which focuses more on building up technical skills. “School orchestra provides a more laid-back approach to learning music. Even though I haven’t really experienced that much of outside orchestra yet, I can safely say that outside orchestra is more strict and requires more dedication.” He states, “in terms 21

of rewards, they both give different kinds of experiences. School orchestra gives a family kind of feel to it and shows students how to communicate through music. Outside orchestra is more based on education and interpretation.”

Some other individuals prefer to only participate in outside-school orchestra. Hyunjae Lee (10) participated in school orchestra in middle school, but now is only involved in the New Youth Orchestra program (the same program as Nguyen). He describes the levels of competitiveness as very different between in-school orchestras and out-of-school orchestras.

According to Lee, “Outside orchestra [is] more competitive and the pieces [are] more difficult… the conductor is able to pay more attention to each individual due to the more focused attention on building skills.”

Similarly, Jimmy Zhou (10) is involved with the San Diego Youth Symphony but not with the Del Norte orchestra. He previously

performed with the Black Mountain Middle School Orchestra and experienced a difference in the difficulty level of the pieces between middle school and outside orchestra: “Outside orchestras challenge the individual to take more commitment into their musical career and allow for a more advanced experience than you would get inside a school orchestra,” he exclaims, “there is less room for mistake[s] and the difficulty of the pieces that are performed are on a different level from middle school orchestra.”

Overall, both orchestras provide a place where students interested in music can interact and improve their skills. Both require a tremendous amount of dedication and are not easy activities to be involved in.

Next time you see an “orch-dork”, remember the level of hard work they put in—whether in school or out of school!

THE TALON

FEATURES

DEBUNKING THE DN COLLEGE MYTH

BY FLORA PARK

When you ask a typical Del Norte student about what college they want to go to, they’ll usually answer with well-known names such as “Harvard”, “Stanford”, or “MIT”.

More unique answers might even include names like “Northwestern”, “UPenn”, or “University of Washington”. No matter what the response, one thing’s for sure: most students avoid the words “community college” like the plague.

But does community college deserve this reputation?

According to Mr. Roty, a Del Norte student counselor, absolutely not: “I would actually argue for a lot of students that it is a better place,” he says. “You get a fresh start. For the kids that struggled in high school, it is an opportunity to have a blank slate and start over. Many kids end up doing significantly better in community college than they did in high school.”

Mr. Roty argues that many students have misconceptions about community college in general, most likely because of the particularly competitive and elite nature of Del Norte. Far from being the place

THE TALON

where dreams go to die, community colleges offer great opportunities. As Mr. Roty says, they might even be better for some careers, like a mechanic or graphic designer. “There a lot of programs [Certificate automotive programs, print screening, etc.] that cater to careers that don’t need a four year degree. Many programs have $45 units while at a four year, classes are $1000-$2000.”

The lower price tag alone often makes community college the wise choice, particularly if students don’t have a specific four-year college in mind, or if they want to reapply for their dream school after successfully completing community college.

“The kids that don’t get into the school of their dreams have a better opportunity to get there through community college,” Mr. Roty states.

“To me, that is a way better opportunity than attending a school they aren’t in love with”.

Social Science teacher Mr. Curry agrees. He strongly encourages students to consider community college when deciding which college they want to attend. “There shouldn’t

be a sigma for going to a community college. Economically speaking, it’s probably the thing you should do,” he says.

According to Mr. Curry, community college is more financially stable than four year universities: “You get to pick and choose different courses under the general education umbrella, so you can figure out your major without taking an economic hit. At a four year, if you change your major, you may be there another year and you’ll be paying another year of that school’s tuition. Community college gives you more options.”

The stigma around community college is widespread, but what you hear isn’t always the truth. Community college can be an effective springboard to use in getting into your dream school, and it is a great way to not economically drain yourself while trying to go to college. However, as Mr. Roty says, “Ultimately what it comes down to... [is] that the school doesn’t have to get the career; it’s you.

You should go to a place that is going to help you pursue your ultimate goal.”

22

FEATURES

ADVICE FROM DEL NORTE’S PAST CLASSES

BY HANNAH GLOVER Del Norte’s Classes of 2012, 2013, and 2014 have been there, done that when it comes to all of the challenges that Class of 2015 are about to face. As we venture off into the rest of our lives, let’s take a moment to listen to the wisdom of those who have already overcome many of these impending obstacles.

IT’S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR PLAN! “I applied to Berkeley as a mechanical engineering student and recently changed my plans. Sitting in my intro engineering class freshman year, I realized that I just wasn’t as excited about the subject as everyone sitting around me. I loved my physics and math classes but didn’t enjoy studying how to build things. I’m studying physics not because it has any practical applications to anything I’d want to do after graduation, but because I find it a really beautiful and intellectually stimulating subject. I discovered economics freshman year as well, and fell in love with the way the subject tries to boil down all the complexity and nuance of human behavior and society to (mostly) simple models.”

Sahil Chinoy - Physics and Economics Del Norte Class of 2013 - UC Berkeley Class of 2017

KEEP AN OPEN MIND “Keep yourselves open, even to things you don’t think you would ever be able to do. I never thought I would be studying physics, but I love the coursework more than any other class. You have no idea what you will enjoy studying and no idea what you will be good at, not yet.”

Clifton Whittaker - Physics and Political Science Del Norte Class of 2012 - Whittier College Class of 2016

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF “I wasn’t prepared for the amount of responsibility I had to take for my academics. No professor is going to tell you to go to class, do your homework, or bring a scantron the day of the test. It’s all on you. You have to take initiative and go to class, ask questions, and attend office hours if you still don’t understand.”

Rachel Gearhart - Marine Biology Del Norte Class of 2014 - UC Santa Barbara Class of 2018

FRIENDS CAN BE FOREVER! “It can be scary to love the people you’re close with now, because you might feel like there’s no way you can keep them around. It’s true, it will be harder to stay close to them, and it might be sad at times, but it’s 100% possible to stay emotionally close with those people, and you will never ever regret trying, because there is nothing more special or necessary than people who you care about.”

Anissa Riviere - Industrial Design Del Norte Class of 2013 - Rhode Island School of Design Class of 2017

FOR THOSE MOVING OUT OF CALI “Don’t buy winter jackets for fashion reasons if you’re actually experiencing winter. Just get a nice one that actually keeps you warm and wear it every single day. Wear a hat every day if you’re in the snow or you WILL get a cold and be sad.”

Anissa Riviere 23

THE TALON

FEATURES

2011 2012

2013 2014 ART BY CHELSEA SONG

BE YOURSELF! Be true to who you are. This is where you will find who your friends truly are and what kind of person you actually are.

Madison Hughes - Kinesiology Del Norte Class of 2012 - Biola University Class of 2016

GET A TATTOO OF THIS QUOTE! “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Pretty sure this quote is from the Bible.

It’s one of those things that I think is super important and worthy of constant reminder. 10/10 would recommend a tattoo of this if anyone is thinking of getting a tattoo.”

Barry Yang - Business Economics Del Norte Class of 2014 - UC Los Angeles Class of 2018

GO TO CLASS I don’t care if you’re hungover, exhausted or throwing up. Just show up. If you’re sick they’ll send you home (this happened to me twice).

Lauren Wendell - Political Science and International Relations Del Norte Class of 2014 - University of Nevada, Reno Class of 2017

PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE “Socially, I love how wide of a network college gives you - you come to be acquainted with so many people, and it feels very comfortable to reach out to friends of friends for favors or questions or whatever you might need. I was actually just talking to a friend about this today, and she was saying that because of how much access you have to people, there’s really no better time to do something than in college.”

Jessica Zhou - Biomedical Engineering Del Norte Class of 2013 - University of Southern California Class of 2017

KEEP IN MIND: Your world becomes so much bigger and so much more wondrous from here on out - make sure you have fun and take the time to appreciate everything along your path. You’ve got plenty of time, by the way, so you shouldn’t feel the pressure to rush anything. Also, think about what your goals are so that you can live your life meaningfully by having a direction to work towards.

Jessica Zhou With these words from those who have experienced everything that we are about to embark on, we will be more prepared for what is to come. As we leave this place that we have called home for the last four years, good luck: Class of 2015.

THE TALON

24

FEATURES

SENIOR QUOTES “High school is like a Nissan 240SX. When things aren’t running well it sucks, but when it’s running well and things are going great, it’s priceless.”

- Anthony Rooks “Nothing in high school really turned out how I expected it to at all, but looking back I can see that’s actually a good thing because I learned so much along the way.”

- Ciara Pelletier “If I were to reflect on my whole high school experience it would be an essay, but in simpler terms I truly found myself ”

- Iqbal Badar “If you are not making someone else’s life better, you’re wasting your own time.”

- Nazir Noori “It doesn’t take a license to drive a sandwich.”

- Morgan Lynn “Ball is life.”

- Christa Hoffman “I had a couple of friends in high school. And by a couple I mean my parents.”

- Kylie Rogers “High School has been the wildest ride of my life, and an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.”

- Murray Andrews

SENIOR ADVICE “The sooner you act like yourself, the better high school will be>”

- Christian Thomas “There’s more to life from high school. A lot of things that are important to you now will stop being important when you get into the real world.”

- Cat Wintersteen “We live in a bubble. My advice is to take your pinky toe, stick it outside of the bubble, and get a feel for what the real world is.”

- Hanna Aabram “Our teachers work really hard, so please respect them” Disrespecting teachers doesn’t make you cool.”

- Leilani Alcantara

25

THE TALON

OPINIONS

YOU (DON’T) SNOOZE, YOU LOSE

BY LIVIA KE

In the whirlwind that is high school--tests, grades, extracurriculars, sports, club participation, friends, life--it is no wonder that the average day of a typical teenager is crammed.

However, sometimes the activities from a teenager’s day spill over into the night; more specifically, those activities dig into the precious and sacred commodity that is commonly referred to as sleep. In particularly rigorous high schools, such as Del Norte, sleep loss and insomnia are an increasing problem.

Although not normally considered a cause for concern with teens, sleep deprivation can have devastating consequences. Some of these effects include acne and skin problems, mood swings, and general drowsiness, but more serious cases of sleep loss can lead to cognitive impairment, and, for those students who get behind the wheel every day, can increase the risk of car accidents.

Usually, sleep loss happens to students with more advanced classes, mainly students taking three or more Advanced Placement (AP) classes at a time. This is especially common for sophomores with multiple AP’s, as they have not had a chance to adjust to the sudden onslaught of work that an AP class demands after a relatively forgiving freshman year. However, adjusting freshmen are also susceptible to reduced sleep time. Michelle Liu (9), says that while middle school

THE TALON

allowed for some slacking off, high school demands hard work, regardless of the number of AP classes a student carries. Junior year is usually considered the most challenging academic year for students. And although it seems like seniors have it easy, they must also keep their grades up, often taking as many AP’s as they did the previous year.

Multiple extracurricular activities also cause students to suffer from loss of sleep. Students involved in many clubs or sports can find

themselves with overloaded schedules, often not returning home until late evening. This leaves barely enough time to finish homework and get a decent amount of shut eye. Jacqueline Vo (10), says that her involvement in Color Guard, which has rehearsals from 6-9 on Mondays and sectionals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, is a lot to balance on top of her classes.

Of course, a major factor in

sleep loss is simply that of procrastination. Returning home from a long day of school, it is tempting to take a break--or twenty. Social media sites and other apps can seem like the call of a siren when compared to the piles of homework students receive daily.

Binging on the endless comedic gifsets that Tumblr has to offer is much more appealing than the banality of worksheets and textbook readings.

When asked for ways the school can help out, many students suggested a period during the school day devoted solely to homework. It was pointed out that tutorial could be used for this homework purpose; however, some club meetings and athletic practices are held during the school-wide scheduled tutorials. One student jokingly suggested a period for sleeping, which was quickly seconded.

Sleep loss and insomnia are serious problems that can lead to health issues, but many students have learned how to cope. Parker Shyu (10), says that he likes to break down his homework and tackle each problem individually. Arianna Asgari (10) says that she gives herself small rewards for completing each task, as well as breaks between each subject.

Whatever the method, juggling school and extracurriculars is not impossible—find something that works for you, and make sure to catch plenty of ZZZ’s.

ART BY CHELSEA SONG

26

OPINIONS

THE CANDIDATES 2

BY DANIEL S

Hillary Clinton: oh man, what a candidate. Even though certain scandals in her career as First Lady, Senator, or Secretary of State would break any lesser politician, she has always prevailed, and will likely continue to do so as she faces the criticism surrounding her presidential candidacy. She is, for good reason, the highest-profile presidential candidate and political veteran there is.

The Clintons are a bastion of American elections. Their presence has been felt since Bill, Hillary’s lesser half, became district attorney of Arkansas, was elected as Governor, and transitioned to two infamous terms in the White House. Then, their influence increased when Hillary became a U.S. Senator, ran gracefully (but unsuccessfully) for President in 2008, and served as Secretary of State. Throughout this time, scandals from across the globe permeated and threatened to destroy both Clintons’ political careers. Perhaps you remember Whitewater, where the couple was accused of financial fraud in their real estate investments, or Benghazi, where Hillary was accused of a lapse of judgment in securing embassy security for her diplomats in Libya. These scandals may appear unforgivable, but as with any figureheads with a legacy-- nay, a dynasty-- on their shoulders, nothing less can be expected. This couple has rammed into every high office there is, and understandably, that creates uncertainty. They are

27

the top guns with the ammunition of ten million rounds of political influence and good ol’ American freedom, and, in a way, it’s beneficial that the media follows up with their activities, if only for the sake of educating the masses. But, however well intended, one truth remains: power invites scrutiny.

Then, there’s the politics.

Ted Cruz, a Republican presidential candidate, said that she “embodies the culture of corruption in Washington.” Jeb Bush criticized her for controlling her campaign and denying answers to most journalists. Not exactly scathing words (for at least some candidate can be civil), but interesting ones nonetheless. The focus of this election, like all other elections, will again be on Democrat versus Republican and stances on issues like abortion and federalism.

However, the Clinton dynasty, and many would say the Bush dynasty as well, adds a heightened interest to the entire election season. Political opponents have engaged in power plays and dirt-digging since the birth of man, but when there’ a dynasty at stake, everything seems… bigger.

As the only prominent Democratic candidate (sorry Bernie Sanders), the entire focus is on Hillary and her character, which i being bombarded day by day, and she might not survive. People will champion her fascinating, centrist approach to foreign policy (like intervening against ISIS) along with her powerful support for

THE TALON

OPINIONS

2: AGE OF CLINTON

SHEVCHUK

n

e ,

-

n

es

d y t

e ’s

n is d

t

important liberal causes (like marriage equality), and many voters will get on board because of that vision. They will probably not, however, get on because of her character. As much as I can argue for her strength and coolness, I can admit that she’s not known for having good morals. For the last two months, Saturday Night Live, a popular comedy sketch show, introduced their cold openings with the masterful Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton screeching her phoniness to “rise to the top” and over eagerness to “ascend to the highest power in the land.” Everyone knows she wants it and the scandals, in her mind, won’t get in the way.

Because of this discord, the popular belief is that you either love Hillary for her political stances or hate her for the scandals and lack of transparency.

Even a decade ago, Time magazine published a cover of Hillary Clinton with two boxes underneath and instructions to check only one: “love her” or “hate her.”

With the election drawing nearer and Mrs. Clinton’s hair graying as she approaches her 68th birthday, one thing is clear: this is the last chance she’s got. Her group of “hate-hers” is growing to be larger than supporters, and that easy victory may not be so inevitable after all. But Time may be wrong; approval ratings can change. The final result will not depend on two categories of voters, but one: Americans. And, it is up to our se-

THE TALON

niors and eventually other classes as well to help decide if Hillary Clinton is what America needs.

It’s easy for me to argue all the benefits that she can bring, but the final choice is yours, based on your beliefs, and your due diligence. Hillary can lose the election and still go into her 70’s with a bang. She’s an accomplished politician who owns a successful foundation and, partly because of all the foreign contributions, swims in moolah like Donald Duck. We “love-hers” can’t feel bad for her. And we must remember that the spirit of democracy means getting rid of all the Time checkboxes and not voting based on extremes, but understanding.

For those of you lucky enough to be able to make this historic vote, do so with the complete understanding of your true beliefs and researching what each candidate stands for. As hopeless as it may appear, vote for an independent candidate if that’s what it takes.

Remember--it’s important to acknowledge the scandals and forever question Hillary’s prowess, but understand that media bias is possible in many instances. If we realize this and further celebrate our individuality as voters, our voices as young voters will be better heard and acknowledged.

The magazine Economist predicts less political youth engagement in the near future, and that’s the opposite of where we want to be.

Clinton candidate or not, every election matters.

28

EDITORS

THE LAST “SUP”HERE?

BY REVATI THATTE

REVATI THATTE OPINIONS EDITOR

AISHWARYA KUDRIMOTI DESIGN EDITOR

29

With one final, harried night of editing, another wonderful year comes to an end for The Talon newspaper. Looking back on the amount of effort it took to produce these five amazing issues, I can honestly say that we, as a club, have come a very long way. What was previously an online publication run by a grand total of three (talented!) individuals circa 2010 is now a full-fledged student newspaper, soon to be the focus of an actual class next year. None of it would have been possible without all of the Tuesday morning meetings in Ms. Schelhorse’s classroom, the frantic nights spent revising articles on Google Drive, or the speedy sorting of freshly printed newspapers on distribution days.

I have had the pleasure of working with some ambitious individuals on the Editor Board, a group of self-driven students who really made this newspaper even possible this year. We started out on shaky ground, not completely sure that we would even be able to continue with The Talon. Thanks to the combined efforts of our

Editor-in-Chief, Section Editors, Design Team, and Club Advisers, we were able to resurrect The Talon, in a sense, and bring the familiar nostalgia of newsprint back to Del Norte High School. I must say, I look forward to finally having a class period devoted to the creation of a school newspaper; it will certainly be a relief to sleep in on Tuesdays again!

It is definitely going to be hard to see the seniors go, especially since a majority of our Board is heading off to college next year.

Our Editor-in-Chief Hannah Glover, our Design Editor Joshua Lee, our Section Editors Ashi Shrivastava, Jeena Lee, and Benjamin Li, and our Finance Managers Brian Seikkula and Andrew Childers will all be missed as they graduate this week and say their goodbyes to The Talon newspaper.

I am grateful for the amount of time and energy they all put into making this newspaper a possibility, and I look forward to working with familiar and fresh faces alike in the coming year on The Talon!

THE TALON

EDITORS

THE TALON’S GRADUATING

SENIORS HANNAH GLOVER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JEENA LEE SPORTS EDITOR

CHELSEA SONG PRINCIPAL ARTIST

JOSHUA LEE DESIGN EDITOR

THE TALON

BENJAMIN LI NEWS EDITOR

ASHI SHRIVASTAVA ARTS & STYLES EDITOR

BRIAN SEIKKULA ANDREW CHILDERS FINANCE MANAGER FINANCE MANAGER

30

and soar.