Junior Marian Network - April 2024

Network

Spring Break in Nice: More than nice

Ten girls from Marian’s French classes took an immersion trip to France on March 2-9. Students enrolled in either French III or IV were able to sign up for the trip around spring break of last year. The cost was just under $3,400 per person.

These trips were common before the Covid-19 pandemic, but Mrs. Janet Tuttle brought them back on an every-other year cycle similar to the summer trips. For future trips, Tuttle plans to move them to the week before spring break so she and the students can enjoy their break.

On this year’s trip, students stayed in Nice, which junior Darian Jones said “[is] similar in population to Omaha and not super busy with tourists.”

The students were placed in groups of

two with host families to stay with for the entirety of the trip. “I really loved our host family, and I think it made the trip more enjoyable,” Jones said. The chaperones stayed in hotels.

Although it was spring break, the students attended classes from 8 a.m. to noon every day. Some days it was just learning the language but others they were taken into town to learn about the culture. They learned in and out of class.

“I think that the best part of the trip was being able to use my French more than I thought,” senior Emma Koch said.

After class, they went on day trips by bus or train to other parts of France, one favorite being Monaco. Then, when they returned, they would buddy up and explore Nice on their own. Each location

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they visited was entirely different; one bus ride took them from a modern city to a medieval town.

The culture in Nice consisted of a slower, calmer pace than in America. Smoking was also common which was shocking for the students. Another surprise was how “[French citizens] get this bad rap for being rude when really they are helpful and kind as long as you are kind to them,” Jones said.

Trams and trains were more common than cars which was something the students were not used to.

“This was really cool because for everyone who was on the tram, it was their main form of transportation which is so different from everyone going to school in their own car,” Koch said.

Both Jones and Koch enjoyed their trip to France and would return if given the chance. “If I went back, I would definitely want to stay for longer because a week was just not long enough,” Koch said.

With a small group, the trip created a great bonding experience for Marian students. Koch said, “There were only 10 Marian girls on the trip, so I definitely got to know some Marian students better than I did before.” She continued on to say, “We also made friends with a girl from Italy which was really cool.” With close quarters, new friendships were formed.

Jones ended with some final words of advice, “I recommend that everyone travel abroad if the chance comes.” Take the trip and make new memories or you will forever regret not taking a chance.

Marian blue meets Irish green in March trip

Bon Voyage! Or “turas maith a bheith agat” if you were one of the six Marian students who participated in the creative writing trip to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland this spring break.

On March 1, the six students, composed of three seniors, one junior, and two sophomores, departed from Eppley Airfield on their way to the Dublin airport with their two chaperones, Mrs. Megan Gillespie and Ms. Halli Tripe from the Marian English department.

Once the “family of eight,” as the group called themselves, arrived in Dublin, their fast-paced Irish adventure commenced. The group spent eight days in Ireland sandwiched between travel days. Starting in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and ending in Dublin, each day the group traveled to a new part of the country while working on their final writing pieces to present at the end of the trip. They visited historical and religious sites, as well as museums and sites dedicated to famous Irish authors such as W.B. Yeats and Seamus Haney. Aside from seeing beautiful locations, the students also got to speak with published young adult author, Sue Divin.

Senior Maggie McGill’s favorite part of the trip was “visiting the statue of Mary at the bottom of St. Patrick’s mountain” in County Mayo “or just driving through the Irish countryside on the coach and getting to know everyone.” To get

from one location to another, the group was chauffeured in a van driven by their “fabulous” coach driver, John, a Dublin local and experienced tour guide.

For sophomore Layla Weedin, her favorite part of the week in Ireland was visiting the Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. Weedin described her time there by saying, “It was beautiful there, and the views were amazing. It was so interesting to see the inside of the Abbey and its history as a castle. I loved the garden as well. Plus, the chocolate there was great.”

Throughout the trip, the travelers were given time to write nightly blogs about their day’s adventures. While the group wrote about their time in Ireland, they were also required to compose a final piece. The students gained inspiration from a number of sources, from the scenery to visiting the Seamus Haney center dedicated to his life and works. Some girls wrote short stories while other students wrote collections of poetry or even children’s books. Weedin cited the trip as being a major inspiration for her work, as well as meeting novelist Sue Divin during their night stay in Londonderry.

Mrs. Megan Gillespie, Katherine Dietz ’26, Margaret McGill ’24, Rowan Hamm ’25, Ms. Halli Tripe, Chizora Okolo ’24, Madeleine Smith ’24 and Layla Weedin ’26 pose for a group picture on their last night in Dublin. The group celebrated the end of the trip with dinner at Finnegan’s Pub, a Dublin staple. Photo courtesy of Ms. Tripe.

After a long stay on the Emerald Isle, the Marian students tried to head home only to face an unexpected challenge. The

flight from Washington D.C. to Chicago was delayed long enough that the only flights available out of Chicago to Omaha were taking off the next day. McGill described the experience as “pretty terrible” and Weedin echoed that sentiment by saying that she “wasn’t a big fan of that, obviously.” Once the students all were reunited with their families and their own beds, they were able to look back on the trip fondly.

The trip, minus the return flight fiasco,

was highly recommended by both Weedin and McGill. Weedin described the trip as “magical” and gave her approval for the continuation of this Marian-sponsored trip by saying, “There were so many inspiring places to write about, and the sights were absolutely gorgeous!”

Aside from the incredible towns and awe-inspiring scenery in the Irish countryside, McGill recommends the trip because it “made me value the people and experiences in my life way more.”

RowanHamm

Jane Kidder ’24, Iona Stites ’24, Kaylene Bialas ’25, Emma Koch ’24, Lilly Kimble ’25, Diane Koumaka ’25, Darian Jones ’25, Christina Joka ’24, Kendra Peprah ’24 and Grace Comstock ’24 pose in front of a sign before stopping by the Cascade Waterfall in Nice, France over spring break. The girls had just come from French class that morning.

MaryMcKay

Lilly Kimble ’25 shops for perfume at Perfume Fragonard in Eze, France. There, the girls learned how perfume was made and packaged.

Photos courtesy of Mrs. Janet Tuttle

State Debate & Speech bring success to students

LucyKalkowski & CoventryThompson

Many people can tell you about soccer, softball, volleyball or basketball, but not many can explain what happens during speech and debate competitions. All of these activities fall under the scope of the Nebraska School Activities Association, more commonly known as the NSAA.

This year, Marian recognized students who participated in speech and debate during the Winter Sports Pep Rally, shining a new light on the two teams. Not only that, but new banners hang on the cafeteria walls, awaiting for success as these teams start to receive more attention.

The moment to show the hard work and dedication both teams had put throughout the school year lands in late March, the time when State rolls around. As for debate, the State tournament is a two day commitment on March 22 and 23 of this year. The team left school early on a Friday to drive to Papillion-La Vista, not for the tournament, but to share a bus ride with their debate team to Lincoln Southwest.

The debate team brought 22 debaters: freshmen Kaylin Petersen, Vandana Santhanam, Vasudha Santhanam, Erin Cramer, Bella Hobbs, Molly McChesney, Marguerite Harr and Saniya Harris-Alcorn; sophomores Izumi Huang Fujiwara, Molly Duncan, Lauren Hicks, Reilly O’Brien, Alena Kehm, Zoey Rumbaugh, Casteria Agbeletey and Nyagai Gatpan; juniors Elizabeth Nguyen, Lucy Kalkowski, Coventry Thompson, Caroline McDonald, Emma Kaczmarek and Abigail McGuire.

Hicks, a policy debater competing at State Debate, said, “I was really nervous going into the state and was prepping the

whole night before. Once the round actually started, everything calmed down, and I was able to work hard.” This was her first year of debate and first time attending state.

“I felt very proud to represent Marian. We are such a small school when it comes to debate, especially compared to Millard North or Lincoln Southeast. Those schools have a ton of students in each event and a lot of coaches to help write their cases... Winning against these schools makes you feel really good and proud of what school is assigned to you,” Hicks said.

State Debate presents a unique opportunity for smaller teams like Marian, as it has a maximum number of debaters a

school can send for each event. This allows for every school to have equal playing ground to win and contribute to their school’s rank, whereas during normal tournaments smaller teams have less people able to compete and contribute.

Hicks placed 8th in policy, competing against debaters who have more years of experience in debate.

“I am so glad that I joined. Debate has taught me how to be more confident and speak up for myself…Debate is such a great activity if you want to grow as a person and learn new things,” Hicks said. The debate team has a successful year, growing in size and having several people rank at every tournament including state. Kalkowski and Nguyen made finals in congressional debate, with Nguyen ranking fifth overall. McDonald was a quarter finalist and ninth place speaker in Lincoln Douglas. Nguyen’s season is still not over as she prepares to tackle nationals in the summer, qualifying earlier in the year during districts.

On March 20, a few days before state debate, State Speech qualifier sophomore Hannah Taylor arrived at Kearney High School to perform her event, dramatic interpretation. “In interpretation, what really

matters when preparing is being able to pull someone into the scene through vocal, facial, and body expression,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s event requires more than showing up at a tournament and competing. It is both an oratory skill that is continually worked on and refined throughout the season, just like soccer footwork or 3-point accuracy in basketball, and a script that requires edits. “Preparing for state was just a lot of running through my script over and over, slightly tweaking and changing inflections and actions to give the piece more nuance and depth,” said Taylor.

After arriving early in the morning, Taylor stayed at Kearney for several hours during the competition and received fourth and third in her rounds. “A highlight from state speech was definitely seeing my speech friends and meeting new people! I love the community that speech fosters and contribute a lot of my speaking skills to it, not just academically but also socially,” Taylor said.

Although Marian speech did not rank at state, the future is bright for those interested in the team. “I see lots of growth and exciting things for future Marian speech! This year was kind of warm up because we got a new coach and are still adjusting, but next year lots of team bonding, events, speech meets, and wins are in store,” Taylor said.

Although unlike other NSAA activities, speech and debate are growing and bringing success to Marian. Next year, tune in to the intercom during speech and debate season and you can hear for yourself of the success of both of these teams.

Red Cross blood drive—every needle saves lives

MaryMcKay

On Saturday, March 23, Marian’s Student Board hosted the annual blood drive through the American Red Cross.

The purpose of donating blood is to help patients in need of blood. Just one bag or about one pint of donated blood can save up to three lives.

As of Jan. 30, the American Red Cross announced a blood donation shortage.

During the winter, with storms and seasonal illnesses, blood donations are low, but this year, the American Red Cross says “donations are at a 20-year low.” Hospitals need an extra 8,000 blood donations per week to meet their needs.

With the help of Student Board members, Mrs. Beth Dye, Ms. Jessica Abel, and the Red Cross volunteers, the east gym was turned into a donation station.

least once in their lives.

The donors signed in, answered a few questions, and completed some quick medical tests before the donation process began. After about 30 minutes the blood bags were filled, and the donors were thanked with a snack and some juice.

The donors were about an even split between Marian students/alumnae and walkins from around Omaha.

This year Marian exceeded the donation goal of 31 pints, much better than past years. With a total donation of 34 pints, the Marian community donated 110% of the goal.

“I donated because I am healthy and by donating, my blood has the chance to save someone’s life.”

Student Board member, senior Maddie Wear said, “[We put this drive on] because it’s an opportunity to give back to the community…part of the Student Board motto is service and it really helps us fulfill our mission.” She goes on to tell her personal connection and reason to donate.

Kate Martin ’25

“I have a history of cancer with my family and they have been saved a lot through blood transfusions,” Wear said. She recommends everyone to donate at

Although many people are scared to give blood or are scared of needles, students pulled through in order to help the cause.

Junior Kate Martin donated a pint of blood at the drive and hopes to continue her donations in the future. “I donated because I am healthy and by donating, my blood has the chance to save someone’s life,” Martin said.

Blood donations can save lives and Martin said, “Just do it for those who need it.”

If you want to donate blood, whether you participated in Marian’s blood drive or didn’t make it, you can schedule an appointment on the American Red Cross website or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

State Speech Violet Christen ’27, Hannah Taylor ’26 and Helen Christen ’26 stand in front of the NSAA Speech backdrop at the March 20 championship event. The Christens attended State Speech to support their teammate. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Jen Christen.

Omaha’s warm weather: Cause for celebration or concern?

IzzyCampie

As Omaha welcomes the arrival of spring, residents find themselves greeted by temperatures soaring above the usual springtime norms. The 2024 spring temperatures have left both meteorologists and locals intrigued by the uncharacteristic warmth.

While not reaching the extremes of blistering heat, the temperatures in Omaha have consistently surpassed the typical seasonal averages, offering a break from the chill of winter. According to meteorological data provided by Lauren Casey, March temperatures have been consistently hotter than in previous years, with a staggering increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the 1970s.

This substantial temperature rise has sparked discussions about the impacts of climate change on Omaha’s weather patterns.

“It’s important to realize that even with global warming, climate change patterns are never in a straight line. Longer term, this trend of less snowy winters is probably a sign of the future for Nebraska,” KETV Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby said.

The subtle shift in temperature has influenced the daily routines and activities of Omaha’s residents, particularly those involved in outdoor sports and recreation al activities. The warmer weather has in creased engagement in outdoor activities, prompting many to get outside and soak up the beautiful weather conditions.

walking our dogs, or going running. The warmer temperatures this year have made it much easier to enjoy all of those things,” English teacher Mrs. Alee Cotton said.

For student-athletes participating in sports this spring, the warmer weather has brought a mix of excitement and adjustment. As a varsity soccer player, sophomore Hayden Blaney emphasizes the importance of adaptability to weather conditions.

“Athletes have to be ready to play in

of the unseasonably mild weather.

“I notice more people outside as the temperatures get warmer, so that is an evident impact. We didn’t do as much sledding or ice skating as usual this year. As temperatures got warmer, I needed to clean up our perennial plants sooner this year to prepare for new growth,” Cotton said.

The warmer temperatures also impacted energy usage, with many residents relying less on heating systems to keep their homes comfortable. This reduction

parking lots…less work for them and less money for their businesses,” Randby said.

Randby attributes the uncharacteristic warmth to a combination of factors, including shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns and the influence of climate change.

“The warm February and relatively mild March can be attributed perhaps due to the El Nino in the Pacific Ocean. A lot of mild air flooded across the country and resulted in a very limited snowpack across the Midwest. Temperatures warm quickly unless there is snow on the ground,” Randby said.

“I love getting outside, whether that involves playing catch with my kids,

life in Omaha, influencing everything from outdoor activities to energy consumption patterns. With the onset of spring, residents have found themselves adjusting their routines to make the most

hurt some residents economically. “The lack of snow really hurt the ski and snowboard activities at Mount Crescent this year. This was again a rough year for folks that plow snow and clear sidewalks and

As Omaha residents enjoy the warmth of this spring, they are reminded of the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable living practices.

“In terms of social justice, we all bear a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources in front of us. What is a more important resource than the environment we share now and will leave to future generations?” Cotton said.

By taking small steps to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the planet, individuals can contribute to efforts to address climate change and ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

In the midst of these efforts, Omaha’s residents embrace the implications of climate change. Whether it’s warmer-than-usual temperatures or unexpected twists in the forecast, one thing remains certain–Omaha’s weather never fails to surprise.

NASA’s Artemis Missions: Bringing humanity back to the moon, and we’re here to watch it

NASA first put mankind on the moon in 1969, and now they’re returning, and better yet, sending the first woman and person of color to step foot on the moon. In 2026, NASA plans to send Artemis III to the moon, including four astronauts, two of whom will descend to the surface around the moon’s South Pole.

Before that, NASA has to test the spacecraft that will take the astronauts to and from the moon—Orion—on two missions, one of which has already happened. Artemis I took place in 2022, and it consisted of an unmanned flight to, around, and back from the moon. The mission intended to test Orion’s ability to safely bring humans to and from the moon; thus, there was one passenger: a mannequin. It had sensors attached to it to measure pressure and vibration. Artemis I got as close as 80 miles from the surface of the moon, and up to 268,563 miles away from Earth.

Subsequently, Artemis II will carry four real-life astronauts around the moon. It won’t actually land on the surface of the moon; it serves as another test for Orion. The astronauts will ensure that all of the systems work as intended and practice any emergency procedures. The mission will get about 4,600 miles past the moon.

Finally, Artemis III, in 2026, will be the mission that lands

Artemis III will put the first woman and person of color on the moon, selected from a diverse group of astronauts-in-training. The two astronauts will be the first step in the journey to place humans on the moon long-term and maybe even toward the establishment of a moon base.

Many teachers at Marian can probably remember when space shuttles went to space regularly. Dr. Sharon Genoways, a STEM teacher, remembers how people talked about moon bases and living on the moon. “I was really excited, because they were saying, ‘we’re not just going to the moon, we’re going to live on the moon,’ which sounded like science fiction,” Genoways said. Now NASA is going back to the moon, using it as a stepping stone for future space missions for moon bases and even future Mars missions.

“The whole thought behind it is that to go to Mars, we have to launch from the moon, because the moon’s gravitational pull is only about a sixth of what ours

is,” Genoways said. “We have to be forward thinking, we can’t think that Earth is going to be here forever (it’s not); and we need to think of where to go next.” Luckily, we have a few billion years before the sun expands and consumes the earth.

The United States’ initial trips to the moon were driven by the urge to be better than the Soviet Union during the space race. “We do not like to be outdone, and maybe that’s bringing back interest, but I’m okay with that,” Genoways said. However, NASA’s budget, even at its most during the space race, was less than one tenth of one percent of the government’s overall budget. While some people say that the money NASA spends could be better spent in other places, it’s such a small amount compared to what other government agencies spend.

So far, the results of space exploration have been quite beneficial to humanity. “Any time that you are doing research, I think there’s a benefit. No matter what it is. You’re either going to find out something great and move forward, or you’re going to find out something that didn’t work,” Genoways said. Several inventions created for missions to space are used by normal people every day, like Velcro and battery powered tools.

NASA is definitely looking

towards the future with its Artemis missions and the rest of the world along with it. People who watched space shuttles exit the atmosphere in the 80s will see humanity return to the moon, and the next generation, the “Artemis generation,” as NASA calls it, will expand space travel to new horizons.

ElizabethBuescher on the moon. SpaceX, a private space company based in the United States, was selected by NASA to provide the spacecraft that will actually carry two of the astronauts to the surface of the moon, while the other two astronauts will remain on Orion as it orbits around the moon. While on the moon, the astronauts will conduct several moonwalks and collect samples for geologic study back on earth.

Brooklyn Salzbrenner ’26 looks at a drawing of the Artemis SLS Rocket. Photo Illustration by AbbyMcGuire

Photo source: nasa.gov

Was seeing Olivia Rodrigo tonight a ‘bad idea, right?’

Opinion by NatalieElse

Amass mania of red and purple. A roar of teenage girl excitement. A wavelength of emotions caused by power ballads and intense pop-rock ragers. How does one begin to sum up such a cathartic experience especially when it involves

THE Olivia Rodrigo?

On Wednesday, March 13, Olivia Rodrigo came to perform her GUTS World Tour Concert at CHI Health Center. Prior to the concert that began at 7:30 p.m, my friends and I indulged in the true teenage girl pre-concert experience by dressing head-to-toe in sparkly skirts, purple tops, and high-top Converse, accessorizing with butterfly clips, star earrings and heart necklaces all while jamming to her non-skip discography.

As our nerves and excitement grew, the reality that we were going to see Olivia in concert hit us.

quirk being her lowercase song titles, appeals to younger audiences. This was my first concert, and it is hard to believe that any other concert could give me the same release as hers.

Now, of course, I must mention prices because being a teenage girl can be expensive nowadays. One concert ticket was $100 and for my 2 friends and I to attend, the total cost was a little over $300. However, Olivia is of high demand considering that she is ranked the 27th artist in the world with over 60 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Trust me when I say that the concert was worth every penny, and I would have taken an extra shift or worked an hour more just to get even an ounce of this vibrant experience.

I have never experienced such emotional whiplash. She hooked the crowd ... and I literally could not hear my thoughts.

In total, Olivia sang 23 songs and, let me just say, I have never experienced such emotional whiplash. She hooked the crowd in with the punchy, pop-rock anthem ‘bad idea, right?’ where my friends and I literally could not hear our thoughts. A few songs later, she had the whole arena crying over the relatable ballad that is ‘teenage dream,’ where she reflected on her internal fears of growing up while playing videos of her younger self on the stage screen.

refrained from using the word fun because “fun” cannot sum up how my voice was almost completely gone by the second song, the pure excitement I got when Olivia flew over the arena on a lit-up crescent moon singing my favorite song from GUTS, ‘logical’ and the absolute satisfaction when I got to scream the lyric “I’m so sick of seventeen” as a 17-year-old girl. I guess you could say I was utterly obsessed.

I feel obligated to mention that Omaha was crowned one of the loudest crowds Olivia has ever seen. In addition to this huge achievement that I don’t think I can ever live down, there were other moments throughout the concert that definitely deserve some recognition.

One of the ones that really stood out to me was when Olivia noticed that it was someone’s 16th birthday and then asked 17,000 people to sing happy birthday to “the pretty girl in the pink dress.” It was truly such a sweet moment to witness and her interactions with fans the rest of the night felt so genuine.

Olivia beautifully captured the ups and downs of being a teenager through her music and her signature style, one

Olivia’s stage presence was simply top-tier and definitely helped contribute to the “let-loose” atmosphere. She unapologetically danced on stage during her upbeat anthems and at some points, faced the microphone toward the crowd allowing us to ‘pour our little hearts out.’ She continuously got her fans roaring with excitement after throwing out little phrases such as “Omaha, are you still with me?” and asking fans to scream as loud as they can in “3,2,1,” prompting the most chaos you will ever see. Her love for her fans was extremely evident when she walked off stage to run across the barricade of people, giving them hugs and highfives, certainly giving me a sense of ‘jealousy, jealousy.’

You may have noticed that I have

After Olivia asked if we had time for one more song, the edgy and most definitely catchy “get him back!” began to play. Despite my bittersweet feelings about having to say goodbye to such a memorable night, I couldn’t help but ignore all those feelings and continue to scream my little heart out. Confetti fell from the sky, signifying the near end of the concert, and my friends and I watched in amazement as the already glowing arena became even more dazzling. In her last few moments on stage, Olivia continued to rock on with her band until she made her incredible exit, running across the barricade for the last time.

Being able to spill my guts out with a room full of 17,000 people while simultaneously sharing unforgettable moments with friends was truly a transformative experience. Similar to Olivia’s honest feelings towards her ex, I would love to get this back.

Livvy Dunne vs. Caitlin Clark: Who should be earning more NIL?

Opinion by ElenaBurt

Have you ever wondered how much Olivia Dunne makes in a year? This LSU gymnast’s talents and ability to woo the male population from ages… well… 1-100… pave the path for $3.5 million per year.

She receives what is called NIL (name, image, and likeness); maybe you’ve heard of male football and basketball players in college who stand out enough to earn money from private investors of the NIL. Nonetheless, Livvy Dunne is able to earn that outstanding amount because of her talent, and the fact that she is objectively attractive. Perhaps her sport’s uniform is a little more suggestive than a sweaty basketball jersey.

Another outstanding college athlete is Caitlin Clark, a basketball player for the Division I University of Iowa. I know what you’re probably thinking— “She can’t be that good if she only goes to that Iowa school in the middle of nowhere”— wrong! She is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, and the Iowa Hawkeyes are in the Big Ten Conference… pretty impressive lady,

I’ll say.

In a year, Clark makes $910,000 from NIL; while that is still an immense amount of money, especially for a young person in college, it is significantly less than the amount that Dunne makes. Why?

Despite both of their amazing athletic successes and abilities, Dunne makes more in NIL money because of her popularity on social media. Although both young women are beautiful, of course, a female gymnast gets more attention on social media than a female basketball player for a reason.

I shouldn’t have to explain why, (I will) but a leotard is perhaps more revealing than loose jersey/shorts. Gymnasts mask their athleticism and exertion with a graceful representation, while basketball players represent their hard work through their heavy breathing, non-forced smiles, sweaty bodies, and red faces.

This brings up the question: is the NIL really a positive thing for these young women? It can be a blow to one’s self-esteem when their peer is earning more money and attention because society is fond of

their “attractiveness,” physically or personally.

Although many feelings around the globe have probably been hurt, the NIL pays college athletes based on how marketable they are; there fore it makes sense that an Instagram and TikTok star makes more money than just a regular athlete, because they have more influence in the ev er-growing social media land.

To give some perspective, Dunne has 7.9 million followers on TikTok and 5.1 million followers on Ins tagram. Clark has 282.9 thousand followers on TikTok and 2 million followers on Instagram.

I will say, though, I think Caitlin Clark’s records should measure up to the fame that Livvy Dunne earned just for showing up to a couple Col lege World Series games in Omaha last summer.

One’s talents aren’t more valuable than another athlete’s talents, but Clark’s outstanding season should be making her the same amount or more money in NIL than Livvy Dunne, because they are equally as market able, maybe just towards different audiences.

Graphic of Maggie Arbataitis ’27 by KarisSimon.

GUTS candles seen on stage at the Olivia Rodrigo concert on Wednesday, March 13 at the CHI Health Center. Fans excitedly waited for Olivia Rodrigo to arrive on stage as the candles continued to melt.

Illustration of Caitlin Clark by AbigailMcGuire

Three solutions to ‘Where do you guys want to eat?’

Opinion by ShelbyWoodard

If you’re anything like me and my group of friends, you know that finding a restaurant that everyone agrees on can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The struggle seems to be never ending and usually results in us ordering a pizza or eating at Texas Roadhouse for the sixth time in the span of only a couple months.

Don’t get me wrong; of course everyone loves those warm rolls paired with a hearty slab of cinnamon butter. But for those nights when you and your gals are feeling a little extra, I’ve put together a small list of some alternative places to try out.

Say you want to dress up and take some Instagram pics but are also itching to try a new Mexican restau

greenery and lights. Want to know where you can snap some pics just like those? You guessed it: right in the very Passageway where Trini’s is located.

Not only is Trini’s located in the ultimate spot for Instagram aesthetics, it’s also got some fantastic food. From the necessary complimentary chips and salsa, to their wide range of burritos, tacos and fajitas on the menu, Trini’s has something for anyone craving a good Mexican meal for under $25.

To get a little change of pace, a good breakfast place is always a great option for the morning after a night out with your girls.

I tried Vidlak’s Brookside Cafe off 156th and Center recently and boy was I pleasantly surprised. The line was out the door and, once I tried the food, I understood why.

Whether you’re looking for something sweet or something savory, you won’t be disappointed by the vast menu at Vidlak’s. From omelets to blueberry pancakes, Vidlak’s offers most

any kind of breakfast food you could imagine.

The cafe has been around for a long time and their devotion to the traditional methods of using pen and paper rather than computers and technology just add to the cafe’s charm. Not only has their system of using paper and pen remained unchanged, but, it seems, so have their prices.

I was able to get a piece of country fried chicken as big as my face, two fried eggs, enough hash browns to feed three people, two pieces of toast and a glass of chocolate milk all for $15.

Who doesn’t love a good, cheap meal?

Finally, what’s a list of places to try without a good place to get dessert? One of my favorite things to do is go out with my friends for a sweet treat when we’re not necessarily hungry enough for a full meal.

Ted and Wally’s is a must-have on those warm summer nights when you and your friends are craving a good cup (or cone) of ice cream. At certain times

Why first lunch eats and second doesn’t

Wsemester of my sophomore year, not once do I hear that I am lucky. Because in reality, although people might not realize it, second lunch isn’t that great. Correction: it isn’t great at all it’s downright terrible.

I won’t lie when I say the thing that gets me through the block before lunch is the fact knowing lunch is next. As someone who has both first lunch and second lunch this semester, I find myself happier on days when I get to eat earlier.

Perhaps I get hungry pretty fast due to my eating habits on weekends, but I feel myself getting hungry at the end of second block every single day even though I eat breakfast.

The only days I can think of wishing I had second lunch are the special schedule days that either incidentally cut into my lunch time or move it earlier, but that’s only a few out of hundreds of school days.

I find it even worse to eat lunch later

on days that push lunch back until 1:15, as it did during Color Block. I was fortunate enough to have first lunch that day, but I can only imagine how much my attention span would have decreased with my stomach rumbling loud enough for the class next over to hear.

The only reason I find second lunch bearable is the fact that I only have one class left until the school day ends. But nothing else makes second lunch any better than first.

First lunch allows others to get first dibs on food. I have seen too many times where girls in second lunch have gotten a different lunch than what was expected because they were too far back in the lunch line.

Those instances range from switching from fries to tater tots to a completely different meal. At second lunch, there’s even a significant chance that a dessert or salad you wanted was already cleared off the shelf. Not only that, as any science teacher will easily tell you, food gets colder the longer it sits out after getting cooked.

of the day, they even offer other types of desserts such as beignets that Tiana herself would approve.

Ted and Wally’s has two locations: one in downtown Omaha in the wellknown Old Market and one in the Benson area, right near the Waiting Room Lounge.

Say it’s a hot summer day and you and your gals just happen to be roaming the Old Market or attending a concert at the popular Waiting Room Lounge: walk just down the street and enjoy a refreshing cone for under $5.

If I were you, I wouldn’t pass up any opportunity to visit Ted and Wally’s.

Now, I wouldn’t consider myself a Michelin-level food critic. Let’s just say I know what I like and what I don’t like, and I notice things that make a place special.

So, take out of my list what you will. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself at one of these places and think “Hey, reading the Network really

While it may seem like a small deal with the amount of microwaves we have, microwaved food doesn’t taste as good as fresh food. Plus, some microwaves get extremely messy after use, and they only get messier during second lunch. I always feel terrible for the work study or janitor who has to clean the microwaves after school.

While it might seem second lunch makes the day go by faster with the break before your last class, with first lunch, you also have homeroom as a break before Blocks D and H, except for CAB days.

Not only that, but Blocks C and G seem to go by much slower when it is the only thing standing between myself and lunch.

Perhaps my opinion is not the popular one, but the next time the buns run out from chicken sandwiches and you’re left with two slices of wheat bread, you’ll find yourself wishing you were in first lunch.

First Lunch

Data Source: Network Google Survey with 195 student responses

Graphic by AvaWeis

Graphic by AbbyMcGuire

Graphic by ShelbyWoodard

Graphic by AbbyMcGuire

‘Cursing Mummies’: When audience becomes cast members

NEWBERRY-KEELER

“Inspector, perhaps we should let the ‘stunt doubles’ go?”

HENRI

(he’d almost forgotten)

“Oh, yes, of course. Thank you everyone. We appreciate the [h]’elp”

The air is still light from surprise when the characters announced that they would be taking unsuspecting viewers up in front of the audience to orchestrate a piece of the performance with the cast. “It was really fun to be a part of the production, even for a few minutes…The show was hilarious and I loved playing my part as the dead body,” senior Grace Sparwasser said.

The selected members were then posed and moved around on stage, while the scripted characters analyzed the scene. Following that, the seated audience pointed out that a character from the scene had entered and left without any of the characters noticing: THE MUMMY!!

This type of audience involvement was carefully orchestrated by the director and writer of “Cursing Mummies,” Michael McCandless alongside co-directer Michelle Delisi. The play was first performed in 2005 at Creighton Prep; however, it has been tweaked and changed since. “I’m still working with it. I sit in the back of the theater during performances and take notes on what parts of the script spark reactions from the audience. I then take that information back to my laptop to rework any parts that didn’t come off as well as I imagined,” McCandless said.

This is the first full-length original comedy McCandless has written. “Comedy is much more of a challenge because we all have our own ideas of what is funny,” McCandless said.

As he began the telling of the murder mystery, he had three perspectives to analyze. McCandless had to figure out, as a playwright, how he wanted to formulate the story. He then had to switch his view to that of a cast member: “If I were acting in it, what would I want in a character?” McCandless said. Lastly, he had to look at it from an audience’s perspective. “I didn’t want the audience to merely laugh. I wanted them to be part of the joke,” McCandless said.

An audience’s positive energy during a show is key to a good performance, but this production goes beyond that. “Cursing Mummies” “create[s] an experience where the audience IS part of the production… Interactive theater is another inventive way of encouraging audiences to get off the couch and attend live events,” McCandless said.

The cast also has to adapt to the script and, more importantly, adapt to having an audience versus empty practices. “I feel like the audience interaction feels differ-

ent because it’s in real time and it’s almost as if they are reacting the same way your character is,” senior Hannah Butler said.

The cast members see a new side of theatre with this show, when they are able to enter the audience and pull a stranger up on stage with them. “It may be a bit embarrassing for them at first to be called out that way especially if they aren’t expecting it, but I feel like they also love it,” Butler said.

Concluding the performances for the year can be emotional for seniors. It is their last high school production, and for many, theatre plays a huge role in their lives. “When performing with an audience and hearing their reactions to different lines and the stuff you have worked on for four months, it makes it all worthwhile and endearing,” Butler said.

Overall, this play provided a way for the audience to couple with the cast to create the entrancing show that was ‘Cursing Mummies’.

“This positive atmosphere is not present in every school, and it confirms time and time again what a special place Marian has become for me,” McCandless said.

As seniors leave for college and the new freshman class enters the threatre setting, “Cursing Mummies” will not be forgotten. It is a show that will be remembered after the final performance.

1

2

3

1. Ed Watson, Christian Buton-Lewis, Tony D’Agosto, Sophia Reinhardt ‘24 and Nicholas Ferro reveal the mummy in the second scene. 2. Ed Watson, Clara Hawkins ‘25, Noah Weber, Hannah Taylor ‘26 and Annie Stessman ‘25 end the chase scene where the Germans are caught by FBI members/staff. 3. Maggie McGill ‘24, Domiinika Kouassi ‘25, Maddie Smith ‘24, Martha Engel ‘24, Abi Howard ‘24, Layla Wilke-Conant ‘25, Hannah Taylor ‘26, Katherine Dietz ‘26 and Sophia Reinhardt ‘24 investigate the possible murder suspects. Photos by MaryMcKay.

Envision your future: Return of Omaha’s college fair

Aclassic tradition is returning to Omaha after being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

College counselor Mr. Ben Ascher has been working with the Great Plains Association for College Admissions Counseling (GPACAC) and other colleges to create an opportunity for students to communicate with potential schools.

Marian will hold the city-wide college fair on April 21 from 6 to 8 p.m in the gym.

“The initial goal with this fair when working with GPACAC was to host it at UNO, but the dates didn’t align. So that is when I volunteered Marian,” Ascher said.

Although the fair is hosted by Marian, anyone in Omaha is welcome. “Friends, cousins, brothers, sisters are allowed to come,” Ascher said.

The fair is a chance for younger students to figure out what they want in a college, even if it is multiple years off for them.

For students planning on going to the fair, Ascher said, “my biggest piece of advice would be to prepare questions ahead of time to think about what is important to you and what you want from a college.”

College is not just about the education and the numbers; it is about the students, the values instilled in the institution, and what a student envisions for their future.

If unsure what path you will take for college, “think about what is important to you here at Marian.”

Although college and high school might seem

Marian High School in the East Gym

polar opposites, they consist of similar aspects and being able to determine likes and dislikes of high school can help to narrow the search for the best college later.

Ascher is excited not only “to be the host, but also see the fair come back.” Omaha used to be a hub for college fairs whether it be the College of St. Mary fair for Catholic colleges or a national college fair run by UNO.

College fairs are beneficial because students have the chance to communicate with a potential college, but colleges are also able to share with the students why they would be a strong fit.

Overall, Ascher’s advice when picking a college is “do your best to make a sound decision…look at all the factors. You can’t just pick a school because it is the cheapest or your best friend is going there. You have to consider what is it that “I want to accomplish?”

There are currently more than 35 schools that will have a table at the fair. Some of the schools attending are Drake, St. Louis University, Truman State, Kansas University, University of Missouri, Wichita State, Creighton, and many more.

In addition to the presence of over 35 schools, EducationQuest will have a table and a presentation on financial aid. EducationQuest is a free resource in Nebraska that guides families through the financial aid process. “[EducationQuest] is something that a lot of states do not have...they work absolutely for free,” Ascher said.

LaylaWilke-Conant

Voices from all around the world share their experiences

YenaKelly

It is the first day of school. You meet people coming from different schools.

Perhaps you were a public school student your entire life until then, maybe you’re from a different city. Though it never once crossed your mind that someone in Nebraska didn’t always live in the U.S.

Sophomore Izumi Huang Fujiwara was born in El Salvador and lived in Japan before coming to the United States. Even though she hadn’t lived in those places for a very long time, she was able to recall her early childhood. “When I turned 3, it was like immediately coming from those other countries. I still spoke Spanish and I don’t think I would be the same person because I wouldn’t live my life in a similar way if I didn’t live in El Salvador,” Huang Fujiwara said.

Instead of culture shocks in those countries, she experiences more of her culture shock in the U.S. One example is, “Whenever I eat noodles, especially soup noodles, I like to slurp really loud. My dad never told me it was necessarily wrong

to do that.” For Huang Fujiwara, food is a big part of her culture, and it is when she feels the most connected. With her multicultural background, she also knows a few languages. She is most familiar with English and Spanish but has limited knowledge of Japanese and Taiwanese. It wasn’t easy to know them as she had to relearn Spanish to be able to talk to family members.

While growing up in the States, Huang Fujiwara didn’t fully realize how her background would affect her until her middle school years. Appearance didn’t seem to matter until she started to hear stereotypical jokes about Asians and became more aware that she looked different from everyone else. She didn’t let the comments affect the way she viewed her background and continues to embrace it to this day.

Freshman Addison Bradley lived in Germany for three years. While nerve-wracking at first, she was quick to adapt to the new changes in her everyday life. Bradley grew to appreciate vacations

and different cultures as her family also visited other European countries. “One time we went to London for like, probably $20, like round trip per person.” Through those trips, she felt bold to venture out and meet new friends.

Some culture shocks Bradley experienced were a lack of air conditioning, being served warm drinks, and strict recycling. One of those shocks eventually became a huge part of her life at home as Bradley’s family is strict with recycling. After her time in Germany, she came to appreciate the cleanliness of her surroundings and believed the U.S. would benefit from better recycling.

Students from other countries allow us to learn from other cultures and be more sensitive to others’ backgrounds. Experiencing life in a different country has its challenges and interesting aspects. There is always something to learn.

Award programs have flourishing impact on young artists

LaylaWilke-Conant

The Scholastic Art Awards is a regional awards competition for eager young artists in Nebraska. There are thousands of pieces submitted each year ranging from paintings to ceramics, and even to charcoal drawings. A panel of judges go through every piece to narrow down their awards into three categories: honorable mention, silver key and gold key. Students who receive gold at regionals then go to nationals. This year, Marian had eight students win one of these titles.

Junior Nora Coffey earned honorable mention for her mixed media piece “What is Real?” Her piece is “inspired by the increasing amount of virtual reality and technology that is showing up in our lives. It presents an awesome online place to immerse ourselves in, but also takes us away from being present in the real world and seeing the struggles our planet is facing,” Coffey said. She describes her piece as full of contrast, dynamic and surreal. It tells a story about the world we live in today.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards acknowledge young artists for their hard work and motivate them to expand their hobby by giving them more creative opportunities. “It is something I enjoy doing, so it’s nice to know other people enjoy my art, too. I think the recognition I have gotten for this will inspire me to keep creating and sharing my artwork in the future, and, more specifically, in pieces that make a statement,” Coffey said.

Another program that recognizes high school artists is the

Nebraska Young Artist Awards. They award students in their junior year of high school for their talent in art, music, dance, theater, or film and emerging media. This year, juniors Elizabeth Buescher, Rory Wright-Kent, Nika Kouassi and Mary Puccioni were recognized. They attended an immersive experience into the arts at UNL on April 3. Here, vocalists Nika Kouassi and Rory Wright-Kent got to participate in a vocal master class taught by UNL professor Suna Gunther. They also learned about the new music building projected to finish construction in 2025 and were given an automatic $1,000 scholarship to UNL for their freshman year.

“Congratulations to everyone who submitted a work and the winners of both of these awards.

Everyone wish good luck to senior Bridget McGill and sophomore Sofia Bostrom, who were given the Gold Key Scholastic award and will be going to nationals!” Mrs. Ashley Bauer, Marian’s art teacher, said.

“I’ve really been getting into art more so it gives me the confidence to keep making art... It has also inspired me to get out of my comfort zone with the things I create.”

“Creativity is intelligence.”

“This piece has just led me to go out of my comfort zone which has shown me that I am a lot more capable than I thought.”

Izumi Huang Fujiwara ’26 enjoys a dessert in Japan. Photo courtesy of Huang Fujiwara.

Addison Bradley ’27 and her brothers at school in Germany.

Photo courtesy of Bradley.

Graphic by Layla Wilke-Conant

Pictured are Elizabeth Buescher ’25, Rory Wright-Kent ’25, Mary Puccioni ’25, and Dominika Kouassi’ 25 along with other juniors from Omaha Public Schools.

Photo courtesy of Karine Sokpoh.

Elise Rose ‘24

Sofia Bostrom ‘26

What is Real? by Nora Coffey - Honorable Mention

Stained Glass Bowl by Elise Rose - Silver Key

Marilyn by Sofia Bostrom - Gold Key

Prom: A Night

Who needs a date when you have your Marian girls?

The struggle to find a date for Prom is real. Whether it a partner for Marian’s Prom or trying to get into Prep’s Prom, this stress can hang over upperclassmen as Prom season approaches. Although having a date has its perks, like getting pretty corsages and being able to match with someone in pictures, dates are by no means necessary.

Going to Prom with your besties from Marian can also be a great experience; some may even say it is better than bringing a date. Plus, there are many advantages, such as not having to try and coordinate plans with boys from other schools over a large group chat.

Anyone on the Prom side of TikTok (PromTok) knows that teenage girls have been creating beautiful bouquets to match their dresses. Instead of struggling to get the boutonniere to somehow pin on to your date’s jacket, you can go to the store with your friends and handpick your own flowers to match your dress perfectly.

After this, you can go back to your friend’s house and all get ready together. You can listen to Taylor Swift and not have any boys claiming that Kanye made her famous. You can take your time curling each other’s hair and doing each other’s eyeshadow without having to worry about meeting your dates at a certain time.

Once ready, you can go take pictures with all of your friends in your dresses that you

have dreamed about wearing since you were little. You can go wherever you want and have unlimited time to get perfect pictures. Some places you could go are the stairs at Regency Mall, Mulhalls, or your favorite restaurant. You can go to a cute dinner party and talk to your friends just like you do at your Marian lunch table.

Once at the dance, there is no need to worry about where your date is. It’s just you and your friends throwing your heels in a large pile, and dancing the night away to songs like “No Hands” and “Cupid Shuffle.”

After the dance is over, the fun doesn’t have to stop. You can go back to your friend’s house and have a sleepover, debriefing the night, wearing sweats with your hair still curled, and picking which pictures to post on Instagram.

Many people may think that in order to have fun at Prom, you have to find a date, but in reality, just going with your best friends will leave you with core memories that you will pass down to your future Marian girl one day.

Some PRom-ising advice for underclassmen:

“Make dinner reservations a long time in ad vance.” -Rocelie Sagaysay ‘25

“Have fun! Go with the right group of people you know you’ll have a good time with and be your most confident self.”

-Ximena Perez silva ‘24

“Don’t stress about dates! If you don’t have a date, that’s totally fine. If you do, just have fun!! There is no need to stress.”

- Grace Sparwasser ‘24

After Prom or Prom Raffle: What you need to know

Prom: an evening full of sparkling dresses, high heels, and dancing with your friends. A night almost every girl dreams about. How could this one evening possibly get better? Throw in an after-party or some raffle prizes and you have an even more amazing night.

Each year, a Prom Committee consisting of juniors gets to choose between having an after-prom or having a Prom raffle (depending on whether they can get enough parent volunteers and the cost of venues, food, etc.). This year, the Prom Committee decided on a raffle.

The raffle is held during Prom and begins around 9 p.m. Each Marian girl is given five raffle ticket entries with the purchase of their Prom ticket. Ranging from Stanley cups to Apple gift cards, there are a multitude of prizes to choose from.

This year, there were around 20-25 girls who won a raffle prize. The prizes consisted of $50 gift cards to places like Target or Walmart and $200 gift cards to Rowan, Madida, Apple and Kendra Scott. Girls also had the opportunity to win Stanley cups, Apple AirPods, Apple iPads and Lululemon belt bags.

Last year, senior Ava Reinert won two prizes: a $100 Kendra Scott gift card and a $100 Bluetique gift card. Reinert said, “I was extremely happy and excited that I won mostly because I wasn’t expecting to win anything.”

Unfortunately, after Prom Queen was announced, many girls and their dates left, meaning they would no longer be able to participate in the raffle. There were a couple of times when a girl’s name would be called out only for her to have left early. Because of this, a new name was called to win the prize.

Overall, the Prom raffle had amazing prizes and the anticipation of hearing your name called as a winner gave the evening a much more excitable and suspenseful mood.

Marian has hosted many memorable post Proms in years prior. However, due to the low interest of Marian girls, lack of parent volunteers, and high costs, Marian has not hosted a after-prom for some time now.

In the past, Marian’s after-proms were very similar to Marian’s very own Surprise Day.

There are a multitude of venues that

have hosted after-prom, including bowling alleys, Dave and Busters, and after COVID, Marian. Depending on which venue Marian’s after-prom was located at, the activities varied greatly.

At the bowling alley, girls could obviously bowl and parents would come and set up “casino” games for the girls to play. At Dave and Busters, the girls had the entire place to themselves and had free reign to play whatever games they wanted to. At Marian, the school brought in bounce houses, different types of games, a hypnotist, and food. Each after-prom also had its own prizes that girls could win as well.

After-prom originally went from 12:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. with the last hour ending in a Mass, but after low attendance was reduced to 12:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. At afterprom, all Marian girls were invited along

with their dates, with no other school being allowed to attend.

In the end, both prom raffle and afterprom seem like a blast and whatever next year brings should be so much fun.

Graphic by: KatieHansen & AvaWeis

KatieZinna

AshleyKeenan

Graphic by NikaKouassi

Jenna Blach ’25 and Gabby Birkel ’25 pose at Prom. The best friends spent the whole day together preparing for the dance, and both won a gift card from the raffle.

Photo by MaryMcKay

Lauren Helton ’24 and Grace Simet ’24 dance with each other at Prom. The girls enjoyed each other’s company.

Photos by MaryMcKay

to Remember

Prom evolves: Changes vs. traditions of Prom over the years

When asked to recall a favorite high school memory, chances are that Prom will be a pretty common answer. The traditions of finding your perfect dress, getting ready with your friends before going out to dinner and dancing the night away are memories that girls throughout every generation remember and cherish.

While Prom has been going on throughout the entirety of Marian’s existence, so many things have changed that Marian’s first Prom may look unrecognizable compared to Prom today.

Marian’s first principal, Sr. Marcella Sitzman OSM, did not allow boys on campus so Prom was for Marian students only. It was not until Sr. Eleanor Galt OSM became principal in 1967 that girls were allowed to invite dates.

Prom Dress trends throughthe years

One major thing that has changed is the dress code. Up until the mid ’60s, all dresses had to be approved by the sisters. At a pre-prom gathering hosted by the nuns, girls and their dates would share tea with the sisters who would inspect the dresses to ensure they followed the dress code guidelines.

Mrs. Michelle Delisi, who graduated in 1974, did not experience the formal dress inspection but remembers the guidelines to be very specific. “You couldn’t have strapless, tank, or spaghetti straps. You had to have sleeves. No cutouts, no low back, no plunging necklines. You had to be completely covered,” Delisi said.

Although these rules make it seem that it would be nearly impossible to find a passing dress today, the styles and trends of dresses in the past made it fairly easy

for girls to still find their “dream” dress.

As far as the actual event itself, Marian’s Prom has seen some changes throughout the years. Prom has been held at many different venues throughout the years and continues to change year to year today.

Mr. Mark Koesters, who first arrived at Marian in 1987, remembers that proms often had live bands instead of DJs. “I remember in dances past we would have live bands, but that was a long time ago, up until the early ’90s,” Koesters said.

Mr. Koesters’ favorite change that has been made to Prom was when in the early 2000s every person had to be breathalyzed before being allowed to enter the dance. “Prom was my favorite dance to chaperone because I knew everybody was breathalyzed, and nobody there had

alcohol on their breath. That just made it more comfortable,” Koesters said.

One thing that has not changed is Prom’s popularity! For decades, Prom has been a huge event that gets girls excitedly waiting for spring each year. Both Mrs. Delisi and Mr. Koesters argue that Prom was even more of a “big deal” in the past. “What I notice about Prom now is right after the crowning it clears out whereas before people stayed longer,” Koesters said.

Although Prom now looks a little bit different than it did in the past, the memories girls create during Prom are very similar to those from decades before them. The feeling of getting ready for your cliche high school dance is something that feels the same in every generation.

Momentum’s Prom dress fundraiser provides relief in the expensive dress hunt

Marian Momentum’s first-ever annual Prom Dress Fundraiser was held on Saturday, Feb. 24. Originally supposed to start in 2023 but canceled due to lack of donations, the Prom dress fundraiser was created in hopes of helping fund Marian’s show choir, Momentum. However, the fundraiser went far beyond expectations and brought joy to faces as girls finally found “the dress.”

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the PAC turned into a Prom dress wonderland open to Marian students and more. After the fundraiser, Mrs. Michelle Delisi, assistant to the principal and Co-Director of Momentum, sold dresses for a week in March during lunch blocks. Dresses ranged from $20-$40 with a 90% discount if the dress had any tears or rips.

The dresses were accepted since the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year from all Marian girls and any needed alterations were made by Mrs. Yeny Martinez, mother of senior Jadin and freshman Leah Martinez. The colorful dresses surely met the colorful expressions of happiness

and relief of girls who found their dresses. The varying sizes in dresses, as well as the mix of modern to 2000s vintage dresses, truly encapsulated the wide variety of Prom dress trends over the years.

The Prom dress fundraiser brought relief to girls who were feeling the stresses of dress shopping. “On a [stress] scale from 1 to 10, [I was at] an 8 trying to find a prom dress. I ended up not finding the “perfect” one, but I did find what worked for me,” senior Pertilyne Aclinou said. Over the years, the cost of Prom has been skyrocketing and the prices become more unattainable to teenagers, “We shouldn’t be blowing off $1,000 for hair, makeup, nails and especially dresses,” Aclinou said.

“Some advice I would give is that Prom is only one night out of the many you will live after high school. Don’t worry that the ‘perfect’ dress isn’t available in your size or sold out, and don’t be afraid to wear that one dress you had in your closet you loved some time ago. Be confident and walk in that venue with pride because I can assure you that you

won’t end up twinning with someone, which might be more embarrassing,” Aclinou said.

In total, the fundraiser raised $1200, all of which will go back into decreasing the cost of Momentum’s 2024-2025 season. However, at the end of the fundraiser, there were still more than 50 dresses left that will be saved for next year’s Prom dress fundraiser. Delisi is planning to host the next prom dress fundraiser in December and is always looking for more donations. Consider donating to this sustainable fundraiser.

KatieHansen NikaKouassi

Olivia Hicks ’24 and Tessa Brooks ’24 search through dresses during their lunch. The girls were excited to be more sustainable and help out Momentum Show Choir. Photo by KatieHansen

Audrey Basham ’25 poses in her new Prom dress found at the Momentum fundraiser. She purchased the dress for $40 and wore it to Prom on April 6. Photo by NikaKouassi

Graphic by KarisSimon

Concert couture: The ultimate what to wear

From Drake to Phoebe Bridgers to Zach Bryan, artists draw in people everywhere to their concerts. Whether you go with your friends or parents, it is always fun to see your favorite artist live.

The process of buying tickets and finding someone to go with is fairly easy for many, but the bigger challenge comes when trying to pick an outfit. Some pressures of finding your perfect concert look may be based on music genre and trends, as well as clothing prices and preferences.

Although it can be difficult to find your outfit, it doesn’t have to be impossible. Luckily, there are many different ways to find ideas and inspiration. This includes Pinterest, Instagram, or even your school newspaper.

Outfit Inspiration

“I love finding outfits for concerts,” junior Lilly Kimble said. “It’s really fun to search for different clothes.” Kimble has attended Austin City Limits, a music festival in Austin, Texas, several times throughout the years and finds a fun outfit to wear every time. One year, she wore a fun sparkly top and colorful denim jean shorts.

There are many places to go shopping for outfits, such as malls and other clothing stores in the Omaha area. Some stores include Garage, Urban Outfitters, Pacsun and even department stores such as Von Maur. If you’re looking to support small businesses, there are also small clothing stores in Omaha such as Four Sister Boutique and Mesh.

Don’t worry if you don’t want to shop

in person, though, because there are also a plethora of options for cute clothes online. Some online-only places to shop for concert clothes are White Fox, CottonOn, Amazon and Princess Polly.

There are even online stores that are extremely cheap for people looking for outfits on a budget. Junior Izzy Vlasek recently bought a top from a newer shopping platform called TikTok shop, similar to Shein. This online store is within the TikTok app and is extremely cheap and trending. The top she bought was for the Ross Lynch concert on April 11, and she “loved to rock it.”

Rather than just doing a Google search for more original ideas, you can take advice from influencers on TikTok and Instagram. Some popular influencers

to search for are Gertie Nazaroff, Ana Stowell, Halle Sandberg and Tilly Joan. You can find all four of these influencers on TikTok, Instagram and other forms of social media. All of these influencers have a large following from displaying their different types of clothes, jewelry, makeup and other products.

The varieties and combinations of clothing pieces are endless, and choosing what to wear does not have to be difficult. Overall, concerts are a place to express yourself and be who you are, so you should wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. But if you’re stuck and stressin’, try these style ideas that will leave an impression— whether you’re in the stands or you’re “finna be in the pit.”

Easter traditions: Meaningful or materialistic?

From dyeing eggs to opening baskets of gifts, Easter is celebrated in many different ways. Some of Marian girls’ favorite traditions are egg dyeing, Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets.

Many students also said their favorite Easter tradition was visiting a special family member. Easter gives people an opportunity to connect with their family and celebrate Jesus’s resurrection together.

Sophomore Sophia Losole celebrates Easter in an especially unique way. Her family plays bingo. “We get really into it. We get really competitive,” Losole said. Losole competes against her extended family for a randomly drawn cash prize.

“My grandma saw an instagram post about a bingo set,” Losole said, “and since then we play at every major holiday.”

Losole loves the tradition and appreciates her family’s unique celebration.

Junior Alaira Hadford does something a bit more traditional. “My family does a scavenger hunt to find our Easter baskets,” she said. Hadford said it makes the holiday feel special and magical. “Seeing how excited it makes my younger siblings makes Easter feel like a joyous event,” Hadford said.

tion frequently asked. The candy, outfits, and activities can cause people to forget that the purpose of Easter is to celebrate Christ.

These traditions can be seen as a way to celebrate Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. Christians, specifically Catholics, have long used symbols to represent their relationship with God.

“Do these traditions take away from the real meaning of Easter?” is one ques-

The tradition of coloring eggs has its roots in Christ. The tradition originated with early Christians in the Middle East. They colored eggs red to represent Christ’s blood and His sacrifice.

Easter baskets are a symbol of a celebratory feast and breaking of a fast. During Lent, Catholics give up something or do something special in their lives as a sacrifice to commemorate Jesus’s suffering.

Indulging in the basket filled with treats is often how people break their Lenten fasts.

Hadford challenged herself to give up Instagram for her Lenten sacrifice. “It was a challenge but I did it to honor Jesus and also better myself and my social media habits,” Hadford said. “I was looking forward to breaking my fast and getting back on Instagram. It felt good to reconnect with others and catch up on what my friends had posted.”

People originally filled baskets with food and had it blessed. The tradition of a

feast in a basket remained a core element of the holiday.

According to History. com, the Easter Bunny was originally a pagan symbol of rebirth. This symbol was associated with the holiday because of Christ’s rebirth.

Many people are unaware of what Easter traditions represent. People often scrutinize what the holiday has transformed into and its focus on the material.

One of the main criticisms is directed to corporations as businesses profit from Easter decorations and activities. People believe that corporations shouldn’t try to make money off a religious holiday.

The high prices of Easter traditions restrict certain people from participating. Not everyone can afford to buy candy or dye eggs for their family. Many critics argue that the holiday has become focused on materialistic traditions, just like other holidays such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

“Once you get older, the celebrations have more meaning. When you’re young, it’s harder to understand what they symbolize,” Losole said. The traditions have become a quintessential element of the Easter holiday and their meanings can evolve as people grow older and learn more about the symbolism. “I think celebrations enhance the holiday because it reminds people that it is a day to celebrate and helps make Easter feel like a special celebration,” Losole said.

At the end of the day, Easter’s main focus is to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus with loved ones.

MargaretHiatt

VioletCrawford

Sophia Losole ’26

Photo by MargaretHiatt Alaira Hadford ’25

Graphic by VioletCrawford

PhotocourtesyofSophia Losole ’26

Photo source of clothing items: Pinterest

The New York Times games: The thrill of the guess

EllieBrabec

“D

id you get the Wordle?” “Ugh, this Connection is impossible!” The New York Times has numerous games that thousands of people and many Marian girls play each day. Stemmed from the New York Times Crossword on the paper, the games have grown into much more than a crossword puzzle. The two most popular games on the New York Times website are Connections and Wordle. If you haven’t played before, Connections gives you 16 words that you have to sort into four groups of four. Sounds easy, but teh trick is you only get four tries to complete it. The Connections categories are in four colors ranked by their difficulty. The Wordle, which has been popular since 2022, is a game where you have a five letter word and have six tries to guess it. If you get a letter in the correct spot, it turns green, if you get a letter that is in the word, but not that spot, it turns yellow, and if it turns gray it is not in the word.

One of the most intriguing things about these games is that there is a new one each day. Whether you get it or don’t, you have to wait for the next day to play.

Junior Evelyn Bullock, an avid player of Connections and Wordle, said, “I like the pressure it puts on me to try and get the word and/or connect the words.” Many families and friends bring in a competition factor into the games. Bullock said, “Each day when I get the Connection and Wordle I ask my friends how many tries it took them, and I send it to my family to see what their scores are.”

Students aren’t the only ones who play the games. Teachers have been influenced by their students to play the games, as well. Spanish teacher Señora Amanda Pritchard loves to play Wordle and Connections. She gets help from the girls in her class who have already played the game to give her hints. For those who can’t wait a day to play the next game,

some have turned to the apps store and downloaded computer-generated Wordle and Connections. Though there are games where you can play Wordle and Connec-

tions over and over, there is nothing like the thrill of hoping to guess the word or make the connection before you run out of tries.

Scrubs to success: How HOSA shapes future healthcare leaders

At Marian, a group of HOSA students are getting a head start on their careers.

HOSA, which stands for Health Occupations Students of America, is an organization that empowers high school students to explore their passion for healthcare while developing essential skills for their future careers.

Five students are currently involved in the Marian chapter of HOSA: Madi Brunson, Nora Fitzpatrick, Nika Kouassi, Shradha Mamilla, and Sarah Mohammed.

“HOSA is a medical-related competition in which students are able to pick events that interest them, such as medical terminology or nursing assistance. These events allow students to explore various medical-related topics. The ability to explore these topics allowed me to realize what part of the broad medical field interests me,” Mamilla said.

Mamilla’s passion for HOSA and its impact on her understanding of healthcare practices was evident as she described a memorable experience during the Nebraska State Leadership Conference at Creighton University.

“There were various activities present for students who aspire to go into medicine. For example, many medical professionals came in and talked to us about their jobs. I particularly liked the session

on delivering healthcare in the community. I was inspired by the various programs offered to make the world around us better through healthcare,” Mamilla said. HOSA was founded on the principles of leadership, scholarship and service. It provides a supportive community where students can thrive academically and personally. HOSA aims to develop the next generation of healthcare professionals by offering a wide range of opportunities for students to learn and grow. In HOSA, mentorship is an important component, providing students with guidance

and encouragement. Science teacher Mr. Matt Winterboer, the HOSA advisor at Marian, mentors the HOSA students in their pursuits.

“The idea of starting a HOSA chapter at Marian has been bubbling up for a few years now, but it wasn’t until this school year that we officially registered with the state and national organizations.

Mr. Matt Winterboer, Sarah Mohammed ’25, Dominika Kouassi ’25 and Shradha Mamilla ’26 spend the day at the HOSA convention held on March 5 at Creighton University. Photo courtesy of Nika Kouassi.

The motivation to establish a chapter was completely student-driven. Initial interest was started by Bailey Sommer ’23 and was spearheaded by Shradha Mamilla this year. I believe the students came to me because of my position as moderator of the Young Medicine Club,” Winterboer said.

For many students, HOSA jumpstarts their future careers in healthcare. The HOSA students may aspire to become doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or medical researchers. The experiences and skills gained through HOSA can pave the way for their success.

Reflecting on the future of the HOSA chapter at Marian, Winterboer expressed optimism.

“This is the first school year Marian has officially registered a HOSA chapter. With a better understanding of what a HOSA chapter does and looks like, we hope to start next year off on the right foot and do all the things a well-established chapter would do,” Winterboer said.

Organizations like HOSA are extremely important in preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders. By providing students with opportunities for learning, growth, and mentorship, HOSA not only shapes the future of healthcare but also empowers young students to reach their full potential and make a difference in the world.

FBLA prepares entrepreneurs for future

The Marian chapter of Future Business Leaders of America club, monitored by Mr. Craig Panning, offers members the opportunity to set their futures up for success.

Panning said, “FBLA is one of the largest student-run organizations in the United States.” It focuses on business education and providing members the opportunity to be involved in their community.

Fourteen members, and Panning, traveled to Kearney, Nebraska to compete in the State FBLA competition on April 11-13. Members were to complete objective tests or have their projects judged by the FBLA state judges. Marian’s members competed with others from across Nebraska.

Panning’s hopes for the members competing at State were not only to do well at the competition, but to learn from the opportunities provided. “Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about the competition,” Panning said.

There were incredible networking opportunities for Marian girls to communicate with colleges and businesses. Members saw how FBLA set up past members for success in their careers.

Panning recognizes the importance of FBLA in someone’s life because “even if you’re not going into a business profession, a lot of the skills that you learn can apply to any job,” he said.

He works to maximize the skills FBLA gives its members, so they can apply it anywhere outside of the club.

These values include “leadership skills, problem solving skills and hard work which are all things that can be utilized anywhere.”

As Panning works to instill business skills in members, he provides philanthropic and environmental opportunities to the Marian chapter. This year, FBLA has put on the breakfast food drive and volunteered at the Christian Outreach Program of Elkhorn and the Open Door Mission of Omaha.

In the coming years, Panning’s goals are to set up more job shadows, business speakers, and business tours, and to see the continued growth of Marian’s coffee shop, the Blue Brew.

Panning’s personal favorite part of FBLA is “seeing the members develop over time. It’s always fun seeing somebody as an underclassman develop their skills through their senior year.”

the formal caucus at State FBLA on April 11 at the Kearney Younes Conference Center. Photo courtesy of Mr. Panning.

IzzyCampie

ChloeQuinn

Marguerite Harr ’27, Saniya Harris-Alcorn ’27, Leah Helton ’24, Madeline Molczyk ’27, Chizora Okolo ’24, Kenadie Rudloff ’24, Mia Marcelino ’25, Alivia Peklo ’26, Grace Peklo ’24, Lucy Mendenhall ’26, Gabriella Roche ’24, Darian Jones ’25 and Chloe Quinn ’25 pose after

NCAA women’s basketball grows in popularity

CoventryThompson

This past year was a time filled with trends, culture moments, and news in general. And when it comes to the sports world, especially the college sports world, one name has seemed to take the world by storm: Caitlin Clark.

On Feb. 15, Clark broke Kelsey Plum’s record of the highest scorer in NCAA women’s basketball. Just over three weeks ago, Clark broke Pete Maravich’s record to become the number one scorer of all time in the NCAA in both men’s and women’s categories.

Clark is not a stranger to controversy in her career. During the championship game of the 2023 NCAA women’s tournament, an interaction between her and LSU forward Angel Reese sparked news coverage.

The two women do not hold any hard feelings for each other and are actually friends.The media, however, was quick to insinuate a possible rivalry between the two women. To display their respect for one another after the Elite Eight game on April 1 where Iowa beat LSU 94 to 87, the two women hugged and exchanged encouraging words to one another.

Reese “taunting” Clark would not be the last time she was accused of displaying inappropriate on-court behavior.

During the 2024 SEC conference championship game, Reese and South Carolina player Kamilla Cordoso engaged in an on court fight that also sparked controversy.

Despite some of these controversies, which are arguably very normal in both collegiate and professional sports, there is no doubt that these women have had phenomenal seasons, contributing to the growing popularity of the league.

The prominent careers of these women are having a huge positive impact on NCAA women’s basketball and the respect that female college athletes are now receiving.

NCAA women’s basketball fan, freshmen Delaney Schmitz, has definitely noticed a growth in the league’s popularity. “I love to see more people start to watch women’s basketball because they deserve as much as the men do,” Schmitz said.

Social media and sports outlets are not the only ones paying attention to the teams of Iowa, LSU and South Carolina. Schmitz said that “Caitlin Clark is super

Afun to watch because she is such a good player. LSU and South Carolina are also fun to watch.” She is also a fan of Creighton’s women’s team.

Another fan, junior Charlee Novotny, favors UConn star, Paige Buekers, despite not having a favorite team.

Schmitz agrees that this jump in popularity is largely due to the women playing. She said, “I see women’s sports jumping in popularity and being more respected because of the amazing players that are making history.” However, she does think there is still room to grow and she would “love to see women’s sports being just as big as men’s sports.”

Novotny also agrees that there is still a long way to go in terms of equality between men and women in the sports world. There are some concrete changes she would like to see. “I would like to see basic things like more games televised on regular TV and equal NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals between athletes,” Novonty said.

Women and their passion for the game are also portrayed much differently by the media than men’s passions, showing another inequality in the sports world. Angel Reese is a player who has continuously faced criticism for her passionate behavior during games. Reese has learned to embrace the criticism saying she’ll “take the villain role,” in an interview about her controversies. She may have embraced this role, but this does not erase the disproportionate criticism these women athletes face.

In the LSU vs. Iowa game on April 1, The game experienced record viewership. The game was watched by 12.3 million people, becoming the most watched women’s college basketball game in history according to ESPN. It is clear from this alone, as well as the extensive coverage of the league this year, that younger women are shaping the game and changing the world of women’s basketball.

This phenomenal season was wrapped up on April 7 when Iowa faced undefeated South Carolina in the NCAA National Championship game. The game had a peak viewership of 24 million, 85% more viewers than last year’s championship game according to ESPN. South Caroli-

na took home the championship, 87-75. However, this game represents more than just one team’s win; it represents a victory for all women who are shaping the future of women’s basketball.

Top 5 WNBA Draft Picks 2024

1. Caitlin Clark from Iowa: drafted to the Indiana Fever

2. Cameron Brink from Stanford: drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks

3. Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina: drafted to the Chicago Sky

4. Rickea Jackson from Tennesse: drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks

5. Jacy Sheldon from Ohio State: drafted to the Dallas Wings

Change in atmosphere: High school sports to collegiate

KerenziaAmouzou

Just like all things in life, college sports have good parts and bad parts. For most high school athletes who want to pursue college athletics, they hope the good outweighs the bad. The world of college sports is complex, especially when it comes to sports like Track and Field. Whether it’s Division I, II, or III, the rigor is like no other.

It’s no secret that being a student athlete takes a lot of dedication and strength— both physically and mentally. Marian alum, Gozie Okafor ‘23 currently runs track at Memphis University, a college in Tennessee with a division I track program. During her timeDat Marian, she was a part of the varsity track and field program. Okafor currenly holds Marian’s triple jump school record.

Okafor says, “You should have a strong and determined mindset; there are going to be many days you won’t feel motivated. Having a strong mindset helps you remain focused on your journey and always craving to be a master of your craft, or sport.”

While high school sports may seem time consuming, college athletics is next level. The dynamic and environment is like no other. Many high school coaches

are trying to prepare their athletes for this next level. At this stage, coaches are trying to build good habits so that students can carry thees habits into college.

A big difference between high school sports and college sports is the time you dedicate towards your sport. Marian track and field practices every day unless there is a track meet taking place. Okafor talks about her training schedule consisting of three days of aerobic conditioning and two days of weightlifting. For competitions, they have two days of travel and one meet day.

One part of being a student-athlete is also being a student. Juggling academics and athletics may seem difficult, but it is doable and managable with the help of organization and mentors. It’s important to prioritize and set time aside for certain tasks. Okafor says, “To hold us accountable, we’re all assigned a mentor who helps us in all academic areas.”

Regardless of the differing levels of competiton and the differing hours put into dominating their sport at the high school vs collegiate level, there is one thing these athletes have in common; their dedication and will to keep going even when things get hard.

Caitlin Clark holds up her Indiana Fever jersey after getting drafted.

Photo by BradPenner

Kamilla Cardoso accepts her Chicago Sky jersey after getting drafted. Photo by BradPenner

Marian Trapshooting: What it means to wear the blue vest

ElizabethBuescher

In the midst of a trap meet on the outskirts of Omaha, a squad of four boys and one girl, all from different schools, shoot their handicaps event at a far-back yardage against a bitter wind. One boy shoots at a clay and knocks a chip off it, but the scorekeeper calls, “loss!” The squad’s singular girl, wearing a blue vest with the words “MARIAN TRAP” sewn on the back, raises her hand and defends the shot to the scorer, despite the boy being on an opposing team. The scorer corrects the call, and the next shooter calls for a clay. It’s a small moment, but that singular clay could mean the difference between shooting off for the title of High Overall or automatically winning. The Marian shooter could have helped the boy score better than her by defending his shot, but she defended it anyway.

The Marian and Duchesne trapshooting team stands out as an all-girls team in a male-dominated sport. What surprises— and annoys—many teams is that these girls can win; they’ve taken home at least one placement at state every year since the team was founded in 2004.

Girls on the Marian-Duchesne team are easily recognizable because of their blue shooting vests, which are earned in each girl’s second year of participation. The vests have been around since the team’s early years. In 2004, head coach and founder Bruce Esser’s wife, Dr. Deb Esser sewed vests for the girls. In 2005, a company offered to give the girls custom vests. Ever since, the team has used club funds to buy vests for second-year shooters.

“They’re such nice vests, they’re incredibly expensive, so they needed to be something the team could do to continue

the tradition of the blue vests,” Esser, still the team coach, said. Not all new shooters return for a second year, so the team gives second-year shooters vests as a reward for their commitment to the team.

When the first Duchesne girls joined the team, they opted to shoot with the blue vests instead of getting red vests, and that tradition has continued until today.

The only indicator of whether a girl attends Marian or Duchesne on the vests is the color of the girl’s name embroidered on the front: white for Marian girls and red for Duchesne girls.

Over time, the Marian-Duchesne team has built a reputation of being a ‘class act.’ “We’ve always focused on two things: conducting yourself with class, and improving.

You can’t play defense in this sport, so staying calm and collected is the best way to behave,” Esser said.

really well, and they don’t get upset when they do bad,” David Voth, current head coach of the Marian-Duchesne team, said.

The girls also value fairness; they’re the ones calling out when the scorekeeper calls a chipped clay a loss, even if it costs them a medal. “Trapshooting is all about you, your character. It builds character. We’re still competitive, but we’re not a team that’s going to be upset when we don’t win,” Voth said. During the first meet of the season, on March 23, the Marian Blue squad, made up of the best shooters on the team, took all of the top team awards.

The girls have a high degree of self-discipline. Some shooters make it clear when they miss a target by slamming their gun down and throwing their shell into their bag, but not Marian girls.

“Nobody really knows if they do good or bad. They don’t show off when they do

Latest Spring Sports Update

TENNIS SOCCER TRACK

Grace Nigro, a senior from Duchesne, had to shoot off against four boys for first place at the 16-yard line, and she beat all of them. Afterwards, Esser heard a conversation between several

boys, where one said, “You just got beat by a girl!” The other said, “We ALL just got beat by a girl.”

The phrase “you just got beat by a girl!” is common in such a male-dominated sport. There’s a lady’s category of awards because of the vast proportion of male versus female shooters. Despite

this, it’s not uncommon for Marian to take home all of the ‘champion’ awards, shattering more targets than both the high scoring male and female.

Freshman Jane Rohling shot a 47 out of 50 at the first meet, taking first place out of the ladies. She participated in Marian’s Junior team, for both boys and girls in junior high. That awarded her with a blue vest as a freshman, which is pretty rare. “Wearing the blue vest is an honor for me, because many people at meets know that anyone wearing the Marian Blue vest is going to be courteous and respectful,” Rohling said. “It means that I am part of the team, part of the close family that is Marian Trap.”

Safety is a top priority for Marian trapshooting. In order to compete at trap meets, the Eastern Cornhusker Trapshooting Conference requires all shooters to be certified with hunter safety through both an online and in-person course. The rules of shooting are strict; they even specify which direction shooters can walk when leaving their last post. Demonstrating firearm safety includes how shooters act with their gun, and Marian girls set the standard of responsibility with their class act.

Marian and Duchesne trapshooters represent safe, responsible and disciplined shooters. Their schools’ values are clearly showcased in their actions. They’ve been acting this way since the founding of the team 20 years ago.

“After about three years, one of the guys running the meets told all the teams at one meet, ‘We want you all this week to behave just like Marian girls,’” Esser said. The girls continue to shatter clays with sportsmanship, making their coaches and their schools proud.

As a result of bad weather, both the Varsity and JV tennis teams experienced significant changes to their competition schedule, so here’s a quick rundown of their season so far.

New coaches Desri Gocken and Shannon Dombrowski led the JV tennis team to their first victory against Millard North (7-4). The team then proceeded to win duals against Duchesne (9-2), Bellevue East (9-1), Lincoln East (6-5), Elkhorn South (8-5), Omaha Northwest (9-0) and Millard West (7-2).

The JV team is currently undefeated.

Marian’s track season is well underway, but there have been many new changes, making this season unlike previous years. Nick Harris, Marian Track Team’s new sprinting coach, has just recently moved to Omaha from Colorado where he coached track as well. He has helped out the team by working on block starts, relay handoffs, and new sprinting drills.

In addition to the other new coaches, Marian’s track is still relatively new, being in only its second year of use. This new track has been a complete

Marian girls soccer has always been a powerhouse, with their 14 state championships. The three teams, Reserve, JV and Varsity, have all had an impressive start to the season. The Reserve team has a winning record. The JV squad is 7-1. The Varsity team is 10-1 after winning the Metro Conference Championship. The Reserve and JV team have two

Coach Gocken said she has really enjoyed her first season coaching at Marian. “Marian has a strong athletic program, and I hope to keep that high standard going with the JV tennis team this year.”

And as for the Varsity Team, led by seasoned coach Trish Faust and assistant coach Katie Schmidt, they started off their season with a victory against Millard North (5-4). The team then proceeded to achieve victories against Duchesne (6-3), Bellevue East (8-1), Omaha Northwest (9-0) and Millard

game changer, as the team no longer has to travel to Boys Town every day for practice. The 6-lane track also encompasses a turf auxiliary soccer field, making Marian the only team in the state with two turf fields dedicated to soccer.

Marian Track is the school’s largest sport with 56 members this year with girls from all grades. Leading the team are the seven seniors and six coaches.

“I lead the team by example making sure everyone tries their best no matter what,” senior Joslyn McKee said.

new coaches Patty Kliver for Reserve and Brendan Schneiderman for JV. Both coaches have coached the team to play aggressively against all competitors. The Varsity team is coached by Teresa DeGeorge and assisted by Kerry Pivovar.

Varsity freshman Cooper Dally said, “Being a part of the Marian soccer program has been very rewarding. I like

West (8-1). The team has lost twice to Lincoln East (4-8) and Elkhorn South (4-5).

Coach Faust is extremely proud of the girls and said, “the chemistry on the team is really, really good. Since the day we put the teams out, they just clicked.”

The team is optimistic for a state win, so they encourage Crusader fans to come watch along the way. Metros are at Omaha South on May 8 and 9 with State at Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln on May 16 and 17.

The team has competed in many meets so far, and have done an amazing job with many of the girls placing and medaling in the top 6 of their event and setting personal records for themselves. Along with the personal records the girls have set, many girls have also made the Marian top 10 all time list of records. Junior Willow Petri is one of many that has made it on the list this year. “My favorite part of this season was when we got 1st place as a team at the Bellevue East Varsity Invitational and getting to know my teammates

getting to bond with upperclassmen and meeting new people.” Dally has big hopes for the season and hopes to make it to state.

Varsity and JV’s next home games are April 22 against the Millard West Wildcats. The Reserve team plays at Bennington on the same date. Be sure to come out and support their ambitions.

better,” Petri said.

At the Omaha Central meet on April 12 the team placed 6th out of a competitive field of 14.

Track is a team sport even though athletes compete individually in their events. The Marian team works to create a team environment regardless of this. Everyone is rooting for each other. The track team has some exciting meets coming up including Districts on May 7 and State on May 15 and 16. Get out and support your fellow Crusaders at a meet.

Clare Eckert

Ashley Keenan Ellie Bra bec

Photo Illustration by ElizabethBuescher.

Torrey McManus’25 and Kayla Brown’27 high five after scoring.

Photo by ClareEckert

2024 Varsity soccer team. Photo courtesy of CaitlynDunham.

Lights, Camera...Action? Award shows lose their glamour

Commentary by EmilyPatterson

Hollywood! The place where dreams come true and stars are born, but the accuracy of this statement is tested as each year goes by in Hollywood. In cinema, award shows present movie stars with a symbol of success, but does the audience viewing it still care? Year after year, viewership on award shows has slowly depleted. The Oscars, for example, have almost cut their views in half over the past decade, going from 43 million viewers in 2014 to 23.6 million viewers this past month according to CBS News. This decline raises many questions viewers may have for the academy.

Various elements contribute to the whole that the Oscars are. The preparation celebrities put into the fashion, hairdos, red carpet, interviews, glam bots and speeches is crazy to think about. For those watching at home, are these aspects why they watch, or is it genuinely to see who wins the best movie? Fashion in America has been exceptional over the past decade; you see ensembles that would never even occur to your mind on that red carpet. However, even with new outfit inventions, one will also see iconic glams reused.

Sydney Sweeney, best known for her role as Cassie in “Euphoria,” wore a gown to this year’s Academy Awards that Angelina Jolie, a widely known

actress, originally wore to the Academy Awards in 2004. When Jolie was gracing the carpet that night, she decided to go with a pinned back hairstyle to accentuate her razor-sharp jawline and to expose her neck full of jewels. Sweeney made the identical choice in jewelry, as she decked herself out in the same necklaces.

However, she took creative freedom in her hairstyle, mimicking Marilyn Monroe’s iconic short, blonde bob.

This is one small example that brings up the age-old discussion about how Hollywood today is just mimicking Hollywood in its prime. This discussion brings up a fun debate for viewers to decide who wore it better. What do you think: Jolie or Sweeney?

We cannot deny the fact that the Oscars have been packed with dramatic

Infatuation with the Royal Family: Do They Deserve the Hype?

Entertainment commentary by LuciaAmbrose

How often is it that you hear about the Royal Family? Drama and gossip seems to circulate around this family constantly, but why are they given so much glory?

The royal family truly does not do much politically. They serve as a focal point for British national identity. The family supports charities of their choice and appear at various important events. Some further extended members have day jobs or long military careers but typically members of the family live off of the Sovereign Grant, the Privy Purse and The King’s personal wealth and income.

So many people around the world are undoubtedly invested in the glory and scandal that follows this family around. There are even shows, movies, and plays about them. The most recent addition to this publicity is the Netflix television series “The Crown.”

“The Crown” is a television series

that covers the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. This series consists of six seasons, attempting to cover six decades of Queen Elizabeth’s life, starting when she married Phillip Mountbatten, and ending with the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Bowles. This series was given a 5/5 rating and named “TV’s best soap opera.” People are fascinated to hear about drama and scandals involving this family.

“The Crown” reopened drama and controversy by bringing up the suspiciousness of Princess Diana’s fatal car crash and the spotlight her family faced after. Fans are also constantly awaiting more news about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, because they have forbidden the writers from including them in the show.

Junior Mackenzie Reidy is a big fan of the Royal Family and is an avid fan of “The Crown.” She said, “The Royal Family naturally comes up in conversations for me all the time. I see headlines on magazines at the grocery store that catch my eye and I immediately need to dive in and learn more. Everything about them is fascinating to me.”

Another die hard fan of “The Crown” and the Royal Family is Marian

events as well. Who could forget the infamous slap Will Smith laid on Chris Rock’s cheek back at the Academy Awards in 2022? Just about everyone in America from the talented actors in the audience to the TV watchers on their couch were hit even harder with shock.

The theory that came from this event is that the incident could have been a ploy to get views fabricated by producers. Pretty awkward scene just for a few extra bucks. Consequently, Will Smith got banned from the Oscars for 10 years because of his impulsive actions. At this point, it is up to the viewer to interpret.

Along with A-list celebrities, a new group of fame has been added to the guest lists at award shows. Influencers have made their splash in society through their online presence on social media, and have gained the likes of millions throughout generations of people. Although inviting these people could be another way to gain views for the show, it creates an interest for a younger demographic because they want to see their favorite TikTokers walk the red carpet alongside their favorite movie stars.

This could all be one big conspiracy theory, but it is thought provoking. It poses a question to ask yourself: do you watch award shows anymore? Why or why not?

2016 alumna Emily McKenna. She said that she and her mother are totally obsessed and that they bond over keeping up with the Royal Family gossip. She and her mother had the pleasure of watching the coronation this past summer and she was seated in the first row. McKenna was brought to tears by the experience. She expressed how “the Royals have a great voice for philanthropy. They use their influence to shed light on important issues.” McKenna is continually impressed by how this Family uses their power and influence in a positive way.

Jan.17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had undergone an abdominal surgery and that she hoped to keep her personal medical information private.

The drama with this family dates back much further before television shows were being made about them. The tea has gotten much juicier in recent times. Just recently, rumors surrounding Kate Middleton’s disappearance was a hot topic of conversations. All sorts of ideas were thrown out; it was the hottest scandal.

Fans of the royal family speculated that she could be going through a divorce, an eating disorder recovery, or had undergone plastic surgery. Her last appearance was on Christmas Day. After that, she seemed to fall off the face of the earth. On

Two weeks later, it was announced that she had safely returned to her home. Without concrete information, fans frantically worried, and rumors began to circulate.

Kate is a pillar for the British Royal family. When she was not showing up, waving and smiling, people began to assume the worst. Many dedicated fans also pointed out the fact that Kate had appeared the next day out of the hospital after the birth of all three of her children. This concerned fans because going off the grid was not a regular thing for her.

Finally, on March 22, it was announced that Kate is undergoing treatment for a new cancer diagnosis. Her community of loyal fans filled online tabloids with their support of her on this scary journey. The question that remains in my head is why. Why all of this media? What is so great that these people do that draws so much attention to themselves? Does the Royal family really hold that much power? What is the obsession with them? Why do they get so much attention, glory, and press?

King Charles III attends the Royal Coronation in London, England on May 6, 2023. Photo courtesy of Emily McKenna ’16

Photo illustration by AbigailMcGuire

Angelina Jolie at the Academy Awards in 2004, Sydney Sweeney at the Academy Awards in 2024

Marian girls give the final rose

Commentary by ClareEckert

Idon’t know about all of you, but I have been an avid watcher of Season 28 of The Bachelor. Drama, spice, romance, Season 28 of The Bachelor has it all! But, here’s a quick little PSA: spoilers are heavily included in this story, so if you haven’t quite caught up on this season’s episodes of The Bachelor, maybe skip this one! But if you’re like me and patiently await Bachelor Mondays, or Bachelor Tuesdays, depending on whether or not you have cable, you’ll want to read on!

First, let’s begin by talking about the main focus of ABC’s TV sensation, The Bachelor, the main man himself. This season of The Bachelor features Joey Graziadei, a 28-year-old professional tennis coach, originally from Royersford, Pennsylvania.

Joey attended West Chester University where he received a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies (see what I did there?). While attending, Joey was a member of the school’s division II men’s tennis team.

After graduation, Joey moved to Hawaii where he works as a lifestyle and experience ambassador at the Kukui’ula Development Club, a luxury neighborhood and country club.

This season’s Bachelor has quite the impressive resume if I do say so myself. Now let’s get to know more about Graziadei’s search for love.

Being portrayed as the suave, debonair bachelor he is, you wouldn’t think Joey has struggled with love; however, real Bachelor fans know this is far from the truth. Joey’s path to love has been a rocky road, beginning not on The Bachelor, but on The Bachelorette

Joey’s journey for love has been going on a very, very long time: two seasons of reality TV to be exact. Before being THE Bachelor, Joey was the runner up to Dotun Olubeko on Season 20 of The Bachelorette in 2023. The Bachelorette was Charity Lawson, a 28-year-old therapist.

home, he began a romantic speech and got down on one knee, but Charity stopped him before he could pop the question.

Ouch! However, Joey was ready to give love a second try when it was announced he would be the Season 28 Bachelor.

Now let’s take a look at the Season 28 lineup. The Bachelor started with 32 amazing contestants, each one willing to risk it all for Joey’s heart. This may seem like an absurd amount of competition, but once you see Joey, you’ll understand why.

And we can’t forget our fellow Nebraskan, 25-year-old Samantha Washington from Lincoln, Nebraska. She did unfortunately get eliminated in the first round, but way to represent, girl!

We had careers varying from a Miami Dolphin’s cheerleader to a radio chemist. The variety in the careers of the contestants truly shows women’s ability to excel in every field.

Out of 32 contestants, it’s easy to forget a face, but two faces you won’t forget are Maria Georgas and Sydney Gordon. Now this is where the drama element of the show comes in.

The drama between Maria, a Bachelor fan favorite, and Sydney, a rather controversial contestant, started when a fellow contestant and close friend of Sydney’s, 31year-old Madina Alam, expressed her insecurities about being the oldest contestant on the show. Maria was overheard saying “she’s not even that old” and “I’m old too” in response to Madina’s insecurities. Madina interpreted these comments as Maria discrediting her feelings and was upset.

the girls were sent on a two-onone date together in Malta. The girls were forced to travel on a boat - just the two of them - and later discuss the fight with the Bachelor himself. At a table set for three, the girls were forced to dish out the drama. I mean, can you talk about awkward?

The date ended with a win for Maria as Sydney was sent home in the fourth round of the show. However, the drama was seemingly resolved on The Women Tell All episode, where the eliminated girls came back to, well, tell all.

The drama became a major focal point of the show. Bachelor nation became a nation split in two: team Maria and team Sydney. I know as a journalist I’m expected to be unbiased, so all I’ll say is that I’m definitely not team Sydney. (GO TEAM MARIA) And let’s just say, neither is Marian.

The girls at Marian who watched The Bachelor showed their support for team Maria by answering our April Network survey. 13.3 % of voters chose Maria over Sydney. Meaning, as a school, we are definitely team Maria! If only she hadn’t been eliminated…

The final episode of The Bachelor left just two girls standing, Daisy Kent and Kelsey Anderson. I personally believe the winner to be Kelsey Anderson, but enough about me. Before the final episode of The Bachelor aired, I took to the halls to find out who Marian girls thought would win Joey’s heart.

Freshman Lydia Salzbrenner said, “I think that Joey will pick Kelsey because she is outgoing, fun, and doesn’t care what other people think of her.

Well, there you have it, the majority of Marian girls believe Kelsey to be the winner—will she really be—you’ll just have to read on.

The conclusion to Joey’s search for love on Season 28 of The Bachelor ended with a bang. The winner of Season 28 of The Bachelor was… drum roll please… KELSEY ANDERSON! The season ended with a ring on Kelsey’s finger and a smile on Joey’s face! Shortly after, Jenn Trann was announced as the next Bachelorette. Looks like the Marian community and I were right, Kelsey wins Joey’s heart.

As Charity was about to send Joey

Being Madina’s close friend, Sydney took it upon herself to confront Maria. However, Maria did not back down. The fight only escalated as the show went on; Both girls continued to hold grudges. The fight came to its culmination when

Sophomore Ruby Scanlan said, “I can just tell that Kelsey is the one for him, especially because whenever he looks at her, he gets all googly eyed.”

Senior Chloe Whitcomb said, “The chemistry between Kelsey and Joey is just unmatched.”

This season of The Bachelor can teach us many lessons: don’t fight on national television, don’t cry on national television, mostly just don’t go on national television. But the most important lesson The Bachelor can teach us is that being a bachelor or bachelorette isn’t so bad… So goodnight to all the bachelorettes of Marian and good luck on your journeys to find love!

Escape from the algorithm: Unplugging from TikTok with Caroline McDonald

When most Marian girls log in to their phones every morning, there is one app they flock to: TikTok. However, junior Caroline McDonald wanted to challenge this chronic online tendency.

So, as a personal challenge, McDonald decided to delete TikTok and compare her behavior to when she had it. She has yet to redownload it and doesn’t think she will in the future.

“I see a lot of harmful things that come with TikTok. I might redownload it during the summer, but as of right now, I like not having it,” McDonald said.

For bored high school students bent on procrastination, social media seems like an easy escape. You can simply open your phone and tap into an app that sends you constant dopamine hits. McDonald sees this as a major problem.

“Because of short video platform apps, our patience and attention spans are a lot shorter. These 30-second videos are now more popular than the 10-minute-long vlogs that we used to love and cherish on YouTube. Now TikTok gives us instant gratification and a dopamine rush because we get

to consume so many different things at once.” Social media worsens mental health for students across the board, because it leads to constant comparison and increases insecurities.

McDonald has struggled with this personally.“On social media platforms there is a hierarchy that places certain people at the top of trends, sounds and hashtags. There is also a problem with the trends that are immersive from TikTok. There are a lot of trends that are about your nose profile, your side profile and many other things. These trends to beauty standards are unbreakable because they are recurring,” McDonald said.

This puts pressure on teenage girls to look a certain way, and if they don’t fit the trends or aren’t constantly aesthetic, they feel they are seen as less worthy. These trends enforce a narrative that is impossible to fulfill. They are not only expensive, but they are a time sink.

Despite her criticism, McDonald does see the upside to having TikTok and being active on various social media platforms. “I think social media is a great place for advocacy and education.

During the BLM protests in 2020, there

was more education than ever about other civil rights movements.

This is the positive side of social media, when we aren’t praising people for their beauty, but rather uplifting others and supporting our differences,” McDonald said.

Social media is an amazing way to stay connected with your friends and gain larger education on social issues. It is a good platform for social movements, like BLM, that wouldn’t have been able to gain as much traction without social media outlets.

However, this is only a small win, in comparison to all the mental health struggles and procrastination social media brings.

Deleting TikTok not only helped McDonald disrupt several of her harmful patterns in relation to social media, but it also helped her to focus more on herself and her friends, while decreasing her stress level.

Dropping TikTok isn’t as scary as it may seem, and if you make the choice to break up with the algorithm, there’s a good chance you will come out better on the other side.

Kendra Peprah ’24 with Bachelor Joey Graziadei.

Commentary by AbigailMcGuire

Maeve Wharton ’26

Photos by Clare Eckert

Caroline McDonald ’25 poses with a sign urging students to delete TikTok. Photo by AbigailMcGuire

Graphicby ClareEckert

Culture Day inspires uniqueness

Marian has a culture deeply rooted in the education of strong independent women. But for one day, Crusaders recognize all of the ways in which their diverse community comes together. Marian had its first ever Culture Day in 2023, thanks to senior Kendra Peprah. She saw the idea on social media and thought “it would be really cool to have at Marian.” She was totally right. Girls who participated in sharing their culture at Culture Day on April 2 were able to dress in cultural attire, bring food from their cultures, and share their stories.

Ms. Ty Nared, Director of Belonging, Diversity, and Inclusion at Marian, planned this year’s Culture Day to be bigger and better than the last. With her help, Marian hosted a DJ, caterers and even a selfie booth for the girls to enjoy. She also expressed that Culture Day is about so much more than just free food and music. It is about the sharing of one’s personal culture with their broader community.

Each person’s culture is what makes them unique and what makes the Marian community unique as well.

Natalie Pham ’26 (Vietnam), Katherine Sule ’24 (South Sudan), Elizabeth Nguyen ’25 (Vietnam), and Lorda Womas ’25 (Togo) share their cultural attire from Culture Day on April 2. Photos by KarisSimon

of pupusas before the day had even ended.

Mexico Table

South Sudan Table

Ireland Table

Japan Table

Italy Table

Kendra Peprah ’24 and Laura Torres-Salvador ’24 put up a banner with cultural flags. They both helped to plan Culture Day this year as members of Diversity Board.

KarisSimon

Togolese students, Christel Lare ’24, Jaeda Lawson ’25, and Diane Koumaka ’25 preparing samples to pass out at their table. Their excited attitude for the day was reflected on to all of the Marian community.

AmeliaMlnarik ’26and Izumi HuangFujiwara ’26