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Issue 7 2017 _Layout 1 5/31/17 7:51 PM Page 1
Choir
Prom
Missed the end- Recap the magical of-the-year choir night under the concert? Catch up moonlight on on page 3. pages 10 & 11.
Senior advice
Incoming seniors, check out page 19 for advice on how to survive next year.
La Quinta High School and the Hawkview do not discriminate on the basis of race color, national origin, gender or disability
June 2017 Volume XXII Issue 7
Hawkview La Quinta High School
Blackhawks Soar at Class of 2017 Graduation
Kayleen Sullivan Co-Editor-in-Chief
Seniors, graduation is right around the corner and we have made it through college acceptance letters, AP and IB exams, our last high school final exams, and deciding our post-grad plans. Now it’s time to enjoy the most anticipated and exciting time of the year! Graduation practice is on Monday, June 5 at 8 a.m. and Tuesday, June 6 at 8:30 a.m. in the main gym. Students are not allowed to save seats, so be sure to arrive early to sit to sit with friends. Caps and gowns will be available to pick up in the main gym after graduation rehearsals. Senior Sunset will take place on June 5 at 6:30 p.m., so head over to the field with blankets and lawn chairs behind the guest bleachers in the Blackhawk Stadium to enjoy one of the final nights with the Class of 2017. Graduation night finally arrives on June 6 and seniors must report to the main gym by 6 p.m. with their caps and gowns. Parking will be open from 5:30 p.m. and will promptly close at 6:15 p.m. This year, there are 86 senior
scholars and 16 IB diploma candidates graduating in a class of about 550 students. The ceremony will commence at 7:30 p.m. and is scheduled to end at 9:30 p.m. Kaylen Butler (12) will begin the night with the national anthem and LQHS’ JROTC will present the colors. The valedictorian and salutatorian Anna Yan and Kristel Kate Milan, respectively, will deliver speeches, as well as ASB President Matthew RomToribio and ASB Vice President Omar Flores. Principal Dr. Cook will also be giving a commencement speech. Students are able to pick up their diplomas for an hour after the graduation ceremony in the main gym. If you would rather spend that hour taking photos with family and friends, diplomas will also be available to pick up in the Attendance Office the next day. For those who will be attending Grad Night, don’t forget to be back at the school early Wednesday morning as buses will depart at 8 a.m. Congratulations to the Class of 2017!
Val and Sal Recollect Best Moments at LQ Viviana Dominguez Reporter
The Class of 2017 presents valedictorian, Anna Yan, along with salutatorian, Kristal Kate Milan, who have earned GPAs of approximately 5.1. Throughout high school, Yan was an active member for many clubs, such as the executive secretary for ASB, treasurer and then vice president for Leo Club, news editor in Key Club, co-president in Knots 4 Tots, and the founder for the Young Entrepreneurs Club. Outside of school, she also participated in World Council of the Desert as an audio visual assistant and an ambassador for Youth Town Hall. Yan will further her education as a Bruin at the University of California, Los Angeles. She plans on majoring in mathematics and economics due to her love of both disciplines. Yan has a grand finale speech prepared for the graduating class on June 6; but, the valedictorian also has a few words for next year’s seniors, “Just pull through junior and senior year. Know that junior year is not the hardest and definitely try not to procrastinate even though it’s really hard. You have priorities you don’t even know about yet. [Throughout] junior year, you have the SAT and the ACT; but in senior year, you have college apps, college visits, IB Bio, and
the IA. Try to get as much done as you possibly can.” While reflecting over the past four years, Yan stated that some of her favorite high school memories involved ASB when planning Homecoming and different events. She recalled a special moment during her sophomore year when she and her friends lined up to start the Homecoming Parade and a senior initiated the LQ chant. Salutatorian Milan will be attending the University of California, San Diego in the fall and plans on majoring in human biology. She aims to receive a doctorate degree in the medical field. When looking back on high school, she said she particularly enjoyed attending school activities like football games and dances, where she was able to spend time with her friends. Another favorite memory of hers was in TOK during the rushed 15-
minute food runs. She will miss being able to see her friends on a daily basis and having that unified feeling of a smaller community that LQHS provided. In addition to her rigorous classwork, she still found time to be involved in the school by joining Key Club, Leo Club, CSF, Knots 4 Tots, and ASB. Her positions in the clubs include treasurer, secretary, and dance coordinator. Milan has also volunteered at the Eisenhower Medical Center. To give a helping hand to the Class of 2018, Milan stated, “Perseverance is key in senior year because we all hit senioritis at one point. Make the most of your senior year. Go to a good amount of school-held events, including any sports, dances, and performances held by different clubs and organizations because it is your last year.”