panorama Ladue Horton Watkins High School • 1201 S. Warson Road • St. Louis, MO 63124 • Volume 62 • Issue 10 • May 15, 2014
art by AUDREY KOCHER
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panorama
NEWS
May 15, 2014
UNTIL NEXT TIME... SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR SUPERHERO TEACHERS news editor
news editor
DAVID SONIUS
news writer
in an AP course (of which there a teacher recommendation to enroll al studsoci a as e Ladu at s year 20 lish Literature). after Eng avid Sonius is retiring were only AP U.S. History and AP us revolutionized the Soni e, Ladu at re ‘no’ to students, but to oftenu say to his ng not is Duri ts ies teacher. “Our obligation as adul prag a as ed serv es, . class nt eme ity opportunities we can,” Sonius said school’s paradigm of Advanced Plac d colleague fer them the highest qual ecte resp ly ent high perc a 82 was with and s m exam iculu matic leader of teachers and curr Last year, 514 students took 949 AP ed for more students to and teacher. ing three or higher. Sonius’ efforts allow scor is e Ther ent.’ mom e habl teac ‘the restriction at a high level. “Sonius is a walking embodiment of pursue academic challenges without g of ethin som with y awa e com t don’ I has done more to dere never an interaction with Dave whe “I cannot think of anyone at Ladue who on that I wear reas the is “He . said al studies teacher Jim Hill soci e us,” Mik her Soni value,” social studies teac mocratize education than Dave the classroom. Why? in r bette do the students he taught to of elf lives mys e the leng ged chal chan I has a tie every day, and Goldwasser said. “He carry I n.’ essio prof a it’s job, a not is g challenging classes.” Because, as Dave points out, ‘Teachin and many more who were able to take school has matured to the that with me every day.” Additionally, Sonius contends that rtant asset to the impo an been has In his time at Ladue, us ion. Soni miss tive, its crea of and Knowledgeable have a clearer understanding ed offer was us ys Soni . alike lty facu and changed his methods of teaching, alwa school as a positive voice for students es and Sonius has also continually phas early its in se cour . ent icate ernm mun Gov com the opportunity to develop the AP searching for more effective ways to a lot over the last four years even me ht taug has us Soni . shape its construction. “Mr said. “That’s really one of the most Lab teacher,” senior Sarah “I jumped on it right away,” Sonius though I have only had him as an Ac he really does er.” care my in . “He seems hard on the outside, but fortunate things that has happened in opening the AP McConnell said ntal ume instr tell.” y was us reall can Soni e, you – rienc ents After gaining this expe ired genuinely care about his stud Prior to Sonius’ arrival, students requ lenge of combining curexperience to all students at Ladue. Sonius has enjoyed the academic chal art of teaching through a THE SONIUS, THE riculum requirements with his very own ents. He will miss the stud fluid, methodical communication with LEGEND • After 20 years whom he has worked. with ents stud d interaction with the dedicate of teaching at Ladue, social bigger picture among my “There is a depth of caring about the studies teachers David Sonius There is an awareness that our students that I find very impressive. will retire at the end of this problems, and a willingness deep and society faces very significant school year. Sonius greatly ,” Sonius said. “I am very to try to find solutions to those problems impacted the AP program and the students I’ve had a chance optimistic about the future because of many students at Ladue. (Photo to work with.” « by Danielle Thompson)
D
S E N I O R
E S S A Y S
Take a look at a couple of the personalities from the Class of 2014 as they share their college essays, set on the skyline of Metropolis!
S
ince they worked overtime several hours, I rarely saw my parents growing up. I was mostly cared for Caucasian babysitters who only spoke English. Although my parents desperately wanted me to learn Mandarin, the majority of their time was consumed by work and they could not afford the tuition for me to attend secondary language school. This troublesome conflict inevitably led to a language barrier between my family, lasting several years. For so long, I wanted to break the intangible wall separating the love and trust between my family. When I entered elementary school, I was placed in Individual Educational Program classes for the first time. My English and reading skills were considered below average. As the language became more native to me, I gradually taught my parents simplified English through visuals. I would point out pictures and slowly go through words for them to pronounce. I began helping them simplify complicated paperwork and run errands with them, including filing taxes, paying household bills and reconciling bank statements. At such a young age, I learned to live independently. Throughout my whole life, I helped my parents surmount the cultural hardships of the native language that inhibit them from their way of life in America. They gave up their chance for success in Taiwan by moving to the states to provide me a foundation of a promising education. Their perseverance inspires me to be a representative of their struggles. My parents and I are unable to express the love we share for each other through words. Rather, our compassion revolves around the actions that we do for one another. «
Shu-san Lam
University of Missouri Columbia
May 15, 2014
JAN MAGERS
panorama news writer
A
fter 23 years at the high school, Spanish teacher Jan Magers plans to retire at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Magers worked as a teacher for a total of 35 years. “I enjoy working with students, and there is rarely a day when I don’t laugh at something that a student says or does,” Magers said. Magers said that she will miss seeing her friends and students on a daily basis. However, she knows that it is time for her to retire, as she has family who rely on her for support. “I have some elderly relatives who count on me for rides to doctors, and other things like that, and so it has been getting kind of hard to divide my time,” Magers said. Many of her colleagues and students will be impacted by Magers’ retirement. Spanish teacher Janice Pauken said that Magers was like a mentor to her. “When I started at Ladue six years ago, she was here with four other veteran teachers,” Pauken said. “She is the last one left. It’s going to be strange when Mrs. Magers isn’t here.” Senior Enze Chen has witnessed her teaching skills firsthand. He said that she made his class productive by creating an understandable lesson structure. “In Spanish IV, she stays on task so you know what you are supposed to do and you learn it pretty [well],” Chen said. “I like the fact that I’m actually learning [new things] every day.” But Magers does not plan to stop working in the educational field. Her husband will retire May 1, and after traveling and relaxing together, she hopes to start doing volunteer work. “There is an organization that collects supplies for students,” Magers said. “They get school supplies for students in need. I thought that I would like it because it is still in the educational field, but I don’t have to get up at 5:15 in the morning to do it.” Yet Magers knows she will take many memories and achievements with her when she leaves Ladue. She believes that her own experience of learning Spanish, as well as living in Mexico for 19 years, helped her become a better and more effective teacher. “I feel as though I have helped raise the bar on teaching,” Magers said. “I can share a lot of things with [students] about the use of the language and the people who speak it.” Overall, Magers feels satisfied with the years she has spent at Ladue. She said that teaching at the high school has enriched her life with unique memories and experiences. “I have really enjoyed my time being here,” Magers said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.” «
NEWS
EUGENE GAFFNEY
A
news editor news editor
dministrative assistant Eu gene Gaffney – lovingly referred to by the Ladue community as Gene – reti red at the end of first sem ester after having faithfully manned the parkin g lot for 16 years. The ma wishes to tell students? Tak in piece of wisdom he e advantage of the opport unities provided at Ladue, work to the best of your and abilities. “There are stories that wh en you get as old as me, you can tell and tell and but you’ll all live throug tell, h it if you’ve got good hea lth and you apply yourse you come here because you lf when ’ve got a terrific school,” Gaffney said. During his time at Ladue, Gaffney has gotten to obs erve class after class of kid pass through the halls. Ev s en in his last days worki ng at Ladue, he still has offer to the students whom advice to he has served for so many years. “Keep the mind working, keep thinking,” Gaffney said. “Always have respec for everybody, and be hon t est. It might be hard som etimes, [when] you want jiggle with the truth a litt to le bit, but stay out of tro uble. Remember that you great school and great tea ’ve got a chers.” Students loved Gene for his kindness and funny sto ries. They often brought treats and made an effort him to always say hello. “Gene is one of the nicest people I have ever met,” sophomore Hannah Demis said. “We always talked sie in the hall and he could always put a smile on my face. He told me you have one life and you should live it to the fullest.” While Gene’s words of wis dom will be missed, students, teache rs and administrators alike have internalized his bits of advice. Gene wishes Ladue students all the best in the future. “I think you’ll all do we ll,” he said. “I know you’re all just little young whipper snappers but I think you’ll all do well.” «
IT’S IN H
IS GENES. • Smiling bright ly, administrative assistant Eu gene Gaffney stands in the doorway of the fro nt office during his final week at Ladue. (Photo by Elyse Mack)
VIVA LA MAGERS • Diligently working, Spanish teacher Jan Magers focuses on delivering an engaging presentation in class. (Photo by Jenna Shanker)
Meanwhile, more seniors share their essays...
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y perfect place isn’t a single place at all, it’s four miles of them. To forgo an early morning walk is never a consideration of mine. Walking has helped me develop a strong sense of self. It provides me the time to examine my deepest, or sometimes strangest thoughts. “Would aliens arriving on Earth for the first time think that dogs or humans ruled the planet?” (After all, we are the ones carrying the poop bags.) Many times I have found myself contemplating this very essay, only to realize that walking along Bopp Road is my getaway: where I feel at ease, truly myself and perfectly content. I find great pleasure knowing I can spend that hour however I please: jamming to music or absorbing the tranquil harmony of nature; walking with my mom or my best friend Emily; beneath the gentle patter of raindrops or in the sweltering heat of the day. I am in complete control of every aspect of those four miles, something I cannot say about any other excursion. With my trusted Nikes accompanying me, I look forward to exploring the unknowns of my next path a year from now. I am confident I will find another four mile journey – a place that I can borrow and call my own, if only for an hour. «
Hannah Harpole
Southern Methodist University
T
ucked under rows of plastic-covered dresses, the large fabric basket was the perfect hiding spot for a young child. Growing up, the basket was my happy place; no one could boss me around or assign boring tasks. It allowed me to be free of any concern for my parents’ struggle with a new business. My ninth grade teacher had refused to give me an A due to a constant lack of effort on projects. The B still stung as I glared at the flimsy piece of paper, willing the grade to change before my parents saw. I shamefully showed my father the report card, feeling as if I had disappointed him. After a moment of silence, he patted my back. Shocked, I asked if I was grounded. He laughed out loud, questioning why I’d expect a punishment when I had tried my best. I was stunned. It dawned on me that what my parents wanted was not straight A’s or a perfect child – they wanted a child that would not take hard work for granted. The grades I had received had been given to me, not earned. What I had yearned for was the end result; I shied away from the work that had to be done to get there. Yet that night, I realized that trying to find the easy way out of everything, my laundry-basket-state-of-mind, never yielded an adequate sense of pride when showing my parents what I had accomplished. The only way I would feel proud of reaching achievements would be after I had worked for them. My parents have taught me that achievement is measured in effort, not applause. A drive to succeed honestly has replaced my previous desire for superficial achievement. Today at Clayton Cleaners, the laundry basket that was once an escape is now simply a linen hamper. «
Jane Lee
3
Hamilton College
4
NEWS
LOWDOWN
panorama Malaysia flight 370 disappears
May 15, 2014
2014 Sochi Olympics
Faculty Frivolities Faculty Frivolities raised more than $1,400 for the Ladue African American Student Association scholarship fund.
Science Olympiad Freshman Alexander Tan, sophomores Royce Dong, Tom Liu, Samuel Page, Rasika Sant and Ezra Umen, juniors Boyang Jiang, Yang Liu, Allison Loynd and Michael Prablek and seniors Chloe An, Enze Chen, Yunli Chu, Jialin Ding, Hou Zhang, Toby Zhu and Yu Ze Zhu placed second at the state Science Olympiad competition at the University of MissouriColumbia April 12. The team will compete at the national competition at the University of Central Florida May17.
National Honor Society officers elected Juniors Lillian Donahue, Jeanne Wilkinson, Iris Yang, Emma Sterling and YiFan Zhou were elected as president, parliamentarian, vice president, secretary and treasurer, respectively, of National Honor Society.
German Day Senior Manfred Cewe placed second in the Washington University in St. Louis German Day declamation contest April 10.
ObamaCare passes
Meanwhile, more seniors share their essays...
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irth Parents, My name is Lea Dejin Jarrett. I am your daughter. I am 18 years old. I live in St. Louis, MO in the United States. I… well, I could list a million facts about my life, but they would all be simplified, lackluster bullets. However, I think you owe it to me to answer some of my questions and mull over my speculations. First, I’d like to ask you a question. And no, it is not: why. I want to know, but the answer would brutally twist our hearts, and perhaps neither side is ready for that. Instead I am simply requesting a family picture. I yearn to trace the similarities between us and watch myself grow old in your faces. I’d like to share the most difficult part of my adoption with you: the devastating fact that you will never read these words. I’m very happy with my life, but it still pains me that you can cut someone out of your life by leaving them on the road. No note, nothing. I know the dangers behind that action, but didn’t I deserve something? Even a simple: wo ai ni (I love you), perhaps embroidered upon my blanket. If I could hunt you down, a bow and arrow dipped in the poison of truth, I would. Despite the risks, I would uncover you, the buried treasure of my past. And maybe I would only find a chest of fake coins surrounded by skeletons, but then maybe I would unearth a pot of gold. Gold, like the name given to me by my orphanage aunties: Dejin, as in “good as gold.” «
Lea Jarrett
Tulane University
Red Sox win World Series
M
y legs tensed as I crept towards the edge of the wave. The nose of the board dropped over the crest, and I slid suddenly into its deep trough. I shifted my weight back, as I’d learned to, but it was too late – the nose dove beneath the water, and I was hurled from the board, flailing involuntarily as the wave consumed me. For a moment, all was a whirl of green water and white bubbles as I fought to orient myself. My head breached the surface, and I bobbed, coughing up water. It’s a difficult thing to surf in Tennessee. Most people would tell you it’s impossible. But impossible has nothing on my family. The boat swung a slow turn and smashed into its wake. The wave reached me as I caught my traitorous board. Granny swung the boat around, and my cousin shouted as he tossed me the rope. “If you can keep the board sideways longer when you’re getting up, you can avoid crossing the wave entirely.” I nodded, preparing myself for my next attempt. I pressed my feet against the board, that thin sheet of plexiglass that was the only thing standing between me and a great deal of water. The engine roared, and I fought the familiar urge to be pulled out of the water. Angling the board steeply against the flow, I shot sideways, far beyond the edge of the curling water. Slowly, I drifted back to the wave. I nestled the edge of my board alongside it. My cousin motioned me further in. I moved closer, the surfboard digging deeply into the side of the wave. Too deeply, in fact – once again its nose submerged, and I cartwheeled into the abyss. «
Robert Marshall
Vanderbilt University
panorama
May 15, 2014
NEWS
5
October
August
September December
November April
February
January
March ONE FOUR SENIORYEAR
MAY
August: Brad Griffith becomes principal for the 20132014 school year. (Photo by Elyse Mack) September: Football season is in full swing. (Photo by Magdalena Lijowska) October: Seniors Enze Chen, Madison Barker, Jonathan Collins, Haley Bussard, Shahrukh Naseer, Emily Dove, J. Nicholas Nash, Claire Paddock, William Spirtas and Mariana Leon Pastore are nominated for Homecoming court. (Photo by Magdalena Lijowska) November: College and Career staff Kenneth Fox, Margaret Weed and Scott Cornwell aid students with college applications. (Photo by Allison Loynd) December: Basketball season is underway; the team later went on to win the district championship in March. (Photo by Jocelyn Kaza) January: In its first year at Ladue, Dance Marathon raises $22,591.01 for Children’s Miracle Network. (Photo by Jeanne Wilkinson) February: Students partake in K.I.S.S. week spirit activities. (Photo by Magdalena Lijowska) March: Seniors Jacob Jacob, H. Lee Jimerson, Ryan Glazer and juniors Jack May and Austin Burton make it to the final five of Mr. Ladue (Photo by Jenna Shanker) April: Juniors and seniors attend prom at St. Louis Union Station Hotel. (Photo by Sydney Ellis)
Class Clowns Most Likely to Be a Billionaire
Fredrick Ahlemeier and Jane Lee
Cutest Couple
Michael Figenshau and Jordan Christ
Most Likely to Be President
Best Dressed
J. Nicholas Nash and Hannah Schwartz
Ryan Glazer and Lindsay Tauben
Most MostAthletic Athletic
Most Likely to Teach at Ladue
Madison Barker and Cornell Johnston
Jessica Puyo and Jason Kaplan
Most Artistic
Most Likely to Brighten Your Day
Most Likely to Walk the Red Carpet
Madison Yang and Matthew Hooper
Stephan Rater and Allie Marcouiller
Catherine Ryan and Antonio Zapiain-Luna
Emily Dove and Duncan Cannon
Where the Party at?
Camden Newton and Charles Cornwell
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Longest Activty List
NI
OR
sup erl ati ves
Chloe An and Jacob Jacob
Most Spirited features editor
sabrina medler
photo editor
elyse mack photographer
sydney ellis photographer
meghan proskey photographer
magdalena lijowska
features editor
sarah jacob photographer
jenna shanker photographer
emily weller photographer
samantha leary photographer
jocelyn kaza
Hope Williams and Eric Stuber
Most Musical
Most Hipster
Biggest Flirts
Lillian Kennedy and Caleb Rosenthal
Spencer Rutter and Ingrid Olson
Eric Heidenreich and Julie Schaaf
Most Likely to Cure Cancer
Worst Senioritis
Greenest Students
Elyse Mack and Manfred Cewe
Enze Chen and Stella Schindler
Andrew Dielmann and Elizabeth Phelan
8
SENIOR FAVORITES
panorama
Senior Favorites Movie
1) “Wolf of Wall Street” 2) “Frozen” 3) “The Hunger Games”
Restaurant 1) Chipotle 2) Sugarfire 3) St. Louis Bread Company
Song
TV Show
1) “Breaking Bad” 2) “How I Met Your Mother” 3) “Check it Out! With Dr. Steve Brule” a&e editor a&e editor
1) “Get Lucky” 2) “Let it Go” 3) “Turn Down for What”
Class
1) AP Psychology 2) Senior Privilege 3) Team Sports
Meanwhile, more seniors share their essays...
O
n May 6, 2009, I sat alone in the emergency room of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, reading a text from my best friend: R U going to come back to gymnastics? Tears welled up as I glanced at the tubes running in and out of my arms while IV pumps pushed medications through my body. My left forearm was cut wide open, a vacuum sucking blood to relieve pressure from the swelling. As I listened to Dr. Shoeneker explain to my parents that I would not be able to return to my beloved sport due to a compound fracture in my left forearm, I replied back to my friend’s text without hesitation, “Yes, I will be back.” I believed it was up to me to decide whether I was finished or not, whether I would accept defeat or fight back, and at that moment, I chose to fight, deciding that my career was not over. Eight surgeries and dozens of excruciating occupational therapy sessions later, my arm and most of my hand were improving. Two of my fingers, however, refused to straighten out regardless of how much therapy and exercising I did. In extreme frustration, I broke down in tears when I returned home one day, realizing that there was no way I could be competitive in gymnastics with two dysfunctional fingers. Considering giving up, I dug deep inside and decided to keep trying. «
Haley Bussard
May 15, 2014
University of Missouri Columbia
Midnight Snack 1) Steak ‘n Shake 2) Ice cream 3) Pizza
Ac Lab
1) Goldwasser 2) Cafeteria 3) La Barge
I
cradle the salsa container hoping for no turbulence that might cause it to jump off my lap and dive under the seat in front of me. I had walked through the airport cautiously, being careful not to bump into anyone. I thought that if someone breathed on it wrong, it might break. It only weighed a few ounces, but I protected the pint-sized plastic tub with my life. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt my treasure. When I finally arrived home, I was able to unwrap the tissues and dirty socks that encased my prize and see if it had made it home safely. When I saw that it was indeed intact, I was more than relieved, I was elated. After days of enduring the stench of stale saltwater, worries of it sliding off a table and breaking on the hard deck, jokes about that nightmare coming true and strange looks from flight attendants wondering what could possibly be so important that it had to be held on a 16-year-old’s lap the entire flight, the dead sea creature gleamed on my bed. My sea-biscuit had found its new home. If I had described to most people what the salsa tub contained, they just wouldn’t understand. “A sea-biscuit? What’s that? Some kind of bread that grows under the sea?” I’m now accustomed to quickly interrupting their confusion to set them straight, “it’s like a puffy, hollow sand dollar about the size of a big bagel.” After I’m finally done explaining what they’re looking at on my wall, people generally ask how a quiet girl who lives in landlocked Missouri has come to possess a sea-biscuit, and why she’s so terribly protective of it. «
Katherine Campbell
Tufts University
panorama
May 15, 2014
K 1
4 5
SENIOR MEMORIES
8 9
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Kindergarten “One time someone brought in a dead turkey they hunted for show and tell.” – Samuel Picus
Fourth “We got to go to Jefferson City. It was really cool to walk around the dome.” – Josephine Roth
Eighth “The boat races were really fun though my boat, the Shermanator, sank.” – Rachel Taryle
First “I got in big trouble for throwing a girl’s shoe over the fence into the creek.” – Andrew Tsiaklides
Fifth “Everyone in my class would look forward to story time because our teacher read The Chronicles of Narnia.” – Sasha Scott
Ninth “My first homecoming football game, it was fun to see the whole school come together and show their spirit.” – Elizabeth Green
Senior Memories
12
Twelfth “When everyone fell on top of each other in the senior mosh pit at the homecoming pep rally.” – Audrey Arrick
Second “Raising chicks in an incubator was really fun.” – Duncan Cannon
Sixth “I had to sweep the cafeteria every day because I always got in trouble by Ms. Plouse.” – Javier Ritter
Tenth “I’ll never forget how Dr. Tenpas’ voice raised an octave when he got mad at our chemistry class.” –Keith Hoagland
Third “The whole grade got into an ‘Acorn War’ and everyone threw acorns at each other and we all got grounded from recess.” – Katherine Chang
Seventh “It was fun being in the learning cottages because it was just our grade; it was like a big family.” – Natalia Medler
Eleventh “I will never forget how suave and classy Mr. Moser looked after he shaved off his beard.” – Luke Song
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y legs were beginning to feel like dead weights. Fifteen kids, including myself, were attempting to summit one of the most famous mountains in the world. The sun was beginning to set, and the bright blue sky was streaked with hues of purple. The landscape had evolved into rolling hills, patched with boulders and giant senecios, and distantly, covered by thin, stratus clouds, was Kilimanjaro. The evening before our summit, stars speckled the sky and negative degree temperatures chased us back into our sleeping bags. Altitude sickness had gotten the best of me; a pounding headache, extreme nausea and dizziness made keeping my eyes open a struggle. Despite this, I was determined to summit as planned. We clicked on our lights and started up the intensely steep, gravelly slope. At 15,400 feet, all I could see were millions of stars and the tiny beams of headlamps, which were beginning to get farther from me as I fell behind. Soon after, I had to stop, have a drink of water, and sit down to recover for a few seconds. That’s the last thing I remember. Kilimanjaro is one of my greatest accomplishments. But it’s also my greatest failure. I was unable to accomplish what I set out to do; summit all 19,341 feet. But my failure taught me as much, if not more, than I would have learned from successfully making it to the top. It made me realize that it’s not always about winning, or being the best, but making a memory and realizing you gave it your all. «
ou’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me. When the road looks rough ahead, and you’re miles and miles from your nice warm bed, you just remember what your old pal said. Boy, you’ve got a friend in me...” Wow, isn’t Randy Newman great? Oh, apologies for the lack of introduction; I’m your new roommate, Enze! No sweat, it’s pronounced like “N-Z,” but don’t consider that a rap name or anything because I much prefer Disney music instead. I’m a pretty nonchalant guy, but when I have to balance academics, swimming, competitions, work, and family commitments – well, you know. That’s when I turn on my Disney playlist. Everything from Snow White, to Lion King, to Tangled, the songs embody a myriad of moods, such as romantic (“A Whole New World”), optimistic (“I’ve Got a Dream”) and motivational (“I’ll Make a Man Out of You”), and remain devoid of the corrupt insinuations present in pop culture today. They not only evoke nostalgic memories of my childhood, but also soothe my nerves and lift my spirits, leaving me prepared to tackle the next task. Admittedly, it’s unconventional, but I hope you can also relate to the magical realm of Disney, and will feel comfortable sharing your own idiosyncrasies as we get to know each other in the months to come. Cheers! «
Madison Barker
Enze Chen
Columbia University
Stanford University
Missouri Central Methodist University H. Lee Jimerson Culver-Stockton College Erika Moore Lindenwood University Marin Cernik Cierra Clinton Lincoln University Taylor Jones Northwest Missouri State University Brent Morrow Missouri State University Hanna Anderson Gage Berry Audrey Carr Olivia Dudek Alexander Jacks Paul Lochner Aleah Moore Kijana Turner Madison Weiss Shelby Weiss NoorHanna Zakaria Missouri University of Science and Technology Cassandra Eads Dylan Elznic Muhamed Fazlagic Kelly Jacobs Austin Jennings Gerald Linder Mario Stoyanov Missouri Western State University Justice Dalton-Mason Ranken Technical College Nick McGee Saint Charles Community College Melanie Henderson Saint Louis College of Pharmacy Miriam Bisada Hansa Mreyoud Boyang Xiao Saint Louis Community College Justin Chee Yuanwu Chen Corey Crump Johnathan Dickson Alexis Doss Joshua Drain Hannah Eastman Paul Hruza Lucas Jansen Gabriella Kapustina Lucy Kiely Milkiase Kumlachew Jordan McNeal Chelsie Miller Chloe Schloss Saint Louis University Manfred Cewe Chad Chapnick Adi Gazit Steve Gendi Mariana Leon Pastore Javier Ritter Julie Schaaf Colton Schalk Andrew Tsiaklides Harry Wallace
South East Missouri State University Kerin Harris Alexanda Komorek La’Aysia Macon Sarah Murphy Jahanzeb Naseer Matthew Regalado John Zimmerman
Michael Figenshau Benjamin Gu Magdalena Lijowska Stella Schindler Neeti Shenoy Luke Song Madison Yang Yu Ze Zhu
Stephens College Jayonna McNutt
Webster University Alek Bundonis
Truman State University Kristin Flinn John Milburn Riley Merdinian Eva Klingenberg Andres Rodriguez Victoria Soncasie
Westminster College Scott Sanchez
University of Central Missouri Udell Hyde Evan Richards University of Missouri-Columbia Shir Barzilay Haley Bussard Justin Carson Jonathan Carter Emma Conrad Charles Cornwell Bailey Davis Mallory Evans Charles Garside Tyler Gerstein Ryan Glazer Nicholas Hartig Christiana Huffman Nicholas Hulsey Kyndra Johnson Shu-san Lam Sophie Lustman David Moore Taylor Murphy Kiela Nicholson Constance O’Keefe Maffitt Rallo Kevin Rosenthal Joseph Rosga Zoë Schaeffer Sandon Scott Rachael Stark Jessica Stromsdorfer Eric Stuber Rachel Taryle Shen Yang See Man Wong University of Missouri-Kansas City Chelsea Bonnett Karen Figenshau Akilah John University of Missouri-Saint Louis Shawn Harry Samuel Minton Mohith Rao Blake Schulz Washington University in Saint Louis Mariana Alisio Katherine Chang Yunli Chu Samuel Crowder
Indiana Ball State University Semaj Ramsey
Eric Petersen Mary Waldm
Indiana Univ Audrey Arri Eric Heidenr Sydney Holt Camden New Rebekah She
Butler University Christopher Boudoures DePauw University Dakota Kniptash
Colorado State University Kathleen White
Colorado Colorado College Paul Maddock Jacob Peterson
Arkansas Hendrix College Hannah McCarthy Christopher Shirar Marianna Thomeczek
Regis University David Mesker University of Denver Maria Bieber Nadia Duncan
Kentucky Murray State University Connor Mulligan
Transylvania University Omar Elzoobi
Wisconsin University of Wisconsin-Madiso Emily Binger Jaeho Joung Ingrid Olson William Spirtas Zachary Zuckerman
University of Kentucky J. Nicholas Nash
Arizona Arizona State University Miriam Goldman Alexandra Reznichenko
University of Arkansas Madeline Cewe Allie Marcouiller Isabella Zoog
University of Arizona Samantha Robbins Lindsey Tauben Iowa Drake University Joshua Novack Louis Wallace
South Carolina Clemson University Emily Biest
District of Columbia American University Jordan Christ
New Jersey Seton Hall University Hiyabu Habtemichael
George Washington University Hannah Schwartz
Grinnell College Keith Hoagland University of Iowa Andrew Gladney
Oregon Lewis & Clark College Jonas Miller-Stockie
Maryland Maryland Institute College of Art Danielle Spellman Ashley Turner
Willamette University Miranda Martin
University of Maryland Noah Oberlander
Michigan College for Creative Studies Spencer Rutter Michigan State University Caleb Rosenthal
United States Armed Forces Andrew Dielmann Air Force Matthew Hsu Julian Fedrick Drew Proehl Marine Corps Army National Guard Clark Canepa Devin Rankin-Wilson
Unknown Akilah Aitch Eskedar Alemu Laura Brown William Brown Nata’Lynn Buchannon Tina Clay-Downing Brooke Gillentine
Delaware University of Delaware Claire Paddo
Syela Hernandez Luke Haverman Ashley Hurse Cedric Hurse Jacob Mayer Christian Menne
Un Tig Mar Ang Anai Arian Austin Danyi
Penns Lafayette C Sarah McCo
Lehigh Unive Shira Moroso
Maranda McGee Jonathan Moore Eric Stegall
Washing Universi Daniel L
WHERE YOU CAN CATC editor-in-chief
Ohio Miami University Dylan Barstow
n man
The Ohio State University Jessica Mormol Mary O’Brien
International Israeli Defense Forces Boruch Smason
versity ick reich t wton einbein
Tennessee Belmont University Tyler King
Vanderbilt University Robert Marshall
Maine Bowdoin College Duncan Cannon
Florida Eckerd College Emily Evans
Tufts University Katherine Campbell
University of Southern Maine Margaret Jordan
Mississippi University of Mississippi James Conway Elizabeth Phelan Patrick Sullivan
Connecticut United States Coast Guard Academy Nathan Rushing
Minnesota Carleton College Jeremy Brog University of Minnesota Twin Cities William Deutch Kristopher Moore Rebecca Ormonde
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gton ity of Puget Sound Lloyd
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University of Texas-San Antonio Victoria Palmer
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University of Tampa Monica Pulley
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Kansas Benedictine College Jonathan Collins
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ndecided gist Adale riam Asfaw gelica Brocco id Hernadez na Hurt n Jennings i Sun
ersity ohk
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Rhodes College Levi Greenberg Benjamin Laviana
sylvania College onnell
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill Justin Cole Emily Dove Kisan Thakkar
Massachusetts Boston College Elizabeth Green
University of Texas-Dallas Elyse Mack
Southern Methodist University Robert Brennan-Pickens Craig Emert Hannah Harpole
Elon University Sydney Dielmann
University of London Hannah Scott-Ravikumar
Texas Christian University Alison Fedder Jessica Puyo
Rice University Elizabeth Xing
North Carolina Duke University Jason Kaplan
University of British Columbia John Duncan
Utah Brigham Young University Steven Orgill
Texas Baylor University Joseph Tackes
University of Northwestern Parker Mosby
Other Hannah Sorkin
on
ock
University of Dayton Matthew Hooper Collin Ladd
Paul Mitchell The School East Bay Taylor Clark Pomona College Chloe An Saint Mary’s College of California Victoria Wolsky Stanford University Enze Chen Jialin Ding
University of Southern California Samuel Picus Catherine Ryan University of Tulsa Rebecca Wu Gordon Abrams David Bilger Reid Cytron Paige Hibbard
Illinois Bradley University Lauren Goeler Samara Oberman DePaul University Sebastian Isreal Josephine Roth Jacob Smyth Antonio Zapiain-Luna Eastern Illinois University Cornell Johnston Knox College Alexander Davis Elizabeth Richmond Loyola University Chicago Hope Williams Northern Illinois University Matthew Gould SAE Institute Natalia Medler Southern Illinois University Carbondale Stephan Rater University of Chicago Rui Chen
CH 2014 SENIORS NEXT YEAR editor-in-chief
University of Illinois at Chicago De’ Ja York University of Illinois at UrbanaChampagne Jackie Chen
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panorama
OPINIONS
Leaving a legacy
All grown up, all at once opinions editor
(Photo by Jeanne Wilkinson) editor-in-chief
D
on’t get me wrong, I’m excited for graduation. I can’t wait for the glorious sense of accomplishment that comes with walking across the stage and the pure joy as we, the senior class, throw our caps in the air. I’m looking forward to attending countless graduation parties and for the tremendous amount of fun the summer before college is certain to hold. But for me, high school has truly been about the journey, not the destination. In that sense, graduation is a celebration of all of our experiences at 1201 South Warson Road. And I’ve had an amazing four years. Selecting one defining moment of my high school experience is nearly impossible. However, there is one activity that best captures my time here. Nearly 200 members of our student body have experienced exactly what I’m about to describe. But for those who haven’t, picture this: the school cafeteria is filled with students and decorated with streamers and posters on a Saturday afternoon. No one has sat down in almost four hours, and most spent that entire time dancing. Everyone is sweaty and hot, but happy. Suddenly, the blaring music fades, as 10 people walk onto the stage, each carrying a large white poster board. After a minute of introduction, the exhilarated group of juniors and seniors raises their posters, each emblazoned with a large number, revealing an incredible sum: $22,591.01. With that, the first ever Ladue Dance Marathon smashed through its fundraising goal, raising over double what the members had planned for local hospitals. And the crowd went absolutely wild. I am proud to say that I, along with my partner-in-crime, Sophie Lustman, was responsible for planning and executing this inaugural event. Based on feedback from students and staff, not to mention a brief spot on the evening news and a Twitter shoutout (thanks Dr. Jahnke!), we did a pretty good job. But Sophie and I wouldn’t have gotten far without our teacher sponsors, Children’s Miracle Network advisors, fabulous executive board and morale committee and of course, dancers. Although I won’t deny I gave a lot to Dance Marathon this year, it gave me so much more. Coordinating our efforts with people across the school, from administrators to members of Sparkle Effect to underclassmen I had simply never gotten the chance to meet was a huge undertaking, but it taught me how to efficiently communicate with all kinds of people. I was also introduced to a part of society I had never really gotten to see before – the children who spend much of their time in hospitals, chained to one machine or another. I got to see how our efforts had the potential to make their lives just that much brighter. That alone made the entire experience worth it. What hits me most is that I was part of not just something amazing, but something new and exciting. Not only did we bring the school together around a great cause and raise more money than any Ladue club has in one event, but we were the first group. More importantly, Dance Marathon will not just fade away. Next year’s executive board is already at work on the 2015 event, and I can’t wait to hear about their success. So what’s the takeaway? I certainly don’t expect the entire student body to get involved with Dance Marathon, although I do highly encourage checking it out. But the best advice I can give is to be passionate, and channel that passion into something spectacular. More than likely, there is already a club, organization or sport to fit your interest. Don’t be afraid to get involved. But if there is an activity you would like to participate in that doesn’t already exist at school, make it happen! For me, Dance Marathon was the perfect intersection of compassion and passion. All I can hope is that, with whatever time you have left at Ladue, you find your own something that makes you not only excited to get up in the morning, but also proud to look back on your high school experience. « (This column reflects the opinion of the writer.)
May 15, 2014
D
o you know that if I wanted to, I could head out right now and purchase a lottery ticket? I can also vote, lease an apartment and become a stripper (though I only plan on doing two of those three things). I am 18 years old, so I guess technically I am “all grown up” ready to embrace the “adult” world. And guess what? It’s pretty scary. And weird. And exciting. All at once. I know it sounds cliché, but senior year has been a whirlwind. It’s as if these past few months have been a movie, and all of the sudden someone decided to fast forward and new developments began occurring everyday. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for as long as I can remember, and now that it has finally arrived, my emotions are mixed. On one hand, I am incredibly excited to embark on the next chapter of my life and discover all that the future holds, but I can’t deny the fact that saying goodbye to high school and everything that goes with it is bittersweet. Never again will I go to school a mile from my house, surrounded by family and friends, enjoying the relaxed familiarity of home. Never again will I be able to watch classic high school movies like “Mean Girls” or “The Breakfast Club” and be able to relate one hundred percent to that very specific type of high school angst. I guess I’ll just have to move on to “Animal House” and “Legally Blonde.” Sigh.
But since I am moving on now, I’ve found myself reflecting on the various lessons I’ve learned over the years. Above all else, I think that the biggest piece of advice that I would impart to my peers is to value the people around you. That goes for friends, teachers and above all else, family. My mom, grandma and sisters have been so amazingly supportive and I can’t imagine what my high school journey would have been like without them. One of the things that I’m most anxious about next year is living so far away from them in New York City, but I know that our relationship, though it will evolve, will remain as strong as ever. The other major theme that I wish to emphasize is this: don’t worry. Whether it’s about homework, college, friends, dating... it’s just not worth it. Everything works out in the end. It may not seem like it, but it will. It did for me, and it will for you. When I look back on my senior year, I realize how useless so much of my stress was. As long as you try your best, good things will happen. Just be a good friend, a good student and a good person, and everything will fall into place. So here I stand, at the threshold of a major life change. For so many years I’ve been envious of the graduating seniors, how they got to walk away from the monotony of high school and begin a new adventure, but I see now that while high school has been many things, it has not been monotonous. It’s been chaotic and stressful, but so fun and rewarding. I’ve been so lucky to have had such incredibly amazing people in my life, from teachers to friends to counselors and everything in between. So goodbye Ladue, and enjoy the rest of the crazy ride. «
Cracking the college conundrum photo editor
E
very year the Panorama publishes countless articles on the same topic: college. There have been pieces on how to get in, application influences and scholarship information. Even the pinnacle of the production, the Senior Issue, revolves around a giant list of the seniors’ “future plans.” This college fever infected me from my freshman year on. Where do I want to go? What do I want to study? How will I get in? If there’s one thing I learned throughout the process, it’s that in the end, none of those things really matter much. My own college dreams went something like this. Swept away by the ideals of academia, I nestled into the small, East Coast, liberal arts college culture. Eventually, there were only three things I required of a school to consider applying: a small student body, interesting majors and highly selective admissions. Highly selective admissions. Of all three, this was my top requirement. I was convinced that the only way I would be intellectually challenged was in a school where every single student had earned a GPA of 4.0 and an SAT score of 2200 or higher. This elitist attitude was supported by the culture of Ladue. I believed the most selective schools would give me the best financial aid packages, that I would be happy there, that I could get in. It felt like everyone was getting into their top choices; they were ushered into extremely competitive schools with perfect scores or athletic prowess. I simply ignored the fact that there were even more of my classmates who were getting deferred, waitlisted and just plain rejected. After my applications were sent off, my parents talked to me about how serious my student debt might be. This is the kind of thing that weighs on you, that keeps you up at night, my mom said. Hundreds of thousands in undergraduate debt would follow me throughout the rest of my life, she said. At this point I reevaluated my priorities. I knew I could adjust to any sort
of weather or social climate. I knew I would find something meaningful to study. I knew that I, like anyone else from Ladue in my position, would seek out challenges and opportunities at any school. It’s not the school that matters, it’s what you put into it. Why does anyone care about these rankings anyway? It’s not worth making yourself physically ill (as several of my classmates did) or making yourself mentally ill (as I did to myself) just to get into the highest ranked school. Being miserable for four years won’t strengthen an application, create more success or most importantly, make me happier. In the end, most of the rationalizations I heard for wanting to be a part of those upper-echelon schools were pretty dismal. Getting into the best college ensures getting into the best graduate school, which is required to get a decent (high-paying) job. Is this really what I wanted out of the next four years? Ceaseless competition with the end goal of money? No. I refuse to believe that all my classmates care about is monetary compensation. College should be a time to explore new people, new things and new classes. Higher education ought to allow young people to discover the world around them from a new perspective, and maybe, through those experiences, to discover themselves. So for my fellow seniors: don’t let college become an institution of economical advancement. Have fun, immerse yourself in a new culture and be open to change. To those of you who have yet to dig into the world of college applications: keep some perspective and evaluate your long term goals. Most importantly, don’t let your senior year get consumed by that college fire. Enjoy the time and the people you’ve been given in high school. Who knows? Maybe they’ll give you the perfect story to write about on your college application. «
panorama
May 15, 2014
OPINIONS
Getting this show on the road your jobs and we all know you have our best interests in mind and are here to keep us on track. We know you’re good people. The truth is, twenty years from now, all the test scores, grades and awards from high school really won’t matter. What WILL matter is that our school has readied us to contribute to society. Nothing can hold us back if we put the intangibles this school has given us to good use. We’re incredibly lucky to have attended such a fine school, and hopefully, we will continue to appreciate our education as we use it in our careers. We’ve gained the practical skills and knowledge that are necessary to survive in the real world. These things are invaluable. They cannot be learned by reading a textbook, watching an educational video or listening to a presentation. They are only attainable by immersing oneself in an environment that is conducive to learning and growth. Commencement is called “commencement” for a reason: We are celebrating a beginning, not an end – an ascent, not a peak. Graduating from high school is just a milestone in our lives. Endowed with the tools for success in the 21st century, it would be a horrible mistake to stop here. Now is the time for us to divide and conquer. So, for anybody who thinks graduation is the end, it’s not. We are the Class of 2014, and we’re just getting started. «
opinions editor
C
ome graduation, we will have started high school three years, nine months and two days ago, in August 2010. Over the course of more than 1,300 days, we’ve matured from tiny, immature runts into young adults, eager to take on the world with renewed independence and zeal. And we haven’t just grown academically. We’ve learned how to drive, how to behave, how to date, how to get out of taking finals and even how to get out of the parking lots without a pass from the office. We’re celebrating not only our own achievements, but also extending our sincere gratitude to our friends, families, teachers, counselors and administrators. We could not have done this without you. To our friends: thank you for working with us on homework, giving us things to look forward to every weekend and balancing our academics with socializing. To our parents and families: thank you for having our backs, for being there to pick us up and for providing us with every possible resource and advantage so we may succeed. To our teachers: thank you for imparting your wisdom to us. Thanks to you, we are prepared to tackle college and beyond. You have shown us how to be truly decent people. To our counselors: thank you for helping us make sound paths to our academic goals. And Mr. Fox and Mr. Cornwell, thank you for helping us navigate the winding road to college admissions. You are incredibly kind, helpful and patient. And finally, to our administrators: even though we sometimes find ourselves in a position to defy your authority, you are doing
________’s guide to high school TEACHER
TEACHER _________________________ ADJECTIVE ________________________ ADJECTIVE ________________________ ADJECTIVE ________________________
High school can be a very ________ time. If you want ADJECTIVE
to succeed, you must learn to be ________ and ________. ADJECTIVE
ADJECTIVE
If you don’t ________, you will have a very difficult time. VERB
VERB______________________________
The best part of high school is the ________, because ev-
NOUN _____________________________
erybody learns how to love ________ and make ________.
NOUN _____________________________ NOUN _____________________________
NOUN
NOUN
NOUN
The absolute worst part of high school is the inevitable
TEACHER _________________________
discovery that ________ does not enjoy it when you
VERB______________________________
________. Just try to work ________ and avoid ________,
ADVERB ___________________________
and you will be fine.
NOUN _____________________________ NOUN _____________________________
TEACHER
ADVERB
VERB
NOUN
A few more tips to survive in this ________ we call NOUN
FOOD _____________________________
high school. Don’t mix ________ and ________. That
ANIMAL ___________________________
never ends well. Also, people will be very ________ if
ADJECTIVE ________________________ NOUN _____________________________
FOOD
ANIMAL
ADJECTIVE
you call them a ________. If you want to make friends, NOUN
VERB______________________________
just ________ them really nicely. And here’s the ultimate
VERB______________________________
secret to surviving all four years of high school: don’t
NOUN _____________________________
________ a ________.
VERB
VERB
NOUN
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The advice that is never given
(Photo by Elyse Mack) editor-in-chief
F
irst off, I want to thank your kind soul for even reading these words. Only the brave venture into the opinions section of the paper and decide to actually read things, especially in this senior issue full of pictures and art, so for that I fully commend you. If by now you haven’t stopped reading, I guess that means you’re hoping I can impart some kind of meaningful reflection on my years here. To be honest, I don’t know if I can actually do that. How am I supposed to encapsulate my four years in just a few paragraphs? High school is an experience like no other. It’s insanely stressful, yet the best time we’ve ever had in our lives. It’s uncomfortable as we try to find ourselves, yet it’s the most comfortable thing we know. It sucks and is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us at the same time. As I finally depart these halls, I’m forced to actually start thinking about my future and the dreaded real world. Earlier this year when I was visiting a college, a fellow prospective student I had just met asked me a relatively simple question: what’s your thing? On the surface, it’s pretty a pretty basic question – what makes you you? But instead of being able to answer, I found myself gaping at him, bewildered at what to even say. Now, I don’t consider myself an uninvolved person or someone who just doesn’t do anything. I’d actually consider myself a relatively passionate person. Yet, I was stuck between a rock and a hard place answering his question. Sure, I’m on the school newspaper, I spend my free weekends with the speech and debate team and cross country has been one of my favorite parts of high school, but thousands of other kids around the country can claim the exact same things. What makes me uniquely Chloe An? Before senior year, I thought I knew the answer to that question. But as the prospect of college attracted friends and family who wanted to know where I was going, what I planned to major in and my entire life plan, I found myself with no honest answers. “I don’t know” was no longer acceptable, and suddenly I felt as if I had to have my entire life figured out at age 17. And that absolutely terrified me. What no one seems to ever say is that it’s completely okay to have no idea and be scared of the future. On just the opposing page, my co-editor Emily talks a lot about finding something you love and making it your thing. And all that is great... if you can find your passion. But for people like me, that is more than half the battle. On a daily basis, I am advised by others to just follow my passions wherever they take me and everything else will work out, but what they don’t seem to realize is that my struggle is not following my passions; it is actually finding them. What people are unwilling to say is that you really don’t have to have it all figured out by now. It’s okay to not know “your thing” or to still have no idea what the future holds for you; in fact, I’m a little scared for you if you can tell me exaclty where you’re going to be in 10 years. Our time at Ladue should be about learning from the amazing teachers, staff and friends here, because trust me, these years really do fly by. You have the rest of your life to figure the rest out. « (This column reflects the opinion of the writer.)
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panorama
OPINIONS
May 15, 2014
Staff EDITORIAL Six days. Those are the two words floating around in most students’ heads, motivating them to get to the end of the year. In just six days, finals will be over and the most glorious time of year will commence: summer. After 10 months of work, summer serves as a reward for many students; it is a time to relax, catch up with friends and recharge for the next year. However, while tanning by the pool, sleeping till noon and binging on Netflix may sound like the ideal way to attain some desperately needed R&R, students should not plan on wasting away their entire summer like this. Instead, students should get involved with volunteer groups, camps or
jobs so that they spend their summers productively and continue enriching their lives.
Many students have worked incessantly during the school year. In addition to maintaining grades in challenging classes, many participated in demanding clubs and sports; this pile of responsibilities led to many late nights and stressful days. Students definitely deserve a break, however, it should be a short one consisting of one or two weeks. Then they should get involved in some activity for the rest of the summer. Although it may seem hard to realize now with the school year still in session, driven students will not feel satisfied with themselves if they spend their entire summer idly. For unmotivated students, summer programs can boost productivity and inhibit laziness. Summer was not created for students to sit around and do nothing; it
was originally built into the calendar so that kids could work on the farm and help out with the harvest. Although this exact activity does not apply to many anymore, the fundamental idea behind summer was to provide students with a chance to do something productive outside of the school building and gain some real world experience. This perception of summer will benefit students. Firstly, a summer job or program will provide students with a structured way to spend their time. A daily routine becomes especially important because it keeps kids out of trouble, teaches self-discipline and eases the transition back to school. Summer activities also allow students to explore future careers. Students can use time in the summer shadowing professionals in the fields they are interested in and gain experience in it. This extra training can expedite their paths to their careers.
Staff EDITORIAL Parking spot dibs; senior privilege; first pick on classes; these are among some of the privileges that come with being a senior. In addition to these benefits, second semester seniors look forward to pulling the annual senior prank. Seniors go through four years of school awaiting the privileges of seniority that underclassmen envy. It’s better for students to enjoy the fun activities of the end of high school rather than suffer the senioritis epidemic. A senior prank gives students an outlet for their repressed anxiety and allows them to escape the monotony of school that they’ve endured the past four years. Seniors have had to go through the ranks, just like the rest of us. At one point, they too were underclassmen doing the grunt jobs that no one else wanted to do. They had to watch and envy the privileges that the graduating class received, awaiting their chance to reign over the rest of the school. This progressing cycle of power is the vital to the structure of high school as we know it. Seniors should be able to enjoy their power over the rest of the student body not only as a right of passage into the 12th grade, but also to give underclassmen something to look forward to. Seniors can channel this power into a fun and safe senior prank. According to the Ladue-Frontenac Patch, the senior prank is a long-standing tradition at Ladue. In the early 1960s, a group of seniors had the idea to paint “Alcatraz” in 12 foot block letters on top of the roof. The oblivious school officials only found out when a dad flying home from a business trip saw it and notified them. In the 1980s, a cheerleader sprayed hairspray all over the carpet of the commons and lit it with a match, setting the floor on fire. In both, the pranksters suffered suspension and had to pay back the school for damages. However, these pranks are very extreme. As long as they are legal and don’t hurt anyone, senior pranks should be treated as harmless fun. Take the class of 2000. Two students had the idea to put the school up for sale. They posted an ad in the paper reading, “Large home with tennis courts, swimming pool, expansive dining area and room to grow,” attaching the phone number of the vice principal. Aside from a couple dozen bothersome phone calls, this prank was both tasteful and amusing and no students were suspended. Senior pranks should not be thought of as a chance to see how far students can push the administration without being punished. Nevertheless, safe, light-hearted pranks should still be allowed. The school handbook reads, “Seniors who engage in destructive,
Summer break should be equal parts work and leisure
(Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of Panorama staff.)
Senior pranks are acceptable as long as they are harmless
disrespectful, disruptive and/or dangerous activities, which detract from the good order and discipline of the school may be subject to any or all of the following consequences: suspension or expulsion, not being allowed to attend or participate in the commencement ceremonies, and not being allowed to attend the post-commencement party or other special events planned for seniors.” The administration does not take offensive pranks lightly. Clearly, lighting Panorama is produced 10 times per school year by the journalism class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School « 1201 S. Warson Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63124 « (314)-993-6447 ext. 5463 « www.laduetoday.com Panorama strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication aims to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among readers. Panorama welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Ideally, Panorama accurately represents the issues most important to readers and should serve as a public forum for all students, staff and community members. Therefore, letters voicing readers’ opinions strengthen the paper. Please bring signed letters to Room 216 or email them to panorama@ ladueschools.net. Panorama reserves the right to edit submissions as long as the original intent remains unaltered. «
For students who do not want to have such a regimented summer, they can join programs which explore their hobbies. They can attend various camps and continue developing their skills in activities they are passionate about. This will help them stay in shape and maintain their abilities and interests in their hobbies. Finally, it’s unquestionable that colleges like to see that students use their summers wisely. According to Lisa Sohmer, a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Board of Directors, colleges are more likely to admit students who have used their summers productively. She also states that lazy summers cause learning loss. Although a productive summer does not sound very appealing, if students take the time to sow the seeds now they will reap the benefits later. «
the commons on fire and damaging school property break some of these rules. These pranks are far too disruptive and mean-spirited for school. However, many senior pranks can still follow these rules and be fun. Light-hearted pranks can provide a laugh to students and don’t permanently harm the school. Senior pranks are just that: pranks. Not senior crimes. Not senior felonies. Senior pranks. When executed correctly, senior pranks are capable of being fun, safe and memorable for everyone involved. « (Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of Panorama staff.)
(Photo by Jillian Proehl)
BUSINESS MANAGERS Andrew Cherrick Nick Nash WEB MASTER Warren Biest
WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Justin Cole WEB EDITORS Yoav Kadan Rachel Wagner-Muns Sarah Kessel
PLEASE RECYCLE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Chloe An Emily Biest
News Editors Ali Gold Alli Loynd
Features Editors Sarah Jacob Sabrina Medler
PHOTO EDITORS Elyse Mack Jeanne Wilkinson
A&E Editors Karen Figenshau Charlie Garside
Opinions Editors Annie Cohen Mike Figenshau
SPORTS EDITORS Aaron Bry Jason Kaplan
ART EDITORS Audrey Kocher Ashley Turner
WRITERS Juliann Bi Katie Bry Benjamin Collinger Will Deutch Salim Douaihy Hannah Frankel Isabella Fu Levi Greenberg Mackenzie Hines-Wilson Haley Horowitz Hayden Hunt Jacob Jacob Keona Kalu Jocelyn Kaza Bram Levy Melissa Melnick Michael Petersen Meghan Proskey Anna Reichert Sasha Rice
Hannah Schwartz Janey Sheth Sam Shevitz Ethan Shuchart Journey Smith Hannah Snidman Andrew Tsiaklides Teddy Turner
WEB WRITERS Julia Biest Henok Getahun Naomi Oberlander
PHOTOGRAPHERS Sydney Ellis Sammy Leary Magda Lijowska Jocelyn Kaza Meghan Proskey Jessica Puyo Jenna Shanker Danielle Thompson Emma Weller ARTISTS Juliann Bi Ting Ding Matthew Hooper Steele Stewart Kira Svoboda Mary Xiao Eric Zhu ADVISER Jillian Proehl
panorama
May 15, 2014
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201
AWARDS
Special Awards
James Roberston Memorial Award
Michael A. Rammng Dad’s Club Scholarship
Kurt H. Knoedelseder Theatre Scholarship
Enze Chen
Madison Skye Barker
Margaret Kilbourne Jordan
Dr. Robert L. Bannister Award Julie Marie Schaaf
Ladue African-American Student Alliance Scholarships
James A. Wagner Alumni Association
Cornell Johnston, La’Aysia Creon Macon, Kijana Renee Turner
Chloe Lee Ann
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Frances H. Ginsberg Memorial Vocal Music Margaret Kilbourne Jordan
Michael Murray Ramming Scholarship
Hank Kaufman Math Award
George Turmail Band Award
James A. Wagner/St. Louis Post Dispatch Scholar Athlete Award
Hannah Marie Anderson
Enze Chen
Victoria Lynn Soncasie
Madison Skye Barker
Yunli Emily Chu Luke Felix Song
Matt Pearlstone Memorial Scholarship
Tony Kardis Senior Science Award
James R. Waechter Band Award
William Raisch Dads Club Scholarship
Jeff Lieberman Scholarship
Manfred Cewe II
Enze Chen
Kelly Nicole Jacobs
Samuel Lee Picus
Neeti Shenoy Katherine Graham Campbell Shira Molly Morosohk
Vivian Phung Joslin Bond Vezeau
Charles Jeffers Glik Scholarship
Sneider-Kaskowitz Expository Writing Award
Bill Brackman Distinguished Service Band Award
National Achievement Scholarship Program
Missouri State High School Activities Association
Connie Strobach Outstanding Female Athlete
DECA Scholarship
Samuel Stuart Vogel
Ashley Morgan Turner
Samuel Picus
Nathan Bryant Rushing
Jonathan Eric Collins Jr., and Hope Alexis Williams
Jessica Lynn Stromsdorfer
Mary Catherine O’Brien
Patricia Sanders Scholarship
Ladue Horton Watkins High School Scholarship Awards
National Merit Scholarship Finalists and Semi-Finalists
National Merit Commended Students
Dads Club Recognition Award/George Washington Carver Award
Emily Joan Biest Katherine Graham Campbell Enze Chen Yunli Emily Chu Justin David Cole Samuel Cullen Crowder Jialin Ding Michael Sherburne Figenshau Robert Adkins Marshall Shira Molly Morosohk Caleb Jordan Rosenthal Stella Tallulah Schindler Luke Felix Song Hou Zhang Yu Ze Zhu
Chloe Lee An Robert Christopher Brennan-Pickens Karen Gibbs Figenshau Scott Lowell Sanchez Hannah Mara Schwartz Toby Shen Zhu Hannah Sumithra ScottRavikumar Neeti Shenoy Jessica Lynn Stromsdorfer Madelyn Ann Weller Kristopher Matthew Moore
Chloe Lee Ann Robert Christopher BrennanPickens Enze Chen Jackie Chen Rui Chen Yunli Emily Chu Justin David Cole William Sean Copeland Samuel Cullen Crowder Jialin Ding Emily Bardsley Dove Hannah Marie Harpole Paige Allison Hibbard Kelly Nicole Jacobs Magdalena Zofia Lijowska Elyse Dianne Mack Evan David Morgenstern Jessica Sabra Mormol Shira Molly Morosohk Samuel Lee Picus Julie Marie Schaaf Stella Tallulah Schindler Hannah Marie Schwartz Neeti Shenoy Victoria Lynn Soncasie Luke Felix Song Jessica Lynn Stromsdorfer Kisan Pankaj Thakkar Ashley Morgan Turner Madison Yang Hou Zhang Toby Shen Zhu
Iris Markman Fine Arts Award Samuel Lee Picus
Faculty, Scholarship, Leadership and Service Award
The DaVinci Award Ashley Morgan Turner and Ingrid Christina Olson
Dads Club Scholarship
Margaret Kilbourne Jordan
Miriam Eshak Bisada Hiyabu Tekleab Habtemichael Akilah Hasana Tabia John Margaret Kilbourne Jordan Eva Rae Klingenberg Shu-san Lam Mariana Jose Leon Pastore Maffitt Orthwein Rallo Sasha Marie Scott Mario Radoslavov Stoyanov Yodit Mekonnen Teklu Kijana Renee Turner Shen Yang
John M. Good Memorial Scholarship Yodit Mekonnen Teklu
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scott Lowell Sanchez
Enze Chen
Annie Cohen, Opinions Editor
William Heyde Great American Debater Award
Lyndon B. Johnson Excellence in Government Studies Scholarship
Goessl Book Award
Chloe Lee An
Katharine Kristen Chang
Charles Shepherd Foundation Scholarships
Lois Percival Orchestra Award Yunli Emily Chen
Elyse Mack
Charles Garside, A&E Editor
Karen Figenshau, Michael Figenshau, A&E Editor Opinions Editor
Jason Kaplan, Sports Editor
Elyse Mack, Photo Editor
Joseph N. Nash, Business Manager
Ashley Turner, Art Editor
—d—
To the graduating senior editors on the publications staff: “If the prospect of living in a world where trying to respect the basic rights of those around you and valuing each other simply because we exist are such daunting, impossible tasks then what sort of world are we left with? And what sort of world do you want to live in?” ~Wonder Woman, “Wonder Woman #170”
This year I challenged you to utilize your voices for good. The challenge continues, and I know you will take that into the world and go forth. Never forget the power of your voices to change the world for the better. You are the future’s superheroes.
Ms Proehl
—
.
(See page 19 for more Panorama editorial tributes)
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panorama
SPORTS
Girls Soccer: Mariana Alisio
May 15, 2014
SUP ATHL
“Mariana was chosen by her peers as one of our captains and leads by example. She is one of our hardest workers and does a great job of making everyone else around her better.” – Coach Dave Aronberg Mariana Alisio
Boys Baseball: Dylan Barstow
“Dylan is a very hard worker [who] leads by example. He cares for his teammates and works to help them get better while working to improve his own abilities.” – Coach Rob Garrett
Girls Poms: Haley Bussard Dylan Barstow
“Haley has been on the Laduettes the past four years and has been a huge asset to the team. Her strong leadership and dedication have helped lead the team to great accomplishments.” – Coach Alexandra Whaley-Guenther
Girls Volleyball: Emma Conrad
Haley Bussard
“Emma has been a joy to coach the past four years. As senior captain, she displayed excellent sportsmanship and leadership, contributing to our team success.” – Coach Roberta McCaffrey
Boys Swimming: Enze Chen
“Enze is a leader and team captain. He always works hard during swim sets and it has paid off for him as a multiple time state qualifier.” – Coach Corey Miller
Water Polo: Jackie Chen Emma Conrad
“Jackie is a quiet leader [who] outworks his opponents in the pool. He dedicates himself to playing solid defense and puts himself in great positions on both sides of the ball.” – Coach Corey Miller
Golf: Samuel Crowder Enze Chen
“Sam is the perfect example of a student athlete: He has overachieved in the classroom. In addition, he has consistently improved his game because of his work ethic.” – Coach Todd Basler
Boys Rowing: James Francis
Jackie Chen
Samuel Crowder
Boys Hockey: Matthew Gould
“Matthew Gould completed his high school career as captain of the Varsity Rams hockey team. Matthew’s leadership skills were evident on and off the ice throughout the seasons.” – Coach Jon Hodgins
Boys Lacrosse: Eric Heidenreich
“Eric is almost always the first one to practice. You will see him up there hitting the wall or working on his shot. He is one of the team’s hardest workers and it shows on game days.” – Coach Pat Callaham
Girls Rowing: Paige Hibbard
“Paige’s honesty, commitment, determination and drive to excel are the qualities that not only made her fast, but helped make her team fast.” – Coach Tim Franck
Boys Cross Country: Andrew Hutchens
“Drew qualified for state by winning the district title and finishing fifth at the sectional race. Drew’s hard work and perseverance led to some outstanding times and several course records.” – Coach Richard Witt
Boys Basketball: Cornell Johnston
“Jimmy is a team leader and a passionately devoted athlete. “Cornell has been a four-year starter in the boys basketball He lives and breathes the sport of rowing and has risen to the program where he has been a team captain the last three height of national champion through his dedication, integrity years. He also has the all-time scoring record of 1,626 points and will.” and assists.” – Coach Andrew Black – Coach Chad Anderson
James Francis
Matthew Gould
Eric Heidenreich
Paige Hibbard
Andrew Hutchens
Cornell Johnston
May 15, 2014
ER ETES sports editor
sports editor
Girls Cross Country: Eva Klingenberg
“Eva is an exceptional athlete and quiet leader for our team. Eva possesses a competitive fire and quiet confidence that pushed her to train to become our top runner this year. ” – Coach Matthew Strayhorn
Cheerleading: Jordin Knight
panorama
SPORTS
Girls Tennis: Camden Newton
“Cam Newton’s accomplishments at the state tournament include a runner-up in the team competition, two third place finishes in singles and a state doubles championship.” – Coach Kevin Lackey Victoria Wolsky
Boys Soccer: Steven Orgill
“Steven is a hard worker, a good student and a model citizen. He was the defensive player of the year in the Suburban South Conference and became known as ‘The Warden.’” – Coach Matthew Prange
Boys Tennis: Jacob Peterson
“Jake played a pivotal role in helping our team win [its] first team district and conference championships in a decade. Jake has always been a team player and a hard worker.” – Coach Kevin Lackey
“Allie was one of our captains who worked very hard and always put the team before herself. Allie was a part of our state 200 free relay team that placed 17th at the state meet.” – Coach Nicolette Andrew
Softball: Jessica Mormol
“Jess has been the heart of the softball team for the last three years; her natural ability, hard work and competitive drive made her the most feared member of the team.” – Coach Jennifer Tuttle
Kathleen White
Wrestling: Maffitt Rallo
“Maffit is extremely dedicated and has an outstanding drive to be the best at whatever it is he puts his mind to. His work ethic is second to none.” – Coach Kevin Clawson
“Jordin Knight has been an important part of Varsity Cheer Boys Track and Field: Evan Richards the past four years and was a senior captain. Jordin has shown “Evan Richards is the hardest working kid on the team. He her ability to accept challenges and conquer her goals [inside] loves to throw the shot and discus, and looks forward to being and outside of practice.” here at practice.” – Coach Tara Bishop – Coach Keith Harder
Girls Swimming: Allie Marcouiller
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Mary Waldman
Field Hockey: Mary Waldman
“Grace was voted most valuable player for this season by her teammates. She tied for most goals scored this season and was first-team all-conference for public schools.” – Coach Barbara Dwyer
Evan Richards
Girls Track and Field: Kathleen White
“Kate White has excelled in the half mile and has been an incredible part of our program for the past three years. We will miss her greatly.” – Coach Keith Harder
Maffitt Rallo
Girls Lacrosse: Victoria Wolsky
Football: Brent Morrow
“Brent has been a starter and first-team all-conference tackle for the last three season. Brent’s leadership, work ethic and commitment will truly be missed next year.” – Coach Mike Tarpey
“Victoria has been a constant work horse in the sport of lacrosse. She is a three-year varsity letterman now, and also has participated in various other lacrosse leagues and camps.” – Coach Neil Theriault Jacob Peterson
Eva Klingenberg
Jordin Knight
Allie Marcouiller
Jessica Mormol
Brent Morrow
Camden Newton
Steven Orgill
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ADS
panorama
May 15, 2014
panorama
May 15, 2014
AWARDS
And to the two special Wonder Women who ran this adventure this year: “A new journey to be started. A new promise to be fulfilled. A new page to be written. Go forth unto this waiting world with pen in hand, all you young scribes, the open book awaits. Be creative. Be adventurous. Be original. And above all else, be young. For youth is your greatest weapon, your greatest tool. Use it wisely.”
Chloe An, Editor-in-Chief
Emily Biest, Editor-in-Chief
–Wonder Woman # 62 by George Perez We could not have done it without you. You will be missed! Thank you for all that you have done for Ladue High School. Go forth and use your lasso of truth to fight for justice, equality, love and peace!
Congratulations Rams! Graduates of the Class of 2014
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