Volume 47, Issue #6

May 13, 2022

Vol. 47, Issue #6

KnightlyNews News Knightly

The The

p. 12 Spring Sports Wrap Up

p. 7 Don’t Say Gay Bill

p. 15 Senior Predictions

Photo: @paceacademy on Instagram (top), Fred Assaf (bottom)

The May issue celebrates the senior class.

See inside for senior predictions, futures of the Class of 2022, a year in review and much more.

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Pace News

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 2

Farewell to Retiring Teachers

Photo: Pace Academy

As the 2021-2022 school year comes to a close, several beloved teachers in the Pace community are retiring: Upper School Ceramics teacher Mark Knott, US World Language Chairperson Cappy Lewis and US English Chairperson Marsha Durlin.

For the past 10 years, Mr. Knott has taught ceramics to the students in the Upper School.

His vibrant personality and motivating attitude allow the environment of a classroom to be a safe place for students to work freely with their artistic designs. Mr. Knott encourages his students to be innovative and create unique pieces that express their individuality. “It has been challenging working with high school students, but for the most part, we try to be disciplined with our teaching and make it like a college class. Students can come up with their own ideas and have freedom with their work and be passionate to make them better artists,” said Mr. Knott.

While being a ceramics teacher is part of his identity, here at Pace, he is also known for his gracious support of students outside of the classroom in athletics, the arts and other extracurriculars to help encourage those activities on a deeper level. Before teaching at Pace, he lived in Gwinnett County and taught some classes in community centers and colleges, but he mostly felt comfortable pursuing

A throwback photo of Señora Cappy Lewis teaching world language. ceramics in his home studio. Mr. Knott has been a studio artist for about 20 years, where he enjoys making teapots, large planters and gigantic jars.

Once the year ends, Mr. Knott is moving to the Baja Peninsula in a small town called El Pescadero where he already built a house and an art studio.

In Mexico, Mr. Knott will teach some classes and continue his endeavors in ceramics. “I am honestly really sad to leave Pace.

I’m super grateful to have taught here, and it’s been an amazing experience. I love all of the students I have taught, and it has probably been the best 10 years of my life,” said Mr. Knott.

Mrs. Durlin arrived to Pace in the fall of 1979, and for the 43

years that she has taught here, she has made an impact on our community with the English Department, the students and the faculty. You probably know her as the teacher who does the famous “Friday Dance” with her classes, but only when class is held on the last period of a Friday to celebrate the golden moment and excitement of the weekend. In 1982, Mrs. Durlin

maintain contact with teachers because they truly love hearing from you and want their students to succeed. Also, make sure to utilize the dean system which started around ‘96 because they are truly there to be your advocate.”

Previously, Mrs. Durlin attended Chamblee High School and later worked in DeKalb County at Berkeley High School.

1976 and has been a key factor in the World Language Department. Mrs. Lewis attended Vanderbilt University for both her undergraduate and master’s degree, and she spent her last year in college studying abroad in Spain. Mrs. Lewis has enjoyed watching students grow with their Spanish speaking skills and is amazed by their progress from freshman to senior year. “The students, hands down, are my favorite thing about Pace. They’re just awesome and different and can be themselves. I have just learned so much from them, and I love my colleagues as well. Pace is just a great person magnet,” said Mrs. Lewis.

When Mrs. Lewis first worked at Pace, she was a math teacher during the time when the Upper School went from seventh to twelfth grade with no Lower School. However, she soon switched to being a Spanish teacher since that was her true passion.

Mrs. Lewis also offered a last piece of advice to her students: “I would love for students to do their best and remember they are not just a number. I want them to build life skills and know that their time at Pace is not fully about getting into a college but

Photo: Pace Academy

Mark Knott poses for a picture with long time colleague and friend, Joanne Brown.

Photo: Pace Academy Head of the English Department, Marsha Durlin, during her early years at Pace.

was named the English Department Chairperson and is so appreciative of the amount of support and professional respect she has received in that position throughout the years. She has received numerous recognitions including a Yearbook dedication in 1990, the Lawrence Fellowship and various others. Mrs. Durlin has inspired many to grow in their English writing, become more confident in their work and bring characters to life from books read in class. Mrs. Durlin wants to leave students with one last piece of advice before leaving: “Make sure to

She also studied poetry at Oxford and Princeton, and her fun fact is that she loves watching foreign films. In 1979, Mrs. Durlin heard there was an opening at Pace and jumped onto the opportunity. “I just sort of fell into position here. I was so happy, and Pace has just gotten better and better in the time I have been here,” she said. After Pace, Mrs. Durlin looks forward to spending her summer in Colorado, as she has for the last 40 years, with her husband Bill, who is a retired college professor.

Cappy Lewis has taught at Pace for the last 46 years since

about finding out who you are as an individual and not derive your self worth from a transcript.”

She has endless possibilities for her time after Pace but is excited to spend more time with her two daughters.

“I have loved having Señora as my Spanish teacher because she always welcomes us into class with a big smile and makes sure we have what we need in order to understand and succeed in her class. She is always willing to answer any questions you have, and I am going to miss her so much next year,” said sophomore Eva Tucker.

Pace News

Vol. 47, Issue #6

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Barbakow to be Dean of Students, Riley to be Chair of World Language Depart ment

Photo: Pace Academy Mrs. Riley is moving to her new role: the World Language Department Chair.

Photo: Pace Academy

Beginning next August, Ms. Erica Barbakow will be moving to the Dean of Students role in the Upper School, along with continuing to teach AP Lit English classes. Previously in the role was Ms. Allison Riley, who will become the new World Language Department Chair. The Dean of Students is a well-respected job that works with all the class deans to provide support and discipline to the students. “I do discipline in the grand

scheme of things, but I look at it more like support for the deans and institutional knowledge,” said Ms. Riley.

“If the dean is the interested aunt, then I might be the interested grandma over everybody.” As another aspect of their job, the Dean of Students governs the Honor and Discipline committee, helping out with hearings and assisting the students. While this may seem intimidating, Ms. Barbakow wants to ensure that she is here to help the students. “I know the role certainly is seen more as like the hammer by the students and fellow faculty members, but I hope that it’s not only viewed that way,” Ms. Barbakow said.

As the dean for the class of 2019, Ms. Barbakow feels ready and prepared for her new role. “I’m really excited to get back in the room with colleagues, and I miss that camaraderie and being with those people,” she said.

Ms. Barbakow also is ready to get back to working with all the students throughout the school, as she has not been able to this year as an English teacher. “I’ve really missed knowing the majority of the student body this year, so I’m hoping that I get to know everyone outside of the classes that I’m teaching.”

Ms. Barbakow also believes that her organization skills will enable her to succeed in this job. “I’m really organized, so in terms of the nuts and bolts of this job like managing tardies, attendance and parking, I think that I have strengths with organization that will help keep those systems in place.”

In addition, while many people expect many changes to be made next year, especially with the dress code, Ms. Barbakow ensures that it will not be much different. “I am not looking to come in and change a lot of things,” she said. “Pace is a great place and an awesome, nurturing community. I hope that as we embark on the next school year together, students will take the opportunity to form relationships with me, and that it’s not just when

Ms. Barbakow will be the new Dean of Students for the 2022-23 school year. things are not good.”

Similar to Ms. Barbakow, Mrs. Riley also feels ready and prepared for her upcoming change. “I’m really excited to go back to thinking about how best to teach language to kids and help them feel like they enjoy Spanish,” Mrs. Riley said. “My ultimate goal is always that my students can travel somewhere and they could be the point person who can communicate for everybody.”

Since she has been a Spanish teacher for many decades at Pace, she feels comfortable with the program and ready to lead it after Mrs. Cappy Lewis. “I have some really big shoes to fill,” said Mrs. Riley. “She’s been a great mentor.”

New Year, New Dean: Ben Ewing Named Dean of Class of 2026

Photo: Alice Gash

​​Meet the new 2026 class dean, Upper School Biology teacher and Lacrosse coach, Ben Ewing. Ewing served in the Peace Corps in Fiji before working at Pace, and his hobbies include hiking, fishing, spending time outdoors and cooking. In 2018, Ewing started his teaching career at Pace and has served as the Dean of the Class of 2022 for the past four years.

“It has been fantastic to watch the growth of the class of 2022. The growth between freshman and senior year is impressive, especially having to manage the difficulties of being in high school during a pandemic,” he said. Mr. Ewing also commented on the concerns of the soon-to-be graduates, “I think that the seniors think I am replacing them and it’s like, you don’t replace a grade you just add another one.”

Mr. Ewing will say farewell to the Class of 2022 and welcome the Class of 2026 in the upcoming school year as their class dean. The presence of a class dean plays a vital role in a student’s experience in the Upper School, especially during freshmen year. Ewing will serve as a mentor and advocate for his students, and also help them navigate through the complexities of transitioning from middle school to high school.

“I am looking forward to getting to know a new grade of students and learning the ins and outs of a whole different group of personalities,” said Ewing. “I think that Pace is a great size to offer students a variety of different opportunities and also small enough to where people know each other’s names and faculty and students can actually get to know each other.”

A class dean is chosen on the basis of different characteristics that they hold. “Deans have to have great leadership skills and great communication skills and be

Mr. Ewing walks to lacrosse practice after a busy day at school. student-centered, and Ben meets all of those. He also has experience having been a dean already for the Class of 2022,” said Head of Upper School Michael Gannon.

Mr. Ewing’s love of teaching is displayed in his positive and supportive spirit. He emphasizes the idea of trying your best, and he wants every student to succeed.

His advice for the incoming freshmen is to “get involved in opportunities available to you and do your homework because it actually counts.”

Mr. Ewing is going to miss the senior class as they head off to college in the fall and wants to offer them

one last piece of advice before leaving. “There are so many things, and I am trying to capture them in, like a baccalaureate talk, but I think that simply you’ve got this. Life throws a lot at you, but you have managed so much with grace, and no matter what happens, you’ll continue to grow and learn,” he said.

“Mr. Ewing is literally my favorite person on this campus, and I don’t know what I am going to do without him next year. If you get the chance to meet him, especially if you’re a rising freshman, jump on the opportunity,” said senior Harper White.

Pace News

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 4

5 Minutes With K nightly News Co-Editors-in- Chief fight. We agreed on the important stuff, but we also created an environment where the other person could have differing opinions on certain things like story ideas.

MH: I agree; we are honestly like a married couple.

KN: If you guys were to pick a superlative for each other, what would it be?

MH: I would probably be most likely to book a flight to Boston to see Meghna and umyeah. Anyways.

MS: Yeah; anyways.

KN: Um, what is your favorite article you have ever written?

MH: I would say my TEDx article last year because it was some of my best writing, and Lee submitted it for an award last year. It was funny because I had to write about myself in third person. Like, I had to say stuff like, “Megan enjoyed this because, so and so.”

MS: Oh my gosh. My review for The List, that’s my favorite for sure.

KN: Finally, do you guys have any final words for Mrs. Neiley?

MH: I’m literally not kidding when I say I want to be just like her. Like, I want to be 30 and look just like her and be married to a hockey player.

Photo: Mary Amelia Weiss

KNIGHTLY NEWS: So what’s up?

MEGAN HARDESTY: Good morning!

MEGHNA SINGHA: Jack, why are you being passive aggressive?

KN: Okay, first question, how do you feel about leaving Pace and starting college?

MH: It’s time to go. I’ve been here since fifth grade. No, but in all seriousness -Jack stop being weird- I’m excited to move on and start some new things.

KN: Nice!

MS: Well, it’s exciting because I’ve spent 13 years here, so it’s definitely time to move on.

It’s honestly weird to think Pace

still exists once you leave, you know?

KN: What is your favorite memory being on the Knightly News staff?

MH: Getting told by a certain staff member to get on my leash.

MS: Uh, what?

KN: Anyways, what are your summer plans?

MH: For the first time ever, absolutely nothing, because every summer I usually have sports and stuff. But, other than that, I’m just going on family trips.

MS: I’m going on some fun trips. I’m going to Asheville with my friends, and we’re going to Jamaica and stuff.

KN: What’s your favorite memory at Pace?

MS: Let me ponder.

MH: Okay, I got one. My favorite memory would probably be my sophomore year volleyball state championship. On that team, we were all best friends, and that made it so fun.

MS: My favorite memory would be when Megan and I were sophomores, and she said she was going on a date withKN: Yeah. Good stuff. Um, what was your biggest argument as co-editors?

MS: We honestly did not

Co-Editors Megan Hardesty and Meghna Singhna smile during their prom.

MS: Oh my gosh, same.

Honestly, I feel like she did such a great job this year. Picking up where we left off was an extremely hard task, and she did better than anyone could have imagined.

MH: I don’t know how Mrs. Neiley was able to learn and adapt so fast to taking on the newspaper class while also making it her own.

GAP Day Ends Year for Seniors

Photo: @paceacademy

GAP day, or Great American Picnic Day, is one of the most anticipated school days of the year. The exhilaration is filled with games, food and physics competitions.

At around 10:30 a.m., Phlotilla occurred, where numerous groups of freshmen created their own makeshift boat in order to win the race in the pool. Freshman Drew Thompson said, “I really loved competing in Phlotilla and seeing how my own boat did in the pool. Overall, it was a great start to a great day.”

Although Drew’s boat was not the most successful, he worked very hard on his project and had a great time.

After this event, the Upper School transitioned to a fantastic cookout. The food was delicious and a top meal for the entire school year. “The food was scrumptious and the drinks were quite refreshing,” said Junior Jack Janko, “I have been looking forward to this meal for the whole year.”

Post-lunch, the Upper School migrated to the upper field for a massive water fight. Students

Seniors celebrate with Head of Upper School Mr. Gannon on their last day. armed themselves with water blasters and water balloons to defend themselves from their peers. “The water fights were so much fun, and I really had a blast. I got to shoot all my friends and my foes,” said sophomore Dhru Lalaji.

Senior-Faculty dodge ball followed the water fight. The se-

niors prevailed in the first game, while the tides turned in the second. The dodge ball was very fun to watch, as some faculty showed skills that many students did not expect.

While the dodge ball was a very lighthearted event, the Senior goodbyes and slideshow were quite the opposite, a

nostalgic reminder of their last day. The slideshow featured pictures of the whole class as they grew up throughout Pace.

It was nice to see how different seniors have changed over the years. “I changed a bunch over the years,” said senior Patrick Marr. Following the slideshow, many seniors gave their good-

byes and farewells to the Upper School. They gave advice to the underclassmen and finished out their last day of high school on a high note.

Pace News

Vol. 47, Issue #6

The Knightly News - Page 5

Oliver Loree is the Modern Day Renaissance Man Photo: @oliverloreeart on Instagram

A lifer at Pace, Junior Oliver Loree is involved in just about everything! Partaking in the musical, robotics and leading various clubs, Loree keeps himself very busy at school. However, he also finds himself heavily involved outside of school with his own personal endeavors. Loree runs his own Instagram account, showcasing his artistic talents and experiments.

In his free time, Loree began fueling his creative fire with 3D printing and painting. Loree’s passion for 3D printing dates back to the fifth grade. Loree says, “We had a project where we designed a little house and the 3D process fascinated me because I loved the fact that I had something to hold in my hand”. Ever since, Loree has been turning ideas in his head into real-life objects.

After gaining a better skillset in the 3D printing field, Loree took on some pretty impressive projects. In May of 2020, Loree took inspiration from his sci-fi interests and printed a 3D Fallout

Oliver Loree constructs his LED tetrahedron in his workshop.

4 helmet. Loree says, “I always felt like there was a limited aspect when creating projects in cardboard, it was always so geometric. With 3D printing, I found a way to create stuff in a more organic way and up the complexity.”

Loree also 3D prints practical, household items such as candy holders. Loree created his first candy holder in February of this year. While already fully functional and impressive, Loree

revamped this candy holder in March. These pieces were showcased on his Instagram, including various photos and videos of the process and final result.

Loree says, “I use my Instagram to showcase the projects that I would like to see on my own Instagram feed.”

Aside from 3D printing, Loree dabbles in drawing, painting and spray painting. Back in 2020, Loree spray painted the floor of his old workshop. He

depicted the solar system, continuing to showcase his interest in sci-fi and fantasy. With spray paint, Loree feels like he has more freedom of expression in his art. Loree says, “I like my art to be spontaneous, which is why I commonly change mediums.”

Another out-of-the-box creation was Dorodango shiny mud balls. Loree took dirt from a neighbor and utilized it to create his art project. They are balls made of tightly compacted

dirt that has been smoothed out and shined. They resemble some planets in the solar system with their unique coloring and shape.

This project served as more of a side project for Loree, saying “I am very unpredictable with my art. I could be focused on one sole project or doing five at once”.

When looking at his future, Loree wishes to pursue a career in engineering. Foreshadowing this, Loree took on a project of mixed media. He created an infinite LED tetrahedron. The tetrahedron frame itself was 3D printed while the LED lights had to be added in by hand. Loree had to use engineering skills in order to properly hook up the LED lights to the tetrahedron frame, ensuring that they would turn on and the lights would be able to change colors. This project took Loree quite a bit of time, but Loree was extremely proud of the results.

Everything Loree creates is amazing. He is always working on something, big or small. To stay up to date on Loree’s artistic journey, follow his Instagram @ oliverloreeart. Also keep an eye out around school to see some of his paintings, ceramics and 3D printing creations!

Pace St udents Prov ide Re lief for Uk rainian Citizens

Photo: Robert Kaufman

As the war between Russia and Ukraine is becoming more severe, some Pace students have gathered supplies to aid the citizens of Ukraine.

The war between Russia and Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022, and the warfare has grown more brutal over time. Russia is attacking the region of Kyiv and civilians after retreating from the capital, using relentless tactics to try to seize Ukraine.

As of April 17 at least 2,022 children have been killed in the Russian invasion. On Easter Sunday, there was a call for the end of the war in Ukraine

by Pope Francis. Pope Francis said, “May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of this cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged.”

Ukrainian forces are continuing to be resilient and fight against the Russian attacks, especially in cities like Mariupol, where

Juniors Luca Tanasa and Davis Rice bring out boxes of food donated to their Ukraine Relief drive. citizens are taking shelter in an iron and steel plant.

As of April 7 more than 10 million people have fled their homes and tried to find refuge in other surrounding countries like Poland, Romania and Hungary.

TEDxPaceAcademy members, freshman Claire Jiang, juniors Davis Rice and Luca Tanasa, ran a drive of goods for the organization, Atlanta for Ukraine. They delivered these goods to a Ukrainian American

family that will ship the goods.

These materials will be sent to people in Ukraine from Savannah to Lithuania and to Poland on behalf of TEDxPaceAcademy. They encouraged students to bring in non-perishable foods

like grains, dried vegetables, protein bars and more. In addition, clothing, footwear, and pain relievers were extremely helpful.

This is just one way that students could have helped and shown their support for the citizens of Ukraine.

Freshman Claire Jiang said, “Because of the current situation in Ukraine, many families are struggling to obtain basic necessities, hindering their fundamental human rights. As a result, TEDxPaceAcademy has partnered with Atlanta for Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance through donations of non-perishables, medicinal and personal hygiene items, and new/lightly used clothing. So far, we’ve collected hundreds of supplies and hope to receive more” Also, junior Ovie Nigudkar is collecting items to create supply kits for Ukrainian refugees.

Students are able to contribute by donating items through an Amazon wishlist link. Students will be able to find QR codes around the school to access the website.

Pace News

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 6

Students Impress in “Shrek: The Musical”

Photo: @paceacademy on Instagram

This year’s spring musical, “Shrek,” blew away its audience on the nights of Apr. 7, 8 and 9 with its strong voices and comedic aspects. Thirty three students put in hours of work after school for this three-day performance, along with the many others who worked behind the scenes. A standout contribution to the show includes the characters’ costumes and different settings, bringing the show to life.

From the towering dragon played by Junior Ava Byrne, to Junior Jordan Loughran’s Lord Farquaad, the costumes display the effort and skill that is necessary to entertain its viewers.

A different component of this show in comparison to the past was the reinstatement of the pit below the stage. For the first time since the pit flooded several years ago, a live orchestra vibrantly played the soundtrack to the musical below the stage.

Shrek the Musical opens with the backstory of Shrek’s childhood and how he came to live in a swamp by himself. The show is set in a mythological “once upon a time” land and tells the narrative of a huge green ogre, played

by Junior Jack Schmitt, who, after being scorned and frightened by everyone that crosses his path

Shrek celebrates with Donkey, played by Junior Oliver Loree, towards the end of the show. his whole life, spends his days in a swamp to live in seclusion.

A group of homeless fairytale characters such as Pinocchio, the Three Pigs and Humpty Dumpty show up to his swamp, claiming they’ve been evicted

by Lord Farquaad. So, Shrek strikes a bargain: he’ll return the characters to their home as long as he gets to continue living in isolation. When Shrek and

Farquaad meet, the Lord makes a deal of his own: if Shrek saves Princess Fiona, the Lord will return the fairy-tale characters to their homes. Shrek agrees, but there’s something unusual about this lovely princess. She has her own secrets, which we later find out is the fact that she turns into an ogre after sunset.

The drama department beautifully told this story with its

own twists to make the show an entertaining adaptation for the Pace audience.

On Saturday, Apr. 9, the seniors involved with the show were highlighted at the end of the performance. Senior Lauren Smith enjoyed Shrek as her last musical at Pace. “This show was the most special for me not only because it was my last at Pace, but also because I did it

with some of the kindest people I know,” she said. “I could not have asked for a better experience.”

“Shrek the Musical” created a community to those involved in the show, as well as brought a noteworthy close to the seniors’ high school careers.

Starry Knight: Students Experience Prom 2022

Photo: @maddiebswartz on Instagram

Since 2019, Pace students have been eagerly anticipating the return of an off-campus Prom. The wait came to an end on Apr. 23, when 248 students attended the annual dance at the Illuminarium Experience on the Atlanta Beltline.

According to their website, the Illuminarium “transports you to a sensory experience like no other” with its laser-projected and changing virtual backdrops.

This fit perfectly into this year’s theme of “Starry Knight,” as the location took students to outer space with its extraterrestrial backgrounds. In fact, the illusion of the room made students and teachers feel as if they were moving in space.

Before the trek to Downtown Atlanta, students arrived on campus at 5 p.m. for a picture party. From Junior and Senior class pictures to special photo ops planned by the Prom moms, everyone snapped some incredible photos. “I loved getting ready and taking pictures with my close friends,” said junior Anna Zinman. “I also really enjoyed Dr. Carter’s impromptu appearance!”

Students traveled to the show stopping venue on charter

year,” she said.

Another popular aspect of the night was the gambling room. With six casino tables of games including blackjack and craps, many students preferred to take on this mini Vegas environment instead of dancing.

“Ultimately, it’s about not losing your money,” said junior Simon Gerber.

With a night of great fun and memories left behind, students trekked back to campus on buses, where they were greeted with a midnight snack: Sonic food trucks waiting back at the Academy. All of these small yet vital details were meticulously coordinated by volunteer Prom moms and student council, thanked for their commendable work.

“Planning prom was definitely a challenging task,” said junior Vice President David Grice. “But seeing that everyone had a good time made me proud of our work as a council.”

After so much anticipation with not having an off-campus Prom since 2019, the stakes were high.

Fortunately, many students have expressed that all expectations were exceeded, especially seniors, as this was one of their first send-off celebrations. “I really enjoyed prom; it was beautiful,” said senior Sydney Middleton. “I was glad that I was able to spend senior prom with my friends.”

Juniors Ella Berman, Brooke Brumfield, Katie Janko and Maddie Swartz pose in front of a backdrop of the moon at the Illuminarium. buses with chaperones. After a short walk down the Beltline, eliciting some odd glances from passersby, students arrived at the Illuminarium to enjoy a mocktail hour before entering the main room for dinner.

For the next three hours,

upperclassmen and a handful of sophomores partied it out on the dance floor, with the “Krazy Boyz” DJing all the hits.

“I really enjoyed watching the DJ get down to the music,” said Junior Hanna Yilma. The DJs even hosted a raffle with prizes

including a JBL speaker, Atlanta United tickets and of course, breakfast with Head of Upper School Mr. Gannon. Junior Sara Mazur won the “choose your own parking spot.” “I got really lucky, and I’m super excited to be able to pick my spot next

Current Affairs

Vol. 47, issue #6

The Knightly News - Page 7

Ketanji Brown Jackson: What to Know About the Newest Supreme Court Justice

Photo: NY Times

Confirmed on March 21, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson has become the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. This historic move was largely celebrated and welcomed, with all members of the Democratic caucus and three Republicans voting in favor of the nomination, showing a rare shred of bipartisan unity over the confirmation.

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson attended Harvard University for college and law school, where she served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Fresh out of college, Jackson became active on the D. C. political scene, serving as a law clerk and an assistant federal public defender, where she handled cases for the US court of appeals. In 2009, under the Obama administration, Jackson was nominated to serve as vice-chair of the United States Sentencing Commission and was unanimously voted in by the senate. During her five years on the commission, Jackson worked to reduce sentencing for drug offenses and shorten or erase prison time for nonviolent crimes.

to abolishing the police.

However, throughout the line of questioning, Judge Jackson remained patient and composed, holding her ground. Refusing to turn the supreme court into a spectacle, she declared “I believe that judges are not policymakers, that we have a constitutional duty to decide only cases and controversies that are presented before us. Within that framework, judges exercise their authority to interpret the law, and not make the law.”

After a 235-year history, Ketanji Brown Jackson represents “another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America” according to President Joe Biden. She is soon to become the court’s 116th member, joining a court that has grown substantially more conservative following the appointment of three of former President Donald Trump’s nominees.

Jackson will be officially sworn in and become an associate justice in late June or early July when Breyer’s retirement goes into effect. President Joe Biden celebrated her confirmation, “Judge Jackson’s confirmation was a historic moment for our nation … She will be an incredible Justice, and I was honored to share this moment with her.”

Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks at the Senate confirmation.

In early 2016, while still under Obama’s administration, Jackson was announced as one of the nominees to replace the vacancy caused by Antonin Scalia’s death, but ultimately was not picked. Four years later, during Biden’s presidential campaign, he pledged to appoint a Black woman to the court, should a vacancy occur. Shortly after Stephen Breyer announced his retirement in Jan. 2022, Biden announced that Jackson was his nominee for associate justice of the Supreme Court.

A controversial hearing fol-

lowed, in which Judge Jackson was subjected to a dysfunctional line of questioning by Republican senators. The multiday spectacle was highly publicized and the ridiculous nature of the questioning left many shocked.

Republican senators attempted to portray Jackson as a “dangerous” judge engaged in an extremist mission. Accusing her of undermining public safety on behalf of child-sex offenders, terrorists and shady money figures on the far left, the hearing was a testament to the deep divisions between both parties,

and refusal to compromise.

Between hyper-specific questions which were seemingly asked only to distract, G.O.P. senators’ claims and accusations were astonishing. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a highly controversial figure, called those who voted for Jackson “pro-pedophile.” Another senator, Tom Cotton, went into a long rant, finishing with the ridiculous statement, “Judge Jackson has also shown real interest in helping terrorists.” And at one point, Senator Ted Cruz suggested voting for Jackson was comparable

just moments before turning this bill into a law.

Backlash from members of the LGBTQ+ community, its supporters, students, Democrats and the entertainment industry began nearly immediately after the bill was introduced. The law was condemned by many attendees of this year’s Academy Awards, and even President of the United States Joe Biden

called the law “hateful.” Many Florida students have gathered in protest against the law, chanting, “We say gay!”

The Walt Disney Company, which holds a lot of political power and influence in Florida, brought its political donations in the state to a pause, and the company’s CEO Bob Chapek received criticism for being slow in responding to the law. After

the law was signed, Disney released a statement, which says, “Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that.”

“The bill’s intentionallyvague language leaves teachers afraid to talk to their students and opens up school districts to costly and frivolous litigation from those seeking to exclude LGBTQ+ people from any grade level,” said Florida Representative Carlos G. Smith, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community himself. He then said that #DontSayGay sends a hateful and negative message to the youth of today in need of support. The President of the Florida Education Association Andrew Spar says that the law is built on falsehood, and “that falsehood is that somehow we’re teaching kids inappropriate topics at an early age, and clearly we’re not.” Many have assumed that the law permits school staff members to “out” students to their families, but Republican

Florida Governor Signs “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

Photo: ABC Action News

In late March 2022, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that states that “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The law also states that parents are eligible to sue school districts in violation of this. The new law, which many members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies call the “Don’t Say Gay” law, has aroused a cultural controversy throughout the country.

DeSantis believes that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. “We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination,” said DeSantis

Tampa Bay students protest the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Florida Rep. Joe Harding denied those claims. “Nothing in the amendment was about outing a student,” he said. “Rather than battle misinformation related to the amendment, I decided to focus on the primary bill that empowers parents to be engaged in their children’s lives.”

This new law being enforced in Georgia has only been lightly discussed, but still is a possibility. On March 8, 2022, Georgia officials proposed a bill that would forbid private schools funded by the state from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation.

While many celebrities and other influential figures shared their very strong opinions about Florida’s law, very few, if any, have publicly discussed Georgia’s. No Georgia-based companies in the entertainment industry, including Tyler Perry Studios, Trilith Studios and multiple others, were willing to comment on the situation.

This silence may imply that this law coming to Georgia is only a possibility, and likely will not happen.

Current Affairs

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 8

57 Year-Old David Bennett Sr. Undergoes Pig Heart Transplant Photo:: University of Maryland Medical School

Fifty-seven-year-old David Bennett Sr., who suffered a severe heart disease while living in Maryland, has become subject to groundbreaking medical history.

In Jan. 2022 at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Mr. Bennett’s failing heart was replaced with that of a genetically altered pig. According to The New York Times, this pig heart was provided by Revivicor, a regenerative medicine company based in Blacksburg, Va. According to Stanford University, the failure in these procedures lies within immediate rejection.

Humans have “natural antibodies” that circulate blood and combat these foreign organs. A system of proteins in the body called “complement” is also activated when pig organs are transplanted into primates, leading to severe systematic toxicity.

Seeing this, the provided pig carried 10 genetic modifications, including four inactivated genes.

This gene removal prevented hyper-fast rejection and continued growth of the pig heart following the implantation. Six

Pig heart transplant took place at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore in January. human genes were inserted into the genome of the donor pig, designed to make the pig’s organs more tolerable to the human immune system.

Because Mr. Bennett’s heart condition was so severe,

he was ineligible for a human heart transplant. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted emergency authorization of the transplant on “compassionate use” grounds seven days prior to Mr. Bennett’s surgery.

“It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,” said Mr. Bennett one day before the transplant.

This yearning to live pioneered a medical discovery in which for

the first six weeks, the human body showed zero signs of rejection, an important milestone for any transplant patient. Mr. Bennett was well enough to watch the 2022 Super Bowl on Feb. 13, surrounded by his family in the hospital.

However, on Mar. 8, two months after the procedure, Mr. Bennett passed away. While doctors did not reveal the exact cause of death, the surgeon performing the transplant, Dr. Bartley Griffith, said, “Mr. Bennett became known by millions of people around the world for his courage and steadfast will to live.” Ultimately a failed experiment, this procedure transformed the future of using nonhuman tissues or organs to replace failing human organs, known as xenotransplantation. Being the first human to survive two months with said heart transplant, Mr. Bennett has provided scientists with the necessary information to continue developing the xenotransplantation field at a faster pace. As stated in The Guardian, the demand for another source of organs has immensely increased, as seen through the 41,000 transplants performed in the US last year, 3,800 of them being heart transplants.

Dangerous Chemicals Found in Food Packaging

Photo: Lenscap

Large amounts of dangerous chemicals have been found in food packaging. PFAS are chemicals used by restaurants and manufacturers to keep water and grease out of the packaging. They are used in a variety of objects including nonstick pans, clothing, stain-resistant furniture, carpets and even cellphones.

The CDC has classified exposure to PFAS as a public health concern because of their potential harm to the immune system, increase in cholesterol levels and higher risk of developing kidney cancer.

PFAS have been in use since the 1950s when they were first discovered. As a result, most Americans already have some level of PFAS in their blood with people in 1999, on average, having 60% more PFAS than people in 2014.

These chemicals are commonly found in fast-food packaging, and according to a 2018

Empty McDonald’s packaging contains potentially dangerous chemicals.

Consumer Reports study, almost two-thirds of takeout boxes made of paper contain harmful levels of PFAS. These dangerous chemicals seep into food with more PFAS, contaminating the food depending on how long the meal has been in the container and the

temperature inside it. Many renowned companies still use PFAS in their packaging, including Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s and Burger King.

Chick-fil-A, especially, has a large number of PFAS with over 500 parts per million found in a Consumer Reports inves-

tigation. Although there isn’t a federal law limiting the amount of PFAS allowed in packaging, some states like New York and California have passed regulatory limits, with California setting the limit at less than 100 ppm.

After 2018, many companies started pledging to rid of

all PFAS in packaging. Whole Foods was the first grocery store to remove PFAS, and other companies like McDonald’s and Trader Joe’s followed suit. These companies have already started removing PFAS with plans to rid of PFAS by the end of this year.

Lifestyle

Vol. 47, Issue #6

The Knightly News - Page 9

Pop-Its, Spinners and Cubes: Fidget Toys Are Still A Thing

Photo: Getty Images

It’s been around five years since the fidget spinner craze reached its peak. It appeared in classrooms, YouTube videos and even mobile games. Fidget toys have been popular for a long time. While the fidget spinner seems to have lost its spot as the fan favorite, it gave online personalities a new niche to create content in and opened a conversation about the place of sensory toys in schools, helping bring about further acceptance of children with neurobehavioral disorders, anxiety and more.

Fidget toys (also known as fidgets) are small handheld toys that provide a purposeless motor activity that can be done without paying attention. They usually only have one simple function (with the exception of the fidget cube, which has six different functions) that often involves clicking, pushing with a finger or squeezing. Though their popularity skyrocketed with the fidget spinner fad of 2017, it’s worth noting that fidget toys as a concept are not entirely new. During the Ming Dynasty in China, some people used Baoding balls. These balls were usually hollow with a smaller ball inside that would

Pop-It sales went through the roof after a video of a capuchin monkey playing with one went viral. ring a chime when it hit the outer shell. They were mainly used for resistance training, but they have been said to work similarly to the Western stress ball. Various “worry toys,” including stones, dolls and beads, have been used for centuries in various cultures around the world.

While different fidget toys have different functions, they share the same benefits. Helping the user exert energy onto something tactile, they make

great stress relievers. Fidgets also improve coordination and fine motor skills and can aid in strengthening small muscles in the hand. As for their effects on learning, their value cannot go unnoticed. Research has shown a dramatic increase in academic scores among students who use fidget toys, and this effect was more than doubled amongst students diagnosed with ADHD. “Research indicates that most children learn better when their

hands are active,” says a blog post from the Flushing Hospital Medical Center. “And funneling expandable energy in this manner allows them to better focus on what they are trying to learn.”

Still, the role of these toys has been highly debated within school administrations. In many districts, this has resulted in a total ban on fidget toys in some schools, who reported the items were actually distracting their

students. These bans sparked a national conversation about the place of sensory toys in the classroom. As many pointed out, these toys are known to help those with ADHD, anxiety and autism, so taking away these tools is not beneficial. “They could help anyone,” said Kristie Koenig, an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy at New York University. “An outright ban could be counterproductive to kids who need them.” Others worried about the distraction the toys would make to other students. “Every teacher should have the ability to choose whether to ban or pocket spinners based on those kids, in that class, at that time- period,” commented a user under an article discussing these bans.

As time goes on, fidget toy trends will come and go. Today, arguably the most popular fidget is the Pop It, a silicone toy similar to bubble wrap. It was invented in 1975 by Theo and Ora Coster, and has sparked various spin offs (or rip offs, depending on who you ask) of varying shapes and colors. Pop Its can now be found in gas stations, online stores, and on social media platforms like TikTok. Fidget toys are not a new concept, but their significance changes with each generation they’re used by.

Maybe in ten years, the fidget spinner will make a comeback!

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Shocks the World

Photo: @legostarwarsgame

reflects the movies because the Freshman Drew Thompson said, movies are great, so therefore the “The game makes me laugh, it game would be too, and it is.” is really funny.” A lot of fans Each movie has 5 missions have been pleased with the extra along with it, and within each layer of humor because while mission, users are able to collect the game is made for a younger LEGO Star Wars: The studs, the currency in the game audience, the majority of the Skywalker Saga was released on in order to unlock new things, “Star Wars” fan base is older, April 5, 2022. This game is the minikits, a way of unlocking and the more violent scenes first time that users are able to miniaturized ships and submiscould not be added into the game play the stories of all nine “Star sions within the targeted The new game has Wars” movies as goal. “ I love how created a strong well as discover 24 “ I really like Sophoeach mission addiction, causing planets, unlock 380 how the game more JD is special, and lots of intense late playable characters reflects the Maske said, they really nights for players. and collect 119 movies because “I love how focus on how Junior Aidan Carships, including the the movies are each mission it went down rol said, “I bought Death Star. great, so there- is special, and in the movie. the game this Star Wars” fans fore the game they really Sometimes I weekend and had have been amazed would be too, focus on how struggle a little eight of the nine at the graphics disand it is.” . it went down with them, but in movies completed played in the game in the movie. the end, it is so in one night. I had as well as the attenSometimes much fun.” . it downloaded tion to detail when it comes to I struggle a little with around five and recreating the story of each “Star them, but in the end, it is was up till 3 playWars” movie. Additionally, the so much fun.” ing it until I finally fell asleep.” creators have done a fantastic job The creators of the game The new “Star Wars” game voicing the characters in-game have done an excellent job of has impressed a multitude of to make it as authentic as posadding a level of childish humor fans and has most wishing the sible. Sophomore Ross Bernath to cover up the more “dark” story was even longer so they said, “I really like how the game scenes in the original movies. can keep enjoying the fun.

A Wookie sits in front of his hut.

Opinion

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 10

What Did Marie Antoinette Smell Like?

Photo: Hannah White

When I think of hygiene in the past, my brain is instantly flooded with the stench of historical B.O. It is a well-known fact that sanitation standards (both public and personal) were less than ideal. Luckily, we’ve come around to socially-obligatory bathing and grooming, but this was only achieved after centuries of scientific progress.

This long, smelly history is often associated with lower-class social groups such as the medieval peasantry. However, as evidence shows, the act of being stinky goes beyond the bottom of the social ladder. This made me question: did monarchs smell?

Obviously, this question can’t be limited to one culture or even one particular year, so I decided to narrow my inquiry to one of the most famous monarchs in history: Queen Marie Antoinette.

For a long time in France, bathing was not in style. Some people believed that bathing in water was risky because water spread disease. In fact, King Louis XIV is said to have only bathed two or three times in his life! Accounts from palaces recall the human fecal matter that could be smelled from anywhere on the grounds. On top of this, dental hygiene was practically nonexistent, and body odor was inevitable. How could a noble cope? The answer is perfume, and lots of it. With the

The perfume, encased in a vial shorter than my pinky finger, had notes of rose and jasmine. right combination of herbal oils, spices and flowers, one could have a chance of blocking some of the awful smells around the palace and its guests.

Fortunately, Marie Antoinette was not one for sticking to the status quo. Her mother, Empress Maria Therese of Austria, believed in the hygienic benefits of bathing. This habit continued when Marie came to France, as she would use herbal mixtures and perfumed sachets in her bath. When her popularity waned, this practice came under fire, as did virtually every other aspect of the queen’s life. Like many nobles, she too had a fondness for perfume, specifically

floral scents. In my research, I found multiple recreations of her signature perfume based on her rose garden at Le Petit Trianon, but one caught my eye. This one was called Black Jade by Lubin. As the story goes, Marie gave a duchess her last vial of perfume before her departure to the Conciergerie Prison. A formula for this perfume (called the Bouquet de la Reine) was discovered, modernized and recreated. Of course, that’s only the summary of the story, and there’s a rather high chance it’s been embellished over time. Out of curiosity, I decided to order a small vial of Black Jade to test it out for myself.

If Black Jade is anywhere close to Marie Antoinette’s real perfume, then I can safely say she had a skilled nose. That vial contained one of the loveliest scents I’ve ever smelled. It was sweet. It was floral. It was like sticking your nose into a bouquet of roses. I think the thing that surprised me the most was how fresh it smelled. Floral perfumes often run the risk of smelling musty and greatgrandmother-like, but Black Jade was crisp and youthful.

Ironically, Marie was executed less than a month before her 38th birthday, meaning she might have been past the average life expectancy in France!

Did Marie Antoinette smell good? The answer is likely an anticlimactic “meh”. Sure, she exercised decent grooming habits, but a lot was missing from her routine. A queen is hardly ever alone, even when bathing.

It’s been speculated that Marie wore a linen gown in the bath to preserve her modesty amongst her ladies-in-waiting. Still, Marie’s preferences in scent have influenced generations of perfume makers, and have given scholars a deeper look into the history of hygiene and beauty standards. As for me, I’ll be fighting off the urge to purchase a full bottle of Black Jade!

taking this to the entire world population to have control over everyone’s brains with this new technology?

The brain chip does not yet have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval but trials have been done on pigs and monkeys. This could mean trials

on humans are next. Neuralink rival Synchron has already been given FDA approval for its brain chip. Maybe I’m just cynical, and Elon Musk is actually doing something kind for humanity, or maybe we should all take caution when approaching Neuralink and other similar brain chips.

Neuralink is Taking Over the World

Photo: Financial TImes

Elon Musk is one of the most powerful business owners in the world. Now, he is trying to take over the world. Just kidding … maybe.

Elon Musk is the founder and owner of Neuralink, a company that is working to develop implantable brain-machine interfaces to connect humans and computers. Remember that sci-fi book you read about robots and computers taking over the world? Maybe it’s not as fictional as you thought.

To be fair, Neuralink has a lot of potential to help people. It could possibly be used to cure brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Actually, successfully creating this brain chip for the human brain would truly be revolutionary. People would be able to control their phones and computers without even having to touch them. With this, people with paralysis could easily text, draw, take pictures, and more. Also, paraplegics could walk again, and people could save memories as photos.

A basic model demonstrates Neuralink’s brain chip.

The question on my mind is safety. How safe is it for human brains to be connected to computers? I love my phone, but do you know what I don’t love about my phone: hacks and glitches. If a human brain is connected to a computer or phone, what is to say their brain will

not be hacked? Neuralink would also have complete control over the brain, and what happens then? Is the person even themself anymore, or are they just a robot? Who knows if this is actually just intended for people with brain diseases and paraplegics or if Musk is planning on

Opinion

Vol. 47, Issue #6

The Knightly News - Page 11

The Great Debate: Are There More Wheels or Doors?

Photo: David Fu

Another debate over a seemingly pointless question has come up on the internet: are there more wheels or doors in the world? This question originated from Twitter, where Ryan Nixon tweeted a poll on Mar. 4, 2022, asking this exact question. Since then, it has been debated on both TikTok and Twitter, with both sides having many supporters.

After seeing so many of these TikToks, I decided to create a poll at Pace. With 74 responses, 18 people responded doors, while the other 56 people responded wheels. It’s clear, Pace is overwhelmingly team wheels with a ratio of a little over three wheels supporters for every door supporter, though this is much more of a drastic difference compared to the original Twitter poll.

Those supporting wheels often stated very similar arguments to one another. “Lego manufacturers, factories, spinning chairs, scooters, bikes, and semi-trucks. The answer is clear,” said senior John Catherman. “There are wheels on literally everything,” said junior Kate Webb, “Imagine all the shopping carts and vehicles and gears to make things work.” “Even some doors have wheels. No wheels have doors,” said Director of ICGL Trish Anderson.

Although these are solid reasons for believing there are more wheels, all of these arguments are flat-out wrong. “There are more doors because there are doors in every house, four on every car,” said sophomore Mac Barnette. “The argument that it is very common for furniture to have wheels, so there are more wheels, is false.”

Most pieces of furniture have more doors than wheels.

Think of all the cabinet doors, desks, chests, etc. Also, in nature, doors are much more common than wheels.

“There are coral with tons of doors,” said freshman Zoe Albert. Barnacles are extremely common on almost every port, coast, harbor, etc., and each barnacle has many doors. If we are counting barnacles as doors, then we also count clams, oysters and scallops to have doors.

The final nail in the coffin is that “there is a door in every human cell,” said sophomore William Souza. Cells

The results of the wheels vs doors poll. can open and close their cell membrane, and therefore it counts as a door. There are about 37.2 trillion cells in every human, and there are more than 7.9 billion humans living today. Therefore, there are innumerably more doors than wheels, and it isn’t even a comparison.

My answer could be considered a cop-out, however, and the definitive answer depends heavily on how you define doors and wheels. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a door as “a usually swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed and opened.” However, Oxford Languages defines a door as “a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle, or in the framework of a cupboard.” In the first definition, cells, clams, oysters, etc. all count as doors because they have a closable entry. According to Oxford Languages, cells, clams, oysters, etc. cannot be considered doors because they don’t lead to a room.

In a similar way, wheels also have a subtle difference in definition. Merriam Webster defines a wheel as “a circular frame of hard material that may be solid, partly solid or spoked and that is capable of turning on an axle.” However, Oxford Languages defines a wheel as “a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground.” In Merriam Webster’s definition, gears and pulleys are counted, however, they aren’t in the second one because they aren’t necessarily below another object nor does it have the goal of moving it more easily over the ground.

In the end, the answer to this question doesn’t matter at all, and there’s no point in getting heated over a silly internet argument. Just “don’t be obtuse,”said junior Forest Pollard.

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: Megan Hardesty

Sports Editor: Niko Karetsos

Megnha Singha

Current Affairs Editor Emmy Mininberg

Managing Editor: Amalia Haviv

Web Content Editor: Gabriel Kadoori

News Editor: Mary Amelia Weiss

Multimedia Editor: Stella Nelson

Lifestyle Editor: Jack Wagreich

Photos Editor/Social Media Editor Emmy Mininberg

Staff Writers: Alice Gash, Andrew Swann, Avery Lipman, Bianca Vaneri, Caitlyn Pinsker, David Fu, Ellie Siskin, Hannah White, Harrison Leusink, Kaci McCray, Marley Venturi, Reed Millner, Zachary Meyerowitz Faculty Adviser: Tamara Neiley Tech Adviser: Matt Walker

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 600 copies are printed by School Publications Company.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints.

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Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@paceacademy.org.

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Sports

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 12

Boys Soccer Wins State Championship; Other Teams Still Competing for Titles

Photo: Fred Assafl

The boys soccer team celebrates after winning back-to-back state titles against Lovett. play, the girls were ready to take state after a final four finish a year prior. The girls dominated their first three games of the state playoffs, as Marielle Frooman did not let a single goal in the net. Then they narrowly beat Bremen, punching their ticket to Mercer University and a state championship with a rematch against the Lions. Despite an incredible game, the Knights fell to their rivals by only one score, capping an incredible season for the girls.

The boys varsity baseball team is off to another successful season, as they look to push their region championship victory into a state playoff run. With an impressive record of 27-4, the team has recorded three wins against rival Lovett out of their four meetings. Earlier this season, the Knights dominated Westminster, GAC, and other top teams in the state. Led by Vanderbilt commit RJ Austin, Paul Ramseur, Jae Williams, Deuce Jordan, and Michael Lynch, they hosted Rabun County in the first round in the state playoffs, winning

Photo: Fred Assafl

Junior Victoria Hadley clears the ball for the knights.

both games with a combined score of 24 to two. Then, they hosted Toombs county, sweeping them in two games as well. Going into the Elite Eight against Bleckley County, the Knights

ful seasons in their program history. Under the leadership of their only senior Grace Heineman, the squad is populated by a bunch of talented underclassman girls. Anna Nuckols, a

Photo: Fred Assafl

The boys soccer team finished another unbelievable season with a back-to-back state championship victory. Coach Moreno’s intense coaching proves worthy, as he earned his second state championship for the Knights. The squad tallied a record of 17-6 with five loses against out of region and higher classification teams. In their only region loss, they fell to Lovett in a tight two to one loss.

However, this loss fuelled the team to work even harder as they geared up for the state tournament. Seniors Jermy Avellaneda, Samuel Bready, Juan Figueroa Hernandez, Victor OvalleMares, Jeffrey Ramos, and Jaxon Willoughby all were set on making the state championship for the second year in a row.

In the first four games of the state tournament, the Knights were locked in, outscoring their opponents 31 to five. In the state championship, they faced their only region loss, Lovett. Among great defense and an intense environment, the game was kept scoreless going into the final minutes of play. However, Senior Samuel Bready scored with only minutes left to play, and the Knights returned to Atlanta state champions.

The girls soccer team also had another incredible season under an impressive senior class of Carly Appel, McLean Eagleson, Marielle Frooman, Hannah Genser, Megan Hardesty, Morgan Neil, Meghna Singha, and Harper White. Similar to the boys team, the girls soccer team finished with eight wins in region play and a second place finish. In the regular season, they also lost to a talented Lovett team by a score of four to zero.

However, after the end of region

competed with some of the top high schools, losing to 7A Buford, Johns Creek, and 5A Westminster all by one goal. The team finished third place in the region, traveling to Greenbrier and then Whitewater before falling to reigning state champions Blessed Trinity in the Elite Eight. Throughout the season, Seniors Jason Taper, Mathew Aronson, Alex Karmanolis, and Mathew Steiger all served as great players and incredible leaders. Sophomore Alex Trujillo stepped up big in the net and earned a spot of the all state team.

Coach Marsico coached the boys and girls tennis team once again for the 2022 season, as both teams swept their opponents in the semifinal to earn a state championship spot in Rome, Georgia. Both teams as well won their respective class six 2A region championships, no surprise for the powerhouse program. On the boys side, Seniors Jude Black, Benjamin Chern, Cole Kaplan, and Ryan Varma lead the program this year. Hol-

The baseball team charges the mound after coming back from a 1-0 defecit in the region championship in front of a packed home crowd. have arguably the most talented roster in the state with many MLB scouts attending games at Riverview to get a live look at Austin. The favorites going into the playoffs, hopefully they can bring another spring sport championship home to Pace Academy.

The golf teams under boys coach Scott Shupe and girls coach Kevin Ballard are on their way to the state tournament. The boys squad finished second in the area tournament punching their team ticket to the state event on May 17. Seniors William Baker, Will Aronson, and Ben Shelton will lead the boys this season in pursuit of a ring. Ronak Lalaji, Doug Parker, and Jack Mallard are all very talented golf underclassmen who qualified as well. On the girls side, they placed fourth in the area qualifier, but freshman Audrey Welch qualified individually for the state championship.

Under Coach Kelsea Ayers, the girls lacrosse team completed one of the most success-

recent Denison lacrosse commit, has been especially incredible this season. Also, sophomore Sydney Vincent surpassed one hundred career goals in only two years on the varsity roster.

With a final record of 13-7, the Knights finished with notable wins over the Lovett school, Fellowship Christain, and GAC. The team placed second in their region and hosted their first ever playoff game, destroying Greenbrier by 14 goals. In the Sweet Sixteen, they traveled all the way to Savannah where they fell to Richmond Hill by just one goal. Regardless of the loss, the season was an incredible success for the girls, as they gear up for a state push next season.

The boys lacrosse team completed another season with a playoff appearance. Coach Winter joined the program along with Coach Easterbrook and Coach Wittenburg. The Knights were up and down throughout the season with a final record of 10-9. The team

land Proctor and Kate Jonas lead the girls team. In the semifinals, the girls team dominated with a score of four to zero, then the boys won by a similar score of three to zero. Hopefully, they can both continue their successful run and bring home the titles for the Knights this year.

The track teams also continue to be one of the most successful sports at Pace, with very talented runners including Columbia cross country commits Edward and George Blaha and Princeton commit John Catherman. In the region championship, the girls and boys won the four by 400 relay, and Catherman won the 100 and 200 meter.

Jordan White and Grant Thompson also placed first in the 800 meter, while Caroline Hood, Edward Blaha, Justin Bowick, Olivia Resnick, Laura Arenth, and George Blaha were all runners up in their respective event.

They are projected to compete in the state meet on May 13 and 14 in Columbus, Ga.

Sports

Vol. 47, Issue #6

The Knightly News - Page 13

NCAA Bans Celsius Due to Health Factors

‌best‌ ‌ingredients, ‌ ‌Celsius has‌ ‌no‌ ‌artificial‌ ‌preservatives‌ ‌or‌ ‌f lavors, ‌ ‌no‌ ‌aspartame‌ ‌or‌ ‌high‌ ‌f ructose‌ ‌corn‌ ‌syrup, ‌ ‌and‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌very‌ ‌low‌ ‌in‌ ‌sodium‌ ‌and‌ ‌contains‌ ‌only‌ ‌10‌ ‌calories.”. ‌ ‌But many people consume the drink and are unaware of the contents that could be dangerous to their health.

This knowledge is not new

and in 2003, the NCAA established a list of drug classes for their student athletes, which included stimulants. They declared that athletes are not allowed to have a caffeine concentration larger than 15 micrograms per milliliter in their body. To put this into perspective, the limit would be reached if an average sized man drank five cups of

On April 10, Scottie Scheffler became one of the youngest members of the PGA tour to earn his green jacket and win the Masters in Augusta, Ga. The contest was not especially close either, with Scheffler coming in at ten under par while his biggest competition, Rory

Mcllroy, shot seven under par.

Cold conditions plagued most of the golfers, but those top two players did not seem to mind the weather. Even after four putting the final hole, Scheffler finished the 18th hole on his sixth stroke to collect his 11.5 million dollar earning for his fourth PGA tour.

Early on in the event, all eyes were on five time Masters tournament winner Tiger Woods, who made his first appearance in a golf event since his accident.

In Feb. 2021, Woods crashed

his SUV while driving in Los Angeles, flipping his car several times. Right after the accident, Woods was rushed to the hospital, as he received serious leg injuries. It was unclear whether one of the most famous golfers of all time would ever take the course again.

However, a little more than a year later, Woods stepped out to compete in the most competitive tournament of the PGA tour. His practice round gained tons of attention, with

Photos: usacoffeeathome.com

While Celsius has been a popular energy drink for a couple years, it has come to the attention of its users that it can cause serious damage to their health and even career. Celsius is considered to be one of the most widely used energy drinks on the market right now, but it is basically banned in the NCAA. This has brought up the question of why now?

Even though Celsius was originally established in 2005, over the past couple of years, the energy drink has become extremely popular not only for its flavor, but also for its caffeine content. They constantly advertise the healthy benefits and lifestyle with the drink. Celsius claims, “Celsius embodies a healthy lifestyle and inspires you to live a fit and active life.

We help fuel your body so you can stay motivated and push past your goals.” There is a wide variety of flavors and different types of drinks.

Celsius tries to separate themselves from other energy drinks by advertising their drinks as healthier. Celsius said, “‌We’re‌ ‌different‌ ‌f rom‌ ‌other‌ ‌energy‌ ‌drinks‌ ‌because‌ ‌we‌ ‌focus‌ ‌on‌ ‌movement. ‌ ‌W hen‌ ‌combined‌ ‌with‌ ‌exercise, ‌ ‌our‌ ‌formula‌ ‌is‌ ‌clinically‌ ‌proven‌ ‌to‌ ‌boost‌ ‌your‌ ‌metabolism‌ ‌and‌ ‌help‌ ‌you‌ ‌burn‌ ‌body‌ ‌fat. ‌ ‌Made‌ ‌with‌ ‌only‌ ‌the‌

Celsius, the very popular energy drink, has made a big hit with their many different fruit flavors. coffee in a few hours. For a drug test to be positive for an athlete, they would have to consume around 500 mg of caffeine in a 24-hour period.

The NCAA also performed a study on the contents of Celsius drinks. It proved that there are many illegal performance stimulants in the test. Celsius drinks have the illegal banned

stimulants of ginseng, guarana, L-carnitine and taurine. These ingredients are not only considered banned by the NCAA but also the National Olympic committee and the World AntiDoping Agency.

Along with these ingredients, each Celsius contains around 200mg of caffeine, so even if caffeine is not restricted in the NCAA, enough of it could cause a positive drug test. The Food and Drug Administration said, “For healthy adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day — that’s about four or five cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects.” Drinking over 400 mg of caffeine could potentially lead to serious conditions like heart and kidney problems, anxiety, paranoia and more.

Energy drinks have a reputation for containing loads of caffeine, sugar and other stimulants. The caffeine only increases the blood pressure, irregular heart beat, insomnia and anxiety which could be potentially dangerous to someone. The caffeine in these energy drinks also causes a risk of dehydration during exercise.

While all of the controversy surrounding Celsius and its effects is occurring, people are coming out on TikTok and other social media platforms to share their experiences. There are many videos about the damaging effects they have experienced on their livers and hearts. Celsius has not issued or admitted any statement to support these claims.

Scheffler Earns First Green Jacket at the Masters

Photo: @themasters on instagram

Photo: @themasters on instagram Around 40,000 spectators were estimated to be in Augusta for the Masters each day of competition.

Scottie Scheffler poses with the Masters trophy and green jacket after his win. fans flocking to see the all time great play again. Although Woods struggled throughout the tournament, finishing 47th overall and 13 strokes over par, his completion of the event was impressive enough. He may not have sported the green jacket at the end of the day, but fans were happy enough to see the super-

star back on the course.

After the huge win, 25 year old Scheffler now sits on top of the world rankings list, a major accomplishment for a player that young. All of his major PGA tour wins came in the last six months, and more titles are yet to come.

May 13, 2022

Pace News

Year in Review

The Knightly News - Page 14

Vol. 47, Issue #6

Senior Predictions

The Knightly News - Page 15

Agostino, Xavier -- Gets mistaken for professor at Harvard

Kadoori, Gabriel -- Has to call Mr. Pines

Alkire, Samuel -- Cuts off legs, becomes transformer

Kahn, Courtney -- Cancels Ben Shelton

Appel, Carly -- Goes on first date with UVA class of ‘26 vice president to

Kann, Rebecca -- Stars in a hit T.V. show

movie theater

Kaplan, Cole -- Wins gold at Olympics for ultimate frisbee

Arenth, Laura -- Runs across the country

Karamanolis, Alex -- President of Greece

Aronson, Eddi -- Marries cousin

Kaye, Margo --Dates another guy named Sam

Aronson, Matthew -- Marries cousin

Killian, Emma -- Starts support group for gingers

Aronson, Will -- Jealous that brother married cousin

Knowlton, Taylor -- Maid of honor at amalia and her brother’s wedding

Auchincloss, Madison -- Coaches Pace flag football team

Leusink, Henry -- Majors in zoo keeping

Austin, RJ -- Wins World Series with Jonathan Merlin

Litvak, Alexandra -- Husband catches her having affair with Michael Lynch

Avellaneda, Jeremy -- Becomes a skeleton

Lynch, Michael -- Can never sit anywhere without paparazzi swarming him

Baker, William -- Works a 9-5 job

Mallis, Robert -- PRUMC over under set at 29.5

Behl, Kargil -- You simply gotta be thinking he influences the Princeton

Manigault, Asata – Models for flare boho pants

student body to speak like him. Vile hound.

Marr, Patrick – Is best friends with Spongebob Squarepants

Bennett, Nile -- Professional door holder

Martin, Mackenzie -- Reincarnated Helen of Troy: The face that launched a

Black, Jude -- Continues to be tall and handsome

thousand Cheezies

Blaha, Edward -- Replaces blue shirt twin of Buckhead

Maske, Emma Stewart -- Brings her dogs to all of her college lectures

Blaha, George -- Replaces white shirt twin of Buckhead

Mathias, Alex -- Plays the piano at Convocation every year

Bowick, Justin -- Walks in Milan fashion week

Merlin, Jonathan -- Opens dump truck company

Bready, Samuel -- Gets Megan’s name tattooed across chest

Meyerowitz, Mollie -- Still sending weekly rule updates

Brooks, Sam -- Opens flight school at Pace

Middleton, Sydney -- Works for Morton Salt

Brown, Caroline -- Comes back to work in lower library

Moseley, Raina -- wins New York Times best selling author for her book titled

Buffenbarger, Jake -- Never stops Dance Marathoning

“The Knight Gallery”

Byrne, Nikki -- Brand ambassador for Chicken Legs Shorts

Neill, Morgan – Visits Vanderbilt every weekend

Campbell, Allie -- Chose Tennessee solely because their color is orange

O’Berry, Greyson -- Owns a berry farm

Catherman, John -- Runs.

Ovalle-Mares, Victor – moves to Ann Arbor

Chastain, Thea -- Works at Great American Cookie Company

Pope, Maggie -- Kicks roommate out to make room for new transfer

Chern, Benjamin -- Becomes millionaire by 24 and comes back to Pace to

Porter, Shania -- Misses graduation because she didn’t check her texts

teach AP Econ

Pradeep, Pranavh – Moves into Johnny Reese’s basement without him knowing

Cleveland, Reese -- Annexes Cambodia

Proctor, Holland – Breaks femur skiing

Cochran, Katherine -- Gets citizenship in Cambodia

Ramos, Jeffrey - Wins the Hunger Games

Crawford, Catherine -- Publishes book of quotes from high school, no one

Ramseur, Paul -- Starts his own sunglasses brand

buys it

Reed, Josh -- Finally gets 200 views on a thirst trap tiktok

Culpepper, Austin -- Becomes CEO of Daily Mail

Rocker, Hunter -- Opens quarry

Dandashly, Maryam -- Rides on horseback into the sunset

Rosenbloum, Anna -- Builds home in Cameron indoor stadium

DuPree, Eleanor -- Art featured in the Louvre

Saini, Cameron -- Proposes to wife via the Duke men’s basketball team

Eagleson, McLean -- Becomes model for Locked In

Schiffer, Ben -- Becomes new Wash U bear

Eghtedari, Megan -- Only eats oranges for next 4 years

Shaw, Grant -- Opens first book for PRUMC basketball

Farinella, Claire -- Wears biker shorts to the grave

Shelton, Ben -- Wears a pink suit to his wedding

Faux, Sydney -- Microwaves a hamster, it explodes…again

Siegenthaler, Jack— Wrangler jean model

Favero, Leah -- Creates her own sweatsuit line, no one buys it

Silverboard, Allison – Moves into bouncy house

Figueroa, Juan -- Never reaches height requirement for roller coasters

Singha, Meghna – Repaints the Sistine Chapel with rainbows

Finkelstein, Sammy -- Runs Camp Manitou

Sloan, Makenzy -- Roommates with Nile

Frooman, Marielle -- Becomes dictator of the world, first task: imprison Dr.

Smith, Henry -- Rooms with Patrick, dies

Haizlip

Smith, Lauren -- Stars on Broadway

Gasque, Jayden -- Cause of death: cramps

Smith, Pierce – Never takes offs Shrek bunny costume, morphs into Easter

Genser, Hannah – Lives in Decatur

Bunny

Glass, Kathleen -- Only wears a kilt for the rest of her life

Spinelli, Alexander -- Goes to rehab for shopping addiction

Goodman, Marissa -- Creates home on the fourth floor with Victor

Steiger, Matthew -- Wins Mr. Teen Infinity International

Govic, Marissa -- Is cool like that

Tapper, Jason -- Becomes world famous tap dancer, stage name: Tiny Tapper

Grabowski, Kate -- Wins America’s Got Talent for dog trick routines

Thobani, Shalizeh -- Professional peanut butter taste tester

Greene, Walker -- Transfers to Georgia Tech

Thompson, Grant -- Is not permitted to kiss the bride

Hale, Maddie -- Wins Instagram baddie of the year award

Todd, Lewis --Is the real winner

Hall, Buck -- Gets Knights Hall renamed Buck Hall

Tolmare, Saanika -- Becomes tik tok famous

Hardesty, Megan -- Coaches boys lacrosse at Pace

Vance, Connor -- Opens corn dog stand

Haviv, Amalia -- Goes missing, search team finds her in the woods in Eddi’s

Varma, Ryan -- Runs llama farm in Cambodia

backyard

Wagoner, Norah -- Takes Matthew and Ben to college formal

Heineman, Grace -- Burns down sorority house because a sister cut her off in

Warren, Jack -- Admits to taking steroids

the parking lot

Wells, Thomas -- Next Picasso

Holmes, Julia -- Opens bakery

White, Jordan -- Dies mysterious death

Howe, Sam -- Objects to Amalia’s marriage with taylor’s brother

White, Harper -- Kills twin and steals her identity

Hsu, Clare -- Starts duct tape wallet business, everyone buys it

Wideman, Jayla -- Rejoins Knightly News

Hudson, Gabby -- Plays in WNBA

Williams, Dillon -- Never stops playing assassin

Jonas, Kate -- Salsa brand replaces Flik

Williams, Jae – Gets second in bodybuilding competition

Jones, Emma -- Returns to lower school to be Drama Mama 2.0

Willoughby, Jaxon – Girlfriend ditches him for the girls in the grade

Jordan, Deuce -- Fired from job for not showing up

Ben Ewing – Shaves mustache as graduation gift to class of 2022

Futures of the Class of 2022

May 13, 2022

The Knightly News - Page 16

Class of 2022: Where Will They Be? 2 1 KEY: The numbers within each state indicate the number of seniors planning to move to the corresponding state this fall.

5

1

1

3

University of Alabama Buck Hall Jack Siegenthaler Norah Wagoner University of Alabama, Birmingham Jae Williams Auburn University Walker Greene Alex Karamanolis Pattrick Marr Morgan Neill Holland Proctor Henry Smith Matthew Steiger Lewis Todd Birmingham Southern College Nile Bennett

Arkansas:

6

Savannah College of Art and Design Makenzy Sloan Lauren Smith University of Georgia Jude Black Thea Chastain McLean Eagleson Grace Heineman Rebecca Kann Cameron Saini Ryan Varma

Illinois:

Eastern Illinois University Justin Bowick Notre Dame University Laura Arenth

Indiana:

Hendrix College William Baker

Indiana University Hannah Genser Courtney Kahn

California:

Iowa:

Santa Clara University Emma Killian Stanford University Sydney Faux Raina Moseley University of California, Irvine Jake Buffenbarger University of Southern California Marissa Govic

Colorado:

Colorado University, Boulder Connor Vance

Florida:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Deuce Jordan University of Florida Greyson O’Berry Thomas Wells University of Miami Amalia Haviv

Georgia:

Emory University Jayla Wideman Georgia College and State University Katherine Cochran Georgia State University Caroline Brown Dillon Williams Georgia Institute of Technology Marielle Frooman Cole Kaplan Alex Mathias Maggie Pope Oglethorpe University Gabby Hudson

2

1

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

Alabama:

3

Grinnell College Jaxon Willoughby

Kentucky:

University of Kentucky Emma Jones

Louisiana:

Tulane University Sammy Finklestein Emma Stewart Maske Allison Silverboard Louisiana State University Taylor Knowlton

Massachusetts:

Boston College Harper White Harvard University Xavier Agostino Northeastern University Clare Hsu Tufts University Meghna Singha

Michigan:

University of Michigan Madison Auchincloss Marissa Goodman Henry Leusink

Missouri:

Samuel Alkire Eddi Aronson

New Jersey:

Princeton University Kargil Behl John Catherman

New York:

7

4

9

1

12 17

1

7

1

1

2 4

4

University of Tennessee Allie Campbell Maryam Dandashly Vanderbilt University RJ Austin Sam Brooks Shania Porter Ben Shelton

Columbia University George Blaha Edward Blaha Benjamin Chern Rensselear Polytechnic Institute Pierce Smith Syracuse University Megan Eghtedari Mollie Meyerowitz Shalizeh Thobani Saanika Tolmare

Texas:

North Carolina:

Duke University Megan Hardesty Kate Jonas Anna Rosenbloum North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Jayden Gasque University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Nikki Byrne Wake Forest University Catherine Crawford Juan Figuroa Jack Warren

Hampden-Sydney College Victor Ovalle University of Virginia Carly Appel Margo Kaye Virginia Commonwealth University Julia Holmes Virginia Tech Grant Shaw Washington and Lee University Samuel Bready Paul Ramseur Grant Thompson William and Mary College Kate Grabowski

Ohio:

Wisconsin:

Cleveland State University Sydney Middleton Ohio State University Sam Howe Mackenzie Martin University of Cincinnati Josh Reed

Pennsylvania:

Lehigh University Alexandra Litvak University of Pennsylvania Pranavh Pradeep

Rhode Island:

Brown University Jason Tapper

Washington University in St. Louis Jonathan Merlin Hunter Rocker Ben Schiffer

South Carolina:

New Hampshire:

Belmont University Reese Cleveland

Dartmouth University-

4

2

2

4

7

College of Charleston Claire Farinella

Tennessee:

Texas A&M University Michael Lynch Texas Christian University Alex Spinelli Jordan White University of Texas at Austin Matthew Aronson Will Aronson Gabriel Kadoori

Virginia:

University of Wisconsin-MadisonRobert Mallis

Washington D.C.:

American University Asata Manigult Georgetown University Austin Culpepper Leah Favero Howard University Maddie Hale

Scotland:

University of St. Andrews Kathleen Glass

Gap Year:

Eleanor DuPree

Undecided:

Jeremy Avellaneda Jeffrey Ramos