2021 Senior Edition by Portage Northern Light

REDEFINING THEIR SUCCESS after a tumultuous and unexpected year, seniors advance with positivity as they redefine what they want their success to be 1000 Idaho Ave. Portage, MI 49024

volume 51 issue 2

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Table of Contents

Redeﬁning Success

On the Cover Design by Kylie Cli�on This focus for the 2021 senior edition was to seek positivity amongst a tragic year. Students redefined their own success through this difficult year. The cover portrays three students leaving Portage Northern embarking on their own individual paths. This unusual year allowed students to find their own measure of happiness and success within themselves. This cover portrays this message in an abstract and relatable way. As when students leave the doors of Portage Northern their future and success is finally measured only by themselves.

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@Portage Northern Light

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Music department celebrates 3 seniors in band, orchestra, choir

SENIOR EDITION 2021

Policies at the Northern Light The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open, designated public forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body. In accordance with best practice for student media, the Northern Light is not prior reviewed by administration. Building and district administration do, however, reserve the right to oversee the paper if necessary to ensure that the mission and vision of Portage Public Schools and the safety of students and staff are maintained. As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publication, the Northern Light adheres

to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use, or part of the public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission. It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editor and guest contributions, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350 words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.129, emailed to pnhsNorthernLight@ gmail.com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024.

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Dear Readers

NL Staff Editorial Staff Kylie Clifton, Liam Fagan - Co Editors in Chief Katie Knight - Creative Editor Kellie Miles - Photographer Natalie Grinder - Digital Media Manager Arushi Mithal - Feature Editor Cerena Read - Entertainment Editor Maya Daniels - Opinion Editior Astrid Code - News Editor Jackson Barnard - Sports Editor

Staff Writers Lucy Madelung Matti Endres Chloe Malik Gavin Garner Ryan McCune Mariah Gresham Miles Slocum Aailya Motiwala Libby Ertl Olivia Coughlin Lizzie Sheldon Chloe Clark-Phillip Gavin Bartlam

A�er a surprise end, sports captains celebrate the journey

Sloan Markin Avery Bogemann Ari Coleman Allie Miller Kai Pennington Bryana Quick Emily Macaulay

Hey Huskies! We are beyond excited to bring you the Class of 2021 senior edition. This year has been one with new challenges, but also tremendous areas of celebration growth and of individuality. We’re so thankful to be able not just to write for Portage Northern, but celebrate and represent the Huskies. It’s been an honor for us seniors to write for this paper and this school for the past four years. This year presented special challenges for us as a paper, but we were still determined to put out the best product we could for you.

It’s been a difficult year for everyone, and we all wish we could have put out more work for you guys, but we know that this final Senior Edition is the best send-off we could have hoped to put together. Throughout the pandemic, this year’s senior class has persevered and worked through one of the most difficult academic years we could imagine. We finally made it, and this edition reflects that. Seniors, we’re so proud of you, thank you for reading and allowing us to celebrate you!

From your Co-editors in Chief,

Kylie Clifton and Liam Fagan

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

FEATURE

redefining success

By Arushi Mithal and Lizzie Sheldon happiness

personal growth power

raduation is a time to celebrate the successes of the senior class, and for many, that includes the traditional markers of success: a high GPA, a high school diploma, scholarships, and admission to a highly selective college to pursue a lucrative career, all of which were achieved no matter the social, emotional, and physical toll. Increasingly, however, students are using different metrics to define “success.” The traditional trifecta Previously, time and time again, it never fails to enter into people’s minds that success is a trifecta of money, power and fame. As a society, wealth always seems to be the number one concern for whether people are going to

money

live a beneficial life. Everyone has heard the common saying, “money makes the world go around,” and while that statement is true to the extent of survival and possibly contentment, people start to blur the lines when power is involved. Society makes people believe that if you aren’t rich, then you won’t be respected. It is an unhealthy mindset to have because if society continues to crave more and more, then everything will end up becoming worthless. If we aren’t able to appreciate what we are able to obtain in our lifetimes, then the dissatisfaction will make us think our life is purposeless. Not everyone can be famous, or powerful or wealthy. Success should not be the light at the end of a dark tunnel, but rather, the tunnel should be lit up with smaller

SENIOR EDITION 2021

self-actualization fame

accomplishments to achieve along the way. Completing what one deems as a goal does not have to be an isolating task where you end up blocking everything and everyone out, or at the end, you’ll just be left wondering “was it worth it?” Society is often materialistic and can seem rather superficial. It is often viewed that those with more tangible possessions are happier, but even minimalists lead happy lives. Material goods and money can be a product of your success, however that’s not a defining factor in whether or not a person believes they have achieved true personal success. Wealth shouldn’t be defined as an obtainment and collection of money because at the end of the day, it is something expendable and replaceable. What should be worth a lot are the aspects in a per-

Design By son’s life that are valuable to them, such as friends and family.

Astrid Code

nior Kairi Martin. “Earlier centuries might have simply defined life success as being famous or rich, and while that may bring a lot of material satisfaction, it doesn’t necessarily equal emotional fulfillment in everyone’s mind.”

felt the pressures of societal success. “When I was trying to decide what I wanted to do after graduation. . . How the idea of success has shifted I felt pressured to pursue a job that throughout the 21st century would make lots of money and have lots of prestige.” However, when Evolution is fundamental in soshe took a step back, she realized ciety. Throughout the 21st century, that for her, she felt truly successful many have actually felt that people Our society has been and is still when she passed her math class last are evolving into humans that place continuing becoming more inclu- year. “Math had always been hard less importance on material assets sive for people who choose non- for me, but last year was the worst, such as money and reputation in traditional career stops such as especially with the pandemic,” she the eyes of your peers. Advanced university and still achieving that shares. Psychology teacher Brett McNeal everlasting sense of fulfillment. For senior Lola Winn, the term says, ¨I think that we have evolved “Success I believe was originally de- success for her means “achieving into a knowledge and service based fined by monetary gains, but now I something that makes you happy society, so taking the appropriate believe it has shifted to more of how after a lot of hard work.” Winn isn’t steps to participate in that economy each individual defines their own exactly sure what she wants to do would to an extent define success.¨ success,” says senior Julia Colarossi. in her life, but she wants to live a Going beyond the city of Portage, life that makes her happy. “. . . I reit seems that the nation as a whole What success really means to us ally just want to get a good job that is now more inclined to define sucI like, while finding time to travel cess according to their own perThese days, it seems people are fi- and do other things that make me sonal standards. Gallup Polls says, nally understanding that success is happy.” “The average personal success score a concept for them to personally deIt took Winn a while to accept the is 68 (on a 100-point scale), while fine for themselves. For senior Jai- fact that people don’t always know the average perceived societal what to do with their life success score is 31.” McNeal “Success should not be the light at the after high school, and for a seems to agree with these im- end of a dark tunnel, but rather, the tun- long time, she felt like they plications, stating, “I think it is nel should be lit up with smaller accom- needed to make a hurried difficult, because if you asked decision. “High school can plishments to achieve along the way.” most people they would likely make you feel like you have say the accumulation of wealth to have your entire life figand the material culture associated me Sackett, success is “accomplish- ured out by the time you graduate in with it. I would define it (success) in ing something you wanted to do. . order to be successful in adulthood. the more holistic way with a focus . success can be anything that you Still being uncertain at this time can on personal growth and perhaps feel proud of achieving.” With this feel very stressful,” she says. Even achieving self-actualization.” in mind, Sackett was able to find her though Winn is still uncertain about As career decision stress runs passions and even map out where the future, she still acknowledges high in upperclassmen students, she would like to go in the future. her personal accomplishments durmany adolescents possess a similar “I’m really passionate about science, ing high school. “I’ve managed to ideology despite engaging in dif- music, and writing. My goals are to keep my grades up throughout all of ficult coursework and seemingly attend college and then hopefully high school while balancing a ton of life altering examination scores. ¨I a graduate school. In the future, I activities that I love.” would say success means that you want to have a job that allows me to Overall, the true meaning of sucare satisfied and happy with achiev- have a positive impact on my com- cess is different for everyone, so for ing or even just making progress munity.” you personally, what’s your definitowards an end result,” shares juSackett has expressed that she has tion of success?

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

OPINION

Dear Underclassmen, Our class has been...unique to say the least. We might have -infamously- not been able to conjure up the motivation to sing the fight song on the first day of school, and our test scores and attendance at school events may have left something to be desired. One thing that we are experts at, though, is surviving high school. Not only did we do it, but we did it during one of the most challenging times in recent history. Here’s what we learned. Nothing is permanent. No matter how comfortable you are, how long you’ve known your friends, how well it’s going with your significant other…be ready for change. Even more than that, learn to roll with it when it happens. It can be really easy to get emotionally set back by something unexpected, but change is a necessary part of growing up, even if it’s uncomfortable. Most of the time, you will spend time mourning the loss of something only to find out that it’s better for you that it’s gone. Every time a door closes, start looking for the next one that’s open. Be yourself. People are always going to expect you to act, think, and feel a certain way. If you’re not careful, eventually you’ll start to believe that if you don’t fit into this mold, you’re defective in some way. This is simply not true, and you honestly don’t have the time or the energy to be concerned with pleasing everyone all the time. Nobody has to walk in your shoes but you. Be however unique, exciting, strange or mysterious as you want to be, just make sure that you are always 100% you. Ask for help. Asking for help is a major difficulty for many, but you shouldn’t feel like you can’t ask for help because the adults in your life are meant to guide and support you, so make sure to talk to them whenever you cannot understand something. You deserve to feel assurance in what you are doing and know that you are not wrong for needing help. Do not be embarrassed. Celebrate the little things. High school can be difficult, especially since it feels like there is a single, streamlined path to reaching the end. It might feel this way, but it’s not, and life isn’t either. The world has as many different paths as there are different people, so if your way forward looks or feels different, that’s ok. Celebrate your successes, the things that matter to you, and the goals you’ve worked hard to achieve. It doesn’t matter if you’re the only one cheering: sometimes nobody else knows what you went through before enough to understand or appreciate where you are now. Try everything. Take this time to try new things and learn more about yourself. You have your entire life ahead of you to be stressed and worry about stuff. Join the club you heard about on announcements; sign up for that school trip. Even if you find out that gardening club is not your thing and you end up getting sick on the school trip, it’s something that you otherwise would have missed out on, and even if it sucks now, you can look back on your memories of highschool and laugh about it. And who knows maybe you try something and end up loving it, you never know. Remember, you’re still a kid. No matter how much you might sometimes think you want to be an adult, you’re not yet, and you should take advantage of that fact. You will have the rest of your life to be endlessly stressed out and you won’t always have a say in the matter. You do now. Make choices about how you spend your time these four years that allow you to be happy and healthy. Nurture your passions, not the expectations of others. “The real world” isn’t a place that you have to be right now, and that’s a gift. Live in the moment. Take advantage of every opportunity that you have to enjoy this time. Find the team or the friends that you want to spend time with and have as much fun with them as possible. Say yes to last-minute plans. Take pictures. Ask your parents to hang out once in a while. These will truly be the four fastest years of your life so far, even if sometimes it may seem like it’s going slowly. Before you know it, it will be senior year and freshman year will feel like just yesterday and you will realize that it will have all happened so quickly that all you’ll want to do is have more time. So there you have it, underclassmen. That’s all we have to offer. The halls we walked for four years are officially yours now; make them your own. After this crazy year, be together as much as you can, don’t take anything for granted, and don’t wish this time away. Oh, and one more thing...never think you’re too cool to sing the fight song.

Sincerely, 5

SENIOR EDITION 2021

NL Seniors

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I’m so glad I didn’ t do the IB Diploma By Olivia Coughlin

remember sophomore year like it was yesterday—the friends, the drama, the class Shakespeare readings. However, what sticks out to me the most about this year was the sudden overwhelming feeling I had when I first had to actually look at and talk about colleges. I remember going to PN’s college visits, visiting college websites, and googling college stats to view my chances of getting in. I was so stressed, in fact, that I contacted my counselor and asked her for an appointment so that I could ask my questions. After our conversation, I was absolutely certain that I had to get the IB diploma to have any chance of getting into a good school. Fast forward to my junior year and four IB classes, a parttime job, and copious amounts of standardized testing. At first, the workload was manageable. I’d leave school, go to work, come home, and complete the work that I needed to do for class the next day sometime before the sun came up again. It was like this for weeks: school, work, homework, sleep, repeat. I hadn’t noticed the toll it was taking on me until a crisp day in late October. I was in my car on the way to work when I realized that the leaves outside had turned into beautiful shades of orange and yellow. I remember thinking to myself, when did this happen? I had been excitedly noting autumn’s annual arrival with my mom every year since I was a small child, but that year, in the fall of 2019, I hadn’t even had the time to notice. That realization would be a harbinger of things to come. As time passed, my academic workload got heavier, finally reaching a level where I no longer felt like I could be a good student and a healthy person at

the same time. Ultimately, I made the decision to drop my IB 20th century history class after a lot of conversation with my parents. Neither of my parents really understood the idea of the IB diploma, but my step-dad had a particularly negative attitude towards it. I remember him telling me from the beginning that I didn’t have to do the diploma in order to be successful, but I brushed it off every time. As it turns out, removing just that one class from my schedule wouldn’t be enough. After surviving multiple huge, simultaneously-assigned projects in my remaining IB classes and the mental, physical, and emotional breakdowns that followed, I finally made the decision to completely drop the IB diploma and only continue with IB classes that applied to my actual passions and interests. It was the best decision I could have made. With the weight of the IB diploma off my shoulders, I entered my senior year not just with a sense of relief, but with a renewed confidence. I earned a high GPA and a great SAT score, and I was able to get into every college I applied to, some with scholarships. Could I have finished the diploma? Sure. Would it have been worth it? I’ll never have to wonder. I’m going to the same college that was my motivation for pursuing the IB diploma in the first place, and more importantly, I’m happy. In light of the last year, that is an accomplishment in and of itself, but there’s more. There’s peace, there’s pride, and there’s power in the knowledge that I can make difficult decisions that are in my best interest, and I couldn’t ask for greater affirmation than that.

Why? Kat Knapp: I took enough IB classes to get the diploma, but I didn’t actually go for it because I didn’t want to spend so much time on the Extended Essay, which seemed to be stressing a lot of people out. I also didn’t have to take ToK, which freed up time in my schedule for other classes. Judson Fargo: I did IB classes but not the diploma. I am happy with that decision. That college I am attending only accepts HL credits. Also, it allowed for some flexibility in my schedule, which the requirements for the diploma did not. Michael Arciniega: I’m pretty glad that I had the chance to take IB classes without having to do the full diploma. It gave me the opportunity to take other challenging classes (AP) that I could potentially get credits for college for while also being able to take a mix of IB classes and other classes as well. Bryan Shaw: I decided not to do the IB Diploma simply because it was too stressful and it allowed me to explore myself throughout the year. I somewhat regret it because of college admissions, but it also made me happy as well because I got to discover myself a bit more and am happy about that!

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

FEATURE

Design By Design By Katie MayaKnight Daniels

Adding up to success

By Miles Slocum

“My favorite part about math is the satisfaction of getting a problem right because it feels rewarding,” said 2021 math department senior award winner Jack Eiden. This award is given to a senior that shows dedication and passion for math. “We looked for the student that had the desire to understand the math concepts in class and not simply just do well for a grade,” said Eiden’s former math teacher Nicole Powell. “As a department, we start by looking at the students who have pursued a higher level of math here at Portage Northern High School. These are students that have taken 4 years of math within the department.” Eiden has been in advanced math classes all four years of his high school career at Northern, choosing to stay in-house as opposed to taking courses with KAMSC and excelling even when learning became virtual. “Jack didn’t miss a beat being virtual,” said his current math teacher Jim Long. “His participation was great. . .even though we weren’t face to face for most of the year, I could tell he still held himself to a high standard of learning and pushed himself to excel in class.”

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Eiden’s former math teachers describe his positive, upbeat attitude and devotion to the subject as reasons for his selection for the award. “Jack has a positive, upbeat attitude that helped make class enjoyable for all!” said Powell, who also shared that Eiden could often be found helping his classmates. Long noticed the same investment in others, sharing that, “Jack was always willing to help re-explain concepts to peers that needed that extra little bit of help.” One thing that stood out to Eiden’s sophomore year math teacher Randy Hebner was his ability to excel not just in math. “Jack did a great job staying on top of the schoolwork while also excelling in extracurricular activities,” he said. Sometimes, those extra curricular activities crossed paths with the classroom. “The first time Jack was on camera at the beginning of the year, he was practicing his golf putting in his room,” Long remembered. “I found this rather humorous and was quite impressed he could perform differentiation while lining up a 6-foot putt.” Out of all of the different kinds of math he has studied, calculus

SENIOR EDITION 2021Light Portage Northern

is Eiden’s favorite. “Calculus is applicable to the real world,” he explained. “I think it is most applicable to STEM professions. I foresee myself using calculus as a computer science major and in my future job.” In addition to a favorite area, Eiden also has a favorite teacher: “My favorite math teacher is Mrs. Powell because she made math fun and made me smarter,” he said. “She made me smarter in the sense that she allowed me to visualize the process of solving equations. She is so good at solving mathematical problems, and watching her solve these problems rubbed off on me.” Being in Powell’s class was even one of the most memorable parts of high school. “The class environment was so enjoyable because I had a huge friend group in it,” he said. “Mrs. Powell allowed us to be ourselves, and she was super easy going. She made the class environment productive and enjoyable at the same time.” Eiden will take his next, but certainly not last, math class this fall when he continues his education at the University of Michigan.

FEATURE

Design By Katie Maya Knight Daniels

Element of surprise Christian Ertl wins science award

“My immediate reaction was just a wave of calm after waiting in anticipation for the past few weeks to hear the results,” said senior Christian Ertl about winning the science department award. After 10 students were nominated to write essays on what science means to them, Ertl was finally announced as the winner at the senior Academic Awards ceremony. “Every science teacher can nominate students for the award, but I was the nominating teacher for Christian,” said Michelle Mason, Ertl’s IB Chemistry teacher of 2 years. “I chose him because he has high aptitude in science and shows a great personal interest and passion in really understanding how the particle level of the universe works.” Ertl has always loved science from an early age. “I first became interested in science in first grade. We were doing an egg drop, and for whatever reason eggs not breaking peaked my interest,” he said. “I like the idea that there is something that can explain something as small as an atom, and as big as a galaxy. I’ve always loved being blown away by facts about things I interact with every day.” As an IB diploma candidate, Ertl has had to work hard mastering multiple college level courses, especially with online school providing new challenges. This year, he completed his Extended Essay in chemistry, which required upwards of 100 hours of lab time to collect data on a water-purification powder. “Christian’s passion for science is for chemistry. I think the fact that he chose to complete his Extended Essay in chemistry and do so with a lab-based project in the midst of at-home learning demonstrates that,” said Mason, who was his essay advisor. In addition to hours spent alone in the lab, Ertl has made a strong commitment to

By Astrid Code

engage in class and help others whenever he can. “Christian has gone above and beyond by doing all of the extra as a student … helping others, staying late, attending voluntary classes and Meets, and being so engaged and active in learning chemistry. He also joined the Science Olympiad team days before a competition to sub in for a missing student,” said Mason. Ertl’s involvement in Science Olympiad shows his passion for science and willingness to go above and beyond to help out. “Science Olympiad is a bit of a funny story, the team this year had a lot of conflicts with times and I was taken on as an alternate for a competition and the finals. I’d say my favorite part of doing it has got to be the ridiculous things that we have to do for the events. Like having to make an “engine” out of pop-cans and water,” he said. He plans to attend Ferris State University to pursue a doctorate of pharmacy. “I decided on pharmacy because of my love for chemistry, and my wanting to make advancements in the world with my career,” said Ertl. Talking to a pharmacist at one of PN’s career fair days during his junior year helped spark his passion. “He came back from the science and engineering fair so excited about having talked to the pharmacist, being very interested in the idea of chemistry helping people,” said Mason. “He told me then that he knew he wanted to go to college for pharmacy with such conviction, and I could see his excitement.” “Ertl is one of the most honest and trustworthy people I know. He is always composed and mature when he should be,” said senior Stephen Loparo, Ertl’s classmate since elementary school. “The science department award is meant for a curious, hardworking, and emotionally intelligent student, and that is why it went to Christian Ertl.”

“I chose him because he has high aptitude in science and shows a great personal interest and passion in really understanding how the particle level of the universe works.” - Michelle Mason

In order to complete his extended essay for IB Chemistry, Ertl had to spend dozens of hours in the lab, often alone. “I would estimate he spent at least 60 lab hours in the lab, by himself, on his own time in order to see his project through,” said his advisor Mi-

“He told me then that he knew he wanted to go to college for pharmacy with such conviction, and I could see his excitement.” - Michelle Mason

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM March 2021 8

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REVIEW

A year This was a year unlike any other, and we all experienced it differently. Our hope is that you will respond to the prompts below in writing, and then look back on

them at a point in the future and see how you’ve grown and changed as you remember completing your senior year during a time that changed the world.

ning about virtual lear What I liked most

What did Covid change about your school year?

Quarantine playlist (music, streaming TV, etc) My top 3 quarantine activities

What surprised me most about everyone's response to the pandemic

What I missed most about going to school

Senior Edition 2021

One way that th is school year ben efited me

FEATURE

in review. rs were: My favorite teache

Someday, I hope to:

My favorite clas s

was:

My best friends are:

Who are you?

My biggest goal in life it:

portagenorthernlight.com

FEATURE

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Music department celebrates 3 seniors in band, orchestra, choir By Ari Coleman

Marlow Underwood was honored with the Orchestra award.

Jason Koch was honored with the Choir award. Voice has always

Emily Voss was honored with the Band award. Voss first joined the

band in sixth grade to satisfy a middle school credit, but she quickly discovered that she loved not just music, but the people that music brought into her life. “My middle school band director Ms. Holso basically inspired me to continue with it all of these years,” she explains. Band director Josh Bartz, who presented Voss with the award, holds her in high esteem. “To say that she has ‘made an impact’ on our department is the understatement of the evening,” he shared at the awards ceremony. “All the way back to 7th grade, when she very succinctly let Miss Holso know she wanted to be a band director, she has been making gains to that end. Whatever needed to be done, she was ready, willing, and able.” In high school, Voss sought out extra opportunities to grow, participating in the teacher cadet program and the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony to continue to develop as a teacher and performer. She also participated consistently in district and state solo and ensemble competitions, even when they had to be virtual. “She is the type of student that simply with her presence in an ensemble, everyone around her performs better,” Bartz shares. Voss is headed to Western Michigan University where she will double major in music education and french horn performance.

SENIOR EDITION 2021

been a big part of Koch’s life: when he was a child, choir was always around him and theater and musical productions became his second home. “[Voice] was my instrument,” he says. That instrument served him well, and early on he discovered that he had perfect pitch. “My ear could hear and tell what note it was and what sound it was supposed to make,” he explains. Despite Koch’s talent, his love of choir now comes from the person that it has helped him become: “It helped me find my voice and use it to help me to express myself figuratively through the music and lyrically as a person,” he says. “I also learned leadership and collaborative effort and teamwork skills and used those going further into college.” Choir director Rose Hellmers helped nominate Koch after working with him for the last two years. She recalls meeting him for the first time: “I liked how he asked questions and pushed himself to understand more about music,” she says. “What’s stood out time and again is his work ethic. He’s a talented singer, but he also works incredibly hard to get better. That’s a trait that will serve him well!” Hellmers also appreciates Koch’s teamwork. “He’s a fantastic leader who serves others well and tirelessly and still finds time to take on additional musical projects to stretch his own capabilities further.” Koch will be furthering his passion for music at the University of Michigan - one of the top musical theatre schools in the country. Photos courtesy of Emily Voss, Marlow Underwood, and Jason Koch.

Underwood’s love for orchestra began in the sixth grade when they decided to pick up the violin. Seven years later, Underwood’s love for music hasn’t wavered: “Lots of people end up dropping their music class when they were in 7th grade, but I truly fell in love with the music performance and decided to continue my pursuit of music,” they explain. Orchestra director Sean Brennan chose to recognize Underwood out of a graduating orchestra class that he describes as “small but fierce.” He paints Underwood as a student who would immerse themselves not just in performance, but in all aspects of orchestra, from “class ensemble parts to composing, analyzing, studying, and generally breathing our art.” Underwood plays multiple instruments and has been invited to participate in several opportunities outside of Portage Northern. More than Underwood’s talent, Brennan appreciates the person that he has become as a member of the orchestra program. “From leadership roles in multiple ensembles to all but making a second home in the fine arts wing to be a familiar “anchor” face for younger students, [Marlow] has truly embodied the fine arts culture we seek to build at PNHS,” he shares. True to his teacher’s comments, one of Underwood’s favorite parts of being in the orchestra has been the community. “You meet new people and make new friends, and it pushes you to do better and better,” they reflect. “[the orchestra] is very tight-knit, and that brings us closer together both as an ensemble and as a group. We are all friends in one way or another.” Underwood will attend Western Michigan University in the fall, where they hope to earn a spot in one of the music ensembles. “I want to keep music performance an aspect of my life as long as I can,” they share.

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FEATURE

IB Diploma Candidates Allie M Barker Mairin P. Boshoven Tyler E. Bowers Rachel S. Budnick Kylie Clifton Jon A. Dittenbir Lia J. Dittenbir Jack T. Eiden Christian V. Ertl Liam Fagan Madeline J. Frank Molly M. Freeman Aidan M. Gleason Brooke M. Hoag Olivia K. Kapenga Katherine A. Knight Alexis P. Kothawala Brian M. Lapetina Courtney P. Lennon Arushi Mithal Sophia C. Novak Usmi A. Patel Sarah A. Rainwater Caitlin E. Sullivan Grace C. Torrence

IB Diploma Program

ortage Northern High School is proud to be among the U.S. high schools authorized to offer the highly respected International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. This challenging two-year curriculum for juniors and seniors emphasizes globalism and fosters interdisciplinary learning.” The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a rigorous, challenging program. This year Portage Northern High School has 25 candidates for the full IB Diploma. While many other people in the school took one or two IB classes, these students had to take 7 classes - 3 higher level, 3 standard level, and Theory of Knowledge - to be considered applicants for the full diploma. Along with the classes, they had to make an extended essay of 4000 words and complete many Creativity, Action, and Service, or CAS, hours. “These courses require a lot of hard work, focus, and determination. If you don't have those aspects you will find yourself struggling,” said Rachel Budnick, a senior applicant for the IB Diploma. Even though the courses were hard, the applicants truly enjoyed what they were doing. “My favorite part about doing the diploma is for sure the people. You get to know at least one group of people very well throughout the years.” said senior Brooke Hoag. “My favorite class in the IB diploma is TOK,” said senior Courtney Lennon. “This is because this class allows us to look inward into ourselves and really look into different cultures and ways of thinking.” Theory of Knowledge is a blended class throughout the IB Diploma where you learn metacognition, and the theories of how we examine our history. From friends to classes there was so much to enjoy out of the diploma and so much to learn. The IB Diploma has also taught applicants important life skills. “I've gained time management skills and learned how to study efficiently through the diploma,” said Lennon. The classes have large amounts of course work and need for in“

SENIOR EDITION 2021

By Sloan Markin

dependence. These are challenging and rigorous, but result in so much more than just the diploma. Because of this, Budnick said, “I have gained a lot of perseverance through my completion of the IB diploma.” All of these skills have culminated into their earning of the IB Diploma. These skills come together to make really good students. In the future, these 25 applicants encourage their underclassmen to join them. “It is an accomplishment that is worth it in the end. Although I have not reached the end of it yet, I see the end of it and I see the feelings of accomplishment,” Budnick said. “It may not seem worth it throughout the two years, but the diploma will get you ready for college, possibly give you college credit, and gives you a well-earned achievement.” Her encouragement is echoed by the other applicants. The sense of accomplishment and pride of these students is immense. The Diploma was not all in person work, it was much work at home, and even more with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these applicants only had seven months of in person learning for the IB diploma. “Online school was difficult, not only for me but also for many of my peers. Since the IB diploma is a two-year program, all of us candidates have done it almost 75% online,” said Budnick. Even with a normal junior and senior year, much work is done out of the classroom, but this was more than ever before. With students sequestered to their homes in the midst of a lifethreatening pandemic, these applicants had to work even harder to stay on top of an already rigorous curriculum. Through hard work, irreplaceable experiences, and acquiring new skills, these applicants are ending their year believing in the IB Diploma and all it has to offer. “I would say that overall it was worth doing the full diploma,” said senior Christian Ertl. “There were some sleepless nights that would beg to differ, but now that those are gone I can say that the satisfaction of almost being done was worth the work.”

Scholarship Recipients

Design By Katie

Knight

By Maya Daniels and Cerena Read

PN Communication Scholarship - Liam Fagan

he Portage Northern Forensics team has had an amazing year, with nine finalists placing in the top 6 in the state, and four state championships. One of the four champions is the Duo team of Liam Fagan and Mia Pellegrini. This, alongside other achievements in Forensics, led Liam to be selected for the Portage Northern Communication Scholarship. Fagan states, “I’ve gained confidence through forensics, and I’ve met and spent time with some of my best friends.” Director of Theatre & Forensics Celia Weeks explains “the coaches all agreed that his work with the team as both a participant and a captain made him the right choice.” Weeks goes on to say, “We are going to miss Liam for so many reasons, but mainly I will miss his humor and willingness to help. He is the kind of kid who says ‘whatever you need’ and then follows through with that offer to help”.

Robert P. Amrhein Memorial Scholarship - Jaleel Williams

Photo courtesy of Liam Fagan.

onoring the late Portage Northern Alum, the Robert P. Amrhein Memorial Scholarship recognizes students who exhibit characteristics of Honesty, integrity, leadership, and compassion. This year’s recipient, Jaleel Williams, exhibits these qualities and more. Kelsey Swoboda states, “He has a strong passion for what he does and will find a way to get the job done. Jaleel is relentless and never backs down life challenges.” She continues to speak on his character saying “He cares immensely about the people around him and finds a way to motivate his fellow peers” Williams explains how he felt to get the scholarship stating “It felt really good to receive this award because of the weight it holds at Portage Northern. I’m very blessed and thankful to have been selected.”Williams plans on continuing his education at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where he will play basketball.

Photo courtesy of Jaleel Williams.

National Merit Scholar - Michael Arciniega

ver the course of 66 years the National Merit Scholarship Corporation has recognized over 3.3 million academically talented students, including Portage Northern senior Michael Arciniega. Arciniega states, “I’ve always aimed to do the best that I can with everything that I do and to be rewarded for my hard work like this simply feels amazing.” Arciniega who was also recognized as an AP Scholar and received an Excellence in Education award says “It definitely took a lot of work to get this far” going on to say “I’ve made sure to put in my best effort with every assignment I do and I take advantage of every opportunity I get to learn more.” Arciniega states that English teacher Dr. Amanda Thorpe and Director of Bands Josh Bartz “really helped me to grow not only as a student but also as a person.” In regards to his Finance and Accounting teacher Amy Meyer, he says “she inPhoto courtesy troduced me to a lot of new concepts and helped to grow my interest in business greatly.” Arciniega of Michael Arcinieplans to attend Michigan State University to study business. ga.

Daughters of the American Revolution - Bayleigh Kamm The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award (DAR) is given to a recipient who has displayed traits of leadership, dependability, service, and patriotism throughout their high school years. This year’s recipient is Bayleigh Kamm, who, according to social studies teacher Amber Dixon, was “the obvious winner.” Kamm attributes her success to her support system: “While I am a fairly independent person, if it weren’t for the people around me, I wouldn’t be even half as successful as I am,” she said. “I want to thank not only my family for helping me along the way, but also the friends, acquaintances, and the strangers that challenged me to be better, or gave me a reason to smile that day.” After graduation, she plans to attend KVCC to complete her prerequisites and then transfer to a university to finish a degree program that will allow her to work in a chemical-science related career.

Photo courtesy of Bayleigh Kamm.

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

FEATURE

History Department Winner

By Avery Bogemann

istory is a subject to learn life lessons from, and many regard it as one of the most important subjects to study. The impact of the discipline is not lost on history department award winner Bell Shapiro. “My favorite thing to learn about in history is the human impact,” she says. “Whether that’s interviews or first hand letters or photos, seeing how people actually LIVED is incredibly important to me, as it makes the history more tangible.” History has always been an interest for Shapiro. “I remember liking history...Well, as early as I can remember!” she shares. “My mother would read my mythos from all over the world, and we would go to museums like the Field Museum in Chicago.” Her love for the subject continued to grow, and she took elective history courses throughout high school. One particularly memorable moment was in 11th grade when she watched a movie with her class called “All Quiet On The Western Front,” she was surprised at the angle the movie took with the portrayal of Germany in WWII and mesmerized at the cinematography. Recently, Shapiro has been interested in the WWII time period, specifically the European theater. “My family was all surrounded by the war in Europe, and on both the side of Germany and the persecuted Jewish people,” she explains. “Learning about it gives me a chance to know more about myself, but also show people that WWII has had extremely long lasting effects that we still see to this day.” Despite the love she has for history, there

SENIOR EDITION 2021

are times when it’s hard to study. “History was at its most difficult when it hit too close to home,” Shapiro said, explaining how difficult it was to learn about the Holocaust. “Through learning, things begin to make more sense.” Despite her dedication to history, Shapiro did not expect to win anything at Tuesday’s award ceremony. “I was genuinely surprised. I had gone in not knowing I had won anything,” she said, “but the minute I heard ‘In JoJo Rabbit…’ I knew it was me,” she says. “Mr. Wood and I had an hour long discussion on the movie, and if there were any other superfans of JoJo Rabbit, I would’ve known!” Wood, who taught Shapiro in Contemporary International Studies, believes that she will go on to do great things. “I feel very good that the future of our country will be in the hands of people like Bell Shapiro. I could not be more proud of her accomplishments,” he said. “Bell was always thoughtful and engaged. I was always excited when she raised her hand during discussion because I knew she was about to take our discussion to the next level. I think she is a very worthy recipient of the Social Studies Award this year.” Being heavily impacted by history, Isabella will be continuing in the history field in college. “I really want to continue learning more about history and how it has impacted the world around us,” she says. “Accomplished? No, I still have a LOT to learn. It does, however, make me feel very happy, and very seen by the staﬀ and community at school. It is truly an honor to win, and I could not be more grateful.”

Bell poses for her senior photos. Photo courtesy of Bell Shapiro.

Design By Katie

Knight

Language Department Winners By Kylie Clifton and Natalie Grinder

Katie (left) commemorates receiving the Spanish Department Award with friend and senior Usmi Patel (right). Photo Courtesy of Usmi Patel.

Senior Liam Fagan uses his at-home chemistry kit to complete a virtual lab. Photo courtesy of Liam Fagan.

Henry stands in front of the French flag in his French class. Photo courtesy of Kylie Clifton

Spanish: When the Spanish teachers came together to select the Spanish award, we were seeking a student who has passion and genuine interest for the language, in addition to talent and dedication to grow and learn,” explained Spanish teacher Bryan Hill. “Katie is an outstanding representative of all of these qualities.” With eight years of Spanish experience under her belt, Spanish has become more than a class for Katie: it is a true second language. One of her favorite outlets to consume the Spanish language is through television. “Being able to understand television shows in Spanish is one of the most amazing things about learning the language,” Katie said. Her affinity from Spanish began long before she ever entered a formal classroom. “I have fond memories of [my mom] reading and singing to me in Spanish,” Katie shared. Kimberly Knight, Katie’s mother, recalled, “While I’m far from fluent I have spoken to Katie in Spanish since she was a baby. Just phrases here and there.” Katie will be attending Wellesley College to study political science.

Latin: Some subjects were notably more difficult in a virtual environment, and language is one of them, especially when that language is Latin. Fortunately for senior Latin award winner Liam Fagan, he had his experienced and trusted teacher at the helm: Jeanne Friedman. “[She] made the transition really easy, and has kept the class engaging and motivated,” he said. Fagan studied Latin for all 4 years of high school. “I picked it because I thought it would be fun to try something new, but I immediately fell in love with the class,” he shared. Fagan is so dear to Friedman’s heart that she, a master of several languages, had trouble finding the right way to describe him. “Liam is a leader and a scholar in every way. He earned this award every single day in my classroom [and online] since day 1 freshman year,” she shared, “...I could not be prouder of him.” Fagan’s Latin classmate and fellow senior Chris McManus said, “When I learned that Liam won the award, I was happy for him, and not shocked at all. No one in our Latin class among our seniors deserved it more than he did.” French: Henry Hansen, the French Department Award winner, has been studying French since 7th grade. He chose French because most of the students took Spanish due to the fact that it was perceived to be easier. “Part of me felt that it would be good to challenge myself, and another part thought that it would be valuable to take the less popular class,” he said. After navigating the virtual-turned-hybrid year, Hansen says that he has his teacher to thank for keeping him on track. “Madame [Hassing] has been consistent, patient, and informative in terms of what we will be doing on that day, and for the rest of the week, all the while reminding us to ask questions about the content,” he said. French teacher Jamie Hassing, who nominated Hansen, has no shortage of positive things to say about him. “I will always remember Henry’s warm welcomes, eagerness to participate and share his opinions, and his overall positive attitude,” she said. “I nominated and selected Henry because not only does he consistently have the highest or second highest marks in the class, he is also a positive individual who works well with others.”

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

FEATURE From left to right: Seniors Jamillah Clark, Makayla Bolton, and Maya Daniels show off their PN swag at Huskie Stadium. Photo courtesy of Jamillah Clark. Jamillah Clark poses for her senior pictures. Photo courtesy of Jamillah Clark.

Makayla Bolton poses with the sign that she made for the Juneteenth March for Justice, which she helped organize at PN for all PPS students. Photo by Amanda Thorpe.

Makayla Bolton poses for her senior pictures. Photo courtesy of Makayla Bolton

SENIOR EDITION 2021

Design By Katie Brooke Hoag (right) dominates the lacrosse field. Photo courtesy of Brooke Hoag.

Knight

Brooke Hoag poses for her senior pictures. Photo courtesy of Brooke Hoag.

Senior commencement speakers

By Melissah Morris-Adkins and Lucy Madelung

or many, the student speakers at graduation are a highlight of the evening. The Class of 2021 will be addressed by seniors Brooke Hoag and the duo of Jamillah Clark and Makayla Bolton. Clark and Bolton have been close friends throughout high school and have spent the last four years side by side in classes, sports, and clubs. “At first, they doubted that the two of us could do it together, because it’s usually just one person,” said Clark. “But we showed them that we could.” The pair will speak on the theme of change and the idea that students are not too young to embrace it. “It came naturally,” Bolton shared. “At first, I didn’t know what I was going to talk about, but Jamillah and I have worked hard for social change while we were in high school, and I was going through a lot of changes myself, and it was something that was on my heart.” Hoag had a few key ideas that she wanted to address with her peers. "A few things I wanted to make sure to tell the graduating class is that I am proud of everyone for making it through and for continuing to work hard during the shutdown even if we weren't in person for school,” she said. “Another thing I wanted to make sure to tell everyone is that I understood the struggle and I was paying attention to how hard everyone was working to accomplish their goals and to make it to graduation.” All three students are honored to be able to speak at such an important event. "I wanted to be a graduation speaker so I would always remember something good about graduation,” said Clark. "Being selected means a lot to me, especially since my best friend and I are the first at the school to give one as a duo.” Bolton agrees: “I think it's a big deal. This is a day that I have been looking forward to for a long time, and I think speaking at it just makes it that much more special. It feels kind of cool to be included in the real details of the day." "This selection means a lot to me,” shared Hoag. “It gives me the ability to stand in front of the graduating class and in front of everyone else who is there and talk about our graduating class, and it allows me to express my excitement and joy for everyone and note the hard work of everyone that is graduating from PN this year.” As the trio heads off to college, Hoag is looking forward to playing lacrosse at Trine University, Bolton will be studying business and pre-law at Michigan State University, and Clark will be going to Winston-Salem State University to study justice with a specialization in social justice and public health.

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SPORTS

After a surprise end, sports captains Brie Quick and celebrate the journey ByJackson Barnard Anna Fiebelkorn Softball Fiebelkorn has been playing softball since the age of 4. “I would say my favorite thing about being captain is the fact that we actually have a team this year even with everything that’s been going on,” she said. “I love all the girls and our coaches.” Rachel Budnick Softball Budnick has been playing softball since she was 5 years old. “My favorite thing about being a captain is that I am able to encourage and support my teammates,” she said. “The team is made up of almost all underclassmen who haven’t had the experience of playing in high school yet.” Sydney Swinehart Softball Swinehart started softball when she was 8 years old. “My favorite memory happens every game, and that’s when head coach Ed Bowe waves the runner home from 2nd or 3rd and his arm falls off from going around too fast,” she said. Jordan Hartman Soccer Hartman has been playing soccer since she was 2. “My favorite part about being a captain is being able to show the younger players how the soccer program should be run and being able to lead the team on and off the field,” she said. Lydia Miller Soccer Miller started playing soccer at the age of 5. “One of my favorite memories from this season so far was beating Mattawan and all of the excitement that came with it,” she said. “We haven’t beat them in a long time, so it was a really big moment for our team!”

SENIOR EDITION 2021

All images courtesy of individual student athletes

Design By

Kylie Clifton

Lily Browning Soccer Browning was 3 years old when she started soccer. “My favorite memory is beating Gull Lake sophomore year, and my favorite thing about being captain is being trusted to be a captain,” she said. Brooke Hoag Lacrosse Hoag has been playing lacrosse for the last 5 years. Her favorite memory through high school was when the team won in a double overtime game versus Grand Haven at Huskie Stadium, and she has loved being a captain. “My favorite thing is the ability to help the team and be there for the team, knowing that people can look to me or come to me when they have a question or need help,” she said. “It feels good knowing that I am there for people and that they know they have someone that they can talk to when they need help.” Braden Falk Golf Falk has been playing golf for 8 years. His fondest memory was winning the Kalamazoo Country Club invitational, which is a well-known tournament that takes place every year, and his favorite thing about being captain is, “being a leader for the underclassmen.” Jack Eiden Baseball Eiden has been playing baseball since he was 5. His top memory is winning the Division 1 state championship against Rockford in 2019, when he was a sophomore. “The best thing about being captain on the baseball team is knowing that the players and coaches believe I represent our program’s culture,” he said.

All images courtesy of individual student athletes

PORTAGENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

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STAFF

NL senior sign offs Allie Miller, Staff Writer My absolute favorite part about being on the NL staff are all the people I got to interact with and all the opportunities I was given. This was my first year on staff, and I wish I had chosen to participate in years prior. I’ve always loved writing, and this class opened my eyes to so many different kinds of writing. Overall, I’ve learned that the NL is more than just a journalism staff, but a family. Ari Coleman, Staff Writer My favorite part of being part of the Journalism class it’s collaborating with new fun people and learning new skills in writing. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming in this class that inspires me to write more and explore my writing skills as well. are used to be okay at writing but after being in Journalism I have more creative ideas of what to write and how to write. When leaving high school and leaving Journalism class behind I will take the skills of creative writing in great storytelling with me into college. Arushi Mithal, Feature Editor My favorite thing about being on the Northern Light Staff was the sense of tight knit community and welcoming from everyone. I was not only able to grow as a writer, but as a person as well in relation to my perspective on life and the world. When I go off to college in the fall, I want to take with me that same passion for thinking creatively.

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Cerena Read, Entertainment Editor My absolute favorite thing about being on the NL staff was the second family that I acquired throughout my time on staff. I learned so much from every individual I ever worked with on staff. I made important memories with everyone and in the long run I am just so glad I chose to join this class in my sophomore year, because I don’t know where I would be without it. It gave me a sense of belonging and that something I will always carry with me. Gavin Garner, Staff Writer My favorite part about being on the NL staff this year was the people I was able to meet. I met a lot of wonderful new people and have created friendships that I can carry with me after high school. Thank you Thorpe for making my high school career a lot more fun! Katie Knight, Design Editor I have loved being on the NL Staff, because everyone loves to celebrate the accomplishments of their fellow staff members and we lift each other up. As well as this, journalism has helped me not only to improve my writing and designing skills, but shown me that I have what it takes to be a leader.

Kellie Miles, Photographer My favorite part about being on the Northern Light staff is the connections and relationships I made, because it pushed me outside of my comfort zone which has opened up more opportunities for me and has taught me a lot of things. I will take all the skills this family has taught me to college and beyond. Kylie Clifton, Editor in Chief My absolute favorite part about being on the NL staff was discovering my voice. I’ve been supported, challenged, and embraced on all levels, something I never knew I needed so badly. That is the most exceptional thing any group of people can do for someone, and the outstanding staff gave me that. I will never forget my time on staff as it allowed me to have a forever-family that supported us all to thrive. Liam Fagan, Editor in Chief My favorite part of being on the NL staff has been proving to myself and to others that I’m capable of writing good journalistic pieces, and that (most of the time) I’m able to meet deadlines. I’ll definitely take with me all of the good writing tips and tricks that I’ve learned, but more than that I’m going to take with me all of the skills of working as a staff. Having to work with 20 other students to hit deadlines and put together a product we can all be proud of takes a lot of skill, and I’ll gladly take and apply those skills to the rest of my work in my life. Lizzie Sheldon, Staff Writer I really felt like I was a part of a family while on the NL staff. People would always compliment me on my writing and that helped boost my confidence. I’m always uncertain of whether my writing is good enough because up until this point, I would only write for English class or in my free time for my eyes only. I loved the supportive nature of everyone on staff and it was comforting to know that we could depend on one another. I have looked up to many on staff for their amazing articles, so I will take with me this newfound love and appreciation for writing.

Maya Daniels, Opinion Editor When I first signed up to take journalism my junior year, I never expected I would have as much fun as I have these past two years. Not just because of the content, but also because of the friends I have made along the way.There is a culture of family in the classroom and I know I can reach out to them with any journalism or life issue. The writing and interviewing experiences I have picked up from my time in journalism have and will continue to help me outside of the classroom. Melissah Morris-Adkins, Staff Writer My favorite thing about being on the Northern Light staff is all the friends that you make on it and how supportive everyone is, because you know if you have something big or have achieved something big that they are going to be there supporting you and cheering on. When I leave this year, I will take all the memories that I have had with everyone and all the tips and tricks I have learned about my writing. Natalie Grinder, Digital Media Editor My favorite thing about being on the NL staff is not only the learning experience you get to strengthen your writing skills, but also the other students on staff who have become like a family to me. I will take with me the compassion I have been given from others on staff and use it to help other people, and make people feel welcome, because it truly makes a difference. Olivia Coughlin, Staff Writer Although I have, unfortunately, not been able to be a part of the Northern Light in-person at all, I have loved it. Amongst other aspects, I’d have to say that my favorite thing about being in the NL was the flexibility of the course—everything that I’ve written for this newspaper were on topics that I genuinely wanted to write about. Our class would have open—sometimes intellectual— conversations about real-world issues, and it felt like more than just another high school class. Moreso, the openmindedness and curiosity of everyone in the class made it all the better. This program has taught me the power of media and the importance of journalistic integrity, both of which I know will stay with me in the years to come.

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Bejeweled and bedazzled: grad cap decoration with Kellie Miles Step 1: This photo shows the very beginning process of making my cap unique. It shows all my materials I used and the sketch I drew out ahead of time for my cap.

Step 2: This progress definitely took a lot more time than I had thought it would. Thus was a photo after working on it the first day, I still had a long ways to go.

Step 3: Mid-making progress. Showing my materials in action as they are being used. A few of those green gems on the left were glued on just moments before this photo was taken. I had taken a break from the Spartan head to work on the background.

Step 5: After running out of white beads and grabbing more in Battle Creek on the way back from MSU I finally completed my cap!! In total I’d say this design took about 5-6 hours over the course of 5-6 days to complete.

Step 4: A unique glimpse at the cap as the background green was finally finished. We’re finally on the home stretch!

Share your decorated grad cap on social media with #HuskieGradCap