Vol. 49, Issue #6

The Knightly News

Photos: Fred Assaf, Sydney Vincent, JD Maske, Reed Milner, and Pace Academy

New Year, New Dean: Tamara Neiley Named Dean of Class of 2028

Beloved English teacher

Tamara Neiley will step into a new role next fall as the Dean of the Class of 2028. Neiley has been at Pace for five years and in her time here, has coached soccer, won 3 state championships as a cross country coach, led an ICGL trip to Italy, taught an overload of English classes, and mentored and taught the Knightly News. In 2021 Neiley was recognized for her teaching excellence with the Kessler Award, Pace’s most prestigious faculty award.

“Here at Pace I’ve worn a lot of different hats,” she said. In her new role, Neiley is most excited to build relationships with the students and looks forward to the change of pace. “Just like the day-to-day to be different,” she said. “I’m most excited to

really build long-term relationships with the students and their families. I’m looking forward to solving problems and helping students come up with solutions to whatever their needs are.”

Before coming to Pace, Neiley worked at a boarding school in Massachusetts where she was very involved. “I taught English classes, coached soccer and ice hockey, assisted student government and was a dorm parent. Since I had so many different roles, I knew I definitely wanted to be in a highschool environment but also be more than just a teacher to the students. I love getting to know students in different dynamics,” she said.

Neiley left the New England boarding school to move to South Florida while her husband was playing professional ice hockey in Europe. Soon after, Neiley moved to Atlanta and came to Pace in 2019.

Neiley knew that she wanted to be a teacher from her own boarding school experience,

beginning at age 16. “When I was at Exeter, that was the first time I actually started to build connections with my teachers and really understand how a teacher can be an advocate and a mentor.” Neiley also mentioned a senior teacher she was able to work with at Choate Rosemary Hall during an internship in college. “He had so much energy. He was brilliant, hilarious, personable and is still a role model to me today,” she said.

When asked what her favorite part about Pace was, Neiley gave many answers. “I would say the community; the students and faculty are grateful to be here,” she said. “Pace students are dedicated, curious, personable, and I genuinely enjoy being around them.” She also mentioned the freedom she has in her classes. “I incorporate a lot of film because I have a background in film studies and I like to share that passion with my students. Pace allows me to do that, which is pretty special,” she

said. Finally, Neiley spoke about how involved Pace students are.

“We have students on newspaper who are also lacrosse players or they excel in math or they’re really involved with ICGL or the musical...Pace allows and encourages students to get involved.”

The love Neiley has for Pace is certainly reciprocated and she is loved by all of her students.

“I absolutely adore Mrs. Neiley because she makes class so fun

and is always willing to help her students in any way shape or form. She is a friend to all!” said Senior Ansley Freudenstein. Looking forward to next fall, Neiley gave some advice for the upcoming freshman. “Let’s do ninth grade right,” she said. “Get to know your teachers. Your teachers are there to support you, they want to help you and watch you succeed. Let’s take it day-by-day. You know, let’s figure out how to be 14-year-olds.”

Saying Goodbye to the Teachers Leaving Pace

Neil DeRosa

Neil Derosa has worked at Pace since 1973 as a vital part of the Pace Community. He has served as a Technology Coordinator, the varsity boys tennis coach, and a Middle School Discovery Teacher. Mr. DeRosa has lived in Atlanta his entire life and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Tech. He also has two daughters, two sisters, and three nephews and nieces who have attended Pace and says “It is the gift of a lifetime. I will miss daily interactions with caring, motivated students, parents, teachers and staff that create an educational culture that is without parallel,” Mr. DeRosa says. He also says “I encourage students to reach out when you need help, academic or otherwise” and “Pace teachers and school leaders love you and have your best interest at heart.”

He notes his memories from the 2017 ICGL trip to India and says “The teachers and students were fantastic. One of my favorite memories was defeating Lovett for the Tennis state championship, my sister, Robyn, participating on Pace’s first Varsity Girls Basketball team and winning the 1977 Region Championship” says Mr. DeRosa. Mr. DeRosa plans to venture on a month-long fly-fishing trip to Wyoming and Montana.

Ted Ward

Mr. Ward has been a vital part of Pace Academy since 2019. He has acted as the Associate Director of the ICGL and an Upper School History teacher. He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education. “I am going to miss the lifelong connections I have made with students, families and faculty at Pace,” says Mr. Ward. He orga-

nizes many of the community service and ICGL projects in the Pace community, so he has had an impact on every student. “I remember our first meal packing event on Martin Luther King weekend and how mind-blowing it was to see about one hundred Pace students and faculty be so enthusiastic about service,” Mr. Ward says. Mr. Ward has worked to engage the Pace community with different organizations and people around Atlanta to help them by packing meals, organizing food drives, tutoring students and many other forms of service. “I want to remind people that helping others in so many ways is only the first step and that we need to work to get to the root of the problems in order to help our community,” says Mr. Ward. Mr. Ward plans to return to educational equity and help older students who do not thrive in the traditional education system with their career pathways.

Alex Ermides

Graduating with a bachelor’s

degree in engineering science, Mr. Ermides has been an amazing Upper School Computer Science teacher since 2022. His enthusiasm for computer science excites his students to learn more about computers and what they can accomplish. “I love how tightly knit the Pace community is and how I have made connections with many students here,” says Mr. Ermides. “I remember how my Intro to Programming class started a coding rivalry with one of my AP classes and they went head to head in competitions which was super fun,” Mr. Ermides says. During class, students learn different programs and how to use them in different contexts. “I love Mr. Ermides’ class because he knows so much about computer science and is willing to help whenever you need it,” says Sophomore Eva Swales. Mr. Ermides is now moving to North Carolina and hopes to work in a technical job outside of teaching to confirm that teaching is what he truly wants to do.

Pace Implements Mental Wellness Initiative

Many students remember the late start day a month ago where students got to sleep in, but the real reason for the late start was that it was the first step in the new Mental Health Initiative taking place at Pace. Upper School Counselor Mrs. Ellye Millaway spearheads the initiative. “The goal is to rethink

student mental health from a more proactive and preventative lens” she says. Upper School Counselor Mrs. Amelia Harmon says, “My hope for the Mental Wellness Initiative is that it normalizes taking care of your mental health in the same way we take care of our physical health.”

While mental health has been a concern nationally in recent years. Mental health is typically associated with times of stress or anxiety, but there is more to it. Mrs.Harmon says, “Mental

health does not only apply when things in our lives are stressful, but also when we are happy and relaxed, and every day we should be using skills to manage our stress and our emotions.”

Mrs. Millaway says “we want to help the whole student population starting from pre first all the way to 12th grade.” Resources like the Student Advisory Board and Counselors are always available, but there needs to be more focus on Mental Health as a whole.

Since next fall will mark the

beginning of the initiative, the administration will implement some new strategies. Next year the freshman class will have a dean and a counselor for their class. The dean and counselor will work together to do programming and class meetings during assembly that focus on mental health.

Another improvement will be the revision of the transitions program. Many know the transitions program as an outdated program focused on drugs and alcohol, high school study

strategies and adjusting to high school, but there hasn’t been a focus on mental health will is arguably one of the relevant issues. “The program will include social and emotional skill building, and it will have a new name.”

Students are meant to have more support than just their dean and counselors. “All teachers will be equipped with the tools to help students so that if somebody has a problem, they can go to the person they already know and trust,” Mrs. Millaway says.

Mr. Ermides, Mr. Ward and Mr DeRosa pose for a photo.

Mrs. Neiley poses with the Knightly News staff on the staff retreat.

Photo: Olivia Siskin

Photo: Bennett Cummings

ICGL Travels the World Over Spring Break

This past spring break, the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) commissioned four trips around the world. The goal of these trips is to give Upper School students a new outlook on the world, develop new leadership and communication skills and create student leaders. To reach this goal, each trip has three focus areas they follow. These tours are a huge learning experience for any students attending, being able to see so many communities different from the United States. This past spring break, the ICGL visited Ecuador, Thailand, Basque Country Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

The Ecuador trip spent the week exploring the High Andes region of Ecuador led by US Science Teacher Ben Ewing and Associate Director of the ICGL, Ted Ward, focusing on water and sustainability, outdoor adventure and leadership development. They spent most of their time in the wilderness, camping and cooking. On their first day, students visited a local Ecuadorian farm and tried local cuisine.

The majority of this trip was occupied by backpacking in the mountains of Ecuador, having five days dedicated to hiking, where students constantly struggled with getting stuck in the mud. One day, students commissioned a 7-mile hike and got to the summit of a mountain range. Lastly, they made their way down to the Amazon River Basin to white water rafting.

“My favorite part was when we went water rafting in part of the Amazon River. It was gorgeous scenery and a fun and new experience,” says Junior Sydney Lettes.

The trip to the United Arab Emirates focused on water systems, religion and regional cultures. Pace students, led by US English Teacher Jason Brooks and US Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Nikki McCrary, spent their first day visiting the Palm Islands and the Mall of Emirates. On the second day of their trip, students visited sites such as the Women’s Museum, the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk and the Burj Khalifa in the heart of Dubai. “My favorite part of the trip was when we visited the Burj Khalifa. We went to the top and the view was amazing. I got to take so many pictures,” says Sophomore Tyler Swartz.

Throughout the rest of their trip, students visited the International Humanitarian City, the world’s largest hub for distributing aid to people in human-created crises and natural disasters and discussed many important issues regarding water. Students also spent some time in the desert on this trip off-roading, riding camels and camping in the desert. After leaving the desert, the trip visited the Zayed Foundation, where they learned about sustainability initiatives, and then explored the process of water desalination in a factory. Students finished off their trip exploring the capital city, Abu Dhabi, visiting sites like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Over in the Basque Country, US World Language Teachers

Jenna Dwyer and Alison Riley led a trip focusing on Spanish

language, cultural immersion, and sustainability. Students started their trip off strong visiting the Museo Reina Sofia and visiting host families in Pamplona. “Staying with these Spanish host families was my favorite part of the trip. It was great to be in the Basque culture and see what their lives are like firsthand,” says Sophomore Braylon Cambor.

Students also spent time walking the Etapa De Santiago. Since Basque Country borders both Spain and France, students were able to spend a day in Biarritz, France, and take in the sights with students from the British School of Navarra. Students also took a couple of classes in this school regarding intercultural competency. Students were able to take part in the cuisine side of Basque Country, being able to visit markets to buy food and take cooking classes, learning how to

make Talos, a traditional Basque meal, and sustainable homemade cheese. Next, students visited a cave system, Arrikutz, and a famous church, Arrantazu. To finish off their trip, students visited the coastal town of Donosti to see the water before leaving.

Lastly, the Thailand trip, led by Chief DEI Officer Joanne Beauvoir Brown and Director of College Counseling Jonathan Ferrell, focused on water systems, regional cultures and Buddhism. The trip started in Bangkok: the first and second days consisted of students exploring the city, visiting Buddhist temples and learning the

“My favorite part of Thailand was when I got to explore Buddhist temples...”

significance of canals. “My favorite part of Thailand was when I got to explore several different

Buddhist temples because they were so different from anything I have ever seen,” states junior Peter Webb.

Students spent the third day learning about the NGO, Scholars of Sustenance Foundation, and what they do to enhance the food system in Thailand. Next, students made their way from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and hiked the waterfall trails at Erawan National Park. Students spent a little more time on their fifth day learning about the history of Kanchanaburi, visiting the ThailandBurma Railway Center, the War Cemetery and the River Kwai. On the sixth day, students made their way to Ayutthaya, toured a monestary and learned about Buddhism and meditation from a monk. The trip finished back in Bangkok as the group prepared for the trip home.

Students Finalize Their Summer Jobs

Having a job over the summer would be a productive and useful way to spend your time. While going on vacations and relaxing at home may be fun, getting a job teaches life skills and allows you to make money for the 2024-2025 school year. Working at summer camps, lifeguarding at a neighborhood pool or working at Chick-fil-A are great jobs to apply for this summer. Here are some Pace students’ summer jobs and why they love working them!

Many students work at neighborhood pools or camps as lifeguards, snack bar managers, or counselors during the summer. Sophomore Bauer Thomas, a manager at Garden Hills, says he is “in charge of making sure everyone does their job” and that “I also open and close the pool, test the pool’s chemical levels and handle the money.” Thomas says he enjoys working at a pool because he has “a lot of respon-

sibilities,” but he also gets “to spend time with coworkers who are all super fun.”

Senior Rebecca Thompson works at Westminster Summer Camp as a counselor and lifeguard. Thompson says she enjoys working at the camp because “all counselors are around the same age and we all get close over the summer.” Agape Camp Jump Smart and Keeping Pace are two other camps that have counselor positions open to high school students.

Another easy job for the summertime is nannying and dog sitting. Sophomore Merritt Thompson says she enjoys nannying in the summer because she “gets to watch the kids grow up and give them fun experiences.” Thompson says she loves to “braid hair, swim, and watch movies” with the children. Freshman Madeleine Memar also nannies in the summer and says “I love little kids and hanging out with them” and that “we love to go to the park and play outside in the summer.”

Sophomore Bella Goings dog sits for families in her neighborhood and loves that “it is a pretty

simple job and I get to walk dogs for money.” Goings says “It is also a great way to meet people in your neighborhood while also having an easy and consistent job.”

Working at local businesses is a great way to network in Atlanta and build relationships with business communities.

Junior Anna Kate Howell works at Highland Runners and says she gets “to meet different types of people and work with my best friends.” Howell works on Sundays and Tuesdays which still allows for a flexible schedule during the week. During her

shifts, she says she “gets people fitted for running shoes and helps them pick the best shoe for their foot and what activities they do.”

Ansley Freudenstein works at Yonder Yoga, which a former Pace teacher, Selby Hill, runs. Freudenstein spends her shifts checking customers in for hot yoga classes, laundry and cleaning the studio. Freudenstein says she loves Yonder because “of the long-lasting friendships and the accepting and supportive community.”

Restaurants like Chick-fil-A, Mcdonald’s and Menchies are

great summer job ideas to meet people around Atlanta and also have great food! Junior Nicholas Demba and Sophomore Will Grabowski both work at Chickfil-A throughout the school year and during the summer. Grabowski says he enjoys “having employees around the same age” as him and “the relaxed hours and managers.” Grabowski and Demba both work the front counters, drive-through windows and other tasks around the restaurant. Demba says he “loves meeting new people” and “it’s always my pleasure to serve you.” Menchies is an easy and flexible summer job and is a great first job to have.

Senior Gabby Maunter says she loves working at Menchies because “it is super interactive with customers” and “it also does not take a lot of work.”

Sophomore Andrew Kamin spent all of last summer working at McDonald’s and says he enjoyed “spending time with the coworkers that became my friends and I also liked working at the drive-through windows.”

Students in Ayutthaya pose in front of a Buddhist temple.

Photos: Pace Academy

Seniors Rebecca Thompson and Wells Howe pose with their coworkers at Westminster summer camp.

Photo: Rebecca Thompson

How the Senior Class Became Unified

The Pace Academy class of 2024 is graduating this year and many are applauding the grade for their widespread friendship. Students in this grade have been open-minded to the idea of making new friends, while withdrawing from judgment.

The senior class was not always unified. Many seniors say a switch in the friendships occurred coming into senior year. “We’re all one big friend group,” said senior Vivian Kohn. The dean of this grade, Mrs. Caitlin Terry, was lucky enough to be a part of this journey. “After the school experience with Covid 2020-2022 with social distancing and masks, I think the class of 2024 really took advantage of their junior and senior years socially, and I saw that in action in the commons, lower library, and cafeteria. I think they observed

a lot, including how previous senior classes celebrated their senior year,” Mrs. Terry explained.

In recent Pace culture, classes have become divided into specific friend groups, leaving the opportunity to make more friends behind. Nonetheless, many Pace students are content in these clicks. While connecting with everyone would be an amazing accomplishment for any class, it is important to note that

many high schools are divided, not just Pace. The senior class became unified when they left judgment behind and became open to meeting new people.

“I think that the senior class has had some division, as most grades do, but overall it’s been a balanced class where students often rally around the same events,” remarked class of 2024 student George Thompson.

“This year further unified us around a commonality: being

5 Minutes with the KN Co-Editors

Megan Klingler: Do y’all have a favorite Pace newspaper memory?

Reed Millner: I really liked doing the escape rooms. Over the past three years I think they’ve been really fun, especially this year’s one. When you know everyone it’s a lot more fun.

Ellie Siskin: I think when we were doing our first issue last May as the new co-editors and we finally finished it. We worked so hard editing and on the cover and everything and we were so excited to have it done ourselves for the first time.

David Fu: I would say mine is when Mrs. Neiley brought her puppy into class. I just really like dogs.

MK: Does anyone have a favorite article they wrote?

RM: My favorite one I wrote was probably my sophomore year, my first article, where I interviewed Kenny Selmon, who was going to the Olympics. That was a really cool article because I didn’t think I was actually going to be able to do it.

DF: My favorite one would also be the first one I wrote sophomore year. I interviewed lower schoolers and I was super stressed about it because I didn’t meet the deadline. I was like oh no, Mrs. Neiley is going to hate me but then the article turned out really well.

ES: I think my favorite was the first time I got to do a spread when Queen Elizabeth died, and I got to be in charge of that whole page and learn how to do all the layout tricks.

MK: Do you have any advice for the co-editors for next year?

ES: The biggest advice I have is to split up the work and you

guys are all going to work really well together, so if you’re collaborating on every part of it, it’s going to be really easy for you.

RM: My biggest advice would be to make sure the whole staff gets to know each other and feels comfortable with each other, because when you have a staff that can all work together well it makes class more enjoyable for everyone.

DF: I would say my biggest advice is just to stay on top of things especially at the end of the year with senioritis.

MK: What are you looking forward to for next year in college?

DF: I’m looking forward just to meeting new people and especially being in New York.

RM: I’m excited to be in a new school. I’ve been at Pace for thirteen years, so it’ll be a change of pace for sure.

ES: Yeah, I’m excited to see new places and get to experience a different kind of school environment.

MK: What was something for newspaper that you’re really proud of that you did this year?

RM: I’m really proud of how far our staff has come and everything we’ve done this year because we definitely faced some challenges. If you asked me sophomore year if I ever thought I’d be able to do any

of this, I probably would have thought it was crazy.

ES: I feel like, reading everyone’s first articles they’ve turned in, everyone has gotten so much better by this last issue, and it’s great to see how much everyone’s improved.

DF: And I think in general working on making our newspapers look more interesting. We have spreads in every issue, and adding Hayes’ column; it really makes them pop.

MK: Any last words for Mrs. Neiley and the newspaper staff?

ES: They’ve been such a supportive group these last few years and especially Mrs. Neiley, she’s helped us with everything we need, so thank you, and we know you guys are going to do great next year. I’ll be excited to see the issues and articles.

RM: Definitely a special thanks to everyone on staff who’s been really helpful and to Mrs. Neiley because she started out her newspaper career with us and so it’s been really fun over the last three years to grow with her. I love her and I’m really excited to see where she goes.

DF: Also for me, a thank you to Mrs. Neiley. I’ve done some questionable things, but like, she’s put up with me…

RM and ES: [laughs]

MK: Thank you!

world. In a world that feels distant and harsh, a contributor of kindness can make a large difference in making someone feel happier and more secure.

seniors.”

Why should a class strive to become connected? Throughout life, people have to meet and understand different people’s points of views. Students may be restricting themselves by only getting to know a select amount of people, because they will lose out on valuable perspectives from people they may not know. Trying to actively learn more about someone new is contributing to a better class and a better

Mrs. Terry summarized some major events that brought the seniors together. “They intentionally started their senior year experience with spreading joy - 24K Magic! I heard that the peer leaders were exceptional on the Freshman Retreat (something the class of 2024 didn’t get to experience) and the rafting trip was a lot of fun, which carried over into senior tailgates (shoutout to the burger master, Will Moore), and the creation of the Color Wars for the whole school.” These events have been great opportunities for the class to bond, and the students took advantage of it.

Mrs. Terry advises future classes to learn from the class of 2024 and their high school experience. “You can’t count on “normal” activities and traditions happening, so be prepared to create your own and make every day count,” she stated.

Ace Your Exams

There’s only a week until exams and you don’t know what to do. Don’t worry, I got you. For reference, let’s use the acronym, STARE: spaced repetition, take breaks, active recall, repetition and exam taking. First is spaced repetition, or the reviewing of the same information with gradually longer breaks in between. Let’s say a student has a Spanish vocab quiz in a week. At first, he might use a free to study the terms for 20 minutes, then take a 10 minute break, and then study again for 20 minutes. Then a couple hours later, he’d study the terms again when he gets home and yet again the following morning. Later that day, he takes the quiz, but exams are coming up and he doesn’t want to forget the vocab. So 3 days after the vocab quiz, he studies the terms again, then a week later, then once before his exams and he’s prepared. But have you already forgotten the earlier units of the 2nd semester? Then begin lightly reviewing what you’ve forgotten every week or so, that way when it’s exam time, you only need to study once. Second is taking breaks. Everyone has developed their ability to focus to a different extent, so how often one might take breaks varies from person to person. However, neurological researcher Caeleigh MacNeil discovered evidence supporting that periods of deep work lasting up to but no longer than 1 hour and 30 minutes is optimal for studying. Therefore I recommend you scrap the Pomodoro Technique and attempt at 2 periods of deep work each day coming up to the exams with at least a 2 hour period in between each

study session. But you must be careful how you spend your time during these breaks, especially right before you study. You must not do something more entertaining than studying.

Third is active recall. You MUST NOT READ YOUR NOTES! Reading notes is scientifically proven by Mark Bohay, Daniel P. Blakely, Andrea K. Tamplin and Gabriel A. Radvansky’s joint study to have the weakest effect in correlation to memorization according to. You must question yourself when studying. For example, if you have flashcards, don’t just read one side then flip the card and read the other side. After reading one side of the flashcard, quiz yourself on what the other side will say. The act of pulling information out of your mind repetitively tells your brain that that piece of information is important and this moves it to long term memory.

That’s why our fourth letter, R for repetition is so important. There is simply no way to get around it. To be prepared for an at bat in a baseball game, one repeats their swing in the cages thousands of times. To prepare for a morning announcement, one might repeat it in their head over and over. To prepare for a band concert, one would play the same song over and over. Thus to prepare for exams, you must relentlessly study information. Lastly is the act of taking the exam. When going through questions at the start don’t allow yourself to get stuck on any. If they take longer than a minute, mark them with a question mark and move on. Additionally, it’s important to have your own watch(can’t be a smart watch) to keep track of your time. I wish you all good luck, and remember, if you don’t have faith in yourself, you can always have faith in the work you put in.

Photo: Megan Klingler

Co-Editors in Chief plan for an upcoming issue.

The Class of 2024 poses for a picture together before Prom.

Photo: Pace Academy

Honoring the 2024 Knightly News Seniors

Newspaper is a year-round elective where students grades 10 through 12 complete six newspaper issues per year. This year eight seniors participated in the course.

There were three Co-Editorsin-Chief, David Fu, Ellie Siskin and Reed Millner. In the 20232024 school year, they guided new staff writers on beginning writing, starting layout, and overseeing any problems that the staff would face. They overlooked the video and helped approve many articles. They set the tone for the staff and created a healthy work environment for staff to work in. Siskin stated “I loved getting to learn about people around the school through interviews and working with people throughout the class.” They will be sadly missed and all of the staff is so grateful for the work they have done. Next year’s Co-Editors-in-Chief are rising Seniors Etan Gerber, Megan Klingler and Brian Sil-

Seniors pose in their final class together.

verboard.

Zachary Meyerowitz, who served as the online editor, helped keep the website up to date and made sure articles were published on the site as well. Next year’s online editor is Sophomore Sophia Webb. “I enjoyed the website this year. If I forgot to pick a newspaper up in assembly, I could stay updated on the website. I am so happy that one of my really good

Theater Impresses in “Mean Girls”

On April 18 and 19, the cast of Mean Girls performed the annual spring musical to roaring crowds. Junior Elsa Nagle played the main character Cady Heron and junior Meghan Keller played the antagonist Regina George in the high school version of this popular show. “I’ve really enjoyed working with this cast,” Keller said.

The decision to put on Mean Girls was particularly timely because the 2024 version of the Mean Girls movie is based off of the Broadway play and features some of the same songs as the spring musical! In the famous story, high school events are dramatized into hilarious hijinks as the students descend into chaos. The show showcases Pace’s dancing skills in the carefully choreographed performance, but the incredible dancing is not the only highlight; the show features impressive vocals and acting from all four grades. The cast members were excited to perform a more mature show, and especially one so recently in the news. “I think it’s definitely

less kiddy and fits the age demographic better,” junior Hannah Klein said. “It’s a great show; we have really good talent this year.”

Junior Nailah Beachem was in charge of marketing for the spring musical to best promote the show. She created posters, designed banners and organized presentations to the student body. “Mean Girls was such a fun show to market,” she says. “I had a great time putting together all the iconic moments from the movie and in the show.” Beachem also competed in a theater marketing competition at Georgia ThesCon, the GHSA state competition. She earned a Superior rating and won a Critics Choice Award along with Carly Cannon for Solo Musical Theater. Working on marketing for Mean Girls “really helped me understand my role in the musical better,” Beachem said.

The cast performed on both Thursday and Friday, and the Friday performance was also senior night for the theater, where they celebrated Seniors Jackson Allegra and Hannah White for a great four years of drama. “I’ve enjoyed the process and watching it slowly but surely come together,” said Allegra. Congrats to the cast of “Mean Girls!”

I know I will always have fun conversations when I come into this class.” Next year, Pace’s News editor is Sophomore Anne Weiss. “Anne is a great pick for Pace News because I feel she knows what happens at Pace at all times,” said Freshman Londyn Wilburn.

Harrison Leusink was this year’s sports editor, which entailed his constant effort to make sure all sports-related articles were perfectly crafted. Leusink spent his time in newspaper honing his sports knowledge and teaching himself the skills he needed to succeed as the sports editor. Next year, the position will be handed down to Sophomore Grant Chase.

friends is taking over this position and I know she will do an amazing job,” said Sophomore Bella Goings.

The Pace News editor was Alice Gash for this school year. She assisted in all of the articles having to do with the current news happening at Pace and helped staff come up with story ideas. She stated “Meeting people in all grades is my favorite part about newspaper.

Kaci McCray held the position of Multimedia Editor which meant that she worked with staffers interested in producing video content and slideshows for the Knightly News website. McCray also showcased her skills in taking charge of the layout of the newspaper. She stated “My favorite part of newspaper in high school was when I worked on the Dr. Carter and Dr. Haizlip newspaper video. I also loved morning breakfast with my other

staffers.” Next year, her position will be passed down to Sophomore Bennett Cummings.

Managing Editor, Hannah Much, supervised the newspaper to make sure it was going in the right direction. She made sure all stories had photos and helped plan parties for staffers’ birthdays. The next year’s managing editor will be passed to Harrison Silver. “I am so glad Harrison will be taking over this newspaper job. I am sure he will work hard and do an excellent job to make sure the newspaper turns out great!” said Junior Drew Martin.

Sadly, Seniors have to graduate at some point. Thank you Seniors for setting a work ethic for everyone to follow. The Seniors will be missed, but the remaining staffers wish them the best of luck for the next step in their lives. Thank you to David Fu, Ellie Siskin, Reed Millner, Zachary Meyerowitz, Alice Gash, Harrison Leusink, Kaci McCray and Hannah Much!

Teachers Celebrate New Babies!

The 2023-24 school year has been exciting for many reasons, but one of the reasons is the number of teacher babies. A total of seven faculty members are having children this year, including Mrs. Caitlin Terry, Mrs. Tamara Neiley, Dr. Kaylan Haizlip, Mr. Ben Ewing, Mrs. Amy Ruff, Mrs. Jordan Silverboard, and Mrs. Lena Andrews. “There must be something in the water,” English teacher Mrs. Neiley said. “This is the largest group of pregnancies I’ve ever seen in a year in all of my teaching career.”

One of the first to have a child was science chair Dr. Haizlip, who was out over the winter while her biology classes were taught by Dr. Kavita Kotte. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Norah! Dr. Haizlip decided on the name Norah because of her inspiration from the singer Norah Jones. “When I was younger I really struggled with depression and Norah Jones is the reason I’m here today,” Dr. Haizlip said.

Dr. Haizlip joked that all of the teachers are going to join a playgroup. “I am a girl mom, so I’m really excited to meet Mrs. Andrew’s daughter and Mr. Ewing’s if he ever tells us if it’s a boy or girl,” she said.

During the spring two college counselors have gone on maternity leave, Mrs. Ruff and Mrs. Andrews. In March Mrs. Ruff’s child was born, her second baby boy! His name is Theodore West Ruff, called Theo. Helping out in the College Counseling office while people

are out is Ms. Beverly Coleman. Also in March, Class of 2024 dean and history teacher Mrs. Terry started her maternity leave. She will retire from her position as dean but taking the position is Mrs. Neiley, who is also looking forward to a new member of the family in early July. Her baby boy is going to be named Everett Walker. “We really like the nickname Rhett and my husband’s initials are EW so we wanted to match that,” she said. “We also wanted something really different. As a teacher it’s pretty difficult to name

your baby because you teach so many kids with different names and you don’t want to use any of theirs. But I’ve never taught an Everett before.”

Some of the teachers have been secretive about the gender of their new baby. Science teacher Mr. Ewing found out but has decided not to share with the rest of the school. And Mrs. Silverboard has decided to not learn the gender of her baby and will find out on the day of. Although the number of absences has been large, it’s all for an exciting reason!

Photo: Bennett Cummings

Mrs. Andrew’s daughter celebrates two months.

The cast of Mean Girls poses to applause.

Photo: Fred Assaf

Dr. Haizlip’s daughter plays with a toy.

Photo: Kaylan Haizlip

Photo: Lena Andrews

Gukesh Becomes Youngest Ever Challenger for World Chess Champion

The Fide Candidates tournament concluded on Apr. 21, crowning Gukesh Dommaraju as the youngest ever winner of the candidates. He will now be able to challenge reigning world champion Ding Liren for the title of the World Chess Champion.

In the Candidates, getting first place is the only result that matters, as only the winner will be able to challenge the current world champion. Thus, the Candidates sees more decisive games and less draws than in other tournaments. Players are more likely to play uncommon openings to throw off their opponents and bank on the surprise factor to win them the games. This leads to riskier play but also more exciting games.

The world’s consensus best player Magnus Carlsen was

not in attendance. Although he qualified for the tournament by winning the 2023 FIDE Chess World Cup, the five time world champion refused to defend his title last year and will do the same this year. “Under the current format, I will not play at the candidates,” said Carlsen in an interview with Chess24. In his letter to the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Carlsen claims that the current format is unfair, as he believes the short amount of games leads to too much variance, leading to the best player not always winning the championship. FIDE has not listened to any of Carlsen’s suggestions to improve the tournament.

Going into the tournament, the favorites to win were Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura. However, Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi has won the previous two candidates and was in good form going into the tournament. With the Candidates being a notoriously punishing

tournament for younger players, there were very low expectations for the other participants. Going into the last round of the Candidates, Gukesh Dommaraju led the candidates with a score of 8.5, and Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi and Caruana were all tied for second with a score of 8. With the pairings being Nakamura vs Dommaraju and Nepomniachtchi vs Caruana, the four title contenders played each other for the first place spot. Nakamura played an aggressive queen’s gambit, though Dommaraju shut down any attacking chances and ended the game in a draw. Caruana vs Nepomniachtchi was a much more chaotic game. Despite being in a winning position multiple times throughout the course of the game, Caruana missed the winning idea, drawing their game as well. The 17-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju won the Candidates with a score of 9/14.

“Right now, I’m just so relieved and so happy - I was follow-

ing this crazy game [Caruana vs Nepomniachtchi] and I was completely emotional but now I’m feeling quite good,” said Dommaraju in the post-game interview.

Dommaraju’s victory makes him the youngest ever winner, and the second person from India to win the Candidates.

“Right now, I’m mostly just happy about winning the tournament - I don’t really care about the ‘youngest’ and all these

records but you know it’s a nice thing to say,” said Dommaraju. “The main thing is that I was in a right mindset during the event. From start to end I was in good spirits, I was fully motivated and I really wanted to win the event. When all these things come together it was helpful that I was sharp enough chess-wise and I managed to play some good chess. I would say mainly my mental attitude in this tournament was very good.”

The TikTok “Ban” Floods National Media

On March 13, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the act to ban the widely popular app, TikTok. This bill passed with a 352-65-1 vote in the House and a promise from President Biden to sign off on this act if it passes through the Senate. More specifically, the order calls for ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to divest or sell TikTok to an American-owned company. The request is more of a transfer of ownership than a “ban.”

The history of the suspicion of TikTok began in 2020. The

general concern has been that the widespread use of TikTok will result in ByteDance controlling software across the United States. President Trump passed an executive order to ban the app, but his efforts ended after he allied with the tech company, Oracle, to protect American data. In March of 2023, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, spoke in court against the ban of the app, claiming it to have little to no connection to China. Regardless, in May of 2023, Montana became the first state to sign legislation to ban TikTok.

A big event that raised more suspicion for the app occurred in 2022 when employees at a corporation were able to use data TikTok had collected to

find out if their workers had told reporters information. After this scandal, TikTok commissioned Project Texas to be able to manage all of the United States data it holds and protect it.

Meanwhile, content creators on TikTok are very much against this ban. The creators claim that businesses and people whose income relies heavily on the dividends they receive from the app will suffer from this. They go even further to suggest this act will ruin the lives of all of these people if it progresses. Lawyers Adam Schwartz and David Greene add that this would “undermine the free speech and association of millions of users” by limiting their rights to use this app.

Students have strong opin-

ions on the matter as well. “I am devastated that I won’t be able to use TikTok anymore,” says Sophomore Bella Goings. However, teachers at Pace have a different opinion. “This is a hard one for me, I think TikTok can be very dangerous, but I do not want censorship across America.

Paris to Host the 2024 Summer

Paris is the place to be this summer with the Summer 2024

beginning in late July!

Starting on July 26 and closing on August 11, this summer’s competition is a must-watch as it includes many exciting teams and even a new sport. In addition, the games will take place in the heart of one of the greatest cities in the world!

Since the Olympics’ start in

1894, there has always been an opening ceremony to honor the teams and countries competing. This year’s opening ceremony will be exciting and full of firsts. For the first time in Olympic history, the ceremony will take place outside of the stadium. Instead, teams will ride in boats 6 km down the Seine River, through the center of Paris. Around 10,500 athletes and 160 boats will cross the river and arrive at the Trocadéro, near the Eiffel Tower for the finale. The opening ceremony is free to all spectators and is estimated to have an additional 1 billion viewers online.

This summer’s Olympics will feature a new sport called Breaking. It will debut in Paris following its success in Buenos Aires at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2018. According to the Olympics website, breaking, also

In general, I think we should take away all social media and phones in school,” says US History Teacher Helen Smith. Regardless of a legitimate ban or not, TikTok will still exist in different countries and the Senate has no desire to move hastily on the matter.

Olympics

known as breakdancing is an urban dance style that began in the 1970s. “It is a form of dance sport that blends urban dance with remarkable athleticism.”

In the Paris games this summer, there will be both men’s and women’s solo battles. Beginning on Aug 9 at La Concorde inside the Olympic village, athletes from around the world will improvise to the DJ’s selected song. Judges will vote on their favorite candidates and the first Breaking medals will be awarded on Aug 10.

Many fan-favorite athletes will be also returning to Team USA this summer including Simone Biles, Lebron James and Katie Ledecky. “Simone Biles is so fun to watch and I can’t wait to watch her perform in Paris!” said sophomore Anna Kate Shelton. In addition, new athletes will step into the spotlight.

Top prospects include track star Sha’Carri Richardson, swimmer Hunter Armstrong, gymnast Shilese Jones and wrestler Zain Retherford.

Most events begin on Jul 27, including Beach Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Soccer and many more. Others, such as Diving and Hockey begin later, in August. “I am most excited to watch the Beach Volleyball because it is so fast-paced and competitive,” said freshman Eli Bejar. I can’t wait to cheer for Team USA!” All events close before Aug 11 with the closing ceremony which will take place at Stade de France, the national stadium of France.

Team USA is predicted to win 37 gold medals, 129 overall medals, and win big at this year’s Olympics. Make sure to tune in and cheer for the United States!

Olympics

Photo: ChessBase India

Gukesh Dommoraju makes a draw with Fabiano Caruana in the eleventh round.

U.S. citizens gather outside the Capitol building in protest.

Photo: The Poly Spotlight

Many events will take place around the center of Paris.

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite

Should Pace Ban Phones?

After a successful SAB event where Pace students turned in their phones for the school day to win a prize, many students and faculty wondered if school would be better without these distractions. A large percent of Pace students participated, earning some ice cream during lunch. The event was organized to see if students could be less reliant on their phones in order to improve their mental health. Mrs. Helen Smith, feels strongly that Pace would be better off without phones. She wishes that students would not have access to their phones during classes, break and lunch. “Teenagers are lonelier and feel more separate from their peers than they ever have been before,” affirmed Mrs. Smith. “This is sad and dangerous for our society and the individuals.” She continued to make her argument of banning phones during the school day by ex-

plaining that “we rely too much on social media for contact.”

Other faculty members also shared very similar opinions. “I think that students are missing out on opportunities to connect with each other and interact face to face,” said Ms. Tara Harris. Faculty members like Ms. Harris are concerned about the effects of phones on the student body. Especially since teachers see students every day, they know and see first-hand the problems of phone usage. Overall, Pace teachers are concerned with the distractions and isolation that phones bring to their students, and many teachers want Pace to ban phones. Besides these real life experiences, research studies back up the faculty’s opinions. For example, a study from UNESCO found that it takes high school students up to twenty minutes to refocus after using a cell phone in a classroom. This is alarming because students take out and use their phones in between classes. Therefore, students may not be able to be fully focused on their lessons if phones create such a longstanding distraction.

On the other hand, there is a large number of Pace students begging to not ban phones from school. “I don’t think that Pace should ban phones outside of class because you need to be able to contact your parents. In high school, you have so much going on, that it is just inconvenient [to not have your phone with you],” says President of the junior class, Nicholas Demba. Another Pace high school student said that they “could not live without their phone.” These students’ opinions reflect a growing attachment to phones in high schools. Although, these concerns could be resolved with simple solutions: As long as students have their phones after 3:00 pm, parents and students should be able to communicate with each other just fine. If there was a necessary reminder or emergency during the school day, Mrs. Eagleson could transfer the message to the student. Emailing via computer could also be an alternative to communicating via phones. As well, students have not always needed a phone at school to communicate with their parents. In the lower school, communica-

tion is just fine and none of the kids have phones. It is not uncommon for schools to start thinking about banning cell phones. Many schools around the country are trying to eliminate phones from the classroom in order to create a more focused learning environment. UNESCO’s data recommends a ban on smartphones at school for students of all ages, analyzing that countries that enforce phone restrictions see improved academic performance and less bullying. But is banning phones during the school day at Pace really a

possibility? No, parents would be outraged if students’ phones were restricted from use during the school day. Most likely, many parents would feel that this restriction is a loss of their child’s rights. However, I believe a potential ban of phones would not be any different than disallowing the use of other inappropriate behaviors that distract students in the classroom. With the growing amount of issues stemming from phone usage in high schools, many private schools will soon have to make a decision on whether phones belong at school or not.

Sign Up for a Self-Improving Summer

School’s out and summer starts. It is time to have a fun, relaxing and stress free summer. WRONG! Summer is the best time for self-improvement, especially because while others are lounging around, you can catch up.

Sophomore Jack Lynch challenged, “But I just worked

so hard the whole school year, I deserve a relaxing party filled summer.” No, you deserve even better than that. Spending time partying, relaxing and scrolling through your phone is often fun in moderation, but many of us have no sense of moderation. I’m sure everyone has experienced one of those days where you spend all day inside on electronics.

I can attest from personal experience that by the end of such days you feel depressed and exhausted. So how do you fix

Pace Crossword

that? You must remain productive throughout the summer. The worst feeling in the summer is feeling endlessly bored. This happens because humans are creatures of habits and schedules, so having nothing to do is our bodies worst enemy. We can avoid these feelings by making a productive daily schedule and by sticking to that schedule even only by 30% you’ll enjoy your day much more.

“But Hayes, what should I fill my schedule with? There’s nothing for me to do.” You are

Ms. Smith announcement

Fantasy Sports minimester

South American ICGL destination

Freshman science project

Head of upper school

wrong again! There’s countless things to do including, working out, practicing a sport, going on a walk, journaling, practicing or learning an instrument, visiting your grandparents, hanging out with a friend, watering your garden, and simply doing whatever healthy habit you’re interested in. A day filled with activity is fulfilling, the alternative is boring. We’re all given the choice to take advantage of our time here on earth, and we tend to respect and look up to those who are

NBA Alumni or APUSH

Special schedule day

“Let’s try to get to school on time”

Common lunch on Friday

very productive with their time. Productivity is rewarding, if you work hard, then you’ll feel good. That feeling of sadness and depression that accompanies one’s laziness is our bodies screaming at us to move and make a change in our lives. So make a change!

Way pay staple

Prom Theme

19. Alumni representing USA at the Olympics

22. Most popular college for Class 2023

Photo: Biran Silverboard

Mrs. Smith speaks to a student with her customary level of enthusiasm.

New York Times Games Take Over Pace Academy

The New York Times game series has recently seen a surge in popularity. With hits including the Mini, Connections, Wordle, Sudoku and Strands, people have been spending more and more time on these daily puzzles. For many, these games have become part of their daily routines. When students have downtime, during free periods and break, many students can be seen playing these games. This is not the first time the New York Times has been popular at Pace, however.

The Wordle came out in 2022, and it immediately became a hit at Pace. Students across different grades could be seen playing these games, with

competition to see who could get the word in the shortest amount of guesses. With the Wordle’s repetitive format, it gradually dwindled in popularity as the daily format became stale to many. Earlier this year, however, these games seemed to suddenly be popular again. A major

reason for this change was the introduction of the Connections.

Coming out in June 2023, the Connections is a matching game with 16 words. These terms can be sorted by specific categories into groups of four. This simple format combined with the new words every day keeps the game

engaging and fun.

Additionally, the New York Times introduced a new game in early March this year. The strands is a wordsearch puzzle with a theme or ‘Spanagram’ linking all of the words. The other words the user will find can be used to contribute to a hint, with three words leading to one hint. This hint will highlight the letters of a target word, allowing the user to complete the puzzle with less difficulty.

The New York Times has also seen success outside of Pace. According to Axios, the New York Times games were played more than 8 million times in 2023, with Wordle having 4.8 million plays. Additionally, the New York Times has created an app that has been downloaded more than 10 million times. “What we do uniquely, I think, is have a human-made, human-curated, high degree

of editorial rigor and quality standards, and fact-checking and editors upon editors — and we’re at a scale where we can really mount that kind of human effort to get behind our puzzles,” said Head of NYT Games Jonathan Knight.

Not all of the New York Times games have been successful, however. Digits was a math based puzzle game introduced in 2021, though it has been discontinued since. The concept of the game was for the player to reach the target number using the given numbers and the four basic operations.

The New York Times Games catalog is going to remain relatively small in order to maintain game quality. “We want to be known for a handful of highquality, human-made puzzles, with a daily solve, that reach as many people as we can,” said Knight.

2023-2024 School Year in Review

The New York Times Games are displayed.

Photo: X.com@NY-TimesWordPlay

Knights Compete for Playoffs as Seasons Close

The Knights baseball team has been extremely successful this year proven by their record of 16-7-2. As they are approaching the playoffs, the Knights have been playing many games throughout the weeks where they are fighting for their playoff seeding. Buckhead rival Lovett faced the Knights in late March, and despite Pace’s away game loss to Lovett, they were successful in their rematch the next day at home. The Baseball team is led by coach Nelson Pedraza along with the rest of the teams conjoined efforts. Playoffs are just around the corner and the team hopes to make it back to the state championship like they did in their 2022 season.

The Pace boys and girls golf teams are beginning to wrap up their season, but they are still going strong with hopes of winning their remaining tournaments. In a recent tournament, sophomore Jack Lynch shot a hole in one on a par three. Girls golf is led by two seniors, Reita Maguire and Madeline McMullan, while the boys team is led by three seniors, Ross Bernath, Thomas Bready and Zachary Myerowitz.

Despite the small size of the Knights gymnastics team, they have been extremely successful in meets throughout the year. Senior Gabby Mautner leads the team and has guided the two other members of the team, sophomores Reign Sherrell and Lena Phoenix. Head coach Steve Cunningham is also of great support to the team and will continue to help them as their season wraps up.

As the boys and girls lacrosse regular season begins to wrap up for the Knights, both teams

have competed in numerous games to prepare for the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) playoffs in which they have both earned a spot in. The boys lacrosse team has a record of 7-8 while the girls team has a record of 9-6. Boys lacrosse seniors, Harrison Leusink, Alex Trujillo, J.D Maske and Alex Hayes are captains and guide the team in assisting head coach, Chase Winter. “It’s an honor to be a part of this team, and with my final season ending soon, it’s important to play to the best of my abilities,” said Trujillo. The girls lacrosse team was led by Coach Kelsey Lowe to a state championship trophy last year and with senior leadership from

captains Sydney Vincent, Emery Duncan, and Jordan Howard, they are looking to repeat last year’s process and make a deep run into the playoffs.

Both boys and girls Pace soccer teams have accomplished the honor of competing for a GHSA state championship and will enter the playoffs with winning records. The boys soccer team is currently 11-5 and the girls also have a winning record of 11-5-1.

The boys soccer team is led by coach Lucas Moreno along with captains Langston Baptiste and Martin Andra-Thomas, and they hope to return to the state championship like they did in the 2022 season where they were 4A state champions. Likewise,

the girls soccer team was also very successful making it to the state championship. They are led by coach Declan Traquair and captains, Kaci Mcray, Alexa Ibarra and Harper Auchincloss.

Boys and Girls tennis are both region champions and have also both been victorious in their first round of state playoffs. Captains Noah Benz and David Fu lead the team and they currently have a winning record. Girls tennis is led by Senior captain, Sarah Proctor, and coach Matt Marsico who coaches both tennis teams. The girls tennis team also has had great success proven by their winning record. Also, both boys and girls tennis teams earned not only a playoff

spot, but have been so successful that they were given the #1 seed.

The Pace track and field team aims to win region championships and depending on their success, state championships which are coming shortly. On senior night, the boys 4x100 team were extremely successful with a new school record time. Head coach Jolie Cunningham is providing these athletes with top tier coaching along with other assistant coaches that are helping these athletes achieve their individual goals.

NFL Draft in Review: Winners and Losers

Saturday, April 27, marked the finale of the 2024 National Football League (NFL) draft, as teams strived to fortify their rosters in their pursuit of Super Bowl glory. The highly anticipated NFL draft featured many surprises. While it is way too early to know how these picks will play out, speculation over decisions made in draft rooms already begun.

The Chicago Bears, who have failed to find recent success, held the first overall pick. The Bears, who attained this pick in a lopsided trade with the Carolina Panthers, selected quarterback Caleb Williams. Eight picks later, the Bears selected wide receiver Rome Odunze from Washington. The Bears organization has set themselves up for a bright future by attain-

ing young stars. While the Bears draft strategy is regarded positively by many NFL experts, the Atlanta Falcons have left many confused. Just a month before the

draft, the Falcons signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a 4-year deal worth up to $180 million. Despite this, the Falcons used their 8th overall pick to select quarterback Michael Penix

Jr. Penix Jr. led his Washington Huskies to the 2024 College Football Championship while battling injuries. However, Penix Jr. will be 28 years old when Cousins’ contract expires

and the Falcons don’t plan on starting Penix Jr. any time soon.

“Make no mistake, Cousins remains the Falcons’ QB1” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot tell reporters.

While it is way too early to know what teams actually had good drafts, some teams filled holes in their rosters while others did not. The Washington Commanders used their 9 draft picks to fill the holes in their roster wisely. They selected Heisman winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the draft. They utilized their later-round picks to acquire additional offensive options at tight end, aiming to support their new quarterback.

The future alone holds the verdict on the outcomes of this years draft picks, yet teams that exercise patience in their selections and diligently address roster gaps often will find future success.

Photo: AP News

Photo: Fred Assaf Photo

The Pace boys soccer team huddles up before they take the field for a match.

Falcons draft pick Micheal Penix Jr. holds up jersey at press conference.

Class of 2024 Committed Athletes

This year, Pace Academy’s senior class, the class of 2024, has 14 athletes who have committed themselves to further their education and athletic careers in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This list of athletes ranges from individuals who have participated in Pace athletic teams to athletes who have competed separately.

Senior volleyball player Grace Agolli has committed to the University of California at Berkeley where she will begin her journey as a Bear. “I chose a school that had excellent academics and athletics, and when I visited I fell in love with the campus and girls on the team,” Agolli said. During her time at Pace, she was recognized for her athletic abilities through being a four time state champion, earning the Gatorade Player of the Year, and multiple all-state awards.

Baseball player Tucker Ausband will attend Piedmont University next year where he will continue his athletic career. “I’m excited to learn more about the insides of the game, the things people don’t see on the outside, along with how to create routines to help me prepare better for games which will help me grow as a player and a student of baseball,” said Ausband. Ausband has helped the Pace baseball team compete in the state tournament and is finishing up his final season in hopes of repeating that process.

Clemson University commit Hevin Brown-Shuler will play football for the Tigers in the fall. Earning all-state recognition along with being nationally recognized with his presence in the Adidas All-American game, Brown-Shuler was of huge help to the Pace team on the defensive line. “I’m excited to play college football at the highest level, I’m excited about the college fanbase, I’m excited to play against the top players in the country and play on national television every weekend,” Brown-Shuler said. This summer, he will move up to Clemson’s campus in South Carolina where he will begin his preseason preparation.

Football player Maddox Crawford has committed to Sewanee the University of the South, to continue his football career for the Tigers. Crawford played numerous positions for the Knights and has set weight room records for his athletic abilities too. “I’m ready to meet new people and have a really cool college experience,” said Crawford while talking about why he is excited for Sewanee. He has also earned all-state recognition for his accomplishments on the football field. Crawford is aiming to catch many more touchdowns next year at Sewanee.

Football player Jordan Burns

committed to the University of Tennessee where he will attend school and play football come fall. Burns was new to Pace his junior year, and helped Pace football beat their rival team Westminster for the first time in program history, and he has also been recognized with many all-state awards. “Tennessee has really good football with good coaches and a nice stadium,” said Burns. “I’m excited to play football in front of so many people.” This summer, he will begin his preseason workouts and training up at Tennessee.

Kyle Greene has committed to Tulane University, where he will play basketball come winter. Greene is a state champion for the Knights and helped the team to their state championship run in 2023. Along with being named a four star recruit, he has also earned many all-state recognition awards. “I’m excited for the chance to bring Tulane into the national spotlight both as [an] academic institution and a[n] athletic powerhouse,” Green stated. “I love the rich history of the city of New Orleans and the culture around food is also amazing down there.”

In the fall, Duke University commit Caroline Hood will attend Duke and run cross country along with track and field. Hood has set many new Pace records and has won multiple state championships. She was also recognized for her Athletic excellence through achieving Gatorade Player of the Year. “I am so excited about running at Duke in the Fall! It makes all the disappointments and sacrifices worth it,” Hood said. “I would not be here without Coach Jolie Cunningham. She is a great coach and always did everything she could to help me be successful!” Caroline will move up to Durham, North Carolina in the fall to begin her collegiate athletic career.

Senior football player Christian Johnson will continue both his academic and athletic career at the United States Naval Academy to take on everything that the Navy has to offer. Johnson was a star running back for the Knights and received all-state recognition for his athletic abilties. “I’m excited to join a new football team with new teammates, new coaches and a new environment,” Johnson said. He is thrilled to be able to play in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Terrence Kiel II will attend Texas A&M University and play baseball for the Aggies. Kiel II helped the 2022 baseball team to a state championship game, and has earned all-state recognition for his accomplishments. Kiel II also received all-state awards for his talents on the football field for the Knights. “I am most excited about the electric A&M atmosphere at Blue Bell Ballpark and [I am] ready to start a new chapter in my baseball career,” Kiel II said.

Volleyball Athlete Dhru La-

laji will continue her athletic and academic career at Wake Forest University this fall. Lalaji helped the Pace volleyball team to four state championships. She has also been recognized multiple times for her excellence through all-state awards. “I’m super excited to play at the next level with a new atmosphere and new people,” Lalaji said. She will be moving up to Salem, North Carolina in the fall to begin her collegiate volleyball career.

Gabby Mautner will attend Brown University next fall where she will continue both her academic and athletic journeys. Mautner has competed on her own where she has been extremely successful, and this year she is competing for the Pace team where she has been victorious on multiple occasions.

“I always knew that I wanted a college with both rigorous academics and athletics, which perfectly describes Brown University,” said Mautner. “I am so excited for next year – the thing I’m looking forward to the most is the team environment and the amazing girls I will get to spend time with!”

Senior, LJ Moore will be attending the University of Chicago to continue playing basketball. Moore has helped the Knights to winning two state championships, and has been recognized for his greatness through all-state recognition.

“I’m excited because I like the atmosphere of the school and the city of Chicago,” Moore said. “I’m ready to get to play basketball in college because this has been a goal of mine since I was a little kid.” Come fall, he will begin his preparation for the winter season.

Will Moore, has committed to Sewanee the University of the South where he will join the baseball team and continue his athletic and academic career. Along with playing baseball for the Knights, Moore has also been a part of the football and wrestling teams at Pace. He was a part of the Knights 2022 state championship team and has earned all-state recognition for his accomplishments. “I’ve played sports my whole life, so playing at the college level is something I’m really excited about,” said Moore. Next spring, Moore will take the field for the Tigers up in Tennessee.

Georgetown University commit, Ethan Rucker, will continue his academic career along with joining the baseball team. Rucker was a part of the state championship game team, and has earned all-state honors for his accomplishments. He has been on many trips up to Virginia and he absolutely loves the campus and campus life at Georgetown. “I’m excited to be in DC, it’s a cool city and I’m getting a top tier education and

playing competitive competition,” said Rucker. He is hoping to strike many more batters out next year while pitching for the Hoyas.

Ellie Siskin, who is committed to the University of Pennsylvania, will join the Penn volleyball team this fall and compete for the Quakers. Siskin helped the Knights to four state championships, and was recognized for her accomplishments through all-state awards. “I have already made many connections with the team and I’m looking forward to playing with them next year,” Siskin said. “I am also looking forward to traveling to all the other IVY league schools to get to play them.” She is also thrilled to move to Philadelphia to play in the famous Palestra gymnasium.

Colorado College commit, Mathew Wells, will join both Cross Country and Track & Field teams next year. Mathew has won state championships, set new records, and has also been recognized for his athletic abilities through many all-state awards. “As soon as I went to visit, I knew the school was right for me,” Wells said. “Not only the athletics and their facilities, but everything there seemed right up my alley.” This fall, he will join the Cross Country team, and next spring he will begin his Track & Field colle

giate career.

Pace senior athletes celebrate their commitments with their friends.

Photo: Nicole Seitz

Class of 2024: Where Will They Be?

KEY:

The numbers within each state indicate the number of seniors planning to move to the corresponding state this fall.

NOTE:

College choices for the senior class have been updated as of May 1. This list is not final as students may move off the waitlist and ultimately choose to attend a different school.

Alabama:

Auburn University

Adair Smith

Ansley Freudenstein

Alex Trujillo

Charlotte Lemke

Henry Levenson

University of Alabama

George Little

California:

Pepperdine University

Colin Curtin

Pomona College

Is Wilhelm

Stanford University

Martin Andra-Thomas

University of California, Berkeley

Grace Agolli

Colorado:

Colorado College

Matthew Wells

Colorado University, Boulder

Emma Lowry

Emery Duncan

Connecticut:

Yale University

Alex Finn

Morgan Goldstrom

Florida:

Florida Institute of Technology

Daniel Owens

Florida State University

Erielle Harris

Josie Panzer

University of Florida

Zachary Meyerowitz

University of Miami

Julia Diaz

Priyanka Thotakura

Wyatt Shaw

Georgia:

Emory University

Ansli Hennings

Georgia Institute of Technology

Cason Klarman

Katherine Davis

Noah Benz

Morehouse College

Stone Chambers

Piedmont University

Tucker Ausband

Savannah College of Art and Design

Mary Ellis Irvin

Lawson Gowder

University of Georgia

Alice Gash

Charlee Chastain

Ferris Flint

Hannah White

Harrison Leusink

Kahil Shankar

Lane Canova

Mac Barnette

Mac Warren

Morgan Miller

Sarah Proctor

William Souza

Illinois: University of Chicago

Claire Easterling

LJ Moore

William McMullan

Indiana:

Purdue University

Hayden Harris

University of Indiana

Dylan Popo

Ross Bernath

University of Notre Dame

Ellie Arenth

Iowa: Luther College

Ashton Wiley

Louisiana:

Tulane University

Adrienne Durr

Drew Crumley

KJ Greene

Maine: Bowdoin College

Ellie Carter

Colby College

Uma Graz

Maryland: University of Maryland

Vivian Kohn

US Naval Academy

Christian Johnson

Massachusetts: Boston College

Cole Belinfante

Holland Delley

Northeastern University

Jovana Willoughby

Tufts University

Amelia Honabach

Michigan University of Michigan

Alex Hayes

Reed Millner

Wells Howe

Minnesota

Carleton College

Roland Foster

Will Cannaday

Missouri:

Washington University in St. Louis

Makayli Anochie

Asher Lubin

Hannah Much

New Jersey:

Princeton University

Brody Matthias

New York:

Columbia University

David Fu

New York University

Carly Cannon

North Carolina:

Duke University

Caroline Hood

Elon University

Joe Shippen

Wake Forest University

Dhru Lalaji

Eva Tucker

Rebecca Thompson

Ohio:

Case Western Reserve University

Aarav Kokane

Denison University

Soren Matthias

Pennsylvania:

Temple University

Jackson Allegra

University of Pennsylvania

Ellie Siskin

Henry Gaudet

Prabhavh Pradeep

Rhode Island: Brown University

Gabby Mautner

South Carolina: Clemson University

Mia Williams

Hevin Brown-Shuler

University of South Carolina

Kaci McCray

Reita Maguire

Skyla Harris

Ted Miller

Wofford College

Jackson Hurd

Thomas Bready

Tennessee: Sewanee

Maddox Crawford

Will Moore

University of Tennessee

Jordan Burns

Vanderbilt University

Elsie Middleton

George Thompson

Jd Maske

Ryan Reiss

Texas:

Southern Methodist University

Adger Allen

Texas A&M University

Terrence Kiel Jr.

Texas Christian University

Madeline McMullan

Walker Smith

University of Texas at Austin

Ellie Aronson

Sydney Vincent

Vermont:

Middlebury College

Millie Gray

Virginia:

University of Richmond

Libby Jonas

University of Virginia

Jake Miller

Jordyn Howard

Katelyn Souza

Washington and Lee University

Deyo Bourne

William & Mary

Lexi Pollard

Washington D.C.:

American University

Sidney Keys III

Georgetown University

Ethan Rucker

Selin Psaltis

George Washington University

Gadit Bejar

International:

McMaster University

Dean Castillo-Woods

Julia Diaz: gets more followers than Alix Earle at UMiami