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BY ALAN TAPIA

Editor

Wandering the halls of Kaneland High School, you will come across many different individuals. You will likely encounter people with whom you relate and others that you find not as relatable. But among the many people at school, some are just too likable to ignore. One such student is sophomore James Kaphengst, or Jimmy to those who know him. At first glance, Kaphengst may look like any other high schooler. He’s a five-foot-tall teenager who enjoys solving Rubik’s Cubes and isn’t particularly loud around his everyday peers. But for those who do know him, he’s a good-hearted friend and classmate who seems to radiate positivity.

“I’ll say the reason people like him is [because] he doesn’t say anything mean. He’s just a good person. He doesn’t insult you, and he doesn’t make fun of you. He just tells the truth, and he’s just a good person,” sophomore Nicholas Collins, one of Kaphengst’s best friends, said.

Other than his lovable nature, Kaphengst is known for playing the saxophone in the marching band and the bassoon (a double-reed woodwind instrument) in the wind ensemble. Jimmy also played the trombone for the jazz band in middle school and the baritone saxophone in private lessons. Unfortunately, Kaphengst’s desire to pursue other instruments meant that he had to stop playing both the trombone and baritone sax for now.

“I went to a different district in elementary school, and it had a band class in fifth grade instead of sixth. In fifth grade, I started playing the trombone and continued playing it until I reached freshman year. For the bari sax, my friend [Nicholas Collins] played it, and I thought it would be fun,” Kaphengst said.

Kaphengst also participates in other activities outside of marching band and wind ensemble. He is part of the Madrigal recorders group and used to play in the chess club but dropped out to focus on other activities.

“I used to be in the chess club, but I decided to quit very early on because of my commitment to Madrigal recorders. I initially decided to join because my friend [junior] Matt Manugas convinced me,” Kaphengst said.

Through performing in the Madrigal dinner, Jimmy has just added the recorder to the already impressive number of instruments he plays.

“[We are] a group of recorder players who play during the Madrigal dinners. A Madrigal dinner is an event where people are invited to watch the choir, brass and recorders perform. However, brass and recorders are more in the background,” Kaphengst said.

In addition to the relationships he has formed through his involvement with the Madrigals, many people in the band are also proud to call Kaphengst their friend. From freshmen and fellow sophomores to upperclassmen and section leaders, Kaphengst has built quite the reputation for being a beacon of sociability and friendliness who can also jam out on the saxophone.

“I just try to make people laugh, you know, and I try to be funny,” Kaphengst said.

More than a few people have claimed that everybody in the band likes Kaphengst in one way or another. With these many friends, Kaphengst demonstrates his unique connections with them.

“My favorite thing Jimmy and I do is our handshake. We do it all the time, and it’s something adorable we made up together. We also wave to each other excitedly every time we see each other in the hallways, and our Snapchats are hilarious,” senior and saxophone section leader Rachael Peters said.

Jimmy seems to have the same effect on his peers and teachers outside of band as well. Jimmy’s English teacher Michael Cimino is one of Jimmy’s biggest fans.

“Jimmy is always on time, and he always asks good questions that show me he cares about his work and is paying attention,” Cimino said.

Cimino appreciates Jimmy not only because of his productivity in class, but also because of how his positive attitude influences those around him.

“He is one of the most thoughtful, respectful and kind students I’ve ever had in class. I think everyone sees how genuine he is,” Cimino said.

And don’t count him out when things start to get tough. Whether it is for himself or others, Kaphengst has a knack for pushing through challenges that others may have walked away from or given up on. This quality, among so many other traits, has led to the favorable impression that his peers have of him. This has left a lasting impact on those he encounters.

“My best memory with Jimmy is when we were at marching band practice, and as we were running a set (in which the saxophones have to literally run halfway across the field), it was very slippery and Jimmy ran too fast and slid on the ground directly into his dot,” Peters recalled. “I thought this was extremely funny, and I started to laugh, but he decided to get up and continue to try to play. However, he also began to laugh, and we were just laughing extremely hard together for many minutes. He had a pretty positive attitude about the fact he just fell on his back, but he managed to continue his task while laughing.”

Kaphengst has also been described as being a bit of a risk-taker who does things for the thrill.

“We went climbing at Vertical Endeavors. Two of us had gone climbing there before. One was very excited, but Jimmy and another person were a little bit worried,” Collins said. “Jimmy did fine. He made it up the wall no problem. But there was one rule: always clip in before you let go of the line. Since it’s an automatic delay, it shoots up into the ceiling. He didn’t [clip in]. I ran over, and right before I reached him, he looked at me and just let go.”

Kaphengst has shown time and time again how much of a great friend he is, always making conversation with anyone he meets and doing his best to avoid dull moments.

“I don’t know a point in the day where he’s ever quiet. I drive him to school most mornings, and he is talking from the moment he gets into my car until the moment he gets in my car at the end of the day,” Collins said.

Like most of us, Kaphengst has just a vague idea of what he wants to pursue in the future after high school.

“I’m not quite sure about what I want to do for my career, but I’m looking at computer science,” Kaphengst said. “I’m taking computer science next year to see how I like it. However, I don’t know exactly what kind of program I want to make.”

But, like most other teens, all he wants to do after a crazy day at school is sit back and relax at home. Kaphengst enjoys spending his free time interacting with friends and being online.

“Sometimes I play Minecraft with my friends, but it’s kind of on and off. Other than that, I really just watch a bunch of Rubik’s Cube and mystery videos on YouTube,” Kaphengst said.

Altogether, the sophomore by the name of Jimmy Kaphengst is probably one of the nicest students at Kaneland High School. Don’t hesitate to give a friendly wave when you see him walking down the hall.