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LADUE HORTON WATKINS HIGH SCHOOL // 1201 S. WARSON RD. ST. LOUIS, MO 63124 // VOLUME 66, ISSUE 6 // 2.14.2018
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2 Panorama Staff
TABLE OF CONTENTS Opinions: A critical view of mankind: The highs and lows of the human condition Opinions: Staff Editorial: Public displays of affection are inappropriate
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Features: Ladue senior will move across the pond after graduation
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In-Depth: Love’s in the air, but it’s also in the In-Depth spread
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Editors-in-Chief Lily Hauptman Sophia Li Glen Morgenstern Ladue Lead Editor-in-Chief Max Baker
Sports Editor Jackson Bry Photo Editors Rose Hauser Rhiannon Rhoads Zach Weller Art Editors Aleesha Shi Audrey Wang
Opinions Editor Alex Fu Features/A&E Editors Katie Shaw Bradford Siwak
Designers Burke Howe Artists Anna Cui
In-Depth Editors Hannah Suffian Anya Tullman
Adviser Sarah Kirksey
News Editors Connie Chen Adam Rush
Arts and Entertainment: A look at some of this year’s Oscarnominated films
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News: Administration cancels winter dance due to weather
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Panorama welcomes and encourages letters to the editors. Please bring signed letters to West Balcony 3. Panorama reserves the right to revise submissions as long as original intent remains unaltered. Cover design by Lily Hauptman. Photo by Zach Weller.
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Read more online at laduelead.com. Follow @ laduepublications on Instagram and @laduepanorama on Twitter.
News: Dance Marathon shatters fundraising records with over $80,000 total Sports: See the nine seniors who committed to play at the college level
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Photo: Check out the best things that come in small packages
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Writers Hieran Andeberhan Cassie Beisheim Hugh Chan Daniel Chayet Sydney Crump Ope Falako Felix Hu Anik Jain Jacob Korn Malavika Kumaran Davina Lettau Anna Liner Albert Liu Sunny Lu Ryan Melnick Ryan Miller Will Minifie Nikol Nikolva Aman Rahman Autumn Ryan Hope Shimony Ande Siegel Cindy Wang
Scan the QR code to go to our website and see exclusive articles and photographs
Our Policy Panorama is a monthly newspaper that strives to inform and entertain students, staff and community members and to uphold professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The publication hopes to engage the student body by eliciting dialogue among our readers. It aims to reflect the diversity of the population it serves and observe the journalistic principle of doing no harm. All anonymous surveys are completely anonymous. Panorama is produced nine times per school year by the journalism class of Ladue Horton Watkins High School at 1201 S. Warson Rd., St. Louis, Missouri 63124. The publication lab is located in West Balcony 3, (314)-993-6447 ext. 5844.
opinions
PANORAMA
Divine Inspection:
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sophia LI editor-in-chief
collective groan arises, bouncing off the walls of the crowded, immaculate room. Ares throws his cup of ambrosia at the divinity screen hanging from the wall. Dionysus sips his drink, grinning into the brim of his chalice. “Gods, Ares!” Athena laughs. “You really thought planting that one little politician would spur war? You forget that the humans have proven themselves to be quite hardy.” Ares glares at her and points a finger, ready to argue. Before he gets the chance, Zeus raises a solemn hand. “Ssh!” he booms. “You’ll make us miss the humans making each other miserable.” “Aren’t they always doing that?” quips Hermes, smirking. A chorus of laughter echoes around the room. It’s Friday night, and the Greek gods have gathered at Hestia’s house for their favorite pasttime: watching the mortal struggles of man. The divinity screen switches to a city scene. People bustle about, many rushing down the streets with shopping bags in hand. The homeless raise their signs and plea for spare change. “Just look at the apathy! The inequity!” Themis cries, immersed in the scene of violence flashing on the screen. “After millennia of unnecessary bloodshed, have they not learned compassion?”
How us humans look to the gods
“There’s always a steady flow of lost souls arriving in the Underworld,” Hades purrs from his black suede seat, dark eyes glistening in the dimness. “It seems the mortals are just as reckless as they were centuries ago.” “We should have snuffed out those pesky humans long ago,” sneers Hera. “That troublesome fool Prometheus defied us and gave them fire long ago, and now look at the results. Destruction and ignorance run rampant!” “Gah! It's for us to clean up the mess Prometheus left behind,” Ares said. “I could do it in a heartbeat.” Heads bob in agreement. A pensive atmosphere descends upon the gods. “What about introducing a new plague?” Apollo says. “Maybe one that melts the brain? It's not those silly humans use theirs anyways.” “To this day, they continue to ignore the good graces of us divine beings!” Themis exclaims. “We sent down the souls destined to cure HIV and Alzheimer’s, and what do the humans do? They suppress those brilliant minds with senseless biases based on gender and race? Fools!” “Now, now,” coos Athena. “The humans are by no means perfect creatures, but then again, neither are we. The vast majority of them mean no true harm. More and more mortals are learning from the mistakes of history. Progress is being made.” “Yes, she’s right,” Aphrodite responds. “Would it not be hypocritical of us to denounce the humans for their behaviors when we ourselves fall prey to darkness?” “We must have faith, my friends,” Athena declares. “Those mortals will turn themselves around. Just wait and see.” v
3 Letter from the Editors
What is love, really? Let’s find out Foreigner wanted to know what love was in 1984. Haddaway asked what love was in 1993. Unfortunately, Panorama still doesn’t know what love is in 2018. Perhaps foolishly, we have dedicated this issue to a concept that all of us desire, yet fail to fully understand. Here’s what we do know about love: at any one time, we need it or we don’t, we accept it or we reject it, or we are simply indifferent to it. There are different types, including romantic love, platonic love and self-love. In this issue, we’re taking on teen love, a raging sea of self-discovery and hormonal turmoil. And we don’t regret that for a second. After all, love makes the world go ‘round. Check out our investigation of love here in Ladue and around the world on pages 8-9.
Bites of the Month: The last month’s greatest gab “Yeah!” –Philadelphia Eagles, collectively, in response to Coach Doug Pederson asking if the team was done after winning the Super Bowl Feb 4. “So I think there’s assumptions made that because the climate is warming, that that necessarily is a bad thing.” –Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt Feb. 7. Quotes courtesy of philly.com and the Washington Post
Corrections In the previous issue, Allen Weltig’s first name was misspelled. aleesha shi w ART EDITOR
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PANORAMA
opinions
Staff Editorial
Last student standing
michelle zhou w ARTIST
PDA — stop it because we need to make it to class
(Photo by Zach Weller) cassie BEISHEIM
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writer
f I ever write an opinions piece that doesn’t mention speech and debate in some way, assume it was ghostwritten. I am a proud member of the Ladue Talking Rams. I attend tournaments most weekends and spend hours giving the same 10-minute speech to walls — looking pretty insane doing it, I might add. To many, this idea is crazy. But to me, it’s exhilarating. Being judged by a room full of intimidating people may sound like a nightmare, but to a “speechie,” it’s a dream. But let’s realize the main trait debate promotes: competitiveness. Competition is healthy and promotes growth. However, it’s all too often that high school students compete mercilessly, often to the detriment of themselves and their peers. With college as the endgame for many high school students, the drive to be unique and appealing is pushed on teens early. Kids take on multiple clubs, extracurriculars and AP courses every year simply to try to make themselves look attractive to schools. While it’s great that teens are starting to find themselves before they rush off to college, this diversifying of one’s schedule can easily cause more hurt than help. The jealousy that competitiveness brings about causes students to subconsciously act with malice. With low acceptance rates and high expectations, many students are willing to do anything to stand out. Some people decide that something is “their thing” and even discourage potential competitors in order to promote their own unique college applications. They get in their head that if they aren’t the best at what they do, they’re not worth it. High school has become an environment where success is put over friendships. We strive for excellence but forget others compete just as intensely. High school students need to realize that passions aren’t fighting grounds. The mindset students get into because of pressure from high school and the college process is toxic, and if they continue to promote this jealousy and competitiveness, the high school experience will never be all it’s hyped up to be. In order to have the “best four years of their lives,” students need to not feel obligated to compete. While I love debate with my entire being, I don’t own it. I have many other teammates who work just as hard as I do every day, and I’d never discourage them from debate. By understanding that I don’t need to compete for some college application, I’ve found joy in my activity more so than ever before. v
I
aleesha shi w ART EDITOR
magine rushing all the way from the trailers to the Black Box. While running out of time to get to your class, you suddenly encounter a roadblock. You’re trapped behind a young couple holding hands and walking at a frustratingly slow pace. Unable to break past the overwhelming power of love, you give up and resign yourself to the Cupid shuffle. Public displays of affection, or PDA, are especially apparent in the halls and classrooms of Ladue, and it’s time for them to stop. Seminar has been invaded with couples cuddling and social media captions are bombarded with heart emojis and “I love you”s. Although PDA may seem perfectly fine to the participants, it is an unnecessary distraction. Not only does it point out the hopeless loneliness in the majority of singles, but it also generates whispers that eventually blow up into a schoolwide gossip circle. More importantly, when a couple holding hands walks in the hallways at .0002 nanometers per hour, it inconveniences everybody in the school, especially the numerous singles who won’t be getting any Valentine chocolates. The people of Ladue should be able to navigate through the halls without hitting an impenetrable human wall and having to wait for an opening to squeeze through and feeling awkward. It is perfectly okay for someone to like showing off their significant other to all of their Instagram follow-
ers, but no one needs to see pictures of the couple kissing or questionable hand placement. Just a simple side-byside looks great, and it can gain more likes than the sea of awkward screenshots that are meant to stay in one’s personal photo gallery. When writing the caption to a wonderfully appropriate side-by-side picture, one should think about what needs to be broadcasted to his or her following. Little inside jokes can be cute, but it is cringeworthy to many viewing if you comment “blessed to be with my best friend” or “happy three-week anniversary.” While it is important for couples to express their love for each other, school is not the appropriate place to do so. If you find each other just so irresistible, nothing is stopping you from sending each other flirty texts — well, besides Yondr pouches, of course. In all seriousness, school is as much a workplace as it is a learning environment. PDA can make people in the vicinity uncomfortable and distracted, and it does not belong in school, where the majority of people care more about how they will get to class on time than witnessing the incredible power of love. Even if you think you’re truly in love, you should be able to wait until after school to express your affections. The feelings between a couple will not diminish in the least if you go an hour without groping each other. And if they do, that's an entirely different problem. v
Student stances
Do you approve of public displays of affection and why? “I approve of PDA to a certain point. There shouldn’t be a rule against kissing your loved one, but you shouldn’t be out here taking it too far for no reason. Leave that stuff at home.”
“No, because it makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s just not really necessary. You can just do that kind of stuff elsewhere. Not at school, but in other places, I see it.”
- Senior BJ Buchannon
- Sophomore Evan Svoboda
“I do up to a point. I don’t think it should be over the top. I think a hug is okay. Making out and disrespecting other people’s privacy [is what’s over the top].”
- Freshman Diora Ton
PANORAMA
opinions
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Should volunteering be required? Panorama polls “High schools should necessitate volunteering” of the people
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hugh CHAN writer
he elderly in nursing homes depend on volunteers for a form of social contact and help with their day-to-day lives. Mistreated dogs wait anxiously at animal shelters, requiring volunteers to walk and care for them. The workers at soup kitchens constantly need a larger staff to accommodate the hundreds of starving homeless people who wait in long, winding lines every day. Whether it be an elderly home, an animal shelter or a soup kitchen, volunteer work of any kind is much needed in all aspects of a community. Because most adults have to work for the majority of the day, a large portion of volunteer workers are high school students. Volunteer work is strongly encouraged for high school students, yet many who have the time and resources to help the less fortunate don’t do it. Currently, volunteer hours are not a statewide requirement for graduation in Missouri, and school districts are in charge of graduation requirements regarding volunteer work. That means that at Ladue, volunteering is done solely by choice. However, all high schools should necessitate volunteering because students need to experience helping people or organizations. Volunteer work shows that students have a positive impact on their community and helps ensure that these students have the capability to improve our society in the future. Before obtaining a high school diploma, individuals should have to demonstrate selflessness. If individu-
als can show their capacity to volunteer and aid those in need from a young age, then they can demonstrate greater ability to contribute to society in the future more so than those who do not. Selflessness is a trait that must be instilled in the youth to create a better society in the years to come. Additionally, volunteer work helps expose students to different aspects of society. Students who do not volunteer lack true insight into their communities and may continue to stay sheltered in their own comfortable lives. Working with people in need or abandoned dogs would help develop empathy within students and provide a better understanding of the real world. These skills would benefit students greatly in future jobs or situations, as they could relate to others more readily and display a more likable personality. Although those against mandatory hours argue that forced community service would be insincere, simply offering a helping hand would still benefit the community and have a more significant chance of changing the minds of students. When considering the benefits, students who do volunteer earn valuable experience that can make them work sincerely for the good of others. Doing such work for the community fosters character and teaches students the critical life lessons of responsibility, compassion and kindness. High school students should be obligated to volunteer for others in order to graduate. These students can learn how to help society in the future and function as a citizen who acts as positive influences in the world around them. As a result, teens will grow up being more prepared for the real world, which will require significant communication and people skills. v
What was your favorite part of Dance Marathon?* *This data is from the 59 respondents who attended Dance Marathon
25 20 15 10 5 0
Number of students Morale Dance (6.8%) Raffles (3.4%)
Meeting Miracle Kids (42.4%) Food (10.2%)
Dancing (37.3%)
“Definitely meeting the miracle kids, their parents and their stories about their diseases.” - Sophomore Jessica Sheldon
What are you looking forward to at the Winter Dance?
“It takes out the voluntary from volunteering”
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anna LINER writer
ccording to the MerriamWebster dictionary, a volunteer is defined as a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service. In other words, a volunteer is someone who acts on his own and steps up when it comes to helping his community. Anyone can be a volunteer. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 15.5 million youths take part in volunteering each year. However, many teens only take steps to aid their community because it’s required by their schools to graduate. When high schools make community service hours mandatory for graduation, it takes the voluntary out of volunteering. It completely changes the intention of helping the community into an extra layer of stress for students. In addition to the constant worry for grades, students are also always doing what their teachers and counselors are telling them to do, including volunteering. While being forced to volunteer may benefit the community as an end result, the means of doing so are still not by choice. Hence, students may never learn how to truly desire to take their own steps in aiding people and places that need help. Additionally, there are students who are extremely busy with balancing challenging AP courses, time-consuming sports and part-time jobs. Oftentimes, students
may try to help out and support their family by working long hours as well as being a student. In this case, making volunteering mandatory for graduation would only add more stress — and possibly family hardship — into their lives during their high school years. Leaving volunteering optional may cause some students to avoid volunteering altogether. However, this isn’t necessarily true at Ladue. Many students at Ladue continue to volunteer within clubs such as Character Cadre, Dance Marathon, UNICEF and many more each month despite their doing so not being required. Additionally, high school students spend years creating clubs solely dedicated to volunteering. These organizations greatly benefit not only the community, but the school as well. When this becomes required to earn a high school diploma, students may only join clubs thinking they can just sit there and write it on their college applications. Instead, teachers, counselors and parents, rather than schools themselves, should emphasize the importance of volunteering and helping the community. By doing this, students can join organizations and clubs for community work with honest intent and interest. With continued encouragement, students will find that volunteering doesn’t have to be for school, but rather for the community itself and enjoy giving back. To conclude, making volunteering a requirement for graduation takes the integrity out of volunteering and adds extra stress on students. Without mandatory hours, students can focus on their interests like partaking in clubs, which can aid the community as well. Those who volunteer willingly will work much harder for the cause. v
Cane’s and/or Taco Bell (23.30%) Dancing (13.98%)
Charitable Cause (9.68%)
Student DJ (6.81%)
I’m not going (46.24%)
“They got some good catering. I’m excited to get a little taste.” - Sophomore Katherine Abreu
Should volunteer hours be required to graduate?
Yes (30.11%)
No (52.69%)
Undecided (17.20%)
“Yes, because it builds character. It involves you in the community.” - Senior Dasun Gunasinghe Survey results based on 279 voluntary student entries
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features
PANORAMA
All Lehde's Men: daniel CHAYET
will MINIFIE
writer
writer
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n a large room flooded by light, something magical happens every Seminar with band teacher Aaron Lehde and a group of students: a jazz combo that calls itself “Lehde’s Men.” The group gathers to play music for fun. “When you have a last name that is pronounced ‘Lady,’ you live with a constant source of puns and humor,” Lehde said. “The name ‘Lehde’s Men’ has floated around for a while. It’s a little silly, but I think it’s meant in good fun, and [in my opinion], playing music together should be fun.” At the beginning of each Seminar, the members meet in the band room and set up their instruments. Once in a while, Lehde takes out a saxophone, pulls a stool over and joins the group. Lehde acts as the group's coach. Just like many of his students, he has been playing music since fifth grade. His weapon of choice is the saxophone, but he also plays other instruments, many of which are woodwinds. His love of music shows in his work. Professionally, Lehde’s touring and performance experience has brought him to 27 different countries. More importantly, Lehde gets to inspire his students with his skill when necessary, so that others can enjoy music like he does. According to Lehde, junior Hale Masaki is the de facto ringleader of the group. Masaki often experiments with different parts of their songs on his standup bass, and the other members stand by and listen to the results. Masaki, the founder of Lehde's Men, started the group because he saw a lot of the same people messing around in the band room during Seminar. Masaki thought that
A look back in 'Due Time
Ladue students band together to play music outside of class
he, with a little help, could turn the messing around into something more. “I would always go in [the band room], and there would always be people goofing around, playing music ‘together,’ but not really playing any sort of organized thing — nothing productive,” Masaki said. “They were just having fun, which is fine, but I looked at that and said, ‘Why can’t we do that, but better?’” Now, after less than a year, the group has already received some gig offers. In addition to the invitation to perform at the Dads’ Club Trivia Night, Lehde’s Men was asked to play at the Winter Formal, which they declined because of timing conflicts, and will be playing at Ladue’s Jazz Concert March 1. “Mr. Lehde is a really important part [of the group] since we’re not allowed to meet during Seminar if there isn’t teacher supervision,” freshman and alto saxophone player Gabe DiAntonio said. “But, beyond that, he also steps up when necessary. Mr. Lehde has performed with jazz bands before, and he knows a lot about the medium, so just having someone that experienced there in the room is really helpful for Lehde’s Men.” According to Masaki, Lehde’s Men originally needed some help getting started. As the group developed over time, and eventually found the direction it wanted to go in, Lehde gradually stepped back and let the students direct themselves. “They are very self-driven, so I try to stay out of their way and help push them in the right direction when I can,” Lehde said. Anyone interested in joining might be out of luck. As with most musical groups, the members have already developed a sense of camaraderie that might make a newcomer feel awkward. “The people are relatively set at this point,” DiAntonio said. “[We aren't really accepting new members] since you can’t have that many people in a combo.”
Although combos are relatively small, Masaki still believes that there is a possibility for more musicians to join Lehde’s Men. However, he echos DiAntonio’s sentiment about the group being a combo. “If somebody else came up and said, ‘Hey, I want to play with the Lehde’s Men,’ I’d say, ‘Okay, show me what you got,’” Masaki said. “Then, if they sound like something I can work with, then they’re definitely welcome.” Currently, Lehde is optimistic about the future of his namesake musical jazz combo. He hopes that the group will continue to add unique and musical aspects to the Ladue community. “It would be a great chance [for Lehde's Men] to play around our community, as well as for students to learn and grow as musicians,” Lehde said. v
ALL TOGETHER //
A jazz combo with one person per instrument, “Lehde's Men” rehearses together in the band room. Their current dynamic was formed through the trials of multiple rehearsals. “In a big band, you have multiple people per section,” Masaki said. “But since it's a jazz combo, you've only got one.” (Photo by Zach Weller)
This issue: women's rights International Women's Day is March 8.
We explored old editions of Panorama in search of today’s relevant topics. Check out what we found.
With the #MeToo movement and massive women's marches, it is clear that the U.S. has entered a new wave of feminism. These have impacted American society before; in the past, women gained the right to vote and entered the work force. Today, there is still much worth fighting for.
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Double takes: Celebrity lookalikes found in Ladue's halls
Sophomore
Actor
Math teacher
Actor
Sophomore
Actor
Christine Oyalo
Lupita Nyong'o
Garrett White
Josh Gad
Zach Hearst
Elijah Wood
(Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Les Poids des Stars)
PANORAMA
features
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Senior takes a unique path and goes to Romania Caitlin Cunningham will travel abroad for gap year this summer sydney CRUMP
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writer
fter high school, students often choose the college path or jump straight into the workforce. But senior Caitlin Cunningham has something else in mind: a gap year in Romania. Following her return from Romania, Cunningham plans to work for three months and save the money she earns for her college education or additional traveling. Cunningham put thought into deciding on her less-conventional path after high school. “I started becoming interested in the idea of a gap year [during my] sophomore year,” Cunningham said. “I just really need a break from school, [and] that’s a big reason. I’m sure a ton of people understand.” Cunningham’s gap year will begin Aug. 6. Shortly afterward, she will take a plane to Romania by herself. There, she will volunteer at an animal shelter. Cunningham will take her trip to Romania through a program called International Volunteer HQ, which will allow her to volunteer in and experience a different country at a relatively affordable price. “I really like helping people and I love traveling, so I wanted to combine those two and take a year to do that,”
Cunningham said. “I feel like it’s a great opportunity for growth, and if I can do [the gap year], I’m going to go [to] college super prepared.” Since Cunningham will travel to Romania alone, she had to prepare herself to experience independence. She traveled alone in the U.S. this past summer to understand what her solo trip to Romania will be like. “[My mom] was worried about the safety, but both of my parents love to travel,” Cunningham said. “I’m deciding not to worry too much about it, and it helps because I traveled and volunteered alone over the summer in the U.S.” As a senior, Cunningham spends much of her time right now with her friends who will be going straight to college after high school, including senior Laura Ewald. Ewald never considered a gap year for herself, but she thinks that the gap year is a great choice for Cunningham. “[Going to Romania] is what I always expected her to do, just because it’s very [like] her,” Ewald said. “I’m happy that she is doing it to spend time volunteering and helping other people.”
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Along with preparing for her trip, Cunningham had to conduct a lot of research before actually choosing to pursue a gap year before college. She did most of her research about taking a gap year by herself. However, she also consulted college and career counselor Scott Cornwell for advice. Even though many Ladue students consider a gap year, most end up deciding to go to college after high school. “To help Caitlin — in fact, to help all Ladue students — I try to present different options,” Cornwell said. “I [try to] help by challenging students to think beyond what they know.” Cunningham hopes that after taking her gap year in Romania, she will mature and experience different approaches to life, which anna cui artist will end up helping her later on. Taking a gap year may also give Cunningham a glance into what it is like to be an adult and make important decisions for herself. “I think [the trip is] going to push me to learn on the spot, which I think is going to be a really good tool in life,” Cunningham said. “I’ll have a whole new sense of empathy and understanding for people.” v w
PANORAMA Hannah Suffian: How long have you been dating? Evan Schneider: A year on [Feb. 11]. HS: What is your favorite memory together? Taylor Ott: Christmas because we spent the day together with our families. It was nice to be a part of each other’s traditions and feel welcome in each other’s families. We can look back at it as our first Christmas.
Taylor Ott (10) and Evan Schneider (10)
in-depth Anya Tullman: How long have you been dating? Edward Wu: About five months. AT: What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Evyn Levy: We are probably going to get breakfast because we both have senior privilege and we’re both busy after school. EW: Normally, I don’t plan things that far (Photo courtesy of Evyn Levy) into the future.
Edward Wu (12) and Evyn Levy (12)
(Photo by Zach Weller)
Who’s dating who? Q&A with some of Ladue’s couples AT: How long have you been dating? Joanna Jurgiel: Nine months. AT: When did you start dating? Matt Allen: April 21. JJ: It was the 19th. AT: What was your first date like? MA: We went to Sportsman’s [Park]. She ate a hamburger with a fork and knife. JJ: I don’t like touching it with my hands!
Jojo Jurgiel (11) and Matt Allen (12)
HS: How long have you been dating? Tessa Davis: Four weeks. HS: What are your favorite things about each other? TD: My favorite things about Joy are her laugh and how her eyes light up when she smiles. Joy Wenzel: I like how she picks specific people to trust with information. I like how I’ve earned (Photo by Zach Weller) that trust.
Tessa Davis (9) and Joy Wenzel (10)
(Photo by Zach Weller)
How should you spend this Valentine’s Day? Start here Worst day ever
Do you enjoy Valentine’s Day?
Sports or school?
I love it School
Homebody
Comfy Cat
Alone
Night
Fancy
Typical school outfit?
Cat or dog?
Life of the party or homebody?
Dog
Night owl or early bird?
Partier
Safe
Spend time with a a significant other Use Snapchat or your phone camera to scan the QR codes for more information
Sports
It’s okay
Morning
A look into love at Ladue
8
Hang out with friends
Play it safe or risk taker?
Risk
Adventure
in-depth
PANORAMA
Popular online dating sites
Valentine’s Day 101
Match.com Launched in 1995, Match.com serves 25 countries and 21.5 million people.
eHarmony
eHarmony was founded in 2000 in Pasadena, California, and has 15.5 million users.
Tinder
Tinder is a location-based social search app. Its 50 million users swipe right to match with others. Source: diffen.com, expandedramblings.com
Valentines by the numbers On average, a person will spend on Valentine’s Day.
$130.97
224 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine’s Day.
1,400
There are varieties of Hallmark greeting cards for Valentine’s Day.
$1.6 billion
People will spend on candy for Valentine’s Day.
Source: cnn.com
The legend of Cupid According to Greek legend, Cupid flew around with a bow and golden and lead arrows. The golden arrows aroused desire and the lead arrows inflicted hatred. After Apollo, the god of the sun, mocked Cupid, Cupid shot a golden arrow at Apollo, infatuating him with Daphne, a nymph. He then shot a lead arrow at Daphne, making her despise Apollo and repel his advances. Because of Cupid’s mischief, Apollo was unable to attract Daphne. Today, Cupid’s image is widely recognized as a symbol of love on Valentine’s Day and is featured on many cards and chocolate boxes. Source: history.com
Fifteen percent of Americans use online dating apps. Two percent of people marry their high school sweetheart. Americans spend $18.6 billion on Valentine’s Day.
9 hannah SUFFIAN
anya TULLMAN
in-depth editor
in-depth editor
ELA and Social Studies Curriculum Coodinator
Laila Crabtree
“
We went to Conway from kindergarten on through, but we didn’t know each other until second grade. My husband says he remembers me sitting in front of him the first day of second grade, and he was like, ‘Oh — this girl is cute.’ But then I got moved, and he was sad. Freshman year, we connected. (Photo courtesy of Laila Crabtree) We were in the spring musical at the high school together. We spent all of our time together. He drove me to and from school every day, and we talked on the phone all the time. We’ve been together since Feb. 17, 1997. For college, he was at [Washington University in St. Louis] and I was at [Saint Louis University]. We got engaged our junior year of college and got married a month after we graduated from college. We changed and grew up together, so it’s nice that we have this common background. I think sticking true to yourself and maintaining other friendships is extremely important [when in a relationship].”
Valentine’s Day around the world France
Valentine’s Day is not just an American holiday.
The first Valentine’s Day card originated in Paris when Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent letters to his wife while imprisoned in 1415.
South Africa In South Africa, women literally wear their hearts on their sleeves. They pin the name of their romantic interest on their shirts.
South Korea
Cupid was originally known as Eros, Greek god of love.
Women give their partners chocolate and flowers on Valentine’s Day. Men return the favor March 14.
Denmark Valentine’s Day has been celebrated in Denmark since the early 1990s. Men give women gaekkebrev, “joking letters,” that are anonymously signed with dots. Source: huffingtonpost.com
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PANORAMA
A&E
A look at some of the Oscar nominationed films sunny LU writer
Dunkirk
Call Me By Your Name
Starring: Harry Styles,
The Shape of Water
Starring: Timothée
Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Fionn Whitehead, Kenneth Branagh, James D’Arcy
Starring: Sally Hawkins,
Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casa, Esther Garrel
Release date: July
Doug Jones, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins
Release date: Jan. 19,
21, 2017
Release date: Dec. 1,
2018
2017
Number of Oscar nominations: 8
Number of Oscar nominations: 3
Number of Oscar nominations: 13
Director: Christopher
Director: Luca
Director: Guillermo del
Nolan
D
uring the 1940s Battle of France in World War II, the Germans corner Allied soldiers on the French harbor of Dunkirk. A story of survival in the face of tragedy and triumph, “Dunkirk” beautifully illustrates the grit and heroism of the Allied soldiers without romanticizing it. However, the silent-film-like quality of the sound, dappled with grandiose explosions and bombings, was very unengaging for me. The chaotic noise of soldiers fighting for their life, violence of exploding bombs along a beach and the distinct lack of dialogue for about 65 percent of the movie disassociated me for much of the film. Despite this, I agree with the Best Cinematography nomination. The cool-toned colors, shots of war-hardened young men and visual sea of anonymity created a distinct sense of the desperation and triumph of World War II faced by the Allied soldiers. Does this film deserve the eight Oscar nominations? In my opinion, no. But that does not stop me from recommending this film to anyone who enjoys movies about war or is interested in World War II. v
Guadagnino
S
Toro
et in the luscious beauty of Italy’s fruit-tree-filled countryside in the 1980s, “Call Me By Your Name” tells the story of a coming-of-age gay romance between the charming and intelligent 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and confident and charismatic 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer). The plot is nothing crazy, but in my opinion, the focus of this film should be on the characters and their relationships. If anything, the world of the film is so realistic that watching it is like taking a peek into the actual summer home of the characters. The musical backdrop creates another dimension of realism. The classical music Elio plays and the tinkling theme that perfectly captures the charm and whimsy of a summer in Italy create a world of warmth and selfdiscovery for our precocious teenage character. What this film does best, in my opinion, is that instead of making fun of Elio for his youthful naivety, it frames it in this gut-wrenching way that pulls at the recognition of one’s own adolescent ignorance, while respecting the fact that it is something everyone experiences. v
B
y far my favorite movie of the year, “The Shape of Water” goes beyond the romance between a fish man and a mute woman to examine issues society faces today through a historical, somewhat fantastical and thoroughly enrapturing context. I genuinely enjoyed the commentary on the systems of oppression this film calls out. The main character, Elisa (Sally Hawkins), a mute janitor, and her best friends, a black woman named Zelda (Octavia Spencer) and gay artist Giles (Richard Jenkins), are symbolic of the minorities in the U.S. whom the public tends to discard. As a disabled woman, Elisa is often overlooked, which allows her to form a relationship with an entrapped creature. The creature is also significant in its representation of new ideas or thoughts that “polite society” brutalizes and attempts to withhold and control whenever possible. Beyond the undercurrent of political statements, this film tells an enchantingly beautiful story of love, hate and loyalty. I believe this film is 100 percent deserving of all 13 Oscar nominations; “The Shape of Water” has me rooting for it to snag all of the awards. v
Battle of the batters
albert LIU writer
Winner These cookies were definitely served in a Hot Box, and the store was also the furthest from Ladue. I ordered six cookies here — three chocolate chip and three cookies n’ creme cookies — for a total of $8.00. It was kind of surprising to me how they didn’t have sugar cookies, especially since it’s harder to compare different cookies. Their chocolate chips weren’t as chunky as Insomnia’s, but they were still really good to eat. The cookies n’ creme tasted kind of like the name, but wasn’t chocolatey and didn’t have the creme I was expecting. I thought that Hot Box’s cookies were a tad sweeter than Insomnia’s, and their cookies were definitely larger than Insomnia’s.
There could be two reasons that these cookies got their name. First, Insomnia Cookies offers late night delivery, which makes it convenient since that’s when I feel like binge-eating cookies while watching Netflix with the flu. Second, you end up eating enough cookies to lapse into a food coma. I ordered three chocolate chip and three sugar cookies, which totaled $8.80. The chocolate chip cookies were sweet, and the actual chocolate chips gave it that ooey-gooey depth. The cookies had a golden-brown crisp while the inside was soft and heartwarming. The sugar cookies were simple, perfectly sweet and buttery. Winner: Insomnia!
PANORAMA
news
11
Ladue wins $10,000 at Lexus Eco Challenge competition
Team shows composting superworms is a possible recycling solution
T
felix HU writer
he high school’s Lexus Eco Challenge team recently received word that its project had won one of two prizes for the central region of the competition. This was the first year of participation for Ladue. The project, titled “The Superworms,” combined recycling styrofoams with composting. The Lexus Eco Challenge is a STEM competition sponsored by Lexus and the Scholastic Corporation designed to propel high school students to push scientific boundaries and benefit their communities. Teams identify an issue in their community and attempt to use scientific knowledge to provide a sustainable and practical solution to the chosen problem. Ladue’s project was inspired by the Stanford research article, “Plastic-eating Worms May Offer Solution to Mounting Waste.” The paper described mealworms’ abilities to biodegrade various synthetic polymers. After seeing waste materials from construction and excess plastic utensils in the cafeteria, the Lexus Eco Challenge team agreed on the basis of their project: worms that would degrade styrofoam into compost. “It’s common knowledge that styrofoam is hard to decompose,” sophomore Christopher Ye said. “The article made our team think: what if we could use mealworms
to address the styrofoam project at school? We got pretty good results in our experimenting.” Prior to winter break, the team submitted a presentation explaining their project to the Lexus Eco Challenge panel. The panel awarded a total of $10,000 to Ladue High School. “We were all surprised to hear that we advanced to the next round,” junior Alice Breternitz said. “The project wasn’t very in-depth, but I think the way that we described its applications made us stand out.” However, they haven’t finished their project. The team will attempt to expand “The Superworms” project across the district and has plans to introduce their work to St. Louis businesses. “We are thinking of introducing bins dedicated to styrofoam recycling, where we will use our worm research to break down synthetic materials,” sponsor and AP Biology teacher Monica Bowman said. “We are experimenting with feces as a fertilizer for plants. The team is also thinking of reaching out to Smoothie King to talk with them about styrofoam recycling with mealworms.” The next step of the competition will involve Ladue battling with teams across the nation for the grand prize of $30,000. The deadline for submission to the “Final Challenge” is March 5. “Right now, it’s all about interpretation and expansion of our project,” Breternitz said. “If we implement it correctly, then I think we have a shot at winning.” v
Viva Voce Q&A with Menea Kefalov Adam Rush: What has happened for Viva Voce recently? Menea Kefalov: We just competed in ICSHA, which is the international competition of high school a cappella, and won first place, which means we’re going to semifinals in Chicago. We decided to [compete] half a year ago, and we have been working on our set choreography. AR: What is a typical practice like? MK: We meet Thursday mornings. We run our set, and then Mrs. Alrutz, our director, gives us corrections and ideas, and we work [problems] out like intonation problems or choreography or anything we need to [solve]. AR: What specific songs did you guys sing? MK: We did “Greedy” by Ariana Grande first, and then “When We Were Young” by Adele, and then “Hate on Me” by Jill Scott. AR: What made you choose these songs? MK: Mrs. Alrutz is super involved in the a capella community, and she knows a bunch of arrangers. She talked to them and [found out] what they thought what could be good. She also asked us what songs we wanted to sing. You also have to think about soloists and who can do which part. AR: Did you win any personal awards at the competition? MK: I got the Outstanding Soloist Award, which was really exciting. AR: What comes next in Viva Voce’s season? MK: We are going to be rehearsing, and we got the judges’ comments back, so we can see what they thought and improve. Once we compete in semifinals, and if we happen to do well there, we will go on to New York for finals.
LOOKING FOR CLUES // Juniors Eleanor Duncan,
Carolyn Duncan, Megan Ross, and Faith Deddens, as well as AP Biology teacher Monica Bowman, observe how the superworms create homes by burrowing into and chewing away at styrofoam Jan. 18. The next step is to figure out whether the superworms eat the styrofoam because they enjoy it or because they are trying to create homes. (Photo courtesy of Monica Bowman)
PANORAMA
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news
School cancels Winter Dance due to safety concerns Remaining funds set to go to charitable clubs throughout high school
T
autumn RYAN writer
he Winter Dance was recently cancelled Feb. 10 because of the possibility of unsafe roads and a winter weather advisory released by national and local weather services. The dance was planned by the Student Council and was scheduled to return to Ladue for the first time in years. The administration first became concerned about the weather for the dance Feb. 7. They and STUCO sponsor Jim Goldwasser monitored the weather each day and ultimately chose to pull the plug on the event the morning
of the dance. The winter dance will not be rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts. “I am sorry the weather didn’t cooperate,” Goldwasser said. “I feel much better about having to explain to students why the dance was cancelled than having to explain to people who got into accidents why the dance wasn't cancelled. The weather hit just as the dance was scheduled to end. The right decision was made.” STUCO planned to add entertainment and food options for the event and hoped to encourage more school spirit throughout the student body by reviving an old tradition at the high school. “STUCO thought that there was a gap between homecoming
and prom that needed to be filled with something that could improve our school spirit,” STUCO sophomore president Giuseppe Di Cera said. “The Winter Dance fell into place, and we hoped that it [would] become a mainstay at the school in the years to come.” After brainaud rey storming ideas, wan g ART EDI the council spoke TOR to Goldwasser early in the first semester of this school year. Council members particiw
pated in months of planning to create the event, with project efficiency being one of the major obstacles in their path. While over 400 tickets were sold for the dance, refunds were available for students during lunch Feb. 12 and 13. All remaining revenue will be given to charitable clubs in Ladue. “All the profits [were going] to UNICEF and Habitat for Humanity,” Zhong said. “Any other clubs that are giving to a good cause [could have asked] for the revenue we raised.”
While the dance will not take place this school year, both Goldwasser and STUCO expect to try and reschedule the event for next year. Despite Di Cera’s disappointment at the cancellation, he is still proud of the work that STUCO did and is grateful for the support of UNICEF and faculty and peers who helped plan the dance. “I cannot meaningfully express in words how much time was put into planning this dance and making it the best experience possible for all Ladue students,” Di Cera said. “I am extremely proud of the work that [STUCO] was able to accomplish. It’s an experience that can never be taken away from us.” v
Robotics readies for first competition of the season
Ladue’s robotics team will debut their robot in an event called Power Up
T
aman RAHMAN writer
In the Classrooms
he robotics team is building a robot to prepare for an international robotics competition called FIRST that takes place March 7-10. The team built the robot for their first event called Power Up, a challenge where Ladue will compete against two separate teams. The team designed the robot so it is capable of climbing up a ladder rung, picking up cratesize cubes and placing the cubes on a platform. Each member has distinct obligations in order to create the finished product for the competition. “My responsibilities as a leader are mostly to teach the new members how to do what I can,” junior and team leader Megan Ross said. “I know electrical and safety [techniques]. I do my best to teach anyone willing to try how to do it. I will be graduating in a little more than a year, and I want the team to continue doing well.” Team sponsors Stephen Schmidt and Ted Waterson advise the team on the process of building a robot. They
have continuously helped the robotics team to prepare for their upcoming competitions. “I help with brainstorming design ideas, developing game strategy, practicing controlling the robot and obviously building the robot,” Waterson said. “We use a lot of trial and error. Then, we [do] what works.” Despite the benefits of joining robotics, many members feel as though robotics is a massive time commitment. Junior Crew Gamble attends nearly every meeting, even those that are on Saturdays. “I really enjoy the rigor of robotics,” Gamble said. “When I joined [the team], there was a lot I didn’t know about the [time commitment].” While the team prepares for their events, they have set themselves the goal of finishing their robot Feb. 20. To succeed, the team believes they will need to focus on their communication. Although there is still time before their competitions, Ross feels as though there is plenty of work to be done before they are ready for competition. “We are only halfway into build season, although we are reaching the point where we need to pick up the pace,” Ross said. “It’s a bit stressful.” v
Ceramics II During her study hall, junior Hadley Cytron works on a pot for Ceramics II Feb. 8. In this class, students go more in-depth and learn how to use a variety of decoration and firing techniques. “I like artwork and being able to take my mind off of other classes,” Cytron said. (Photo by Connie Chen)
EYES ON THE PRIZE // Junior Crew Gamble points
to a task that shows what they need to do for their competitions in March. Gamble signed up for Robotics this year because he felt he had too much time on his hands, and it was a subject he felt he was skilled in. “I joined robotics because I had a lot of [available] time, and I wanted to spend it doing something interesting,” Gamble said. “I hope we do well in the season.” (Photo by Zach Weller)
Photo and Art I Sophomore Sam Patterson teaches a student how to upload his photos onto Google Drive Feb. 7. They learned about Photoshop during class. The class teaches students how to use composition, lighting and other ways to improve their photography skills. (Photo by Connie Chen)
PANORAMA
news
13
Ladue’s Dance Marathon raises over $81,000 This year’s total is the highest amount the high school has ever received davina LETTAU writer
L
adue’s Dance Marathon hosted a six- hour dancing fundraiser that raised more than $81,000. While they initially received only $68,000, a last-minute donation boosted the total well over the original goal. This year’s goal was to collect $50,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network, an organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children’s health issues across the nation. Dance Marathon’s executive board members started planning this year’s event and fundraisers last June. Senior and executive co-director Elizabeth Minifie believes that Dance Marathon has given hope to families impacted by childhood cancer, disabilities and illnesses. “Kids have enough going on in their lives without sickness,”
Minifie said. “Children’s Miracle Network makes it [so] kids stay kids a little longer and makes [their lives] more fun.” Dance Marathon raised money through multiple fundraisers and profit shares — agreements in which a percentage of sales at a restaurant or shop in a day are donated to the organization — with restaurants such as California Pizza Kitchen. Although most contributions from students occur on the day of the event, smaller fundraisers have helped make it possible for students to raise more than their expected goal for the past four years. “[Raising] more money than planned proves how dedicated everyone who participates is to the cause,” junior and executive board member Alice Birchfield said. “Each year, the undertaking of a new and bigger goal is both scary and exciting, and this year [I was glad] to meet and exceed our goal.” The magnitude of the Children’s Miracle Network activi-
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD // Dance
Marathon members reveal the amount of money they raised at their big event Feb. 3. The executive board was not allowed to know the total they raised until the event in order to keep the kids their first priority. “These kids should just be able to focus on being a kid,” junior and executive board member Alice Birchfield said. “If there is [a] way I can make their fight easier, I want to.” (Photo by Zach Weller)
ties is not lost on Birchfield. She feels that since anyone could come down with an illness, the money they raise for the children is invaluable. “Anyone I know, or even myself, could be put in their position,” Birchfield said. “Being able to do anything at all to help kids like them out means the world [to me].” The event also allows executive board members like junior Blake Berg to reflect on their pasts. Berg believes his involvement with Dance Marathon and his position as head of morale
has allowed the event to become an important part of his life. “I started Dance Marathon as a freshman, and that’s when I really got into the idea of helping kids that go through things that no one should go through,” Berg said. “[The event] is a fun, rewarding way to raise tens of thousands of dollars for [kids receiving] treatment in children’s hospitals.” While the Dance Marathon funds attempt to help children across the nation, the fundraising process also teaches students valuable moral lessons. The
board members feel Dance Marathon activities have shaped them into who they are today. While they admit the tasks can be overwhelming, they always try to put the kids first. “When I get to interact with the miracle families, I understand what Dance Marathon is about,” Minifie said. “We can help families that are going through struggles. The only changes we can make [are] having the kids laugh or smile and giving parents hope for tomorrow. I am proud that I get to take part in enacting such an incredible change.” v
A deeper look at the Children’s Miracle Network
burke howe w DESIGNER
In the Clubs
CMN hospitals will provide $3.4 billion in charity
170 hospitals are members of CMN
62 children enter a CMN hospital per minute
Chess Club Chess Club currently has a record of four wins and two losses in The Gateway Chess High School League. “[We] have competed against some of the best in the state of Missouri,” senior Tom Xiong said. “We have been working to create new strategies to face future challenges.” (Photo courtesy of Garrett White)
CMN has a 91.6 rating out of 100
1 in 10 kids are treated at CMN hospitals *Rating based on Charity Navigator (source: helpmakemiracles.org)
Quizbowl Quizbowl will compete in several trivia events including WUHSAC XX and a National Academic Quiz Tournament qualifier. “I’m more than satisfied with how our club is doing,” junior and club president Raj Paul said. “We have a strong, eager group of [students] dedicated to Quizbowl.” (Photo courtesy of Raj Paul)
sports
PANORAMA
14
United we swim, divided we belly-flop
Girls swimming and diving uses their dedication and teamwork to fuel success
T
hope SHIMONY writer
he Ladue girls swim team came in first place at the Ladue Invitational. They also placed second at the Nancy Brandt Invitational and the Cape Central Invitational. Already, six swimmers and one diver have qualified for state. The team has gone 4-3 in dual meets so far this season. Throughout the winter, the swim team has continued to improve; this significant progress can be attributed to their strong work ethic and valuable upperclassmen guidance. “I would attribute the team’s success to strong senior leadership,” head swimming coach Blakeleigh Mathes said. “Our captains, Riley Deutsch, Kela Munnerlyn and Becca Friedman, established goals and expectations for the team at the beginning of the season while organizing team bonding events. Kela, Riley and Becca hold the team accountable while attending every practice and giving 110 percent every day.” Throughout these daily workouts, the swimmers must practice with a high work rate and intense concentration. The athletes swim around 5200 yards, or three miles, every day. During these drills, the team focuses on improving a variety of their swimming techniques. “During [practice], we will focus on stroke technique, turns and starts,” Mathes said. “Every practice will [also] have a high intensity set where I ask the girls to maintain an elevated level of speed over a specific distance.
These sets help replicate race conditions and help train the girls to swim a complete race, even if their bodies are exhausted.” These intense practices help the swimmers develop numerous usefull skills, allowing the team’s level of competition to rise as a whole. Possessing a wide range of strengths allows the athletes to serve the team in a variety of races. “This team is successful not just because of our top swimmers, but because of our depth,” senior captain Riley Deutsch said. “We have a lot of strong, versatile swimmers who fill in where we need them.” As well as their depth, the girls swim team can attribute their success to their enthusiasm and team spirit. The team has created a family atmosphere full of encouragement and support. “What I enjoy most on the team is the dynamic,” senior captain Becca Friedman said. “There is always somebody cheering you on no matter how good or bad you may be doing. The constant motivation by everybody on this team makes every day enjoyable.” This camaraderie has helped the swim team towards their goals this season. The swim team is a community in which every individual celebrates each other with respect and appreciation. All the swimmers and divers cheer each other on until they lose their voices. This surrounding atmosphere has allowed the athletes to enjoy the sport and succeed throughout the season. “My favorite aspect of being on the girls swim team is the family-like environment I feel when I walk into a
ON YOUR MARK //
The Ladue girls line up for a race in a meet Jan. 18. It was the girls’ senior night and they had a strong showing, winning the overall meet. “The swim season goes by extremely fast, and you don’t realize that until the season is over, and we are cleaning out our lockers,” senior Rebecca Friedman said. “We don’t realize how short our time is together.” (Photo by Madi Ward)
room with my team,” Friedman said. “We make a pool or space feel like home no matter where we go.” These strong bonds stem beyond the students. The coaches admire this team’s commitment to greatness within the sport. “I can’t put into words how proud I am of the girls,” Mathes said. “They’ve inspired me with their dedication to one another, dedication to excellence in and out of the pool and their willingness to work hard.” v
Nine senior athletes sign to college
(Photos by Madi Ward and Maggie Lochmoeller)
Kaylon Buckner
Alex Cobin
Jon-David Gunther
Arizona State University
Lacrosse- Midfielder
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis Community College- Meramec
263 goals, 94 assists, 357 points
Track and cross country 4:30 mile, 50.6s 400m
Baseball- Pitcher
70 goals away from breaking all-time state record in goals
State qualifier in the mile, anchored 4x800 to fourth place at state
2.80 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 5 Innings pitched Varsity player since 2015
P.J. Hensley
Jordan Jackson
Megan Present
Trinity University
Football- Kicker/Punter 74/74 XP, 10/12 FG, 59 yards per kickoff 2017 first team allconference, second team all state
Jeri Rhodes University of Michigan
Rowing 1:45.9/500m two kilometer, 1:54.4/500m five kilometer Varsity rower since 2016
Washington University In St. Louis
Football- Quarterback
West Virginia University
Rowing
1743 passing yards, 6 passing TD, 6 rushing TD
1:54.9/500m two kilometer, 2:01.9/500m five kilometer
2017 Class 4 Missouri offensive player of the year
Varsity rower since 2015
Jaylen Sykes
Aaron Umen
Football- Defensive Tackle
Tennis No. 1 player for boys 18’s in St. Louis district Fourth in doubles at state his sophomore year, third last year
Iowa Central Community College
33 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recovories First team all-state defensive tackle
Case Western Reserve University
sports
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PANORAMA
Senior Sit Down Each month, Panorama sits down with a senior athlete. This month’s featured athlete is basketball player Trent Stiebler. Jackson Bry: What was your favorite memory playing basketball for Ladue? Trent Stiebler: The last three Clayton games for sure. The atmosphere is crazy, everyone comes out and sees it, and it’s for a great cause. JB: Do you have any pre-game rituals? TS: No, I’m not superstitious at all. JB: Are there any famous athletes you look up to? TS: Lebron [James]. He’s 33 years old and he’s in such great shape. His work ethic is really something I admire. JB: What are you looking forward to for the rest of the season? TS: District championship, baby. (Photo by Zach Weller)
BASH BROTHERS // Sophomore defenseman Harry Trelz dives to stop a Priory forward from cutting in front of senior goalie Daniel Karasick. The hockey team won a nail-biter against Priory 4-3 after a late power-play goal by junior forward Cam Stefek. The Rams successfully killed off a Priory power-play with a minute and five seconds left to win the game. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores that have played pretty regularly,” head coach David Brosseau said. “If you look back on Game 1 to Game 21, they’ve all progressed really well.” (Photo by Rhiannon Rhoads)
Making hockey history
Ladue makes Challenge Cup for first time
sophomore defenseman Jake Tackes said. “We worked really hard and it’s a really cool acomplishment.” jacob KORN The team getting to participate in this state tournament writer has taken time. Third-year head coach David Brosseau has coached the team to 16-3-2 record. fter reaching the Wickenheiser Cup finals at the “Our record has continued to get better since my first Scottrade Center in March 2017, many thought season coaching, and we’ve basically had the same goal the varsity hockey team had reached its peak. since day one: to win a state championship,” Brosseau However, this year, the team competed in the Challenge said. “We’ve tried to do this by implementing a winning Cup, which is the highest division of state championship culture.” in Missouri. Besides the improvement of the team on the ice over Although being in the Challenge Cup resulted in a first the past few years, the team’s round exit, just being there off-the-ice chemistry has also speaks to the improvement of Our record has continued the hockey team in the recent to get better since my first been improved. Senior captain and forward Jake Gould has years. Senior captain and season coaching, and we’ve basically continued to form strong bonds forward Zach Levy made sure had the same goal since day one: to win with all of his teammates over to keep his teammates and a state championship. the last couple of seasons. himself disciplined through“Over the past few years my out the season. teammates and I really have gotten a chance to get to “We have conditioned and worked much harder this know each other better, and our chemistry has definitely year because of our very tough schedule,” Levy said. improved,” Gould said. “Really, the closer you are off the “Since we knew our team was more talented this year, ice, the closer you will be on it.” it pushed each and every one of us to work that much When it comes down to it, for these boys, hockey is harder.” more than just a sport. It’s an activity that gave them a Specifically, when it comes to practice, the team had chance to make many lifelong friends they will always be to work very hard to try to compete with powerhouse able to count on. schools like Christian Brothers College High School and “Ladue hockey has formed a bond with me and my St. Louis University High School. CBC has won four teammates that can never be broken,” Levy said. “We Challenge Cups in the past five years. will always have this bond and friendship that we’ve cre“We didn’t like the way the season ended, but we are ated over the past four years.” v the first Ladue team to ever make the Challenge Cup,”
A
photo
PANORAMA
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Live a Little, Love a Lot. Students share the little things that make them happy
rose HAUSER photo editor
rhiannon RHOADS photo editor
YOU MAKE MY COOKIE CRUMBLE // (Top
Left) Sitting in the hallway by Ladue’s cafeteria, sophomore Eli Swift enjoys a sugar cookie. Along with sugar cookies, a few of Swift’s other favorite foods are watermelon and the Frisco Melt from Steak ‘n Shake. “I like sugar cookies because they’re soft, and they don’t have any extra components to take away from its cookie dough flavor,” Swift said. “Eating with someone else is also a very good way of getting to know them.” (Photo by Rose Hauser)
KISS AND MAKEUP // (Top Right) Looking into
the Ladue theater’s backstage mirror, sophomore Taymae Mimouni carefully applies her lip gloss from Ulta in the shade Belle. Mimouni was influenced and inspired by watching various makeup videos and decided to begin doing her own makeup in eighth grade. Now, Mimouni applies makeup on Ladue students for many of the school’s productions. “My favorite thing to do with makeup is like really wild and out-there looks with bright colors and stuff,” Mimouni said. (Photo by Rose Hauser)
HOOKED ON YOU // (Above) Working on her newest project while wearing a scarf she made
herself, senior Sarah Eisenman knits tiny socks for babies. Eisenman fell in love with knitting at the age of 9 during a knitting party hosted by her aunt. Since then, her love for knitting has inspired her to create the club Kids Knitting it Forward, where a variety of age groups meet to work on their knitting and donate the finished projects to charity. “[Knitting] is different for everybody; that’s the cool thing about it,” Eisenman said. “There’s something for everyone. That’s why I tell people [to] pick something you like because I can guarantee there’s a little baby who would love that hat. It’s universal.” (Photo by Rose Hauser)
WEIGHTS BEFORE DATES // (Upper Right) Lifting the loaded bar, junior Yifu Zhu demonstrates a jerk with ease. Zhu has been training for Olympic weightlifting at the Lab Gym for about one year and loves it. After intense practice, he now can lift 205 pounds overhead. Zhu hasn’t been able to participate in any competitions because of injury and the fact that the Ladue soccer season usually starts at the same time as lifting competitions. “I’m fascinated by all feats of strength, but I find the Olympic weightlifting movements much more fluid and aesthetic than other strength sports,” Zhu said. (Photo by Rhiannon Rhoads)
HOT DOG! // (Above) Cuddling with his puppies, Marco, Max and Mason, senior
Zach Bernstein smiles. Bernstein has had his oldest dog for 10 years, the middle dog for seven years and the youngest for five years. Marco and Max are Wheaten and Poodle mixes. “I love [my dogs] because they’re super cute and are always in my bed when I get home,” Bernstein said. “Also, they always follow me around.” (Photo by Rhiannon Rhoads)