Vol. 42, Issue #1
The
September 16, 2016
Knightly News
p. 3 Five Minutes with Chris Howard
p. 5 Let’s Get Googley
p. 8 Varsity Volleyball Starts Strong
New ‘Roya17y’ Reigns at Pace Jonathan Rushton Managing Editor Class of 2018
Photo: Fred Assaf
The FAC filled with shrill whistles and streams of toilet paper on Aug. 17 as the Class of 2017 stormed in, celebrating the beginning of their senior year. As the Dark Knights have risen and fallen, a new reign of Roya17y at Pace has begun. The step up to the new role of being seniors still hasn’t fully dawned on most of the class. “I’m excited for senior year, but it’s weird that we’re finally seniors,” said student body vice-president Mary Brooks Perkey. After Pace Academy legend Tommy Hattori took his talents to California, the position of Class of 2017 dean was vacant. Upper school math teacher Krista Wilhelmsen came out of dean retirement (former dean for the classes of 2003 and 2007) to take the reins for the Class of 2017. “I had thought about being a dean again, but with my son at The Schenck School it was too much back and forth,” said Mrs. Wilhelmsen. “Now was a great time to take responsibility for this awesome class.” The student body is led by senior student body president Christopher Howard. Taking the gavel from Mark Handler ‘16, Chris steps up with experience in abundance. “This is my fourth year of Student Council, so I will use my experience to lead this school,” said Chris. “We are underestimated as a grade, but I
Seniors Brian Sloan (R) and Ben Siegel (center) took the ‘mic with the senior class at their back to welcome everyone back. Seniors such as Willie Lieberman and Mitchell Zwecker stand out amongst an elite group in the performing arts. The Class of 2017 brought home multiple state championships from the GHSA State Literary Meet. Avery Herman won a championship for his essay, while Willie and Ellie Duncan were state champions for trio along with Lexi Rubin ‘16. Meanwhile in sports, the new seniors excel in multiple areas. Five athletes have already committed to high profile Division I schools and there will be
In previous years, seniors have mostly relied on their college counselors for guidance, therefore Mr. Gannon believed that Amy Secor and Gavin Bradley could serve in place of the senior dean. But after the passing of Parker Berman and Stephen Walker, he felt that putting a new dean in place would provide the additional support the grade needed. Mr. Gannon called math teacher Krista Wilhelmsen over the summer to ask her to step in as the Class of 2017’s new dean. “I was relieved because I felt and knew the class needed a dean,” said Mrs. Wilhelmsen. “I’m glad
he asked because if he didn’t, I would have asked him anyway. Not one part of me was hesitant to step in.” She knew she had enough experience and already felt so close to the grade. She was excited to help. English teacher Rick Canfield thinks that Mrs. Wilhelmsen is more than qualified for the job. “She was a dean for a very long time, so I think she’ll do a great job,” he said. Mrs. Wilhelmsen came back to Pace in 2012 after previously teaching at Pace from 1995 to
New Year, New Dean Genna Schwarz Staff Writer Class of 2019
Thomas Hattori, former dean of the Class of 2017, departed The Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School at the end of last school year after accepting a job in California at the Thacher School. Moving to California brings him closer to his family, which was very important to him. Head of Upper School Michael Gannon initially thought the new 12th grade could get through the year without a dean.
(Continued on page 4)
many more to come. The top talent includes Deon Jackson and Summer Brown heading to Duke University for football and volleyball, respectively. The grade also has two football players committed to University of Georgia, Trey Blount and Andrew Thomas. Along with the talent on the fields, the Class of 2017 contains the #3 player in the ESPN 100 for basketball, Wendell Carter Jr., who is still undecided on where he will attend university. With the curent senior class helping to win two state cham-
pionships in 2015-2016 and contending for many more, the new school year is promising for athletics. The talent in the classroom, on the field, on stage and in the community isn’t the only way to assess this grade. “I know they will be positive role models due to great reputation and enthusiasm,” said Mrs. Wilhelmsen. “I told them that all classes get to be seniors, but not all classes deserve the title. I’m confident they deserve it and will rise to the challenge.”
Photo: Genna Schwarz
know we will succeed in leading the school.” Roya17y runs throughout the grade in many forms, ranging from Orkin Scholars to volleyball standouts. With many active community members, including Prashanth Kumar being named a member of Atlanta’s 20 Under 20 for exceptional service, the grade leaves its mark in many areas. Along with Prashanth, the grade includes twenty-eight service leaders, who volunteer for projects such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity.
Mrs. Wilhemsen helps freshman Jason Rosenbloum with his geometry assignment.
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Pace News
September 16, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 2
Students Travel the World on Study Tours George Shepherd
This summer, students traveled around the world on ICGL trips, focusing on academics, service and adventure. The first two trips departed Hartsfield-Jackson airport on June 3 en route to Madagascar and Peru. Eighteen students led by Joe Sandoe, Amy Secor and Joanne Brown flew to Madagascar, where they hiked in the Ranomafana rain forests, seeing lemurs and learning about the island’s biodiversity. Students and leaders were also treated to a concert by local musicians. In the second week, students performed service, which included building concrete bases for water cisterns in local villages and teaching Malagasy students computer basics. “We helped the Malagasy use computers and it was very special building strong bonds with the local people,” said sophomore Cameron Hamilton. Each student brought a computer to donate to the compound in Tulear. On the same day, nine students and faculty participant Helen Smith departed for Peru on an academically-focused trip. Led by Emily Stevens
Photos: Joe Sandoe and Anna Hoffman
Staff Writer Class of 2018
Students enjoy a sunset in Tulear, Madagascar.
Seniors on the Cambridge trip pose before a game of croquet.
and Nancy Robinson, students learned about a variety of practices, including stone-working, cooking and potato harvesting. Following the ICGL theme of food, travelers visited a Peruvian potato farm and a salt mine. They learned about the combination of traditional religion and Catholicism that locals practice. One of the group’s favorite activities was the hike to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. “Seeing Machu Picchu was a dream come true,” said Ms. Smith. “Our guide was very informative and nice,” said senior Julia Robison.
Pace ICGL Scholars partnered with CARE, an international non-profit, on a servicebased trip to Ghana and Malawi. The organization began in the 1940s by sending care packages to soldiers volunteering in World War II. Today, the organization helps solve poverty around the world. The trip was led by ICGL Director Trish Anderson and science teacher Kevin Ballard. Pace students helped fight poverty by working with farmers. In Ghana, students planted seeds for farmers and made shea butter. They also enjoyed a “sky walk” canopy tour in a rainfor-
est. Next was Malawi where students and leaders stayed at a safari lodge. Students visited and toured a local school where they also challenged local teens to a soccer match. “I was pushed out of my comfort zone, and I look forward to bringing my experiences to college,” said senior Parker Payne. In late July, six rising seniors traveled to Cambridge with history department chair Tim Hornor. Students learned about inflation, investing, debt and how to be responsible with money. Students enjoyed punting on the River Cam, going to the
rock climbing, team building activities, swimming, canoeing, a ropes course and other bonding activities. Freshman Jayla Brown’s favorite activity was the V Swing. “The adrenaline rush from stepping off the plank blindfolded was awesome, and the swinging was super fun,” she said. These activities also helped the 19 seniors serving as peer leaders get to know some of the freshmen they are working with throughout the year. These seniors developed close personal relationships with their group members despite the age gap. “I think it was a great bonding experience for the grade and I had a great time meeting all of the freshmen,” said peer leader
Kendall Kirkman. “I thought the new kids integrated really quickly and everyone participated as much as they could,” said freshman class dean Grady Stevens. His favorite activity was the Pamper Pole, where he had to climb a 30-foot pole and jump from the top of it to a trapeze a couple of feet away. Throughout the year freshmen will continue to meet on Thursdays during D period with their peer leaders. These classes strengthen the bonds formed at the retreat and help them adjust to high school by giving them experienced role models. These classes continue all year, and the relationships built can last throughout high school and after.
Two freshmen collaborate to climb up the ladder.
London Eye and touring Buckingham Palace. “Cambridge was a great experience and I learned a lot,” said senior Kaki Cox. “I highly recommend it.” The final summer trip was the adventure-based journey to Glacier National Park in Montana. This trip was very active, as students backpacked and hiked throughout the entire trip. Main attractions were whitewater rafting and hiking the Grinnell Glacier. The group of Gus Whyte, Krista Wilhelmsen and seven students enjoyed sleeping under the stars, magnificent vistas and beautiful weather.
Freshmen Form Friendships at Retreat Anna Stone
Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: Sara Eden
Most everyone is familiar with the scenario where a new kid comes to school and has difficulty finding friends and fitting in. Thanks to the freshman retreat before school each year, no incoming freshman has to suffer that awkwardness. The Class of 2020, along with peer leaders and faculty chaperones, went to Camp Skyline in Alabama Aug. 13-15. There, they participated in many activities in groups with senior peer leaders to help them collaborate and establish friendships. Activities included
Students Share Favorite Summer Memories Landon Goldstein Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Photos: Landon Goldstein
Every summer, Pace students participate in a varitety of activites ranging from traveling the globe to working in Atlanta. This summer proved to be a very exciting one for many students, as Pace led six different ICGL study trips. These trips ranged from Madagascar all the way to Cambridge, and even included a trip to Machu Picchu. Students also participate in ICGL study trips during the school year.
(L-R) Senior Sammy Lettes, sophomore Hannah White, senior Lex Trevelino and junior Erica Tashma share their favorite experiences.
Pace News
Vol. 42, Issue #1
The Knightly News - Page 3
Five Minutes with Chris Howard Landon Goldstein Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Photo: Amy Butler
Knightly News: So Chris, what did you do this summer? Chris Howard: I worked at an Air Force base. KN: Can you be more specific? CH: I worked in the turbine engine fatigue facility at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. I was given a project to investigate the effects of surface roughness on tensile properties and fatigue life of titanium 6 aluminum 4 vanadium specimens. KN: How did you test this? CH: I developed a procedure in which I looked at how strong these 3D printed parts were. I got the specimens and I put them into the 22 kip mts axial servo hydraulic load frame in which it would push and pull at a certain frequency until it breaks. I interpreted that data into a graph and made a presentation about it. KN: Wow, that is very impressive. CH: Thanks, it took a lot of work but I really enjoyed it. KN: What are you most excited about for senior year?
CH: I am most excited for getting into college and knowing where I go. And Spirit Week. And prom. KN: Why did you first decide to get involved in student government? CH: I don’t know, my oldest brother Jake did it, and he really liked it. I thought I would like it too. KN: Did you ever think you would become student body president? CH: Yeah, so I knew in sixth grade I was going to be student body president. No, I was just taking it one year at a time. When I ran in eighth grade, I never expected to win it senior year, or even to run again the next year. I just did it one year, figured out I liked it a lot, so I just kept running. KN: Why did you keep running? CH: I like the power. KN: What are some of your new responsibilities coming from president of a class to president of the entire student body? CH: Oh, you do a ton more work, because you have to plan everything. As president of a class, each year you are just told “alright, go to these sales,”
Student body president Chris Howard (L) leads the Student Council weekly meeting, held every Wednesday. “show up here at this time,” you vote on stuff occasionally during the meetings. When you’re the student body president, not just class president, you have to plan everything. You are the one telling people to do stuff. It takes a lot more time, but it is a lot more rewarding. KN: What are some changes the Student Council plans to enact this year?
CH: You’ll see. KN: How is the college process going? CH: Such a mystic process in its process, but in the end the process is probably better than the destination. KN: What is the thing you will miss most about Pace after you go to college? CH: Such that Pace is an academic campus, it’s differ-
ent from other places in its academia, its libraries and its teachers. KN: What? CH: Such as in those circumstances. I’ll miss the teachers most. KN: Anything else you want to say? CH: Tell Ms. Wilson I said hi, and that I had a good run with newspaper.
Upper School Focuses on In Memorium Stephen Walker Student Mental Health 1999 – 2016 Sarah Kitchen Staff Writer Class of 2017
learn how to show empathy towards the emotions of others and validate them. Around this topic of mental health, parents and students assess the role of the school regarding the issue. Some upper school students think that Pace has gone overboard with attempting to educate the students about warning signs and seeking help, while the school may still strive to do more. Morally, it must be decided whether it is Pace’s responsibility as a school to take these measures. While Pace is doing its best to provide a safety net for those who need it, no single entity has absolute control. Still, the Task Force can try to ensure that any “missing pieces” are added to our system, according to Ms. Brubaker. “Ultimately, you are the one who decides whether or not to listen, and that is the most control the community has over the issue.”
Photo: Anna Stone
High school can be a stressful time for students, and most teenagers struggle with handling changes in their lives and new responsibilities. While some students are able to overcome obstacles with little impact on their progress as a whole, others find themselves stuck in a ditch that high school has put them in. Whether you fall into the first category, the second one or somewhere in between, it is essential to acknowledge that everyone will face challenges during their time as teenagers. Mental illness is a common pothole in the road of adolescence, but for some reason, we as a society fail to recognize its impact. One of the reasons for this may be the lack of tangibility. Teenagers may not view bipolar disorder in the same way they would view a broken leg, but both are health hazards and should receive professional attention. There is no way to prevent these detours, but there is no such thing as “too much” support for teens when they encounter problems. To put it simply, the Pace community is at higher risk of mental health issues due to the losses of two students this past year. This assessment may seem daunting, but our future is within our own reach. To plan a system of insuring general happiness and health within the
student body, school administration has created a team called the Mental Wellness Task Force. The Task Force is chaired by Dr. Mark Crawford, consulting psychologist to Pace. The group includes a variety of mental health experts along with Pace trustees, parents, deans and other faculty members. “The Task Force seeks to guide students to help if they need it,” said Upper School Counselor Kacy Brubaker. “Both short term and long term plans are being developed by the group.” Forming these plans is a very complex process because, as Head of Upper School Michael Gannon said, “there isn’t a blueprint for how to cope with this issue.” There is no single path to coping with loss because each individual experiences a different process. Subsequently, there are no “right” or “wrong” ways to feel. It is essential that members of any community
Freshmen Jackson Hamel (L) and Robert Cushman balance school work with mental breaks.
Pace News
September 16, 2016
The Knightly News - Page 4
Ms. Pace Academy ‘12 Returns Alexis Wilkins
Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
is extremely passionate about education,” she said. In addition to assisting Ms. Anderson, Ms. Lattouf will be in charge of the upper school Social Entrepreneurship Challenge, the Women Mentoring Women program and the Pace Service Learning program. In her service role, she works with current student service leaders, as well as students who are interested in creating a new service project. She also plans to work with students and parents in the Middle School to engage them in service projects through Pace. Ms. Lattouf hopes to bring her past experiences and current projects to Pace. Earlier in 2016, she began creating the HOPE Education Project, which works to connect college students in the Atlanta area with refugee families. The students facilitate academic development and cultural integration with African students in the refugee family. She wants Pace students to become involved if they are interested. While it may seem strange to go from student to co-worker
of her former teachers in just four years, Ms. Lattouf believed it would be an easy transition, because she had already worked in a different capacity than just teacher-student during her time on the Student Council. Because she played such an active role in the Pace community as a student, Ms. Lattouf considers herself fortunate to have this
Mrs. Hathorn was looking for a job in Atlanta after her husband interviewed at Westminster and eventually accepted the job as a French and Latin teacher. She stumbled upon a website that said Pace was looking for a parttime French teacher, and scheduled an interview with Head of Upper School Michael Gannon and Head of School Fred Assaf. “I have never laughed in an interview as much as I did in my interview for Pace,” said Mrs. Hathorn. “As soon as I walked in I already felt comfortable with them.” She taught a class for
French teacher Nancy Robinson and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and students at Pace. Mrs. Hathorn was previously a tutor, so teaching in front of the class is definitely a new setting for her. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in French Literature from Indiana University. Her love of the French language continued as she spent a year as a Fulbright Teaching Fellow in Dijon, France. She is currently teaching French I, French III and French IV. “Sometimes, I accidentally speak in English, but I know I need to stay in French the whole time,” said Mrs. Hathorn. “I am improving each day, just like my students.” Coming from Milton, Massachusetts is science teacher Ms. Carpenter. Ms. Carpenter earned two degrees from Stanford, including a master’s in marine molecular biology. She previously taught science at a boarding school in Massachusetts, and decided that it was time for a change in perspective on education. “Some things are different here, but the overall student body is similar,” she said. Ms. Carpenter is currently teaching Honors Biology and Anatomy/Physiology. Her favorite part about biology is that she can create labs and activities to help bring relevance to the topics. “I am working on staying consistent between my various bio classes, but I want each class to have its own character,” she said. Ms. Carpenter worked as a deckhand in the central Pacific, led white water rafting trips in
Wyoming and was a paramedic in Boston before teaching. Dr. Haizlip is the new AP Bio teacher. She earned her bachelor’s and Ph.D. from Ohio State University. She heard about Pace through a recruitment firm, and Pace fit her qualifications for a desirable school. Dr. Haizlip has guest-lectured and served as a research associate at the University of Colorado at Boulder, but she likes Pace better. “Pace is more of a family and the students make it even better,” she said. The double period system at Pace is definitely a new concept to her, but she knows that it is necessary in order to complete the required curriculum. She enjoys hanging out with the students, which makes the double periods go by faster. Her favorite chapter to teach is genetics, which her students will learn later in the year. A cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University, Mrs. Memar is not a completely new face to the Pace community. She taught for a semester as a substitute math teacher in the trailers in spring 2014. This year, however, she has a more permanent teaching role in AB Calculus. “I like having my own classroom and being able to teach in my own way,” said Mrs. Memar. “I feel more ownership in the success of my students.” She previously taught at Centennial High School and at Lovett, where she says that the students and faculty have a lot less freedom than those at Pace. “Everyone is self-motivated and makes good choices,” said Mrs. Memar. She currently has a daughter in second grade and a son in fourth grade at Pace.
Photo: Zeena Lattouf
Pace Academy welcomed Pace alumna Zeena Lattouf in August as the new assistant director of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership. Ms. Lattouf graduated from Pace in 2012 and attended Emory University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies and Arabic. “I attribute Pace to my being the person I am today,” said Ms. Lattouf. As a Pace student, Ms. Lattouf was extremely involved in the school community. During her time here, she played on the basketball and tennis teams, performed as Jasmine in her senior Spirit Week role in “Aladdin” and served as a peer leader her senior year. Most notably in her Pace career, Ms. Lattouf was an active member of Student Council from grades seven through twelve and was elected student body president her senior year. Ms. Lattouf is reentering the
Pace community four years later working closely with Director of ICGL Trish Anderson. She also works with two other ICGL directors, Rebecca Rhodes in the Lower School and EdnaMay Hermosillo in the Middle School. As a student, Ms. Lattouf traveled on three study tours with Pace: China with Helen Smith and Scott Sargent, Cambridge with Tim Hornor and Jordan (her home country) with Habitat for Humanity. Returning to Pace, Ms. Lattouf will be focusing on administrative work with ICGL. She coordinates with teachers who want to lead study tours, and helps students with financial aid requests to make these travel experiences possible. She is also assisting Ms. Anderson with her new class, AP Human Geography. Ms. Anderson travels frequently for ICGL, so Ms. Lattouf takes over to do case studies with their students when Ms. Anderson is gone. “I am excited to work with students in whatever capacity,” said Ms. Lattouf. Ms. Anderson hopes that next year Ms. Lattouf will teach her own class. “She
Eric Estroff (L) and Zeena Lattouf were named Mr. and Ms. Pace Academy ‘12 by The Pacesetter.
Pace Welcomes New Faculty Amy Butler
Opinion Editor Class of 2018
With the new school year comes new faces, rules and improvements. Some of these new faces include new upper school faculty members Meredith Carpenter, Kaylan Haizlip, Helen Hathorn and Diana Memar. These teachers have come from near and far to teach at Pace, and they are already loving their time here. Coming from Baltimore,
Photo: Amy Butler Dr. Haizlip (L) and Ms. Carpenter stand outside of their biology classrooms. Not pictured: Mrs. Hathorn and Mrs. Memar.
opportunity. “I am entering into an environment where I am already familiar with the student population and the teachers and how the school works,” she said. “I do not have to spend as much time trying to acclimate and understand the situation, as I can trying to meet students and make a difference in the school.”
New Year, New Dean
(continued from page 1) 2007. She served as a dean for the classes of 2003 and 2007 and was a recipient of the Kessler Award for Teaching in 2006. Mrs. Wilhelmsen has bachelor’s degrees in sociology and math from Bowdoin College. “Even though I’ve only been in high school for a short while, I can already tell Mrs. Wilhelmsen will be a great teacher,” said freshman Meryll Asher. “She’s already made me feel so much more comfortable in the high school.” Seniors seem enthusiastic to have Mrs. Wilhelmsen as their dean. “I’m very excited because she is so sweet, and in ninth grade, she was a great teacher,” said senior Ross Cefalu. “I could not have asked for a better person to be our dean. Everyone adores her.” The senior class began the school year with a rafting trip on Aug. 18. Upper school faculty thought it was great way to bring the grade closer together, and Mr. Gannon was very pleased with the outcome. “[It was] a day together to enjoy themselves and have fun since all their sadness,” said Mr. Gannon. Mrs. Wilhelmsen also had a great experience on the trip. “It was an amazing and perfect day,” she said. “It was exactly what we wanted it to be, and it was a chance for everyone to be happy together and to interact. The weather was perfect. It was scary, exciting and just awesome. We had an all-around perfect day together.”
Pace News
Vol. 42 Issue #1
The Knightly News - Page 5
Mr. Ferrell Joins College Office
“lucky” to work at a school like Pace. “I went to a public school in Texas, and it was not a bad school,” he said. “I brought my friend from high school here when I first got here, and he was like ‘Are you kidding me?’ It’s so far from where I went to school, but I think it is so amazing.” The Pace community has been incredibly welcoming in Mr. Ferrell’s eyes. He and ICGL Director Trish Anderson are
the official advisors for Pace’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and he has even been asked to be the male chaperone for the ICGL trip to Budapest with history teacher Helen Smith in November 2016. In math teacher and dean Krista Wilhelmsen’s freshman Transitions class, with which he is assisting, Mr. Ferrell blew the group away in the game “Two Truths and a Lie.” His two truths and a lie were: “I am 35 years old, I have sung at the White House, and I tried out for “American Idol” and made it to the round before the televised round.” The lie? He is not 35. Mr. Ferrell’s hidden talent is his voice. He began singing in church as a child, and he has continued ever since. His sister convinced him in American Idol’s younger years to audition. “What you see on TV is magnified,” he said. “It is like hundreds of thousands of people outside in this long line. People are out there singing, and people are dressed up in costumes.” His sister was by his side through the whole process, and he made it to the round right before singing in front of Simon Cowell. If you see Mr. Ferrell in the hallway, do not be afraid to strike up a conversation; maybe he will even sing a few bars.
ease. The apps for Google are updated every time you log in, so the newest features appear as soon as they come out. This means the Pace community will always have access to the latest software, including new information and security updates, without any hassle. Although the computer guys are confident the switch to Google benefits the Pace community, there are still many complaints. “There’s too much going on and too many steps to get places and send simple emails,” said Spanish teacher Laura Agront-Hobbs. Many people believe that there should be more instruction to better introduce the new program. “Once I get comfortable with Google, it will seem a lot better than it does now,” said sophomore Caelan Corbally.
Woodruff Library, has been replaced with the new Turkish stone. “The architects tried to install stone on the library stairs but they were unable to because the stone cracked when drilling holes due to their awkward shape,” said library director Matt Ball. The general student consensus is that the stairs look awesome. “The stairs fit in extremely well with the school,” said junior Harrison Woodruff.
Alexis Wilkins
Co-Editor-in-Chief Class of 2017
Photo: Alexis Wilkins
In the spring of 2016, college counselor Lee Nuckolls announced her departure from Pace Academy. The mountains were calling her back out west, and it was time for upper school students and staff to say goodbye. Seniors who previously had Ms. Nuckolls as their college counselor were reassigned to Amy Secor or Gavin Bradley, Ms. Nuckolls’ colleagues. But before the end of the school year, Mrs. Secor and Mr. Bradley introduced the newest member of Pace’s college counseling office: Jonathan Ferrell. Mr. Ferrell did not always plan to become a college counselor. In fact, his path was headed towards law school. “I had been accepted and was getting ready to go,” said Mr. Ferrell. “At the last minute I thought, ‘I don’t know if I love this enough to spend the time or money that it takes.’” Because of these doubts, the Director of Admissions at Millsaps College – who was his boss when he worked in the Admissions Office as an undergrad tour guide – invited him to stay
Mr. Ferrell discusses the future of GSA with senior and GSA president Ellie Duncan. and work for a year. Eleven years later, he is still working in this field. According to Mr. Ferrell, working at Pace differs from working at Millsaps mainly because of the more constant interaction with students, which is what he is most excited about. “When I was at Millsaps, I had to know all things Millsaps,” he said. “Whereas, in this role, because [the seniors] are apply-
ing to so many places, I get the opportunity to know so much about more schools. I think that will be fun.” Mr. Ferrell believes the most challenging part of his job will be getting the parents comfortable. He realizes that it may be discomforting for their student to be paired with “the new guy,” but he is confident that once they get to know him, they will be at ease. Mr. Ferrell considers himself
Let’s Get Googley!
was great and worked well, but it never changed and adapted to new technology,” said Mr. Neely. “It wasn’t flexible with the internet or with iPhones, but now
with Google, we can back stuff up and get ‘iCloudy.’” Mr. Neely explained that some advantages of Google include Google Docs and unlim-
ited online storage. One major benefit is that students can now collaborate on group projects while using Google Docs. On almost every device, students and faculty can access, edit and create documents, spreadsheets and presentations at anytime and anywhere. Google Docs also saves assignments automatically so they can’t be lost. Junior Jamaree Salyer says that his favorite part about Google is the new unlimited storage because he never has to worry about deleting emails, documents or classroom necessities. According to Mr. Neely, there are also several ways to organize more efficiently with Google, and it’s easier now to find messages with the Googlepowered search feature. Google Calendar allows dates and assignments to be accessed with
with stone replacing the wooden stairs. With the installation of the stone, the stairs are unique since the stone’s origin lies within a country that straddles Europe and Asia. “The [stone] stairs were donated by the family of Pace alumna Eda Calapkulu [‘14],” said Head of School Fred Assaf. “The family owns a stone quarry in Turkey.” As part of the design for the Upper School, the Calapkulu family offered to mine
marble from the quarry to ship to Pace. The family worked in conjunction with the architects to include the stone stairs in the design. According to Mr. Assaf, the ship was delayed and the stairs could not be constructed in time for the opening of the new upper school building in August 2014. “Pace’s contractor, New South, was kind to us, and they volunteered to install wooden stairs so school could begin,” said Mr.
Assaf. School administrators knew all along that the wooden stairs would have to be temporary, because the building was designed to last for more than 75 years. “New South postponed the construction of the stairs and waited for a good window of time, which was this past summer,” said Pace Director of Facilities Dave Fortier. Every staircase, except for the winding staircase in the
Eden Kerker Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Eden Kerker
It’s time to say goodbye to FirstClass and say hello to Google. Although the initial reaction among students was panic, the computer guys are positive the switch to Google is for the better. The Pace community is still a bit apprehensive, having not fully adjusted to the change. “It’s nice but confusing,” said freshman Ellie Luetters. Along with many other students, she wishes that there was more of an introduction to Google. But computer guy Kevin Neely is confident that the only disadvantage is that it’s going to take time to get used to. “FirstClass
Sophomore Jill Rawls starts to get comfortable with Google Classroom.
Pace Steps it Up, Turkish Style Graham Hurley Staff Writer Class of 2018
Walking up the center staircase on the first day of school, students noticed something new underneath their feet. The Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School had been a work in progress for two years, but is now finally complete. The two main staircases look different now,
Opinion
Vol. 42, Issue #1
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
Managing Editor: Jonathan Rushton Lifestyle Editor: Sloan Wyatt Opinion Editor: Amy Butler Sports Editor: Michael Simon
Staff Writers: Sarah Kitchen George Shepherd Anna Stone Graham Hurley Sydnie Jiang Genna Schwarz Abigail Meyerowitz Margaret Bethel Eden Kerker 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.
Cincinnati Zoo Makes Right Decision Michael Simon Sports Editor Class of 2018
The Cincinnati Zoo was home to a tragic incident on May 28: the killing of 17-yearold male gorilla, Harambe. The reason for Harambe’s death has caused controversy throughout the world. On that Saturday, a mother, father and their son were visiting the zoo when the boy managed to slip into the moat of the gorilla exhibit. Being a wild animal not accustomed to interacting with humans, especially three-year-old children, Harambe began dragging the child through the water. In response, zoo officials shot and killed Harambe, believing this was the only option to save the child. These actions stirred people throughout America and most of the world. Countless tweets were sent with opinions on the killing of Harambe, and a “Justice for Harambe” Facebook page was created to pay respects to the gorilla. However, this controversy is a moral dilemma with no easy answers. Whether or not you believe that Harambe should have been killed is based on your own views of animals and their value in comparison to human lives. Although many people are
Photo: Mark Dumont
Co-Editors in Chief: Landon Goldstein Alexis Wilkins
The Knightly News - Page 6
The 17-year-old male gorilla Harambe was shot and killed after he grabbed a three-year-old child who fell into his exhibit. shocked and upset about the killing of Harambe, it was probably the best option for the Cincinnati Zoo. The mother of the child was also a main target for blame throughout social media. Yes, the mother (and the father) could have paid more attention to the child since he was only three years old; however, the zoo officials believe that saving the child was of foremost importance, so their response must be respected. And while they may be getting a lot of criticism on social media, the action is done and there is nothing that can be done besides blaming people and creating Harambe fan clubs. Another idea that is frequently raised on social media is that the zoo officials should have used tranquilizers on Harambe
Seniors Squabble Over New Cellar Sarah Kitchen Staff Writer Class of 2017
feel disappointed that our class drew the short straw for getting a smaller cellar. The old room looked much more appealing to me when I was an underclassman, and it seemed to be in such a central, convenient location. On the other hand, I can’t be angry at the Middle or Upper School for deciding to make this transition. The Middle School has been expanding over the past few years into the Inman Center, and looking back, it would have been easy to predict that they would eventually annex the former senior cellar. Since we never had access to the bigger room and all of its features, we won’t know what we are missing out
Truth
Photo: Sandy Xie
Any Pace Academy student will confirm that there are numerous perks of being a senior at the Academy. While some of these privileges may seem insignificant in value, such as being dismissed first from assembly or receiving priority for selecting minimesters, other benefits are highly coveted by underclassmen and juniors alike. Seniors have access to open campus for lunch, and every class looks forward to having their own exclusive senior cellar. However, this bonus has proved to be an issue due to the addition of the Middle School STEM room. The former senior cellar, a generously sized room with ample space for furniture and games, was undeniably superior to the new cellar in the former Inman Center conference room. A fraction of the size of the old cellar, this new location seems rather uninviting – dark, gloomy, cold and isolated. Unless you participated in SAB meetings or attended pizza luncheons with the rabbi, this room is foreign to you and outside of your range of focus. As a result, seniors have found that they have forgotten they even have a cellar or think that it requires too much effort and time to travel all the way to
the far side of Inman to sit in a windowless room with a handful of their classmates. Instead, students tend to spend the majority of their free time in the Seaman Family Student Commons. While it is unfortunate that the Class of 2017 has been cheated out of the luxurious, old senior cellar, complaining about this injustice will not improve the quality of the special retreat. School administrators, led by Head of Upper School Michael Gannon, have been understanding of the seniors’ frustration and have tried to be lenient in overseeing the designing of the new room. The class representatives designed a blueprint for the new cellar, which was approved by Mr. Gannon and Head of School Fred Assaf, who ordered the requested furniture. Seniors will bring in accessories themselves, like an X-box or PlayStation, if they wish to use them for the room. Currently, the room is empty with the exception of a couch, TV and Wii. As the year progresses and as the class adds posters and lights, the cellar will become more and more personalized. Unfortunately, the seniors are not allowed to paint the walls or add a chalkboard wall. Once arcade machines and other finishing touches arrive, the cellar should become a more popular hangout spot. Until then, everyone appears to have forgotten it exists. As a senior, I cannot help but
in order to save the lives of both Harambe and the child. However, that would have put the child at greater risk. The tranquilizers would not have been able to instantly knock out Harambe, and a drugged up 450-pound gorilla would have been just as dangerous, if not even more dangerous, to the child. Therefore in the Cincinnati Zoo’s unpopular opinion, the decision to kill Harambe and spare the child’s life was a tough, yet necessary, action to take. Even though they are getting a lot of grief now, the Cincinnati Zoo made their determination. Although it took the life of a 17-year-old gorilla, it was the most logical course of action, and was the right decision in this unfortunate situation.
The current senior cellar is now located in the previous Inman Center conference room. on and what incidents we will avoid. I’m sure the new cellar
will exceed everyone’s expectations in the long run.
Miles Hsu
Guest Contributor Class of 2017
Lifestyle
September 16, 2016
Is Midtown the New ‘Chella? Sloan Wyatt Lifestyle Editor Class of 2018
Atlanta’s midtown skyline provides perfect #views for this jampacked weekend of music, mayhem and memories. list, admiring the eclectic selection of artists and imagining their elaborate sets. It was not until I returned to the homepage of the site that my body filled with dread. Saturday and Sunday?! This monstrosity was unheard of. Unlike previous years, this year’s festival presented a series of differences from the
change of dates to the obscure schedule. Headliner Twenty One Pilots, making their third stop in Atlanta this year, is scheduled as the only performer for Saturday night’s set as opposed to the standard dual headliner setup. Although no one genre truly dominates the lineup, this year’s Music Midtown is catering to
‘Gotta Catch ‘Em All’ Amy Butler
Opinion Editor Class of 2018
rating experience." Pokemon Go is essentially a game that combines animation and reality. Pokemon characters will pop up on player’s phone screens through the camera as if they are there in real life. In order to catch these Pokemon, the user needs Pokeballs. Pokeballs can be found at Pokestops, which are landmarks at various places. The Prado and Piedmont Park feature many of these Pokestops, and therefore are extremely popular spots to play the game. It is common to see at least 30 people sitting around as Pokemon show up on their screens and Pokestops are refreshed. Although this appears to be simply loitering, it can actually benefit restaurants and stores nearby. Businesses can attach Lures to their location, which attract surrounding Pokemon. This can create more foot traffic as people show up and potentially visit their establishments. Despite these benefits, there are some downsides. Two men walked off a cliff not paying
providing intimate environments for audiences that are worthwhile for both fans and those who are merely curious. Make sure to stop by JohnnySwim, Raury, Corinne Bailey Rae or one of the other on-the-rise performers. They tend to be highly underrated. Junior Ethan Much, a selfproclaimed music connoisseur, commented on the wide range of choices. “Having bands from Alabama Shakes to Grouplove paired with unique vocals such as Logic or James Bay is the most a music lover can ask for,” he said. “The ingenious diversity of this year’s selection is a perfect way to attract audiences from all ages and backgrounds.” Whether you are bumpin’ to G-Eazy or cruising to Band of Horses I think this year is sure to please. Make sure to bring lots of cash for the wide variety of food trucks, unique shopping opportunities and other festival attractions.
Questions That Keep Me Up at Night Photo: Amy Butler
Ever seen strangers walking around while constantly staring at their phones? Or seen a group of people sprinting towards seemingly nothing? You've probably witnessed them using the hit new phone app Pokemon Go. Making a comeback from the 1990s and early 2000s, Pokemon, with its new app Pokemon Go, is taking the world by storm. Players around the world will do whatever it takes to “Catch ‘em all.” Running across busy streets, going into strangers' backyards and continuously driving around for hours are just some of the day-to-day normalities of the avid Pokemon Go participant. “I ran from the Prado, across Roswell Road and into an apartment complex so I could catch a rare Dratini,” said junior Scott Leven. “It was truly an exhila-
a post Coachella EDM craze. After headliners LCD Soundsystem, Calvin Harris, M83 and Jack Ü played at the distinguished California music festival a ripple effect of EDM artists stormed the festival circuit. Music Midtown’s notable electronic musicians include headliner DeadMau5, St. Lucia, Zella Day and the highly acclaimed DJ Mustard. “It’s a refreshing change of pace after last year’s “oldies” lineup, especially since the Shaky Music Festival chain premiered Shaky Beats this past May,” said senior Julia Robison. Meanwhile, the spotlight on pop continues, as DNCE makes its debut to Atlanta, while middle school sensation Ke$ha breaks out bar mitzvah anthems “Tik Tok” and “Your Love is My Drug.” However, audiences should not overlook the underground artists. Less popular names tend to have more meaningful sets,
Photo: Ninety-Nine X
Scrolling through my phone, I obsessively refreshed my feed awaiting the announcement of this year’s Music Midtown lineup. After a knockout 2014 setlist followed by a controversial 2015, audiences held their breath in anticipation of the 2016 arrival. Rumors of various artists and bands circulated online, leading up to the mid-summer announcement at 10 a.m. on June 21. I eagerly waited until the flashy orange and blue festival poster appeared on my screen, enchanting my eyes. From that moment on the flyer was plastered on every screen, depicting the festival’s signature Ferris wheel along with four headliners across the top: The Killers, Twenty One Pilots, Beck and Deadmau5. My eyes rapidly scanned the
The Knightly News - Page 7
Jonathan Rushton Managing Editor Class of 2018
attention to their surroundings as they were attempting to catch Pokemon in Encintas, California. Robbers have used the app to lure victims to a secluded area. In addition, an unlucky man’s house in Massachusetts has become a Pokemon Gym. People constantly sit by his house, battling virtual Pokemon. Students at Pace continue to join in the craze. “The craziest thing I have done to catch a Pokemon was when I was in the Minnesota airport running to
catch my flight back to Atlanta," said junior Daniel Blumen. "I saw a Tauros [rare Pokemon] behind me and quickly ran back through the airport to go catch it. Luckily I caught both the Tauros and my flight.” Daniel’s favorite part of Pokemon Go is that he is able to play a game that he played throughout his childhood. But now he, along with many others, enjoy Pokemon in a new and exciting way with not only friends but people across the globe.
Everyone has questions that keep them up at night. Here are mine: Harambe and now Bantu… Where will it end? Why aren’t beards allowed at Pace? Will Creature perform at Music Midtown this year? Why did Instagram introduce Instagram Stories? Where are Liz and Candy (lunch ladies) now? When will Joe and Dori finally realize the love? Does the senior cellar still exist? Freshmen in the commons? Is Bernie still playing PingPong? Is Kevin Neely Wreck-It Ralph?
of daily specials hangs above the counter, and on my particular Saturday they offered a vegetarian option and a Buffalo chicken taco. I opted for the bul gogi beef taco, the special Buffalo chicken taco and a basket of their famous sesame fries. The cashier handed me a number, and I left to find a seat in the small, extremely casual dining room. After choosing a wooden booth along the edge of the restaurant, I sat and waited for my food to arrive. My food came out very quickly and with pretty good presentation. The fries were steaming hot, and the lettuce on top of the tacos looked fresh. The first thing I tasted was a sesame fry, and it tasted very
different from any fry I have had before. Instead of simply doublefrying their potatoes, Hankook achieves crispy fries by breading them. In place of regular salt, Hankook seasons their fries with a sesame salt that is both sweet and savory. If you love fries but find yourself looking for a different flavor profile, Hankook’s sesame-flavored alternative is a great choice. The tacos, however, fell very flat. My bul gogi taco was simply some shredded beef placed inside of a flour tortilla. Neither garnish of mysterious red sauce nor shredded lettuce were enough to make the flavor stand out. The Buffalo chicken taco was definitely not forgettable,
but it stood out for all the wrong reasons. The chicken itself was coated in an extremely thick, red sauce that tasted oddly of cherry cough medicine. The taco was garnished with some sort of white bleu cheese sauce and lettuce. I found the combination of bleu cheese and cough syrup to be extremely unpleasant, thus making the Buffalo chicken my least favorite taco. Overall, my experience at Hankook was not a negative one, but I do not feel like it justified the hype. Check it out if you’re around Georgia Tech or just want to try some cool MexicanKorean fusion food, but purely based off of flavor alone, it was not worth the drive.
(L-R) Freshmen Andrew Miller, Harris Greenbaum and Robert Cushman show off their rare Pokemon to one another.
Hankook Taqueria Falls Short of Hype Will Movsovitz
Guest Contributor Class of 2017
When it comes to Korean food, tacos probably are not the first food that comes to mind, and for that reason I knew that Hankook Taqueria was a must-try. I heard about the restaurant through its fantastic Yelp reviews and decided that a weekend visit would determine what all the hype was about. I pulled into the small parking lot at 1341 Collier Rd. on a Saturday at lunchtime. Their single register was crowded but not overly so. Hankook is not decorated according to any
particular theme, and the dining area feels more like food court seating than a stand-alone restaurant. The kitchen is open and looks to be modeled after a cafeteria food service line. I, however, was not deterred by the lack of glamorous decoration. I figured that the understated interior of the restaurant simply meant that the focus was on the food. That assumption proved to be partially correct. The restaurant is set up so that as soon as diners enter the restaurant, they funnel in towards the register. There isn’t a menu posted on the wall like one would assume, but there are plenty of menus on the counter for anyone to look at. The board
September 16, 2016
Sports
The Knightly News - Page 8
Cross Country Prepares to Dominate Abby Meyerowitz Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Gus Whyte
With the leadership and guidance from senior cross country captains Max Irvine, Rob Warren, Mary Brooks Perkey and Julia Ross, the team expects numerous victories this season. “The captains are great,” said sophomore runner Veronica Sandoval. “Julia is a good leader, Mary Brooks is really funny and they are very devoted to the team. “It’s fun being oldest and messing with people,” said senior Ross Cefalu. Along with the incredibly talented seniors, the team consists of young freshmen who “are better then we ever anticipated,” according to Coach Steve Cunningham. Losing Class of 2016 runner Alec Rogers hurts the team a little, he said. “But we have some fresh-
Pace cross country runners enjoy tubing down the river at their camp over the summer.
is extremely dedicated to cross country, spending 40-50 minutes on the weekends running, preparing for the exhausting week of practices and meets. Over the summer, most of the runners on the team attended a challenging sleep-away running camp to train and get ready for the upcoming season. A day at the camp consisted of waking up at around 6 a.m., followed by a workout – usually yoga or Pilates – then, breakfast. The runners then had free time until lunch. Their afternoons were spent doing team building activities, followed by a six to eight mile run. After showering and eating dinner, the runners participated in an evening activity. One night, they played in a dodgeball tournament against other schools. The Pace athletes crushed most other teams in the tournament until their defeat in the championship.
men that I think will step up.” Although many new freshmen joined the team this year, they are not the only new runners on the team. “It’s fun to see all the new team chemistry and join a part of that,” said sophomore Andrew Ladden,
new to the team this year. “I like hanging out with everyone; the seniors are cool, and the juniors are cool.” Practicing for around two hours daily, the runners show their commitment to cross country. In addition, the run-
ners attend a 6:30 a.m. yoga class on Fridays to stretch their muscles after the tough practices throughout the week and just relax. “You just run, stretch and drink chocolate milk,” said Veronica. “It’s fun getting to hang out with your friends.” She
afternoon,” but it isn’t all sunshine and smiles. Pace Athletics moved up to 3A this year and that in itself can strain the team, on top of the grueling practices and far distances they have to travel. These lengthy bus rides to away games and tough tournaments bring the team closer together. Junior Sarah Treadway, new to the team, says it “allows each player to get better acquainted with one another as people and team members.” These team members include four experienced seniors: Lizabeth Frohwein, Sari Leven, Julia Robison and Laura Shelton. Lizabeth pitched a perfect game and shutout against Stone Mountain High School on August 23, with a total of 15 strikeouts, according to Coach Marable. Julia and Laura have been with the program since their freshman year. All four seniors are passionate about their sport and serve as exceptional role models
to the younger players on the team. This varsity team will get to know what it feels like to finally have their own field next season. A softball field will be added adjacent to the baseball field at the Riverview Road Athletics Complex, and a new indoor locker room will separate the two fields. After Pace sold the fields at Warren Road, the softball team has been playing on the baseball field at Riverview Road. The baseball field was altered to fit softball regulations, but the makeshift ballpark doesn’t seem to present a problem because it “looks and plays so well” according to head coach Courtney Morrison. This softball team got off to a rough start, but is dominating their region competition currently with big wins against Stone Mountain, Redan, Towers, North Cobb and McNair. The team has a 5-9 win-loss record as of press time.
Senior Laura Shelton has played on the varsity team all four years of high school.
Softball Slides into New Season Sydnie Jiang Staff Writer Class of 2018
Photo: Allen Shelton
Cleaning off the bits of dirt from the bottom of her metal cleats, junior Presley Marxmiller sits in the dugout with unwavering focus. Batting with a teamhigh average of .625, Presley has been both consistent and extraordinary behind the plate, according to assistant coach Jewell Marable. Softball requires a level of high competition and a confident mindset throughout all the innings. “Softball is a program that needs rebuilding and because of that, we need a positive outlook and enter each game with confidence,” second baseman and junior Katie Brown said. Being one of the main sports of the fall season, softball attracts many fans. Math teacher Jason Smith describes the sport as “a nice way to spend a sunny
Varsity Volleyball Starts Strong Margaret Bethel Staff Writer Class of 2019
Photo: Marc Mitchell The Pace volleyball family has developed strong bonds.
Dominique Turner, intrepid freshman libero, high fives her teammate and takes the court with a fearsome battle cry. The bench roars to life with cheers of anticipation, and the match is ready to begin. Armed with six tenacious seniors, the varsity volleyball team has already made Pace volleyball history by slaying the Holy Innocents’, Wesleyan and Westminster varsity teams. As of press time, the team has achieved a winning record of 12-5. Head Coach Anna Bush is very satisfied with the team’s three new freshmen. “I think they have a very bright future,”
she said. “All three are already getting ample playing time.” The newest team members are freshmen Lucy Ferry, Dominique, and Ada Jane (AJ) Agolli. “The team was so welcoming to me,” said AJ. “It’s very intense, but I can definitely see us going to State.” Along with the strength and skill of the players, the team has grown in height. Lucy is 6’3” and provides deadly hitting on the right side. At 6’1.5” AJ has an amazing swing as an outside hitter. Senior Summer Brown at 6’4” is one of the towering hitters in the front row as well. Opponents cower as she spikes the ball. Committed to Duke, Summer already has over 20 kills as a hitter this season. To maximize blocking effectiveness, tallest players are placed
against the net. The Pace front row dominates their opponents like a wall. As a junior, Nia Brown follows in her sister Summer’s footsteps as a solid contributor to the team. Nia is a steadfast passer in the back row. “It’s going to be rough while we are still getting our defense together, but we are going to develop and get a lot better by the end of the season,” she said. Varsity veteran Davis Mathis returns to the court as a sophomore, with an even better serve than last year. Davis is known for her terrifying serve, and has racked up more than seven aces so far. “One might use the word family when describing our team,” said Davis. “We are close on and off the court. I think that will take us far this season.”
Need Your Football Recaps? Check out Pace varsity football game recaps on the Knightly News website: http:// knightlife.paceacademy. org/knightlynews. Guest contributors are junior Will Nulty and senior Jack Wallace, KnightFlix crew leaders.