The Ledger | Vol. 9 | Issue 4 |May 2022
News
Liberty Students Compete In State Solo & Ensemble 5 War in Ukraine Rages On 16 The Personal Story of a Ukrainian Citizen 17 Community Members Cast Their Vote in Municipal Elections 18 Scott and Lyczak Elected to Wentzville Board of Education 18 The Importance of Earth Day 19 Class of 2023 Hosts First School-Sponsored Prom Since 2019 22
Arts & Entertainment Top 10 Eagles Moments 14
Interactive Where the Zodiacs Came From 24
Seniors
College Comparison 20 Saying Goodbye to Our Seniors 23
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Content | lhstoday.org design by: M.Banstetter
Sports
Athletes Sign to Compete at the Next Level 12 The Eagles Defeat the Crusaders for the First Time in History 13 Spring Sports Update 13
Feature
Senior One Acts Come Roaring Back to the Stage 4 LHS Clubs Win Awards 6 The Feet Under the Bathroom Stall 7
Opinion Publications Broaden Their Horizons At Los Angeles Convention 8 Falling in Love with L.A. 9 The People of L.A. 9
In-Depth
The Winds of Change 10
cover design by: S.Ramesh cover photos by: S. Ramesh, A.Queen, J. Haun, A. Yoder, Trotter
h h, A. er
Dear reader, Welcome to this year’s final issue of the Ledger! As you have most likely observed, our issues have revolved around the four archetypal elements -- coming to a close with our air issue. This final issue serves as a goodbye to the seniors of Liberty, and features the talents of the seniors on our magazine staff. As we say our goodbyes and pass the torch to our younger staff, we look towards the future to which we’re haphazardly hurtling. As the year continues to drift by, we have nothing but good feelings when we look back at all we’ve accomplished this year as seniors. For many of us, this last magazine is a testament to the final memories we’ve made as high schoolers here at Liberty. Our time together over these past four years has been but a brief blip in the course of our lives, but for many of us it will be a time looked back at with fondness. We hope that you, reader, can feel the same pride and excitement over the final issue of the year. Thanks for reading the Ledger magazine, and have a wonderful summer.
Volume 9 Issue 4
The Ledger Liberty High School 2275 Sommers Road Lake Saint Louis, MO. 63367 636.561.0075 ext: 28039 jonathanhall@wsdr4.org
Editors-In-Chief Paige Bostic Elizabeth Hamby Reporters Mollie Banstetter (Layout Editor), Sruthi Ramesh (Photo Editor), Ally Schniepp (Sports Editor), Avery Schlattman, Elaine Thimyan, Sean Bruce, Gavin Block, Fiona Flynn, Kay Copeland, Abbie Luker, Emily Barnett, and Cody Cushing *Each editor also serves as a reporter
Content | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter graphics by: M. Banstetter
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The newly established tradition was reopened in captivating and charismatic style by Gavin Block, Reporter
photos by Sruthi Ramesh and Liz Hayes
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Feature | lhstoday.org design by: S. Bruce
After almost three years since its inaugural occurrence, Liberty’s senior directed one-acts once again took the stage. Auditions were held on March 16-17, and the plays were finally presented on April 28-29. Thursday and Friday’s performances featured four plays entirely managed by five senior directors. They were split into two sections, accompanied by brief intermissions between each show: “One Mingled in Entwining Love” written and directed by Jackson Martin and a production of “A Murdered Mystery” directed by Amanda Yoder were performed in part one; “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” overseen by Cleopatra Mozolewski and “The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet” co-directed by Brynn Bartram and Sean Bruce were performed in the latter part. “One Mingled in Entwining Love” sees Martin take a novel approach to how previous senior oneacts had been done. A considerably dramatic piece, it entails the story of an American family and associated individuals during the Vietnam War. They progressively crumble as love, aspirations, and tragedy build onto the pressures of life they are already bearing. The narrative purportedly acts as a semi-musical as it included a poignant rendition of “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” by sophomore Anna Simms (Samantha Kreisler) and Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 gracefully providing the instrumental background. Junior Jax Drezek played Kurt Miller, an integral male lead who suffers the atrocities of combat and returns while everyone believes him to be dead. Drezek remarked that assuming his role was not too difficult for him since he found many similar personality traits. Participating in theatre is a new experience for him, yet he says he was glad to have entered into an unanticipated activity for the first time. “I do a lot of sports; I don’t normally do much of things like theatre,” stated Drezek. “It’s outside of what I expect myself to be doing, hence why I was very intrigued about it once I really started getting into it.”Drezek also mentioned that when he would get nervous a little before coming up for his queue, he put this agitated energy into his performance, and later discovered that this method had become very beneficial for conveying the story. “I realized I was being a part of that entertainment and making people interested and provoking discussion,” Drezek expressed. “I was able to entertain people and make them stop thinking about the real world for a while; I made them interested in the story.” The mood was almost immediately lightened with “A Murdered Mystery.” We are introduced
to John, the butler, who appears to have killed Steve Walters. He assures us this is not the case, transporting us three hours earlier. Steve and the other suspects are found out to be a quarreling, selfish, and ludicrous bunch who comically struggle to competently exhibit their show. The play only continues to grow with debacles and misunderstandings, resulting in the murdered mystery. “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” entails two narrators along with multiple actors attempting to recreate all 209 tales by the famous author duo, though not in the most scrupulous manner. Ranging from Rumpelstiltskin to Rapunzel to Hansel & Gretel, the play is filled with clever slapstick, pop culture references, audience involvement and poking fun at typical folktale tropes. The wide variety of characters and subtle quips frequently generate hearted laughter from the crowd. “The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet,” as one would expect, takes the zany stylistic and linguistic distinctions of the Dr. Seuss books and applies them to one of William Shakespeare’s most acclaimed romantic tragedies. Tending to satire both literary properties, this is staged quite creatively to allow for quick entrances and exits along with colorful and inventive live renderings. The onlookers could not get enough of the “Monotones” and “Capitulates” nor the Seussified features adjusted with a modern attitude. The jocose rhymes and delightful deliveries from the actors in the spectacle felt appropriate to eventually conclude the nights’ performances. Theatre director Missy Gehrke witnessed the performers and directors realizing their respective plays in a short amount of time. “The directors and actors had a little less than a month to make this happen, and they pulled it off,” Gehrke observed. She communicated that she wishes the directors found the experience to be challenging and rewarding, saying, “These directors really got a crash course in production. I know that I watched all of them persevere, work through difficulties, and then—the best part—I got to see their faces and joy when the audience applauded at the end of the shows; I’m very proud of them.” The second annual senior one-acts this year did not fail to bring laughter, exuberance, premonition and merriment to its attendees. After such a heavy and solemn past couple of years, the theatre department has brought back a sense of community and cohesion like nothing else. This will be an unforgettable season for the seniors especially, who have guided, cooperated and flourished in their theatre careers. With this season’s one-acts, these students excellently and ultimately signified the electrifying revitalization of Liberty Performing Arts.
Band and choir students compete in annual competitions by Paige Bostic, Co-Editor-In-Chief and Grayce Page, Reporter On Saturday, March 5, members of the Liberty choirs and band convened to participate in the district Solo and Ensemble Festival. The event provides an opportunity for musically inclined students to compete for placements and qualifications for the upcoming state Solo and Ensemble Festival this month on April 30. The Liberty choirs and band participated in 20 events, eight of which resulted in individual or group advancement to state. State Solo and Ensemble will be held this month, taking place at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The band found great success at the competition, accumulating a total of nine high ratings of exemplary and outstanding. Of the Concert, Treble Select, and Chamber choirs, nine members received medals for their solo performances, and 12 received medals for their ensemble performances, with those winning gold advancing to state. State competitions were on April 30 at Mizzou in Columbia. Band students brought home a silver medal and a bronze medal, and choir students brought home four gold medals. and two silver medals. Below are rankings for competing students at the district event, with asterisks (*) denoting later state medalists.
Choir
(Advanced to State) Solo Grace Edney (10)*, Morgan Feinstein (11)*, Liam Ovares (12)*, Cassie Tarrant (12)*, Anna Wright (11)* Ensemble Treble Ensemble with Bee Boyer (12)*, Grace Edney (10)*, Morgan Feinstein (11)*, Nora Foeller (11)*, Avery Schlattman (12)*, Cassie Tarrant (12)* and Anna Wright (10)*
Band (Advanced to State) Solo Jaden Zelidon (12)* Ensemble Leilani Green (10)*, Donald Jurgensmeyer (12)*, Shane Wolz (11)* and Benjamin Young (11)*
Kent Masten (12) – Piano Solo, Kyler Stevenson (12) – Trumpet Solo, Emma Thomas (11) – Piano Solo, Shane Wolz (11) – Tenor Saxophone Solo, Ben Young (11) – Alto Saxophone Solo Ensemble Trumpet Quartet – Liam Ovares (12), Kyler Stevenson (12), Kaitlyn Benesek (11) and Amelia Huebbe (11)
Solo Bee Boyer (12) Connor Higlen (10) Kennedy LeMaster (10) Solo Brandt Cleppe (9) Ensemble Mixed Ensemble with Bee Boyer (12), Brandt Cleppe (9), Morgan Feinstein (11), Liam Ovares (12), and Anthony Rey (10) Mixed Ensemble with Grace Edney (10), Nora Foeller (11), Connor Higlen (10), Avery Donald Jurgensmeyer was one of Schlattman (12), Cassie Tarrant (12), Anna many musicians who delivered an exemplary ensemble performance. Wright (11), Shane Wolz (11) and Aidan Yowell (12)
photo provided by C. Datz
Choir students (from left to right) Bee Boyer, Morgan Feinstein, Nora Foeller, teacher Mr. Datz, Liam Ovares, Grace Edney, Anna Wright, Avery Schlattman and Cassie Tarrant pose at Mizzou.
News| lhstoday.org design by: F. Flynn
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Public Relations Award (Sruthi Ramesh), Second Place in Digital Poster (Amanda Speciale), Second Place in “Show Your K” shirt design (Amanda Speciale), Second Place Single Service Project Award for the LHS talent show, Third place for the scrapbook, Sruthi Ramesh won Member of the Year, Sruthi Ramesh was named one of two Distinguished officers in the Missouri-Arkansas area, Sruthi Ramesh won Member of the Year, Sruthi Ramesh also won first place in the Oratory Contest, Trent Stuerman won first place in the talent show playing piano, First Place Best Key Club Video (Anumitha Vaka), Trent Stuerman was elected District Lt. Governor for Missouri-Arkansas, Santosh Manikandan elected District Secretary for Missouri-Arkansas, Maddie Ashlock, Jaden Zelidon, and Mahathi Manikandan held three of those four posts this year (Governor, Secretary, and Treasurer) and planned the entire conference.
Eagles soar to greater height in extracurriculars by Sydney Davis, Reporter
Liberty’s students earned a gold medal at FCCLA State Conference in Tan Tara. Katelynn Larson and Paige Quinn competed in the Focus on the Children category. Emma Thomas competed alone in the Promote and Publicize FCCLA category. Micaela Garcia and Violet Grau competed in the Interpersonal Communications category. They will all be going to the National FCCLA Conference in San Diego, California this summer.
The Robotics team (from all four high schools) competed in Olathe, Kansas on March 17-18. They finished first in the rankings during qual ifying matches (11-1) and won the competition with their alliance partners, playing 17-2 overall. In addi tion to bringing home a blue banner for winning the com petition, the team also claimed the “Excellence in Engineering Award.” With this win, they have earn ed a spot at the world championships in Houston, taki ng place April 2023. The team competed again at the St. Louis Regionals from March 31-April 2 at Chaifetz Aren a. Aden Buchanan, Alex Kercher, David Jarrett, Kayden Lauman, Santosh Manikandan , Xander Tracy, and Dagon Williams are all of Liberty’s competitors.
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photo by LHS Publications
Feature | lhstoday.org design by: A. Luker
Liberty had 16 HOSA members qualify for and compete at Round 2 of the HOSA: Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference (SLC) in Rolla on March 28 and March 29. Liberty had 10 members qualify to attend the International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Nashville taking place this June. Saiya Ameen, Emma Thomas, and Jaden Zelidon received the Barbara James Service Award for completing over 100 volunteer community service hours related to health. Lauren McCain and Laney Torbit placed second in the Health Education event. Fiona Do, Sophia Fiorino, Amelia Huebbe, Anna Morrison, and Julia Wiley are State Champions in the Parliamentary Procedure event. Emma Thomas and Zoey Hoselton were given recognition on stage at the SLC for placing fourth in Prepared Speaking (Emma) and fifth in Medical Spelling (Zoey). Lastly, the LHS HOSA chapter received a certificate of recognition for the HOSA Service Project for the members’ contributions to Be the Match.
Schools across America battle the vaping epidemic that has spread amongst teens By Fiona Flynn, Reporter
photo by Fiona Flynn
The harrowing truth of humanity is our susceptibility to addiction, whether it be a person, action, or substance. Out of the 7.735 billion people that live on this planet, all have been either directly or indirectly affected by this epidemic of dependency. Although many have overcome their fight against any reliance on any particular thing, many still struggle today. In today’s world, one of the biggest centers of this pollution can be found in teenagers, particularly with the substance nicotine. Some students at Liberty have stated that they’ve witnessed firsthand nicotine seeping through the student life, to a point where it has driven specific friend groups to form based The school bathroom has become the primary safe place to get away with “hitting the nic.” around vaping. “It has become a culture of abuse here. You can’t become friends with certain people unless you are vaping. This school has become very much split between people who use and people who don’t,” Sean Bruce, a senior, commented on how he has watched fellow classmates fall into specific dominions based on smoke circles. The media has emphasized the dangers of using nicotine ever since e-cigarettes were introduced into the economy in 2006, with the statement of helping individuals addicted to cigarettes quit. However, this has only popularized the idea of using nicotine amongst teenagers, by providing a less potent and a very discreet vapor, sold in a variety of flavors. The Wentzville School District has banned the possession or use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices, though there has always been a struggle with tobacco products. In earlier years, before we as a society knew about the adverse effects of smoking, schools set up smoking areas allocated for students who used cigarettes. However, after years of studies, the legal age to purchase such products was moved to 18, and then in 2019, to 21. It is common knowledge that the bathrooms have turned into multipurpose stations amongst the student body, whether it is taking care of your personal business, or discreetly getting away with the next hit of nicotine behind a locked door. “In the last couple years, we haven’t seen the numbers of students that have been caught or in trouble for vaping. However, there are four principals and nearly 1,600 students at this point and we can’t be everywhere at one time,” Mr. Pryor, the assistant principal at Liberty for the past seven years, said. “When I first started here, there was a mix of traditional tobacco products (chewing tobacco and cigarettes). Vaping products had just started to become more prevalent at that time. Probably in years three through five, the vaping of Juuls increased as it nationally became popular.” This widespread epidemic has stretched from coast to coast of the United States, infecting students of all grades, even dripping into the middle school student population. Although there is not much to do to prevent the spread of this popularized subcategory of smoking, we can educate on its malicious effects on the body. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out and save a life.
CALL
1-800-363-5864
VISIT
smokershelp.net
Features| lhstoday.org design by: G. Block
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Students travel to California for a national journalism convention by Kay Copeland, Reporter Journalism is a passion that a multitude of students at Liberty strive to perfect. Luckily for those spirited students, LHS Publications had its first-ever opportunity to travel across the country in hopes of honing their journalistic skills and learning from accomplished professionals. LHS Publications students traveled to Los Angeles, California for the 2022 Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. Publications advisor Mr. Jonathan Hall, along with his wife and fellow teacher Mrs. Jackie Hall, chaperoned students to the convention. The event was held from April 7-9 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in LA. “I was focused on the journalism part of it all and what we were going to learn. I didn’t realize how much [the students] learned about themselves,” Mr. Hall stated. “It was totally worth it because I could just feel the excitement of everyone and what they learned. They really kind of came together as a group.” On the first night of the conference, student journalists from across the country gathered to listen to keynote speaker Hilde Lysiak emphasize the importance of investigating and reporting the cold hard facts. Lysiak, being a prominent young journalist herself at the age of 15, received a standing ovation at the end of her gripping speech. Throughout the rest of the convention, students were able to
attend learning sessions on topics included but not limited to writing, leadership, design, and photography. Senior Ally Schniepp recalls a session she attended on review writing. “It really showed me that asking questions can get you places in life. I went up and asked a sports-related reviewing question and it got me a free textbook which was really cool.” Schniepp reflected. “[The speaker] also showed me that I can do more than just sports, I could review books, or movies or TV shows. She kind of gave me a clear outlet into doing something not sports-related.” A select few publications students decided to represent Liberty in the National Journalism Quiz Bowl put on by the convention. Seniors Mollie Banstetter, Sruthi Ramesh and Paige Bostic, along with junior Kay Copeland all united their combined skill sets in current events, AP Style, history, and ethics to place in the Quiz Bowl semi-finals. The group placed seventh out of over 20 schools that participated, despite the on-a-whim decision to participate in the first place. The Fall 2022 JEA/NSPA National Journalism Convention will be held from Nov. 10-13 in St. Louis. With the next conference taking place in our home state, LHS Publications plans to get more involved in this next event and take home even more certificates than the spring conference.
DAY 1 1st Place Podcasting Anumitha Vaka, Chloe Stenger & Lydia Hamby 3rd Place Broadcast News Story Kaylee Clay & Elizabeth Hamby 6th Place Broadcast Feature Story Liz Hayes 7th Place Yearbook The Talon Yearbook Staff 9th Place Editorial Leadership Sruthi Ramesh Excellent in Review Writing Mollie Banstetter Honorable Mention Sportswriting
STL to Long Beach Family dinner and shopping at the FIGat7th
DAY 2 Tour of Santa Monica Beach, Venice, Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame Opening Ceremony at the JEA/NSPA conference
DAY 3
Ally Schniepp
Sessions at JEA/NSPA conference
Honorable Mention Newswriting
Dinner at Grand Central Market
Elizabeth Hamby Honorable Mention Photography Portfolio Sruthi Ramesh
DAY 4 Closing and award ceremony
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Opinion | lhstoday.org design by: A. Schalttman
Day trip to “The Last Bookstore” and the Grammy Museum
Seniors Paige Bostic, Mollie Banstetter, and Avery Schlattman play in the ocean at Santa Monica Beach during their first day in L.A.
photo by J. Hall
The city of Los Angeles at night, taken from the rooftop of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. photo by S. Ramesh
The 13 journalism students pose with Mr. and Mrs. Hall in front of the Hollywood sign at Griffith Observatory.
Finding myself in the City of Angels by Fiona Flynn, Reporter Perhaps one of the greatest mementos of life are the places you see and the people you meet before you die. A quick introduction to me, I am a person who seeks the oddities of the world, in cultures, style, architecture, etc; which is exactly what I found in LA. As the Red Hot Chili Peppers put it in their hit song Californiacation, “Marry me girl, be my fairy to the world, be my very own constellation,” the City of Angels is the place to fall in love, ranging from the wide expansion of coast to the unique diversity of people unafraid to show their strongest colors. Although it is considered to be the birthplace of stardom, beyond the surface is a broad, yet delicate community of every denomination of humanity unlike any other city. Maybe it was the LA sunset, or the impeccable food found on street corners, but this is the city I have fallen in love with over the span of the five days as we resided in the Westin Bonaventure hotel. When our group arrived on Venice Beach, tears brimmed at my eyes upon sight of the Pacific Ocean and I felt more connected to a place than I ever have before. Considering the time of year we visited, there was a lack of tourists and more civilians roaming the shores and sidewalks. Nearly every person you met gave you a smile or a nod. Most everyone there belonged to different pieces of the United States, making Los Angeles the mixing pot of the country. Dear reader, if you have not yet discovered yourself, if you feel like you don’t belong, get up and travel as much as possible. This may be the biggest lesson I learned while I was visiting; if you never leave and explore every single possibility of YOU, you’ll never know your fullest potential. I discovered mine in the City of Angels.
Improving interviewing skills through communications with LA civilians by Avery Schlattman, Reporter While on our trip we were given an assignment: to conduct an interview with at least one person we meet. Our subject did not have to be a fellow journalist at the conference, but could be anyone we encountered. The project pushed us to become creative and to improve upon our interviewing skills. We encountered a plethora of different cultures during our time in California, and this project allowed for us to explore them by asking questions, gaining insight, and capturing photos. I found myself wanting to meet new people, and looking forward to conversing with them about their experiences. Our interviewees ranged from high school students, shop owners, a 12-year-old skater, and even Snoop Dogg’s Tiana Baraja, a production assistant working production assistant. Throughout the trip we not only learned how on a commercial set in Venice Beach, to build connections with strangers but worked on strengthening our describes her “diverse and fast-paced” working connections within our own staff. The 13 of us that attended became photo by P. Bostic environment. close friends, referring to each other as a family. After returning to Liberty our staff has become much closer, helping our program to continue growing positively and working cohesively. “Be diligent, be truthful, and stick to the mission because it’s a long road,” filmmakers Ian and Andy state in their interview. photo by A. Queen
Chick-fil-A worker Benjamin Leder kept the group entertained as they waited for dinner outside the busy restaurant. “Always remember to show affection to everyone you meet because you never know what they might be going through,” Leder shared. photo by J. Hall
Opinion | lhstoday.org design by: A. Schlattman
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by Fiona Flynn, Reporter, Gavin Block, Reporter, Elizabeth Hamby, Co-Editor In Chief
The season of freedom is approaching for multiple parties, as seniors are being released into the real world and incoming freshmen will soon be entering the whole new world of high school; certainly, everyone is getting ready for the summer. LHS Publications reached out to current eighth graders inquiring about their future worries or questions they had for their future in hopes that fellow seniors could alleviate some stress they possess. After 100 responses later, many concerns have been illuminated from the future high school generation, and so here is where the seniors step in. Although it may be impossible to get to every question and every concern that the freshman had, but our goal was to comfort as many freshman as humanly possible. Here were the results:
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“It’s a lot less confusing than it seems, and I’m sure anyone around would be more than happy to help you.”
Freshman year is a great time to start getting involved in high school activities. Being active in your first year helps you discover what you might be interested in and enhances your high school experience. Make sure to build friendships and try to find people that you identify with during this time, as it will give you a sense of belonging and reduce stress. Getting acclimated to the new environment and routine can be helpful. It can be good to loosen up a little, but you should still focus on your academic obligations.
| lhstoday.org 10 In-Depth design by: E. Hamby, F. Flynn
This year be sure to stay on top of schoolwork and continue with the core classes. Set up a time management plan to stay organized, minimize anxiety and increase your productivity. You should take advantage of other different classes offered here, especially since you will not know what you are good at until you try it. Continue to pursue activities that interest you. Sophomore year is a transitional period that will provide you with a good foundation for the next two years.
Q&A
Which grade is the hardest? -Mason Tillott (9) “It depends. Junior year was the hardest because I had to raise my GPA. If I would’ve worked harder my freshman and sophomore year, I wouldn’t be stress out trying to make up for it later on.” -Bee Boyer (12) What should we do to make sure we don’t fall behind in our classes? -Angel Briones (9) “Write things down in a planner, notes app, etc. at the beginning of the week so you can see when you have time for things and better organize your time.” -Kelsey Lynch (12) I’m worried for my time management, since I am taking as many advanced classes as I can, I feel as though I will struggle in balancing my social and school life. -Tyler Smith (8) “Making a calendar, notes, alarms or organizing helps me manage my time. In the morning I have alarms set to wake up and one for the time I need to leave the house by. I set reminders in my phone and write notes for homework and tests. I would say to kind of stay on a schedule or have a planned time when you do specific stuff like getting ready or when you do your English homework or something.” -Ashley Haberberger (12) Is it a big leap between middle school and high school? -Mary Claire Albrecht (8) “YES! They made middle school much harder then what they need it to be! I had more work 8th grade year then any year in high school! However, it depends on your workload and how you get it done.” -Megan Barnett (12)
Junior year is known for commonly being the busiest year of high school. You will have more freedom with the classes and electives you choose. You will want to research colleges and take the ACT and/or SAT as part of your preparation for higher education. Try not to sweat the small stuff, because overthinking will only negatively affect your mindset. Taking it one day at a time is a beneficial philosophy to embrace. Give yourself time to take care of individual needs and rest when you need to.
Senior year is typically the most relaxed year for high school students. Many seniors and recent graduates say this is in fact their favorite year. Start the college application process and apply for scholarships if you can. Adding the final touches to your plans for college at this stage is crucial. You will want to enjoy and make the most of your time during your last year of high school. Occasionally take a moment to stop, look around you, and take it all in, because you will soon be missing your moments in high school.
In-Depth | lhstoday.org design by: E. Hamby, F. Flynn
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Nine athletes participated in the third signing ceremony of the year to announce their official commitment to collegiate athletics by Ally Schniepp, Sports Editor
Warren Gann Track and Field Missouri Baptist University Tyler Timmerman Baseball St. Charles Community College Deion Cunningham Swim Hartwick College Ro Razavi Golf Chaminade University of Honolulu Fiona Flynn Cross Country and Track Indiana University East
Fiona Flynn and Megan Venturella are two of the nine senior athletes who sat in the gym on Monday morning, April 18, in front of their friends and families while making the biggest decision of their life as a student-athlete: signing on to the next level. Along with Flynn and Venturella, seniors Warren Gann, Ro Razavi, Deion Cunningham, Tyler Timmerman, Patrick O’Day, Geoffrey Hudson, and Collin Fay committed themselves to continue their sport at a college level. “I am so grateful that I’m able to run at a college I love with people I love,” Venturella said. Venturella and Fay are attending Rockhurst University next year and will be running for their cross country and track teams. Their former teammate and Liberty alum Molly Morris is currently running on teams at Rockhurst where Venturella looks forward to reuniting with next season.
Geoffrey Hudson Wrestling Westminster Collin Fay Cross Country and Track Rockhurst University
| lhstoday.org 12 Sports design by: A. Schniepp
“I truly enjoy being with my teammates everyday, all doing something we love.” Flynn also signed to a university to run for their cross country and track teams. Flynn plans on attending Indiana University East (IUE) next year. She didn’t plan on running collegiately when she started on the cross country team in eighth grade, but by her junior year of high school she knew it was something she wanted to pursue past high school. “I’ve discovered just how many opportunities become available and doors that I can open by participating in college sports,” Flynn said about her commitment to IUE. From relaxing pasta dinners to stressful meet days, Flynn and Venturella appreciate those who are always by their side, encouraging them to become a better runner and a better person.
photos by Alix Queen, Cody Cushing, Megan Geisler, Jayce Haun, Monica Reyes, Jax Drezek
“I am so grateful that I’m able to run at a college I love with people I love” -Megan Venturella
Megan Venturella Cross Country and Track Rockhurst University Patrick O’Day Soccer Lewis and Clark Community College
photo by LHS Publications Senior Ro Razavi laughs while talking about his commitment to Chaminade University of Honolulu.
“I have found all of my closest friends through my cross country and track seasons, and I can’t wait to make more along the way,” Flynn said about her teammates. The other spring sport athletes who signed are Timmerman, Gann, and Razavi. Timmerman committed to Saint Charles Community College for baseball. He plans to pitch for the Cougars throughout his baseball career there. Gann also signed to throw, but he’s not throwing a baseball. Gann signed to Missouri Baptist University to throw for their track and field team. Razavi, the only senior on the boy’s golf team this year, signed to Chaminade University of Honolulu. Razavi has been golfing for years and has put in a lot of hard work over time. Many early mornings on the course have helped him earn his spot on an out-of-state golf team. O’Day, Cunningham, and Hudson make up the other three athletes who committed on signing day.
These athletes participated in winter and fall sports, but waited to make sure they made the right decision before committing. O’Day signed on to be a goalie at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Ill. O’Day has led the varsity soccer team at Liberty to many wins throughout his years on the roster, and even led them to a district title this past season. Cunningham committed for swim and Hudson committed to wrestling. Cunningham plans to attend Hartwick College in New York, which is a liberal arts college. He is majoring in graphic design while he is there. Hudson decided to stay in state and committed to Westminster, which is based out of Fulton to wrestle while studying exercise science. These athletes who signed look forward to competing on the next level against new athletes in their upcoming season.
The girls soccer team shut out the Crusaders 2-0 and defeated St. Dominic for the first time in school history
photo by Monica Reyes
Junior Morgan Struttmann takes a shot on goal while defense is on her.
by Ally Schniepp, Sports Editor
Senior defender Amira Khayyat wasn’t expecting to win this game. After all, the Crusaders hadn’t lost to a local area team since 2019 and they have won 64 out of their last 68 games, including all previous matches against Liberty. All Khayyat knew was she was going to play as hard as she could and keep her mark from scoring. “I knew that it was going to be a tough game and I knew I would be marking one of their two best forwards,” Khayyat said of her mindset going into the game. “My job was just to shut down those girls and make sure everyone was doing their job as well.” On Tuesday, April 26, the varsity girls soccer team conquered St. Dominic, ending their long-time reign over Liberty and other local schools and becoming Liberty’s seventh victory in a row. Junior Morgan Strutmann changed the pace of the game in the third minute of the second half by putting the ball past the Crusaders’ keeper, breaking the scoring drought and inspiring sophomore Rainie Corgan to get a goal of her own less than a minute later. “A win against any quality team is a great feeling. Ending Dominic’s winning streak felt a little extra special because a lot of people think they are just too good to beat,” Coach Kleekamp said. “We discussed the importance of stepping onto the field knowing we are just as good as them.
If we play our best and compete, then we can win.” The players took that speech to heart and went onto the field hungry for a win. St. Dominic has always won against Liberty, and the rivalry is real after the past few years have been extremely close games, with the exception of last season. Three years ago, Liberty had the game in the palm of their hands when they were up 2-0, and let it slip away in the last minutes of the game that resulted in the Crusaders moving onto the next level of postseason play instead of the Eagles. Many freshmen, who are now seniors, have always remembered that game and used it to fuel their gameplay against St. Dominic this season. “We kind of had to explain to the lowerclassmen that we had just made history because we hadn’t ever beaten St. Dominic in the girls’ program, ever,” Khayyat said. Khayyat had played in the sectional game when they lost to St. Dominic her freshman year at Liberty, and couldn’t be more ecstatic about being on the team to take down the Crusader’s streak. “It’s definitely a crazy feeling because honestly it was scary when we were up 2-0 because of what happened freshman year, but this year was obviously a lot different,” Khayyat said. “We had the momentum through the whole game, and we didn’t have any let ups on defense. I’m insanely
Coach Campos How has your season been? It’s been a pretty good season. We have a 14-6 record. What was a season highlight? Moved to the GACS South Division Conference and won the Conference Championship vs. some very tough competition. What are you most proud of so far this season? Moving to the new GAC Conference and winning the Conference Championship. It usually takes a little while to win coming into a new conference. You usually get experience and feel everything out so you know what to expect and plan/prepare to make your run. Winning that has put the boys in a good place as individual and team districts follow to try and make states. This is the time teams need to be playing their best tennis to make the run.
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The boys golf team participated in seven matches this season, placing in the top five teams in three out of the seven. Trevor Campbell is the only golfer from a Wentzville school that qualified for the state tournament. “I am most proud of the hard work all these gentlemen put in throughout the season. Golf can be mentally exhausting and it can be hard to maintain focus throughout a season. This group did that in spades,” JV Coach Jacob Cole said about the season. photo by Alix Queen
Senior Cole Blackstock throws the javelin as far as he can at GACs.
proud of our team.” Struttmann, leading goal scorer for the Eagles and recent commit to the University of Alabama, fired away shot after shot after shot on offense, and it paid off in the second half. Struttmann leads the team with 29 goals and 19 assists, with Maddie Lipp following close behind with 16 assists. “Struttmann doesn’t like to lose,” Kleekamp said. “She’s looking for opportunities to shoot but she is also always looking for opportunities to feed the ball to others. Our players feed off of her intensity and drive.” Last season, Struttmann was a leader in assists last season as well, with 24 assists. Struttmann had the chance to play with Liberty alum Chloe Netzel for Netzel’s senior season in which she scored 54 goals and had 19 assists. Struttmann seems to be following closely in Netzel’s footsteps as she committed to play Division 1 soccer as a junior, much like Netzel did her junior year at Liberty. Going forward as a team, the Eagles are going to remember this take down of the reigning two-time state champions. With this win comes a better reputation for the program and it is a warning to other schools that, although Liberty is still young, the Eagles can take down any school.
Cole Blackstock
Seth Benes
The baseball team this season is led by senior Trevor York and junior Seth Benes in batting with averages of .380 and .370 respectively. Benes leads the team in RBIs, coming in with 21 so far this season. Benes leads the team from the mound as well with 80 strikeouts in nine games, which is the most strikeouts in the league. The team has six seniors: Tyler Timmermann, Cooper Swift, Trevor York, Sam Gordley, Brayden Rowe, and Cole Vance. Three seniors, Timmermann, Swift, and Vance, have signed to various colleges to continue their baseball careers. Coach Tutterrow How has your season been? Great! We’ve made huge strides in our program this year becoming a constant competitive presence at every meet we attend. What was a season highlight? The season highlight was becoming GAC Champions in both boys and girls track. What did you learn from this season? I learned that athletes who are happy and healthy far outperform those who aren’t. What are you most proud of so far this season? I’m proud of every personal best that was set this season by my athletes. They put in all the work I ask them to and to see their faces light up when they meet a goal is very special to me.
I stepped on the jav runway, took a Senior javelin thrower Cole Junior pitcher Seth Benes fired 16 strikeouts Blackstock didn’t go into track season breath, and let it fly,” Blackstock said. in a game against Fort Zumwalt North that the Eagles “I ended up throwing a jav 47.65 thinking he would be great, after all it won 6-4. Benes was two shy of a state record for was his first season on the team, but he meters. On that throw, I had beat my strikeouts in the game. He pitched as fast as 92 miles set his goals high which resulted in him own PR by 7.6 meters.” per hour and even threw a 70 mile per hour curveball. And that throw marks the breaking the school record for javelin. “I knew I had a lot after the third inning but “It felt amazing, though not new school record for javelin, one that I wasn’t really thinking all that much about it. I was Blackstock plans to break again before satisfying,” Blackstock said. “I had more focused on competition and putting the team lifted a weight off of my shoulders the season ends. Both Vuong and in the best position to win,” Benes said about the knowing that I’ve reached one of my Blackstock are gunning against each strikeouts. goals for this year’s track season.” other in friendly competition to see The Eagles not only won that game, but the Before going onto the jav who will break the 50 meter mark and next one as well against the same Fort Zumwalt team platform, Blackstock’s teammate and claim a spot at state. just two days later. This time it ended 4-2 in favor of biggest competition, Hy Vuong, broke “To be honest, if you would the Eagles. the school record, one that Vuong had have told me before the season that I Seth Benes isn’t new to some impressive set earlier in the season. Blackstock gave would surpass my initial preset goals pitching; he is the eighth ranked pitcher for his class in for javelin, I would have laughed at himself two options before stepping the state of Missouri. He has received offers from some onto the platform, and either option you, but looking back all I can do is major schools such as Missouri State, Wichita State and led to him breaking the record Vuong smile knowing that my work paid off,” Saint Louis University. Benes has the remainder of this Blackstock said. For his first year in had just set. season and all of the next to work on his game even “After giving myself that track, Blackstock has definitely set the more and the sky’s the limit for where he can take it. bar high for his rookie season. dilemma and mentally locking in,
photo by Monica Reyes
Seth Benes fires a pitch down the middle of the strikezone.
Sports | lhstoday.org design by: A. Schniepp
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Recounting ‘21-22 school years achievements
by Ally Schniepp, Sports Editor & Mollie Banstetter, Layout Editor The Belles competed in Division 5 Precision Jazz and Division 5 Pom at the state competition this year. Due to Liberty’s increase in enrollment, the Belles were moved into Division 5, which puts them against larger schools. The change didn’t seem to faze the Belles as they took first place in both events on Feb. 26 at the Family Arena in St. Charles. “When they announced second place and we knew we won, it was so hard to keep our excitement bottled,” senior Molly Marino said. “When they called us, it was amazing. We were all screaming and tears of joy were coming from everyone’s eyes!” “I’m so proud of our team, especially this season,” senior Bella Bahr said. “The biggest challenge was moving up a division because we had no idea what was in store.” This year’s spring musical featured Madeline Claravall (10) and Anna Wright (11) as the iconic motherdaughter duo Donna and Sophie in Liberty’s production of “Mamma Mia! The Musical.” The amount of talent on stage amazing, from the dad cast, senior Sean Bruce (Harry), junior Logan Honerkamp (Bill), and junior Shane Wolz (Sam), to the rest of the Dynamos, senior Brynn Bartram (Tanya) and junior Morgan Feinstein (Rosie). The main characters in the show were cast perfectly and showcased the immense talent of Liberty’s drama department. Claravall stepped up to the plate taking on the role of Donna, and knocked it out of the park three nights straight. The audience was invested in the production from start to finish, and the cast earned many laughs from the audience. After watching the production, most people would agree that the level of talent on stage exceeded the normal level for a high school show. | lhstoday.org 14 A&E design by: M. Banstetter & A. Schniepp
@SnoringEagles on Instagram has swept through Liberty this past year, and people are capturing their friends, strangers and even teachers snoring during class. High school students fall asleep left and right, and this account has pictured people from all grade levels and friend groups sleeping in class. The Snoring Eagles account started this year by an anonymous Liberty student and has 583 followers with over 380 posts of people at Liberty sleeping. But, the biggest question is, who is running the account? The long-awaited reveal of the Snoring Eagles account owner is none other than junior Jayce Haun. With his history of photography and publications experience in yearbook, it is not surprising that he is the one pushing the post button on our sleeping eagles. Choir ventured to Mizzou on April 30 to compete for state titles. The Schlattman Ensemble placed gold, the highest honor, and consisted of seniors Avery Schlattman, Cassie Tarrant and Bee Boyer, juniors Morgan Feinstein, Anna Wright and Norah Fuller, and sophomore Grace Edney. “I hope to spread the word about choir and make it welcoming for everyone,” Edney said. Wright, Tarrant and Edney placed gold in both their solo performance and the ensemble performance. Feinstein placed silver along with senior Liam Ovares. All solos that competed at State from Liberty placed either gold or silver, proving that hard work can result in success. “It’s really, really rewarding after all of our hard work for coming in the very early hours in the morning every single week,” Wright said. “It means a lot to see all of the hard work paying off, Mr. Datz was really, really helpful.”
On Nov. 4, the varsity boys soccer team defeated St. Dominic 2-1 for the first time in school history and earned the Class 4 District 4 title. Junior Schrader Ludwig and senior Kaden Marsh scored in the first half of the game, a little over five minutes apart, giving the Eagles the lead over the Crusaders early in the game. “It was the most fun game I’ve played in my entire life,” senior Patrick O’Day said. “Beating St. Dominic for the first time was an amazing feeling. The fact that it was the district finals makes it 10 times better,” Coach Tony Luedecke said. “They have been dominating the area for a long time now and I’d like to believe this was sort of a passing of the torch type thing.”
The first Coaches vs. Cancer game in two years resulted in a hard-fought loss for the girls varsity basketball team, a nailbiting win by the varsity boys, and money raised for cancer research. Both teams faced Fort Zumwalt South on Jan. 21 with the biggest crowd of the year watching, full of people who supported the athletes and the cause. From the moment the ball was tipped, the air was charged in the gym with intensity and positivity for the home team. It was an intense game, with the Bulldogs and the Eagles neck and neck the entire competition. At halftime, the game was tied 25-25. The Bulldogs were up after the third quarter, which the Eagles responded to by putting up 24 points in the fourth and ending the game with a slam dunk by senior Adrian Lee after a steal in the last 10 seconds. The final score of the game was 55-49 with the Eagles coming out on top. South fell to 13-2 while the Eagles earned their fifth win in a row and advanced to 10-3, while also ending South’s eight-game winning streak. “That was the best game of my high school career,” senior Sruthi Ramesh said. “The game, the energy, oh my gosh, it was amazing.”
In their division of 75 teams, the Ratchet Rockers finished first with a record of 10-0. They were the only team of the 454 competing to accomplish a 4.0 ranking point average in their matches. Team 1706 then proceeded to play 6-0 through the division playoffs along with their alliance partners. They eventually secured the Hopper Division title, thus admirably taking home a third blue banner in just a single year. For the ultimate round-robin tournament between division champions, the Ratchet Rockers won two of the five matches they played. They placed fifth overall in the championship, making them the fifth-best student robotics team on the planet. “This is by far the best that the team has ever done, and they are receiving recognition from other teams,” Robotics Director Dr. Narelle Deatherage commented. “They are no longer an unknown team!” photos by Mollie Banstetter, Ally Schniepp, Alix Queen, Sruthi Ramesh, Jayce Haun,
Liz Hayes, and via Ratchet Rockers
Mr. LHS, a Student Councilrun event, presents senior boys in a pageant where they compete to be named Mr. LHS. The spirited event was full of talented men and acts that put on an entertaining show for the audience. Contestants Carson Clay, Alex Fillner, Keaton Roof, Lukas Huesgen, Sean Bruce, Kenny Henk, Tanner Gunn, Geoffrey Hudson and Ramiro Fonseca competed for the title this year by showing off their dad outfits, their best talents, how well they lip-synch and telling the audience their best pick up lines while they were dressed to the nines. The winner of Mr. LHS this year was Carson Clay, President of Student Council, and the winner of Mr. Congeniality was Alex Fillner, varsity football, basketball, and track athlete. The Winter Guard team has been working harder than ever to prepare for the MCCGA (MidContinent Color Guard Association). Their dedicated efforts paid off as the team brought home the gold in Scholastic AA and became the overall champions by taking first place at the event. They also took first place in both their round and division at MCCGA’s O’Fallon Winter Guard Competition. “This is definitely the most hardworking team we’ve ever had,” coach Kassandra Welch said. “The show is a fan favorite in our circuit.” “It is something new that people have never seen before,” senior captain Sydnie Shultis said. “Although it is a sad, mournful show, the emotion and adrenaline that comes with forming is unmatched. Championships are what we have been working towards all season, to show off all our hard work and compete against other guards. This team has grown in so many ways, and overcome many obstacles. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and what will continue to happen in the future.” With the 2021-2022 school year, the bridge walk still looks a little different. Because the sophomores were unable to participate in the bridge walk during their freshman year, they were allowed to do so this year alongside the freshman class. Sophomores walked the bridge first, followed by freshmen. One thing that freshmen and sophomores both agreed on was how brutal the heat was during the bridge walk. Despite the blazing heat of 95°F, students and staff were happy to see the Eagles’ tradition make a return. Freshman Avery Bowen summarizes, “I felt totally welcomed in this humble community of Liberty.” A&E | lhstoday.org design by: M. Banstetter & A. Schniepp
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How the situation has progressed since February 2022 by Elaine Thimyan, Reporter
Friday, February 25, 2022, 5:45 p.m. Over the last 24 hours, Russia has officially invaded Ukraine Here’s everything you need to know. Early Thursday morning Russia started firing missiles and advancing into Ukraine. As of now, the European Union has frozen Putin’s assets and earlier today President Biden said the US will be joining in cutting off their sanctions. These sanctions include cutting off Russia’s largest bank from the US. Ukrainian President Zelensky has spoken saying that he thinks his family is the next target. He also said about an hour ago that tonight will make or break the future of the capital, Kyiv, saying “… the fate of Ukraine is being decided right now.” As thousands have started to flee to neighboring countries, Zelensky put a ban on military-aged men from crossing the borders. The US believes that Kyiv will fall within a matter of hours or weeks and Russia will take regime control.
Sunday, March 13, 2022,11:44 p.m. It’s been reported that 35 are dead and hundreds are injured after Russian warplanes fired 30 cruise missiles at the Ukrainian military base in Lviv. This base happens to be a little too close for comfort near the Poland border. If even a shelling of a missile were to land in Poland it would activate article five of the NATO treaty ‘an attack on one is an attack on all.
Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 10:20 a.m.
February | lhstoday.org 16 News design by: P. Bostic
Russian soldiers made their way out of Bucha, a Ukrainian city, and as Ukrainian soldiers made their way into the town they found a mass grave and people lying in the street. Nations of the world are calling for war crimes charges. Mariupol is also on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. They’ve been trying to reach the city since Saturday but have so far been unsuccessful. While the fighting at the capital may have been abated, eastern Ukraine is starting to prepare for heavy fighting. Putin seems to be sending lots of troops to the Donbas region. It’s become clear that Russian forces are trying to cut off their fuel dumps having targeted another fuel dump in Ukraine.
Friday, April 22, 2022, 12:24 p.m. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has verified more than 5,200 civilian causalities since February 2022. According to High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, 92.3 percent of these casualties took place in government-controlled territories.
Monday, May 16, 2022, 7:25 p.m.
Russian forces have begun to deescalate their advances on Ukraine. They announced two plans for de-escalation including reducing military activity in Kyiv and talking with President Zelensky. Though the US doesn’t necessarily believe that Russia is serious about its talks with Ukraine. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, “There is what Russia says, and then there’s what Russia does, we’ll take the latter.”
February 25, 2022: Russian forces launched attacks on eastern Ukraine in the form of missile fire in Kyiv.
Monday, April 4, 2022, 10:32 a.m.
After more than 80 days of camping out inside the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, more than 260 soldiers were evacuated into Russianoccupied territory. The plant has been heavily bombed by Russian forces to pressure civilians to surrender the plant. The arrangement between the two sides for the evacuation was made with aid from the United Nations.
February 27, 2022: A Ukranian gas-line in Kharkiv was bombed. Firefighters were unable to fight back against the inferno.
March 15, 2022: Ukranian President Zelensky asserted that Ukraine was not seeking to join NATO at any time.
March
Anastasiya Zvir has lived her whole life witnessing the tumultuous times in Ukraine by Elizabeth Hamby, Co-Editor-In-Chief
Anastasiya Zvir has lived in Ukraine all 20 years of her life and has had a Although Zvir says she is in no immediate danger at this front-row seat to the making of history in her country. moment in time, she made it clear that the danger isn’t over for She is currently a junior attending Ukrainian Catholic College in Lviv many Ukrainians and they still need the world’s support. studying political science. She came to the US a couple of years ago as an Mental health is drastically declining she says as war tends to exchange student and responded to a recent interview request with LHS do and many Ukrainians including herself have become numb to Publications in 2022. the pain and suffering they have endured. She is the head of many political leadership clubs and has helped found “I don’t cry anymore. I’m afraid that I have become an organization called Save Art UA that aims to spread emotionless,” Zvir claimed. awareness for the ruined historical artifacts and sites She recalled when her roommate came home that have been destroyed by bombs dropped by Russia to the dorm crying about someone she had just in the recent war of 2022. lost to the war. Unlike Americans reading of history, Zvir is living Zvir has heard of this millions of times, but in the making of history. was at a loss of what to say when it was someone “When it all started, I was a kid, and now I’m close to her who had lost a special somebody. an adult,” Zvir had said in disbelief. “(It was) hard to realize that I became She accounts that citizens of Ukraine were resistant, because I heard so many tragic stories very unhappy with the president and felt like he about death, and loss,” Zvir said. wasn’t making the best decisions for the people of Zvir urges everybody to do what they can his country. If he were to sign the agreement, the to support Ukraine, even something as simple EU promised to provide Ukraine with support as hosting a non-perishable canned food drive in different aspects like financial and political for soldiers would be a tremendous help for standings and provide them access to certain them. knowledge and trades within the union. She says don’t stop posting on social “If you (President Victor Yanukovych) are not media or asking questions of Ukrainian people. listening to your Ukrainian people you shouldn’t be She suggested even going as far as starting an our president,” said Zvir. initiative to work hand in hand with Ukrainian photo by A. Zvir The peaceful protests in the capital of Kyiv were organizations. Zvir says they are trustworthy and mainly made up of students, but nevertheless, they they need the help. were broken up forcefully after the direct order of the president. Zvir is actively trying to create a new normal for herself and It was then in February 2022 news broke that Russia had officially is trying to balance her ever-growing schedule of volunteering started invading Ukraine, and all around the US people were watching the initiatives and schoolwork all at the same time. Although she was news about it. Now it’s May, and the Ukraine conflict with Russia is still very preparing for the day the Russians would attack early in 2022, she prevalent, and many are still losing their lives and homes that contain their never knows when the sirens may go off and she will have to run to lives. the safety of a bomb shelter. Zvir personally never felt the desire to leave her home country but she “Every time when there is a missile launched in the direction and her family felt a calling to do whatever they needed to do to help the of a certain city, citizens are notified and have approximately 5 efforts for the good of their country. minutes to go to the bomb shelter,” Zvir said. Zvir says she is Her brother, 17 at the time, had the same desire to join the military blessed in having a bomb shelter at her college where students can efforts but was turned down for drafting. continue their work with stable Internet. “Thank God they didn’t take him, they said you’re still a kid — enjoy the This conflict is still as prevalent as ever and Ukraine still needs last of childhood,” Zvir said. the support of the world in order to conquer the catastrophic harm Russia is causing.
April 4, 2022: President Zelensky labeled Russia’s actions as genocide and criticized the sparse sanctions of the West.
April 19, 2022: Russia launched another invasion from Kharkiv to Donetsk and Luhansk and continued strikes on Kyiv.
April
May 2, 2022: Roughly 100 people were evacuated by the UN from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
May News | lhstoday.org design by: P. Bostic
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Municipal elections held for passing of propositions, taxes and candidates
by Mollie Banstetter, Layout Editor
Community members took to the polls on Tuesday, April 5 to cast their ballots for the municipal elections, one specifically pertaining to Wentzville Board of Education candidates. Outside the small gym, many people stood in the morning, covered up in jackets and hats, warm cups of coffee in hand, welcoming in voters. Claudia Jenkins, a voter and supporter of BOE candidates Dr. Julie Scott and Mr. Donald Looney Jr., was just one of many standing outside. Ms. Jenkins expressed what she’s looking for in a BOE member. “The people that we vote in to make decisions for our kids in the district and staff in our district, we need to make sure that their values align with what we value and that their interest really is what’s best for the students and what’s best for the staff,” Jenkins said. “I’m very passionate about special education. I’m passionate about restraint and seclusion policies, and I’m passionate about making sure that all of our kids are getting the best education that they can get. That all the teachers and kids here feel supported.” Once voters entered the small gym where the polling takes place, there are many polling booths spread out, as well as workers sitting at desks with their computers and documents neatly organized. Poll supervisor Cheryl Rowland revealed that only about 10% of the total local population participates in municipal elections. Rowland urges
by Sruthi Ramesh, Photo Editor Dr. Julie Scott and Katie Lyczak have both been elected to the Wentzville School District Board of Education following the April 5, 2022 election. Scott received 23.5% of the vote and Lyczak received 18.17% of the vote. (St. Charles County Election Authority) As of 9:16 p.m., the results are still unofficial, but 100% of all precincts have reported their ballots. Both of the incoming Directors were sworn in at the next scheduled Board of Education meeting on April 21. Scott and candidate John Kaelin were endorsed by the National Educators Association in mid January 2022. Lyczak was endorsed by
18 design by: S. Bruce
Feature | lhstoday.org
more community members to get out and vote. “This election, the municipal election, this April affects your pocketbook. It’s when your propositions, taxes and the board members are voted on. They need to realize that’s actually more important than a congressman or senator.” After voting, a community member who wishes to remain anonymous, shared how they went about researching the candidates on this year’s ballot. “I emailed each of the school board candidates and as far as the propositions I went online and Googled it to see what they were. I got a reply from most of the candidates and some of them even called and spoke to me.” For many students, this was their first opportunity to vote as it was for senior Athena Widlacki. She learned about the BOE candidates through the Town Hall put on by Liberty Publications. “I listened to the town hall and considered all the candidate’s points of view before making my decision.” Although Widlacki will be leaving for college soon, resulting in her personally being unaffected by Wentzville’s BOE, she still found it important for her vote to be counted. “Even though I am leaving, this is my community with amazing people and I think they deserve the best people to represent them.”
Missouri Senator Bob Onder, which she announced via her campaign Facebook page. Incumbents Director Sandy Garber and Secretary Schaper saw the least amount of votes at the April 6 election, with less than 20% of the vote shared between the two candidates. Donald Looney, who was the only repeat candidate from the 20212022 Board of Education election, saw an increase of nearly 900 votes. Congrats to both winners, and great job on a well-fought campaign to the five other candidates.
photos by E. Hamby
When Earth Day comes around, you may be asking yourself: “What is Earth Day? Why do we have it?” The simple answer would be to save our planet, to spread awareness about how the things we do daily can harm our home. Now it’s especially important to have something such as Earth Day; but how did it come about? Earth Day first came to be after a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif. in Jan. 1969 caught Sen. Gaylord Nelson’s attention. Nelson joined activist Denis Hayes to create a national Earth Day in America in which 20 million citizens participated. All sorts of wildlife and Earth preservation organizations came together on that day for the sole purpose of saving the earth and in doing so made history.
the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. While this all sounds fine and dandy, this day was only recognized in America and would stay that way for two decades. Earth Day went global in 1990 when a cluster of environmental activists approached Hayes to create another Earth Day campaign, and 200 million people in 141 countries supported it. The Rio de Janeiro United Nations Earth Summit occurred two years later in 1992. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet,” encouraging businesses, governments, and individuals to “go green” and be more ethical in the way they go about their business. EarthDay.org provides 52 Ways To Invest In Our Planet yearround, some of the easier ones being picking up trash, reducing use of paper, using reusable bags, and using glass products instead of plastic.
The first Earth Day was in 1970 and was recognized only in the US. The first global Earth Day was 20 years later in 1990 by Abbiegail Luker
After that day, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was formed and many environmental laws were passed, like the National Environmental Education Act,
News| lhstoday.org design by: F. Flynn
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Stay Close or Move Far? by Sean Bruce, Reporter
| lhstoday.org 20 Seniors design by: S. Ramesh
The flowers of spring have blossomed, and so has an overarching feeling of anxiety for the class of 2022. Yes indeed, it is time for every senior to plan for their first year beyond high school. For the past three years we have weighed the options of college, trade school, the military and careers and now have to declare our intentions for the rest of our lives. Moving far away to the city of our dreams and leaving everything behind to do so. It sounds like the crazy ramblings of a child, but that childhood fantasy will be the reality of some Liberty graduates. Leaving home for higher education provides the chance to explore the vast and diverse country we live in. The move provides a fresh start to show the people you will spend the next four years left who you truly are free of bias and old history and you get to learn a new way of life and create new routines for yourself within your novel environment. However, going away can often be significantly more expensive than not. Depending on where you go, you may not be able to see your family outside of summer and winter breaks and you will most likely be completely on your own in times of need. Moving away from home for school would be a good choice for someone who is independent, self-reliant and willing to work hard to make it work. “I am so excited to go out of state for school,” senior Bella Bahr said. She plans to attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas. “I have only lived in Missouri my whole life and knew college was a great opportunity to experience something different.” Staying close to home for college is an option that most graduating seniors tend to choose for their next step. Local education provides a slew of advantages for the average college freshman. Staying close provides the opportunity to see family and friends regularly, makes the overall cost much smaller than out of state and of course familiarity. Staying in-state for college or even within the region of the country provides one with similar communities and routines to those we may have known at home. Staying local has its drawbacks as well, as all things do. Staying home could also mean that unwelcome visits from parents are a constant possibility. There wouldn’t be as many new things to experience in the business as usual college path and there wouldn’t be opportunities to meet new exciting people from different walks of life. A local decision would be good for someone who needs a more conservative financial package and enjoys being near relatives and loved ones. Senior Athena Widlacki has committed to Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. “It was cost effective. The school sold me, and the specific one I chose has all of the programs I’m interested in, while still staying close to my family.” Whatever you may decide for your next step, whether it be college or elsewhere, make the decision that is best for you. Your friends and family can always offer some words of advice but the choice is ultimately yours. Believe in yourself.
Seniors | lhstoday.org design by: S. Ramesh
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Many fun moments and memories made at “Enchanted Evening” prom by Grace Richardson, Reporter
Grayce Page (right) energetically dances on the dance floor.
From left to right: Jack Rybak, Sydney Hilgenbrink, Bella Bahr, and Carson Clay pose for a picture in the prom photo booth.
Hailey Jolliff and Tanner Gunn, Prom Queen and King
photos by Trotter
| lhstoday.org 22 News design by: E. Barnett
Prom is not an event to be taken lightly. It takes months of planning and dedication. Junior class Vice President Rhett Cunningham was an organizer on the prom committee and said that preparation for the event began in the fall. “We started planning in November. It takes a while but all the hard work that goes into it turns out really cool,” Cunningham said. The 2022 prom, “Enchanted Evening,” was definitely one for the books. Due to COVID-19, this is the first prom hosted by Liberty in the past three years. The event took place on April 16 at the Old Hickory Golf Club from 7-10 p.m. Many enjoyed their night with friends at the Old Hickory Golf Club. When asked if the prom lived up to his expectations, junior Aidan Berry says, “It did. I had a ton of fun dressing up with my friends.” Prom isn’t just about dancing and dressing up though. There are many activities before and after that play into the night as well. “I think a lot of people had a fun night, dressing up beforehand, going out before, going out after, dancing with their friends, just having a really hype environment,” Cunningham said. Senior Ally Schniepp rated prom an 8/10. “I had a lot of fun with my friends out on the dance floor, but the music was not really
photo by Trotter
dancing music,” Schniepp said. “It was hard for me to dance to the music that was played because I’m not a good dancer. I just dance for fun. But my boyfriend and my friends really made my night by being stupid with me and not taking things too seriously.” Hailey Jolliff and Tanner Gunn were voted as Prom King and Queen. “Winning prom queen was very, very cool,” Jolliff said. “Especially with not even going to Liberty all four years of my high school.” Gunn campaigned for the votes of the student body, even making an Instagram to convince people to vote for him. “Winning was pretty grand,” Gunn said. “Just because of the sheer amount of people that were cheering. It was incredible.”
Blair Wise
Archie Beckerdite
Ava Swift
Peyton Braile
Hailey Jolliff
Alex Fillner
Abby Lovell
Cooper Swift
Amira Khayyat
Patrick O’Day
Ella Laughman
Tanner Gunn
A letter to the graduating members of The Ledger staff As we come to the close of our last issue in volume nine, I can’t help but reflect on the year we’ve all shared. The year in which we’ve grown, created, and soared to new heights together. The nine of you, whom most are editors, have put your best foot forward every day to promote an environment of creativity and collaboration, whilst molding our class culture into that of a “work hard play hard” environment. Hard work is no less than necessary in a class like ours. You all have shown an ideal work ethic and attitude, in the process growing to be the blueprint for future magazine staffs. The mark you have made on our program is irreversible, and I can only hope that you are as proud of yourselves as I am of you all. The joy that comes when we’re finally able to hold our latest issue is unmatchable. The fact that our class is student-led only adds to that rewarding feeling, knowing that our months of collective effort have paid off. I couldn’t think of a better group of people to celebrate our victories with.
It’s with great regret that we have to say goodbye after becoming each other’s supporters and mentors. I relish in knowing that you all will go on to accomplish fantastic things after graduation, and that this isn’t a forever goodbye. From our many staff castings, our collective love of JFK, the constant Hall slander and even spending time with some of you in Los Angeles, I can safely say that I have grown to hold you all in the highest regards. Whether you plan to pursue a career in journalism or not, I ask that you take all you’ve learned over the span of your time in publications and apply it to your adult life. I ask that you continue to search for the truth, use your voice for good, and always remember that you have a home in LHS Publications. Thank you for all of your hard work and friendship.
Until we meet again, Kay Copeland on behalf of The Ledger staff
Seniors| lhstoday.org design by: M. Copeland
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by Elaine Thimyan, Reporter
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Li Themis is the goddess associated with Libra, and is often seen blindfolded with scales. She’s the daughter of Gaia and Uranus. She was a Titan and second wife to Zeus. She would later give birth to Hore or Hours. The Libra constellation also varies from story to story, but it’s always centered around the scales.
Twins Castor and Pollux were born. Castor was the mortal son of King Tyndarus while Pollux was the immortal son of Zeus. The twins went with the hero Jason to a save a ship but Castor was killed in battle. In turn, Pollux was so distraught he pleaded with Zeus to bring him back. Moved by their love, Zeus immortalized both of them in the stars.
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King Athamas and a cloud nymph, Nephele, had two children. A son, Phrixus, and a daughter, Helle. Athamas grew tired and left his wife and remarried to Ino. Ino grew jealous of his children and plotted their deaths. Heracles sent the golden ram to their rescue. Helle fell into the river and died on the way back to safety. Phrixus then sacrificed the ram as an honor.
Capricorn
There are different versions but some say the myth revolves around Demeter and Persophone. The most common is the story of Astraea. She was a goddess of justice and after Zeus started the silver age, mortals became unlawful. And so Astraea turned her back and went to the heavens.
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Cancer was a monster who Hera, the queen of the gods and Zeus’s wife, sent to kill Heracles. Hera hated Heracles because he was a child of one of Zeus’s affairs. Hera sent the monster, a giant crab, while Heracles was fighting the Hydra. Getting rid of one obstacle, Heracles crushed it with his bare hands. Hera then gave it a constellation for its sacrifice.
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There was a beautiful princess, Europa, who had caught the eye of Zeus. To charm her, he transformed into a white bull. Captivated by the bull’s beauty, she went to him, and in his new form he swam her to the island of Crete. Eventually, they would have three children and to celebrate their love he put the symbol of the bull in the sky.
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Aquarius is the water or cup bearer. The constellation of Ganymedes, is pouring water (or nectar depending on the myth) into Pisces, the emotional and dreamy sign. He had been carried off into the heavens in hopes of joining the immortals because he was the most beautiful of all mortals. In some myths, he is lover to Eros, god of love.
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Capricorn is associated with the god Pan. His image was placed in the heavens by Zeus when he helped them fight the war with the Titans. In other myths, Zeus placed the half goat, who had cared for him while his Titan father, Cronus, was trying to keep power after incapacitating Zeus’ siblings, the Olympians.
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Scorpio Orion was the son of Poseidon, god of the sea. He was a giant and was said to be the most handsome man around. He and Artemis, goddess of the hunt, were hunting partners, in turn jealous Apollo, god of the sun and music, and sent a giant scorpion to kill Orion. Zeus placed them both in the sky as a remembrance.
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Leo
Heracles had to finish 12 tasks. His first task was to battle the Nemean lion. The lion was fearless but could not be harmed by weapons. Heracles tried to fight with arrows, but they only bounced back at him. Nevertheless, Heracles succeeded and the battle was honored by the constellation we know as Leo.
Pisces
This myth revolves around Aphrodite, goddess of love, and her son Cupid or his original name Eros. Once, as they walked along the Euphrates river, the monster Typhon appeared. In escape, they transformed into the two fish, in another version two fish carried them away. Athena placed them in the sky where they became the constellations of Pisces.
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Sagittarius Sagittarius immortalizes the life of the centaur, Chiron. Chiron was immortal because he was the son of Cronus. He taught medicine, hunting, and music. While hunting, Heracles accidentally shot Chiron with a poisoned arrow. In unbelievable pain, because he could not die, Zeus placed him in the sky, and Prometheus took his place. Interactive| lhstoday.org design by: E. Thimyan
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