Pace Welcomes New Faculty to the Community
This year the Upper School welcomes 9 new faculty members: Rebekah Alarcon, Tatum Branaman, Jennifer Cockrill, Rachel Cole, Curtis Johnson, Marshall Lopez, Avery Merlo, Hannah O’Conor and Josh Smith.
Avery Merlo
Baltimore native, Mr. Avery Merlo joins the Pace community as a computer science teacher. Living in the Northeast for his entire life, Merlo mentioned that he was ready for a change and intrigued by Atlanta and the South. “I was drawn to Pace because of its natural boundary.. [It] isn’t just dropped in the city. It’s a little bit out of the city but I am still able to live in the city,” he said. Merlo also mentioned that he loves all types of computer science, including developing apps and robotics.
“I just like things that you can see the output of and just kind of know that they might be shaping people’s lives,” Merlo said. He is most looking forward to mentoring the freshman at Pace.
“I am excited about making connections with the freshmen, telling them that it’s gonna be okay every day and just trying to build them up with confidence so they are excited to succeed for the rest of their high school career.” Outside of school, Merlo enjoys playing pickup sports including pickleball, soccer, tennis and basketball as well as going to social events in Atlanta.
Rachel Cole
Mrs. Rachel Cole, who grew up in Atlanta and attended The Galloway School, joins Pace as a counselor and AP Psychology teacher. Cole attended and played soccer at Davidson College before going on to receive her graduate degrees in both child studies and counseling at Vanderbilt. “And so that kind of led me to school counseling because I always really loved being in a classroom,” she mentioned.
Cole also spoke about how much she loves Psychology. “My favorite thing about psychology is just understanding humans or trying to understand humans. We’re very complex I think in a lot of ways. So psychology is a really neat way. It impacts every part of our lives,” she said. At Pace, Cole will combine her love for counseling, teaching, and psychology as both a counselor and teacher. After graduating from Vanderbilt, Cole moved back to Atlanta to be closer to her family, many of whom attended Pace! Cole mentioned how much she loves the community and people at Pace. “Everyone is so kind and welcoming,” she said. These are truly some of the nicest people I have ever met.” This year, Cole is most excited about this school year is the opportunity to get involved in the Pace community. Outside of school, she stays busy by spending time with friends and family, playing and following soccer and spending time outside on the Beltline.
Tatum Branaman
Mrs. Tatum Branaman joins the Pace faculty as the associate director of the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL). Originally from Arkansas, Branaman worked at an independent school in Texas before
moving to Atlanta, where she first worked as the Dean of Signature Programs at the Atlanta Girls School. She mentioned that she was drawn to Pace because of our unique ICGL program as well as the great community. “I always say that what really sealed it for me was on my interview day. When I came here, you could see the relationships with the kids and the teachers. Like there was a lot of respect, a lot of joy. There was all this kind of play and joy happening, and it felt like a healthy place,” Branaman said. This year, she is most excited about getting started with the community engagement programs and clubs. Outside of school, Branaman loves to do anything outdoors, including camping, kayaking, hiking and scubadiving.
Marshall Lopez
Mr. Marshall Lopez joins the Pace faculty as a History teacher. Lopez will be teaching Ancient Civilizations to the Class of 2028. Outside of school, Lopez coaches the 8th grade volleyball team at Pace. Lopez also coaches at the A5 Volleyball Club.
Rebekah Alarcon
Mrs. Rebekah Alarcon joins the Pace faculty as a Math and
Science ARC coach. Alarcon is from Los Angeles and prior to joining the Pace community, she worked at multiple schools in California after receiving her Bachelor Degree from West Coast Baptist College. Outside of school, Alarcon enjoys traveling and cooking.
Hannah O’Connor
New York native, Hannah O’Connor joins Pace as an Upper School Visual and Performing Arts Teacher. Before coming to Pace, O’Connor worked at a school in Los Angeles, where she taught many different classes including choir and serving as a dean. O’Connor picked Pace because of the culture and community. “I really like Pace’s philosophy when it comes to supporting kids at where they are at… I think it seems like a community that embraces all students and adults for who they are,” she mentioned. This school year, she is most excited about launching a Choir Leaderhsip Team and getting students more involved in music at Pace. O’Connor enjoys extreme sports, such as scuba diving and skiing, as well as playing the piano and singing.
Josh Smith
Mr. Josh Smith is a Nashville native who joins the Pace faculty as a Computer Science teacher. Smith has a bachelor’s of fine art and ceramics and sculpture, a master’s in art education and a graduate certificate in computer science. Currently, he is at Georgia Tech, working on his Master’s in computer science. Smith is very excited about joining the Pace community and working with the students, especially the robotics team. “My competition robotics team has a really strong group of kids this year and I am hoping that we can make it to nationals,” Smith said. Smith also mentioned that his favorite thing about his job is how his students approach their work. “ [I love] the enthusiasm with which the students approach their work and also the trust that I can put in them to be doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said. Outside of school, Smith enjoys
fly fishing, hiking, backpacking and listening to podcasts.
Jennifer Cockrill
Jennifer Cockrill, an Atlanta native, joins the Pace community as an English teacher. Cockrill, who has taught for over 20 years, chose Pace because of its tight community and values. “I like the culture, I like the philosophical beliefs and values that the school holds,” she said. This year, Cockrill is most excited about meeting Pace students and to start working with them. “I love teaching English because I really enjoyed writing, being around discussions and being around young minds… I love literature...thinking and hearing perspectives beyond our own, that enrich our lives,” she mentioned. Outside of school, Cockrill enjoys hiking, running, traveling and reading.
Curtis Johnson
Mr. Curtis Johnson is an Altanta native and former collegiate football player who joins the Pace community as a College Counselor. He attended Suwannee, The University of the South, and worked at a day school in Memphis and a boarding school in Virginia before moving back to Atlanta. Johnson mentioned that he picked Pace because of the unique community and environment. “The energy and community that I felt in coversations about this oppurtunity was something that I was attracted to and felt was very special,” he said. Johnson also spoke about why he loves his job as a college counselor. “[I like] supporting student’s dreams and helping students imagine, be creative and understand how they want to contribute and give to the world.” This year, he is most excited about learning more about the community and getting to know the students around campus. Outside of school, not many people know that Johnson is a professional painter and is also a huge Atlanta sports fan.
PACEMUNC VI Delegates Prepare for their Model
PACEMUNC continues for another year and its sixth-year topics are riveting. This PACEMUNC is the first to have both a crisis committee and a general assembly. Pace Model United Nations topics always align with the Isdell Center for Global Leadership’s theme and this year, that theme is food.
The crisis committee topic is called “The Young Ireland Rebellion: Analyzing the Irish
Potato Famine” and the 13 delegates will represent Quakers, starving civilians, government officials and other personnel in this crisis. They will debate the need for aid in the 1845 Potato Famine and how to help the starving citizens. The General Assembly’s topic is “Addressing Agricultural Recovery and Rebuilding in Africa’s Sahel Region” and is a part of the United Nations special Food and Agriculture Organization committee. The 35 delegates in the assembly will discuss sustainable agriculture during intense climate change and the changing African political conflicts of present day.
The student-written background guides were created by junior Reese Honeycutt, Senior Van Muller, sophomore Sri Padmanabhan, junior Braylon Cambor, junior Tyler Swartz, junior David Halsey, Senior Claire Jiang, Senior Anima Zubairi and Senior Gavin Sender. Senior Van Muller says “both of our committees have been thorough to accurately investigate and short-handedly reproduce the most important information on the topics to help the delegates succeed.” The delegates will debate different concerns within these committees and then they will collaborate to pass resolution papers to solve these issues.
Photo: Reese Honeycutt
New faculty pose for a photo under the tent. Not Pictured: Avery Merlo, Josh Smith, Tatum Branaman and Rebekah Alarcon.
PACEMUNC VI delegates pose next to a Model UN bulletin board after a writing workshop.
Photo: Olivia Siskin
Homecoming Returns Revamped
This past month Pace Academy celebrated their annual homecoming. Homecoming is an annual tradition for the Pace community. The goal is to show school spirit if you are still in school, but if you have graduated then homecoming is when reunions are hosted.
This year Pace definitely showed their school spirit. The week started with jersey day, and almost every student wore a unique jersey. “I wore a Giannis Anentokompu jersey because he is my favorite player,” said junior Jake Agoli. The next theme was twin day and many junior girls all dressed as Thing One and Thing Two from Dr Seuss. “It was a lot of fun to wear the same outfits as my friends, and show my Pace spirit,” said Junior Gabi Swartz. The next day was celebrity themed, and Seniors Anna Kate Howell, Kate Grice and Sydney Lettes went all out. They dressed up as Kris Jenner and all matched with their wigs and sunglasses. Thursday’s theme was generations. Freshmen were babies, sophomores were kids, juniors were Moms and Dads, and Seniors were grandpas and grandmas. “I was glad that I already had all the clothes for this theme in my dress up basket,” said Senior Olivia Diaz who dressed as a grandma.
On Friday the school took part in color wars. Two years ago, the student council started color wars as a replacement for the annual powder puff football game. The four activities
in color wars were volleyball, trivia, dodgeball and capture the flag. The Senior student council did an amazing job running it. “I’m glad we were able to have another successful color war and I think everyone had a lot of fun,” said Senior class president Nicholas Demba.
Also on Friday, Pace had their annual pep rally. Last year’s pep rally was hard to follow because Future came out, but this year the school showed excellent spirit. The cheerleaders had an amazing floor routine.
“I was really excited to perform in front of the whole school, and I am just glad no one fell,” said Senior cheerleader Ella Lynch. Also the Lower School reclaimed the spirit stick from the rowdy middle schoolers this year.
Friday night, the Pace football team played valiantly, but sadly lost 13-3 to Mays High School. The Pace football team is looking to add another win to their schedule since beating Chamblee in August.
Finally, on Saturday night the HOCO dance arrived. This year the dance was held in the FAC, which is different from the previous years of homecoming being held in the much more hot, humid tent. Also the homecoming court walked across the stage instead of walking by the castle, which seemed better. Harper Auchincloss and Sam Rosetti won HOCO king and queen this year. “I was excited to win the crown and it will always be a fun memory,” said senior homecoming king Sam Rosetti. Pace Academy had another successful homecoming and the student council’s hard work paid off once again!
Photo: Lisa Wong
Photo: Anslety Vincent
Photo: Fred Assaf
Photo: Fred Assaf
The Knightly Crossword Returns
Across
3. Student body president
7. What music festival was canceled?
9. Who do we play for Homecoming in football?
10. New ICGL Associate Director
11. Pace 7-Peat
12. Most popular school for Pace Academy graduates
15. Newspaper substitute teacher
16. Mr. Ewing’s baby
17. TedX Leader
Down
1. Upperclassmen hangout spot
2. Lime green album
4. Computer Science teacher
5. Bagel supplier
6. New 2028 dean
8. Lunch on the first day of school
12. Female winner of Love Island
13. Longest assembly announcements
5 Minutes with Sir Winsalot
Campbell Hanna: Thank you for meeting with us today Sir Winsalot, my first question is what’s your daily life like?
Sir Winsalot: I start the day eating pancakes with Mr. Assaf. Then I put the cones out for carpool while getting the coffee ready for Officer Chris and crew. [Then] helping facilities take care of the field and stands. Then there’s rolling up the tshirts before games and practicing donuts on my scooter. You know…. The basics.
CH: So how do you get excited or hyped up for games?
SW: High fives! Getting all the students to punch the shield!
CH: What is your favorite part about being Sir Winsalot?
SW: Still the high fives!
CH: Why are you Sir Winsalot; why do you do it?
SW: I’m the defender of the castle! What else would I do?
CH: How do you always stay in character?
SW: I do not understand the question.
CH: What is your favorite Pace sport to cheer at?
SW: The ones with Pace athletes, especially during playoffs!
CH: Do you have to practice before games?
SW: Like high fives? Yeah, I practice those all the time.
CH: What is your least favorite school we play?
SW: I guess the ones that are poor sports. Pace Athletes work hard to be honorable whether we win or lose. I cannot stand schools that do not do the same. Also, Lovett.
CH: Do you have a secret talent?
SW: I have a knack for pre-
made signs. [Holds up pre-made sign] Sadly, I can’t juggle.
CH: What is your favorite football theme or student section theme?
SW: Costume night is my favorite. I wish I could participate, but I have to be in uniform.
CH: Sir Winsalot before you came to Pace what were you doing?
SW: I was born in 1958, the same year as Pace Academy. Been here ever since.
CH: Thank you again for meeting with me Sir Winsalot!
I had a great time talking to Sir Winsalot, and I cannot wait to see him pumping the crowd up at the next pep rally or football game. Thank you for always having the best school spirit Sir Winsalot.
Sophmore staff writer Campbell Hanna poses with Sir Winsalott.
Photo: Campbell Hanna
The 50th Anniversary of the Newspaper is Here!
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Knightly News at Pace Academy, a milestone celebrating half a century of student journalism and creativity. Since its creation in 1974, the club has been a cornerstone of Pace, providing a platform for students to voice their opinions, help other students live healthy lifestyles, analyze the current affairs of the world, report on school events and develop their writing and editorial skills. As we commemorate this golden 50th anniversary, we reflect on the rich legacy of the newspaper and look forward to continuing its tradition of impactful storytelling.
1995: “New Technology in Computer Lab”: In 1995, the Pace computer lab underwent massive changes. These changes include connecting the computers to the internet, providing pace students with their own email account and a CD-Rom server. While technology and computers have come a long way, you can always count on the Knightly News to keep you
up to date.
2000: “Homecoming goes Hawaiian”: In 2000, the Pace Student Body Vice President decided to make the Homecoming theme Hawaiian luau. This decision was met with support and criticism from the student body. However, it ultimately proved to be a success as the student council added a Mardi Gras theme to the Valentines dance.
2001: “Do Political Agendas Have a Place at Pace Assemblies”: This article included a heated discussion from 2001 on the controversy of teachers pushing their own political agendas onto the students of Pace Academy.
2004: “Blondes Have More fun: Is It Myth or Actually true?”: This April Fools opinion based article from 2004 determined through intense experimentation and analysis whether blondes actually have more fun? They determined that the answer to this question is yes!
2006: “Braves attempt to achieve 15th straight division title”: This article from 2006 highlighted the peak of sports excellence from the Atlanta braves. What they couldn’t have known is that the Braves would continue to lose the division title to the New York Mets, officially putting an end to the golden age of a dynasty.
2006: “Atlanta Aquarium set to Open: Will be World’s Largest”: While describing the size of the new Aquarium, this article also mentioned the long process that it took for the aquarium to open. As much of the Pace Upper School student body was born after the opening of the aquarium, the history behind it is completely known. A $200 million dollar donation by Bernie Marcus kickstarted the designing and building of the aquarium. During that same year, the World of Coca-Cola was also constructed.
2007: “The New iPod Nano: Too Small?”: 2007, the year many of the seniors and juniors were born, featured interesting changes in technology. Apple released the iPod Nano which measures at an impressive 1.07 x 1.62 x 0.41 inches. The article expresses concern over sitting on and breaking the iPad Nano as it is as wide as a pencil. The color screen was a big innovation from the past, yet the article states that the $249 price doesn’t make the iPod Nano a good purchase.
2020: “Covid-19: Using a Myth vs. Fact”: This 2020 article explored some of the true as well as some of the outrageous information circulating about Covid-19. For example, they determined that covid “cannot be spread through mosquito bites, mobile networks (wifi), or radio waves,” contrary to the beliefs of many.
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 Klingler Etan Gerber
Brian Silverboard
Managing and Opinion Editor: Harrison Silver
Pace News Editor: Anne Weiss
Current Affairs Editor: Jiya Patel
Lifestyle Editor: Hayes Pollard
Sports Editor: Grant Chase
Web Content Editor: Sophia Webb
Social Media Editor: Bennett Cummings
Staff Writers: Kennon DeFrancis
Molly Luber
Katie Durant
Madeleine Ganz
Vivian Gerber
Stiles Pilcher
Claire Jowers
Campbell Hanna
Faculty Adviser: Mrs. Tamara Neiley
Tech Adviser: Matt Walker
The Knightly News Editorial Policy
The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For 50 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 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. 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.
ICGL Travels the World over the Summer
This past summer, the Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) commissioned four trips around the world. These tours are a huge learning experience for any student attending, getting the ability to see so many communities different from America. These trips allow students to change their outlook on different parts of the world and help them develop leadership skills. The summer trips this year featured London, New Zealand, Japan and Vietnam.
The first trip of the summer was to London and was led by Sean Bryan, Director of Fine Arts, and Donna Pottorff, a Visual and Performing Arts teacher. This trip focused on the world of British history, culture, and theater. During their days in London, students visited the Globe Theater, Regent’s Park Open Air Theater, Tate Modern and the Royal Haymarket. “All of the shows that we went to were my favorite part, they were pretty cool. I loved getting to see all of the old English theaters,”
The first Japan group enjoys the baseball game they watched on their last day in
said junior Noah Eisenman. The second trip to take off was to New Zealand with US Computer Science Chairperson Charlie Bryant, US English Teacher Emily Washburn and US Visual and Performing Arts Teacher Donnice Bloodworth. Throughout the trip, the group completed a wide range of ecological activities such as zip lining, visiting sites like grottos, eco-sanctuaries, Mount Cook and a Māori village called Whakarewarewa to learn about geothermal activity in New Zealand. This trip also focused on the
government where they learned about the unicameral coalitionbased government of New Zealand. The group also learned a lot about the flora and fauna of New Zealand. “New Zealand was the highlight of my summer. My favorite part was probably the luge ride in Queenstown or our early morning hike at Mount Cook that Mr. Bryant led. It was so much fun,” said Senior Anna Kate Howell.
The two Japan groups were next to leave. The first trip was led by US Math Teacher Krista Wilhelmsen and US World Lan-
guage Teacher Laura AgrontHobbs, while the second trip was headed by US Counselor Ellye Millaway and previous Associate Director of ICGL, Ted Ward. Visiting Kyoto first, the groups explored significant sites of the Shogun, tried traditional tea and visited the Geisha district and several shrines. The groups visited Hiroshima next, having a day for reflection and seeing Atomic Bomb sites like the Hiroshima Peace Park and the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall. The first group even had the opportunity to meet a bomb survivor. “This was the best part of my day. It was crazy to meet someone who went through that first hand, and it was eyeopening,” said Class of `24 Rebecca Thompson. The groups also visited a Shitaki mushroom farm to learn about the planting of the mushroom, one of Japan’s major crops. “My favorite part of the trip was being able to see the Japanese countryside and stay with a family,” said Class of `24 Morgan Miller. On their last days, the groups watched a baseball game in Fukuoka. The last group to leave was the trip to Vietnam, led by US History Teacher Mindy Lawrence and Associate Director of
US Admissions De’ire Foxx. The group started in the North where they toured the Chi Chi Tunnels and visited a War Remnants Museum to learn about the Vietnam War. Next, the group flew to Da
Nang in central Vietnam and visited the Golden Hands Bridge at the Sun World Amusement Park to learn about Western culture being transformed by the Vietnamese people. Throughout the whole trip, the group experienced Vietnamese cuisine, trying things like frog legs, spring rolls, snakeheads, pho and so much more. Back in Ho Chi Minh City, the group finished off their trip exploring the markets and the streets of Saigon. “Getting to bond with the upperclassmen was probably the best part of the trip, but it was a neat experience overall. I loved trying all of the food and I gained a greater appreciation for gratification, hard work and determination,” said junior John Hardesty. “I loved trying all of the food and I gained a greater apppreciation for gratification, hard work and determination.”
Fukuoka. Photo: Pace Academy
Do Pace Students Agree with Their Parents’ Political Beliefs?
The 2024 presidential election season is upon us. Even though many Pace high schoolers cannot vote, the magnitude of this election is felt on everyone’s shoulders. Americans feel very strongly about this election, but there are still many undecided voters, particularly in the 18-24 demographic, which contains a majority of Gen Z. The uncertainty in Gen Z’s interest in this election draws the question; how are Pace high school students coming to conclusions about who is the right candidate for the United States in 2024?
Out of fifty Pace high school students polled, 82% of students admitted to never disagreeing with their parents’ political affiliations. This statistic is really telling because it helps explain why voters believe the things they do. It seems that most Pace students follow what their parents believe, rather than forming their own opinions. Still, this percentage seems
“[I was] learning the policies for myself and going out of my way to educate myself on every candidate.”
lower than expected, meaning that a decent
amount of students
82% of Pace students agree with their parents’ political affiliations as shown from a poll surveying 50 students.
think independently from their parents. Especially in a time of technology and new information, students have access to more and more facts and information which could support a different political opinion.
One anonymous Pace student disagrees with their parents who vote as Democrats. “I realized how the country is going and where it might end up,” said the student. Another Pace student would vote as a Democrat even though their parents are Republicans. This student said that they started disagreeing with their parents in 2024; “[I was] learn-
ing the policies for myself and going out of my way to educate myself on every candidate.”
These two points of view are exciting for the Pace community because it illustrates that Pace is building a well-informed and educated group of students who care about the issues facing our country.
On the other hand, should kids feel shame for agreeing with their parents’ political beliefs? Absolutely not: it is completely okay to believe in the same values as your parents. However, it is really important to learn all of the factual informa-
tion regarding an election and then make your decision on who to vote for. Blindly accepting your parents’ opinion as the only correct belief is a mistake because it would limit your perception of the pros and cons of candidates in an election.
So, how do students of undecided parents feel about this election? Out of the twelve students who said their parents are undecided, 75% of students said they would vote Democrat in this election. The other three students were divided with two of them saying they would vote Republican, and the last one
remaining undecided. Is the Pace community a reflection of what could come in this election? Is the sample size too small? The only thing that is certain is that if you care about the results of the election, you can do something about it. Get your parents to vote, get your friends to vote, or go out and vote yourself if you are old enough. Finally, make sure that you have researched the candidates and understand the issues.
New Strain of Mpox Declared Global Health Emergency
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has recently had a global outbreak. The name of the virus was changed in order to
avoid the common misconception that it is caused or spread by monkeys. Despite prior outbreaks occurring consistently over the past few years, this has been the most recent outbreak, and has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Symptoms of mpox in-
clude fever, rashes, blisters and swollen lymph nodes. It is in the same family of diseases as smallpox; however, mpox has a variety of strains, including the newer Clade Ib, which is more contagious. Although not as lethal as other viruses, mpox has varying mortality rates depending on the strain, ranging any-
where from one to 10 percent. The outbreak is currently concentrated in Africa, particularly in the Congo and the surrounding nations in central Africa; however, in the past few months, it has also spread to Sweden. It is likely that the virus will continue to spread globally, but its spread in the United
States is predicted to be less concerning than in other countries.
Current trends predict that Africa will need as many as 10 million vaccines. The US plans to donate 50,000 vaccines to Congo, which will help the effort; however, many more vaccines will be necessary as mpox continues to spread. Additionally, the UN is looking into the virus in an attempt to understand the cause of the outbreak.
Although there has been no detection of the Clade Ib strain in other nations, there have been other, less severe strains found globally, including in the US. Predominantly, these cases are of the Clade II strain, the perpetrator of a previous outbreak in 2022.
The WHO’s General-Director Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that “On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.” Fortunately, there are current global attempts to swiftly combat the virus, including the aid pouring in from unaffected nations. There have been donations of both vaccines and funds, such as the 1.45 million from the WHO’s emergency funds. This aid may prove vital for countries that have been affected by the virus in the coming months.
Photo: AGENZIA NOVA
Mpox vaccines getting prepared.
The 2024 Olympics Captures the Attention of the World from Paris
The Summer Olympics are a worldwide phenomenon that captures the hearts and attention of people all over the world every four years. The Summer Olympics takes years to curate, from deciding where it will be held, to picking which events qualify and even building new stadiums to hold these events.
This year’s 2024 Summer Olympics was held in Paris, France, making Paris the second city to be a three-time host. The main work and heavy lifting of the games though, comes from the top athletes and their competitive nature that keeps the games going. Just to make the games, the athletes have to be the best of the best and go through multiple stages of qualifications before they can even compete.
From the final statistics and medal counts of this year’s Olympic games, it’s evident that the countries with the strongest athletes were the United States, China, and Great Britain. The medal count at the closing ceremony had the United States in the lead with 40 gold medals and 126 medals total, followed
by China with 40 gold medals and 91 metals total, then in third place with 14 gold medals and 65 medals total was Great Britain.
Even among the outstanding athletes who competed in all the events, there were certain athletes whose accomplishments this year made them stand out from the rest. American swimmer Katie Ledecky dominated this year in the swimming
events, earning herself two gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze. Ledecky also finished her races with impressive leads on the athletes in other lanes and led many of her relay teams to victory. Meanwhile, in Track and Field, the American sprinter Noah Lyles made headlines with his remarkable performance in the men’s 100m race. Lyles won an extremely tight race in the fi-
nals of the men’s 100m, winning gold with a time of 9.79 seconds. What really set Lyles apart from his fellow track athletes and got the media attention though, were his emotional comments after his race. After competing, Lyles shared that he was dedicating his work to his high school track coach who had recently passed away.
Moments like these and
more are what make the Olympics unique year after year. The Olympics bring people together and stir up a sense of national pride that is often forgotten about. After the end of a successful Summer Olympics held in Paris, viewers and athletes alike are now looking optimistically forward to the 2028 LA Olympics.
Emphasizing Positive Stories in the News
In 2020, during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, actor and filmmaker, John Krasinsky, created a YouTube channel named Some Good News. This channel aimed to spread hope and inspire others during hard times. Influenced by this joyful sharing, I too wanted to write about the positive impacts, entrepreneurs, and friends in the world so that we can all be reminded of the possibilities of positive acts. For those looking to share the love, here is a bit of good news.
During Boston Landmarks Orchestra’s rendition of Florence Price’s “Adoration,” the violinist Adrian Anantawan led the audience in a wonderful, sweet solo. The Canadian violinist, “hoped when it was his turn to play, the audience would hear his violin and what it represented: the sound of possibility.” The featured violinist was born without the majority of his right arm and hand, with his limb stopping just above the elbow.
While all the other students in his fifth grade class played the recorder, Anantawan was instead drawn to the violin. To accommodate his condition, Anatawan and his family worked with a
Toronto Area Hospital to create a device called a spatula. The Spatula is a plaster cast with a tongue at the end. By strapping this device to his arm, Anatawan could move the bow up and down and across the strings to create cords at first, and then with practice, beautiful music.
Now, as a grown adult, it is Anatawan’s mission to help other aspiring musicians with disabilities. Anatawan, together with an associate professor at Berklee College of Music, created the Music Inclusion Ensemble, a group of students with disabilities that provides accommodations so they can each pursue their musical dreams.
In other good news. During his time stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, Air Force’s Sergeant Mike Alcala made a best friend. Sgt. Alcala and a German Shepherd named John worked together for three years and grew very close. Sadly, the three year tour came to an end and Sgt. Alcala was restationed away from his furry buddy. Before he left the base, however, Sgt. Alcala promised his canine colleague that he would come back for him. Happily, man and his best friend were reunited when John’s, the German Shepard’s, duty came to an end. Upon canine retirement, Sgt. Acala happily adopted the pup and warmly welcomed him to his forever family.
Lastly, in order to help reduce fashion waste, Taiwanese manufacturer Eddie Wang, has created a new type of textile made from oysters. In addition to reducing fashion waste, the use of oyster shells is also helping limit the amount of food and shellfish waste. To make this new fabric, oyster shells are
ground up into small pieces and the small pieces are made into an incredibly flexible yarn.
The texture of the yarn resembles that of sheep, and it is nicknamed “see wool”. Wang was inspired to make this textile by low-income locals, who were already using this oyster yarn product to insulate their houses.
Due to its positive mission and soft feel, scientists are working in collaboration with Wang to make this sea wool more competitive and practical in existing garment production.
Photo:
Photo: City of Melrose Massachusetts
Paris hosts the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Adrain Anantawan practices playing his violin.
Get Lost in Da Souse
Lost in Da Souse Kitchen, a restaurant in Downtown Atlanta near the Hartsfield-Jackson airport, has become an internet sensation over the past few months.
People from all over Atlanta flock to Lost in Da Souse Kitchen to appear in a 15-second video on the restaurant’s Instagram page, which boasts over 700,000 followers. The video famously starts with the line “What’s your name? Where you from?” and ends with an honest or maybe not-so-honest food review.
I recently visited Lost in Da Souse Kitchen with a few friends. The establishment was clean and well-decorated, though it felt small due to the large number of people inside. Everyone there was impatiently waiting in line, hoping for their five minutes of fame as the next Lost in Da Souse star.
The menu offers a wide
selection of Southern and Caribbean-inspired dishes, including sliders, wings, waffles, French fries, and more. Among
the most popular items are the “smoke boxes” and “dog boxes.”
The smoke boxes, frequently featured in the Instagram food
reviews, are a fan favorite. They consist of burger sliders, fries loaded with cheese and bacon, and wings.
The portions at Lost in Da Souse Kitchen are enormous, from 100-piece wing orders to the colossal smoke box. The colossal smoke box could most likely feed an entire family and maybe their dogs.
Since the colossal smoke box was too big for me, I opted for the big smoke box. The sliders were delicious and well-seasoned, the wings were smothered in a mouthwatering buffalo sauce, and the loaded fries that I had dipped in ranch were heavenly with a perfect ratio of cheese to bacon to fry.
“I honestly thought it would be overhyped, but the food was actually reall good. I got wings and waffles. They were very generous weith the sauce and the waffles were thick,” said Pace alumni Libby Jonas.
The service was also impressive. Despite the crowd, the employees were as efficient as possible, serving everyone with a smile.
Overall, we had a fantastic experience and left the restaurant satisfied with our stomachs full.
Why We Should Be More Worried About AI
As artificial intelligence has become more prevalent over the past two years, I’ve seen teachers try to adapt in a variety of ways. For the most part teachers seem determined to acknowledge AI as a useful tool or even try to integrate it into their teaching. I understand this urge; nobody wants to be seen as “behind the times” or fighting a losing war against an inevitable technology. However, I think this is a misguided approach that gives AI more legitimacy than it deserves.
The “intelligence” in artificial intelligence is almost a misnomer. After all, AI cannot create anything new; its algorithm doesn’t possess creativity, just pattern recognition. Every piece of AI “art” that appears online is the product of an AI who stole the work of thousands of artists, remixed it and regurgitated the patterns it found into a computer-generated image. The problem is not only the creative bankruptcy of that process, but this AI “art” now competes with humans, pushing the artists that unwillingly trained the AI out of the market.
The consensus against using AI in visual art is stronger than in written assignments and teaching, but the same skepticism should apply. There is new evidence that the use of AI in classrooms undermines critical thinking skills. “The biggest issue isn’t just that students might
use it to cheat — students have been trying to cheat forever — or that they might wind up with absurdly wrong answers,” said Jessica Grose for the New York Times. “The thornier problem is that when students rely on a generative A.I. tool like ChatGPT to outsource brainstorming and writing, they may be losing the ability to think critically and to overcome frustration with tasks that don’t come easily to them.”
There is a word associated with technological progress“deskilling.” We start to forget how to do tasks when technology removes the need for it. Can you drive to a new place without the use of GPS navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze?
Deskilling is not new, in fact it’s been happening for centuries; most people do not know how to do textile weaving by hand anymore. The question is whether we will allow deskilling in the most fundamentally human area of creating art and thinking critically. We’ve already seen social media short-format videos decrease people’s attention spans; as technology becomes more and more intelligent and ubiquitous we are becoming more and more incapable of existing on our own.
Allowing the use of AI to assist in writing could be tremendously dangerous. The English language is always changing, but AI could pose a risk to its development. AI learning models don’t possess human creativity; they can’t evolve new words, and they can only form grammatical structures they have seen before in its training set. If AI begins to take over the creation of written texts, our language could
stagnate.
Additionally, AI doesn’t differentiate between different users; it spits out whatever language and wording it’s seen the most of. Users of AI’s writing could lose all individuality and converge into one mass writing style.
The most common response I hear to my pushback against AI is that generative AI’s development and use is inevitable. It’s already been made, and people are going to use it, so you might as well jump on the train so as not to be left behind. Respectfully, that’s the worst argument I’ve ever heard. There is no faster way to give up your own agency than to tell yourself you have no power against the unstoppable force of technology.
Maybe we can’t prevent every instance of AI in our lives; Instagram is currently using uploaded posts to train AI and although in Europe consumers can opt-out of AI training, American users currently can’t.
But teachers especially have tremendous power to not give AI legitimacy by not adding places in their curriculum to use it. And by warning against its downsides and promoting the value of human creativity and grit, educators can teach students to appreciate their skills instead of feeling insecure of their own ability and using AI as a crutch. Don’t allow a few men in Silicon Valley to determine the future of humanity. After all, Elon Musk came up with the cyber truck. Just because something is new and made by someone with a lot of money doesn’t mean it’s good, and the same applies to AI.
Photo: Claire Jowers
Although AI might not be creating fighting robots yet, it still presents dangers.
Photo: Dyonix
People wait outside the door, waiting to get lost in the sauce.
Tame Your Temper
Most empires collapse from within. Most people’s struggles are self-inflicted.
Stop reacting, who has ever lost their temper and then been glad after the fact? Anger never improves or fixes the issue at hand. Sure a basketball coach may get angry to rile up their players, but if they don’t keep their temper in check they’ll just be racking up technical fouls. Control your temper! It’s not that some people won’t feel anger, it’s there, you simply must choose to not act on it!
“Focus on your own actions because that is what you can control. Be strict with yourself and tolerant with others.”
ugliness. People are often rude, arrogant and shameless but that doesn’t make it ok for you to act that way as well. Rise above, don’t stoop to their level, be the bigger person. Focus on your own actions because that is what you can control. Be strict with yourself and tolerant with others
The Buddhists emphasize the importance of letting the little annoyances of life “drift by like clouds.”
that.” When we think about it, yes, people can hurt us, however, when we really look at those people, who they are, and why they do what they do, it doesn’t actually feel like they’re getting away with anything. They’re their own worst enemy. Give up on revenge, give up on “getting even.” You’ve already won by not being like that person.
“People are frustrating, people are an obstacle, but like all obstacles they’re also the way. People are a challenge we can rise to meet.”
Focus on your actions. What do you do when someone else makes a mistake or wrongs you?
It’s not up to us whether or not this happens, but what is up to us is the decision to not allow others to implicate us in their
You don’t have to let this bother you. We always have the option to have no opinion on something, to choose to say, “It doesn’t bother me.” You don’t have to get worked up. You don’t even have to respond. You can just let it go.
The Stoics would tell us “the best revenge is to not be like
People may be obstacles, but those obstacles are how we grow. Why? Because in that obstacle there’s an opportunity to be just in the face of injustice, to be temperate in the face of intemperance that’s being rewarded, to be courageous in a sea of cowards. People are frustrating, people are an obstacle, but like all obstacles they’re also the way. People are a challenge we can rise to meet. Don’t resent people, use them to become better.
Pace’s New Renovations Were Worth the Wait
Over the summer, Pace Academy received a few updates: the Inman Center Gym and the cafeteria got new floors, the back parking lot was re-paved, and renovations were made to the main level of the Castle.
Inman Gym, built in 2000, needed an upgrade. While students were away for the summer, the black-and-white tile floors on the middle level of the gym were ripped out and replaced with brand-new gray flooring.
Freshman Audrey Jordan said, “I think the new floors are much better. The other ones were dated and dirty.” Some of the older grades are nostalgic of the old floors. Sophomore Victoria Vasquez said, “I miss the old
floors. The gray doesn’t match the walls.” The cafeteria, located on the upper level of Inman Center, also underwent a make-over. The old tile flooring consisted of blocks of white tiles, individually outlined by black tiles and accented by yellow tiles in the corners of each square. Though the floors were an identifying feature of the cafeteria, the color scheme did not support Pace Academy’s navy and white. Now, swirls of blue and gray cover the floor. Senior Jackson Washburn said, “I like the new [cafeteria] floors a lot because they are a lot less visually unattractive.” Overall, the student body has a positive outlook on the new lunch-room touch-up. Junior Hayes Hurd said, “I like what Pace did with the renovations, we really needed it.“
In previous years, the back parking lot has been a stressor for juniors, seniors, faculty and parents who try to park in the cramped spots. The old-cracked
parking lot was replaced with freshly-paved asphalt. This year, drivers should find the parking lot easier to navigate and park in with the addition of new spots. The lines and numbers were repainted, making it easier for upperclassmen, faculty, and staff to find and park in their assigned spots for the school year. Junior Braylon Cambor said, “I like it
because I can now see the lines where I’m supposed to park and I’m less likely to hit cars!”
Finally, Pace’s most beautiful improvement was remodeling the Castle’s main level. A new, modern look replaced the dated stone flooring, wood-paneled walls, and old decorative features. The main door, which was heavy and unwelcoming with its wrought iron bars guarding the window, is now fully covered by glass panels, allowing light to enter the foyer. The walls in the boardroom, which were adorned with a panoramic painting, alluding to the Castle’s previous life as a family home, now have a sleek, comfortable style. The old foyer featured multi-color stone floors, the offices were fitted with wood, and the windows offered obstructed views. The new Castle has a lighter and brighter theme to better welcome current, previous, and potential Pace families. The goal of the Castle was not only to better welcome families but to return it to its homely feel. By removing the false walls dividing up the main rooms, polishing the original flooring, and adding comfortable furnishing, the renovations accomplished their objective. “Once we finished
the Lower School, we realized that our Lower School families had this wonderful space…it was very fresh and inviting and the Castle was sort of tired and worn out” said Headmaster Fred Assaf. Although the building was not completed by the start of the school year, the staff working in the Castle said they were excited about the new building. Associate Director of Upper School Admissions, De’ire Foxx, said back in August, “I am so excited and I can’t wait for the finished product!” Although the main floor was updated, the second floor will be left untouched. When asked why, Mr. Assaf said, “We tried to do it in the most economical way possible.” Mr. Assaf and Pace leaders did not feel it was necessary for the upper level, which most prospective parents will not visit, to be redone. The Castle’s construction was finished in late August, but it officially opened to students, staff, and parents in mid-Sept.
In the exclusive with Mr. Assaf, he stated that Pace, as of now, does not have any upcoming plans for renovations around campus. For now, the Pace community can enjoy these new facilities!
Sophomore Illian Hajiani flexes in a moment of anger.
Photo: Hayes Pollard
Photo: Katie Durant
The rotunda in the Castle, pictured above, features new wooden floors that replaced the dated stone.
Photo: Katie Durant
The new cafeteria floors replaced the black, white, and yellow tiles.
Everything About BRAT Summer Explained
“Are you bumpin’ that?”
“Why are you so Julia?”
“Kamala is so brat.” These are all phrases that have been all around social media this past summer. The average viewer would be confused by this phenomenon that somehow relates to politics in the news. Here is your full in depth guide to BRAT summer.
In 2008, Charli XCX released her first debut single, and a star was born. She didn’t have major success until her hit song “Boom Clap” was released and has now racked up more than 400 million streams on spotify. Five studio albums later, some mixtapes included, all have built up Charli XCX’s name. On February 28, 2024, she announced her upcoming album, BRAT.
Later, her first single Von Dutch was released. A mix of electronic dance music and pop created this “hyper-pop” aesthetic for this song. The track opens with the lyrics “It’s okay to just admit that you’re jealous of me” adding to this self-confidence BRAT really promotes. Personally, this is one of my favorite tracks off the album as it is yet so simple, but very complex. One thing to mention about Charli XCX is that she uses autotune, and she’s proud of it. She uses this to her advantage, to get the
sound she desires for the song.
On March 21, 2024, Charli XCX released “The von dutch remix with addison rae and a.g. Cook” which had widely major success. To start, clips of Addison Rae, formally a TikTok star, screaming into a microphone were circulating. If anything tells you something about a song, “screaming into a microphone” perfectly describes the “hyperpop” aesthetic Charli was going for. Finally, on May 10, 2024, Charli released her final single “360.” Without growth from tiktok, “360” peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
On June 7, 2024, Charli XCX released her studio album BRAT with wide success. Gabi Swartz, a huge Charli XCX fan, stated “it matches her identity and how she relates to her music.” On June 10, Charli released her deluxe version of BRAT titled “brat and it’s the same but there’s three more songs so it’s not.” This album included three bonus tracks, all produced by A.G. Cook. The format of the album cover is not like anything done before. The lime green color with a grainy and distorted font adds to the uniqueness of the record. For promotion, Charli changed all of her old album covers to match with the theme of BRAT. Personally, her marketing for this record was genius as she created her own template that others could use to make jokes about to further promote the album. My personal favorite tracks are “Club classics”, “B2b”, “365”,
and, off of her deluxe album, “Spring Breakers.” Another honorable mention released is “So I” which served as a heartfelt and emotional track as she mourns the death of pop-star SOPHIE. I saw her perform this live at the Billboard Women in Music award show back in March, when BRAT was just forming. On June 21st, Charli announced that she is collaborating with Lorde on the new remix of “Girl, so confusing.” When Charli released this track off of BRAT, fans speculated that the song was about the singer, Lorde. Charli wrote about her struggles about if the two are friends anymore in the lyrics of the song. When the two singers collaborated, it was momentous as they resolved their internet feud over a song. A famous line from the song is “Lets work it out on the remix” as it shows each singer’s humor built into the lyrics. One significant way #bratsummer blew up, with Charli’s collaboration with Billie Eilish with the song “Guess.” The song was produced by upcoming star “The Dare” who is now getting his solo career started. The track contained Charli’s and Billie’s verses followed with a monumental beat drop with the two artists singing together in the end. Guess peaked at #12 on the Billboard hot 100.
On July 22, Charli XCX tweeted “Kamala IS brat.” This event shaped half of Kamala’s campaign as fans were making “Von Dutch” edits of Kamala
Harris. This post received nine million views in less than four hours. Charli XCX explains BRAT as “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes.” One of the most popular songs off of the album, that inspired
a dance, was the song “Apple.” Surprisingly “Apple” almost didn’t make the final tracklist in the end.
Past and Upcoming Concerts of Atlanta
You’re probably familiar with Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan but some new artists you heard this summer might include Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX and Benson Boone. Atlanta had a boom of concerts this summer with country, pop and rap coming to town like Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Olivia Rodrigo, Tate McRae and many more. Sophomore Ella Reagan Roth said Zach Bryan was her artist of the summer after she attended his concert at Mercedes Benz and listened to “Nine Ball” on repeat. Another sophomore, Carlin Beaver’s favorite concert this summer was Maroon Five, which she saw in North Carolina in June. Popular venues for artists this summer were Ameris Bank Amphitheater, Mercedes Benz and Truist Park. Freshman Audrey Jordan’s favorite concert was the Zach Brown Band at Mercedes Benz with Kenny Chesney, Megan Moroney, and Uncle Kracker. A great album that came out this summer was Megan Moroney’s “Am I Ok?” which blew up on TikTok. Her title track quickly became the most popular as an upbeat, happy song.
Many Pace students attented Zach Byran’s “Quittin Time” tour in Early
Many Pace students were disappointed when Music Midtown canceled for this fall but there are so many concerts to look forward to in Atlanta like Ice Spice, Billie Eilish and Post Malone. Some of these concerts will take place at The Coca-Cola Roxy, Chastain Amphitheater, and State Farm Arena. State Farm is hosting many popular
artists such as P!NK, Billie Elish, Mariah Carey, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter. Sophomore Eloise McDonald said she is “most excited to see Justin Timberlake at State Farm” this November.
Even if you can’t go to a concert, don’t worry because a lot of albums have come out this fall with more still on the horizon.
Post Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” and Sabrina Carpenters’ “Short n’ Sweet” are at the top of the charts. “Short n Sweet” had hit singles such as “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”. Many people enjoy listening to Sabrina Carpenter as she can be recognized from her early Disney days. Junior Bella Goings said, “I love Sabrina Carpenter and
her new album is the best one yet.” A few big names dropping albums in early October are Coldplay, Joe Jonas, and Joni Mitchell. This summer was one of great concerts and music for Atlanta and Pace kids. With many albums and artists coming to town, it’s a good year for Music Midtown to be on hiatus.
Charli XCX poses in front of her new album BRAT
August.
Photo credit:
Eloise MMcDonald
Photo: Instagram
Getting Well and Setting Goals
Going back to school can be overwhelming for anyone, especially students going to a new campus or school entirely. Luckily, no matter the classes they take or extra-curricular activities they participate in, every student can apply these basic habits in their everyday lives. Good habits go hand-in-hand with reaching goals. Striving for growth and self-discipline in small everyday habits are the keys to success in high school.
Some find this first habit easy and prioritize it, and others find it very difficult: sleep. The human body’s most important healthy habits are eating, sleeping, and drinking. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers between ages 13-18 should get eight to ten hours of sleep per night. As for eating and drinking, lacking proper nutrition and dehydration can greatly affect a student’s performance. Consuming a range of vitamins, healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates is optimal for brain and body productivity.
Many students don’t feel hungry or thirsty when they wake up in the mornings, and some don’t eat a sufficient amount of food until noon. Skipping breakfast is a big mistake,
while a very common one. Ideally, one should drink 20 ounces of water within the first 30 minutes of waking, and eat a break-
fast rich with carbohydrates, for energy, and fruits, for the right vitamins to start their day. Exercise also fuels the brain and
body. Most students play sports, but those who don’t can miss out on the benefits of exercise. “Exercise improves mood… boosts
energy… and promotes better sleep,” the Mayo Clinic reports. Even a quick 20-minute walk before starting one’s homework helps increase focus and brain productivity. Balancing homework and planning ahead are the key to success. To achieve one’s goals, students must practice these habits on a daily basis. Students are often asked to set goals in the beginning of the year, but most teachers never explain how to get there. Reaching a big goal is simply the result of daily discipline with seemingly tedious habits.
Starting small is key. If a student knows they don’t possess the time-management skill, they should first buy a pocket-sized planner. From there, they can begin to lay the groundwork for great time-management and planning skills they could even reach by the end of the year. The phrase, “get 1% better each day, and only 1%,” from the book Atomic Habits, by James Clear, has helped many students set and strive toward their goals. The best thing to do is set attainable and maintainable goals. Think: reasonable and realistic. Everyone’s goals will be different, tailored to their own schedule, interests, and capabilities. Therefore, goals shouldn’t be compared, and each student should consistently strive to meet their own, achieving big success, using the aforementioned small, daily habits to get there.
New Podcasts Break Records on Streaming Platforms
Podcast listeners have doubled in the last five years! So far in 2024, 504 million people have listened to a podcast. The growth of podcasts over the last few years is due to three main aspects. Podcasts offer wide accessibility, a personal connection, and a sense of community.
“The Joe Rogan Experience” is the number one podcast across all platforms this year. Other popular podcasts in 2024 include “New Heights”, “Crime Junkie” and “Smartless”. “The Joe Rogan Experience” is hosted by Joe Rogan who discusses current events, comedy and athletics with celebrity guests. Joe Rogan has been a comedian for over 30 years and has a passion for MMA.
In early August Adam Sandler made a guest appearance on an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience”. They discussed their shared experience of becoming a standup comedian and Adam Sandler talks about the process of making a movie, specifically his new movie “Happy Gilmore 2”.
Next, “New Heights” is hosted by brothers Jason and Travis Kelce. Both are NFL players; Jason who is now retired played for the Eagles and Travis currently plays for the Chiefs. In the podcast they discuss
updates and insight information on the NFL as well as other pop culture news with guest appearances. The most recent episode kicks off the third season of the podcast where Jason and Travis are joined by guest appearance Adam Sandler to talk about his new movie “Happy Gilmore 2”.
Travis discusses the Chiefs training camp and Jason describes his time in Paris watching the 2024 summer Olympics.
Hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, “Crime Junkie” is a true-crime podcast covering new murders, missing people and serial killer cases. Ashley Flowers is the CEO of audiochuck and a number one New York Times Bestseller.
Brit Prawat has experience working with a private investigator and the two of them team up to bring true-crime stories every Monday. Senior Lena Levings states “I love listening to podcasts every single day. I learn so much while also gettig things done whilst listening. Everyone has to listen!”
In one episode in mid August Ashley and Brit discussed the stories of Ben McDaniel and Kenneth Plaisted. Ben McDaniel disappeared in an underwater cave in 2010 and Kenneth Plaisted disappeared outside of his daughter’s apartment in 1971. Ashley and Brit discuss the facts of these mysterious and unsolved disappearances, addressing the different conspiracies on each case.
“Smartless”, hosted by comedic actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will
Arnett, is a comedy podcast with guest celebrity appearances every week. The three Holly-
less, a top podcast this year, features Jason Batewood stars are long-term friends. Earlier this year “Smartless” invited Selena Gomez to talk
about her roles in the TV and music industries as well as her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty. The popular podcasts in 2024 offer a wide range of interest for everyone.
Podcasts are popular among all communities including the Pace community. Two Pace
students discuss their favorite podcasts. Sophomore Piper Guilbert says “My favorite podcast is Therapuss with Jake Shane who is a comedian and actor. He interviews people about current trends and pop culture events.”
Sophomore Ella Reagan Roth says “I really like the podcast dropouts with Zach Justice and
Tara Yummy. It is so funny and I love listening to it.” The Pace community among many others enjoy a wide variety of podcasts.
Photo: Kennon Defrancis
Sophomore Lucy Fleming gets her work done in the library.
Photo: Spotify
man, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett.
Pace Fall Sports Make Successful Return
Football
Led by head coach, Coach Bach, the Pace Academy football team strives to make some noise this year in the state playoffs. The Knights have gone back to back years making the playoffs, but coming up short of victory in the first round. With intense training, and new staff hires they are looking to change that for this year. New coaches, Mark Sommerville II, Gary Wilkins, Tim Coleman, Pat Markwalter, Brian Miller, and Tres Houston, aim to guide the Knights to a successful season. Not only did Coach Bach bring in new coaches, but he also brought in new players that are excited to make a difference for this program. “We have a lot of new guys this year, and with new coaches as well we are going to be pretty good,” said Junior Roan Dutta. “It’s a different mentality this year; we are working harder at practice and we are looking really aggressive,” Dutta Said. In the Knight’s first game, they were successful with a game winning field goal by Dutta. “From the stands, it was a really fun time that first game,” Junior Dylan Nelson said. “Rain came down, but that only got the student section more into the game. They even gave the student section the game ball.” During the Knights game winning drive, Sophomore Quarterback Kaden Harley was extremely successful throwing the ball downfield. “Things were not looking good for me after the first half, but when I got back on the field and started completing passes it was the best feeling ever,” Harley said. “Seeing all the fans and their support was so rewarding.” After a rainy and successful first game the Knights played Buckhead rival Westminster. Although they
fell short to the Westminster Wildcats, their season is looking very promising with many games ahead.
Cheerleading
Head Coach and Pace First Grade teacher, Jordan Lee, leads the Pace Cheerleading team to another successful year. In the past couple of years, they have brought a lot of energy to the football games with some of their remarkable cheers.
playoffs, the Knights Cheerleading team strives to support them along the way.
Cross Country
The Knight’s cross country team who is led by Coach Julie and Steve Cunningham looks to win more state titles this year. In past years, they have been extremely successful at both regional and state events with many championships and trophies. “Last year I had a lot
Coach Catherine Monroe, the Knights are under fantastic leadership. They have been extremely successful in past years winning state championships year after year. The team is led by two seniors, Elowyn Allen and Sabrina Agharkar. “We are going to be very good this year and have a lot of good people on the team,” Junior Britton McGurn said before the season. “I think we are going to go undefeated.” Although the Knights fell short to Pope, they have been
They are best known for their Rock with the White and Roll with the Blue chant. In a recent game against Westminster, the Knights Cheerleaders’ brought the Do It chant to the stands. “The student section didn’t stop asking for more of them,” Junior Brooke Forester said. “It almost got tiring because they loved it so much.” All four grades are represented throughout the cheerleading team, but they are led by seniors, Cami Crumbley, Cassidy Davis, Taylor Hastie, Meghan Keller, Ella Lynch, Abigail Richmon, Amelia Rucker, and Madison Williams. With high hopes of the Football team being victorious in their
of fun and a lot of good runs,” said Junior Iliyan Hajiaini. They have practices in both the mornings and afternoons where they improve their stamina to prepare for early Saturday morning races. “We have to leave football games early to get to sleep,” said Junior Gabi Swartz. As the meets go on, and the Knights work on their craft, they have high hopes for winning region, making it to state, and then winning state.
Volleyball
The Pace volleyball team aims for their 8th state championship in a row. Coached by
undefeated since with a record of 11-1. “That loss was not fun, but we are going to work harder and use that as motivation,” Junior Lawson Monroe said. As the season progresses they are getting better and preparing for another state championship run.
Softball
Knights softball is having a fantastic start to the season. Freshman, Katie Wrigley, has been making a name for herself through her accolades so far. Coach Miller leads the team along with seniors, Kate Grice, Anna Kate Howell, and Livie Lynch. They compete at the
Knights Riverview Athletic complex in Mableton, Georgia, and travel to other games against other teams in the state. Although she is not playing this year, Senior Ryan Wrigley loves to support her sisters Katie and Meghan on the softball field. “I decided not to play this year, but I am so proud of my sisters for all they are doing and the team looks really good this year,” Ryan Wrigley said.
ESports
This year, the E-sports team is participating in Chess, League of Legends, and Super Smash Bros. Junior Doyle Rona and Senior AJ Conduah have been recognized for their abilities in Super Smash Bros. “Super Smash Bros is my favorite game, I have been playing for a while, but it’s nice to play for a trophy,” Rona said. The E-Sports team is led by Upper School Computer Science Teacher Mr. Charlie Bryant. They will travel to tournaments to compete against other high school teams.
Pace Club Sports
Both Water Polo and Mountain Biking are Pace’s fall club sports. Coach Ty Nicholson along with Juniors Noah Eisenman, Issac Finn, and Mason Gregory lead the team. “Biking is a passion of mine and the team is really cool here for me,” Gregory said. They compete in Biking meets all over Georgia to compete individually and as a team. The Water Polo team is led by Coach John Ague and competes in weekend matches against other local schools. “I absolutely love this team and all the fun that we have,” said Senior Henry Bryan. Two years ago, they competed in the water polo championship and just fell short. This year they look to return to that game and win a state trophy.
Fantasy Football Takes Hold of Pace Community
For football fans, watching games is an awesome experience, but when you have players competing for your benefit, the thrill is unmatched. Fantasy football, while nerve racking and sometimes stressful, is a great way to achieve that thrill. Before the National Football League (NFL) starts, fantasy teams are drafted through either an auction or snake fashion. For snake drafts, even though teams with lower draft picks are often compensated later in the draft, leagues may have competitions to earn your draft spot. “I think that the draft order should be a combine,” said Junior Bobby Hanna. Most leagues are extremely competitive as there is usually an incentive to winning the league, a punishment for losing the league, and sometimes a punishment for a poor week’s performance. Leagues with a winning cash prize have a buy in fee that is usually around 30 dollars. “The best part about winning wasn’t the cash prize, it was the bragging rights,” Senior Ak-
shay Tolmare said. As awesome as it is to win the league, you feel like a winner if you don’t lose the league. Even if there is no punishment, the embarrassment that you carry is the worst feeling ever. “I [had] to complete my punishment for last year’s league before I [could] draft my
team for this year,” said Senior Thomson Brumfield. “As much as I don’t want to do the punishment, I am more disappointed in my performance,” Brumfield said before his punishment. “I don’t know what the punishment will be for next year, but I don’t want anything to do with it,”
said Senior Drew Thompson. After the draft, participants are each convinced that they are going to win the league, but they often are involved in trading with other teams. Some leagues require that you are involved in trade. “If you aren’t open to trading, you will be kicked [out of the league],” said Junior Alston Mallis. Throughout the season, participants trash talk each other and rivalries are formed. “We are all very competitive, so tensions rise during the season,” said Sophomore Chris Lee. As the season progresses, playoff pictures come into play. Leagues’ playoffs vary, but you don’t want to miss the playoffs. “Missing the playoffs is embarrassing more than anything,” Junior Dylan Nelson said. Fantasy football is a thrilling, nerve racking, and stressful experience that can result in delight or embarrassment.
Pace Knights take the field lead by senoir Cooper Williams
Photo: Fred Assaf
The Arizona Cardinals prepare to take the field.
Photo: Fantasy SixPack