The Bell May 2020 by Liberty Public Schools

the bell.

May 2020 Volume 96, Issue 7

Liberty High School lhsnews.net

contents.

Staff

Editor-in-Chief Sidney Lowry Mangaging Editor Zahra Khan Copy Editor & Opinion Editor Alyah Craig Copy, News & Co-Sports Editor Jennavieve Carmony Features Editor & Co-Sports Editor Emma Stauffer Indepth Editor Ashley Tindall Spotlight Editor Derek Katzer A&E Editor Regan Johnston Online Manager Liz Gammon Ads Manager Caroline Parry Reporters Ethan Atkins Sarah Blankenship Shane Bass Caty Franklin Rosie Frederick Jade Garbani

Jenna Henderson Lucas Kilgore Ari Revella Anthony Savastino Alexis Tindall

Photo Jay

Photo Jay Managing Editor Ashley Ritter Photo Editor Charlene Nguyen Online Manager Kaleigh McCarthy Camera Operator Mercedes Peck Camera Coordinator Emma McDonald Photographers Grace Bushroe Connor Callahan Alyssa Griffith Hattie Ludwig Hannah Mayfield

Pearl Pritchard Makenna Smock Kayley Twenter Kylee Williams

On the Cover

Seniors Pryce King, Caitlyn Pearson, Gianna Filardo, Caesar Garcia, Kayla Jump, Meghan Schneider, Anthony Basa, Nathnael Kahassai, Grace House, Marc Anthony Ruiz and Evan Moody are among the class of 2020. Although the last weeks have taken an unexpected turn due to the coronavirus pandemic, seniors are remaining positive. Gianna Filardo photo by Ashley Ritter

the bell May 2020 Contents

Liberty High School 200 Blue Jay Drive Liberty, Mo 64068 Editor-in-Chief Sidney Lowry slow9330@lps53.org Adviser Lori Oyler (816) 736-2827 x 2827 lori.oyler@lps53.org

Correction

On page 5 of the April issue, the table of contents said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maya Gannoaâ&#x20AC;? and it should have been Maya Gaona.

Questions, Comments or Concerns? If you have questions, comments, concerns, or a topic that you would like The Bell to cover, write a Letter to the Editor. Your letter must be a maximum of 250 words and your topic must be appropriate for our underage audience. Writing a Letter to the Editor does not mean that it is guaranteed to be published. Submit your letter to: Opinion Editor Alyah Craig acra5623@lps53.org or the Editor-in-Chief Sidney Lowry slow9330@lps53.org

contents.

News 6

Our Needs, Their Roles

Oh, The Places Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Go by Caty Franklin and Lucas Kilgore

Photo courtesy of Misty Newland

Spotlight 16

Elliot Lundy by Sidney Lowry

Hope Black by Alyah Craig

Abbey Klein by Jennavieve Carmony

Maxymiliano Herrera by Zahra Kahn

Tyler Gough by Anthony Savastino

Features

Indepth

by Sarah Blankenship and Derek Katzer

Photo courtesy of Maxymiliano Herrera

Jaydn Keu by Rosie Frederick

Terminating the Racial Target by Paige Hodges

Contents lhsnews.net

contents.

Letter from the Editor The last issue of The Bell for the 2019-2020 school year, like most things in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has not exactly gone according to plan. However, despite the setbacks the newspaper has faced, there are still stories to be told and traditions to be upheld. This last Bell issue of the school year will still provide a proper send-off to the 2020 seniors with a whopping record-breaking 68 pages, including a record number of 240 senior ads. The Bell has more pages of senior ads this year because they were offered free of charge to give seniors the goodbye they deserve. This issue will be posted online only and families will receive links and a pdf via email. The seniors are not the only ones saying farewell to LHS, we are also losing seven LHS staff members who are moving on to other adventures (pages 8-11), including The Bell’s very own adviser, Lori Oyler. Along with highlighting the students and staff that are leaving LHS, this issue focuses on what members of LHS are doing to help the community during these trying times (pages 6 and 7). With everything changing so rapidly due to

with our new adviser, Jamie Gumina, EditorIn-Chief, Regan Johnston and six new talented and hard-working Section-Editor and leadership staff. For those who don’t know, having seven members on our leadership team is a small number compared to recent years for The Bell staff. Though we may be small, the work I have seen from our new leadership team in this issue alone (especially in a quarantine where we cannot meet in person) soothes any doubt in my mind that we can face the challenges headed our way. Next year, when we are officially up and running in a school setting, we will certainly be a force to be reckoned with. The end of this year has been trying for all of us, but now the seniors and leaving staff have a whole new adventure to look forward to, while the rest of us have a whole new school year full of exciting opportunities ahead. Go Jays! Photo by Makenna Smock

the virus, The Bell wants you to know that we’re changing too. After months of preparing and decision-making, LHS can now officially welcome The Bell’s 2020-2021 staff. Complete

Newsbrief Nintendo’s new video game becomes a quarantine pastime.

Reported by Zahra Khan

Curious about what to do during quarantine? Nintendo has you covered with their new game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This new game has been breaking sales records and trending while the world is in isolation. On social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, users are exclaiming their excitement for the new game. As a result, more and more people seem to be buying the game. The game allows players to build and grow an island of their dreams. They can run around and catch exotic bugs, floundering fish, and dig up some fossils, but be careful of tarantulas. Once entering the game, players get to pick an island to live on. From there players build their own island to their liking, inviting new

neighbors, building shops and items to spice up the island. The game was released by Nintendo on March 20 just as states in the U.S. started to issue stay at home orders. The new addition to the Animal Crossing franchise now ranks as the third highest-selling game in the first month of launch by Nintendo. The last game, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, was released back in 2012 on the Nintendo 3DS. The game costs $60 and is available at most stores and is only playable on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite consoles. The game is a fun way to let your creativity explode and make the island unique to each players’ preferences, making no island the same.

Photo by Hattie Ludwig

the bell May 2020 Contents

Opinion

Sidney Lowry/Zahra Kahn

Alyah Craig/Jennavieve Carmony

Liz Gammon/Anthony Savastino

Caroline Parry/Rosie Frederick Photo by Hannah Mayfield

Sports A&E 33

The Next Level by Jade Garbani and Ashley Tindall

Seniors’ Quarantine Jams by Ari Revella

Students’ Top Four Quarantine Activities by Ethan Atkins and Emma Stauffer

Photo by Alyssa Griffith

Photo courtesy of Chayton Beck

Contents lhsnews.net

news.

Our Needs,

Their Roles

Nutrition staff members Renee McGrath and Karen Ryun work to package food to give to families in need. Learn more about LPS nutiriton services at schoolcafe.com/libertyps. Photo courtesy of Misty Newland

LHS staff and students take on different roles to ensure the community’s needs are met. Reported by Derek Katzer and Sarah Blankenship

There are a lot of people right now who need help. LPS has stepped up. From creating masks to delivering groceries, many staff and students are doing everything they can to put a smile on people’s faces and ensure the health and safety of everyone.

Sophomore Sasha Hough creates a mask to donate to local healthcare workers.“If all you can do right now is be an active participant in quarantining and do your part, then that is enough.” Photo courtesy of Sasha Hough

the bell May 2020 News

Design by Caty Franklin

Sewing Masks “I simply found myself wanting to help in any way that I could,” sophomore Catherine Duncan said. “I wanted to keep nurses healthy and supply them with extra masks in case they run out.” Duncan quickly got her friends involved. Sophomore Courtney Athearn was eager to help, so she started right away. “I made reusable surgical masks by getting the fabric and elastic and sewed it together to make the masks,” Athearn said. “I wanted to help the community during this tough time.” Sophomore Sasha Hough wanted to help because she wants to support the workers who are at the highest risk of getting the virus. Hough wants everyone to find some way to help or just stay at home so no one is in danger of getting COVID-19. “I want to say to the student body that though it is great to go to a bigger extent by getting more hands-on, you don’t necessarily need to do so in order to help the community,” Hough said. “If all you can do right now is be an active participant in quarantining and do your part by not going out when it isn’t necessary and especially not meeting up with others, then that is enough.”

Several LHS teachers are working to 3D print mask extenders to donate to essential workers. “Mrs. Anderson and I both took a 3D printer home to print mask extenders,” librarian Lori Riedel said. “So far, we have printed around 250 masks.” Photo courtesy of Lori Riedel

3D Printing Masks “[Christine] Anderson and I both took a 3D printer home to print mask extenders,” Lori Riedel said. “So far, we have printed around 250 masks. We deliver our mask extenders to Kathy Ellermeier. She is Director of Health Services for LPS. She then delivers them to the agencies that need the most. Liberty Hospital is one of those places.”

news. healthier decisions. “By keeping the environment we live in clean, we are protecting the animals, the ground, the plants, the air and nature itself,” Willet said. “If we all take part in maintaining a healthy community, this will not only benefit us as people but everything living around us. We are all connected. If all of us as a whole respected and made a conscious effort to care for the

Can we help? LHS Counselors

Scott Gillespie

Mindy Beard

D-He

Nikki Duncan

Mc-R

Brenda Wiederholt Trilaina McCallum Assistant principal Mike Anderson works to package food for families in need during the Coronavirus pandemic. “We are continuing to serve school meals during virtual learning days,” assistant director of nutrition services Misty Newland said. Photo courtesy of Misty Newland

LPS Serving Times: Alexander Doniphan* Liberty Oaks Ridgeview Warren Hills*

10:45-11:30 11:15-12:00 10:45-11:30 11:15-12:00

*New locations as of April 27 LPS Nutrition Services “We are continuing to serve school meals during virtual learning days,” assistant director of nutrition services Misty Newland said. “We do this in two ways. The primary way is through the curbside drive-thru service. The secondary way is through limited deliveries to families who have special circumstances and meet the criteria. Every day families pick up a meal pack that includes lunch and the next day’s breakfast.” As of April 29, LPS nutrition served 55,378 meals and expects 700 meals to be serviced in their drive-thru service daily. They also deliver the meals to families who are unable to participate in the drive-thru service. Visit the Liberty Public Schools schoolcafe page to learn more about LPS nutrition services

Visit the Pleasent Valley community food page to learn more about volunteer or food opportunities

lll“We are assisting the school counselors to deliver community meal kits to families unable to pick up at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church,” Newland said. “These community meal kits include food to supplement nights and weekends when school meals are not available. These families also receive a school meal kit for each child under 18 years old in their home.” Gift Baskets “I wanted to help the community, so I made gift baskets for my friends,” freshman Addie Vallier said. “I delivered them at their doorsteps and chatted for a while. I wanted to bring a little cheer to people’s Easter, since we all had to spend the holiday alone.” Helping the community has brought Vallier’s family closer by lifting the spirits of others. “Both my sisters, and my mom, have also done this,” Vallier said. “We like doing these surprise gift runs in order to brighten people’s day. My parents have also done grocery runs for people stuck in nursing homes.” The small things these students and their families have done will better the community now and in the future. “Right now it might feel like we are sorely lacking community, but trust me, there are ways to connect all around,” Vallier said. Helping the Environment “To help my community I’ve been picking up litter and trash around my neighborhood roads and on the side of highways,” senior Brianna Willet said. “It’s the right thing to do. Taking care of the environment by keeping the ground clean and free of trash is not the most we can do, it is the least we can do.” Willet believes helping the environment will benefit not just the plants and animals around us, but help people make

A-C

Hf-Ma S-Z

world we live in, we will not only better the Earth we live on but improve ourselves morally.” Food Distribution: Counseling Office “My family and I attend Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone,” Magnuson said. “I have volunteered in collecting, cleaning and packing bags for families to pick up on Friday evenings from our church parking lot. The first week we packed over 250 bags that contained enough food for five to six meals for a family of four. We have been assisting the at the North Kansas City School District.”

Nutrition staff members Kim Saddler, Dennie Permenter, Cindy Henry and Chellana Sowers show off the many bags of food they packaged to give to families in need because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Misty Newland

News lhsnews.net

Oh,

The Places They’ll Go! Staff reflects on their years at LHS as they move on. Reported by Caty Franklin and Lucas Kilgore

As the year co m to a close, teach es ers and staff are preparing for summer and saying goodby e to L For seven staff HS. members, it’s their final goodbye... although one w ill return. They are closi n at LHS and st g chapters arting new ones.

Design by Paige Hodges

Lori Oyler F

or LHS teacher Lori Oyler, this new chapter is about taking a step back from a full schedule. “I taught ELA at LHS for 13 years,” Oyler said. “Although, all-together, I taught for 17 years, 7-12th grades.” She also completed a decade as the newspaper adviser. “It is so fun to work with kids who care about words, who argue about punctuation and most importantly, care about telling the diverse stories of the students we have at LHS.” Oyler hopes to do more of what she loves. Her husband retired last year and the two have plans for the future. “I am taking early retirement so I can travel in the off-season with my husband,” Oyler said. “We have a fifth-wheel mobile home and love to camp.” Oyler also wants to continue her first passions: reading, writing and working with students. “I still love teaching and writing,” Oyler said. “I hope to take work with me on the road, teach online ELA classes or go back to working as a copy-writer for advertising agencies.” One former student of Oyler’s and AVID tutor Hannah Leonard explains the impact Oyler has had on her. “What is special about Oyler is her subtle sense of humor she slips it into conversation when you least expect it,” Leonard said. “She has many sayings and phrases she uses that never fail to crack me up and lighten the mood. It is the best when she follows those comments with an Oyler laugh.” Having a connection to your students is important . “What made Oyler a great teacher is the comfortable environment she created for her students to thrive in by allowing them to be themselves and talk openly with her,” Leonard said. “She was so supportive to me in the hardest part of my life because I went through a lot of heavy stuff at a young age.” In Oyler’s full career, she has influenced countless students. “I have Oyler to thank for a big part of who I am,” Leonard said. “She has been a constant supporter of mine. Starting out as a shy sophomore in her newspaper class and working my way up to Editor-in-Chief senior year, and it was an honor filling in her shoes as a long-term substitute this year. In a way it was like I grew up to be Oyler, who I have always hoped to be like.”

the bell May 2020 Indepth

Photo courtesy of Lori Oyler

Amanda Derryberry T

ime is precious. Amanda Derryberry has recently decided to spend more time with the people she deems the most important “I am leaving to stay at home with my children,” Derryberry said. She and her husband have a two-year-old daughter and they are expecting a little boy in June. “I was at LHS for five years,” Derryberry said. “I taught broadcasting and Advanced English Language Arts 12.” Derryberry especially had a big influence on the KLHS broadcasting team, the beginning and advanced classes, working with them on daily broadcasts, the annual telethon and traveling around the U.S. for national conventions. There are things Derryberry will miss about school, but also things she looks forward to. “I really enjoyed the people I worked with and the students,” Derryberry said. “There was something new and exciting every day. I will miss everyone.” Derryberry is moving on to what she values most in life. Her children won’t be young forever. “I look forward to the time I will get to spend with my kids watching them grow up,” Derryberry said. For students like senior Jillian Flemming, Derryberry’s departure will be felt daily. “I’m going to miss talking to her everyday,” Flemming said. “She was a teacher but she was also a friend who cared about what you were up to.”

Photo courtesy of Mandy Derryberry

Cathy Bailey E

nglish and Special Education teacher Cathy Bailey has a love for the craft of teaching. After her full career of teaching a generation of students, she leaves on a good note with many good memories. “I was the first Special Education teacher to do Class-Within-a-Class in 1992,” Bailey said. “I’ve taught in SPED resource classes and SPED English. I’ve also co-taught in ELA 10 and 11. It’s been 28 years, I was 33 years old when I started teaching and I’m 61 now. That sounds even longer than 28 years.” One student Bailey had an influence on is senior Jadyn Chapman. Chapman notes how great of a teacher Bailey is due to her experience. “Ms. Bailey is really laid back and easy to talk to,” Chapman said. “She tries to help her students anyway she can. She makes her class fun by always being upbeat when teaching.” Bailey is noted to be an excellent social connection for students, and an overall fun teacher students can rely on. “What made Ms. Bailey an overall great teacher is how she can make anyone smile when they walk into her classroom even if she doesn’t know them, how she is always joking with her students and making her classroom a fun place to sit and talk with friends,” Chapman said. “I am going to miss being able to go talk to her.” ELA teacher Lori Oyler co-taught with Bailey for years. They were the longest matched pair of co-teachers in the building for ELA 11, American Lit. “We chose to teach our ELA class like a history class,” Oyler said. “She loves to read biographies about famous historical leaders and share that with the kids.” As for what the future holds, only time will tell. Bailey is evaluating her options and is taking a relaxed approach to how she will continue her life. “I’d like to work part-time somewhere,” Bailey said. “It’s kind of exciting that I have choices. I have two dogs who are almost 12 years old, KG and Miss B, I’ll also be spending more time with them.” Photo courtesy of Cathy Bailey

Indepth lhsnews.net

Sandra Ragan

Sandra Ragan, math teacher at LHS, is retiring after a career

of teaching and caring about her students. The thing she will remember most is the people she worked with and taught. “The students are fabulous,” Ragan said. “I’ve been in three different districts and I love our students. That’s probably the hardest thing about leaving. I always feel like my students keep me young with lots of laughs and silly times. The staff is fantastic, I love the people I work with, so it’s hard to leave.” Ragan is disappointed she is spending her last year teaching virtually. “It’s not the way I wanted to finish,” Ragan said. “I miss my students a lot. The night that I heard that we weren’t coming back for sure, I’ll be honest, I cried. But it’s a different experience, I’ve certainly learned a lot. I’m getting much better at technology, and all those little things that I had never learned. I’d never given a quiz on Canvas. It’s been challenging, and certainly not boring. It just takes a lot of time.” Freshman Maegan Ericksen and sophomore Shelby Johnson have a lot of kind words to say about Ragan. “She was herself and that’s what I love,” Johnson said. “She was kind to everyone and showed them that they could come to her.” Ericksen is grateful for how Ragan taught her not only math, but life skills, too. “She taught me the importance of communication and building relationships with others,” Ericksen said. “She tuaght me math and the role I play in the world.”

Photo courtesy of Sandra Ragan

Photo courtesy of Scott Gillespie

the bell May 2020

Indepth

Scott Gillespie

chool counselor Scott Gillespie has big plans for his future. He and his family are taking it worldwide. “I am leaving LHS to travel around the world with my family and share our adventures through our blog and social media accounts,” Gillespie said. “We’re hoping to create a digital marketing business that allows us to partner with brands all over the world, travel freely, and spend more quality time together as a family. We also hope to inspire other families to explore the world with their kids.” Gillespie really wants to take time to slow down and appreciate his time at LHS. He accomplished many things throughout his years at the school. His favorite accomplishment is developing the Link program. “A few years ago I was asked to start the Link Crew program,” Gillespie said. “That was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as an educator. I absolutely loved working closely with my Link Leaders. It’s been an honor to watch that program grow into what it is today.” Working with freshmen was the main focus of Gillespie’s work. “Over the years, much of my work at LHS was focused on creating programs and interventions to support our incoming freshmen and I’m happy that many of these will continue to live on long after I’m gone,” Gillespie said. Senior Tyler Bolz will remember Gillespie for how helpful he was and their love for running. “I liked that we could talk for hours about our training and racing,” Bolz said. “He has an easy going character, when I needed to completely rearrange my schedule he said ‘it’s no big deal’.”

Kelsie Kleinmeyer

LA teacher Kelsie Kleinmeyer is reflecting on her ninth year of teaching and is taking time to be with her family. “I am taking a one year leave of absence from the district to stay home with my two children, Eli and Addie,” Kleinmeyer said. “I hope to be back in the district, maybe even LHS, in the future. For now, I am going to spend time snuggling my babies and watching them grow and learn. They change so quickly and this is precious time that I can’t get back.” Her life has changed a lot over her years at LHS, and she wants to remember all the things teaching at the school has taught her. “When I first came to LHS, I was fresh out of college,” Kleinmeyer said. “Over the last nine years, I’ve earned my Master’s, gotten married and had two babies. Life changes and sometimes we have to make a choice and trust it is right for now, even when it’s hard or scary. My experience at LHS has taught me how to balance, manage stress and conflict and focus on relationships over everything else. It has also shown me the joys of investing in the lives of high schoolers.” Her decision to leave was difficult for Kleinmeyer, but she hopes that students know how much she enjoyed spending time with them. “I hope that I leave LHS a better place than it was when I found it,” Kleinmeyer said. “I hope students know how much I care about them, and how passionate I am about life and living it full. I also hope that students don’t feel abandoned by my absence, but rather they feel encouraged to follow their hearts and do what they feel is right, even when it’s scary or hard.” Photo courtesy of Kelsie Kleinmeyer

“Congratulatio

ns! You’re off to

Great Places! Y ou’re off and a

way!”

- Dr. Seuss, O

h, the Places

You’ll Go!

Rebecca Cahill

ebecca Cahill has left her mark on LHS as receptionist and A+ coordinator. From making announcements to directing students in the office, she has had the opportunity to care for countless students and families. Even though she’s leaving the high school, she will continue to work for LPS through her promotion as the Accounts Payable Coordinator. “An opportunity arose for me to broaden my horizons and work at the LPS District office,” Cahill said. “I went for it and was hired.” Throughout her years at the school, Cahill has enjoyed interacting with and spending time with students. “My desk was smack in the middle of the office, so I was able to greet and see tons of students every day,” Cahill said. “I think some students were absolutely terrified of the office and I enjoyed setting them at ease with a smile and offer to help. I wanted every student to know that the office was a place they could go with questions or for help in finding what they needed.” In her other role, she also enjoyed spending time with students. “As the A+ program coordinator, I was able to make connections with students and really learn about their goals and dreams,” Cahill said. “It was awesome to have graduated students return during their winter or spring breaks, and fill me in on what life was like after high school for them.” Although her time at LHS has come to a close, Cahill has learned a lot from working in the building and hopes to leave her mark on the people she spent time with. “I hope that I have led by example,” Cahill said. “I hope that students, co-workers and parents remember a positive attitude and friendly demeanor. That people remember what a kind word, a smile and a greeting and giving someone your full attention can mean to another person.” Photo courtesy of Rebecca Cahill

Indepth lhsnews.net

Honoring Bell Seniors

These awards got started in 2010 when staff members fiercely debated using the word ‘plethora,’ which means a large or excessive amount. To this day, the word represents everything that makes Bell staff members special, but we usually do this in class. Senior staff of 2020, YOU are a plethora.

Sidney Lowry - Editor-in-Chief Sidney, thank you for being in my life! You were such a great EIC and I am going to miss you next year. I’m going to miss all your funny remarks, your headstrong personality, all the tea you spill, and just you in general. I will never forget the memories of riding in a car with you or sitting at Panera with you for an hour because my parents forgot about me. Good luck at NMSU! - sophomore Derek Katzer - And Oyler says Barbie thanks you for a great year as the Bell leader!

the bell May 2020 Plethora

Photo courtesy of Sidney Lowry

Art by Jordan Sundarnam

Zahra Khan - Managing Editor Zahra! You are literally one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, but you’re also so hardworking and did your job as managing editor so well! Even though a lot of your work was behind the scenes, you were happy to do it, even if no one recognized it. I already miss doing the renegade with you :( Good luck in everything you do in the future! Can’t wait to see what you accomplish! - sopnomore Caty Franklin -And Oyler says your four years on staff have kept us always on track! And we’ll miss your dad’s help with ads!

Photo by Ashley Ritter

Anthony Savastino - Reporter

Photo by Ashley Ritter

Anthony, Dog let me just tell you that you’re the man. Everything you did this year was great, you wrote a lot of sports stories which takes a lot of commitment, and you wrote them very well. (Yes, state awards...) It was great being on staff with you this year. You are super funny, nice, and serious when you need to be, which is one of your best qualities. I won’t forget playing Call of Duty with you and I am definitely down to do it again sometime. It was fun. - Lucas Kilgore -And Oyler is so glad she recruited you!

Rosie Frederick - Reporter

Caroline Parry - Ads Manager Caroline, I’m so happy that you were my section leader and then in newspaper with me. I have so many memories because of you and I’m so grateful (especially rooming with you at MMEA). Thank you for everything you have done for me. Giving me rides, reminding me to take my saxophone home and yelling at me for not practicing. You’re such an amazing person and you always know how to make people laugh. You’re going to have such an awesome future! Good luck! - Sarah Blankenship - And Oyler says HUGE thanks for two years of ad work -- you rocked it! Daryl would be proud!

Alyah Craig Copy/Opinion Editor and Social Media Manager Photo by Kaleigh McCarthy

Rosie, it has been great being on staff with you these past two years. You are a talented journalist and we are going to miss your writing skills next year. Good luck in all of your endeavors! I know wherever life leads you, you will do great! - Emma Stauffer

Alyah! When I met you in gym my freshman year I realized just how funny and kind you are! You’re seriously one of the most patient and caring people I’ve ever met. You were one of the only people I had ever met when I started newspaper and I’m so glad the class gave me a chance to get to know you better. You were always the first person to offer to help or to guide someone else and I appreciate that so much. You’re going to be so amazing at everything you do in the future! I’ll miss you lots. - Caty Franklin - And Oyler says you may be a little quiet : ) but you’re loud when you write -- in a fantastic way!

- And Oyler loves your storytelling “artwork” and all your smart questions!

Photo by Ashley Ritter

Continued on page 16

Plethora lhsnews.net

Ashley Ritter - PhotoJay Managing Editor Ashley R., you are a really sweet person and I am so glad we got to work together this year. I remember when we had to go to all those places and you had to take pictures of me eating donuts, which was a very weird experience for me, but you were so much fun to be around. You are a very talented person and you are going to go far. You are so dedicated to whatever you set your mind to and I know you are going to go so far in life. Keep pushing on and don’t let anyone stop you. It was so fun to hang with another Ashley for two hours of the day, and while I’m sad it’s over, I know that you are going on to do bigger and better things. Best of luck! - Ashley Tindall - And Oyler says you were fabulous at keeping us organized!

Liz Gammon - Online Manager

Photo by Connor Callahan

Jenn Carmony - Copy and News Editor

Oh where do I start? You have done so much for me and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m so happy we met and you are one of my best friends. You have been there for me a lot, newspaper and other stuff like stupid boy drama. I know you’re going to have an amazing future and you’re going to have so much fun at Mizzou! I can’t wait to hopefully see you there in a couple of years! Thank you for all the amazing memories, and the Taylor Swift jam sessions in your car. I’m so proud of you for being who you want to be and I’ll always be there for you! I love you so much, and I’m going to miss you more than ever next year. Good luck! - Sarah Blankenship - And Oyler believes in your journalistic talents 100%!

Photo by Ashley Ritter

Liz, I’ve had a lot of fun being on staff with you over the years. I’m going to miss your easy-going personality. I will cherish the memories of us hanging out during newspaper parties/activities and joking with the rest of the staff. As much as I am going to miss you, I know you are going to do great things outside of high school and I am incredibly excited for you! I wish you the best of luck in whatever adventures lie ahead for you. - Regan Johnston - And Oyler thanks you for your dedication to the online newspaper for three years. It really paid off this year, in particular, and your leadership this year made us better.

Photo by Ashley Ritter

the bell May 2020 Plethora

COVID-19 Pandemic School Prom will likely Shutdown Changes: be moved to July. More updates from StuCo to come.

Potential alternate dates for graduation are June 14 and July 19

Regular activities have been canceled due to the pandemic. Check with your activity sponser for more information.

All Fine Arts performances and other events have been cancelled.

Senior Pick-up and Return Stations Wednesday, May 20, LHS Check email for assigned times Pickup caps & gowns Return LHS resources websites Underclassmen: May 21, 22

Senior Car Parade: Sunday, May 17 Staging at 12:30 p.m. B&B Theater Parking Lot Decorate your car and join us!

Check your email and both the LHS and LPS for the most current information

Congratulations to the LPS

Caroline WrightDistinguished Seal: German & Spanish

Seal of Biliteracy Award Recipients! Spanish:

Paige Adams Carmen Caudillo Fatima Curiel Caleb Ezzell Cassandra Fuentas Alyssa Griffith Lauryn Hillman Michayla Johnston

Rhiannon Lewis Nathalie Martinez Audrey McBride Leah Rainwater Christopher Rizo Claire Rogers Marc Ruiz Gabrielle Schaller Ashlyn Shultz

Emilie de KleijnDistinguished Seal: Dutch Samantha Seggerman Elizabeth Stepp Maxymiliano Valencia

French:

Peyton Steenstra

spotlights. Lundy looks back on how much he’s grown while at LHS. Reported by Sidney Lowry Photo Courtesy of Elliot Lundy Design by Ethan Atkins

Senior Elliot Lundy 16

the bell

May 2020 Spotlight

Class of 2020 seniors are facing uncertainty of what August will look like due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior Elliot Lundy hopes that once things return to normal, he’ll find himself studying automotives. “After high school, I will go to college to earn dual associate’s degrees in automotive technology and automotive collision repair with a minor in business,” Lundy said. “I started taking automotive classes my freshman year with Auto Tech I, and I originally just wanted to know how to work on my own car and save money. Mr. Wheeler really inspired me to keep learning which led to my internship with him, and at Wicklund’s Carstar.” When he’s not working on cars, you may find Lundy hard at work in room 301 of the LMC where he leads meetings of GSA as the club’s co-president. Lundy is one of the few transgender students to be in a club’s leadership position at LHS. “Being out as someone in the LGBTQ+ community and as an advocate for that community has had its ups and downs, but overall, I don’t regret a single part of it,” Lundy said. “Any instances of harassment that I have experienced were taken care of by administration, which helped quite a bit. I have been the co-president of the Genders and Sexualities Alliance since my sophomore year and it has allowed me many opportunities to make our school a more accepting place. I have had so many supporters in my life in and outside of school.” You can also find Lundy on the rugby field where he plays for the Lady Jay’s rugby team. Lundy’s teammates have been incredibly supportive of him and his gender transition. “Being on the rugby team was one of the best experiences of my entire high school career,” Lundy said. “The only regret I have is that I didn’t join the team sooner. The team is absolutely close-knit. Tracey, our coach, brought us together, but the love of the game kept us close. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” As his senior year comes to a close, Lundy has been thinking back on his favorite memories from his time at LHS. What he’ll miss the most about high school is having lunch with his friends daily. “High school as a whole has been a rollercoaster,” Lundy said. “It’s been an exciting ride to be on, but my ride is over and I’m ready to move on. I’ve always said that I want to get out as quickly as possible, and I still do, but actually moving forward is much more emotional than I expected. Honestly my favorite memory has been lunch with my friends. Even though I sat with different people each year, I always had my best friend by my side. I think that’s going to be the hardest change to adjust to.”

Black sheds light on her time at LHS and her future. Reported by Alyah Craig Photo courtesy of Hope Black Design by Ethan Atkins

Senior Hope Black

spotlights. The class of 2020’s final year of high school definitely did not end the way students intended it to. But senior Hope Black is deciding to focus on the positive aspects of her high school career rather than the negative ones. “Some of my favorite memories are during finals,” Black said. “My friends and I would go get lunch or go to somebody’s house to hang out. It was very fun and helped to lift the mood during finals.” Her first three years at LHS were ones filled with joy and strong friendships, but the beginning of her senior year was where it was all tested. “It was stressful because I was tired of school and there were so many decisions that I had to make,” she said. However, because of her insightful experiences during her four years of high school, she does have some words of advice for those who are still going to walk the halls of LHS next year. “Definitely get the full experience and try not to stress out too much,” she said. “Also, make lots of friends because they will help you get through it all.” While looking back at her high school career and taking into account all of the glorious and unpleasant times, there are a few lessons high school taught her that are indefinite. “It taught me that you can always find something positive in something negative,” Black said. “It also taught me that hanging around my friends can make any experience a better one.” She plans to pursue hair styling school and obtain a business degree in the upcoming years. While she has not fully decided on a school yet, it’s clear that she is ready for what’s to come. “I’m looking forward to being able to do what I love every day. I will be making a living doing something I really enjoy,” Black said. While the current coronavirus crisis might have her waiting a little longer to achieve her dreams, that hasn’t stopped her from prepping for life in the near future. “I have been doing a lot of working out and online shopping,” she said. “It’s a really scary time so I’ve just been trying to make the most out of the situation.” It’s clear that Black is excited about the future, but it’s hard for her to ignore what she’ll be missing out on, the experience that she’s been a part of for the past four years. “I will miss seeing some of my friends every day because most of us are moving away for college,” she said. “I will rarely see some of them because we will all be living in different states. It’ll be very different because we’ve lived really close for so long.”

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Senior Abbey Klein

Senior Abbey Klein looks back on her last four years at LHS.

Reported by Jennavieve Carmony Photo courtesy of Abbey Klein Design by Ethan Atkins

Every senior’s final year at LHS hasn’t gone as expected, but senior Abbey Klein is using her newfound time to reflect on her last four years of highschool. “I’m disappointed, but I also know that it could be a lot worse and that people are literally dying so I don’t spend too much time mulling over it,” she said. “I am using this time to focus on the positives and on what I have done in the past and not the negatives that are happening right now.” Klein has immersed herself in the LHS theatre department since freshman year with Beauty and the Beast and most recently helping on costume crew for Into the Woods. Being involved in theatre for four years

the bell

May 2020 Spotlight

has come with many different shows and cast members, but nothing has topped the production of Mamma Mia her junior year. “The cast and crew for that show were like family and I just remember feeling so excited and blessed to get to be on stage every night because not everyone gets the opportunity to be a part of something that special,” Klein said. Though theatre has been a big part of her high school career, other classes Klein has taken at LHS have helped her find new passions. Her psychology class helped her decide to pursue a major in psychology at Truman State University. “I want to either be a relationship or family therapist because I see a lot of development

that needs to be done in those fields and to be able to contribute to that is the dream,” Klein said. “I want people to feel ok about talking about their issues within these topics and I feel like I have an open energy for people to talk to and that’s why I’m so passionate about these kinds of subjects.” Moving on from LHS is the next step in her future, but for those that still have time left, Klein has some advice. “Don’t be afraid to look stupid,” Klein said. “I think so many people find themselves in weird positions because they’re holding back their true selves, but in the end it doesn’t matter. You should just do what you want. It’s a lot more fun to live life that way.”

spotlights.

Senior Maxymiliano Herrera

Herrera shares his passion for designing and excitement for the future ahead. Reported by Zahra Kahn Photo courtesy of Maxymiliano Herrera Design by Ethan Atkins

Walking down the LHS hallways students see posters for club meetings, artwork and quotes. Well, senior Maxymiliano Herrera is the one behind the eye-popping piece in front of the science hallway leading to the greenhouse. Art is something Herrera is quite familiar with. “My mural on the greenhouse door for the Spanish Honor Society would be my proudest accomplishment,” Herrera said. “But for me personally my proudest accomplishment would definitely be winning Best Construction, Architectural Excellence and Best Overall in the ACE mentoring design charrette.” Herrera’s interest in architecture and design stems from joining the ACE club. It allows students to dive deeper into this type of career. Art and design for Herrera are more than just colors or lines on a page, they are a way for him to communicate with others. “Personally, I’m horrible with words,

especially speaking,” Herera said. “That’s why I always say ‘English isn’t my first language’. It’s an excuse I make because I never know how to express myself verbally and always end up stuttering. So over the years, I have managed to express myself through design.” Even through this pandemic, Herrera hasn’t let the staying indoors stray him from doing what he loves. One thing many people might not know about Herrera is his love for video games, and not just playing them, but designing them. In this time of quarantine, Herera has found a way to do both. “I have recently been recruited to be a part of a creative studio that specializes in making game content for the Minecraft Marketplace.” Herrera said. With his love for architecture, designing and art under his belt Herrera is excited to see what his future holds. Whether it be going to college

or starting off on his own. “I see myself as an independent and artistic individual,” Herrera said. “My goals for life after high school are to have my own place, become more independent, and to continue my learning either through college or by opportunities given to me.” Even though Herrera’s time at LHS is almost over, his work and accomplishments will shine through as more students walk down the hallways and see his bright mural. “The most important piece of advice I have received in my 17 years of life is ‘It be like that sometimes’,” Herrera said. “This line has taught me not to take everything so seriously in my life and that yes there will be bad things in life, but what can you do about it except move on and make it better.”

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spotlights.

Senior Tyler Gough Gough shares his memories and goals for the future.

Reported by Anthony Savastino Photo courtesy of Tyler Gough Design by Ethan Atkins

COVID-19 has affected many student’s lives at LHS, but especially the seniors who are spending the last of their high school experience at home. One student in particular has been reflecting on all the things he has learned and experienced in high school, rather than giving all his focus to what seniors are missing this year because of the pandemic school shut-down. Senior Tyler Gough has had lots of time to think about his high school experiences and recently, he’s been thinking about favorite moments to reflect on. “My favorite memories have been meeting tons of people and seeing them in classes, sports and other activities,” Gough said.

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May 2020 Spotlight

Gough has also learned from and been influenced by lots of people at LHS. “My teachers have influenced me the most throughout high school,” Gough said. “They taught me so many life lessons and they inspired me to dream big. They always wanted to make sure I understood everything.” Gough also realizes how big of a deal it is to look back at your achievements and recognize your impact on the community. “I played football, rugby, ran track and cross country,” Gough said. “All of these activities allowed me to meet so many new people and become part of a team. It really helped to have people who I felt were there for me.” Not only does Gough have accomplishments

at LHIS, but he also put in a lot of work in scouting, which led him to earn the highest badge of honor as an Eagle Scout. “When I became an Eagle Scout I felt like it improved my leadership skills and taught me other important skills about life,” Gough said. After high school, he has many goals and plans that he is chasing to become as successful as possible. “I plan to go to college for a year and then go on a church mission between my freshman and sophomore year of college,” Gough said. “After that, I am hopefully going to attend Med school. I have always dreamed about this path and I feel like it is a way I can make a difference in the world.”

Senior Jadyn Keu expresses obstacles through the pandemic. Reported by Rosie Frederick Photo courtesy of Jadyn Keu Design by Ethan Atkins

Senior Jadyn Keu

spotlights.

“Serene.” That’s how German teacher Cynthia Biermann would describe senior Jadyn Keu, echoing the sentiments of her friends. “Jadyn has always seemed to be wise beyond her years,” Biermann said. “She has impeccable manners, is kind, polite, conscientious and seeks to do her best in all things.” Keu reflects her kindness to everyone. According to Senior Lillian Gaither, her current housemate, kindness is its own motive for Keu. “She is kind, loving and always finds a way to make you feel better,” Gaither said. “She cares about everything and is willing to go through anything to see you happy.” These two have been living together during quarantine and Keu describes it as a sleepover that lasts for months. “I am so lucky to have ended up with her,” Keu said. “She and her family have treated me with nothing but kindness and I couldn’t thank them enough for making this pandemic easier and more bearable.” Even though Keu is surrounded by supporters, she still finds herself feeling lonely. It’s difficult for her to have the motivation to get out of bed and find something to do. “It’s easy to stay in bed for days on end,” Keu said. “As a result, I feel quite hopeless, sad and bored. I definitely think staying home will push me to better myself, once I get in a consistent routine and find the motivation.” However, Keu has found ways to keep a healthy attitude and fill her time with different activities to keep herself busy. “I made a ‘Quarantine Bucket List’ which is a list of things, such as learning new dances or going on a walk, that I can do to have fun,” Keu said. “I try to complete one or more during my free time.” Keu has also recently picked up cooking and baking and views it as another way to relax. “It’s extremely therapeutic to have an outlet, where you could be happy or upset, and create something that is hopefully delicious and sweet,” Keu said. Keu hopes to celebrate her graduation and spend time with her loved ones over summer, once the pandemic comes to an end. “Afterward, I plan on moving to Washington state to go to college, to either become a veterinarian or a therapist, she said. Biermann shares a few affirming words for Keu as she finishes off her last few weeks of high school. “I have no doubt that you will be successful in whatever path you choose to follow after high school,” Biermann said. “Remain true to yourself and you’ll always come out on top.”

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Terminating Racial Targets Students describe encounters with racism and xenophobia during the pandemic. Reported and Designed by Paige Hodges

Since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on Mar. 11, 2020, more people have become victims of two other epidemics: racism and xenophobia. People’s fear of the Coronavirus has inflamed prejudice beliefs, intolerance, and microaggressions, putting a target of racism and xenophobia on the backs of minorities everywhere. Racism is the belief in superiority of one race over another. It also is discrimination and prejudice of a race or ethnicity that is not of the majority. Similarly, xenophobia is the prejudice against people from other countries.. “The racism or xenophobia is more than likely surrounded by fear,” counselor Trilaina McCallum said. “When people are in the midst of confusion and a lot of unknowns are present, it can have the tendency to increase fears. With fear people are often looking for a person, or a reason to make sense of the unknown, which often results in pointing fingers at others.” The racial finger-pointing is what some

LHS students have either heard, witnessed, or experienced themselves. Several students describe stomach churning incidents of outright racism or xenophobia occurring in multiple public places. “I was in the store and overheard people talking about how the only reason we are on lockdown was all the Chinese people coming to America,” senior Savannah Christensen said. Another student overheard xenophobic comments being made. “[I heard] people saying things like “get away from them, they have the virus” just because they’re Asian,” senior Morgan Hecker said. Two out of 53 students report to have heard racially insensitive or xenophobic comments in the comfort of their own home, or amognst their friends. “Someone I know said Italians spread the virus because ‘they are all handsy and always touching each other’,” junior Jillian Hough said. “[I also heard] several people, including

These LHS students were polled and say they have observed instances of racism or xenophobia.

the president, calling it the Chinese Virus.” Three out of 53 students say they have heard their high school peers, or other students that attend LHS, making racist comments. “People from our school called it the Chinese Virus, Wuhan Virus, or Kung Flu,” senior Audrey McBride said. Another student claims to have been talking to a classmate when that student made an insensitive comment about another. “They said, while pointing to an Asian student, “It’s all your fault,” freshman Bianca Jackson said. “At the time, we were talking about the rate of people getting the Coronavirus and the chance we might be out of school.” Twenty-four out of 53 students professed to have seen inappropriate memes, videos, or other forms of expression on social media. Many described what they saw as “slurs” or “a lot of things [they] can’t say.”

23 out of 54 answered “No” 26 out of 54 answered “Yes” 4answered out of 54

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News

“Maybe”

23 out of 54 answered “No”

news.

LHS student were polled and say they have heard instances of racism or xenophobia.

28 out of 54 answered “Yes” 2answered out of 54 “Maybe”

One student specified a commonly seen comment from social media. “There have been issues with people online being verbally abused by people saying that Asians should go back to their country,” sophomore Alicia Romanowski said. Another student supported what Romanowski claimed to have seen on social media.

lll“On the media there are a lot of comments saying “go back to your country” towards Asian Americans,” junior Kayden Alderman said. Each of these testimonies are examples of what many Americans are subjected to everyday. However, people can help stop the targeting of others. The first step is simply being aware of the harm it causes, so you can

identify it when it happens. “Being able to be aware of your own biases is crucial in being able to recognize your comments to others,” McCallum said. “It takes intentional effort and a lot of self reflection. It also requires one to be open to feedback from others without taking offense.”

Combat Racial Targeting 1. Interrupt (taking a pause, or stopping whatever has just happened, or was just said). 2. Question (investigate why the person said what they said, or did what they did). 3. Educate (engaging in conversation and explaining why what was said may need to be rethought or revoked). 4. Echo (having another’s back and supporting them in their speaking up against bias and prejudice).

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opinion.

Northwest Missouri State University The end of senior year was one for the books. Column by Sidney Lowry

To say senior year didn’t go as expected is an understatement, but I’m really lucky to say I had a full experience at LHS before it came to a halt. I mainly owe my feeling of completion to all of the clubs and activities I was involved in and the people who were in them with me. Freshman year I joined a ton of clubs at once to get immersed into extracurriculars as quickly as I could. Key Club had me waking up at six in the morning to have my best friend’s dad drive us to Bass Pro Shop (shoutout to John by the way, thanks for the ride!) so we could cheer people on while they were running a 5K. I wouldn’t have chosen anywhere else to spend that Saturday. Freezing feet in exchange for new friends and memories? Seems like a fair trade to me. Sophomore year probably was the year where my life took a turn. For the preceding eight years before the beginning of sophomore year I thought I was going to be a chef. For some reason I signed up for the Journalism 1 class and that’s where my love for reporting started. To this day I am pretty sure I signed up for Photojournalism, but I wouldn’t change it back

Design by Derek Katzer

Photo courtesy of Sidney Lowry

for the world. The second semester of sophomore year, I decided to drop my health class to join newspaper class. Junior year was a whirlwind. I was advancing more in newspaper, starting the year as the Spotlight editor, then at the beginning of

second semester as InDepth editor, and then at the end of March I became the Editor-in-Chief for the 2019-2020 school year. I spent that year making new friends and even more memories with my old friends. Other years have come with a plethora of memories, but senior year has been the most memorable. This was the year I chose that I was going to Northwest Missouri State University to study Multimedia Journalism, rooming with one of my best friends, took harder classes in preparation and had our lives flipped upside down because of a pandemic. I owe most of my happiness and fulfillment to the people and the activities that I did in my years at LHS. I have lifelong friends, great memories and have gotten help to prepare me for the future. Though we might not be having a senior’s last day, senior prom, or any senior activity as we thought we would, I urge everyone to look back at the good times we had while we were still there. Don’t leave bitter because we couldn’t finish out things like normal. This wasn’t a choice we could make, but we can choose to look back at the good times we had.

University of Kansas The end of high school means the end of the road, right? Column by Zahra Khan

If my life was like a teen coming of age movie, this would be the part where the movie ends. I picture myself walking towards the sunset in my cap and gown with my hands up in the air and music starts to fade away as I get farther away from the camera. The end. Well, not really, but that’s how society portrays high school at least. Growing up and watching movies like “Mean Girls” or “High School Musical,” people have this expectation that high school is this life-changing journey. Don’t get me wrong, high school has brought a lot of good things for me and I have learned more about myself as a person. But, just because this chapter is closing doesn’t mean it’s the end. There is so much more to do and see in the world. Ironically, during this time of isolation, I realized how quickly my time at LHS has wrapped up from my clubs, classes, and extracurricular activities. A lot of these things have made me who I am. If it weren’t for newspaper class, I would be so lost. I found friends and people I can always go to and chat with no matter what. Because of Key Club, I have been able to step out of my

the bell May 2020 Opinion

comfort zone and be more involved in my own community. Orchestra allowed me to express myself in a way I never even thought of. Years of practice and playing concertos have taught me just how wonderful the world of music is. All of these things have been the center of my life these past four years. It may seem like leaving these is the end, but sitting here in isolation, I realize it is only the beginning. What I have done at LHS is not going to just end. I know now that in the future, if I follow what I love, I will find people I can connect with. I will be able to interact with a new community, make my own mark and share my passion with others in new ways. This is my own movie. I control how and when it ends. This isn’t the end of the road (or film), but the beginning of a new chapter where I will be able to take all I have learned in my time here and turn it into something worth five stars.

Photo courtesy of Zahra Khan

opinion.

Rockhurst University

4 years and so many memories. Column by Alyah Craig

I’m going to be honest: I’m not entirely sure what the contents of this column are supposed to be. Before COVID-19 struck, the majority of this text was planned out to be a ranting of how amazing my teachers were, a list of the insane amount of people I was going to miss and a statement of how ready I was to finally graduate. But that’s not necessarily the case. Yes, I will miss my teachers and friends and yes, I am excited to attend a four-year university in the fall, but a part of me doesn’t feel ready. My hope is that when I finally walk across that stage, diploma in hand and nervous eyes wandering across the crowd, I will feel like an actual LHS graduate. It’s ironic, really, because I spent a good chunk of my high school career wishing it all away. As a freshman and sophomore, a lot of my time was geared toward wishing I was different; more outspoken, popular and deemed as pretty. Junior year was the toughest in terms of school work, so graduating was definitely my strongest motivation there. And now, as a

Photo courtesy of Alyah Craig lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll senior, I’m not ready to give it all up. Some of the absolute best experiences that I had were with my newspaper crew as we

cackled up a storm in class and with my closest friends as we raved in the student sections. But there were smaller moments that held even greater significance, such as the times my little photographer buddy and I spent trying to capture emotional encounters, the hilarious and almost cringey atmosphere of assemblies and the never-ending lunchroom chatter that was filled with all sorts of things. I will miss it all, more than I actually ever thought I would. However, I recognize that those times are over and I am insanely grateful for them. That is the purpose of this column: simply being grateful. I have made amazing friends, met incredible teachers and learned the most valuable lessons. All of the things that I experienced in my high school career combined to create the person that I am today. So, I would like to say a thank you to all of the faculty and students that I encountered in my time at LHS. These are the people who shaped me into an adult and made me realize that even though life does not always go the way I want it to, there is a reason behind everything.

University of Missouri - Columbia Harvard bound? Try CoMo bound. Column by Jennavieve Carmony

I have a confession to make… I don’t get the hype around Ivy League schools. This may come as a shock to some, considering how much I love the movie Dead Poets Society. Don’t get me wrong, I understand they’re lovely schools with rich histories and great reputations. I love the idea of smokey, ivy-covered cafes in beautiful New England autumn, but in reality, it’s more of a daydream than anything else. One of my uncles went to Harvard, and I know how much he loved it there. I just never pictured myself at a place like that. I know that’s what a lot of people want for themselves. If that’s your thing, by all means, go for it. It’s just not what I want my future to look like. I have something else mind For me, the place I want to go is Columbia, Missouri, affectionately nicknamed CoMo by city locals. CoMo is home to the Mizzou Tigers and the world’s first journalism school, this is where I’ll be studying this fall. No, Mizzou isn’t an Ivy League and we aren’t that great at sports, but it’s Columbia that I love. The atmosphere of the town when a Mizzou game is on, locals constantly sporting their Shakespeare’s Pizza t-shirts around town and

Photo courtesy of Jennavieve Carmony

the countless traditions and hideaways on the college campus is what I love. Everywhere on campus, there’s a new adventure. Some spend their days lounging on the grass near Columns while others are busy locating the Francis Nose, a campus-wide symbol of good luck, while others navigate the best path to take to the Student Center between classes. The campus has tradition, and it’s lively, and it’s full of people just like me, who love Columbia and are excited to be there. Since the first time I went, Columbia has always felt like home to me. I’m counting the days until I finally get to live there. While it’s not as well known as Harvard, the journalism program at Mizzou is considered one of the best in the world. Their style of teaching is so well respected that it’s known as the Missouri Method. That’s what I want for myself. I want to be given opportunities in a field I love and care about. That’s exactly what Mizzou will be able to give me. It may not have a name as flashy as Brown or Yale, people in journalism know Mizzou, and they respect it. Mizzou is a wonderful place to be. As they say on campus, there’s no place like CoMo.

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Maple Woods Community College Taking a therapeutic walk down memory lane. Column by Liz Gammon

Warning, this isn’t a normal farewell column, but then again, this isn’t a normal farewell situation. I’ve never had a year quite like this one, but who am I kidding, none of us have. All of a sudden, life has stopped...but it’s supposed to be beginning next fall. Ironically, I feel like I’ve been talking about college all year. Because of this, I’m going to take this space to take a look backwards at my education. Fifth grade, Mr. McCoy’s class. We watched a movie during lunch every Friday in the classroom. For some reason I always volunteered to wheel a giant trash can to and from the room simply because it meant I got to lead the line. We played countless inventive card games. This was the first environment that showed me how fun learning could be. Skipping forward to 8th grade. 8th grade was the most carefree fun I remember having in school. I had a big group of friends, I had finally gotten in the rhythm of balancing homework with a social life and I somehow managed straight A’s, despite not focusing on them as much as I had years prior. The friendships made this year have forever affected my life.

Design by Derek Katzer

Photo courtesy of Liz Gammon

lllLastly, senior year. Senior year has been unlike any other. First semester I remember feeling like learning was fun again, I think I even posted on Instagram about it. I once again felt eager to learn. However, this year I have changed. I had become quiet and more

focused on school work, which has even caused me to stumble over my words often. Despite having the most freedom I’ve ever had access to, I found myself staying inside. Now, today, I also find myself staying inside but for a completely different reason. My two semesters of senior year are actually quite similar. Now, at home, all I can do is school work so it’s all I focus on. I have been quieter due to lack of people around me and communication is harder due to the sheer lack of opportunity. Senior year has had me stuck in a rut. Even before this stay-at-home order. However, due to the fact that I have been spending a lot of time with myself, I’ve been reminded that communication and being social is good for me. Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder and I can’t wait to reunite with the society I’ve distanced myself from. I can’t wait to start a new education, surrounded by new people and be terrified every step of the way. Change usually scares me, but I actually feel ready for it for once, due to the strong legs I have to stand on thanks to my past. Funnily enough, being trapped has set me free.

Maple Woods Community College Looking back at my favorite high school experiences. Column by Anthony Savastino

My high school years really have flown by. I remember entering LHS excited for something new in my life, and now I’m getting ready to walk into college. Everyone knows time flies by, and that being said, I have made some amazing memories. When I first came to high school I remember meeting lots of new people I had never seen before. I joined the cross country team, became friends with some upperclassman and really tried to find my place at LHS. Freshman year felt the longest because it was full of meeting people and experiencing the high school scene for the first time. All I remember from my sophomore year was that it was a big change from freshman year. I felt a lot more comfortable at school and I was just really focused on my athletics and school work. Overall, my sophomore year went by super fast and it felt like a blur. Junior year is the first time I chose to go to Homecoming. At first, I was the person that would tell myself, “I don’t like to dance and get dressed up,” but after going to Homecoming my perspective changed completely. The experience really was a great time that I now

the bell May 2020 Opinion

tell everyone they should do at least once. On top of Homecoming, I was also part of Link Crew my junior year. I helped incoming freshmen feel welcome at the high school. This is a great memory because it made me feel like I could brighten up a freshman’s first experience of high school. Last of all, senior year has been the best one of the four. The cross country team had a great season, which ended up with us going to State and then Regionals in Indiana. On top of that, I went to Homecoming and had a great time enjoying my last year at Liberty. Even though the world has been hit by the Coronavirus I would not consider my senior year as a fail. I’ve had a lot of fun and a ton of great experiences along the way. My time at LHS has been a great one and if I had to choose my favorite highschool experience I wouldn’t be able to choose. All the memories and experiences add up to what high school is all about. Thank you Liberty High School for an amazing stage in my life. Photo courtesy of Anthony Savastino

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opinion.

Choosing between the journalism or biology route. Column by Caroline Parry

This has been an interesting senior year. Throughout high school, I never imagined my senior year ending the way it did, not being in school because of the COVID-19 virus. This year has been wild, but also fun at the same time. I have experienced a lot of ups and downs throughout high school, but I don’t regret a single moment because it has brought me where I am today. Being a freshman, you are never going to have your future planned out from the start. I walked in not knowing what to expect, all I knew was I wanted to join a class I thought would be fun. I chose newspaper. I first heard about it in my 8th grade English class and I wanted to take a class that was different and something that I didn’t see in middle school. taking this class was one of the best things I have ever done. Though I have taken this journalism class through all four years of high school, I realized this was not the path I wanted to take in my life. I still learned multiple life lessons during my four years in the class. From being a reporter during my freshman year until being the business manager in my junior and senior years, I learned to always be myself. I knew I

Photo courtesy of Caroline Parry

always had a group of people I could come to. Plus, I became a better writer, which can be applied for whatever I choose to do with my future. Newspaper has taught me many things and I will never forget the time I spent in this class. I made the choice of going into the biological sciences career at the end of my junior year, though it was a tough decision. I spent a lot of time in newspaper and didn’t want to give up all of it. Choosing between these two different paths was difficult, but I’m happy with my decision. Though I might be going in a different career path, I was happy to still have newspaper on my schedule and I will always apply the skills I learned in it to my future. I have learned a lot in this class and I am forever grateful. I have learned to turn everything in on time and how to improve my writing. I am going to miss all the friendships I have made and I will always remember the inside jokes and enjoy the great friendships I have made. Thank you Newspaper staff for being the ones I could always come to and accepting my crazy personality. It has been a great four years in room 512.

Maple Woods Community College Home is where the heart is. Column by Rosie Frederick

Life at home is something I’m used to. Being an introvert, I enjoy alone time. However, when I’m forced to stay home, that’s a different story. It only makes me want to break out and find something to do. My dad is always busy. As soon as he sits down and relaxes, he gets restless and needs to get up and find something to do. So I have someone to hang out with, for the time being during the quarantine. I’ve been helping him build a garden for my mom, vamp up his El Camino and fix a leak in our hot tub. There are so many tasks he wants to get done and being forced to stay home gives me the opportunity to help him out. Eventually, I’ll move out, so spending time with my dad is a great way to prepare for my leave. We leave home to find fortune and treasure and return to share it with who we love most. Nothing is more important than my family and friends, I would do anything for them. My parents have helped me through every step of life, giving me the world, and I hope to return the favor as soon as I’m able.

Both my brother and best friend have also helped me tremendously. My brother, Ben, has been a built-in friend my whole life and I am so thankful for that. I don’t know what I would do if I were an only child. I suppose I would still have my best friend, Elizabeth. We’ve been friends for about five years and I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything. She’s taught me so much and has helped me grow and become the best version of myself. High school is quite the ride, a roller coaster I never want to go on again. College might be similar, but it’ll help me get where I want to be. A good future is worth the risk. I’m starting out at community college to play it safe, and my best friend is going to the same school. She’ll be by my side and we’ll get through it together. My brother has already started his adult life, my parents have been living theirs for several years, and I have my best friend by my side. I have plenty of people to help me along the way, my future is in sight.

Photo courtesy of Rosie Frederick

Opinion lhsnews.net

Goodbye Senior PhotoJays.

Ashley Ritter

Photo by Ashley Ritter

Design by Derek Katzer

Photo by Connor Callahan lll I was the 2019-2020 PhotoJay Managing Editor. PhotoJay has taught me a lot through the four years I have been in the class. It obviously tauht me how to take photos, but the more invested I became in the class it taught me how to lead and gave me lots of friendships with people in the class and around the school. Spending senior year as the managing editor, it was bittersweet to help the underclassman learn and understand photography. This year did not end how we wanted it to, but I know I will always have my PhotoJay family.

Connor Callahan Photo by Connor Callahan

Photo by Kaleigh McCarthy

Senior Connor Callahan is a bugle-loving, nature-loving photojournalist. He started freshman year in PhotoJay when he was substantially shorter. In his first year, he won two top all-state awards, including this one.

the bell May 2020 Goodbye Senior PhotoJays

Goodbye Senior PhotoJays.

Alyssa Griffith Photo by Alyssa Griffith

Photo by Pearl Sabrina

I took this class my sophomore year and then again my senior year. I loved and missed this class so much that I wanted to do it again. This class has made me more aware of my surroundings, observing nature and beauty that is right in front of us. I will truly miss seeing my friends in this class and Mrs. Oyler!

Kaleigh McCarthy Photo by Kaleigh McCarthy

Photo by Ashley Ritter

lllI joined PhotoJay sophomore year and I absolutely loved how it was student led, I loved that we got to have parties and have a great time every day during class. PhotoJay taught me alot about how to take pictures with really fancy cameras. When I walked in on the very first day I barely knew how to turn the camera on and focus it. But now that I am leaving, I have learned so much from the wonderful people who taught me during the past three years.

Goodbye Senior PhotoJays lhsnews.net

Goodbye Senior PhotoJays.

Mercedes Peck Photo by Mercedes Peck

Photo by Charlene Nguyen

lllI am a senior ending my last year as a Bluejay with amazing memories from my four years being a photographer on the photojournalism staff. My growth within this class has developed beyond just my photography skills. I have met amazing people and have learned a tremendous amount about capturing life through a picture. I am excited to see where my journey will take me and I am so happy to have been a part of such a wonderful class.

Kylee Williams Photo by Kylee Williams

Photo by Grace Bushroe

lllThis is my second, and last year in LHSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PhotoJay class. I joined this class because a friend told me how fun it was and that she thought I would like it. I never thought I would meet the kind and amazing people I did and I never thought I would have such an amazing teacher like Mrs. Oyler. I am so proud of my growth and everyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s around me. I am so grateful that I got the chance to capture my highschool years through photographs.

the bell May 2020 Goodbye Senior PhotoJays

Thank You Advertisers! Thank you to all of our advertisers who supported The Bell this year, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since this May issue is online, as was the April issue, your ads are free of charge. We appreciate the commitment you made to us when you thought we would be in print. Advertisers of 2019-2020 Mi Hacienda Hoang Alterations Classy Chocolates Rancho Grande Liberty Nail and Spa XO Nails U.S. Army

Clayview Country Club Barista de Casa Happy Times T-Shirt Co. Liberty Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clinic La Costa Mexicana Eagle Fitness Martha Lafite

staff ed.

Are students willing to give up the things they normally do to help stop the spread of the virus? Reported by Shane Bass

The quarantine is causing many changes that affect all of us. The Bell staff polled students and asked them if they thought students were willing to sacrifice their normal routine to stop the spread of the virus. 12 students reported they believe students were sacrificing their routine. We also asked them if they had made any changes to their routine, 11 said they had and one said they had not.

Design by Derek Katzer

Staff Vote Yes: 9 No: 11 School Vote: Yes: 12 No: 0

Photo by

ayfield

Hannah M

The Bell staff discussed many reasons why students are following quarantine guidlines. They could not have a reason to go anywhere or their parents may be keeping them at home. Students may also realize they must give up what they want to do to keep others safe. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to risk exposing older or immunocompromised family members to the virus. Technology could also play a big part in keeping students at home, social media keeps students occupied and distracted from wanting to go outside and, at the same time, keeps them connected while they are literally disconnected. On the other hand, the staff discussed how some students may be minimizing what they used to do, but they don't realize minimizing is not enough and wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep people safe.

Photo by Charlene Nguyen

Photo by

Hannah M

ayfield

One staff member mentioned that meeting one person is just as bad as meeting a group of people. Students donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know who that person has been in contact with. Some people may be more exposed to the virus than people think. They may have parents who work in healthcare fields involved in treating patients of the virus or hang out with other people without the student knowing. Some people do need to go out into the public, either they are essential workers or they need to get something that's a necessity for them. When someone does go into public, a mask isn't the only thing they should use to stay safe, there are other precautions they can do to keep themselves and others safe. They can do this by staying six feet away from people, not touching their face and sneezing into their elbow. Hanging out with friends will indirectly cause the quarantine to last longer, the more people a student and their friends have come across will increase the likelihood of one of them, and then eventually more people, getting it. The Bell staff thinks many students are doing a great job of quarantining, but others need to do better.

Some students are doing their best to continue their schedules without possibly infecting others. (Left) Some have taken to riding their bike for some excercise and a breath of fresh air. (Middle) Empty shelves mean that students have a harder time shopping. (Right) Sixth grader Chloe Mathews reads a book from the comfort of her home.

the bell May 2020 Opinion

A&E.

Score

9/10

Score

6/10

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Stevie Nic

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ks - Kind of Woman Released Ju ly 27, 198 1

Dua Lipa - Break M y Heart Released M arch 25, 2 020

o c418 - Intr 13 0 2 , 9 er d Novemb

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Seniors’ Quarantine Jams Review by Ari Revella Design by Derek Katzer lllThe Bell asked seniors what songs have been getting them through quarantine, I decided to review them.

RADIOHEAD - RECKONER

I was actually a huge Radiohead fan at one point in my life. I’ve recently been going through their discography lately to go through memory lane for a little bit, listening to some of my favorite tracks back then, such as Idioteque and Fake Plastic Trees. In Rainbows is easily my favorite Radiohead album and Reckoner is one of my favorite tracks on there. Thom Yorke’s harmonized vocals and the slow yet gratifying progression of the song makes for a beautiful listen.

Score Radiohead - Reck Released S eptember 2 oner 3, 2008

NOAH KAHAN - MESS

I’ve heard of Noah Kahan before, I was a huge fan of his feature on the latest Gryffin album, and his heart-wrenching songwriting carries over on one of his most popular songs, Mess. The chorus is a head-bobber and catchy, and the punchy drums help the groove of the song. A very sweet tune, for sure.

COLDPLAY - VIVA LA VIDA

Ahh yes, one of the 2000’s best hits. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is my favorite Coldplay album, for good reason. The sheer passion Chris Martin and company packs into this song and the entire album itself is amazing. Martin’s storytelling will always be a highlight for me throughout Coldplay’s career and this song will always be near and dear to my heart for several reasons.

STEVIE NICKS - KIND OF WOMAN

Stevie Nicks will go down as one of the best singers in rock history. Not just for being a key member of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most

10/10

ida Viva La V Coldplay 8 0 2 ne 12, 0 Released Ju

celebrated bands of all time, but for having a fantastic solo career as well. Nicks’ songwriting style and singing shine no matter the instrumental palette and it is safe to say Kind of Woman will be one of most unappreciated Stevie Nicks songs ever.

DUA LIPA - BREAK MY HEART

This admittedly wasn’t one of my favorites off of Dua Lipa’s latest album, Future Nostalgia. While I like the groove of the song and the chorus is one of the catchiest off of the entire album, I think tracks like Levitating and Pretty Please are more memorable for me personally.

C418 - INTRO

It’s hard to deny the impact that C418’s compositions had on me. I’ve played Minecraft since I was nine years old. Looking back on the game now being 17, the thing I remember the most is the music. While Intro isn’t a personal favorite of mine in the tracklist of Beta, it’s a song that holds emotional weight for me.

A&E lhsnews.net

A&E.

Students’ Top Four Quarantine Activities Students share their favorite activities to do during quarantine. Reported by Ethan Atkins and Emma Stauffer

Design by Derek Katzer

Students have found ways to have fun and stay healthy even if they can’t participate in their regular school schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic. Counselor Mindy Beard emphasises the importance of this. “This is a stressful time for families, everyone needs a ‘mental health break’ to stay healthy,” Beard said. “Everyone is unique, find something you enjoy. Try to remind yourself

that it will be OK. It’s important to take care of ourselves and others physically and mentally in the meantime.” In a school-wide poll of the student body, these were the top four activities students are using to take a break from stress: art, exercise, video/computer games and music.

Art

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“Art is one of my favorite quarantine activities because it’s peaceful and gives me something productive to do,” sophomore Isabelle Porter said. “It’s important for me to do this during quarantine so I can take a break from technology and let my creative juices flow. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I end up creating something I really like.” Freshman Laci Jones said art helps her express herself. “Art is my favorite because it lets me put my feelings onto a canvas,” Jones said. “If you aren’t feeling okay you can put it all into a painting or a drawing and you may feel better.” Porter believes it’s important for students to express their creativity now. “Students should engage in creative activities during quarantine to help them relax, unplug, and maybe even try something new,” Porter said. “Don’t hold back from creating because you think it might turn out bad. It could be awesome.”

Artwo

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Exercise

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Sophia La Freshman ne She enjoys Sophia Lane out fo r a run. excercisin g and spec ifica enjoys runn lly ing.

the bell May 2020 A&E

“School and home lives got merged so exercising is sort of a step away from all of that and it gives me a chance to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air,” freshman Sophia Lane said. Freshman Emmeline Wilcock agrees. “It lets me get outside, get my mind off things and makes me feel productive,” Wilcock said. Lane encourages other students to partake in exercise as well.

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“I would recommend this to other students because it is a fun activity and it can help you stay in shape during a time of not getting out much,” Lane said. “I think that it is good to run or exercise because it can relieve stress, help you get fresh air and keep you healthy.”

Video Games

Photo cour

tesy of Ev an Marley Sophomor e Evan M arley enjo ys playing video gam es in his fr eetime.

“I’ve really enjoyed video games here of late because it’s a good form of escapism from what’s going on in the world right now,” freshman Grace Goll said. Goll believes that video games would be good for other students going through hard times. “Playing video games is a good way to be doing something other than getting stuck in your own head and it helps with boredom,” Goll said. Sophomore Evan Marley believes that it’s important to be engaged with video games during events like quarantine. “Instead of focusing on all the bad things in the world right now, you can immerse yourself in the world of video games and sort of forget all the bad things that are going on outside,” Marley said. For Goll, not only do video games get her out of stress, but they give her some alone time. “Playing video games for me helps with being around my family all the time too,” Goll said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, but being around them 24/7 for over a month is a little draining.” Marley has had more time to do what he loves at home. “Well, usually during the school year, I hardly have any time for video games with my

jam-packed schedule,” Marley said. “But, now that I have a lot more time on my hands, I can play them more often. I have recently gotten back into Minecraft.” Videogames are important to Goll for good reason. “With videogames, you are engaged in a different world where you can be constructive,” Goll said.

“Music is my favorite quarantine activity because it helps you get productive things done faster and it helps you have fun while doing what you’re doing,” Sophomore Lawrence Pendergraft said. “Music is so powerful that it can affect your entire mood and even day.” The long lasting impact of music on one’s day is what Pendergraft enjoys most. “If you watch a feel good movie you feel good afterwards, but that feeling doesn’t last, whereas if you listen to music that pumps you up and gets you going, you’ll have energy for a long time,” Pendergraft said. On the other hand, sophomore Reyna Myvett finds joy in creating music. She enjoys arranging acapella versions of songs and practicing her instruments. “For me personally, it’s helped me stay focused,” Myvett said. “I’m involved in choir in school and I play a few instruments so using music as a way to stay busy in quarantine has helped me stay up to date and has helped me improve.” Myvett emphasises the importance of students engaging in activities that interest them, such as music.

“Anyone who suffers with mental health issues may be struggling right now, or even people who don’t have any,” Myvett said. “I think it’s beneficial to find something to keep you engaged and to motivate you.”

Music

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A&E.

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A&E lhsnews.net

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sports.

The Next

Level

(Left) Lady Jay senior Megan Schneider, shows the 3rd place state award she helped her team win. (Right) Schneider jumps to spike the ball. Photos courtesy of Megan Schneider

The shutdowns can not stop these dedicated seniors, who prepare for college sports. Reported by Jade Garbani and Ashley Tindall Design by Sarah Blankenship

Across the world, everything is being shut down, including sports. This comes as a loss to those who have dedicated their lives to playing a sport. Despite not being able to play their sport at the moment, seniors at LHS have found ways to continue practicing by themselves, readying themselves for the college level.

Chayton Beck

Senior Chayton Beck is a catcher for the baseball team and for the competitive team, Prodigy. Beck is committed to Crowder Community College, where he has a scholarship to play baseball. Despite the cancellation of sports this year, Beck is continuing to ready himself for next year. “Personally I am not letting this virus affect my preparation,” he said. “I am working on baseball as much as I possibly can, doing whatever I can to make sure to stay on top of my game.” Beck has been involved in baseball since he was three and has dreams of playing in the major league. “I want to play professionally because I love this sport and it will help me be able to give back to younger athletes,” Beck said. “I want kids to look up to me the same way I look up to Buster Posey.”

the bell May 2020 Sports

Beck hopes that in college he will be scouted by a professional team. But for now, he is just working as hard as he can so that he can improve on both his strengths and weaknesses. “To me, baseball is everything,” Beck said. “It’s what I want to do the rest of my life and has already given me so much opportunity. When the day comes that I don’t get to play anymore I think I’m going to be lost without it.”

Lauren Hiestand

Senior Lauren Hiestand has been playing volleyball since fifth grade. She plays both competitively and for LHS. Hiestand has two positions on the court. She is a libero and a defensive specialist. A libero plays the back row and wears a different colored jersey and a defensive specialist plays in the back row but wears the same jersey as everyone else. Hiestand has always dreamed of pursuing volleyball past high school. “I have always wanted to play volleyball in college since I started playing,” she said. “Volleyball to me, is a place where I don’t have to worry about anything but the court. It’s a great way to clear my mind.” Because of the shutdowns, Hiestand’s volleyball tournaments have been cancelled. This means it is up to her to keep working on volleyball by herself. She is hoping to maintain her skills for when she can finally get back on

the court. “I haven’t been able to touch a volleyball on the court since the beginning of March so I’m hoping when I get to college I’ll still have my skills,” she said. “I’m getting ready for college by doing the workouts that the athletic trainer at William Woods has sent us. It’s a new workout with everyday.”

Meghan Schneider

Everyone is being affected by this virus. Senior Meghan Schneider has the rest of her high school volleyball experience gone. The class of 2020 was disappointed. “I had a feeling we wouldn’t be going back to school, but I didn’t want to admit it,” Schneider said. This year could’ve been a senior’s last chance to get a scholarship. “I have had my scholarship and been committed since October 2018, so the virus didn’t really affect that,” Schneider said. Volleyball is a fall sport and Schneider had already gotten her scholarship. Schneider was committed to William Jewell College.

“The closer I am to going to college the more nervous I am about being a college athlete,” Schneider said. “COVID-19 isn’t really affecting my college season, but more or less it is affecting how in shape and ready I will be in the fall.” Since she can’t go to a gym or go anywhere public to practice volleyball, she has to do it all at home. “As of now, I am working out every day and getting touches on my volleyball to stay in shape and not lose any skills,” Schneider said. All of the seniors, including Schneider, have made lots of memories and they all have a little something they will miss. “The biggest thing I will miss most about high school volleyball is the coaching staff, April Fleming, Eric Leone and Katie Goulding,” Schneider said. “Those three have grown to be my parents the past four years, as in the fall I am with them more than my actual family. Without them, I would not be the person I am today, on and off the court.” Schneider was unfortunately one of those athletes who are heading off to college during this hard time. Even though there’s a lot of things happening in the world right now, Schneider is still preparing for the next season, just not on a court. “If I could give a piece of advice to someone playing a sport during this pandemic, don’t get frustrated and allow the circumstances to change how you train,” Schneider said. “Take it upon yourself to use what you have around you to get better. Whether that is working out or

sports.

getting reps on your own, take responsibility to get ahead of the competition.”

Stephen Tilley

Senior Chayton Beck, a catcher for The Jays baseball team, prepares to take the field. Photo courtesy of Chayton Beck

Senior Stephen Tilley is on the boy’s rugby team here at LHS. He is a graduating athlete heading off to college this year. “Having my senior season taken away really hurts but there are other people who are suffering more because of the virus,” Tilley said. “I’m just glad I at least got to play a few games before the quarantine hit.” Quarantine has been stressful for athletes moving on to the next level, but Tilley is looking at the positives. “I’m looking forward to playing again and getting to play against some of the best teams in the country,” Tilley said. Tilley has committed to Arkansas State University. He got his scholarship a few months after he visited the university. Overall, he’s been playing rugby for about five years. His biggest concern is that his first semester could be taken away from him because of the virus. “Thankfully I had all of my scholarship and college plans figured out before the virus hit, so it’s had no effect on my plans,” Tilley said. Tilley has some advice for underclassmen: “Any advice I could give is that this whole situation is a reason to figure out where you’re going to college as soon as you can,” he said. “You could have that security instead of having to scramble to find a spot at the end of your senior year.”

Photo courtesy of Stephen Tilley

Photo courtesy of Lauren Hiestand

(Left) Senior Stephen Tilley dodges his opponents to score on the rugby field. (Right) Senior Lauren Hiestand leaps to keep the ball in the air at a volleyball match.

Sports lhsnews.net

Fiona Burroughs

Caeleb Mason Caeleb, what a joy and pure blessing you have been to our entire family. I pray you continue to seek justice, peace, love, and hope in all the challenges life brings, always knowing that whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done in love will always be right. I pray you continue to allow the Lord to order your steps and be what we have always said you would be... a world changer. God bless you! We love you! Love, Mom, Nana, Melah, Sienna, Roman and Caryse

Congratulations, Fiona! Love, your family

2020

Alexa Danahy Paige hammond We are so proud of you and all your hard work through your school years. You are an amazing young woman and we wish the best life has to offer you. Love you! Mom, Dad and Evan

Congratulations, Paige! We love you and cannot wait to see what you go into the world and create! We are so proud of you! Love, Mom, Dad and Zach 2020

2020

Mia baldomino

Gerardo Diego You have come a long way. You have overcome obstacles and we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be more proud of you. Wherever life takes you as you begin this new chapter in your life, always remember we are your biggest supporters. Dream big, set goals, and chase your dreams. Fly high my little Blue Jay. Fly high. The future is yours. We love you so very much, Mom, Joe, Dad, Candy, Noah, Marcus, Alex, Harley, Ariel, Suri, and Alley

So proud of you, Mia! We love you. Congratulations on finishing high school! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Emily packer Hayden west Congratulations on completing this major milestone! You are such a hard worker and we are excited to see what God has in store for you! Love always, Mom, Dad, Grant, Hobie, Nacho and Guillermo

We are so proud of you! Your future is bright! Love, Mom and Dad 2020

2020

lucy Davisson

Brooklyn may Brooklyn, We are so proud of all of your accomplishments. We can’t wait to see what the world has in store for you! Keep smiling! Love, Mom, Dad, Allie and Maggie

Lucy, We are so proud of all your accomplishments! It’s been a joy watching you set your goals and achieve them. Your goal of a 4.0 is reality, Congratulations! Love, Mom and Dad 2020

2020

jett crouch Madigan may Madigan, We are so proud of all of your accomplishments! We can’t wait to see what is in store for you! Keep shining! Love, Mom, Dad, Allie and Maggie

We are so proud of your hard work and dedication. Congratulations on your graduation, Jett! Love, Mom, Dad, Meredith and Katie 2020

rylie may

2020

Isabelle morgan You did it, Isabelle! We’re so very proud of you and can’t wait to see what you write in the next chapter of your life. We love you, Mom, Dad, Chloe and Caleb

Rylie, We are so proud of you and all your accomplishments! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. Know that you can always count on us. Love, Mom, Dad, Allie and Maggie 2020

Emma meyers We are so proud of you. You have worked through many challenges these high school years. It did not defeat you. “Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5. “Loving ourselves through the process of owning our story is the bravest thing we will ever do.” - Brene Brown All our love, Dad, Mom, Rhett and Harris

2020

Kinadee Jones Congratulations, Kinadee on your achievements. You did it! We are so proud of you! This year took a turn, but you and your class are stronger and geared for this. This hurdle only prepares you for the future ahead that’s waiting for you. The best is yet to come! Love, Mom, Dad, Troy, Caleb, Taja, Greg and Brittani

2020

Clinton Welch First, congrats on having the biggest biceps in LHS history. Second, college is like riding a bike... So good luck! Love, Noah, Drew, Will and Jocelyn

wyatt Klausing Congrats, Wy J! We are proud of you. Love, Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Allison allain

Cassandra Fuentes We are very proud of all your accomplishments, Cassie! We love you very much and wish you the best!

Congratulations! We are so proud of you and know you will do great things! Enjoy your next adventure!

Love, Mom and Dad, Angie, Frankie and Toño

We love you, Mom and Jonathan

2020

Samantha Eklund

Justin Steffensmeier From stinkin’ cute kid to high school grad in a blink of an eye.

“May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.”

So proud of all you have accomplished. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Stay gold! Mom, Emily and Sophia

2020

Love, Mom, Dad and Jacob 2020

nathnael kahassai We closed our eyes for only a moment and an accomplished man stands where a boy used to be. We love you now and forever. Congratulations, grad! Carolina is lucky to have you!

2020

Alec centa Alec, We’re so proud of everything you have accomplished. We can’t wait to see what your future holds and all the amazing things you will do! Love, Dad, Mom and Liv

Love, Mom, Dad, Soliana and Lydia 2020

2020

Alex Carroll

Seth Menges “When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!” Love you so much, Mom and Dad

Although nobody expected your senior year to end like this, you remain strong, loyal, and caring. We will always be proud of the young man you have become. Love Always, Mom and Dad 2020

2020

Madison goodner

Nicholas Riedel

We are so proud of you! Take pride in how far you’ve come, have faith in how far you can go, and enjoy the journey. Congratulations!

Congratulations! This is just the beginning of a bright future for you! Once a Blue Jay, Always a Blue Jay, but welcome to the K-State family!!

Love you more! Mom and Dad

Love, Mom, Dad and Jacob 2020

2020

Nate Berry Nate, Congratulations, you did it! You are graduating! We’re so proud of you. This is the first of many great things for you. Love, Mom, Dad, Sarah, Hannah and Jenna

Ana Dolsky Congratulations, Ana! Things may be up in the air, but one thing for sure is we are PROUD of YOU! Love, Mom, Dad, and Megan

2020

John manuel We’re so proud of you, John! You set your sights and worked hard to get here. Great things await you next year at Ohio State! Love, Mom and Dad, Claire, Gramma and Pappy

2020

Kate towns May your light always shine bright so you never lose your way, may your dreams take you to the most important places your heart has ever known. Love, Mom, Dad, and Carter

2020

Kamryn Laubaugh CONGRATULATIONS!! We’re all super proud of you and are excited to see what the future holds for you! Love, Mom and Dad

Brooks, We are so very proud of you and how hard you have worked to get to this moment. We cannot wait to celebrate with you! We look forward to watching you achieve great things in the future. Love, Mom, Dan, Jake,

Brooks Mounts

2020

Aliyah Grinage Elijah Nash We envisioned this day, our son graduating from high school. We are proud of your accomplishments and wish you success at Missouri State University.

We are proud beyond measure and love you more than you’ll ever know! Love, Dad, Mom, Ryan, Payton and Cade

Love, Mom and Dad 2020

2020

Zahra Kahn

Alexis Chestnut We are so proud of you! Excited to watch you pursue your dreams! Love, Mom and Dad

Congratulations dear Zahra! We are proud of your achievements and hard work, we can’t wait to see what you do in the future! InshAllah Love, Mom, Dad and Fawad

2020

Charlie McCoy Salvador Soto Salvador, we’re so proud to be your parents! Thank you for working so hard in all you do! We love you and wish you the best life has to offer! Love, Mom and Dad

Congratulations, Charlie! We are so proud of the man you have become. You are smart, funny and kind-hearted! Dream BIG and enjoy the journey! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Ivan Tajchman

Kevin Hacker You always smile the brightest, and it’s contagious! Congratulations on this life accomplishment! Love, Dad and Mama

You did it!

Super proud of you! Looking forward to seeing your success for the future. We hope you dance! Love, Mom and Dad 2020

2020

Lexi Giamalva Whitney Elliot Lundy Lexi,

So proud of you for 12 years of having fun, playing nice and being good! You amaze us. Love, Mom, Sean and Daisy

You are a grand person and we couldn’t be more proud of you. Our love and best wishes follow you as always. Love, Gram, Gramps, Mom and Amaya 2020

2020

Caitlyn Pearson

Adam Malisos Favoritest. Adam. Ever!

We’re so proud of the amazing person you’ve become. Always remember…“Wherever you go in life, there you are!” Congrats! Love, Mom, Dad, Kyle, Jessie and Savana

Congratulations to our amazing daughter on her graduation! We are so proud of you, and all that you have achieved! Love, Mom, Dad, Princess and Daisy

2020

Olivia Mccann Lillian gaither Lillian, We are so proud of how you have stayed strong during your senior year! Your class will live in history during this time. Although you did not get to attend all of your year-end events, you made it! Congrats. Love, Mom and Dad

Olivia, We are beyond proud of you! You are brilliant and beautiful! We can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll accomplish in life. Love, Team McCann and Murphy 2020

2020

Colby Kelley

Patrick Kiely Individually you made school history and as the class of 2020, world history. We are so proud of who you are and what you have accomplished! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Patrick, We are so proud of all you have accomplished in high school and so excited for all you will accomplish in college. We are so proud of you! 2020 will be a year the entire world will remember - the year you launched into your next chapter. Stay kind and follow your dreams. Love, Mom, Dad, Hannah and Reagan

Zach Schuele We are so proud of you and excited to see where your new paths take you!

2020

Raeli Howerton Congratulations on all of your accomplishments! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the bomb on the field and in class! Love, Mom, Dad, Vance, Alex and Breck

Love, Mom, Dad, Abby and Halle

2020

Kamryn Parton

William Laubscher Congrats, Will! We are so proud and excited to see where the future takes you. XXXOOO Love you, Mom, Dad and Jeff

2020

Your graduation means the world to us. We are so proud of you! What you have achieved is only the beginning. We know you will succeed in anything you put your mind to and we will be there to cheer you on along the way. Follow your dreams, and with hard work and dedication, nothing is out of reach! Love, Mom and Ron

Madison Marwitz

Mary Barnes Congratulations, Mary! Your time as a Blue Jay has been a joy to witness. Thank you for your hard work, dedication and perseverance.

We cannot believe this time has come... Be proud of yourself and all youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accomplished. Enjoy every bit of this next part of your journey. We love you! Mom, Dad, Michael and Mason

2020

Love you! Mom, Dad, Jacob, Jackson, Joseph, Mamo, Popo and Chief 2020

2020

Jadyn Keu

Tyler Younghans Congratulations on all your hard work to cross this finish line. Your strength astounds, we can’t wait to see what’s next! We love you, Jadyn Mae!

Congratulations, son! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what the road ahead holds for you. The road to success is always under construction.

Love, Mom, Dad, Scott, Castana, Maxwell, Grandma and Hunter

Love, Dad and Mom

2020

Britin Melton Evan Moody Proud is an understatement. We all could not be more thrilled that you are continuing your athletic career at SBU! Congrats to our Lady Jay!

Evan, We are so proud of you! We can’t wait to see what you do with your life. Always follow your dreams, but take your brain with you!

We love you! Dad, Mom, Liz and Chano

Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Roman PFister

2020

Mark Chiselita Every day you reveal a new layer of awareness, intelligence and kindness. There aren’t words to describe our admiration for all of your accomplishments. You’ve treated every challenge as an opportunity. Warmest wishes on this unique graduation. Love, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Nina, Pop Pop, Paris, Maddie and Grace

2020

Bristol Hough Bristol, Congratulations on being Valedictorian and getting a full ride to WashU! We are incredibly proud of you. Can’t wait to see what you do next!

2020

Jack Barreca We’re proud of your hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for school, broadcast, rugby and football. You are unstoppable! Love, Dad, Mom and Michael

Love, Mom, Dad, Jillian and Sasha

Dear Mark, You’re growing into a brilliant young man and the credit is all yours. Keep carving with your imagination. “A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission.” -Rush Love, Mom, Dad and Anna

2020

Caesar Garcia

Makenna Schechinger

Son, We are beyond proud of you and your accomplishments. There’s not a day you don’t put a smile on our faces. You are a great brother and your siblings will always look up to you. We can not wait to see what other great plans God has for you. Don’t lose sight of your life goals! Love, Mom, Dad and your sibilings

Makenna, We are so very proud of you and all you have accomplished during your four years of high school. We wish you much success at MU next year! We love you, Mom, Dad, Cooper and Brody

2020

Blake Fordyce Congratulations to our quarantined senior. From kindergarten to now, you have amazed us with your many talents and abilities, and we are so proud to be by your side during this time. You’re beginning a new chapter of your life, and we want you to know we love you and are so proud of the young man you’ve become. Love, Mom, Dad and Family

2020

Anthony Savastino Congratulations on your great achievement! We wish you the best of luck and many more successes in the future. Love, Mom, Dad, and Sam

2020

Cassandra Fuentes

2020

Meagan Davis

Ella es inteligente, muy amorosa y nunca se avergü de mi porque estoy viejita. Que más puedo pedir de ella, ella es de lo mejor y siempre me toma en cuenta. Por eso la quiero mucho. Love, Mama Ruiz

2020

Words cannot express the love and pride we have for you! Your smile and gentle nature draw people to you while your fierce and fearless determination is unmatched. Enjoy every moment on your journey, stay true to yourself, and ALWAYS be YOU! You, our favorite middle child, are amazing! Love, Mom and Dad

Mary Mason

Katie Martin We are so proud of all your accomplishments throughout your years as a Blue Jay. We are excited for your future. You shine so bright! Love, Mom and Dad

Congratulations on all of your accomplishments throughout your school years. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. We love you! Mom and Dad

2020

Madilyn Hamline Drew Plum We will always find comfort in the Meme moving on because we know from where you’ve come... play good, play hard and have fun. Love, Mom, Dad, and big sisters

Drew, Congratulations on all of your achievements - both inside and outside of the classroom. You have made us all proud! Love, Mom, Dad, Reid and Jacquelyn

2020

Kayla Jump

2020

Abby Howard Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off! We are so proud of all your accomplishments! Love, Dad, Mom, Daniel, Chloe and Paisley

Abby, Congratulations on all you accomplished at LHS! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what your future holds! We love you! Dad, Mom, Ava and Blake

2020

Jayden Hayes

2020

Kendall McMullen You’re on your way to embrace life with passion. This is just the beginning; you are a STAR in the making. Shine on brother! Congratulations! Lots of Love, Mom and Dad, Savon, Blair, and Ysabella

We are so proud of you!

2020

Your accomplishments reflect incredible dedication, talent, and work in academics and activities. We’re immensely proud of you and so grateful for the pure joy you bring us! Congratulations! Love, Mom, Dad, Davis, Stella and Lewis

2020

Justin CASTER ASPEN ST. LOUIS Congratulations, Aspen. This is the first of many accomplishments you will have along life’s path. We are very proud of you. Looking forward to your bright future. Love, Mom and Brian

Congratulations, Justin! Celebrate your accomplishments and know great things are in your future - work hard and trust God. We are always here for you! Love, Mom, Dad and Morgan

2020

Marcus Myvette Hailey Childers Marcus, We are so incredibly proud of you! Not quite how we thought it would end, but lookout world, here he comes! Deuteronomy 31:8 Love you! Mom, Dad, Kerrisa and Reyna

Congratulations, Hailey! We can’t wait to see what you will accomplish! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Pryce King

2020

Connor Looney From our little boy to our now grown man. We wish you the very best in what life has to offer you. You are going to do great things in the future! Love Always, Mom and Dad

2020

May you always find joy and success in all of your accomplishments, Connor. Love, Mom and Dad

Ronna Gantt Congratulations, Ronna bug! We’re so proud of all that you have accomplished. We are excited for the next step of your journey at K-State. P.S. the dishes still need to be done. Haha! Love you, Mom, Dad, Katelynn and Peyton

2020

Clayton Ewbank Clay, Your future is yours to create. Love you, Mom. Clay, remember, anyone can wear the mask! EXCELSIOR! Love you, Mom, Dad and Dana

2020

Allison Meyer

2020

Courtney Byrd We are so proud of you, Court! The adventure is just beginning and we can’t wait to see all of the amazing things you are going to do with your life!

We are proud of everything you have accomplished. Your future will be bright! Congrats! Love, Father, Mother and George

Love you sweet girl, Momma, Daddy and Kelby 2020

2020

Karolina Torrance

David Finke

We’re thrilled to celebrate with you as you move on to your next big adventure at UNI. This is just the beginning my beautiful girl, you can achieve much more in your life. Kat, you are capable of greatness! Never stop chasing your dreams. Love, Mom

2020

Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes for your next adventure! With love and pride today and always, Mom, Dad, Patrick, Daniel, Anna and Pooh Bear

2020

Chase Anderson Brianna Rose Willett Brianna, It has been an honor and pleasure to be your parents. You have amazed us since you were little with your compassion, intelligence, and beautiful nature. We have no doubt you will succeed and be a blessing to everyone who knows you. You make the world a better place and we couldn’t be more proud. Love, Mom and Dad

Chase, We are so proud of what you have done and can’t wait to see all you do from here! Love, Mom, Dad, Abigail and Max

2020

Nina Bailey

2020

Jermaine Brooker ii We’re so proud of you! You are talented and hard-working and most importantly, you always find a way to shine!

We are so proud of you and who you have become. Keep pushing, no limits! Mom, Dad and Jericho

Congratulations, We love you! Your Whole Loving Family

2020

Tyler Gough

Connor Mason After everything you have overcome in the past few years, we are all so proud of you and what your future will hold.

We are so proud of you, for who you are Tyler! We love you so much! Love, Mom, Dad, Jake and Claire

Love, Mom, Dad, Kyle, Thomas and Hannah

2020

Caroline Wright

Allie Taylor We are so proud of all your accomplishments and the beautiful young lady you are inside and out. We will all miss you this fall but cannot wait to see what great things you do in your future! Your very large family

2020

Veronica Southall

Caroline, We are so proud of you and your high school accomplishments. We cannot wait to see the great things you will do in college and beyond! Love, Mom, Dad, Rebecca,and Lauren

2020

Victoria Southall

We are so proud of the young lady you have become! We are excited to see what the future holds! #missindependent

We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments! We are excited for your future! #princesssuperstar Love, Mom, Dad and your whole squad of family

Mom, Dad and your whole squad of family and friends

2020

Ashley Ritter Ashley, We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. You are an amazing young lady. Can’t wait to see what the future holds! Love, Mom, Zack and Dad

2020

Carl Ross Manion

Tepary Cooley We are proud of who you are and excited to see who you will become. Remember to make time to explore, hope, love and dream! We love you! Troy, Nikki and Omri

2020

Jacob Haug Jacob, We are so proud of you and have enjoyed watching your journey. You are going to do great things in life. You’ve set an excellent example being a leader and treating others with kindness. Congratulations on your achievement. We can’t wait to see what’s ahead for you. Love, Mom and Dad

Dear Ross, We are so proud of what you’ve accomplished and of who you are. You are a blessing to our family. We are looking forward to the next chapter! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Taylor Cummings

Isaiah Hall Congratulations, Taylor! We are so proud of you, the hard work you put in everything you do and for your kind, loving heart! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Chayton Beck

You’ve made it! We’re so proud of what you’ve accomplished and look forward to many more successes! Stay prayerful, strong and hungry! Your biggest fans, Mom, Amayiah, the fam and squad

2020

Kaylee Cook Kaylee, We are so incredibly proud of your accomplishments. Be truly glad there is wonderful joy ahead! Peter 1:6 We love you so much, Mom, Dad, Jorgia, Suzie and Joseph

Congratulations! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. Love, Mom, Dad and Jake

2020

Cameron Phipps

2020

Antonio Solis Congratulations, Cameron! We are So Proud of You!

We wish you happiness and success in your future adventures! We love you so much! Love, Mom, Dad ,Cooper, Joel and Grandparents

2020

We are so excited to watch you grow into the man and wonderful person you’ve become. We admire your creativity, fun-loving spirit and sense of humor. You’ve shown us courage, intelligence and a heart full of love. You are an inspiration to us all and we are so very proud of you. Love, Mom, Dad and Christian

Lauren Brookins Congratulations! We are so proud of your hard work, determination, and persistence. You are kind, compassionate, helpful, caring, and fun. We love you so much and can’t wait to see what the future holds! Love, Mom, Dad, Riley, and Charlotte

2020

Christina Rangel We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and the strong woman you have become! The future awaits you. Dream big and enjoy the journey! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Brett Arnold

Corben McClintock Brett, Dad and I are blessed and proud that you are our son. May God protect you, and guide you, throughout your life. Proverbs 3:1-6 Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Evan M. Mansil

We are so proud of you and love you soooo much. You are going to do some amazing things in this world. Enjoy the ride! Love, Mom, Dad, Grace, Cooper and Gigi

Jeremiah Reno It’s hard to believe you’re coming to the end of your senior year. We’ve watched you grow into such a strong and independent young man. Always be true to yourself and keep working hard to achieve your dreams. Love, Mom, Dad, and Selena

Congratulations, Evan... We could not be more proud of you and we look forward to what your future holds. All our love, Mom, Dad, Alexa, Ashlyn, and Matthew

2020

Stay strong, you have many successes to be proud of. It wasn’t all for not, those successes framed the beautiful person you’ve become. We love you! Mom, Dad, and Amanda 2020

Congratulations to our son, Santino! We are extremely proud of all your accomplishments. You have a very bright future ahead. We love you always. Love, Mom, Dad, Valencia and Marcella

2020

Matthew Lawson

Alexandra Simmons We could not be more proud of you! Each person who has invested in you has left their mark and you have left yours! Here’s to an amazingly bright future!

Congratulations

on your outstanding accomplishments, perseverance and focus in high school. We look forward to watching you grow in your next adventure. #theworldneedsmorecowboys Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Santino Trombino

Samantha Seggerman

2020

Love you more, Dad, Mom, Cam and Brooks 2020

2020

Dylan Shields

Alyssa Griffith Congratulations to our favorite three-sport athlete.

We are so proud of you and all your hard work and dedication that brought you to this point.

May you continue to find your voice and path in life to help others and make the world a better place.

Never settle and always do whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right. Love, Dad and Brooke

Love, Mom and Dad

2020

McKenna Hegger

2020

Grace Flournoy

We are so proud of you, McKenna! Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown into a wonderful young woman with an amazing personality, a loving heart, a tremendous work ethic and the knowledge you can do anything you set your mind to! Remember, all of your dreams can come true. Be Fearless!

Always REMEMBER You are... BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, SMARTER than you think, and LOVED more than you know.

Love, Mom, Zachary, Jonathon, Arianna, and Micah

Love Mom and Dad

2020

Justin Schmidt

Ryan Mata

Now, off you go to work hard, run fast, and have fun at Mizzou!

Love, Mom, Dad, Taylor and Collin

Your Biggest Fans, Mom, Dad, Ash and John 2020

2020

Lauren Hiestand

Anothony basa Anthony, We are so proud of you and the wonderful, smart, and thoughtful young man you have become. You have a bright future ahead of you and we cannot wait to see where life takes you. Love, Mom and Scott, Dad and Christian

2020

We are so proud of your accomplishments and will always cheer for you!

Congrats, Justin! We are so proud of you and look forward to what your future holds.

2020

Congrats on your journey this far! Just remember to dream big, work hard, stay focused and surround yourself with good people! We love you! Love always, Mom, Dad and Kyle

2020

Alyson boldt

Elizabeth gammon We are so crazy proud of you and your accomplishments. So excited for all of the amazing things you will do at UMKC and beyond! Love, Mom, Dad, Emily and Ainsley

A true artist makes it look easy. Congratulations! Love, Mom, Dad, Grace and Rory

2020

Peyton Steenstra

2020

Ryan Olivas

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!”

We love you and are excited to see what your future holds!

- Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott

Congratulations!

Love, Mom and Dad

Love, Mom, Dad, Court, D & J

2020

Sidney Lowry

2020

Karlie Benton Congratulations, Sidney! We are so proud of all you have accomplished! Follow your dreams and heart. Love, Mom, Sam and Samantha

2020

Anna Kreicbergs

2020

Alyssa Bryan Alyssa, We are so proud of you and your accomplishments. Remember, go after what you want and stay humble along the way. Congrats, sweetheart. Love, Mom and Dad

Don’t just fly, Soar!!! Love, Mom, Dad and Lexi

Congrats, Karlie! You have overcome a lot in the last few years, we are so proud of you! Can’t wait to see what your future holds! Love, Mom, Dad and Morgan

2020

Cameron Black

Caleb Ahart Congratulations, Caleb! We are proud of you. Mom and Dad

2020

Parker Grace

Cameron, You are a handsome, caring, smart, and kind young man and we love you with all our hearts. We are very proud of you and your accomplishments and so excited to see what your future holds. All our love, Mom, Dad and Kaylee

2020

Drake Parker Parker, We could not be more proud of you. We have watched you grow into an amazing young man who is hardworking, kind, and self-motivated. You have taken this unexpected turn in your senior year in stride and have made the best of it. We are so excited to cheer you on in your next adventure. Go Bears! Love, Mom, Dad, Logan and Nate

2020

wyatt Craven

2020

robert hayden

It’s about time... You’ve walked a long way to get here and we are so very proud of you! We know you will make the best of your new beginning. We love you! Love, Mom and Eric, Dad and Connie

We are so proud of all of your accomplishments! We love you and can’t wait to see what comes next in your life. Love, Mom, Dad, Caroline and John Cole

Everyone in the family is so proud of you! I can’t believe how fast you have grown from the eager, sweet boy in Mrs. Bush’s class at Doniphan into the confident student actor you are now. We will all miss watching you perform in the Little Theater! Love you so much! Dad

2020

Quinn Tilley

2020

Abby watts Of all of life’s wonderful gifts, none is more special than having a son like you to love. While your senior year didn’t turn out quite how you planned, this experience will shape you later on. As you go off to college, remember to learn, make new friends, laugh and most of all, have the courage to be kind. Love, Mom, Dad and Parker

2020

You have accomplished so much and we couldn’t be more proud of you. This is not the end of your senior year you hoped or wanted, but don’t lose sight of all the memories you’ve made, friendships you’ve developed and accomplishments along the way. We can’t want to see what the next chapter holds for you. Love, Mom, Dad, Chloe and Nutmeg

2020

Karrell Simpson Kelsee Mortimer To our amazing daughter, Congratulations on your high school graduation! We’re thrilled to celebrate with you as you move on to your next big adventure. We are so proud of you and wish you the best of luck at Mizzou! We love you so much! Love, Dad, Mom, Drake, Kale, Gamma and Papa Misel, Grandpa and Grandma Mortimer

We can’t express how proud we are to witness you begin the next chapter of your journey. Stay focused and settle for nothing but greatness. Love, Dad, Mom, and Janai

2020

Caden Howard

2020

Justin Herman Congratulations to our son on your accomplishments. Even amidst these uncertain times you still prevail. Your future is looking bright, and we’re so excited to see where life will take you. Wherever your journey takes you, know we’ll always be there if you need us. Love you buddy. Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Justin, Congratulations on your high school graduation! We are so very proud of you! Best wishes to all LHS seniors this year! Love you Justin! Dad, Mom and Ryan

2020

Keaton Evans Emily Glaeser We know this isn’t the senior year you envisioned. But we are so proud of you for choosing to finish strong regardless of what finishing looks like for the class of 2020. Just remember that good things can still happen in the midst of chaos. Your future is so bright!

Congratulations, Keaton! I am so proud of you! Remember, whatever you do in life, do it with all your heart! Love, Dad

Love, Mom, Dad, Olivia and Ava

2020

Jenna phelan Jaden stevens Congratulations, Jenna! We are so proud of you and excited for your future endeavors at Mizzou in the fall! You have accomplished so much and have so much to look forward to as well! We have total confidence that your journey will lead your to future success! M-I-Z Love you so much! Mom, Dad, Jamie and Lizzie

We are all beyond proud of you, your accomplishments and the man you have become! You may be graduating, but in our hearts you will always be our “Baby Mooch”! We Love You! Love, Mom, Dad, Nicole, Mikks, and Bray 2020

2020

Tait Harvey Abby Rosheim Abby, We are so very proud of your determination to be your authentic self! We know great things are in your future because of your kind heart and the passion you display for all you take on. Much Love, Mom, Dad, Cooper, and Meredith

Tait, You have accomplished incredible academic and athletic goals. Your ability to be both a leader and a team player will serve you forever. All our love, Mom, Dad, and Shae

2020

Maxymiliano Valencia

2020

Will swetnam Willie, You are the perfect combination of sincere and sarcastic, genius and clueless, musical and athletic, outgoing and introspective, Blue Jay and Tiger! Love, Mom, Dad and MJ

We can’t wait to see you become a successful young man and we will always be there for you. Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Audrey McBride

2020

Sawyer Loomis Congrats to our BlueJay Grad! We are so proud of the young man you have become. Mr. Mizzou, it’s time to go be a Tiger! Love, Dad, Mom and Carly

You’re brave beyond your years… stronger than you know… and more loved than words can show. You got this, Audrey! Much Love, Mom, Dad, and Emily

2020

Lauryn Hillman

Brandon Nestlerode As your parents, we are so proud of you. You have accomplished so much in last four years. We can’t believe you’re at the finish line and about to walk across the stage to receive your diploma. Love, Mom, Pablo, Dad, your grandparents, and your siblings

2020

Even with all the changes caused by the Coronavirus, you’ve shown the grit and perseverance we all knew you had. We are thrilled you will be starting college at Pitt State to study nursing. We are so very proud of you and excited to celebrate your efforts and accomplishments. Love, Mom, Dad, Jack and Nick

2020

Nick Biesemeyer

Kaleigh McCarthy

Congratulations, Nick! We are proud of you! All of the hard work you put in has paid off. Enjoy every day to the fullest. Keep working hard no matter what happens. May all of your dreams come true! Love, Mom, Dad, Hunter and Kate

Congratulations, Kaleigh! We wish you the best in the years ahead as a First Responder. We love you. Love, your family

2020

Caleb Ezzell Peter Mallon Peter, We have enjoyed watching you grow and are so proud of the young man you have become. Congratulations and Mizzou-RAH! Love, Mom, Dad, Luke and Mark

We are incredibly proud of all youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accomplished during your time at Liberty High School. Take your contagious school spirit for LHS into the next adventure. Love, Dad, Mom and Jared

2020

Angelo Martinez

2020

Faith Wilson Faith, We are so proud of you for all of your hard work! You set goals for yourself, and we watched you achieve them and celebrated your successes. Mizzou is set to be your new home with your best friend. Your dad and I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be more thrilled for your future. Love you, Mom and Dad

So very proud of you! Congratulations on your achievement and wishing you all the best in the future! Love, your Family

2020

Devyn Switzer

2020

Michael Book Michael Book, Winning means you are willing to go longer, work harder and give more. Toughness is hard to find, hard to teach, hard to beat. BE STRONG. Love and support, Mom and Dad

Congratulations, Devyn! We love you so much. Love, Dad, Mom and Garrett

2020

Graceann Ellis Gracie, We could not be more proud of the amazing young lady you are. You have BIG dreams for yourself and will never settle for less than your best. We know you will do big things with your future! Fly High baby girl! All our Love and Support, Dad, Mom and Nick

2020

Callum Trester

Congratulations John! We love you, Lou Lou... from, the Family

Congratulations, Kate! We are so proud of all you have accomplished! Believe in your dreams, we know you were made for great things! We love you, Mom, Dad, Charlie and Will

Love, Dad, Mom, Cannon and Peyton 2020

Sophia Rothery

Daisy, We are so proud of you! The sky is the limit reach for the stars! Love, Mom, Dad, Isaiah and Josiah 2020

Max Roos We are so proud of you. Enjoy life, work hard, stay humble and serve others.

2020

Tyler Bolz We are so proud of you! Your future is waiting for you. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see what you accomplish! Love, Mom, Dad and Andrew

Love, Dad, Mom, Hannah, Levi, Lola, Kent and Murphy

2020

Daisy Smith

So happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day, and so very proud of you, too! Love, Mom, Bob and Chloe

2020

Kate Marshall

We are so proud of you!! We look forward to seeing where the future takes you.

John Harris

2020

Parker Fung

Tyler Robinson Congratulations, Son! We are so very proud of you! Your teachers and classmates will remember you for a long time for the impact you make on everyone you meet. You are a kind-hearted, passionate, energetic young man. We are so lucky to have such an amazing son. We Love You! Mom and Dad

Parker, We’re so proud of how far you’ve come in your academics as well as your e-sport career. I still remember the moment you told me you got a 22 on your ACT, and when you placed in the bronze skill group on your favorite game. Dad

2020

Elijah Cramer We are so proud of all your hard work and determination to do your best in every aspect of your life! We couldn’t have asked for a better son, one who is dependable, honest, kind, compassionate, and selfless. We know you’ll do great things on your mission and at BYU! Love, Dad, Mom, Emma, and Evan

Macy Wager

2020

Even though we don’t know what the future specifically holds right now, you know who holds your future. We love you more than you know! Love, Dad, Mom, Calvin, and Adrienne 2020

Zachary Boyer

Zach, We couldn’t be more proud of you. We can’t wait to see what God has in store for your future...it’s going to be incredible! Love, Rex’s Roudies

Abby Geier

2020

Carrington Kudrna

We are so proud of you, Macy!

2020

So proud of you, Abby! You’ve worked so hard to achieve your goals. In August, you head off to sunny Florida.We have really enjoyed being a part of it. Love, Dad, Mom, Taylor and Travis

We are all so proud of you and the work you put in every single day, Bear. It shows in your grades, at competitions, and most importantly in the compassionate, responsible, and independent young adult you are today. We are excited for the next chapter and know you will be successful in whatever you choose. Love Always, Mom, Dad, and Madison

2020

Danielle Roepke Congratulations, Danielle on your LHS Class of 2020 graduation with honors! You are a very driven and determined young woman. You will thrive in your PHARM D pharmacy program at Creighton University. We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see how far you go. Love you, Dad, Mom and Abigail

2020

Mariah Moffet

Rhiannon Lewis Rhiannon, Congratulations on your spectacular high school career! We are so proud of you! It’s been a blessing watching you grow. As your journey continues, know you are always loved and supported. “All our dreams come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” -Walt Disney Love, Mom, Dad, Trenton, and Mason

We are so proud of you! Love, Aunt Carrie, Uncle Aaron, Daisy, Isaiah and Josiah

2020

Cooper Stiles

We can’t wait to see what your future holds! Love, Mom and Dad

Jaina Bell

2020

Jeremy Crooks

2020

Sydney Cannon

From a nervous and timid kindergartner to an assured and self-confident senior, we are so proud of you, Syd! We love you! Philippians 4:6-7 Love, Your Family

2020

Zach Franzen

Zach, it’s been our joy to watch you grow and achieve so much. Hope you know how proud we are of you. Congratulations! We Love You, Mom, Dad and Leah

So very proud of you, son, on the fine young man you have become. You will succeed and do great in the future. Love, Dad, Megan, Sam, Ben, Grandma, Kenny and Aunt Diane

2020

Jaina Rose, Your future is full of so many wonderful and fulfilling things to experience and life lessons to learn. I can’t wait to hear about them all. As you journey to build your life, know that you are never alone and that home is always open to you. Love, Mom, your Dad, and all your siblings

Congratulations, Cooper! We are so proud of you.

2020

Isabella Cordero All you need is within you. All you imagine awaits you. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Bisous and Love, Papa, Mama and Olivia

2020

Hope Black

Marc Anthony Ruiz Dear Marc, First and foremost, we are so PROUD of you and we love you so much! Remember that with PERSEVERANCE, DETERMINATION, and WILLINGNESS, anything and everything is possible. Wishing you the best at Northwest Missouri State University! Love, Mom, Dad, Michael and Ariana

2020

We are so proud of you and all of your achievements. Chase your dreams and you can accomplish anything! We love you Hopey! Love, Mom, Sisters, Uncle, Aunts and Niece

2020

Carissa French Adam Murphy We are so proud of you! You have become an unassuming young lady. Good luck to our Beauty for your college future. Love, Mom, Dad, Nathan, Grandma and Grandpa

We always knew you would be something magnificent! You brought out the BEST in all of us. We love you, Murph! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Matthew Mease

2020

Aubrianna McKee Congratulations, Matt. We are so proud of you and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see you start your new chapter in life!! With Much Love, Mom, Dad and Sister

2020

You have touched us with your Independent Spirit, Confident Stature, Sensitive Soul, and Funny Personality. Go Follow your Heart, Pursue your Dreams, and continue to Stand up for what is Right. We love you with all of our heart and soul, Mom, Dad, and Landon

2020

Anna-Claire Matz Tucker Kloster Congratulations! We are so proud of you! Best of luck at Mizzou! You are headed to do great things! We love you! Love always, Mom, Dad, Maddox and Beckett

We are so proud of you, not only for your accomplishments, but also for the caring, beautiful soul you are. Love, Mom, Dad, Leah, Caroline, and Momoo

2020

Zeke Beach

Madisyn Carmichael We are so proud of you! Congrats to our smart, talented, competitive, often sarcastic, and always-hilarious daughter! Can’t wait to see what your future holds!

Congratulations, Zeke! We are so proud of you. You always strive to do your best and we are proud of all you have accomplished. Love, Dad, Mom, and Danny

2020

Avery Starr

Love you to the moon and back! Dad, Mom and Kaylea

Drake Smith

Avery, We are so excited for you as you move ahead to your adult life and an amazing future. We love your silly sense of humor, your sweet giggle, and your smart mouth. Always stay true to you! Lots of love, Mom, Dad, Evan, Leah and Eliza

2020

We love you and we are so proud of you! We can’t wait to see all the future holds for you! Hold fast to your dreams and always believe in yourself. Congratulations! Love, Mom, Dad, 2020

Matthew Walther

2020

Delaney Cavanaugh Congrats, Loo! We’re proud of you. Your hard work and positive attitude is amazing to see. Looking forward to what comes next! We Love You! Mom, Dad and Kara

Matt, We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! Enjoy the ride! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Ethan Wallace

Drew savaiano

Behind you, all your memories. Before you, all your dreams. Around you, all who love you. Within you, all you need. We love you, Ethan! Love, Mom, Dad, Devin, and Cameron

Hardworking, kind, funny and smart... you are are ready for the next step. Go explore, dream, and discover! Make it great! Love, your Family

2020

Jacek Balicki

Reginald Murphy You did it! I hope you’re as proud of yourself as we are. Congratulations and show the world who Reginald is. Sky’s the limit! Love always, Momma, Eric, Jasmine, Lil Eric and Sa’Niya

We are incredibly proud of you and look forward to your next chapter at Creighton. Your Senior year will be one you’ll never forget! Love, Mom, Dad and Ava

2020

Kaden Rottjakob

2020

Bracie Hayakawa

Congratulations Kaden! Keep striving for your dreams as you move on from LHS. We are very proud of the man you have become and love you so much! Love, Your Proud Family

2020

Senior year has been crazy weird. Let this time shape you, but not define you. The universe has big plans for you! Congrats! Love you, Mom and Dad

Mia Gansen

2020

Connor Callahan Son, I have been so proud to watch you grow into the man you have become. From the minute you were born you have always been my bubby! A mother could never ask for a more independent, reptile-loving, green-thumb, and this overwhelming strong man you are becoming! You will always be my bubby! Love, your mom

Congrats, Mia! Love, Mom, Dad and Aidan

2020

Lucy Donnici Lucy, We are all extremely proud of you! Your elementary and high school years have flown by too fast. We have watched you grow and become the beautiful person you are today. We are excited to see what adventures await you at KU! Love, Mom, Dad, Dennis, James, Joseph, Sophia and Mabel

2020

Ashley Louthain Ashley, You have the world before you! Anything you set your mind to, we know you will accomplish. We love you more than you know, Mom and Dad

2020

Katlyn Bolek

Abbey Riggs We couldn’t be more proud! The joy you have brought to our lives will only be matched by the joy you will bring to your students. Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Abbey, You have always risen above circumstances, soaring with grace and choosing to become stronger each time. As God continues to write your beautiful story, keep running the race HE has for you (Hebrews 12:1-3). You are loved! Love, Dad, Mom, Ben, Lydia and Matthew

2020

Caden Hill

Gabi Watkins Congratulations, “Big Sister”!

We are very proud of you and will miss bugging you in the halls next year. Love, Your Favorite Siblings

2020

From the day you were born until today, you have only given us reason to be proud. We are so lucky to have you. God has blessed you with a positive attitude, a willingness to try new things, and caring ways. This will take you far. Today we celebrate you! Congratulations!We love you! Dad, Mom, Chase and Collin

Bryce Hastings You are braver, stronger, smarter, and loved more than you will ever know. Enjoy your journey! Love, Mom, Dad and Avery

2020

Grace House Congratulations on graduating high school! Excited for your next steps in life! Love, your cats and the rest of your family!

2020

Caroline Parry

2020

Carter Martin Hats off to you! This time does not look as any of us had imagined but doesn’t change the end result of the hard work you have put in to earn your diploma. This is a time you will remember for many years to come. It has been our pleasure to watch you grow and challenge yourself. Press on and become the best you that you can be. Love, Dad, Mom, Corbin, Canon and Cambree

Congratulations, Sweet Caroline! We are very proud of you and all you have accomplished. “Oh, the places you’ll go!” With love, from Dad,Mom, Davis, Madison, and Savannah

2020

Damon Wilson

Rosie Frederick What a joy it has been to watch you grow. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe you are already graduating from high school. We are so very proud of you today and always. What an exciting time in your life. Your whole world is open to you and we are so glad to stand with you at every step as your life unfolds. You are beautiful and bold! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

We are proud of your accomplishments and of the man you have become. Continue to follow what interests you despite all obstacles. Love, Mom, Dad, Angelina, Grandma and Grandpa

Payton Greenwald

2020

Isabelle Bates We are so proud of you. You amaze us every day. Never lose your kindness, passion, excitement and determination. Congratulations! We love you, Mom, Dad, Mary and Ty

Congratulations, Payton! We are so proud of you. We love you very much! Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Meghan Schneider Grant Stubbs Congratulations to you, Grant! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication throughout these school years. You have been a fun one to watch! Our prayer is that you continue to put God first in your life and follow Him wherever He leads. We will always be there cheering you on! Love, Dad, Mom, Rachel, and Luke

Congratulations on surviving the craziest senior year ever! Love you, Dad, Mom and Alec

2020

Charlie Ballard

Elaina Blodgett

Graduation is a celebration, farewell, and a new beginning. We are super proud of what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accomplished and excited to see what awaits you! Love you to the moon and back! Mom, Dad, Anna and Addie

2020

Class of 2020 will be a memorable year in history and you were part of that. We are so proud of you! Congratulations, Lani-bug! Love, Dad, Mom and Mackenzie

2020

Jeffrey M. Taylor Jr

Anastacia “Ray” Drake “If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself.” -Percy Jackson The Lightning Thief

Watching you grow has been a blessing from God. Now, on to the University of Arkansas. We are so proud of you. Love, Dad, Mom, Sister, Grandparents and Uncles

So very proud of you! Love, Mom, Dad, and Raiden

2020

Ethan Glass

2020

Josey Vickers You have worked so hard this year and we are so proud of you! You are so kind and caring and loving. We can’t wait to watch you grow as you reach for your dream of being a teacher. We love you! Love, Mom, Dad, Mallory and Haley

Congratulations on your achievements! We are so proud of you. Wishing you a happy and successful future. Go and be a light! Love, Mom, Dad and Emery

2020

Clayton Oswald

Gillian Litten You set a goal in kindergarten and never strayed. You make us proud every day with your kind heart, and drive to get what you want out of life. Make the most of what is given. With LOVE, from all of us

Congratulations, Clayton! You’ve worked so hard to complete your senior year, #Class of 2020 COVID-19. The current pandemic has changed your class forever, however; it will not define you. Love, Mom and Dad

2020

Noah Leo Lively Quintan Rash Noah, You have always been such a joy in our lives. We are so proud of your accomplishments and we celebrate your future! We love you! Love, Mom, Dad, Hannah, Jonah and Joshua

We are so proud of you and the young man you have become. Congrats for all your hard work and accomplishments, you will succeed at anything and everything you do in this lifetime! Love, Mom and Dad 2020

2020

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