Pace Celebrates 34th Holiday Program
Don’t let the light go out!
This year, Pace celebrates the 34th anniversary of “Light One Candle.” “Light One Candle,” also known as the Holiday Program, is one of Pace’s most beloved holiday traditions.
Performed on the night before Winter Break, students from Pre-First to Fifth Grade join together singing, acting, playing instruments and narrating the stories of Hanukkah and Christmas. The First Graders act out the roles of the stories, for
example, playing Mary and Joseph in the Christmas story, or a Maccabe in the story of Hannukah. The Fifth Graders narrate, sing and play instruments, playing the most important role in the production. The grades in between spend hours learning and practicing the songs, perfecting them before show time in December. To celebrate the 34th anniversary of this special holiday tradition, the Knightly News spoke with members of the Pace community to reflect on and commemorate the tradition of the Holiday Program.
Many Pace High Schoolers who were at Pace during lower school have fond memories of being in the Holiday Program
when they were younger. Many even return each year to watch the Holiday Program. In their final year at Pace, seniors are invited up onto the stage to stand behind the role they played as a young First-grader. “The Holiday Program is one of my favorite Pace traditions. I was the donkey and am really excited to get to stand behind my role this year. In First Grade, I remember thinking the seniors seemed so old,” mentioned Senior Elowyn Allen. “Each year of the Holiday Program became more exciting, from being an angel in Pre-First to singing on the steps in 2nd and 3rd grade to leading the program as a 5th grader.”
Juniors Sydney Gaither and
Ashley York reflected on the Holiday Program as a core memory from Pace. “I remember being a Townsperson like it was yesterday and can’t believe the tradition has been going on for so long,” Gaither revealed. “Although I loved being a Candle in First Grade, my favorite memory of the Holiday Program was playing the recorder and narrating in Fifth Grade,” York said. Junior Dylan Nelson played a Macabee and reflected on some memories from the Holiday Program. “The Holiday Program was always the highlight of the year as a Lower School student. I couldn’t wait to be in it each year- it’s one
of Pace’s best traditions!”
Since its opening 34 years ago, the program has changed a decent amount, including the dances and songs. The script and roles have stayed the same, however. This is what makes the Holiday Program so special. Students from over 30 years ago can return and hear the same lines, and songs and see the same roles from their time in the Lower School. This sense of community makes the Holiday Program possibly the most special and unique tradition at Pace. And if you have never watched it before, stop by this year for a special and heartwarming production.
Coach White Leads Another Hoops Season
Pace Academy’s Men’s basketball season started off with a bang. With the season’s first games already complete, the team is looking forward to another exciting season. To take a look forward to this new season, the Knightly News first sat down with Coach Sharman White, head coach of the Pace Basketball team. The Knightly News discussed the impressive accomplishments, as well as some of the difficulties, of this past season.
Last year, the Pace team secured the AAAA region champion title during the 2024 season. The team also won the state championship during the 2023 season and placed second in the state the year prior during the 2022 season. The Pace Academy Men’s basketball team has earned a total of five state championship titles, three of which have been earned in the past four years.
Coach Sharman White has been the Pace basketball coach for the past six years. Coach White has been a tremendous help to the Pace basketball program and helped elevate the team. This past season, with Coach White’s help, the team
placed first in the region and second in the state.
“This past season we were really working on creating an identity as a team, especially after losing a good amount of seniors, we needed to come together as a team if we wanted to defend a state title,” shared Coach White. He believes that for the team to be successful and continue to win impressive titles, they need to come together and understand their “identity” as a team. “We didn’t reach our goals this past season of winning another state championship, but I think that if we really work on our team’s identity this season
to figure out who we are when we work together, we can really grow,” added Coach White. With the wins and losses, Coach White still believes that basketball is all about having fun and loving the game. “One of my favorite memories from last year was when we played Mcdonough at their court and had one of our best performances, which resulted in us beating them with a 20-point lead,” said Coach White. The knights had previously lost to McDonough earlier in the season at home, so spirits were low, but no matter the circumstances, the team committed to giving their all, and in this
case, it ended with a lively win. This 2024-2025 season schedule is lined up with lots of difficult competition and teams that will put up a fight, but Coach White says that his team is ready. “We are playing a few high-level local games as well as some national games with teams like Holy Innocents and other highly ranked schools, and it’s challenging, but it will really prepare us for the postseason,” shared Coach White. Coach White believes that taking on such a challenging schedule is beneficial for the team, rather than hurtful because it will prepare them better for playoffs and
other competitions, that an easy schedule would not help prepare them for.
Coach White as well as the players are looking forward to an eventful and productive season and hope to improve upon last season to make the team even better. “I hope to continue to raise our standards this season and help to make a strong connected team that gels together so that we can all work together to reach new heights,” concluded Coach White. No matter the outcome of the season, the success of this team is inevitable if they work together and continue to grow.
Pace Academy basketball player Chandler Bing grabs a rebound.
Seniors stand behind their First-Grade roles in the 2015 Holiday Program. Pre-Firsters dress up as angels and sing on stage during the 2018 Holiday Program.
Photo: Fred Assaf
Photos: Jonathan Siskin
Teachers Provide Tips for Exam Week
In preparation for Winter Exams, it is helpful to learn strategies for each exam to get the best grade possible. To make your time spent studying worthwhile, students should meet with their teachers to figure out how and what to study. The teachers make the exams and they are available to help you ace them! Here is an inside scoop on your teachers tips to achieve success during the winter exam season.
History exams often call for last minute cramming and late nights. Rather than hurting your brain with these harmful study tactics, you can organize and synthesize material mentioned Upper School History Teacher Christine Carter. Organizing helps connect complex ideas and timelines in your mind that will benefit you on test day. “Practice active studying,” she also suggests. “Have someone else look at the material that your teacher gave you and ask you to list, explain, and teach them that material.” Active studying keeps your brain awake and helps you consciously learn material instead of just skimming over it. “Learn the narrative and then look at the narrative from different perspectives for analysis,” says Upper School History Teacher Tim Horner. “Analysis becomes more and more important for History and even AP exams so get started with it now.”
Often, studying for the Eng-
lish exam material can be tough because reading comprehension and poem analysis are difficult to study. However, “expect to be studying for english and plan for it,” says Upper School English Teacher Leslie DePietro. “Start studying early and plan meetings with your teachers.” English teachers are always more than willing to help with book and poem analysis or essay writing skills you will need for the English department winter exams. “Here’s kind of a weird tip that actually works: pick a different flavor mint for every subject you have. While you’re studying, chew on that mint and you will associate that flavor with the material you are covering. Then,
just pop that mint in your mouth before each exam and your brain will be primed for success,” says Upper School English Chairperson Bailey Player.
Upper School Science exams often require math and analytical skills in order to be fully prepared. “Practice for 15-20 minutes a day starting now as your brain needs practice retrieving the content,” says Upper School Science Teacher Allison Tarvin. “Go ahead and prepare an exam binder now to get organized and begin your review,” says Upper School Science Teacher Megan Dickherber. “Rereading notes is never helpful so I would suggest reworking problems without your notes to test your
knowledge.” Instead of just reading your notes, making a study guide using them can be helpful. “I think annotating your notes instead of just re-reading for an early method of review is beneficial.” Finally, Upper School Science Teacher Jillian Breen gave similar advice for studying for a Science exam. “Making up new numbers for in-class problems and reworking them is necessary for review and of course students need to understand the equations they need to use for certain problems.”
Math exam studying consists mostly of reworking problems from all of the content you have covered. “Rework problems you have not worked on from
your textbook for review,” says Upper School Math Chair Diane Hagner. Reworking these new problems can also help keep your brain awake and not get bored with the material quickly. Ms. Hagner also spoke about the value of watching videos online. “For a specific concept that is still confusing, watch a video or two explaining the material as hearing the explanation from a new source can help clarify these topics.” Finally, Upper School Math Teacher Amanda Thornhill gave her advice when studying for Math. “I think self assessment is the best way of studying and making sure you know how to work problems without your notes or a teacher’s help,”
In the Upper School, Language exams can be full of vocabulary, different parts of speech, and more overwhelming topics that take lots of time to be confident in. “Choose 15 terms and spend about 10 minutes every day reviewing them and move on to the next group once you’re confident. This will help you with matching exercises and in context for translation,” says Upper School French Teacher Helen Hathorn. “Ask for help and start reviewing early to know what you do not yet know.” Similarly, US World Language Department Chair Allison Riley offered her suggestions.“Study using a white board, standing up, or with a friend for 10 minutes a day. The best place for extra practice is with your teacher who will be writing the exam.”
Entrepreneurial Students Find Success
Although Pace students are busy with school, sports, and their many hobbies, some students still make time to invest in their entrepreneurial spirit. Students participate in a number of industries, from baking, like seniors Nola James and Mary Oyefuga, owners of Frosted by Nola and Mimi’s Treats, to organizations like senior Westin Pierce’s sports-themed summer camp, to businesses like senior Michael Memar’s boat-washing
business.
Senior Olivia Diaz showed off her crocheting skills last year as an Arts Laureate, but crocheting goes beyond a hobby for her—she also sells her handmade clothes under the business Made by Olivia Diaz. “I have always known how to knit and crochet because I learned in first grade,” she said. But in her sophomore year, Diaz realized she could create her own clothes and started searching for designs online.
Beginning to express her creativity, she started to not follow tutorials and make her own designs. People around her soon started to notice and expressed
interest in her work. “One day my sister sent me this picture and asked if I could make her a top for game days at college,” Diaz said. “It was the most complex thing I had ever made and there was no tutorial I could follow.” Some of Diaz’s friends started to ask if she could make tops for them as well, even offering to pay for them, and that’s when she realized she could turn her work and her own designs into a business. She started selling crocheted clothing on her Instagram account, called Made by Olivia Diaz.
Senior Olivia Nelson also turned her hobby into a business with her jewelry company Loops by Liv. She decided to start the business in 8th grade, during the pandemic. “I had a lot of time on my hands and I had some experience beading,” she said. “One of my friends taught me to bead
with a needle and then I started experimenting with chain, not just beading.” Nelson started by making local sales and filling orders from friends, but soon expanded to receiving orders from her Instagram account and setting up an Etsy shop.
Although many Pace students have certainly been financially successful in their business ventures, pocket money isn’t the only reason they do it. “I learned time management and financial skills” from the experience, Olivia Nelson said. She has had to manage inventory, bookkeeping, and set up ads on Etsy. But it has paid off, and she even had the opportunity to sell her jewelry in physical stores, at Sprong, an accessory and children’s shop. Nelson wants to continue her business in college and expand her market, even selling in more stores.
Diaz said sometimes people don’t want to pay as much for her pieces, but her parents have encouraged her to recognize the value of her work and not lower her price just to get more sales. All of her pieces are handmade and high quality, and they come from her own designs. She has also started to work on a website. “All the pieces take me a really long time, but I do it because I love it,” she said. “It’s a matter of if I have time to work on it, because with college applications I paused from August to October.” But she has reopened the store and hopes to continue in college. Whether or not she continues to sell as much, “I’ll probably crochet for the rest of my life,” she said.
Bennett Cummings poses with Mrs. DePietro after learning her English exam tips to get prepared.
Senior Nola James fills a commission for a Sweet Sixteen party.
Photo: frostedbynola via Instagram
Senior Olivia Nelson poses to show her jewelry.
Photo: Olivia Nelson
Senior Olivia Diaz sells a handmade crocheted coverup.
Photo: Olivia Diaz
Photo: Anne Weiss
Pace Academy Celebrates 5th Year of TedX
This year celebrated the 5th anniversary of TedX at Pace! The purpose of TedX is to incite thought and questions about the world around us through listening to different speeches under a common theme. Upper School English Teacher Robert Kauffman, sophomore Madeline Ganz and junior John Hardesty co-organized this year’s event, which took place on Nov. 3. This year’s theme was “Living with Love,” inspired by the seven different forms of Greek love: philia, ludus, agape, pragma, philautia, storge and mania. Several students spoke, including the first lower schoolers to ever speak at a Pace Academy TedX event along with an ensemble of students performing “The Book of Love” at the beginning of the event.
The first speaker was sophomore Paige Vadnais speaking about mania (obsessive love) in her speech called “Alive as I’ll Ever Be.” Her speech was about her love of the alternative scene. Expressing herself through different styles like goth, punk and
The speakers and organizers of 2024’s TedX event pose for a photo. ferent humans understand each other, ultimately learning that to love is to be patient.
emo, allow her to have creativity and passion. She talked about how she created her own business on Etsy to sell jewelry and clothes which was a great outlet for her creativity. She also touched on her love for different concerts and how they are her safe place.
Next, junior Teah Charkawi spoke about agape (love for everyone) in her speech, “Patience and Paws.” Her speech focused on her job at a doggy daycare that she picked up over the summer. This job helped her learn the differences between each dog that she cared for and even learned how to communicate with each one. She connected the differences between each dog she has cared for to how dif-
Junior Nekhi Stover and Class of ‘29 Roman Pace gave their speech, called “Marching to our Own Beat,” regarding philia (deep friendship) next. Pace spoke about his experience going on the television show, “America’s Got Talent,” with the Atlanta Drum Club. This experience led him to be interested in the drumming club here at Pace. The two talked about how this club helped them form a brotherhood and learn how different rhythms of drumming connect to the different rhythms of life.
Junior Harriet Blaha spoke next, with her speech called “The Pursuit of Happiness,”
about philautia (love of the self). Blaha talked about different anxieties in her life and how she chose to intentionally pursue happiness after struggling to do so in her past. Her journey of her slump with running, then learning to fall back in love with it helped make her goals with happiness clear. She taught the audience that to truly be happy, it is important to keep things fun, stay surrounded by the right people and focus on the little things in life that bring happiness.
The first lower schoolers to ever speak in a Pace Academy TedX event took the stage next. Grame Buffenbarger and Anika Singh, Class of ‘32, called their speech, “Teachers are All
Around Us,” which focused on ludus (playful love). Both students talked about their different passions in life through sports, and how it is important that they put effort and love into their crafts.
Pragma (long standing love) was touched on next with junior Bennett Cummings’ speech, “The Art of Being Real.” Cummings spoke about his past struggles with aspects of his sexuality. He went through a journey of trying to blend in and reluctance to come out as gay to his friends, but he then realized it is better to embrace himself. He was able to put this love into his hobby of photography, making it an everlasting passion of his.
Lastly, Sam Halpern, Class of ‘29, spoke about storge (family love) in his speech, “The Perfect Chocolate Cookie.” His speech connected his love for baking to his love for his family and explained his journey of how he got into cooking and baking. His process of finding the perfect recipe for chocolate chip cookies, hence the title, taught him that perfection has different definitions for everyone, mistakes are necessary to learning and love comes in many different forms.
5 Minutes with Dr. Shawn Ahgarkar
Upper School Students heard from Pace parent and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Shawn Ahgarkar earlier in the year, and many students wanted to learn more about his profession. The newspaper followed up with him to answer some student questions.
Knightly News: Hi, how are you?
Shawn Ahgarkar: I’m good, thank you.
KN: Great! Thank you so much for your time! Okay, let’s get started! What attracted you to your niche specialty?
SA: I was really interested in advocating for people with severe mental illness and a lot of what we do in psychiatry overlaps with the law. There’s a lot of overlap with the law because we have to civilly commit people. Like if we think they’re dangerous to themselves or others, then we have to send them to the hospital against their will. Only us and the police can do that, right? Because we’re depriving people of their civil liberties, because we were so concerned we think you’re so dangerous. Then, it comes up around consent issues. Like if you forcibly medicate somebody because they’re at acute risk of killing somebody else. So there are things that we just have to learn in our field, and those were things that I found interesting and so I decided to do specialized training in those areas.
What drew me to it particularly was being able to explain what severe mental illness looks like to judges and to juries so that they can understand what’s going on in a person’s mind and how it led to the behavior that got them in trouble.
KN: People will always see their side of things and see your job from their own perspective, so what are some things that you think people should know about your job and about the field from your perspective/the other side?
SA: That what you see on TV is not reality. And, there’s a lot of paperwork. So much. My case file can be 5,000 to 10,000 pages worth to review. And then I have to review videos and other things. So, there’s a lot of reading and writing which can surprise people because they have to produce a report and all that sort of thing. But I think the thing is that on TV, they make it seem like 99% of these cases involve the insanity defense. You know, somebody’s going to try to get out of something… But in reality, it’s less than 1% of cases that actually go forward with an insanity defense. The thing that I would want people to know is it’s not nearly as successful. It’s a lot of work, there’s a lot to have to review… and [it’s] not as simple and straightforward as TV makes it seem.
KN: What do you hope the future holds for the type of work you do?
SA: I hope that we could improve mental health care in prisons and jails so that these guys who really need the help can get it. I hope that we can
have a more nuanced understanding, perhaps more empathic understanding. And [I] hope we get better treatment options available. My hope is we can prevent these crimes from ever occurring.
KN: How has the work you’ve done impacted society?
SA: I mean, I think what it’s done is it has shown a light on the complexities of these cases, but it’s not as simple as the guy was angry, you know, got mad and killed his girlfriend. That there’s a lot of factors involved and that there’s more of a story than just the blurbs. So I think that being able to explain the complex nature of medicine, neurology and psychiatry in a way that people can maybe make more informed decisions about how they sentence people with severe mental illness. My hope
would be that that’s an impact that hopefully [I have] made.
KN: Anything else you would like to say?
SA: I think you know again, that we can get past this idea of people being evil or bad. . . that’s really not the majority of the cases. You can just get very, very ill individuals who never really got a chance… a lot of damage was done in childhood. One of our early cases [was] with a guy that smashed his head into a concrete wall and into a brick wall (at a young age). He was never the same after that again. You know, we heard a story like that and it wasn’t his fault that that happened. His mom did that to him. But he’s a murderer now, you know? Like, it affected [his] trajectory in school. And he just continued to get worse over time. And we point to those
kinds of early abuses and early traumas to try to understandHow do we end up here? That’s something that I see in a lot of my work and that’s difficult to see… I also get a lot of these football players, people who do steroids, that kind of stuff. And that’s what we see… their brains are just mush because they’ve just been abusing, they’ve been getting abused and they’ve been abusing themselves. So it’s just how the damaged brain affects behavior. And we don’t see the outward signs of that, right, because they walk and talk. And they’re fine. But then one day they do something that’s just completely out of character, and then it’s really, really sad. And it can be prevented.
KN: Thank you so much for your time!
SA: Thank you!
Dr. Agharkar testifies in a murder trial.
Photo: WACH Fox
Photo: Robert Kauffman
Is Pace’s Workload Too Much For Students?
Pace Academy takes pride in its academic excellence and its student’s achievements, but all of these impressive titles and awards come with unavoidable hours of hard work behind the scenes. Is the workload that goes into these feats worth it? To better understand the different workloads and effects on students at private schools in the area, The Knightly News surveyed one Pace student, one Lovett student and one Westminster student on whether or not they believe the amount of time and effort they spent on their studies was worth it.
Tyler Ebbert is a sophomore at Lovett who takes an impressive course load including classes such as Spanish 3, Algebra 2, Chemistry, World History, and English. “I usually take about two hours per day on my homework on a normal day,” Ebbert said. When asked about the stress that this causes, he said that it was “about a six out of ten”, and he felt very stressed on some days but on others, it was pretty minimal. Ebbert also finds that he has some free time
on his hands, so he is able to participate in the extracurriculars he cares about on top of his classwork. Even though the work is stressful for Ebbert, he says despite all of it, his happiness is an 8 out of 10. Ebbert believes that even though he doesn’t quite like the workload, extracurriculars like running keep his spirits up when the work is dragging them down.“At the end of the day, I don’t think the amount of work I have is worth it, especially with my extracurriculars,” Ebbert concluded.
Meanwhile, Gabby Poline is a Pace Academy sophomore who is taking AP Euro, Honors Chemistry, Honors English, Algebra 2, and Honors Spanish 2. Poline said that she spends about three hours per day on her homework on an average day, but it’s made easier due to her free periods. “I feel like I’m not that stressed from my work, my stress level is probably at a five out of ten most days,” said Poline. She followed this by adding that even though she has a lot of work she feels like she has enough time to participate in extracurriculars like sports, but maybe not participate in all the things she wishes to do. Poline shared that she’s overall pretty content with her course load because, even if it’s a lot some days, it’s fine others and
she thinks it will all be worth it in the end.
The third student interview was with Izzy Winarsky, a sophomore at Westminster. Winarsky is taking Algebra 2, Chemistry, AP Lang, English, Graphic Design, and World History this school year. Winarsky had the most time spent on her work per night when she shared that she receives about four hours of homework every night, but can work for less time if she plans her work out in advance. “I feel like my free time depends on the workload for the night, because some nights I have lots of free time, but other nights I barely have enough time to finish the work I’ve been assigned,” said Winarsky. Winarsky also shared that this amount of work can be very stressful and her stress level is about seven out of ten, but she still understands the importance of the work and is okay with the fact that it can be intense at points.
Even though this is a very small sample size, surveying three scholarly students, it truly highlights the amount of hard work students are putting into their studies. The majority of this work is put in with the hopes of getting into a good college. Course loads vary for every student at these schools. Some students are more capable of do -
ing hours of homework on end, while others are better at things outside of school. Each student has their own strength, whether its in the arts, communication and people skills, or even the ability to knock out math problems one after the other.
Pace Academy’s goal is to prepare highly educated well-rounded students who are prepared to take on the world. The hours put into the work may be stressful and tiresome, but
they result in acceptances into colleges, opening the doors to many opportunities following their studies. The strategies that difficult workloads teach students can be used in day to day life, and thats what Pace hopes to accomplish.
Spotlight on Community Engagement Clubs
Pace offers many opportunities for students to share their passions and interests, one of which is community engagement clubs. Pace offers a multitude of community engagement clubs, and most students get to participate in at least one, however, fewer choose to lead or start their own club. Explore some clubs and leaders that are making a difference in the Pace and Atlanta Community.
Miracle Knights
Miracle Knights started in 2017 at Pace, has a long history of aiding and fundraising for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). The club is currently run by Seniors Reid Richardson and Oliva Nelson. The club has a large following and has raised over 11,000 dollars last year. This past semester the club has run a pickleball tournament and a fundraiser push bingo. Looking into the new year, the club is looking forward to its annual dance marathon and more fundraisers to aid the CHOA community. “I really love the club, and its an amazing cause. The Pace community is also so good at supporting us so that we can make a difference at CHOA and help kids all over Atlanta,” said Richardson.
Glamour Gals
Glamour Gals was re-started at Pace in 2023 by sophomores
Ava Grant and Cailynn Bennet and is an outstanding club that fosters relationships between the elderly community and young adults. Glamour Gals Foundation is a national organization that has these same goals in mind.
Club leader of Glamour Gals
Ava Grant said “We re-started it at Pace because we saw it on a list of abandoned clubs, and we both thought why wouldn’t someone want to help and have fun with the senior community?
So we decided to do it ourselves.” The club works closely with Corso Atlanta, a senior community living center, specifically with their memory care patients who may be struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
“It’s not about them remembering the experience or giving us community engagement hours.
It’s about giving them a few moments of companionship and joy in a really meaningful way,” said Grant. The club meets a few times a semester and is an amazing experience for everyone involved. Going into the new year, the club plans on trying to visit Corso at least once a month and form a closer bond with the people there.
La Amistad
La Amistad is a club that coordinates with the La Amistad organization, whose goal is to prepare Latino children and families for success in and beyond the academic world. Pace sophomores, Lily and Paige Vadnais lead the club and strive to provide as much aid as they can. They help offer Pace students
as volunteers for after-school tutoring at La Amistad. “I really love working with kids, and knowing I’m helping someone achieve their goals and bettering their lives makes me want to do it more,” said Vadnais.
The club runs after-school tutoring wherever they can, and they send out emails in advance to get as many kids from Pace to participate as possible. Going into the new year, the club is focused on organizing more times to help tutor and forming a deeper connection with the La Amistad community to create a secure and fun environment for learning.
Knight Buddies
Knight Buddies is a unique Pace club that aims to create lasting friendships between the Pace community and kids with different physical and intellectual disabilities. The club was started in 2023 by junior Bobby Hanna, and co-leaders Grant Chase and Roan Dutta. The club focuses on creating said relationships within Atlanta, specifically with the Collective Learning Academy of Atlanta (CLA), with whom Knight Buddies is creating a budding relationship. Past events include a recent bake sale, hangouts at CLA, going to prom, and many more. Founder of
Knight Buddies, Bobby Hanna says “Knight Buddies has been an eye-opening opportunity for me, and I’m happy that I’ve gotten to help the kids at CLA and Pace form bonds.” Going into the new year Knight Buddies plans on having many more hangouts, attending Pace sporting events, and going to prom again. “This club has a great future, and everyone involved gains something from participating, especially new friendships. I hope that even once I graduate it will continue on, because I have such a strong love for the kids and the community we’ve built,” said Hanna.
Photo:
Pace students study in the Kam Memar Reading Room.
Students pose for a picture while volunteering at Glamour Gals.
Photo: Campbell Hanna
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY
OF 2024?
We asked this question of faculty members Mr. Ben Ewing, Mrs. Emily Washburn, and junior Charles Thompson. Here are their responses.
“My favorite memory of 2024 was seeing my daughter smile for the first time!”
“My favorite memory from 2024 was when me and some of my peers went on the ICGL trip to Ecuador. I absolutely loved experiencing the culture of the country and of the cities we stayed in. Camping in the beautiful mountains was an eye opening experience.”
“My favorite memory of 2024 was traveling to New Zealand on the ICGL trip with Mr. Bryant and Donice and some amazing Pace students!”
JANUARY
Polarization Rises on Tense Campuses
College campuses faced division over the Israel-Hamas conflicts. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned after fierce criticism, campus protests and her
FEBRUARY
OCTOBER
AUGUST NOVEMBER
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, with Patrick Mahomes winning Super Bowl MVP and his third ring.
YEAR IN 2024 REVIEW
HOW HAVE YOU GROWN IN 2024?
We asked this question to sophomore Brandon Nolley, junior Jayden Avery and MS/US Librarian Tiger Brown.
“I’ve learned a lot of things at
“I’ve
“I’ve gotten better at adapting to different people, and understanding their different perspectives on
Pictured from left to right, AJ and Big Justice became known as the “Costco Guys” for their unique Costco-oriented content including Costco’s chicken bake and double chunk chocolate cookie.
The Kendrick Lamar and Drake rivalry, marked by diss tracks and public tension, became a significant chapter in hip-hop history.
Musical artist, Diddy, was arrested after a grand jury indictment. He was charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He is facing life in prison if convicted.
Lebron and Bronny James make history as
ever father son duo, after Bronny was drafted 55th overalll to the Los Angles Lakers.
Current Affairs
Presidential Election Results Arrive
On Nov. 5, millions of Americans filled out and submitted their election ballot. This year, the Fulton County ballot featured five presidential candidates and their vice presidents, twenty-five House of Representatives positions, nine Senate seats, ten county positions in Fulton County, two proposed state constitution amendments and two Atlanta city seats. According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution, Georgia voters set a new record of an almost 5.3 million voter turnout. There are 7 million active votes in Georgia. In the United States, about 64.5% of eligible voters (approximately 216 million) participated in this year’s election, reported the Washington Post in a recent poll, only one percent lower than the 2020 election turnout. Georgia’s position was crucial in the election because it was a swing or battleground state. This term applies to states where the two major parties, Democrats and Republicans, have similar support among voters. Other swing states included North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona and Nevada. President-elect Donald Trump won the popular vote in all these states, although within a tenth of a percent in some. These states are important because the two candidates needed the state’s electoral votes in order to surpass the 270 electoral vote threshold. In the US, the
election process is a two-step verification system. First, the American people vote for their preferred presidential candidate, called the popular vote. Based on the results of each state’s popular vote, the electoral votes of the state go toward that candidate. The electoral college is based on population, so in Georgia, there are sixteen electoral votes for the 11 million. The total number of possible electoral votes is 538, so for a presidential candidate to win the majority, they must win 270 votes. Trump’s victory was monumental because it was the first time a Republican president won both the popular vote and electoral college since former President George W. Bush in 2004. This year, Trump won the popular vote at a majority of 50.3% and earned 312 electoral votes. At 5:34 AM on Nov 6, Former President Donald Trump and U.S. Ohio Senator JD Vance were declared the winners of the 2024 presidential election. The two will be inaugurated as the 47th president and 50th vice president of the United States on Jan 20, 2025.
2024 Timeline:
July 15: At the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, former President Donald Trump announces Senator JD Vance of Ohio as his vice president. Trump is declared the Republican Party’s official nominee.
July 21: President Biden announces his withdrawal from the presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for president.
Aug 1: Vice President
Kamala Harris is declared as the Democratic Party’s official nominee.
Aug 6: Vice President Kamala Harris announces Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as her running mate. Harris and Walz are certified as nominated.
Aug 19–22: The Democratic National Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois.
Sept 10 at 9:00 AM: ABC hosts the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Oct 1 at 9:00 AM: CBS holds the vice presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz.
Oct 15 at 9:00 AM: Early voting starts in Georgia.
Nov 3: Vice President Kamala Harris reports she mailed her ballot to California, her home state.
Nov 5 - Election day:
6:00 AM: First polls open (Connecticut, Eastern Indiana, Eastern Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Vermont)
7:00 AM: In-person voting opens in Georgia.
11:52 AM: Former President Donald Trump and his family cast their votes in Palm Beach, Florida.
6:00 PM: First polls close (using Eastern Time).
7:07 PM: Indiana is called for former President Donald Trump. Vermont for Vice President Kamala Harris and Kentucky for Trump followed shortly after.
11:18 PM: North Carolina, the first swing state, is called for former President Donald Trump.
Nov 6: 12:58 AM Georgia,
the second swing state, is called for former President Donald Trump.
1:00 AM: The final set of polls close (using Hawaii–Aleutian Time). All polls closed.
2:24 AM: Pennsylvania, the third swing state, is called for former President Donald Trump.
5:34 AM: President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are declared the winners after swing state Wisconsin is called in Trump’s favor.
12:54 PM: Michigan is the next swing state called for President-elect Donald Trump.
2:40 PM: President Joe Biden called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him and formally invite him to discuss the peaceful transfer of power. Trump accepted the invitation four hours later.
4:20 PM: Vice President Kamala Harris delivers her concession speech at Howard University.
Nov 9: The final two swing states, Nevada and Arizona, are
both called for President-elect Donald Trump. Trump won all seven swing states and secured 312 electoral votes.
Nov 13: President-elect Donald Trump visited the White House, where President Joe Biden congratulated him on his victory and vowed to help with the transfer process.
Dec 11: Under the Electoral Count Act, this is the final day for states to resolve any controversies over their electoral selections.
Dec 17: The state electors convene at their state capitals to officially vote for the president and vice president.
2025: Jan 6: Electoral votes are counted before a joint Congressional meeting. Vice President Kamala Harris, the president of the Senate, will announce the electoral result.
Jan 20: Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States and JD Vance as the 50th Vice President.
Climate Change Intensifies Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is ending after an intense few months filled with storms and destruction. There have been 11 hurricanes so far, five of which were considered major hurricanes as they were category three, four, or five. This year, hurricanes extended past their typical domain, affecting people in the US as far north as Virginia.
One of the most notable hurricanes this year was Hurricane Helene, a category four hurricane that affected people across much of the southeast. Over 230 people died due to Hurricane Helene, and thousands evacuated. The damages totaled to almost 50 billion dollars. The effects were felt in Georgia, resulting in a state of emergency being declared on every county.
Many Pace students were also affected by the hurricane, beyond school being canceled for a day. Junior Campbell Thomas’ neighborhood flooded due to the hurricane. “A news reporter
had to save a woman from her car at the end of my street. I was alarmed at the amount of people who lost their belongings in the flood. It was shocking,” said Thomas. Many other students also witnessed the effects of the hurricane. “The hurricane caused a lot of flooding in my neighborhood and some of my neighbor’s houses lost power,” said Junior Addison Davis. Others were more directly affected. “It was scary driving through all the rushing floods,” said Junior Emma Fleming.
In addition to Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton hit America and crossed Florida from its origin point in the Gulf of Mexico. The category 3 hurricane resulted in at least 24 deaths. Hurricane Milton’s losses totaled approximately 50 billion dollars according to CNN. Additionally, around three million people lost power in Florida, due to Hurricane Milton.
There are many possible reasons for the high number of devastating hurricanes in recent years, however, it is likely that it is due to climate change. Although scientists find it unlikely that the hurricanes themselves
are being exacerbated by climate change and warmer conditions, they find that climate change is contributing to conditions that are favorable for the forming of severe tropical storms and hurricanes. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, climate
change is causing warmer conditions, which has resulted in the ratio of major hurricanes that have formed doubling from what it was in 1980. Additionally, researchers believe that because of these conditions, damaging hurricanes in the US are three times more common.
As damaging hurricanes become more common, scientists are continuing to investigate the causes; however, many point to climate change as a leading cause, further encouraging efforts to mitigate it.
Photo: Campbell Thomas
Junior Campbell Thomas’s street flooded due to Hurricane Helene.
The 2024 election concluded with Trump being elected the 47th president.
Photo:
Pace Students Make Grammy Predictions
On Nov. 8, the nominations for the biggest musical awards were announced. Dozens of artists submitted their songs, albums, and records for the chance of winning a highly coveted Grammy. Established in 1959, the Recording Academy’s Voting membership includes music producers, artists, songwriters, and engineers who vote and decide which artists will be awarded the privilege of a nomination or grammy. Some of the most anticipated awards include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Pop Vocal Album, Rap Song, and Rap Album. But what would happen if Pace students voted on the award? The winners will be announced on Feb. 4, 2025.
The nominations for Album of the Year include, Beyonce’s
“Cowboy Carter”, “New Blue Sun” by André 3000, Jacob Collier’s “Djesse Vol. 4”, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet”, “The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift, “The Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan, Charli XCX’s ‘BRAT” and Billie Eilish’s “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”. The majority of the Pace Students who responded to the poll wanted this award to go to “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”. “I fell in love with the album the first second I heard it. The songs feel very eerie and angelic, and I love anything by Billie Elish” said freshman Elizabeth Romig. The album was produced, recorded, and written by the brother-sister duo. Billie Elish has a total of nine Grammys and her brother/ producer, Finneas has a total of eight. Released on May 17, 2024 Elish’s album includes ten songs, the hit singles off the album includes, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”, and “LUNCH”. Along with
winning “Album of the Year” voters agreed Billie Elish should also be awarded with “Pop Vocal Album”.
“Record Of The Year” is based on a specific recording of a song that also recognizes the artists, producers and engineers who made the recording. The year’s nominees include, “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift and Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”, “Good Luck Babe!” by Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso”, “360” by Charli XCX, “Now and Then” by the Beatles and Beyonce’s “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”. Due to its popularity and clever lyrics, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” earned the most votes with 33.3%, with Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” falling just behind.
While many get “Record of the Year” confused with “Song of The Year”, “Song of the Year” is graded on the lyrics of said song as well as the composition. Nominees for this award include many of the previous for
“Record of the Year”, with the exception of “360”, “Espresso” and “Now and Then”. The additional songs on this list include, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter”, and Billie Elish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”. According to Pace students this award should be granted to Billie Elish’s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”. “The song is so catchy and the lyrics are really sweet,” said sophomore Kitty Lubin.
Students decided that the grammy for best “New Artist” should be awarded to Sabrina Carpenter. Carpenter’s rise in the music scene can be attributed to her hit songs, “Feather”, “Nonsense”, and “Espresso” along with the release of her popular album “Short n’ Sweet”.
Switching genres, Kendrik Lamar’s “Not Like Us” wins best rap song of the year, earning over half of the votes with 54.2%. This song blew up over the summer and now has
over 896,344,738 streams. “Rap Album of the Year” was given to “We Don’t Trust You” by artists Future and Metro Boomin, with features by The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, and Rick Ross. Released on March 22, 2024, the album with its 17 songs, has well surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, marking a major accomplishment. Lastly, the winners of “Pop Duo/Group Performance” went to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile”. Nominated among other artists such as Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Brandy, Monica, Billie Eilish, and Charli XCX. The duet is categorized as soft rock, a blend of pop, soul, country, and rock with a similar sound to sounds to the 1970’s pop rock. “The ballad is truly moving and such a fun listen, I really hope it wins,” said sophomore Eloise McDonald. She is looking forward to seeing the winners and how they compare to Pace students responses.
How is Sleep Related to Academic Performance?
Exam week is stressful for high school students, requiring hours of studying and preparation. High school students must choose between an adequate amount of sleep or extra hours of studying. This choice can affect one’s ability to perform at their best during the exam. The side effects of sleep deprivation have a greater impact than many high school students are aware of. Inadequate sleep in the weeks leading up to an exam has a greater impact than sleep
deprivation the night before.
As high schools are approaching midterms, students need to understand the impact of giving up sleep for a few more hours of studying.
The side effects of an insufficient amount of sleep can impact emotions, physical health, and most detrimental, academic performance. A lack of sleep can cause inadequate memory, focus and shortening attention spans affecting one’s academic performance. “Lots of small chunks of learning leading up to an assessment with periods of sleep in between them is most helpful for long term memory” said upper school ARC tutor Ms. Jordan Silverboard. The effects of long
term and short term memory are present while studying and taking exams. For example, memorizing dates can become difficult due to impaired long term memory from a lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation not only causes side effects while taking an exam, but also in the weeks of studying leading up to the exam.
“I average six hours of sleep in the weeks leading up to an exam” said sophomore Ann Rosengren. While it is true that an absence of sleep the night before an exam can affect academic performance, a lack of sleep in the weeks leading up to an exam can affect academics to a much greater extent. In the Pace community some students sleep less
in the weeks leading up to an exam like Ann Rosengren and some students are sleep deprived the night before an exam. “I get six hours of sleep the night before an exam” said sophomore Savannah Friedman. These two examples of sleep deprivation affect the process the human brain goes through while sleeping, one being REM, also known as rapid eye movement. During this stage the brain processes new information, meaning an insufficient amount of sleep leading up to an exam causes difficulty in retaining information. While studying, the absence of sleep can disrupt neural connections, leading to gaps in knowledge, hindering the learning process. High
school students are recommended to sleep eight to ten hours a day. Less than 10% of students achieve enough sleep during exams, averaging around six hours of sleep each night. Sleep deprivation the night before an exam can affect academic performance, but its impact is even more pronounced in the weeks leading up to the exam. Is it worth it to study, therefore losing hours of sleep? No. A few extra hours of cramming in place of sleep actually negatively affect students academic performances. In the weeks leading up to an exam the learning process is hindered due to a lack of REM sleep and the side effects are detrimental.
What Makes a Creative Genius?
Today’s culture is flooded with the impacts of creative genius’s in the form of entrepreneurs, artists and even advertising campaigns. “A creative genius is one who trusts that voice in his head who is telling him to share his soul with the world,” says Upper School Visual Arts teacher Mr. Donice Bloodworth. Furthermore, a creative genius describes someone who has mastered critical thinking skills and features the ability to continually produce innovative ideas. Even without the officiality of this distinct term, creative geniuses have existed throughout human history.
For example, Leonardo da Vinci may be the most infamous innovator through his contributions to art, engineering, architecture and science. Besides being most known for his paint-
ings, The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, he used his intellect and unusual powers of observation to study nature itself. By his lens, he was able to view perspectives that the average person can not comprehend, making him a prime example of a creative genius.
We see the impact of creative geniuses in our everyday lives. Whether you’re watching “Goodfellas”, “Shutter Island” or even “The Wolf of
Wall Street”, Martin Scorcese’s brilliance as a director is clear even in these three dissimilar movies. Scorcese’s ability to create such a fine-tuned unique product by carefully delving into a character’s personality is what makes him a creative genius. Longtime musical producer and artist Pharrell Williams, who is also the new Men’s Creative Director of Louis Vuitton, is maybe the most vibrant example of a creative genius in modern
at www.DaCre8iveOne.com.
history. Recently, he has won a Best Picture award as a producer in the movie “Hidden Figures” and produced “Piece by Piece”, a lego movie about his own life. Hence, he is a creator who has the unique ability to continually produce ingenious ideas throughout all of the sectors of the entertainment industry.
As a full-time artist and illustrator, Mr. Bloodworth is Pace Academy’s most innovative faculty member. He describes
how his creative mind works by revealing his motives within each painting. “It’s not about reproducing photographs in paint to me... it’s much more about the beauty I see in the subject and how much beauty I want the subject to see in themselves.” Additionally, he underlines what curious students should focus on in a creative process. “My advice to people who want to think outside the box, is to forget about the box entirely.” Instead, he poses three questions to these people. “What excites you? Why does it excite you? Why do you want to tell the world about it? Now once you have those answers, share it as loudly and confidently as you possibly can.” Clearly, in order to innovate, one must pinpoint what they are passionate about and the innovation will come naturally.
“The criticism is going to come, the mistakes are too, none of that needs to be a part of the equation when you are trying to think outside the box,” concludes Mr. Bloodworth.
Photo: Shoutout Atlanta
Mr. Bloodworth puts the finishing touches on a painting. See more of his art
Celebrating Holiday Traditions Around the World
As winter approaches, there are several well known holidays and traditions from all over the world, including Christmas and Hanukkah, which have celebrations that are about to begin. However, there are many other holidays and traditions that are somewhat less well known, but no less important and fun from various cultures.
Italy has a popular Christmas tradition known as La Belfana. Similar to Santa Claus, La Belfana is a witch who comes down the chimney and delivers gifts to children. Although, instead of dropping off the presents on Christmas, the witch delivers them on Epiphany Eve, also known as the 12th Night.
Winter Solstice is a holiday which is celebrated by a variety of cultures, and dates back to ancient times, and was likely the inspiration for many Christmas and Hanukkah traditions. It is celebrated on the longest night of the year, December 21. Some still celebrate it today, or holidays adjacent to it, such as the Scandinavian St. Lucia’s Day, a festival of light, and the Persian Yalda festival, which also concerns the celebration of light.
A somewhat more common tradition, Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas, December 26. Typically celebrated in England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Boxing Day involves a cozy day with family and friends, and oftentimes a large dinner.
Although often associated with Halloween, a popular Ukrainian tradition involves spider web ornaments on Christmas trees. The spider web decorations originate from a fairytale about spiders which helped decorate a family’s christmas tree, and are now incorporated into the holiday by many families.
In Iceland, during the 13 days leading up to Christmas, children leave out their shoes on their windowsills, so that the 13 Yule Lads leave them a gift. The 13 Yule
Lads are friendly mountain trolls from Icelandic folklore, which reward good children with small gifts left in their shoes, and deliver naughty children potatoes instead.
The Night of the Radishes is a popular tradition in Oaxaca, Mexico, and occurs on December 23. It involves large radishes being carved into elaborate designs, and displayed. Oftentimes, there is also a competition involved.
However, in addition to these lesser known global traditions, many students at Pace also have their own
holiday traditions. Junior Jocelyn Axelrod celebrates a combination of familial traditions, including Chrismukkah, a combination of Christmas and Hanukkah. Her family also sets out a dinner that incorporates both Cuban and Jewish food for the event. Jocelyn stated, “it’s a fun thing, we decorate the table half and half.”
Throughout the winter season, people all over the world are celebrating various holidays and traditions, whether well known like Christmas and Hanukkah, or more obscure such as 12th Night and the Night of the Radishes.
Which Holiday Starbucks Items are the Best?
Since the Starbucks Holiday drinks just hit the stores on Nov. 7th, juniors Sophia Webb, Olivia Siskin, Bella Goings and I decided to try and review them. The new items this year include the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, Turkey Sage Danish and Dark Toffee Bundt. Classic menu items also made their returns to the shelves including the Sugar Cookie Almond Milk Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai and the Chestnut Praline Latte. We tried all of the holiday items that were available and here are our opinions.
First, we tried the iced Chestnut Praline Latte. I expected to not like this one at all as the name does not sound appetizing. In reality, this was actually Bella and I’s favorite item that we tried. The latte didn’t taste too strong of coffee and had more of a vanilla flavor. It reminded me of the regular vanilla latte but a little bit sweeter. Next we tried an iced peppermint mocha. In my opinion it was too sweet and there was no coffee flavor at all. It tasted like chocolate milk that was extra cold because of the mint flavor. The chocolate was really rich but was honestly the only flavor you could taste. We tried the Gingerbread Chai next and we all liked it but the gingerbread flavor was not there. It tasted just like a regular chai because chai’s already have spice in them so the gingerbread flavor just got lost in the drink. I would go for the regular chai to get more drink instead of wasting space with the cold foam. Next we tasted the Caramel Brulee latte. This one tasted just like a Dunkin latte to us. It had a nice coffee flavor and was sweet too. We all really enjoyed this one and would recommend it if you like sweet drinks that aren’t sickeningly sweet. The new Cran-Merry Orange refresher was not what we expected. We tried the one with water instead of lemonade and actually thought there was lemonade because the flavor was so strong. It tasted nicely of cranberry juice and also had a little spice to it. I liked this one and thought it gave off a very Christmassy flavor but we had mixed reviews in our group. Lastly was the classic Iced Sugar Cookie Almond Milk latte. This is one of my favorite Starbucks drinks because it tastes like a normal
latte but the sprinkles and almond milk add the perfect hint of sweetness. The sprinkles also look so festive in the drink. If you don’t like the coffee taste in your drinks, though, I wouldn’t go for this drink.
For the food, they were sadly out of the Turkey Sage Danish that we were all excited to try. We first tasted the Sugar Plum Cheese Danish. I was expecting to not like this one because jam and cheese on a pastry sounded kind of weird. We were pleasantly surprised as the cream
cheese flavor and the sweet jam mixed well together even with the flaky pastry. We all enjoyed this one but noted that it probably wasn’t good enough to order again. Lastly we had the new Dark Toffee Bundt cake. This one was very sweet and had a nice cakey consistency. It wasn’t too dry but we all said that it just really tasted like sugar and there was not much of a flavor. Though, toffee is basically just sugar so this made sense.
A display from the Night of the Radishes in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Photo: Atlas Obscura
Photo: Anne Weiss
Juniors Olivia Siskin and Bella Goings test the Starbucks Holiday menu.
Battle of the Christmas Trees
The Reign of the Real Tree
Sounds of jingle bells and cheery holiday music, the warmth of cozy sweaters in frosty weather and smells of pine, cinnamon and sugar all characterize the Christmas season. People all around the world become a little friendlier, a little happier, and more nostalgic during the Christmas season because the sounds and smells remind them of joyful childhood memories. For many who celebrate the holiday, their favorite reminder is the classic Christmas tree, either straight from the woods or bought from the local Christmas tree farm, all lofty and green with the cool scent of pine. Buying a real Christmas tree, grown from the ground, is the only way to truly immerse oneself in the Christmas spirit. Real Christmas trees feel good to have in the house, and of course they smell divine, but they are also much more beneficial for the environment. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, most farmed Christmas trees grow for at least eight years before they are cut and sold. All of
The Uprising of the Fake Tree
farmers’ business and the overall economy. On a personal level, real Christmas trees are the only way to make “real” Christmas memories. The fun of decorating the tree with family, buying new ornaments on special occasions, choosing which color of lights suits the mood that year, and carefully placing presents on the tree skirt under the branches - all of these are irreplaceable memories, made authentic
these trees contribute to oxygen production and soaking up carbon emissions from the atmosphere, which combats climate change. Meanwhile, artificial trees need to be manufactured and shipped overseas, worsening the carbon problem. The decomposition process of Christmas trees is a whole other issue. Natural trees are biodegradable, as they are often recycled to be used for mulch and purposes. Fake trees are made of plastic. When a family is ready to free up some storage space in their closet, the plastic tree just ends up in a landfill. The annual tradition of buying a real Christmas tree also greatly supports the economy. The Christmas tree market may seem small, since they are only purchased once a year, but the huge number of customers and consistent yearly profits accumulate to boost the
Photo: Anne Weiss
Christmas tree. Whether it’s a luscious balsam fir, an elegant white pine, or a noble spruce, the Christmas tree brings the family together. After all, cherishing sweet memories with loved ones is the joy of life and what gets us through the remaining cold months of winter.
Christmas is coming up, which means trees will soon start being jammed into people’s doorways. For some, the idea of a Christmas tree is not as anxiety-provoking because they have fake trees rather than real ones. After careful research, I’m here to tell you why a fake Christmas tree is much better than a real one.
First, fake trees are much cheaper than real ones in the long run. An artificial tree
can cost anywhere from $65 to $1,600 depending on where it is bought. A real tree costs between $25 and $2,500 for one year. While a fake Christmas tree can be more expensive than a real one, over time it can actually be cheaper. A fake tree lasts over six years while a real tree barely makes it to Christmas most years. The overbearing price of a real tree doesn’t even include the stand or the lights that will blow out in a year. An artificial tree comes with built-in lights of your color and doesn’t require a bulky stand clearly making it the better choice. Next, a fake tree is much
cleaner than a real one. Hauling a real tree into your house and hanging all the ornaments is great until the next half hour has to be spent cleaning up all the sprigs and pine needles from the floor and carpet. All the pine needles are identical to those of a real tree except they don’t cover your floor with one gentle shake. Setting up an artificial tree is simpler and less time-consuming than a real one. All you have to do for a fake tree is grab it from storage, pull it out of the bag, and unfold it, taking a maximum time of 30 minutes. With a real tree, you have to trek to a tree farm, hurl one on top of your car, and probably scratch the sunroof in the process. You then have to try to get the heavy tree through a door andupright in a room. Getting a real tree is not always a fun process which can take all day, especially for the people doing the work.
There are plenty of reasons that a fake tree is easier, more efficient, and overall better than a real one. A fake tree is built to be perfect for your holidays and won’t have any imperfections. For all that is gained by getting a fake tree, the only benefit of a real tree is the tree smell that a candle can easily cover. Splurging on a fake tree will be much better in the long run for your Christmas spirit.
The Best Secret Santa Gifts to Buy on a Budget
As the holiday season approaches, so does the giftgiving season. Every year, I forget that I’m in a Secret Santa group and end up scrambling to buy a last-minute gift. So, here’s a guide, organized by price, with great last-second Secret Santa gift ideas.
Pace Gear
Check out the Campus Store located inside Boyd Gymnasium lobby. From sweatshirts to umbrellas and even belts, the Pace campus store offers great looking gear for everyone.
Everyone misplaces their sunglasses or struggles to find a pair when they actually need them. These sleek, cheep, all-black sunglasses make a perfect gift for anyone.
Hershey 2.6 Ounce Brownie Skillet
This small skillet makes a fantastic Secret Santa gift. It comes with Hershey’s brownie mix. Not only is it perfect for baking delicious brownies, but also the experience of baking the brownies provides a fun holiday activity.
DHGate Jersey
Buying a jersey on DH Gate can be risky as shipping may take a long time. However, there is no better feeling than buying a jersey for less than $15. Name any athlete and you can buy their jersey on DH Gate.
Slides
Slides are incredibly versatile and practical. Not only are they perfect for lounging at home, but they can also be worn in public making them the perfect secret santa gift.
Single Use Camera
This affordable gift is perfect for anyone. Everyone loves a disposable camera, and it might even work out in your favor as you could end up with some great photos of yourself.
JBL Clip Speaker
Everyone could use a portable speaker. They are loud, waterproof and incredibly convenient—making them the perfect gift for just about anyone.
All In One Phone, Apple Watch, Airpod Charger
You can’t go wrong with this one! It’s super useful and convenient, especially since chargers are so easy to forget on trips. Plus, everyone can always use a spare charger.
Goodr All Black Sunglasses
Re-Listening to the Best Albums of 2024 Hayes Conveys: Embrace Winter’s Chill
This past year, a variety of artists released new albums. Here are our top picks for 2024! To start in the country genre, Beyoncé released her eighth studio album called “Cowboy Carter” which took many fans by surprise, considering she is not a country artist. Collaborating with artists such as Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, this album reached outside her usual fanbase. “I loved this album, it was a blend of country elements and Beyoncé’s flair,” said Senior Cassidy Davis. Next, Zach Bryan released another album this year called “The Great American Bar Scene.” This album is similar to his other works, receiving similar ratings as his other albums. The album’s title is credited to its highly patriotic theme and songs about connections between people who would meet at a bar. Lastly, “Am I Okay?” was released by Megan Moroney in early July. She released this album in perfect time for the summer, and as her second album, it captured her candid and emotional country style. She also released her deluxe version, “Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine)” in early October which featured three new songs as part of the album. This year was a big year for pop, changing the genre as classic pop artists released new albums. Sabrina Carpenter released her album, “Short n’ Sweet,” in August and it rapidly gained popularity in time for her tour, which started in September and has sold out stadiums. She will still be touring until March of 2025. So far, fans are loving her shows and outfits. Next, Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album “The Tortured Poets Department” was released in mid-april. Announced at the 2024 Grammys, the album had major success following its release. “The album is my favorite of hers. My favorite song is “loml,” even though it is well-known I think it is one of the best on the album,” said junior Bella Goings. The poetry, the
production and the sultry aesthetic tied the album together which gained its excellent reviews. The album was nominated for six Grammys including Album of the Year and Pop Vocal Album. The album of the summer “BRAT” was released by Charli XCX this year as well. This 15 track album has truly shown the success and hits Charli can make. By using auto tune to her advantage, she creates the perfect sounds she desires to make her songs better. In our opinion, “BRAT” serves the best tracks to hype you up, like in “365” while some songs explore the excellent writing in tracks like “I might say something stupid.” Last month, Charli released the remix album “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” reproducing each of her songs expressing her full creative talent. On this record, she featured artists such as Lorde, Billie Eilish, the 1975, and Ariana Grande. “BRAT is perfect. From highs to lows, I will always be listening no matter the time” said freshman Sarah Logan. Ariana Grande also released a new album in March, called “Eternal Sunshine.” This is Grande’s seventh studio album. Although it did not receive amazing reviews, we thought it deserved a spot in the article. The title references the 2004 film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and focuses on coming out of her former relationship in its first few songs. This album continues Grande’s unmatched pop reputation and has a great visual aesthetic as well.
In the rap category, Metro Boomin and Future’s collaborative album, “We Don’t Trust You” was one of the biggest releases in the genre. This album is interesting in the context of Future’s feud with Drake, which involved other large artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole, set in the usual rap style of Future’s other albums. A month later, the two also released a second album called “We Still Don’t Trust You” as a continuation of the first one. Kanye West’s “Vultures” was also one of our top picks this year. The album explores themes around relationships, fame, and social expectations. With excellent production, this album serves as Kanye West’s amazing music making capabilities. “My top pick for sure. It was just so well produced,” said Sophomore Ansley Vincent.
In the Latin category, Kali
Beyoncé poses for her album cover of “Cowboy Carter.”
Uchis serves as our top pick for her album “ORQUÍDEAS.” Featuring artists such as Peso Pluma and Karol G, the record already has so many familiar voices playing around with Kali Uchis style. Her fourth album showed everyone that she knows how to write hits and make a well produced album. In August of 2024, Uchis released her deluxe album “ORQUÍDEAS PARTE 2.” I personally love Kali Uchis all the way from her first EP “Por Vida” and it has been incredible to see her grow as an artist.
Many artists advanced the alternative genre this year. To start, “Charm” by Clairo was released in mid-july and faced many positive reviews. The softrock record comes in at around 38 minutes with well-tied poetry in the lyrics. Scoring a 7.5 on Pitchfork, critics name this as one of Clairo’s best works in our opinion. “This album was my favorite record of the year” said junior Kate Leach. Next, Billie Eilish had a huge year transforming the way that she writes and produces songs. “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” is Eilish’s third studio album and maintains the reputation all of her previous successful records have had. This 10 track album begins with heartfelt tracks like “SKINNY” and follows to our personal favorite “BITTERSUITE.” Produced with her brother, Finneas, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” dives into soft and smooth melodies while also having a pop flare like the song, “LUNCH.” “This album truly was so special to me as I have loved her ever since Ocean Eyes. When I saw her on her tour, it was magical,” said Senior Elsa Nagle.
Debunking Myths About Extra Time
With exams right around the corner, a majority of students are preparing to take their exams on the Inman floor. However, some students take their exams in the Upper School if they qualify for extra time or other accommodations. Around this time, some people debate the merits of extra time and other accommodations, and it’s important to debunk certain myths about extra time.
It is often assumed that Pace has a higher percentage of students who have extra time than other schools. Pace has somewhere between 25% and 28% of students who qualify for extra time. The Academic Resource Center director Michael Callahan talks about how Pace’s percentage matches the average of other institutions at high school and college levels.
One reason highschoolers could feel an increase in accommodations as mentioned by Mr. Callahan is the fact there is more
testing to catch learning differences earlier on. While there are other accommodations such as using a calculator or computer on tests extra time is one of the most common because it can cover a vast number of diagnoses.
Another common misconception is about how students come to get their extra time accommodation. The lengthy process of qualifying for extra time begins with going to a certified specialist who has received years of schooling regarding psychology and how to administer these tests.
Testing is typically done in two days with six-hour testing days. The testing touches all aspects of learning, such as reading, math and logical reasoning. There is no “gaming the system” or “buying extra time” because these tests are made so they can tell the difference between those who need extra time and those who do not. These tests also show that people never truly age out of their learning difference by having consistent test scores throughout ages.
Since tests show how everlasting learning differences are, they help debunk another claim that extra time is unfair.
It’s that time of year again, dark mornings, cold weather, shortening days. This is the time when motivation to improve oneself begins to fade away. Most people hate the cold, they want to snuggle up in blankets and get all cozy drinking pumpkin spiced lattes while watching movies. Winter is when others slack off, but not us, not you!
When this point was brought up, Mr. Callahan put it as simply as possible saying extra time “levels the playing field”. Many students often wish for extra time but if those students who do not need it receive more time on a test it could result in them second-guessing their answers, having a negative impact.
Mr. Callahan also explained how “fair is not equal” and that just because some students receive more time than others doesn’t mean it’s unfair. No matter the accommodations a student has, the material is all the same and the only difference is how a test is taken. Extra time can make tests more difficult in other ways, becasue students either have to take longer tests or split assesments up into parts.
In the end, nobody ever has to sit down and take a 50-minute test in their adult career. Even when tests are gone, people still have to function with their learning differences which can make some daily tasks difficult. Accommodations such as extra time teach students the resilience they need to get through life with their learning difference.
Physical well-being is crucial to thrive all throughout winter. Regular exercise, even if it’s just 30 minutes of yoga or a tranquil walk, will keep your energy levels high and spirits lifted. Nutrition is another cornerstone; taking vitamin D supplements can counteract the effects of less sunlight. Foods such as salmon, egg yolks, milk, cheese, and yogurt also contain natural sources of vitamin D. Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of quality sleep. Sticking to a consistent schedule and developing a calming bedtime routine to wind down will improve the quality of sleep you get. Staying socially connected is another way to fend off winter ruts. Plan regular meetups with friends and family, or consider joining a club or community engagement group to stay engaged with the Pace community. Meanwhile, winter is the ideal time for selfimprovement. Setting seasonal goals, like journaling or reading a few books, maintains that sense of accomplishment necessary to keep us moving. Learning new skills, such as picking up an instrument or spending time on that hobby that’s slipped away, can make these months feel purposeful and productive. There’s so many goals, hobbies, and passions we want to work on over the winter, but it’s difficult to keep track of all of them and even more difficult to muster up the motivation and discipline to get them all done. This is where routine comes into play. Practice writing down your ideal day, your most efficient productive and idealistic day. Now write down all of those things that make your ideal day except give each of them a time slot that fits in with your current schedule. Assign each activity a specific amount of time at a specific time. Now do it! Lastly, embrace the season! In embracing the unique charm of winter it will feel less like a hurdle and more like an opportunity to grow and reset.
Photo: Hayes Pollard
Photo: Slate
Juniors Dylan Nelson and Jake Haggman prepare for a winter of hard work and dedication.
Should Pace Amend their Exam Week?
At Pace, all high school students are required to take midterm or final exams in December for all five of their academic classes. Known as “exam week,” students take one exam a day and all students will take exams on the same subject at the same time. This year’s schedule has the Math Exam on Monday, English Exam on Tuesday, World Language Exam on Wednesday, History Exam on Thursday, and the Science Exam on Friday. For regular time students, their exams take place in the Inman center where there are strict rows and columns to ensure that students refrain from cheating. Since every student takes their exam at the same time, the Inman center is packed with students. The duration of each exam is two hours. For those who have extra time, they are in a classroom with few others in the room. Usually these students are given an extra hour to complete their exams, but those students who have double time are given an extra two hours.
When Pace students responded to a poll about whether or not exams should be required, students responded with yes, but often added that exams should not take place in the Inman center but in a classroom. “I think it should be in a classroom, because… [taking exams in the Inman center] is unnecessary,”
junior Noah Zinman said. While student’s unanimously said that Inman shouldn’t be a testing center, teachers had mixed opinions.
Mr. Gannon, head of the Pace Upper School, was adamant that students go through a collegelike exam experience to prepare students for college. “I prefer the Inman center as a testing venue because, at universities, you’ll sit in lecture halls with hundreds of other students,” Gannon said. “I had never experienced that myself in my high school life, so when I went to take my first exam in an auditorium with 300 students, it was a jarring experience.” Meanwhile Upper School class dean and chemistry teacher, Mrs. Tarvin claimed that a classroom would be a less tense environment. “[In a classroom] I feel like there might be a little more familiarity and less anxiety and maybe a less distracting setting,” Tarvin said.
Before and during exam week, students’ stress levels are at an all time high, as each exam usually counts for around 25% of their grade in each class. When given a poll, over 70% of Pace students claimed that they shouldn’t be required to take exams. “I don’t think they are really necessary; they just cause a bunch of stress,” Senior A.J Conduah said. The Pace Woodruff Library floods with students who are eager to prepare as efficiently as possible for their exams. Some students, however, enjoy the free time in their exam week schedule. “We have a lot of free time, and it’s fun to get lunch after exams with friends,”
junior Jake Haggman said. Some students also argued that there should be exams, but a lower occurrence of them. “I think that exams should exist, but only once a year so that [students] have a break, “Freshman Ava Piduru said. While most students wanted either limited exams, or no exams, teachers unanimously claimed that exams should take place. “We strengthen memories by retrieving memories; a final exam asks us to retrieve memories across an entire semester which strengthens our long term learning which is the point of education,” junior class dean
Mr. Ewing said. Exams cause stress, and the Pace counselors provide many opportunities such as the stress free zone for Pace students to minimize their stress levels during the week before exams. Upper school counselor, Ms. Millaway, claimed that exams are beneficial to students because they learn to better handle high stress situations. “In the real world we have situations that cause us stress and we have to be able to tolerate them and exams are a way to practice how we handle stressful situations and there’s lots of things counselors can do to help if you
are feeling stressed.”
Public schools in the area often don’t require students to take any form of exam unless the student needs to improve their grade. This begs the question of whether or not Pace should maintain their strict exam week schedule and require students to take their midterm or final exams. Other students claimed that Pace should only enforce that student’s take exams if their grades are below a certain level, but the level of that grade varied from a failing grade to a 95% in a class.
Do Pace Students Want a Late Start Day?
A recent poll conducted among Pace students revealed overwhelming support for a late start once a week. After a one time late start was awarded to Pace high school students in exchange for the large attendance numbers at the Varsity Volleyball Championship game, a poll was provided to all impacted students. Of the 112 students who responded, all but three supported a weekly 8:30 am late start. While 97.3 percent of students surveyed favored a weekly late start, the few who disagreed provided specific arguments against. One of those commented that while “I appreciate the idea, I need to be at school early to study and get work done.”
if not, athletes would have more time to sleep.
The poll also showed that a late start is a crucial aspect of improving teenage physical and mental health. Among the respondents, 103 students reported that by moving the start time they gained up to 30 more minutes of sleep compared to their typical sleep schedule, a physical improvement.
“It’s amazing how much better I feel when I get a little extra sleep. I have found it helps me stay focused and more productive during the school day.”
Additionally, 97 students reported that they encountered little to no traffic on their drive to school. With less traffic on the road during the drive to school, students can arrive at school more efficiently, contributing to a calmer, less stressful start to the school day. Freshman Elizabeth Roming confirmed this impact stating, “It’s amazing how much better I feel when I get a little extra sleep. I have found it helps me stay focused and more productive during the school day.” Research supports this position.
The push for a late start, however, could benefit even those who wish to get more work done in the morning. For instance, morning team workouts could have longer practices or
A study by the American Psychological Association mentions later start times correlate with better mental health, physical health, and better academic performance. Many
Pace students mentioned in their response they do not meet the recommended eight hours of sleep per night, with some reporting they get as little as five hours.
These extra thirty minutes could be crucial to their physi-
cal and mental health, as well as academic performance.
As the Pace community continues to weigh the pros and cons of a weekly late start, it remains clear that the idea of a late start has sparked an important conversation, and another op -
portunity to allow Pace students to best live up to the motto “to have the courage to strive for excellence.” This one change will go a long way to best support students in balancing academic demands with their well-being.
Inman is set up for exam week.
The poll shows overwhelming support from Pace students who want a late start.
Photo: Anoymous Pace Student
Photo: Vivian Gerber
Sports
Pace Knights Take On Winter Sports
Boys Basketball
Hoping to continue their strong streak, the Pace Academy Varsity Boys Basketball team started their season with their first game on Nov. 6 versus Miller Grove, 74-24. This year’s team is led by Coach Sharman White and four Seniors, Eric Chatfield, Jackson Ferry, Chandler Bing and Gavin Jeffries. Chatfield committed to Georgia Tech and Bing committed to Texas State earlier this year. As for the team, Coach White said, he wanted to “improve day by day” and “finish strong.”
Girls Basketball
The Pace Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team is run by Coach Christal Caldwell, who has coached at Pace for the past four years. Coach Caldwell is supported by assistant coaches and three Seniors: Kate Grice, Ryan Wrigley and Mary Kiley Paulowsky. Their first home game was Nov. 12, against North Cobb Christian. “I am really excited for this season,” said junior Lawson Monroe, “I think we have a great group of girls and coaches!” Team finished last year with a 17-8 record and is looking to come back even better. “I am hoping for them to have a great experience, to have fun together, compete every day and work toward a goal,” said Coach Caldwell. The team hopes to have more students come out and support them!
Swimming and Diving
The Pace Academy Varsity Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving team had their first meet on Oct. 30 at home and left with their first win. Swimming and Diving qualified for the State Championships last year and hope to return again. The team was prepared and came out strong, however, they expect a tough battle in the 4A championship. “I hope we can have a lot of people qualify for state and
make it back for finals!” said junior Grace Richardson. The team is led by Coach John Ague and Seniors Miles Glover, Reid Richardson, Zoe Albert and Kate Cunningham. Reed Richardson became a standout swim-
a tournament at Troup County High School. Having a big roster of fourteen boys, the wrestling team is looking for multiple weight classes to be filled out. With the season ending in February, the team has a great season
mer at the start of the season and has continued to improve. He qualified for states in two events, an individual apparatus and a relay. Coach Ague set goals for the group prior to the season. Coach Ague said, “For the girls, I am looking for them to make a group step forward. I have high hopes for state qualifiers and a bigger impact. For the boys, possibly looking for a new record for state qualifiers, and to see where we stand in 4A,” said Coach Ague.
Wrestling
This year’s Pace Academy Varsity Boys Wrestling team, captained by Seniors T.J. Boakye, Dylan Hirokawa and Marco Juarez, and Coach Jason Miller, started off the season at
ahead of them.
Flag Football
On Nov. 7, the Pace Academy Varsity Girls Flag Football team became 5-Peat Area Champions. They advanced to the playoffs, and are looking to win a state title. Coach Ty Johnson leads the girls along with Seniors Harper Auchincloss, Audrey Welch and Dallas Welsh. Going into playoffs the twenty girls were undefeated, with a 9-0 record. Their most impressive score was a 62-0 shutout against Chamblee in the regular season. “I am very proud of this group of athletes.”
“To be 5 time Area Champs takes a certain amount of grit and being able to work through adversity. It’s on us to finish the drill, I have high hopes for
us in the playoffs,” said Coach Johnson.
Fall Overview
Roan Dutta is very excited for next season and expects the team to be able to build on the lessons of this season to imporve.
How can National Football League(NFL) players stay safe even while colliding with each other at full force? Due to a new rule change NFL players are now allowed to wear guardian caps. Before the rule change, guardian caps were worn strictly during practice because they prevent head injuries. According to LSUReveille.com guardian caps can reduce the chance of concussion by 10%, and that statistic doubles if both players are wearing a guardian cap. However, the puzzling ques-
tion is why all players are not wearing a guardian cap. Some players choose not to wear a guardian cap because it looks worse. “I can barely even notice the difference between a normal helmet and the guardian cap,” said freshman Charlie Partin. Star running back from the Dolphins Devon Achane elected to wear a guardian cap following his week 6 concussion. Achanne was the first NFL player to score a touchdown wearing a guardian cap. “I appreciate that Devon Achane takes his health serious-
“I appreciate that Devon Achane takes his health seriously and cares about his longevity in the game, not just because he is on my fantasy team, but because I enjoy watching him as a player.”
ly and cares about his longevity in the game, not just because he is on my fantasy team, but because I enjoy watching him as a player,” said Senior Thomas Costanzo.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been riddled with concussions throughout his past few seasons in the league. , However, he still chooses not to wear a guardian cap. In a press conference Tagovailoa stated that it is a personal decision to not wear a guardian
Our Fall sports once again brought home stunning wins and individuals displayed remarkable athleticism.
Pace Academy Varsity Girls Volleyball pulled out another great season. On Nov. 4, the team of fourteen girls brought home another state trophy, maintaining their eight-year state title. The team is coached by Coach Cat Monroe and led by two Seniors, Sabrina Agharkar and Elowyn Allen.
Our Pace Academy Varsity Boys Football team also had a great season. The team started off strong with an exciting win against Chamblee High School in the last couple of minutes. Even though they lost in the playoffs they did not go down not without a fight. Seniors Cooper Williams, Miles Glover, Gavin Jeffries and Tate O’Leary led the team this year. Junior
Coached by Jolie and Steve Cunningham, the Pace Academy Varsity Boys and Girls finished in sixth place overall in states. The Senior girls are Zahara Bernal, Addison Brooks, Katherine Heineman, Campbell Highsmith, Megan Klingler, Helena Levings, Olivia Resnick and Ava Schwartz. The Senior boys are Peter Davis, Reed Gabriel, Jake Jones, Eric Pan, Drew Park, Davis Trimble and Peter Webb. Junior Harriet Blaha placed third, Bernal finished sixth and Addie Locker came in tenth.
The Pace Academy Varsity Girls Softball team also made it to the State Championship game. They had a notable 20-2-4 record. Seniors Kate Grice, Anna Kate Howell and Livie Lynch, along with Coach Jason Miller, led the girls to state runner-ups.
The Difference a Helmet Can Make
cap. “I think that Tua is making a terrible decision not only for himself but for his family and team as well,” said junior Alston Mallis. Instead of a guardian cap, Tagovaildoa wears a Vicis Zero2 Matrix ID QB helmet. The helmet has customized padding for quarterbacks and a flexible outer shell.
“I think that Tua is making a terrible decision not only for himself but for his family and team as well.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also wears a Vicis helmet.
Two other helmets are popular around the league as well. The first is a Riddell Speed Flex known for its flexible front portion of the helmet. The Speed Flex is popular among linemen
and is often seen on high school football fields. The next most popular helmet is the Schutt F7 which is popular due to its shifting tectonic plate at the top of the helmet. This helmet is meant for absorption and is worn mostly by skill position players like defensive backs and wide receivers. Throughout the past couple of seasons, the NFL has adjusted rules considering helmets to aid to players safety. Helmets are very player-specific, but if the NFL mandates guardian caps for player safety, the number of head injuries could potentially be reduced.
Pace athletes Kate Grice, John Hardesty, Marco Juarez and Reign Sherrell compete in winter sports.
Photo : Fred Assaf