Vol. 38 Issue #8
May 17, 2013
The Knightly News Pace Academy 966 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, Georgia 30327
p. 3 BBT Makes Her Exit
p. 4 Billy Stonecipher’s Journey
p. 12 Senior Predictions
Class of ‘13 Taking the School Down with Them By: Sam Rubenstein Staff Writer ‘14
With the 2012-2013 school year coming to a close, it is time to say goodbye to the seniors once again. Members of the Class of 2013 will be remembered for their academic successes, school spirit, and as the last students to graduate from the old upper school building. The Class of 2013 began the year with a bang by patriotically parading down West Paces Ferry with an America theme. From the beginning, the class has shown incredible unity and has kept this going all year long. In January, the seniors topped off four years of Spirit Week with a tremendous effort, demonstrating both their school spirit and cohesiveness. This is no surprise, as they have 28 lifers who have remained dedicated to Pace the whole way through. With seven students enrolled in Ivy League schools, the Class of 2013 may be one of the most academically successful classes to ever graduate from Pace. In fact, The Knightly News received inside information that the college counselors believe 2013 was the best year ever for Pace college admissions. This class definitely persevered through the challenges of the Academy. They have
Photo: Lee Wilson Members of the senior class show off their college choices and celebrate their last week of classes. toughed Ms. Smith’s rants on the Thirty Years’ War, endured Mr. Horner’s “Five or Die,” and withstood Dr. K’s fractals. Additionally, the Class of 2013 has something to say for itself when it comes to the arts. In their time here, they took to the stage and beautifully executed the fall musicals “Annie,”
“Fiddler on the Roof,” “Curtains,” and “West Side Story.” Whether it be on canvas or the wheel, in the darkroom, or on the stage, the Class of 2013 has demonstrated mastery in the arts like nobody else. “There have always been strong students, but never so many in one class; and not just in visual arts, but in the
performing arts too,” said drawing and painting teacher Donice Bloodworth. Finally, the Class of 2013 topped off their great year with an equally incredible GAP Day. Excitement was high as they strode into the FAC in their neon T-shirts. The day was awesome and ended in emotional
testimonials. Senior after senior described how unique their class was, with all its quirks and “weirdness.” As they put it, they could be themselves, their very weird selves, as members of this class. Pace Academy will truly miss such a great class, whose members have excelled in all aspects of this great school.
of the Great American Picnic. Everyone knows Mr. Gannon’s famous commentary on the day of cookouts, water fights, and senior slideshows: “It’s not great, it’s not American, and it’s hardly even a picnic,” but most people don’t know the origin of all of these festivities.
The first celebration of this day was in the 1970s, but then it was known as the International Luncheon. “The lunchroom was where the science labs are, downstairs in the academic building, and the kitchen was where Mr. Owens’ classroom is,” Ms. Smith recollected. “All Student Council people cooked all the food on the international menu, and we would serve students as they sat at tables with white tablecloths and napkins. It was so civilized,” she said. The International Luncheon began to morph into a picnic when liability concerns prevented faculty from using the kitchen, so the event was moved outdoors as more of a picnic-like setting. “Then the food became less international and more American with hamburgers and hot dogs,” Ms. Smith said. “This continued for many years until it
turned into the chaos we suffer through today.” Ms. Smith attributes this change to the simple facts that “students are savages” and that “Hobbes was right about human nature.” Mr. Gannon, who joined Pace in 1996, remembers his first GAP Day experience as “the most horrifying event of all time.” He said, “We had a cookout in the garden as the ‘picnic’ portion of it, but then from there it deteriorated into terrorism. Students just ran around campus pouring lemonade on the heads of freshmen and pelting them with hot dogs. Basically, just a cookout and chaos.” The festivities became tamer over the years to become the fun yet structured day students participate in today. “The thing about the Great American Picnic is that it changes; it’s always evolving,” Mr. Gannon said.
Even this year’s GAP day saw changes. “For the next few years the water fight will be up top by the tennis courts to avoid parking lot injuries,” Mr. Gannon explained. “Also just water balloons and guns only, no more buckets.” Mr. Gannon added, “It will probably change even more drastically 15 years from now. Who knows, we could come full circle back to an International Luncheon.” No matter the evolution of festivities, the Great American Picnic is always an anticipated event, even if it is just to get out of class and enjoy the sunshine. “The best thing about GAP is that it is a little bit of the world turned upside down,” Mr. Gannon said. “We run an institution that’s pretty hierarchical, and for the students to be able to act wildly for a bit over the course of the year is a good thing.”
Teachers Reflect on the History of GAP Day By: Riley Muse Staff Writer ‘14 Every year the Friday before AP exams commence, the Pace Academy Upper School celebrates the timeless tradition
Photo: Pacesetter Pace students celebrated GAP Day very differently in 1992.
Pace News
May 17, 2013
The Knightly News - Page 2
Five Minutes with Editors-in-Chief Natalie and Suzanne By: Hayley Silverstein News Editor ‘14
Photo: Wilson Alexander
By: Wilson Alexander Staff Writer ‘14
Knightly News: How does it feel to be finally at the end? Natalie Camrud: Amazing! I’ve had a countdown on my phone since the beginning of the year. Suzanne Monyak: I think it’s kind of bittersweet. I’m excited to go do something different, but I’m sad because I’m going to miss my friends. KN: Is second semester senior year easy or hard? SM: I think it’s weird because you know that your grades don’t count, but the teachers don’t seem to understand that grades don’t count, so they continue to assign you things and you have to do it. NC: It was easy until I found out that I got into a school. KN: Looking back, what did you enjoy most about high school? NC: The friends I made. SM: I was going to say that. I’ve met a lot of nice people. NC: Suzanne and I have been tight since fifth grade. SM: Just kidding, we met each other in ninth grade. She [Natalie] was the bottom bunk
Suzanne and Natalie reflect on their time at Pace. and I was the top bunk at our High Rocks cabin but we didn’t become friends until junior year. NC: I remember she was so tiny. SM: I just remember that you wore long pants and it was July. KN: Do you have any regrets about high school? NC: Global Ed trip. I just never got around to doing it. SM: I wish I were more athletic so I could go back and do more school sports, but that’s not something I could change. KN: You both are planning on going to college, so where will you be going? NC: I’m going to Scripps. SM: I’m going to Georgetown. KN: Why did you choose to go there?
SM: It was a school that I kept coming back to. They have a really good English department, and they have a great campus. And they have Georgetown Cupcakes. I’m like on the V.I.P cupcake list now. KN: So why did you [Natalie] choose to go to Scripps? NC: I just like California and I felt like I belong there. KN: What are you most looking forward to about college? SM: Just the independence. It will be nice to not have to be accountable to anybody and do what I want, when I want, without having anyone breathing
Senior Maddie Everett shows off her art and jewelry.
Seniors Showcase Art By: Natalie Camrud Editor in Chief ‘13 On April 22, 19 seniors were seen running around the FAC lobby, preparing for their art show, wiring canvases, tacking up drawings, and placing pottery just so. When the show opened that afternoon, everybody was standing, exhausted, but proud of their work. Parents, teachers, and students flowed through the doors to see the products of the seniors’ creativity and hard work. From jewelry to collage to photography, all mediums and all styles were represented. “I was so excited to share my hard work with everyone and to see and appreciate the work of my classmates, said Jenna Blumenthal. Kate Thomson’s
style reflected impressionism, while Asante Crews focused on realism, and Kelly McGonnigle created bright and colorful water scenes with expertly applied paint. “I really have been working hard all year, so I loved people seeing everything I had made, and I loved seeing everyone’s work all together because I had only seen it in bits and pieces over the year,” said Kate. Most everyone who came to the show seemed amazed by all the pieces, although some kids only came for the food. The show filled the entire lobby and even the upper level of the auditorium. “I am very proud of all my seniors. I really liked the artists’ statements. I liked hearing what you guys thought about it, and getting to see you guys in a different light than just in the classroom,” said Mr. Hattori.
future seniors? NC: When it comes to applying to colleges, just take the extra step, because you never know what might help. Like, go visit that extra time, even if you feel too lazy. Do it anyway. SM: Milk your application. It’s the time to make yourself seem as good as you possibly are. It’s not the time to be all modest and act like something isn’t that big of a deal. Just act like everything you do is amazing. KN: Any advice for students that aren’t applying to colleges yet? SM: I guess there is that whole cliché thing about getting involved and that high school goes by so fast. Oh! Freshmen, don’t clump in the middle of the hallways and in the Inman Center. NC: Don’t slack off freshman year because it screws you up. KN: If you could use one word to describe the other person, what would it be? SM: Sexy (laughs). Just kidding, I’m going to say honest because she always says what she thinks. NC: I would call her an adorable cupcake. SM: She’s called me some weird things in the past. One time in the hallway she walked up to me and was like, “Hello my little basket of muffins.” (laughs) KN: I think that’s a good note to end on. Thank you.
procrastinate, as multiple teachers have not even thought about the months of freedom that seem to be the only item on students’ minds at this time. Several teachers, however, were clear about their plans and willing to share them. When Mr. Carson isn’t spending his time “playing around on [his] river in Cullasaja, N.C. or looking at rocks,” he will be “wandering the streets of New York” via foot, subway and taxi, though he is still hesitant to rent a bike in the city. Ms. Stevens simply plans on catching up on the unpacking of her new abode while dreaming of taking a historic train tour across the mountains; she sadly has little time to spare due to her history curriculum. School seems to be a stressful topic for teachers when it
begins to intermingle with their summer plans. Ms. Hall says that she will be “strapping on a pair of roller skates and hitting a lot of girls to work off the stress from this year and prepare myself for next.” Mr. Whyte fans can follow him to Acadia, Maine where he will be hiking and enjoying the great outdoors. He said, “At some point I’m sure I’ll spend as much time as possible at the beach because it is the greatest place on earth -next to Disney World of course.” What draws Mr. Whyte to the beach? Is it the endless ladies? Mr. Whyte said that he cannot stay away from “the feel of the sand between [his] toes.” Likely all students will look forward to the Facebook uploads, tweets, and Instagrams that are sure to accompany these fantastic plans.
Teachers Share Summer Plans By: Wylie Heiner Opinion Editor ‘14
Photo: Lee Wilson
down my neck. NC: The independence. KN: Will you continue to do newspaper in college? SM: Yeah, I definitely will. NC: The Scripps Voice is so girly; I’m going to need to fix it. KN: What are you going to miss the most about Pace? NC: You guys, definitely! KN: Awwww. SM: Newspaper class! I am also just going to miss the attention you get at a smaller school, and that the teachers actually care about you. NC: There are literally 900 people at Scripps. So I’m going to get plenty of attention. And I’m going to miss Donice. KN: How has it been being CoEditor-in-Chiefs of The Knightly News? SM: Just awful, having to preside over people like you. (laughs) NC: Fun! It’s been cool to make the final decision on how it looks before people read it. SM: It’s been nice getting to have a leadership role and do something I love. KN: Any plans for the summer? SM: I’m working at my barn. There is a horseback riding camp and I am going to be a counselor. NC: I’m going to Europe for three weeks. KN: Do you have any advice for
While students sip their virgin piña coladas, tan on the beach, and roadtrip across the country, will they ever ask themselves, “What could the faculty members possibly be doing with all that spare time of theirs?” Are they still grading those papers that we never got back from first semester? Or are they dancing the night away atop a table in St. Tropez, or perhaps grabbing a couple of friends and shooting the Hooch? With 69 days of free time, the teachers are bound to find something of interest to do. It seems that the students are not the only ones who tend to
Latin Students Bring Home Ribbons By: Dean Papastrat Technology Editor ‘15 “Men, to the races!” Junior Michael Sloman charged forward as chariots fell apart around him. Along with other members of the Pace Junior Classical League (JCL), he was at the JCL state convention. On Friday, April 19, the Pace JCL traveled to the Rock Eagle 4-H Center to participate in one of the country’s largest Latin conventions, filled with togas, standards and just about everything else from ancient Greece and Rome. At the convention, students participated in many ac-
tivities, such as Olympika (athletic competitions), Certamen (Latin quiz bowl), chariot races, Latin oratory, and many other challenging tests about mythology, grammar, and culture. Pace brought home over 45 awards, including honors for three students who placed in the top 25 students overall, and a second place award for the video, “Ruling Roman Style.” Senior Michelle Yancich, the “Consul” (president) of the club, attributed the growth of the Pace JCL in the past year to “all of the work Jaclyn Lund has done.” Jaclyn and fellow junior Michael Sloman, along with sophomores Davis Miller and Jonathan Spalten, will lead JCL next year.
Photo: Dean Papastrat
Junior Michael Sloman proudly carries Pace’s standard.
Pace News
Vol. 38 Issue #8
The Knightly News - Page 3
BBT Makes Her Exit on a High Note By: Suzanne Monyak Editor in Chief ‘13
After a 42-year-long career, Mrs. Beth Barrow-Titus, Pace’s beloved visual and performing arts chairperson and upper school chorus director, is leaving the Academy to begin the next chapter of her life. For the past 17 years, Mrs. Barrow-Titus, known to her students as BBT, has imparted her knowledge and musical expertise to Pace’s eager student singers. A passionate singer herself, BBT holds high expectations for the Pace chorus. “I don’t expect everybody to be a fabulous singer, but I expect everybody to try to be,” she said. This year, the chorus of nearly 70 members, a record high, has not failed to impress. “This group of singers is really strong and talented, and they’re taking every little detail that I give them to try to make the material better,” she said. Even with such a large chorus, BBT aims to nurse each voice to its fullest potential. “She really cares about each individual voice, and each person’s improvement in technique,” said junior Cory Bush. Although she expects a lot out of her chorus, her students
Photo: Meredith Bradshaw Upper School chorus members pose with Mrs. Barrow-Titus on her last ever Chorus tour. agreed that she has managed to strike just the right note, finding the balance between instructor and mother figure. “She’s funny but serious, and sweet but not a pushover,” said senior Zach Steinfeld. Not only is she viewed in a caring and motherly light, but she is also referred to, both by her students and herself, as “mother.” In class when trying to get the attention of her students, BBT would often say, “Listen to mother!” “I really do feel that
Photo: Max Greenberg
these hundreds and hundreds of students that I’ve taught over the years are my other children,” she said. Senior Meredith Bradshaw, who first met BBT when auditioning for the role of little Cosette in the Pace musical “Les Miserables” in fourth grade, said, “I saw her as a mother then, and I see her as a mother now.” “She treats us all like a family,” Cory added. As a teacher, BBT has had the opportunity to work with her students for all of high school, and some students for all
Global Ed Takes Over Europe By: Julia Beck Staff Writer ‘15
Juniors Emilia Tripodi, Marc Bernstein, Caroline Draughon, John Morrison, and Elle Stang get ready for senior year.
Class of 2014 Steps Up By: Max Greenberg Staff Writer ‘14 As the school year comes to a close, not only do we say goodbye to the Class of 2013, but also eagerly await the arrival of next year’s senior class, the Class of 2014. This class will have to face challenges that other senior classes have not had to face, such as spending the coming year in trailers. Nevertheless, most are confident that the Class of 2014 will not only endure but prosper. When thinking about the upcoming senior class, most first look to the wide variety of students. This class has a broad spectrum of talent, from several prospective Division 1 athletes to future Nobel Prize winners. But students have made their mark in a number of areas
beyond the athletic field and the classroom. This class boasts talented actors, musicians, dancers, artists, chess players, debaters, and Model UN standouts, along with many others. Class of 2014 Dean Allison Riley described her class as “diverse, creative, unflappable, and full of personality.” The creativity of this class is evident during Spirit Week every year, when they dazzle both the judges and the audience with their choreography and decorations. The class also has shown its innovation and commitment to the Pace community with one student’s creation of the new Pace Academy Board of Diversity. Although they have many challenges awaiting them, both seen and unforeseen, the Class of 2014 expects to be able to handle anything that comes their way. Time will tell whether this class will be one of the best to graduate from Pace Academy.
of middle school, too. “That’s really one of the beauties about what I do here... The students that I have, many times, I’ve known for six or seven years... It’s exciting to see how those students have grown, matured, and changed,” she said. After such a long time at Pace, it is clear that BBT has left her mark both on the Pace Fine Arts department, and especially her students. “I don’t think there’s any way anyone could forget her. She has touched the
lives of so many students, and she has made the music program incredible,” said sophomore Rebecca Husk. “I will miss BBT’s laugh, her knowledge, and her intangible ability to teach music,” said Zach. During the chorus tour to Disney World this spring, the chorus students made an extra effort to make this last chorus tour special, including leaving thank you notes on BBT’s hotel door every night, and even serenading her at the Magic Kingdom with “Bridge over Troubled Water,” a chorus favorite. “As we were singing, she walked up to us with the biggest smile on her face, and tears in her eyes. It was the happiest I have ever seen her,” said Rebecca. As the school year comes to a close, BBT’s students have nothing but kind words to say about their experiences in chorus. Cory said, “She is one of my favorite teachers I have ever had, and it has been such an honor to be taught by her, and to be a part of her last chorus here at Pace.” It appears that the new chorus director will have some big shoes to fill. Meredith said, “I hope that she [the next chorus director] connects with the students as much as BBT has, and that people enjoy chorus as much as they have under BBT.”
The goal of the Global Education program is to give Pace students the opportunity to take part in unique and inspiring trips with their peers and their teachers as they travel across the globe. The trips either involve an outdoor adventure, service, arts, or academic focus to give students the opportunity to take part in something they might not do otherwise. This June and July, almost 50 Pace students will go on one of these trips to either Russia, Spain, Cambridge, or Italy. The Russia trip, led by Ms. Smith and Mr. Sargent, will start in Moscow and then move to St. Petersburg. They will visit historic sites such as St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Winter Palace. Anyone who knows Ms. Smith knows how hard she has worked to make this trip happen.
From forcing sophomore Mark Grenader to speak in Russian in order to book a Russian hotel to filling out innumerable forms in order to make sure every student would be allowed into the country, she and Mr. Sargent have planned every detail. Sophomore Patrick Moore said, “[This trip] seemed the most interesting to me. I’m most excited about seeing the Red Square... My parents were OK sending me on this trip because they knew Ms. Smith would protect me.” Ms. Riley and Ms. Bazzel are leading the trip to Spain. They will go to Madrid and to Grenada, but the highlight of this trip is the language immersion program. Students will stay for five days in the homes of Spanish families, exploring the city and Spanish culture from this unique perspective. Two Pace students will stay in each family’s home. Sophomores Natalie Marcrum and Morgan Baker said they are most excited for the beach, meeting the families, and
Photo: Tim Hornor
Senior Sajat Rabbani gazes out from the London Eye in 2012.
shopping. Morgan said, “I chose this trip because I love Español, and I love beans and rice, so it was perfect for me.” Ms. Goodrich, Mr. Bloodworth, and Mrs. Kann are taking students on the Italy trip this summer. Their goal is to focus on the ancient arts, Latin history, and the literature present in Italy. The trip will be centered mostly in Rome but also in Milan and Florence. Ms. Goodrich said, “I’ve been to Italy before but never to Milan, so I’m looking forward to exploring a new city and to learning from Mr. Bloodworth, Mrs. Kann and our other guides. I’m super excited about getting to know the students better! We have a great group!” The fourth Global Ed trip of the summer is to Cambridge, led by Mr. Hornor and Nick and Lisa Hoffman, the parents of sophomore Anna Hoffman and alum John Hoffman. The purpose of this trip is to introduce students to finance though lectures and lessons from Cambridge professors. Cambridge has become a perennial favorite Global Ed trip for Pace. The most famous part of the Cambridge trip is the traditional croquet outing. Ms. Smith summed up why she thinks Global Ed, and specifically her Russia trip, is so great: “If we travel to learn and to experience, especially if we go not to judge and compare, we can see so much about what people’s lives are like. Just being in another country, even though we are tourists, gives us another lens through which we can look at our world.”
Pace News
May 17, 2013
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Billy’s Journey: To the West and Back By: Sallie Hays Staff Writer ‘13 “I don’t think I can take one more day/ But I can’t imagine it any other way/ I lack any sort of motivation/ Because I succumb to every temptation/ At a crossroad/ My feet hang over the window/ To face another day/ I pop another pill.” The student body may recognize this chorus from senior Billy Stonecipher’s “The Road,” which he performed at Cabaret. His performance was heartfelt, and he caught the audience’s attention with his powerful message. Billy had his first drink at age 15, and the first time he smoked he was 16. “Drugs came into the picture because it was the easiest crowd to hang around, because all they cared about is if I was doing drugs with them. It made it easy to blend in, and not worry about being liked,” he said. His use became a significant problem second semester sophomore year, when he started using every day. By the end of first semester junior year, Billy began struggling with depression. He had no motivation, and he got to a point where life was no longer fun. During exam review in December 2011, Billy approached his father about his excessive drug and alcohol use. Billy said, “I wanted help, which is something I usually didn’t ask for, but at that point, I had hit rock bottom and didn’t know who else to turn to.” Billy dropped out of school and started seeing a psychiatrist. Then, his therapist asked if he was willing to get more help, and with Billy’s cooperation they set up a plan to send Billy to rehab at Hazelden in Minnesota. He left the week of exams. Billy said, “I thought I was gonna walk in the door, and 28 days later I was gonna come out the door a whole new person
Photo: Billy Stonecipher
Billy spent nine months in Montana in a halfway house. -- everything cool, and I was gonna go back to Pace. So I really had no clue, and didn’t know it was going to be this long.” While in Minnesota, he was able to stay in touch with his family by calling once a day. From morning to night he had a set schedule: wake up, chores, group meeting, breakfast, group again, lunch, 30-minute free time, and treatment work for up to an hour and a half. In treatment they gave Billy plans, or as Billy described, “homework for drug addicts, with pamphlets to read about fear, anger, and grief problems, as well as the 12 steps of AA.” After treatment work time, he would have a recreational activity, dinner, free time, a lecture from a recovering drug addict or alcoholic, free time, relaxation, and then bedtime. After keeping up this schedule for 28 days, Billy remained in an extended program for three more months. This program had a similar schedule, but Billy got to go to an independent school from 8 a.m. - noon and the program was a little more in-depth. “We actually got to go to real AA and NA meetings at night, so they got us more involved in that,” Billy said. When Billy first got to Minnesota, it was really tough for him. He said, “I felt okay with it when I first went, but then
three days in I was ready to go. I didn’t want to do it anymore; it was too hard. I was already starting to feel really depressed, and I was like, ‘what’s the point, if I’m being locked up here and not feeling happy.’” He was looking for quick results: to go in and come out fixed and ready to go. Things were up and down for him while at Hazelden, and then after the program they recommended he go to a halfway house in Montana. After spending two months in Montana, Billy began to feel more comfortable. They told Billy he would be there for six months, but he ended up staying for nine. In Montana he got to go to a “real public school,” with a regular school day from 8 a.m. 3:15 p.m. At the halfway house, Billy started to open up more. “I was really starting to become comfortable with who I was, and was just being honest with them, and they still liked me for who I was. When I was able to be comfortable with just being me and not worrying about what other people felt or thought or how they reacted towards me, and when I felt I had close, true friends, I think I really became comfortable and thought things were going to be alright,” he said. Throughout the entire experi-
ence, Billy said, “I didn’t learn just to stay sober, I learned much more about life than I could have ever imagined, like what I went in for.” He learned to keep an open mind, be willing, and to be honest. He said, “These three simple guidelines are hard to do, but with those three things, everything will happen for me.” He wanted to come back home as soon as possible, and was always talking about how he was ready to come back. But once he returned to Atlanta, it was really hard for him again. He said, “When I finally came back, I didn’t think I actually wanted to stay, because things were very different than I expected them to be.” Everyone was older, and he had changed. As he described it, “I went from one world and came to another.” He was used to living with people in recovery who were similar to him because they shared a problem and a goal, but the people at home were doing other things: playing sports, talking about college, talking about what they wanted to do on the weekends. He felt alone because he felt different. However, he said, “Over time, through being myself, it got better.” As a Pace Arts Laureate, Billy recently performed his song “Stay True,” where he preached the message “stay true to yourself.” Billy said, “Even though I have been at Pace for as long as I have (since pre-first), I have never felt as comfortable as I have since I’ve been back... I feel like I just fit right in, because I am just being who I am -- flaws included.” He learned to value family a lot more, as he missed seeing the same people every day. It was also hard for him to be away from Pace because, as he said, “it had become a family since I’ve been going here so long and seeing the same faces. I felt as if I lost two homes.” Billy’s music was a tool that helped him express his emotions. He said, “I started to grow as a
person and be more comfortable because I was able to gain some confidence and put that into my music. I found something I enjoyed and was good at.” Billy first found his voice in rehab. He had a spiritual connection with it because he was able to express himself in ways he wasn’t able to before. Before, he had feelings that he was ashamed of and didn’t feel comfortable talking about with people, but through group sessions he became able to express those feelings. Billy said, “When I was able to put it in a song, I felt a relief, but I also felt the ability to reach out to other people and help other people through my experience.” After all of his progress, Billy plans on keeping up with the program, going to meetings, and seeing what else he can learn. He said, “If I didn’t, it would be dumb because I’ve learned so much about life in general in a little bit over a year.” Billy wants to pursue his music as a career, saying, “Even if I don’t make a ton of money, all I want to do in life is play music and have a family. It makes me the most happy. It allows me to connect to certain things I’m normally not able to, and connect to other people. It’s brought a lot of gifts in my life, just in the short time I’ve really started opening up in my music and playing.” Since Billy has been home, he has gotten a sponsor in a 12step program. When he recently went to Trinity house, he said he “felt at home because [he] was living in that situation for a long time, and it was good to get an outside look, looking in.” He doesn’t worry about relapse as much as he used to because he doesn’t have the urge to use anymore, but he says “it’s always a concern.” In college next year, Billy plans to stay in a sober dorm. He said, “As cliché as it sounds, I learn something new every day, and I hope to continue learning and keep working the program.”
‘Caught in the Net’ Excites Audiences with British Comedy By: Riley Muse Staff Writer ‘14 April 25-27, a select group of seven talented upper school students performed the British comedy “Caught in the Net,” a fast-paced farce by Ray Cooney. The show is a sequel to Cooney’s “Run for Your Wife,” where the audience continues to follow the adventures of the bigamist taxi driver John Smith (played by junior Sam Downey) as he keeps two different families in two different parts of London at the same time. The two families are seemingly completely unaware of one another until Smith’s daughter in Wimbledon, Vicki (junior Cory Bush), meets his son Gavin in Streatham (sophomore Sam Nail), on an online
chatroom. In order to avoid possible incest between the two flirtatious teens and exposure of his bigamy, John enlists the help of his Wimbledon lodger Stanley (senior Ben Hirsch) to keep the young people and their mothers, Barbara (sophomore Rebecca Husk) and Mary (senior Alex Paré), from meeting. To make matters even crazier, Stanley’s aging father (played by sophomore Cooper Peery) enters the scene in the second act, confused as to why he and his son haven’t left for their holiday to the beach yet. “Caught in the Net” definitely lived up to its wild expectations. The laughter was so constant that spectators left with sore abdomens, and the continuous whirling around, shouting, and falling over and off of things caused the audience
to leave with a sense of extreme tiredness after witnessing such frenetic shenanigans. “The show is so, so funny, but completely exhausting!” said junior Cory Bush, “I needed a long night’s sleep after every rehearsal and performance.” Another key aspect of the show, besides the crazy comedy, was the cast’s successful execution of British accents. “The accent creates a sense of place and character, giving the show its own unique London flavor,” said director Dr. Mengert, “It’s not the Queen’s British so the cast definitely had to work hard on them, but they pulled it off in the end.” Another unique aspect of the play was its tight-knit cast; audiences could feel their comedic chemistry and the fun they were having on the stage as they watched the group act together.
Photo: Pace Arts Alliance
Mary (Alex Paré) gets violent in the show’s climax. “My favorite part was bonding with the cast backstage,” said Rebecca, “We would all play little pranks on each other backstage, like squirting each other with breath spray.” Cory agreed, saying, “I love being in a small cast! We all got along really well and with very little stress.” “When you get this crew together, there are always bound to be funny things that happen, like broken sofas and doors,” said Dr. Mengert. In all, the ridiculous plot
twists and through-the-roof energy on the part of the actors culminated in a hilariously gutsplitting show and a proper farewell to senior theater veterans Alex and Ben. “I can’t believe this is my last one!” Alex said, “It’s been a great show to be my last; it cracked me up even from backstage!” “It’s been a wild ride of British, fast-paced, craziness,” Dr. Mengert said, summing up the show, “I couldn’t be happier with this cast’s efforts. They really did a great job.”
Pace News
Vol. 38 Issue #8
The Knightly News - Page 5
US Teachers Leave Pace for New Endeavors Photo: Brianna Cochran
Dr. Wheeler works with senior Healy Chait in Anatomy class.
By: Suzanne Monyak Editor in Chief ‘13 As underclassmen count down the days until that last final exam, eager to launch into their three-month break from school, the exit from Pace by Spanish teacher Dr. Wheeler, registrar Dr. Brubaker, and head librarian Mrs. Smith will be more bittersweet, as they finish
their final days at the Academy. Dr. Wheeler began teaching at Pace in 1996, and after leaving in 2004 to attend nursing school, she returned to Pace in 2010. “I wanted to go out and see what else is out there,” Dr. Wheeler said. Dr. Wheeler has a Ph.D. in nursing from Emory University, and next year she will teach part-time at the Emory School of Nursing and serve as president of the Georgia Nurses Association, but there will always be a special place in her heart for
New Classes To Be Offered Next Year By: Elizabeth Roos Social Media ‘14 The 2013-2014 school year is guaranteed to be one filled with excitement. Attending school in the “Academic Village” on the lower field, a new senior class reigning supreme over Pace, and new courses in the curriculum are only a few items to look forward to. Global Issues, a “hands-on” course for juniors and seniors of Ms. Anderson’s (dean of the Class of 2015, director of Service Learning, director of Global Education, and history teacher) own design is sure to be thought provoking. “The course is designed to get students thinking about global issues, such as what it means to do development around the world, the population explosion, the food and water crisis, the issue of energy, global warming, and the war on terror and much more,” said Ms. Anderson. She plans on the class taking exciting field trips around Atlanta as well as watching eye-opening documentaries and reading articles not only about current events but also about is-
sues from the past. “As a history course, we will look at how these issues have developed and become prominent crises over the past few years. My goal for this class is to help this next generation come up with ways to deal with issues that are going to be impossible not to deal with in the future. I want all of my students to make a positive impact on the world as global citizens.” After numerous requests by Pace students, AP Economics is finally going to be offered next school year. Adviser to Knight Capital (Pace’s investment club) Mr. Newman will be teaching the class. The first semester will focus on microeconomics and the second semester on macroeconomics. According to economics virtuoso Mr. Newman, “As in any economics class the second semester will be easier because there will be some overlap in material and the students will be more used to the subject matter.” Mr. Newman added, “I want my students to get what they want out of the class. I know that many of them are interested in business school; I hope to give the basic foundation of economics to help them in the future. The grade on the AP exam is trivial.” Photo: Elizabeth Roos
Ms. Anderson is excited about teaching Global Issues.
Pace Academy and for her students. Dr. Wheeler said that she will miss her students the most when she leaves Pace, explaining the she prefers high school students to college students. “They are willing to tell people things, and express their thoughts about things,” she explained. She even hinted that she might return to Pace after a few years at Emory. She said, “I feel like I can go and try some new things, but Pace is still home... It’s nice to know that Pace is here.” Dr. Brubaker has worked at Pace for four years as registrar
and has also taught computer science and the history elective Love and Philosophy. He plans to use his Ph.D. in computer science to pursue a career in software engineering. Last spring, he began constructing a website for his computer class which allowed him to post videos. “Building the website rekindled my interest in building things again,” said Dr. Brubaker. He said that he is looking forward to having “the chance to have an idea and make it happen.” However, he said that his time with the Pace family will leave an impact on him in all of his future endeavors, both in his career and as a father. “I have a better idea of how I want to raise my own kids than before I came,” he explained. He said, “I feel a lot of loyalty to this place, and it is very hard to walk away.” Passionate about reading and helping students, Mrs. Smith has dedicated 27 years of her life to the Upper School/Middle School library. Mrs. Smith left her job as a researcher of historic sites to work in the library when her daughter started school at Pace, and she has loved the resources
she has constantly had at her fingertips. “Every day I can walk in...and just have my own personal library!” she said. An avid reader, Mrs. Smith said that it would be impossible to choose one favorite book: “It seems like every few months I’m finding something that I just utterly love.” Mrs. Smith looks back on her Pace experience favorably, describing it as having “never been dull.” When she first began at Pace, the school owned one Apple computer and middle school plays were put on in the cafeteria, currently the science hall. During her time here, she has witnessed the opening of the FAC and the introduction of the online library catalogue which replaced the Dewey Decimal System. “It was an extraordinary time,” she said. Mrs. Smith plans to spend more time with her family, get more involved with her book club, and visit her farm in South Carolina. Although she looks forward to entering this new era of her life, she said that she will always miss Pace. She said, “I wouldn’t take anything for the memories that I have.”
Photo: Beth Singleton
Junior Kelly Brown plays with a camper in the gymnastics room last year during Pace Camp.
Pace Summer Programs Look Forward to Another Great Year By: Max Greenberg Staff Writer ‘14 This summer, although classes will have ended, Pace Academy will be abuzz with activity. Forty-three members of the faculty, staff, and student body will participate as counselors in one of the 14 different programs that Pace will offer during the summer. These range from Pace Camp and various sports and academic enrichment camps, to debate camp, and even cooking camp. When asked about his experience working for summer programs in the past, senior Alexander Reckford said, “Working for the basketball camp helped me hone my skills
and let me help the community at the same time.” National chess champion and junior Jeremy Paul said, “I loved working with kids at chess camp. It taught me a lot about myself and allowed me to do something I loved.” Pace is also offering summer camps specifically created to give back to the community. One of these programs is Keeping Pace. This program brings kids from an Atlanta neighborhood just south of Turner Field to Pace and tutors them in math and reading. The kids also participate in sports and various arts and crafts activities such as pottery, painting, and mixed media. Leading the program this year is Mrs. Martha Downer-Assaf. Mrs. Downer-Assaf said that the main goal of Keeping Pace is “to provide an enriching, rewarding, and inspiring summer
experience for middle school youth from the Peoplestown neighborhood.” For the second year, Verano Sin Limetes, or “Summer Without Limits,” will be offered at Pace. Working with the Boys and Girls Club of America, the four week program, according to program director Laura AgrontHobbs, aims to “promote academic excellence among highly motivated Latino middle school students.” One of the many activities the children got to enjoy last year was going to Six Flags White Water amusement park. Mrs. Agront-Hobbs remembers the day fondly, “I have never seen so many happy faces in my life. It was a good moment for me because all the hard work was worthwhile.”
Features
May 17, 2013
The Knightly News - Page 6
Splash into Summer With Fun Movies By: Aaron Wasserman Staff Writer ‘14 “The Dark Knight,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “X-Men.” What do all these movies have in common? In addition to being entertaining blockbuster hits, all three of these movies were released during the summer. It is no surprise that summertime is often when major film studios decide to release their biggest hits, and this summer is certainly no exception. This summer promises to deliver several intriguing movies and, according to many, could be one of the best summers for moviegoers in recent memory. Superhero fans are sure to entertained with the third installment of the “Iron Man” series, which premiered May 3. Robert Downey Jr. reprises
his role as weapon-building billionaire Tony Stark with his beloved Pepper Pots at his side, once again played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Fans can expect all the witty humor and high flying excitement that they have come to expect from Tony Stark and the “Iron Man” franchise. Tony meets his most formidable foe yet, however, when he faces off with The Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley, a terrorist who is hell bent on bringing down the man behind the suit. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel “The Great Gatsby” gets a twenty-first century facelift with director Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation, which hit screens on May 10. Luhrmann’s take on the perennial bestseller boasts some big names such as Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. The fast pace of the roar-
Sallie’s Comics
By: Wylie Heiner Opinion Editor ‘14
ing twenties is sure to allure fans along with over-the-top visuals and a stellar soundtrack which includes popular artists such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, André 3000, and Florence and the Machine, among others. The next installment in the “Star Trek” franchise, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” debuts today and could prove to be the true blockbuster hit of the summer. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto will reprise their roles as Captain Kirk and Spock, respectively, in addition to many more favorites from the crew of the USS Enterprise. Captain Kirk and his crew will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles when they face off with John Harrison, a rogue member inside their own organization, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is determined to see the destruction of Starfleet and everything it stands for.
By: Sallie Hays Staff Writer ‘13
Photo: wallpoh.com
‘Unorthodox Jukebox’: Yikes By: Annie Armstrong Features Editor ‘13 Ever since I saw Bruno Mars perform a Bob Marley tribute at the Grammys by covering a The Police song, I knew something was off about him. This premonition was confirmed when I listened to “Unorthodox Jukebox” in full. Under a smattering of random style-samplings, Bruno Mars managed to make my flesh crawl. The album opens with “Young Girls,” a love ballad similar to his popular single “Just They Way You Are.” The song itself is easy enough to listen to, with catchy drums and soaring vocals. What pulls people in are the puppy dog lyrics, dripping in saccharine adoration for some faceless “young wild girl.” The genius of this song is that the mysterious paramour is actually the listener. Just like in the “Twilight” trilogy, the pull is that the subject is a nondescript, seemingly average girl who is inexplicably obsessed over by an impossibly suave and attractive older guy. Enter millions of pre-pubescent tweens eating up every word and millions of their (parents’) dollars goes straight into Bruno Mars’ pocket. This explains why every one of Mars’ songs has lyrics about being infatuated. The next song, hit single “Lost In Paradise,” sounds like Bruno Mars playing dress-up as Sting. This song is played so much on the radio that if I
talk about it anymore, I might explode, so let’s move on. “Gorilla” takes the album on a strangely hedonistic turn, with lyrics that are not Knightly News safe. In this song, Mars refers to his recent run-in with the law over a cocaine possession over a foot-tapping rhythm. “Treasure Map” is a disco-heavy romp, and honestly, it’s pretty catchy. The next couple of songs play just like every other bubblegum chart-topper, especially “When I Was Your Man,” in which Mars’ piano ballad features lyrics so corny that it sends tingles down your spine (another tween-pleaser). “Natalie” has an interesting fusion of Florence and the Machine-esque drum-pounding and some charmingly vengeful lyrics. Unfortunately, the next song, “Show Me,” is such a horrifying attempt at rock/reggae that Bradley Nowell of Sublime has probably turned over in his grave. The final two songs are more of the same: poor attempts at shoving popular subgenres through the pop music meat grinder. “If I Knew” is a doo-wop nod to his previous album, which was chock-full of ‘50s inspired tunes. Mars finishes in his comfort zone, crooning over a pop beat. The cover art of “Unorthodox Jukebox” features a gorilla fidgeting with an old jukebox, and this is exactly what the album sounds like. Aside from the most bubblegum, every song delves into the songwriting style of some iconic artist but with a painfully pop twist. The album may be catchy, but hey, so is the flu.
Prominent Dresses Dazzle at Prom
Megan Blasberg ‘13, Coco Schiffer ‘14, Annie Kate Pottle ‘13, Annie Armstrong ‘13, Brianna Cochran ‘13, Pate Hardison ‘14, Mackenzie Attridge ‘14,
Ellie Weber ‘13
Opinion
Vol. 38 Issue # 8
The Knightly News
966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 Knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association Co-Editors in Chief: Natalie Camrud Suzanne Monyak Online/Tech Editor: Dean Papastrat News Editor: Hayley Silverstein Opinion Editor: Wylie Heiner Features Editor: Annie Armstrong Sports Editor: David Martos
Social Media: Elizabeth Roos Staff Writers: Wilson Alexander Julia Beck Max Greenberg Sallie Hays David Martos Riley Muse Sam Rubenstein Josh Sloan Aaron Wasserman Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson Assistant Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker
The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students. The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by Florida Sun Printing. The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and
guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy. Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@ paceacademy.org.
The Knightly News - Page 7
Americans Too Quick To Leap to Conclusions By: Wilson Alexander Staff Writer ‘14 The recent bombings at the Boston Marathon called up memories of the bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, but it also means that Americans must rethink their understanding and views on terrorists. Ever since the horrible attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, Americans tend to assume that any act of terror is carried out by Islamic radicals from the Middle East. The events in Boston challenge this perception and are contrary to the common assumption that has led to this form of racial profiling. Before 9/11, Americans didn’t usually presume that a bombing was carried out by a brown-skinned, Middle Easternlooking male. In fact, in the 1980s, when news of a bombing broke, many people assumed it was a bombing occurring in Ireland carried out by the Irish Republican Army. However, when the bombings in Boston were initially reported, the first suspect mentioned by CNN’s John King was described as a “dark-skinned male.” Then the New York Post
Photo: theweek.com
Makeshift memorials were created in memory of Boston victims. falsely reported on their front page that Moroccan-born Salah Eddin Barhoum and his friend Yassine Zaime were suspects in the investigation. Barhoum responded by saying that the only explanation for his being identified as a suspect was because of his brown skin and that he was toting a bag. Later in the week, the wrongly accused Barhoum and Zaime were dismissed as suspects and brothers Dzhokar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev were identified as the bombers. But even after photos of the Tsarnaev brothers were posted by the FBI, Reddit users quickly and wrongly identified the younger suspect as Sunil Tripathi, the Brown University student who disappeared March 16 and whose body was identified on April 25 after it was
found in the Providence River. Tripathi was born and raised in Pennsylvania, but he is of Indian descent. The Tsarnaev brothers are ethnically Chechen, which means that they are from Chechnya, a Russian satellite state on the border of Georgia. The Onion, a satirical news source, reported that a majority of Americans were unable to “thoughtlessly stereotype” the brothers because of “Americans’ lack of basic knowledge about Chechnya or the Chechen people.” The fact that the suspects are Caucasian means that Americans must examine their own biases -- a terrorist could be anyone, from anywhere, of any ethnicity or skin color. In an ever-evolving world these assumptions can’t be made.
individuality. Recently, however, it seems as though Pace has been trying to shift our reputation as a small liberal arts school to that of a bigger school with an athletic center. The recently released admissions video had a strong focus on sports. The class sizes are getting bigger. The freshman class rounds out at around 115, compared with previous class sizes of around 100-ish, and many of those students are very athletic. Lots of Pace donations were put towards the new athletic complex. Senior Billy Stonecpher said,
"I think the face of Pace has drastically changed in the ten years I've been here. Since [former headmaster Mike] Murphy left, I think athletics are much more important to the school, and I think the focus on the arts has lost some of its edge." Perhaps this is an attempt to make the school more balanced, which is of course a great thing for the school to strive for, and will attract a lot more new students. However, my fear is that in all this change, Pace may lose its unique identity that students like me find so comforting in a high school setting.
Is Pace Academy Headed in a New Direction? By: Annie Armstrong Features Editor ‘13 What sets Pace apart from the other Atlanta private schools? For me, it was the school's inherent quirkiness that made me want to go to Pace. The Academy has a longstanding reputation of being the "artsy" one of the top schools in Atlanta. Our plays are known for being fabulous productions that surpass the expectations anyone has of high school theatre, and Pace students rack up Scholastic
By: Hayley Silverstein News Editor ‘14
Photo: Annie Armstrong Healy Chait ‘13 and Austin Little ‘15 enjoy both art and sports. Arts awards like it's their job. Aside from that, the atmosphere
at Pace is one that seems to foster creativity, uniqueness, and
Senior Pranks a Cherished Tradition Photo: Hayley Silverstein and Dean Papastrat
May 17, 2013
Sports
The Knightly News - Page 8
Atlanta Braves: World Series Contenders?
Photo: Madison Snyder
By: David Martos Sports Editor ‘14
Gymnastics members celebrate a good meet on senior night.
Gymnastics Turns in Solid Performances, JV Undefeated By: Julia Beck Staff Writer ‘15 Gymnastics at Pace is a big time commitment, rough on the players’ bodies, and very difficult. The JV team practices at least four days a week, and the varsity team practices up to six days a week. Senior Madison Snyder said, “It’s definitely a hard sport on your body, but worth it.” “We have to work really hard to improve,” said sophomore Christina Darland. When asked about the rigor of the sport, junior Mackenzie Attridge said, “We do lots of conditioning. However, on the other hand, we do have animals and cookies.” Sophomore Erin Rawls had a different perspective: “It’s not actually a lot of work. All you need to do is come to practice
and try your best and you’ll be fine.” The gymnastics team looks like it has a bright future. The current varsity team saw solid and consistent performances, while the JV team went undefeated all season. “We really are good, but people underestimate how much talent our team has,” said JV gymnast Lindsey Schrager. The varsity record is 2 and 6, having defeated Walton and Lovett. At the area meet, they all posted solid scores but just missed the cut for state. Coach Steve Cunningham said that the varsity team’s best meet of the season was their second one, in which they faced Carrollton High School: “We scored 90.7 points with only two falls on beam. Our team goal on the beam is to have no falls in one or more of our meets.” Coach Cunningham added, “We do not have one superstar
on the team. This team is made up of equally strong high school gymnasts. Each has one or two events where they shine, which makes for a very solid, close knit team. They are a lot of fun to coach; I look forward to each and every practice.” While the girls vary in which events they excel at, team members shared that their favorite events are “beam and floor,” which are also the ones they tend to be be most successful at. “All in all, we have a great time together during practices and meets. Practicing gymnastics with everyone after school always cheers me up,” said Erin, “It’s really cool that Pace is one of several schools to have a team and a place to practice.” Team members agreed that one of their favorite aspects of the season is their “gymnastics cookies:” special team cookies that a mom makes for them every meet.
The big news of the Atlanta Braves off-season was the acquisition of brother superstars Justin and BJ Upton. Justin has truly been remarkable so far this season, leading the explosive Braves lineup with 12 home runs and multiple clutch hits as of press time on May 10. “Justin has been owning everybody in the league.” said freshman Andrea St Paul. A lot of Atlanta Braves fans loved Martin Prado and his versatility, but the Justin Upton trade so far appears to be a complete steal for the Braves. BJ might have started the year off slowly, but now he is finally starting to show why the organization paid him so much in free agency. The loss of Chipper Jones to retirement, one of the most beloved athletes in Atlanta history, was a depressing event for the city. Junior Evelyn Hobbs vividly remembers the time she first saw Jones at the plate: “I was just a young girl and I remember watching him get the game winning hit. At that moment he became my favorite Brave.” Fans will miss the timely hitting of Chipper, but they should be thrilled with the new captain. Captain Jason Heyward is the new face of the organization and will be challenged with the task of succeeding Chipper, but if there is anyone for the job, it’s Jason. Heyward has already captivated his city, and there is no doubt that by the end of his career he will be remembered with the greats as one of the best athletes in Atlanta history.
Another great story coming out of nowhere is the success of Evan Gattis both on and off the field. After years of alcohol and drug abuse due to high anxiety, Gattis has regained focus and come back to the game he once loved. He has been an absolute monster at catcher this year and has helped the team a lot offensively without one of their ailing stars, Brian McCann. If Gattis can continue the way he is hitting, Brian McCann might actually be expendable. Starting pitching has long been a luxury for the Braves, and this year is no different. The Braves are relying on veteran Tim Hudson to show leadership and to help the promising studs below him in the rotation. Although Kris Medlen lost his consecutive games played without a loss streak, he has still been superb this year due to his pinpoint control. A pleasant but predictable revelation has been the emergence of Mike Minor, from a promising lefty to a pitcher looking for a spot in the All Star game. Julio Teheran is still trying to harness the “ace” inside of him that many analysts believe he has, but so far he has been the only Braves pitcher to struggle. The Braves bullpen is also about as dominant as it gets in the Major League. Led by the unhittable closer Craig Kimbrel, the pen makes it almost impossible for opposing teams to get any runs. With the Braves smashing homers and shutting out opposing hitters, the team is looking like a legitimate World Series contender for the first time in a while. Hopefully, the team will continue its stellar performance, so that Braves fans can continue chopping.
Boys, Girls Track and Field Enjoy Phenomenal Success By: Josh Sloan Staff Writer‘14
The Pace track and field team ended the regular season with an impressive 13 athletes qualifying for the state meet. The boys traveled to Jefferson, Ga. to compete in the state finals May 2-4. The boys did exceptionally well, capping off a great season with some impressive wins and placings. Junior Kenny Selmon became a state champion for a second time in the 110 and 300 hurdles. Junior Josh Rogers placed fifth and fourth in the 1600 and 3200 meters, respectively, and set two new school records in the process. Junior Jordan Brown
was ranked seventh going into his 400 meter event and finished in fifth place. In the 4 X 400 relay, the team of freshman Xori Johnson, senior Reid Williams, Kenny, and Jordan placed fifth. With a total of 37 points at the end of the state meet, the boys placed sixth overall. The boys had a tremendous season to match the expectations set by a phenomenal 2011-2012 season. Eight girls competed at the state meet May 9-11 in Albany, Ga. (Last year only one female athlete went to the state finals.) According to Coach Jolie Cunningham, “personal records and podium visits abounded.” Junior Alex Bussey competed in the triple jump along with relay events. Her jump of
33’ 11 1/2” in the sectionals at Landmark Christian placed her second overall going into the state meet. Alex PR’d, set a new Pace record, and placed fourth at the meet in Albany. According to Coach Cunningham, freshman Jilly Paul PR’d in the 3200 meters, and junior Callie Cunningham PR’d in the 1600 meters at state. The girls 4 X 100 relay team of freshman Molly Marks, Alex, junior Shabrea Duffey, and sophomore Lauren Hadley PR’d and placed sixth. Lauren also PR’d and placed third in the 300 hurdles, and Shabrea placed sixth in the 100 hurdles. The 4 X 400 relay team of Alex, Callie, Lauren, and junior Katie Williamson PR’d and placed seventh in the state meet.
Photo: huffingtonpost.com The Braves have enjoyed plenty of clutch hitting from their new star outfielder, Justin Upton.
Sports
Vol. 38 Issue # 8
The Knightly News - Page 9
Lacrosse a Source of Pride
she said, “We are young and our program is still growing.” Putting in a tremendous effort on senior night, the lacrosse players were determined to see their seniors off with a win. Other notable performances include a well-earned victory against a talented Alatoona team that Coach Morrison described as a “true team effort to pull out the victory.” Seniors Caroline Powers, Sydney Willis, and Claire Wiskind all played big roles for the team this year and will be missed for their contributions on the field and off. Sydney ex-
plained her feelings for the team when she said, “The best part of every season is getting to know all the freshmen and forming lasting relationships with all the girls.” Freshman Carlee Pokalsky summarized the thoughts of the team when she said, “The seniors themselves were the best part. They were always such supportive leaders, and I am glad I was able to be on their team, honored really.” The boys team had many exhilarating moments throughout the season on the way to an impressive 10-8 record and participation in the region tournament. One game that will certainly not be soon forgotten was the triple overtime victory against Fellowship Christian. Sophomore Robert Farinella scored the game winning goal with seconds to go in the third overtime to give the Knights the victory, and as promised, Coach Kates bought cherry limeades for the entire team. Sophomore Austin Little explained, “The cherry limeades were extra sweet because of the team’s great effort.” As with the girls team, senior leadership was crucial to the team’s success and the departure of Jack Assaf, Robert Brooks, Tiger Brown, Ben Moreland, Mitch Nemeth, and Jordan Schuchmann will be painful losses. But with so many talented players remaining, little to no dropoff in quality is expected. Freshman Mick Assaf said, “I’ll definitely miss the seniors but I am excited to see what we will be able to accomplish next year.”
succeed, and luckily the boys team has it. The team just missed the cut by two strokes for regionals but they are looking ahead. “I’m already looking forward to next year. It will be fun to see how much better everyone got in a year,” Tripp said. Boys golf team coach Mr. Player has loved his “good group of boys,” saying, “I am excited to see what they will produce next year.” Harrison said, “It has been a fun ride with the homies and I’m stoked for next year.” The girls team flew a bit under the radar this year. Made up
of sophomores Moriah Wilson and Julia Beck, junior Madison Hoff, and senior Annie Armstrong, the team had a superb year. At the Area 3 regional golf tournament, the squad faced some extremely talented teams, but still finished strong. Julia placed fourth overall in the tournament, earning her All-Area recognition. Annie also achieved a qualifying score. The team just missed the regionals by six strokes and finished fifth overall at the tournament. “We were bummed out to miss state, but we all had a lot of fun this year” said Madison.
Photo: Fred Assaf Senior Jack Assaf cradles on his way to scoring a goal.
By: Aaron Wasserman Staff Writer ‘14 The lacrosse program has long been a source of pride and accomplishment for Pace Academy and this year was certainly no exception with both the girls and boys teams showing great resilience on the field. The girls team, led by head coach Courtney Morrison, experienced its fair share of ups and downs throughout the season but Coach Morrison remained confident about the future when
Girls Golf Team Makes Regionals, Boys Impress in Regular Season By: David Martos Sports Editor ‘14 The golf teams are often overshadowed by other Pace spring sports, partly due to their small team sizes and low numbers of spectators. This year, though, the teams made a name for themselves with their impressive play on the greens, and received praise from the entire Pace community. The boys team, led by junior Tripp Conrad, was remarkable this season. Tripp started playing tournaments this summer and used this experience to his advantage by dominating the courses while under pressure. Freshman Kyle Orr and sophomore Harrison Quiner also showed a lot of poise and posted some great scores this season. The emergence of junior Harrison Halberg onto the varsity squad lifted the morale of the entire team. Many consider him to be the glue of the team for his ability to keep things casual. The team has a special bond that Tripp calls a “tightly bonded union.” Contrary to popular belief, high school golf is not an individual sport and requires a great deal of cohesiveness to
Photo: Fred Assaf Sophomore Rachel Morrisroe dribbles against Mount Vernon.
Soccer Teams Return To State Playoffs By: Josh Sloan Staff Writer‘14
The girls and boys soccer teams had impressive seasons, both making it to the GHSA state playoffs. The girls ended the season on a positive note, appreciating how far they have come. Junior Kandace Thompson said, “This season has really been awesome. As a team we have grown and progressed together a ton.” The girls team was ranked as the number two team going into the playoffs. They defeated Walker 5-0 in the first round on May 2. The girls ended their season in the Sweet 16, “after taking it on the chin” from Hebron Christian School in Dacula, according to Assistant Director of Athletics and girls soccer coach Mrs. Tutt. “We left the pitch feeling unsatisfied (6-0 final) and that we did not execute to the best of our ability, but no doubt, we came a very long way. Representing our school in the state tournament is a tremendous accomplishment in a highly competitive arena and one that we do not take lightly. While we wish we were still in it, the end has come to a fantastic season and I am forever proud of my team, Coach Tutt said.” She added, “Our four seniors have been the backbone of our team all year. Lauren Schaffer (Captain), Caroline Smith, Lucy Wellborn (Captain) and Lindsey Zwecker (who was amazing [in
Tennis Teams End Season With Class By: David Martos Sports Editor ‘14
Photo: David Martos Junior Jacob St. Amand gets ready to chip onto the green.
the final game]) are four year veterans who have been in the GHSA playoffs three of their four years, have been area runners-up twice, and were undefeated area champions last year. They are leaving a mark on all of us and have been tremendous examples of how to commit and compete to the younger players.” Last season, the boys team’s season was cut short by a devastating loss to Providence Christian Academy, losing 5-6 in penalty kicks after a 3-3 tie in regulation. A much improved team this year, the boys were hopeful going into the playoffs. Sophomore Josh Blank said, “This year we have come together as a team and prepared ourselves for the playoffs very well. I think we are all really excited and really hope to make a run this season.” Junior Jeremy Paul said, “As the year has gone on we have grown on each other as players and as a team. We’ve gotten stronger, and I really hope that we can cap off this great season with a couple of great wins in the playoffs.” According to boys soccer coach Mr. Fleming, the boys team lost a “heartbreaker” in the first round of the state playoffs on May 3, “coming up short to Walker in penalty kicks.” The final score was 10-9. “The boys had a very solid season on the whole, going 8-7-1 and making the playoffs for the third consecutive year,” said Mr. Fleming. The team loses four seniors: Adam Ellender, Alex Nash, David Ninan, and Sajat Rabbani.
The boys and girls tennis teams both had brilliant seasons but were knocked out in the semi-finals of the state tournament. After winning the region tournament, the teams were both heavily favored to contend for state. The girls and guys dominated the first two rounds of the playoffs, but faced tough competition and nerve wracking
endings in the semis. The girls, who faced Walker, put up a good fight but ultimately lost after a marathon 1 doubles match that ended in a heartbreaking loss. The boys team shared the same fate as the girls, unable to beat the Presbyterian lineup littered with incredible talent. Seniors Joey Kimmel, Alexander Reckford, Ariel Stern, Kate Thomson, and Steven Zeldin will all be missed next season and will forever be remembered for being one of the best cores of talent a grade has ever had at Pace.
May 17, 2013 By: Elizabeth Roos Social Media ‘14
Year in Review
The Knightly News - Page 10
Vol. 38 Issue # 8
College List
The Knightly News - Page 11
Futures of Pace Academy Class of 2013 Jon Adelman - University of Georgia Jared Allen - University of Texas, Austin Annie Armstrong - University of Georgia Jack Assaf - University of Notre Dame Max Barab - University of Virginia Megan Blasberg - University of Georgia Jenna Blumenthal - University of Georgia Sallie Boone - Auburn University Jack Bowen - University of Michigan Meredith Bradshaw - Vanderbilt University Robert Brooks - Rhodes College Tiger Brown - Claremont McKenna College Natalie Camrud - Scripps College Joey Capelouto - Tulane University Healy Chait - Tulane University School of Architecture Paula Cheng - Emory University Ryan Christianson - Carnegie Mellon University Brianna Cochran - University of Georgia Asante Crews - Brown University Kate Cunningham - University of Mississippi DJ Diakite - Bates College Amber Easley - Clark Atlanta University Adam Ellender - University of Georgia Jordan Epstein - Georgetown University Maddie Everett - School of the Art Institute of Chicago Morgan Frazier - Vanderbilt University Taj Gillani - Georgia Institute of Technology Jeff Handler - University of Michigan Sallie Hays - University of Georgia Caroline Herman - Skidmore College Ben Hirsch - Georgia Institute of Technology Tommy Hoff - Auburn University Jeffrey Jones - Bates College Philip Kim - Northwestern University Joey Kimmel - Franklin and Marshall College Brian Klarman - Emory University Morgan Krohngold - College of Charleston Morgan Lambert - Georgia Institute of Technology Maryse Lapu - University of North Carolina Renee Lewis - Vanderbilt University Haley Lowrey - University of Mississippi Katja Martin - Georgia State University Andy McCall - University of Virginia John McCrea - University of Georgia Megan McCurry - Rice University Kelly McGonnigle - University of Virginia Lauren Melville - Kenyon College Abbie Milich - Auburn University Suzanne Monyak - Georgetown University
Moria Moraitakis - Boston College Ben Moreland - Westminster College Harry Moreland - Southern Methodist University Sara Mullally - Southern Methodist University Alex Nash - Clemson University Mitch Nemeth - University of Georgia Kahlil Nevett-James - Birmingham-Southern College David Ninan - Virginia Tech Emily Pair - Northeastern University Alex ParĂŠ - University of North Carolina Annie Kate Pottle - University of North Carolina Caroline Powers - Texas Christian University Sajat Rabbani - Boston College Alexander Reckford - University of North Carolina William Sadlo - Bates College Bria Samuels - Elon University Lauren Schaffer - University of Pennsylvania Sam Schaffer - New York University Andrew Schettino - University of Pennsylvania Taylor Schofield - Southern Methodist University Tate Schreiner - University of Southern California Jordan Schuchmann - University of Southern California James Seaman - University of Pennsylvania Miles Sheft - University of Pennsylvania Jon Shingler - University of Georgia Jake Silverstein - University of Colorado, Boulder Victor Skenderi - Harvard College Caroline Smith - Vanderbilt University Madison Snyder - University of Michigan Zach Steinfeld - Georgia Institute of Technology Ariel Stern - Washington University in St. Louis Billy Stonecipher - Augsburg College Mary Madison Tesler - Rhodes College Kate Thomson - Vanderbilt University Madison Thorne - George Washington University Momo Trang - Brandeis University Georgia Tse - Duke University Adri Urquieta - University of Miami Jake Wawro - University of Michigan Ellie Weber - College of Charleston David Weiner - University of Georgia Lucy Wellborn - University of Georgia Jason Wiener - University of California, Berkeley Reid Williams - University of Georgia Sydney Willis - University of Georgia Claire Wiskind - University of St. Andrews Michelle Yancich - Yale University Evan Young - University of Georgia Steven Zeldin - University of Georgia Lindsey Zwecker - Dickinson College
May 17, 2013
Senior Predictions!
The Knightly News - Page 12
Jon Adelman - Gets kicked out of class for asking the professor an inappropriate personal question Jared Allen - Teaches a calligraphy class
Philip Kim - Becomes the next K-Pop sensation
Andrew Schettino - Keeps the same pair of Merrills for the rest of his life
Joey Kimmel - Stars in the movie version of “The Big Friendly Giant”
Taylor Schofield - Becomes Foosball World Champion
Annie Armstrong - Becomes a “band aid” ... NOT a groupie
Brian Klarman - Finally finds his shoes
Tate Schreiner - Bails Brianna out of jail
Morgan Krohngold - Opens a Tongue and Groove at College of Charleston
Jordan Schuchmann - Wears brass knuckles every time he goes on MARTA
Morgan Lambert - Becomes spokesperson for Pantene shampoo
James Seaman - Blackmails his way to valedictorian
Maryse Lapu - Discovers she was separated from 2 Chainz at birth
Miles Sheft - Makes his bride carry him down the aisle
Renee Lewis - Loses points on a college essay for dotting all her i’s with hearts
Jon Shingler - Adopts a dog named Scooby
Haley Lowrey - Spins her hair into gold
Jake Silverstein - Creates a clay idol of Mr. Berman
Jack Assaf - Becomes headmaster of Westminster Max Barab - Spotted smoking in a French cafe sporting a pencil-thin mustache Megan Blasberg - Discovers the rare flying shark Jenna Blumenthal - Saves a horse, rides a cowboy Sallie Boone - Gets hit by a meteor and becomes extinct Jack Bowen - Wears his grandad’s clothes and looks incredible
Katja Martin - Starts an upscale secondhand clothing line Andy McCall - Hair grows in
Victor Skenderi - Picks up girls by saying “Yeah... I went to Harvard” Caroline Smith - Becomes a neurosurgeon and dates McDreamy
Meredith Bradshaw - Goes to rehab for sweet tea addiction
John McCrea - Reprises his role as the priest in “Tom Sawyer”
Robert Brooks - Quotes “SpongeBob” in his senior dissertation
Megan McCurry - Opens a petting zoo
Madison Snyder - Designs window displays at Rooms To Go
Kelly McGonnigle - Sass to height ratio still drastically off
Zach Steinfeld - Still making Ms. Smith cry from college
Lauren Melville - Legally changes her name to Melvith
Ariel Stern - Starts a BBYO chapter wherever she goes
Abbie Milich - Gets kicked off Instagram
Billy Stonecipher - Continues to send Alex Paré valentines every year
Tiger Brown - Introduces himself by pointing to his tattoo Natalie Camrud - Drives a car entirely made of bumper stickers Joey Capelouto - Becomes a wedding singer Healy Chait - Goes to the Olympics for rowing but misses the race because she’s napping Paula Cheng - Debates Jordan to death Ryan Christianson - Beats the Deep Blue computer in chess Brianna Cochran - Gets arrested for PDA in a public park Asante Crews - Leads the Brown twerk team to greatness
Suzanne Monyak - Stars in the “I’m schmacked” video for Georgetown Maria Moraitakis - Replaces John Stamos in the Oikos Greek yogurt ads Harry Moreland - Becomes an Abercrombie model
Amber Easley - Creates a book of her Facebook statuses
Sara Mullally - Enters as a contestant on “Project Runway”
Georgia Tse - Elected president of Ultimate Frisbee club at Duke
Alex Nash - Becomes a famous fiction writer
Adri Urquieta - Yelling at David in couples counseling one year into marriage
Kahlil Nevett-James - Sleeps through college David Ninan - Bends it like Beckham Emily Pair - Returns to rock climbing and climbs Mt. Everest
Jordan Epstein - Debates Paula to death
Alex Paré - Barks through her college graduation speech
Maddie Everett - Gets carpal tunnel from lifting arms while wearing heavy bracelets Annie Kate Pottle - Becomes a beagle breeder Morgan Frazier - Gets on “Ellen” for her Caroline Powers - Becomes backup dancer Nicki Minaj impersonation for Rick Ross Taj Gillani - Ends up on “Jerry Springer” Sajat Rabbani - Signs with PSG, models Jeff Handler - Wears earplugs to graduation for Calvin Klein, marries a Spice Girl Caroline Herman - Goes to a state university for three days then switches back to Skidmore Ben Hirsch - Joins Georgia Tech theatre program, still cast as an old man
Madison Thorne - Is judging you Momo Trang - Still tells people she goes to Galloway
Adam Ellender - Drops out of UGA to become a belly dancer at the Imperial Fez
Sallie Hays - Laugh reaches 100 decibels
Kate Thomson - Goes back to the J. Crew catalog from whence she came
Ben Moreland - Becomes a Gerber Baby model
Kate Cunningham - Goes blind from all of Mitch Nemeth - Yeah Mitch! the bright Lilly Pulitzer she’s ever worn DJ Diakite - Never stops growing
Mary Madison Tesler - Gives her daughter a quadruple name
Alexander Reckford - Replaces Hugh Hefner and sends Playboy proceeds to Habitat for Humanity William Sadlo - Publishes his memoirs, “Sadlo is a(n) ____” Bria Samuels - Learns how to whisper
Tommy Hoff - Assembles a collection of Canfield’s possessions
Lauren Schaffer - Still competing with Sam at age 40
Jeffrey Jones - Was actually Coach Tate this whole time
Sam Schaffer - Still competing with Lauren at age 40
Jake Wawro - Becomes head cheerleader for Michigan Ellie Weber - Opens her own boutique in Charleston David Weiner - Sitting there silently taking it in couples counseling with Adri Lucy Wellborn - Tie-dyes her graduation gown Jason Wiener - Lives in the Anarchy Circle at Berkeley Reid Williams - Performs a one-man show reciting “Step Brothers” Sydney Willis - Goes back to Baja and marries the whale Claire Wiskind - Moves to Harry Potter World Michelle Yancich - Revives Latin to a spoken language Evan Young - Shops at K-Mart Steven Zeldin - Becomes a pro tennis player, then murders Nadal after losing to him Lindsey Zwecker - Controls yearbook from college