Vol. 42, Issue #2
The
October 14, 2016
Knightly News
p. 3 Five Minutes with Ibum Obu
p. 4 Election 2016
p. 7 ‘Stranger Things’ Review
A Day in the Life of a Student Augustine Whyte Guest Contributor
Photo: Alexis Wilkins
The two biggest aspects of my job as Dean of Students are to uphold the Codes of Honor and Conduct as described in our Handbook and to build relationships with the larger student body. It has been longer than I’d like to admit since I was a high school student. In this rapidly changing world, it is becoming harder to relate to this younger generation and to really understand their lives as Pace students. In order to get a sense of this experience from the students’ perspective, I decided to follow junior Zack Leven for a day. The plan was to go to all of his classes, complete the homework and take the quizzes. I shadowed Zack on Thursday, Sept. 22. His Spanish class with Sra. Agront-Hobbs rotated out that day, but these were the classes I attended: Mr. Dorman was first, followed by Mr. Player, Mr. Newman, Dr. Carter and Ms. Carpenter. We ended the day with a free period. I also joined Mr. Player and Dr. Carter’s classes for a second day.
Mr. Whyte watches as juniors work on their Honors Biology project. You’ll notice I listed the teachers, not the classes, because this is how students refer to the courses they take. Zack doesn’t have AP English Literature and Composition, he has Mr. Player – a subtle, but important, reflection of the relationship built
between students and teachers. It was a full day. I learned how to develop film in a dark room, how to graph rational expressions, and I learned the differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. I worked with classmates to build
a model of the Calvin Cycle and listened to an engaging discussion about evil that took ideas from that morning’s speaker, Frank Meeink, and wove them together with themes found in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” I aced the math assessment, but
English class beat me up a little bit. I forgot about the vocab quiz and scored a 1/10. I was then humbled by the practice multiple choice section for AP Lit where I scored a 9/14. Still, it was a wonderful experience. My teachers were engaging and enthusiastic, and I enjoyed being in class. I could sense that teachers really knew their students and that students felt comfortable sharing their ideas. I also noticed that the vast majority of students were really happy. Sure, they complain about work and talk about being stressed, but most of them are having a pretty good time. Zack and I spent last period in the library where I divided my time between history and math, but we also spent quite a bit of time talking to other classmates about the day, which left me with more to do that evening than I would have liked. After school Zack went to the weight room at 4:30 and then had a basketball workout. I saved myself the embarrassment of running through dribbling drills and just watched from the bench. We left Pace at about 7:40 and, grabbing dinner on the way, (Continued on page 2)
Fall Musical Taps Back to the Twenties Margaret Bethel Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Margaret Bethel
Speakeasies, flappers, electrifying jazz and a thrilling whirlwind of a plot. Pace Theatre is bringing to audiences a fast-paced musical from the roaring ‘20s, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” opening Nov. 10. The classic premiered on the screen in 1967 and debuted on Broadway in 2002, winning six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical. Miss Millie Dillmount, a country girl who moves to New York City, carries the audience through her experiences in the bustling urban frontier. The show introduces characters from Kansas to China. “What’s great about this show is that it has a lot of strong female parts,” said Director Sean Paul Bryan. Played by theatre veteran and senior Ellie Duncan, the
show’s star Millie is pragmatic and brave, yet still apprehensive in her new surroundings. A possible love interest for Millie, banker Trevor Graydon III, hires Millie to be a stenographer in his modern office. Junior Cole McCorkle plays Mr. Graydon. “I am so excited to be a part of this show,” said Cole. “We are a team and I love being a contributor. The show is hard, but it’s fast and engaging.” The cast consists of upper school students in every grade. Unlike some varsity sports, all high schoolers can bond together and they have been preparing since August for the show’s opening. Joining the theatre team is Ms. Eileen Edwards, an eccentric and experienced choreographer. “There is some wonderful dance,” said Mr. Bryan. “I wanted to challenge the cast. I wanted them to step up – literally.” With the show’s strong jazz theme, many dance numbers
(L-R) Junior Karishma Pradham and sophomores Grace Pottorf and Abby Ray get into character. have complicated tap dances, which is a new challenge for many of the actors. Ms. Edwards is well-versed in teaching even the most novice of dancers. Cast members are learning jazz keys and harmonies, tap and jazzstyle dancing, as well as the atmosphere of the time period,
characterized by prosperity, innovation and artistic expression. Freshman Austin Fuller plays Ira the piano man, among other roles. “I find it interesting to see how life was back then,” he said. “They thought they were so modern and revolutionary.” The show is an adventure
back in time, to the shining 1920s in New York City and one young woman’s desperate quest for love and fortune. “It’s got the feel of a classic musical with a modern sensibility,” said Mr. Bryan. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” will run Nov. 10-13 with four performances.
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Pace News
October 14, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 2
Jeb Carter Freestyles His Way to Fame Sloan Wyatt Lifestyle Editor Class of 2018
Photo: Marc Mitchell
Eyes wild with curiosity, hair still slightly disheveled from last night’s rigorous homework grind, junior Jeb Carter manages to maintain a cool, calm and collected presence as he steps into the third floor Woodruff Library study room. Carefully pulling his chair out from under the table, Jeb makes eye contact and flashes his famous boy-nextdoor grin. There is a swagger to his step this morning, a newfound confidence unlike I have seen in previous years. As if the scholarly teacher’s son turned golden boy could not have gotten any more warm and friendly, it appears as though he’s now adapted his stage presence to the boisterous halls of the Academy. Many attribute it to the skyrocketing of his music career during Freestyle Fridays, while others who know him personally disagree, saying this is merely Jeb’s personality. He is a character. Fumbling with my pencil, I prepare myself as I align my questions for Jeb. There is so much to ask, and yet so little time. But I stick to
the one question we’ve all been pondering: How does a theater enthusiast find himself lonely at the top? Reviving a tradition that many thought the Class of 2016 put to rest, Jeb Carter has bewildered audiences with his surprisingly soulful lyrics. Even when faced with adversity, most significantly junior Jonathan Tennies’ feeble rap battle, Jeb has laid the competition to rest. What at first seemed as though it was a one time stand-up has now become a widely anticipated milestone of the week. A young man who originally was just another one of the juniors has transcended to a school-wide name. Jeb humbly credits this success to Pace alum and former freshman peer leader, Elijah Holifield. Inspiring Jeb’s affinity for rhythm and rhyme, Elijah left behind a new standard for Freestyle Fridays at the Academy upon graduating in 2015. Reflecting on their peer leadership sessions, Jeb says that he “always looked up to [Elijah].” Jeb also paid his respects to Class of 2016 alum Timothy Coleman III, acknowledging his notable rap career. Nevertheless, Jeb calls Elijah his “freestyling
No one knew of junior Jeb Carter’s hidden freestyle talent until this year. role model.” Another key component of his improv dialogue is his background in theater and extroverted nature. “I’m definitely not afraid of embarrassing myself,” he said. “I guess my theater experience gives me confidence when I’m standing in front of a big crowd.” Confidence has proven to be Jeb’s greatest asset, as many of the high schoolers are far too timid to even stand up. In order to maintain an attention-worthy stage presence,
Jeb channels his inner actor, taking each Friday on as if it were a role. Outside of the FAC, Jeb can be found on the playbills of local theaters. His favorite role was starring in “Peter Pan” at Fabrefaction Theatre in April 2015. Jeb’s fun-loving, extravagant nature paired perfectly with the romanticized boy character, and his performance garnered him city-wide praise. Beyond acting, the multi-talented artist has a full résumé that includes
singing and playing piano. But it is his gift for rapping that has drawn local attention. How long will this new dynasty last? Is Jeb Carter truly the new king of Freestyle Fridays? It’s hard to tell the extent of a star’s career when they have just taken off, but for Jeb Carter there truly is no limit: “I’m going to go wherever the current takes me, but I don’t have anything special in mind, because no one knows what the future holds.”
Class of 2017 Pursues Early A Day in the Life College Acceptances (continued from p. 1)
George Shepherd Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: George Shepherd
Pace seniors work to make college deadlines as the first semester ramps up. Oct. 15 and Nov. 1 are the main deadlines for early admission applications to many colleges, including University of Georgia, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of Texas at Austin and Georgia Tech. What does all this mean? Students who apply “early decision” have a binding application, which means if the applicant is accepted, he or she must attend that institution and withdraw the remainder of his or her applications. Therefore, students can only apply early decision to one college, knowing that the college is their top choice. Colleges tend to lower the qualifications of students who apply early decision compared with those who apply regular decision, because admissions officers know their school is the applicant’s top choice. Students who apply early action, which is different than early decision, find out whether they are accepted to, deferred or denied acceptance to that college earlier than the regular deadline applicants. If accepted early action, they can still apply to and eventually attend other colleges. If waitlisted, their application rolls over into the general application pool.
Senior Caleb Levin puts his flag on the map indicating that he will attend The University of Alabama. “The sky’s the limit for me,” said senior Will Movsovitz, who has applied early action to five colleges, including University of Michigan and Tulane. “Getting into a college early will take a lot of weight off my shoulders academically and in the college process.” The early admission process serves as a game changer for seniors, because they can find out early in their senior year – typically before or during winter break – where they will attend (or have the option of attending) college. For early admission applicants, colleges do not look at grades from senior year, but instead strength of schedule;
therefore, grades from second semester of students’ junior year are vital. Seven Pace students have already been accepted to The University of Alabama. “It was a super easy process and I heard back within two weeks,” said senior William Robbins. About 95% of Pace seniors will apply early action and 30% will apply early decision. “The early application process really speeds things up for the college process,” said college counselor Amy Secor. “We provide essay writing workshops during the summer, so rising seniors write good college essays before their senior year starts.”
arrived at our respective homes at around 8:15. After a shower, we were both just getting started on the homework at 8:30. I finished math during a free and read “Macbeth Act 2” the night before, so I only had to write the essay for history. Assignments for my other subjects weren’t due until Monday. The essay took a couple of hours and I wasn’t really that happy with it, but it was 10:30 and I was tired, so I went to bed. The next day in class we exchanged papers to grade. [Junior] Alex Tolliday gave me a very generous 4/6. I recognize that this was a mere glimpse into the day of the life of a student, but I learned a lot. I learned that things really are more competitive. Students take more AP classes than I did, have more work, and seem to be under more pressure than I ever was. They also have greater access to information, and that includes both easier access to teachers and classmates as well as to the internet. When I didn’t know what salutary neglect was, I asked my teacher and she took the time to explain it to me even though it was after school. Later, when I wanted to know more about the Stamp Act, I turned to the internet and had an answer in seconds. When I wasn’t sure what the math homework was, I just sent Zack a text. And I did all of this from my smart phone. Smart phones are great, but they can also be tremendously distracting. While in class I could feel a message come
through and it was hard not to look, even though I know whatever it was could wait. I was actually delighted to hand my phone over in some classes because it took the temptation away. At home it can be equally distracting. One Google search can lead you down a rabbit hole pretty quickly, and instant access to friends means you are never really alone. While writing the history paper, I sent and received 72 text messages to classmates. The first few were to clarify the assignment. The rest had no academic value whatsoever. It is no wonder that a simple two-page paper took me as long as it did. Imagine if I had Snapchat. So yes, students seem to have more work to do and less time to do it than I did when I was in school, but they also have more distractions, and therefore may work less efficiently. I do have more empathy for our students now. I am more aware of their time constraints. I have started taking up phones, not because I don’t trust students, but because in my brief experience I paid closer attention when my phone was gone. I have shortened my assignments, not because I don’t think students need the practice, but because I realize they only have so much time and I would rather they do five problems well than 10 problems just to get them done. Things are certainly different, but my experience as a Pace student was pretty great.
Pace News
Vol. 42, Issue #2
The Knightly News - Page 3
Five Minutes with Ibum Obu Alexis Wilkins
Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Photo: Alexis Wilkins
Knightly News: Hey, Ibum! Ibum Obu: Hey! KN: How are you? IO: I’m doing quite well! KN: I hear that you dance. Where do you dance? IO: Where? My bedroom and my kitchen. KN: How long have you been into dancing? IO: My brother is trying to make it big in the “dance world” right now. I’ve always liked musical theater dance, but I got into hip hop dancing probably three or four years ago. KN: Is hip hop your favorite style? IO: Yes. I would like to learn other styles, but it’s too late for me. KN: What has your experience been in the Pace theater program? IO: Um… Well, freshman year
Junior Ibum Obu describes herself as a “hot mess” and “free spirited.” it was amazing because I always did cheer along with musical theater. But last year when the new director came, I had to choose and I kind of chose cheer. So I was not really in the musical, but I was in the musical. I was in like two dance numbers
for the entire thing. This year, I finally actually had to choose, so I chose musical theater. I can see myself doing that in college or like getting scholarships for it so… KN: What is your favorite song to sing?
IO: Anything Beyoncé. KN: Do you also like to dance to that? IO: Yes. I get ratchet. KN: Where do you find yourself singing most? IO: I find myself singing in my mom’s bathroom because the
acoustics are the best in there. KN: What are a few adjectives your friends would use to describe you? IO: Hot mess. Free spirited. Young, wild and free… But I can actually get serious and I’m caring and loyal. KN: When and where are you most comfortable? IO: Um… I’m probably most comfortable on stage, either dancing or singing or even in a play. KN: How do you spend your free time? IO: I’m an internet enthusiast. I believe it’s there so we can use it, you know? Haha. I do my homework, of course. But I’m always reading online and looking for new music types. As an artist you can’t just stick to one genre. I spend a lot of my time working out, but like, lazy working out. And I eat a lot. KN: Is there anything else you want people to know? IO: I am seeing Beyoncé on Monday [Sept. 26]. She is my spirit animal.
Freshman Service Day Takes Hiatus Photo: Eden Kerker
Nurse Turner provides care to freshman Meryll Asher.
New Nurses Staff Pace Clinic Eden Kerker Staff Writer Class of 2019
Walking to the clinic is not the same anymore as students no longer see the familiar face of legendary nurse Mary Ann Powell. After 10 years as the head nurse at Pace Academy, Nurse Powell has permanently moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. “My parents are elderly so I need to be closer to them,” said Ms. Powell. While helping her parents, ages 93 and 89, she is no longer able to work as a nurse because she does not have the time. Before working at Pace, Ms. Powell worked as an oncology nurse for over 20 years. Two new nurses, Megan Turner and Cara Hutchison, now share Ms. Powell’s former position by each working two to three days a week. Before moving to Atlanta in 1998, Ms. Hutchison worked in a Cardiac/Telemetry unit for two years at a hospital in Mobile, Al-
abama. Once settled in Atlanta, she worked in PACU at Piedmont Hospital for nine years. PACU, or the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, is where patients are temporarily admitted after surgical procedures. She took a few years off from nursing when she had her two children. Along with working as a Pace nurse part-time, she also works at Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic in their Surgical PACU. She has been working there for the past nine years. “I love working at Pace,” said Ms. Hutchison. “I’m beginning to get to know the students.” Prior to working as a nurse at Pace, Mrs. Turner worked as an oncology nurse like Ms. Powell. As an oncology nurse, she provided care for cancer patients and those at risk of cancer. Mrs. Turner has been working as a nurse for 20 years and has been working at Pace part-time since 2013. “I started working at Pace as a sub and then transitioned to one day a week for the past few years,” said Mrs. Turner. “I love working with the Pace kids.”
Sydnie Jiang Staff Writer Class of 2018
Transitioning from middle school to high school is like going from being on top of the world to crashing face-first into the ground. Freshmen don’t have their drivers licenses, they’re always the ones who have to clean up after sports practices, and their dance always comes in last place in Spirit Week. But being a freshman still has its perks. There are Pace traditions just for freshmen that include the retreat at Camp Skyline, Service Day, the Six Flags science trip and Phlotilla. However, an executive decision has been made and there will be no Service Day for the freshmen this year. Traditionally, Service Day is matched with PSAT day on the second Wednesday of October. Fresh-
men spend the day performing service for the community, while sophomores and juniors take the PSAT and the seniors have a day off to work on their college applications. “Yom Kippur falls on PSAT day this year, so the College Board decided to push the PSAT to the following week,” said Head of Upper School Michael Gannon. “This way, fall break is a day longer for everyone.” Because fall break is longer with the Yom Kippur holiday on Oct. 12, the freshmen and seniors cannot afford to miss any more school, according to Mr. Gannon. With the PSAT pushed to Oct. 19, freshmen will report to school rather than have Service Day and the sophomores and juniors will have to return to their classes after taking the two-hour and 45-minute long PSAT. Traditionally, Service Day serves as a good icebreaker for
the new upper schoolers, and it is a chance for them to bond as a grade. They also get to see some ways they can serve their community and really get personal with what they are most passionate about. The opportunities range from working at the Atlanta Community Food Bank to helping children make arts and crafts at Easter Seals child development centers. “The Atlanta Food Bank was a very insightful experience I learned from and enjoyed,” said junior Donn Boddie. Service Day is often overlooked as one of the freshman traditions, but it has left an impact on most upper school students. “I wish there was a Service Day for all the grades every year,” said sophomore Kayla Ross. Yom Kippur falls at the end of September in 2017, and Service Day will likely return next year in October on PSAT Day.
GSA Expands Exponentially Anna Stone
Staff Writer Class of 2018
Some members of the Pace community have heard of GSA but don’t really know what it is or when it started. Pace Class of 2016 alumni Lizzie DuPree, Mitch Inman and Lexi Rubin formed the Gay-Straight Alliance, or GSA, last year. They had a mission to make Pace a more open and accepting community. Last year, GSA was a small and intimate group, but it has
grown tremendously this year. Under the leadership of senior Ellie Duncan, junior Eric Schank and sophomore Issac Eichenlaub, GSA has 103 members and continues to grow. This is likely due to increased publicity and the large influx of freshmen members. GSA leadership aims to hold more meetings, gain publicity and involve more teachers and faculty in order to reach the goal of making Pace an accepting community for everyone. They want teachers to participate so that students will have trusted adults that they feel comfortable
talking to. GSA includes people of all gender identities and sexual orientation and meetings are open to all students. “GSA is a great place to talk about the issues that Pace faces,” said junior Chris McCaffrey. At the meetings, students and faculty enjoy food, meet new people, play games and plan for events like participation in the Atlanta Pride Parade held on Oct. 9. “I think that GSA is a really great environment for LGBTQ+ students at Pace,” said Issac. “I hope that it brings more conversations to the Pace community.”
Election 2016
October 14, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 4
Campaigns Reveal Marked Differences Between Top Candidates Sarah Kitchen Staff Writer Class of 2017
plifying the process of becoming a citizen. She is especially supportive of the “DREAMers,” the children of these undocumented immigrants, and accepting Syrian refugees into the United States. On LGBT issues: Trump opposes same-sex marriage and would nominate justices for the Supreme Court committed to overturning the ruling. He also supports recent state legislation requiring transgender individuals to use the bathroom of the gender on their birth certificate. Clinton is in full support of same-sex marriage, although she has opposed it in earlier decades. She will work with Congress on passage of the Equality Act to protect people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
On abortion: Donald Trump is pro-life and intends to restrict abortion procedures by banning them with a few exceptions, such as rape, incest and danger to the mother’s health. Trump also plans to stop funding Planned Parenthood. Hillary Clinton is a full supporter of Planned Parenthood and wants to ensure that all women have access to safe and legal abortion. She does agree with Trump on limiting lateterm abortions. On gun control: Trump wishes to protect gun rights in the U.S. and believes that the national right to carry should be legal in all 50 states.
He maintains that “government has no business dictating what types of firearms people are allowed to own.” Clinton wants to reinstate the assault weapons ban and expand background checks to the sale of guns at gun shows and on the internet. She believes that individuals on the FBI watch list for suspected terrorist links should not be allowed to purchase guns. On immigration: Trump has a low tolerance for undocumented immigrants and intends to deport all of them. He will take measures further by constructing a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and getting Mexico to pay for it. He also plans to suspend immigration from countries that have a history of terrorism against the U.S. Clinton plans to eliminate undocumented immigrants by sim-
On climate change and environment: Trump does not believe in climate change, which will prevent him from making some restrictions on drilling and usage of resources. He is interested in energy-efficient solutions, but
Hillary Clinton: I’m With Her Sloan Wyatt Lifestyle Editor Class of 2018
"Every moment wasted moving back keeps us from moving forward." (Hillary Clinton) From the moment Hillary Clinton stepped into the political world alongside her husband, she has been a trailblazer. She has faced tremendous adversity and sexism, including irrational rhetoric regarding her appearance, but Secretary Clinton continues to persevere. Her extensive experience in the political sphere, from First Lady of Arkansas (and later the United States) to New York Senator to Secretary of State, justifies her nomination by the Democratic Party, and her selfless dedication to public service and education has set a national standard for politicians. As if her résumé is not impressive enough, she keeps pressing forward, advocating for a future where women can be presidents and both peace and equality are attainable. This is why I'm with her. Born on Oct. 26, 1947 in a small suburb of Chicago to Dor-
othy and Hugh E. Rodham, Hillary Diane Rodham distinguished herself as exceptional from a young age. From running for student body president to writing NASA about her aspirations to be an astronaut, the young girl ignored gender stereotypes in pursuit of her dreams. However, it was not until she attended Wellesley College in 1965 that she found her liberal voice. At the time of her enrollment, it was more common for men to attend college than women. At Wellesley, surrounded by a small class of 400 women, Hillary Diane Rodham grew into an outspoken, well-rounded leader. This can be seen in her brilliant Student Commencement Speech in 1969 in which she addresses her student body regarding the current political approaches and the government's need to utilize a "more progressive perspective." Ms. Rodham's forward thinking led her to Yale where she pursued her law degree. There, Ms. Rodham volunteered on a Senatorial committee and assisted a House committee's investigation on the Watergate scandal. She also spent considerable time in the New Haven Hospital's Child Study Center
where she applied her research to child abuse cases on which she worked free of charge. She met husband Bill Clinton at Yale law school in 1971. The two "political powerhouses" (Daily News) married and moved to Arkansas. Hillary became a full partner at Rose Law Firm within two years, and was named to the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" list twice. Although the duo moved to Little Rock to pursue Bill Clinton's political ambitions, Hillary Rodham Clinton never lost sight of the passionate young girl she once was. She chaired the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee, working to improve local schooling and opportunities for the community's children. Hillary Clinton is now making a run for a second appearance on Pennsylvania Avenue with Tim Kaine as her VP nominee. She has provided clear, progressive views on national issues such as gay marriage, abortion and immigration. Her efforts to close private immigration detention centers, raise the minimum wage and enforce the Iran nuclear deal are groundwork for a trailblazing presiden-
tial career. Secretary Clinton has been chastised for her handling of Benghazi and for using a private email server as Secretary of State, which obviously do not instill confidence in her among many Americans. However, I believe that the pros outweigh the cons. We are witnessing a campaign founded on hate, prejudice and bullying. Instead of choosing the candidate most qualified and well-prepared for the job we continue to rant about why the opposing candidate is worse. Although neither nominee is flawless, we must consider the positives. Hillary Rodham Clinton has the experience, intellect and comprehensive plans to lead America into the future. Furthermore, she would be the first female president ever. Over 70 different countries from all over the globe have had females at the helm in the past 50 years. And now it's time for the United States to move forward. "For too long our leaders have viewed politics as the art of the possible. And the challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible possible." (Hillary Clinton)
would only take these measures if they were financially sound. Clinton views climate change as a threat and intends on responding to the issue. Part of her plan involves restricting oil drilling and employing more use of renewable energy.
Wanted: Student Pro-Trump Opinion The Knightly News editors regret that despite concerted efforts, the staff was unable to identify an upper school student who would go on record with a pro-Trump article for this issue. Numerous students were consulted, and although there is clear support for Mr. Trump among the student body, all students contacted feared negative repercussions if they shared their views in writing for this publication. The staff is eager to publish an opposing view to counter Lifestyle Editor Sloan Wyatt’s pro-Hillary opinion. Please contact Opinion Editor Amy Butler at amy.butler18@paceacademy.org if you would like to contribute an article to be posted on the Knightly News website.
Upper School ‘Votes’ on Next President Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Americans will trek to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. While Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are the top contenders in the polls, Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein have some support as well. The Knightly News con-
ducted a poll to determine which of the two leading candidates – Clinton or Trump – upper school students would like to see in the White House to succeed President Obama. Out of 105 responses, Donald Trump received 34 votes, while Hillary Clinton received 71 votes. While Secretary Clinton garnered more than two-thirds of the vote, almost a third of the Pace community supported Trump. Senior Jack Rubenstein, who is all for Donald Trump,
was disgusted by the results. “Pace is a biased left-wing institution and unfortunately would vote for Hillary,” he said. Other students were pleased with the results. “The results show that 68 percent of Pace is actually paying attention to what’s going on in the world and not just listening to their parents,” said senior Jake Movsovitz. Junior Jaden Steagall disagrees with both Jack and Jake. “Honestly, I would rather vote for Kanye,” he said.
Graphic: Landon Goldstein
Landon Goldstein
Pace upper schoolers indicate their support for the leading candidates for president in a Knightly News poll.
Opinion
Vol. 42, Issue #2
The Knightly News
966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 Knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association Co-Editors in Chief: Landon Goldstein Alexis Wilkins
Lifestyle Editor: Sloan Wyatt Opinion Editor: Amy Butler Online Editor: Sarah Kitchen
Staff Writers: Graham Hurley Sydnie Jiang George Shepherd Anna Stone Margaret Bethel Eden Kerker Abby Meyerowitz Genna Schwarz Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker
The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students. The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by Florida Sun Printing. The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor
and guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy. Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@ paceacademy.org.
Fall Fair Appeals to Younger Crowd Amy Butler
Opinion Editor Class of 2018
Entering its 53rd year, the Pace Fall Fair brings lots of anticipation for many students and families at Pace and the Buckhead area. However, this excited group seems to exclude Pace upper school students. Being a lifer at Pace, I grew up waiting for the Fall Fair to arrive each year. I never had to wait in the long lines for my favorite attractions including bungee jumping and the haunted house, because I made sure to wake up extra early so I could be the first one there. As I grew older in Lower and Middle School, I loved walking around with my friends and shopping at the street market. Flash forward to my past two high school years, and the fair has been something that I forget until the week of. I went to the Fall Fair my sophomore year to help out at the haunted house. Now, with the fair two weeks away, I, like many other high schoolers, am seriously debating whether I should even go. The Fall Fair has activities that are more aimed towards younger kids. Although lots of attempts have been made to increase the number of older kids who go to the fair, such as providing service hours and shopping opportunities, the
Photo: The Pacesetter
Managing Editor: Jonathan Rushton
Sports Editor: Michael Simon
The Knightly News - Page 5
Seniors Katy Leitz and Molly Jacoby sold jewelry at the 2015 fair. numbers in recent years have been lacking. The Fall Fair is focused more on attractions such as inflatables and sports for younger kids; high schoolers simply don’t find much amusement in karaoke or the MASH tent where kids receive a fake cast. New attractions this year include human Hungry Hippos and more giant slides, which doesn’t give teenagers the wow factor that it is intended to. Despite that, I still think that the fair is an amazing event for younger kids and is something very memorable for them. In the Lower School, the teachers and Fall Fair moms do a skit in a big assembly and have a raffle. The fair gets lots of hype in the Lower School and efforts such as dress down days to promote the fair have also been made in the Middle School. There are two possible op-
tions for future heads of the fair. First, they could focus it almost completely on the little kids and accordingly have a greater number and better quality attractions for them. In doing this, the parents in charge would not have to spend too much of their budget on attractions for older kids and instead could hone their focus on what the lower and middle schoolers like the best. On the other hand, there could be a group of high schoolers who help plan the fair and think of attractions that would draw a bigger crowd of upper school students. For example, having good live music and creating incentives to go to the fair would help with the fair’s turnout of teenagers. This could increase the Fall Fair attendance by older kids and potentially increase revenue for the fair as well.
Hoco Dance Draws Varying Numbers Amy Butler
Opinion Editor Class of 2018
Hall in the Middle School or Boyd Gym. However, I think that the FAC is a good place because it allows for ample space to dance without it being too big, like Boyd Gym would be. I think that the homecoming dance is effective and draws a good enough crowd the way it is. Obviously, the school cannot force students to attend the dance. Still, there are definitely improvements that could be made that the Student Council and faculty should take into consideration in the following years.
Photo: Fred Assaf
Fall at Pace brings lots of highly anticipated events, ranging from the Fall Fair to the Powder Puff football game. Homecoming weekend brings back Pace alumni and reunites them with their high school classmates. For the students, there is a big football game on Friday and the homecoming dance the following night. In previous years, Student Council has tried lots of different approaches to attract more students to the homecoming dance. Recently, the number of attendees has been low due to lack of interest in the dance. Many upperclassmen choose not to go because it is “boring” or “awkward.” Some attempts to increase the crowd include having a professional DJ and making the dance shorter. This has had varying results, with last year drawing bigger numbers. This year’s dance brought out a large crowd. This could be attributed to the fact that there was a professional DJ and the ability for students to request their favorite songs. In past years a student DJ from Pace
was used, which saved money. However, professional DJs allow the students to recognize that the dance is a big deal. There has been lots of debate lately over homecoming asks. Many students at other schools such as Lovett and Westminster ask dates to their homecoming dance. Some students at Pace want to make this a tradition. Head of Upper School Michael Gannon is strongly against this out of concern for the freshmen. He believes that they won’t have anyone to ask because the dance is so early in the year. Asking to homecoming is a risk-reward situation. Making homecoming an “ask dance” could discourage people who do not want to ask others to go. On the other hand, it might increase attendance among those who think that the dance is “lame.” The Pace Student Council ultimately decided not to have homecoming as an ask dance this year. Asking would have only been allowed for juniors and seniors, who have PDC and Prom in the spring, and three couple dances might be a little much. Students have made other suggestions like moving the dance off campus or to a different location at Pace. Some options considered include Knights
Freshmen Darren Mays and Jordan Upchurch were on Hoco Court.
Highly Debatable
Miles Hsu
Guest Contributor Class of 2017
Lifestyle
October 14, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 6
It’s the Spookiest Time of the Year Jonathan Rushton Managing Editor Class of 2018
Photo: Lee Wilson
As the leaves begin to turn and dropping temperatures start to chill the bones, the Academy knows spookiness is in the air. Halloween, one of the most popular holidays, is quickly approaching, and some students have already planned their costumes. Students and faculty have a history of great costumes, such as English teacher Rick Canfield’s annual cow costume and “Dubois” of Class of 2016 paying homage to a childhood favorite movie, “The Sandlot.” The buzz on campus has begun to build in anticipation of the Pace Academy Halloween Costume Contest. Halloween costume ideas are percolating around Pace, and the teachers seem to be as excited and creative as the students. “I plan on being myself; that will be scary enough,” said English teacher Erica Barbakow. Meanwhile Spanish teacher Cappy Lewis plans on being a “bruja,”
Junior girls dress up as “Frat Boys” for Halloween in 2015. or witch in English. “Some people think I’m a witch every day, but my real spookiness will appear on October 31,” said Sra. Lewis. Other teachers, such as English teacher Bailey Player, will continue their annual costume traditions. “I plan on being
Gatsby again, which contrary to popular belief, wasn’t a tradition until the last couple of years,” said Mr. Player. Some teachers plan on teaming up for the eerie holiday by creating costume partnerships, with duos such as Spanish teacher Laura AgrontHobbs and science department
chair John Pearson planning a “surprise” for the student body. Many student costumes will represent figures in pop culture, while some will stick with the classics. “I know it’s boring, but I will probably be a cheerleader to show my Pace spirit,” said freshman Jayla Brown. Some
students will throw it back, with familiar themes such as greasers from the ‘50s, hippies from the ‘60s and ‘70s or neon, cheesy workout phenoms from the ‘80s. Freshman Jimbo Smith and sophomore Lane Goldman plan on being characters from the 1986 movie “Top Gun.” Other students plan on depicting modern-day figures, such as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. “I will be Harambe, by buying a gorilla suit, or maybe I’ll show love for my boy Donald Trump,” said junior Delvalo Baitey. TV characters will be fully represented on Halloween, as characters from shows such as “Stranger Things,” “Grey’s Anatomy” or “The Walking Dead” can be easily depicted for Halloween. “I think I’ll dress up as Pablo Escobar, because I love the new show on Netflix, ‘Narcos,’” said junior Shaaz Thobani. Whether you plan on being your favorite film character or sports star, or you’re considering a Halloween classic, there are plenty of creative, original ideas to help step up your Halloween costume game.
Not Your Average Halloween Fun Sarah Kitchen Staff Writer Class of 2017
or visit a local cemetery and try to summon some spirits. (Warning: Use caution, as this could be dangerous.) 5) Go to a parade. Little Five Points has a noteworthy festival and parade on Saturday, Oct. 15. 6) Set up a scavenger hunt. 7) Have a murder mystery party (like a real life version of the game Clue). 8) Try your hand at reverse trick-or-treating. If you like to give back, this could be a great activity for Halloween. The idea of reverse trick-or-treating is to go door-to-door and hand out candy to the people who have been giving candy to visitors. You could distribute your own candy or “recycle” things you’ve gotten throughout the night. The whole experience should be uplifting, and you might get some interesting reactions from your recipients.
Photo: Lee Wilson
Halloween is just around the corner, bringing promises of free candy, creative costumes and excuses to embrace all sorts of spookiness. Although the holiday is highly anticipated, by the time Oct. 31 draws near, our fantasies of celebrating can seem disappointing. Since trickor-treating by teens is frowned upon, there are fewer options for students to spend this night. If grimy parties or helping your parents or younger siblings with trick-or-treating isn’t your thing, below are some alternatives that you can take part in alone or with a group. 1) Watch a horror movie (or several). Halloween couldn’t be a more perfect time to set the
mood for some screams. And who knows, maybe this could be incorporated into a sleepover or date night. 2) Start a game of manhunt. Gather a crew of friends and neighbors. Halloween decorations and costumes will only add to the fun. 3) Visit a haunted house or make your own. The Fall Fair haunted house and Netherworld are ideal ways to get ready for the 31st. Constructing a haunted house of your own could be a great way to spend the night, and you could entertain trickor-treaters while bonding with friends by decorating. 4) Conduct a seance. Whether you’re contacting a loved one or a historical figure, your chances of breaking the barrier between the living and the dead are infinitely higher on this special day. Grab a Ouija board
Seniors Drew and Josh Simons (L-R) celebrate Halloween in 2015 by dressing up as characters from the movie “Dodgeball.”
Photo: Landon Goldstein
Students Share Favorite Aspects of Fall Landon Goldstein Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
(L-R) Freshman Rohan Jatar, sophomore Andrew Ladden, senior Molly Levine and freshman Evan Duncan share their thoughts.
Lifestyle
Vol. 42, Issue #2
The Knightly News - Page 7
Photo: Netflix
The main cast of ‘Stranger Things’ is depicted in one of the promotional posters.
‘Stranger Things’ Best New Show This Year Graham Hurley Staff Writer Class of 2018
Over the past few years "Game of Thrones" and "Grey's Anatomy" have dominated television ratings. Sure, those two are great, but never in my life have I seen an amateur project as good as "Stranger Things," directed by the Duffer Brothers. It took the world by storm, becoming one of the most popular shows of the summer. It was hard to believe that "Stranger Things" would be such a hit because the majority of Netflix originals have been mediocre at best.
"Stranger Things" has a character for everyone. There's Mike, the curious 12-year-old who wants to figure out the mystery. Nancy is your classic teenage girl who has fallen in love. There's Jonathan, a shy teenage boy, and Steve who is an ordinary jock. Almost everyone can relate to a character in the show, which is part of the reason why "Stranger Things" is intriguing. You would expect that the show would have a famous and talented producer, but the show was actually produced by two amateurs, the Duffer brothers. It is amazing to see that their first production earned five stars on Rotten Tomatoes. "It will be hard to stop watching, since all of the epi-
sodes end on cliffhangers," said junior Jack Wray. "I watched it a couple of weeks ago and I could not complete any homework because it kept me wanting more." The most unique aspect of the series is the diversity of genres in the show. These genres range from thriller to romance to sci-fi. The genres coincide with each other so well to keep you on the edge of your seat at all times. "'Stranger Things' is not your traditional TV show, but there is also a normal high school romance underneath the craziness," said junior Sydney Muse. The horror tag on "Stranger Things" drives people away from it, but the horror also sprouts curiosity.
Grindhouse a Must-Try Will Movsovitz
Guest Contributor Class of 2017
Photo: Will Movsovitz
My quest to find Atlanta’s best burger has taken me all the way from College Park to Sandy Springs, so when I heard that Grindhouse was dishing out “Killer Burgers” in Midtown, I knew that I had to give it a try. I found myself inside of Grindhouse on the Sunday after Music Midtown. My shoes were muddy, but my stomach was empty as I stood looking over the menu. After browsing their extensive selection of burgers, fries and shakes, I eventually settled on the Hillbilly Style burger. That particular sandwich comes with pimento cheese, jalapeños and brisket chili. I also had the choice of a veggie, chicken or beef patty. I opted for the beef patty as well as a side of onion rings. After completing and paying for my order, I took a number and seated myself outside. Their outside seating area is a large, covered patio with plenty of table seating. The patio itself looks out over Piedmont Ave., so you get your burger and a view. My food came out quickly and was piping hot upon arrival. I first tried the burger and was immediately hit with the flavor of their brisket chili. It tasted strongly of traditional chili
The Hillbilly Style burger came with chili and pimento cheese, but far too many jalapeños. seasonings such as chili powder and cumin, but the choice to use brisket really set this version apart. Instead of feeling grainy and crumbly like ground beef, the use of brisket gave the chili consistency similar to a pot roast. Next my teeth sunk into the burger patty itself which was thick and cooked medium to my liking. The patty was not dried out and provided a nice textural contrast to the smoother chili. Underneath the patty, however, I was met with a large stack of fresh, green jalapeños. Now I consider myself to be a fan of all things spicy, but this pile of peppers was too much for me to handle. I removed about four or five quarter-inch-thick slices before I could once again tolerate the spice level. The only flavor that I found myself searching for was the pimento cheese. There just was not enough of it to stand
up to the other powerful flavors on the burger. Grindhouse’s onion rings are nothing special, but they did satiate my lingering craving. These particular rings are cornmeal dusted as opposed to a traditional batter, and this slight modification made them crispier, albeit more fragile, than their battered counterparts. Overall, Grindhouse was a little bit rough around the edges, but they do put out high quality food at an extremely reasonable price. The sheer quantity of delicious-sounding menu items makes Grindhouse a must-try for any burger lovers who find themselves carousing through Midtown. That being said, if you cannot handle extreme heat, I would caution you to either ask for light or no jalapeños on your order. That way, you can truly appreciate the flavors.
BITTSM Not Bad, but No Rodeo Jack McMillin Guest Contributor Class of 2017
Houston rapper and autotune addict Travis Scott drops his second studio album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, following up on 2015’s Rodeo. Rodeo was an anthem for 4 a.m. partiers, a dark, melodic trap offshoot with biting production and themes of debauchery and one of my favorite records of the past five years. Travis’ latest project isn’t bad, but it’s no Rodeo. Here’s what I didn’t like about the project: It’s overly safe; songs are recycled, production is boring and there is no risk taking. Even if there aren’t many really bad songs, there are an equally low number of really good songs. Travis is defined by production, which is partly why Birds doesn’t live up to my expectations. Where Rodeo shone in its codeine-drowned, razor-edged production, Birds feels like baby lotion trap. For example, “through the late night” tries hard to give the nocturnal vibe of Rodeo, but comes off as artificial. With help from a poorly harmonized (and perpetually declining) Kid Cudi, Travis is obviously avoiding describing his late night antics by incessantly repeating “through the late night,” a boring alternative to storytelling. This laziness manifests itself in many different ways outside of production. First, the album isn’t cohesive. The first seven tracks have the same “Night Show” vibe of Rodeo, and the final seven have a summer-anthem style production with overproduced steel drums and upbeat instrumentation, and Travis makes no attempt at transitioning between the two. I can’t tell if Travis is trying to have a feel-good summer album or an unholy, Halloweenstyle record like Rodeo. If Travis would have picked one of these themes, the record could be another masterpiece. Second, the two biggest hits on the album have been released for months. “pick up the phone” has been out since June and “wonderful” has been out since January, showing that Travis didn’t really try to create a refreshing, new project, but simply collected his Rodeo B-sides and called it an album. Finally, there’s no edge to the album. Rodeo had standout hits like “3500” and “Antidote,” but it also had a deep track list with songs like “Nightcrawler,” “Maria I’m Drunk,” “Oh My Dis Side,” “Pornography” and “Apple Pie.” Birds doesn’t have the stand
out bangers, or the artful trap melodies that Rodeo did. What I liked about the project: Travis again shows his ability to coordinate features that feed off of the energy of each other and the beat. There are a fair number of tracks that illuminate this point: “outside”: 21 Savage jumps on the track and brings an interesting change of pace, with a nonchalant delivery on hard-hitting topics that gives the listener the impression they shouldn’t mess with 21. This style is the kind of artistic growth that I would have expected from Travis. On Rodeo, Travis features a similar verse from Chicago rapper Chief Keef, and 21’s feature reminds me of a more updated version of Keef’s guest appearance. “goosebumps”: Kendrick Lamar can do no wrong. Unparalleled energy in his unique and always shifting delivery gives Kendrick the biggest range in rap and solidifies him at the top of the game, and “goosebumps” is no exception. “the ends”: Andre 3000 drops another great 2016 guest feature. The energy of his rhymes and his strict discipline of staying on the topic of the song give the album a hook (and a hot start). “pick up the phone”: my favorite track on the record (although Travis is barely on it), and maybe my favorite track of the summer. Quavo and Young Thug hop on the track, delivering their usual quirks, and I buy it. Quavo, with his distinctive voice, three round burst-style delivery and auto-tuned crooning, make him one of the most addictive rappers to listen to. Young Thug, rap’s most eclectic character, also bursts with energy and melodic singing on the track’s chorus. A combination of these two Atlanta rappers makes this track truly addictive. This EP feels like it should have been Travis’ first studio album, which he would have followed up with a more cohesive, impressive, re-playable Rodeo. Everything that Travis did on Birds, he did better on Rodeo. Rodeo transported me to Travis’ world of sin: like I had front row seats to a movie about Travis’ youth and his drug-fueled insanity through a depiction of his “Night Show” parties; Birds is like the deleted scenes of that movie. Best Songs: “pick up the phone,” “goosebumps,” “the ends,” “outside” and “wonderful” Worst Songs: “beibs in the trap,” “guidance” and “first take” Overall Score: 6/10
Sports
October 14, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 8
Juston Cogbill Lights Up the O Line Graham Hurley Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: Fred Assaf
The Pace varsity football team lost many key linemen with the graduation of the Class of 2016. Although the loss of those players was devastating for the team, they have been able to recover well. Sophomore Cameron Hamilton, junior Justin Morris and many players who traditionally do not play offensive line stepped up this year to play. Junior Juston Cogbill, new to Pace this year, has reinforced the strength of the team’s line even more. “I had the best offensive line in the state of Georgia last year,” said junior quarterback Gunnor Faulk. “This year I feel just as confident about them because of players who are stepping up like Juston.”
Juston spent two years at Lassiter High School playing defensive end. Coming from Lassiter, Juston is having a vastly different experience playing football at Pace. Now he plays right tackle on offense as well as defensive end. “On the first day of practice the coaches told me that I am playing right tackle,” said Juston. “I was shocked because I had only played defense in the past.” Another huge difference is the overall team relationship. Lassiter’s football team last year had over 140 players and not everyone knew each other. “I know every single person on the team regardless of their position or grade,” said Juston, “I can wholeheartedly say that I feel like the team is a family.” The pressure is immense for Juston at Pace on the field and in the classroom. At Lassiter,
Juston Cogbill has loved the Pace football experience so far. Juston had seven classes every day and no free periods. “Pace is significantly harder than Lassiter but I have the ARC [Academic Research Center] and my teachers to help me succeed,” he said. The environment on the field, however, is also challeng-
ing. “The players are faced with this pressure and these expectations because of [Head Coach Chris] Slade, who played at the professional level,” said Kevin Johnson, head offensive line coach. The coaches add to this pressure since they work with
the players closely the entire summer and monitor their success during games. “I get to see these players develop as humans and as players and it helps you understand the amount of work that these players put in,” said Coach Johnson. “Improving performance leads to winning, which leads to fun and selfsatisfaction.” Going into this year’s football season, Pace was ranked number one in AAA. “My favorite game was actually Thomson, because it was an eye-opening experience since it didn’t really feel like we were a team deserving of the number one rank,” said Juston. Juston is loving Pace so far despite all of the pressure on and off the field. “Pace has helped me evolve as a player and that is something that will help me in the long run,” he said.
Water Polo Makes a Splash Genna Schwarz Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Ashford Little
As of Oct. 7, the Pace water polo team has a 7-4-1 record. This record includes an astonishing 133 goals in just 12 games. Coach John Ague, a long-time physical education teacher and swimming, soccer and water polo coach, has guided the team to a 3rd place division ranking and a 10th place state ranking. “I am overwhelmed with our improvement,” said Coach Ague. “On paper, we have surpassed what we anticipated this year’s team could be. We can make a splash in the tournament.” Water Polo is considered a club and not a varsity and GHSA sport, but the team operates like a varsity program. They have been an exceptional team throughout the last five years and the team members treat it like a varsity sport.
Freshman Harris Greenbaum makes a save. “I think the season has gone really well and we’ve surprised ourselves and the rest of the division with how well we’ve played, especially on defense,” said senior McRae Oglesby, who has been playing water polo since freshman year. “We have outdone what I thought we could accomplish this season,” said Coach Ague. The team only has
two returning players from last year’s team. According to Coach Ague, they have used three different players in goal. The new additions to the team are eighth grader Amalie Little and freshmen Dillon Carroll, Harris Greenbaum, Jackson Hamel, Rachel Kann, Blake Maner and Harrison Saini. They “have provided a much
needed depth to [the] roster and continued to improve during the season,” according to sophomore Andrew Jenkins. Amalie, the only eighth grader on the team, likes “how water polo includes almost every skill: strength, speed, aim, teamwork and ingenuity. Everyone has a chance at different types of success.” The captain of the water polo team this year is senior Mitchell Zwecker. As captain, he not only has regular captain duties, such as leading warmups and being a leader in games, but serves as a mentor to the rookie players. “I am teaching the rookies the basics,” said Mitchell. “I love being able to lead my amazing team of guys and girls in the sport that I love.” Players believe that the only thing the team needs to do to improve their record is to build everyone’s individual play and team collaboration. “As a team, we really just need to raise the overall experience level, because
we have lots of first-year players,” said Andrew. “Our new players need to be exposed to some of the more technical and nuanced aspects of the game, as well as setting up on offense and playing ‘real’ water polo versus just fast breaking,” said Mitchell. On Senior Night on Sept. 20, the team fought against the Westminster Wildcats, the best team in their division. They played them earlier in the season but the match resulted in a tie. Seeking to redeem themselves, the Pace team “corrected many of the mistakes [they] made that last game to dominate the game,” according to Mitchell. Pace was winning 7-3 by the 4th quarter, but they ended up losing the game. “Next year the team will have new starters who are less experienced,” said Amalie. “We can recover, though. We could really use the help of new players because it’s an amazing sport to me and many others.”
Hannah White to ‘Fight On’ at USC Abby Meyerowitz Staff Writer Class of 2019
said Regan. “If she sticks with it, she could even make it to the Olympics one day. As her teammate and her friend, I’m very proud of her.” “Hannah is very instrumental in our success,” said Pace varsity girls soccer coach Liz Tutt. “She is a very knowledgeable player with a very high soccer IQ because of her experience, and she’s very aggressive so she’s always either creating opportunities for us or finishing opportunities.” Receiving the rising star award last year, Hannah proved worthy of her spot as a starter on the experienced Pace varsity team that won the state championship in 2015. “Hannah acclimated right away and became a very valuable member and starter in the game,” said Coach Tutt. “For a freshman, that’s an amazing accomplishment.”
Photo: Fred Assaf
Although she’s only a sophomore, Hannah White, ranked number seven in Georgia as a soccer player, already knows where she’s going to college. College recruiters have had their eyes on her as she dominates her soccer tournaments. She’s received offers from many different schools, but she narrowed it down to Notre Dame, Georgia, Michigan and University of Southern California. She ended up committing to the USC Trojans. “I like the weather, I love the coaches and I just love California,” said Hannah. Hannah is a member of the Tophat soccer club on the ECNL
(Elite Clubs National League) team. She started playing soccer when she was only four years old and has played at Tophat for the past six years. Before playing at Tophat, she played at a different club called SSA. She has always played on the top team of her club wherever she plays, and has never played another sport competitively. “I didn’t really have a choice,” said Hannah. “My parents just made me.” Sophomore Regan Bates has been playing soccer with Hannah for the past four years at Tophat. “Hannah is a great team player,” said Regan, “She passes a lot and always looks to give her teammates opportunities to make good plays.” As the top offensive player on the team, Hannah is a dominating forward, scoring most of the team’s goals. “I think Hannah will have a very successful soccer career,“
USC commit Hannah White is a star player on the Pace team. According to Coach Tutt, Hannah is very good at taking the ball away from the opponent and then distributing it, making her an adept team player.
“I think Hannah’s going to do great,” said Coach Tutt. “If she wants to go pro, she’ll have the opportunity to do that. I see her taking it as far as it’ll go.”