YOUR FUTURE the highlander senior issue || 6.3.2018
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Senior Letter Homestead bucketlist; what’s your major? Seniors by the numbers; athletic achievements siblings say goodbye friends going to different colleges Ignite your passions: theme features where are seniors going to college? Senior predictions Advice to freshman self; glo-ups teachers’ words to describe the senior class
Senior Magazine Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Sasha Milbeck Assistant Editors: Caitlin Geurts and Frances Mackinnon Staffers: Talia Eiseman, Grace Magee, Kate Price, Sasha Shapsis
page 2 // the highlander senior magazine
Adviser: Rachel Rauch Principal: Brett Bowers Superintendent: Matthew Joynt
2 018
The seniors on staff say goodbye to the Class of 2018
dear seniors,
Through the past four years, the senior class has gone through a lot together. We attended every single carnival, we were awed by Mrs. Unger bringing her horse to school, we were soaked by water balloons at “Field Day,” we played Red Rover and Four Square during recess while other students congregated around the “Yo-yo Zone,” we added memorable items to Mr. Roeker’s wall, we attended the Ye Old School House and had our braids taped to the blackboard, we drew on beards and decked out in flannel for Lumberjack Day, and the list goes on and on. As graphic T-shirts and crocs turned to croptops and leggings, we knew it was time for middle school. As we aged, so did our connections and friendships. Elementary schools intermixed and schools were scattered around Lake Shore and Steffen. We were champions at the Greek Olympics, participants in the medieval banquet, we witnessed Mr. Stark creating towers of SPAM, we traveled to Washington D.C. and and spent hours picking who to room with, we geared up and competed against our teachers in the annual teacher vs. student basketball game, we participated in the “Living Museum,” we were each other’s “Silent Shamrocks” and “Hushed Hearts,” we tried foreign foods at Heritage Day, we put on awkard dance skits at the annual talent shows, we all dreaded the MAP Tests, and we all wore shirts from the Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s we attended the weekend before. As we graduated from our respective middle schools and had our first view of the Highlander Walkway, we knew it was time for high school. Walking into the first day of freshman year with our eyes wide and our backpacks wider, we had no idea what we were getting ourseves into. As the time went on, we became accustomed to the Mighty Highlander way of life. We learned to fear Vicki and avoid her at all costs, we all suffered through sitting at the top of the bleachers at football games, we were hazed by our respective sports, we took the bus to Madison to watch the football team win state, we all tweeted at John Legend asking him to visit Homestead, we were skiddy about taking the ACT but persevered together, we read To Kill a Mockingbird and Great Expectations, we truly won the Powderpuff homecoming game BOTH years, and now we walk through the hallway fearing the seizure of our cellphones. We’ve been through four years of memories, bonded by our Highlander pride. Now, as seniors about to graduate, we’ve reached the point of no return. In a few short months, we will be going forward with our seperate lives. As we board our planes and get on the Badger Bus, we will soon be leaving the comfort of our own bed, the daily smell of a home cooked meal, and the comfort of walking through the Highlander Walkway surrounded by peers we have spent the last twelve years of our lives with. But now, everything is changing. So, friends, classmates, teammates, siblings: Thank you for responding to our countless emails and Facebook messages and always giving us quotes. Thank you for taking us to homecoming and prom. Thank you for letting us copy your APUSH notes. Thank you for cheering alongside us at football games. Thank you for cooperating with us during senior superlatives. Thank you for being our teammate and helping us become better athletes. Thank you for studying countless hours with us during AP exams. Thank you for being wonderful friends and our greatest support system. Thank you for being our family. Thank you for a great four years. It’s been a wonderful journey.
-the senior Highlander staff By Sasha Milbeck, Grace Magee, Caitlin Geurts, Talia Eiseman, Kate Price
page 3 // the highlander senior magazine
you know you’re a true
HIGHLANDER when you have...
Students reminisce on Homestead memories
By Grace Magee, Kate Price and Talia Eiseman Photo Illustration by Sasha Milbeck Photo by Thais Marques
Been mentioned in a @BrettBowersHHS tweet
avoided vicki
Tried to get your parent to call you out
Never put your phone in a phone pocket
Participated in the mighty highlander chant
parked in the wrong lot
Almost been run over by the hallway zamboni
gone to breakfast on a late start
Gone to mcdonalds after a football game
been yelled at for sleeping in study hall
Been mad about not being Highlander of the month
Gone to goodwill right before a football game
don’t understand why we have a bank in our school
QUESTIONED THE PURPOSE OF PLUS 20
PUSHED THROUGH FRESHMEN IN THE COMMONS
BEEN LOCKED OUT AFTER 7:25 A.M.
GOTTEN A TRUANCY NOTE AND LOST EXEMPTIONS
RECEIVED A DETENTION BECAUSE OF THE PHONE POLICY
ignored publications staffers’ texts for quotes
Posted PICS from at a football game on instagram
Pretended to go to the bathroom to get out of class
Left school to avoid taking a test
Wondered why each room is a different temperature
Ran out of fifth hour class as soon as the bell rings
Searched for good water in the school
Been hazed on a varsity sport
Eaten lunch in Mr. Ciurlik’s room
Listened to Mr. Sivanich talk about careers in STEM
Brian Devorkin i am interested by how the human body functions and works. i want to become an orthopedic surgeon.
En
Medical e r
georgia miller
will slawson
Ever since i could talk i was singing. It has really been a huge part of my life.
I am studying literature with a heavy concentration in creative writing classes. Writing is pretty rad, so i think that’s what i am going to want to do.
WHAT’S YOUR
gs
MAJOR?
tary Educ ati o
n
mackEnzie kurtin my experience in tutoring and helping kids understand concepts in a new way is extremely gratifying to me. The thought of becoming a mentor to kids in the elementary world is very exciting for me.
mental Engin n o r ee vi ri En
By Kate Price Photos by Kate Price and Talia Eiseman
ng
en em l E
Students share their anticipated college majors
m
Cr i
an
P
Literature h is gl
ormance l P e rf a c Vo
Justice l a in
emma rachum
julian STECHSCHULTE
i will be concentrating on water conservation because i believe that through design and research, we can create a more sustainable environment while preserving water resources.
I want to give back to the community that has given me so much by protecting others. I’ve also always had a profound interest in criminal justice, and i want to eventually be in the FBI. page 5 // the highlander senior magazine
Out of
Senior Statistics
By Kate Price and Talia Eiseman Submitted Photos
323 seniors... 86%
applied to college
73%
55%
bring a lunch to school
have had a high school relationship
41%
Which year of high school was your favorite?
42%
have gone to all four years of homecoming
5% freshman year 20% sophomore year 15% junior year 60% senior year
said their favorite football game theme was black
40% have gone to both years of prom
14%
have been involved with a drama production
679
acceptance letters were sent out to seniors
9%
applied to five or more colleges GREEN
13%
54%
PURPLE
17%
DO NOT DRIVE
18% 18%
BLUE
RED
23%
YELLOW
GOLD
6%
said they have the same friends as freshman year
which lot do you park in?
2%
would you rather? take health or contemporary computing again?
47.2%
contemporary computing
52.8% health
page 6 // the highlander senior magazine
4
years of Highlander sports
Seniors celebrate athletic achievement through their years at Homestead By Grace Magee
Photo by Sasha Milbeck
fall of 2014
fall of 2015
fall of 2016
fall of 2017
Boys football conference champions Girls golf conference champions
Boys football conference champions Boys cross country conference champions Girls golf conference champions Boys football state champions
Boys football conference champions Girls golf conference champions Girls tennis conference champions Boys cross country conference champions Girls tennis state champions
Boys football conference champions Girls golf conference Girls tennis conference champions champions Girls tennis state champions
2014-2015
2015-2016
2016-2017
2017-2018
winter of 2015
winter of 2016
winter of 2017
winter of 2018
Girls soccer conference champions Boys golf conference champions Boys hockey conference champions
Boys hockey conference champions Girls track conference champions Girls soccer conference champions
Boys hockey conference champions Boys golf conference champions Boys track conference champions
Boys hockeys conference champions
Divison 1
Matthew Hartlieb – Drake University, football Michael Bruner – University of North Dakota, football Ari Krayzman- University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, fencing Sydnie Horne- University of Kansas, swimming Sami Nickerson -North Carolina State University, diving Chloe Marotta -Marquette University, basketball Hallie “Speedy” Kent- Wofford College, golf Isabelle Maleki - University of Wisconsin Green Bay, golf Jordan Schroeder- Iowa Western Community College, football
Divison 2
Jordan Haddad – Winona State University, football Brady Bartz – Bemidji State University, football Bradley Woldt – University of Minnesota-Duluth, football Julius Wilkerson – Wayne State University, football Ben Price – Winona State University, football Ryen Ryba - Minnesota State University, baseball Trinidy Pate - Winona State University, golf
Divison 3 Lindsey Bjornstad – MIT, swimming Caitlyn Lansing- Lawrence University, swimming Luca De Martino- Defiance College, soccer Elizabeth Liebau- Lawrence University, volleyball Hannah Malicky- Grinnell College, soccer Helen Watkins - University of St. Thomas, tennis Alyssa Boyer - University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, tennis Sam Schindler- St. Thomas University, softball Amanda Hooks - Carroll University, basketball
page7 // the highlander senior magazine
Sasha and Bella Milbeck
Sasha to Bella: Goodbye to my other half and best friend. It’s crazy to imagine what life is going to be like without you next year, but I can’t wait to have you visit Miami and for it to be your second home. Love you!
Ginger: I don’t think it’s fully hit us yet that we are going to be 1,000 miles away from each other. I also don’t even know how to mentally prepare for something like that, and I honestly think that we are both putting off thinking about it. She is my best friend and a part of who I am, and I haven’t spent more than a week away from her so it’s hard to imagine not having her by my side 24/7.
Ginger and Renee Schwarz
Renee: I think it will be really difficult going to different colleges where no one knows you have a twin. I’ve lived with Ginger my whole life and we haven’t been apart for more than six days at a time. It will be hard having to make new friends and explain to them that my other half is across the country. She is my best friend and knows me better than I know myself and I honestly have no idea what I will do without her next year.
Grace, Madigan, Gabby, and Isabella Magee
Goodbye to my little girls. Madigan, continue to beat to your own drum and do everything you do with so much energy. Twins, continue to stick up for what you both believe in. Thank you for always making me laugh and smile. Can’t wait to see the amazing things you three accomplish at Homestead and beyond. Love you all and War Eagle!
Francesca, Rocky, and Tess LaLonde
Goodbye to my bffs for life! Being so close in age has only made our relationships stronger, and I can’t imagine what life will be like without the crazy chaos of our family. Good luck finding clothes to wear next year, I’m taking them all to college with me! I’ll forever be thankful for these two years that we finally got to go to school with each other. I love you both so much!
Siblings say goodbye Seniors and younger siblings say goodbye to one another By Kate Price and Talia Eiseman
Megan and Lauren Hagerty
Megan to Lauren: Bye ya little nugget :) Try not to completely wreck the car while I’m gone because I’m stealing it back the second I’m home. I can’t wait to see what amazing things you do in the future!! I better see you in Madison next year. Thanks for everything, Lauren. Love you!
John and Drew Horter
Drew to John: I’m not sure how I’m going to handle waking up next year without you in the room next to me. As much as it annoys me, being woken up most mornings by you coming in to yell something strange is something that I have gotten pretty used to. I know that next year will be odd for the both of us. You will become the favorite child by default, so that might be a bonus for you. I would like remind that just because you might be the favorite kid in the house, you are not invincible. Our ridiculous text conversations can continue, but I can’t help you with Spanish anymore. You’ll have to start studying for that. Beyond that all I can say is that I’m really gonna miss you. Just remember that the futon in my dorm is always open for you to visit. Love the Current Favorite Child, Drew.
Karly, Luke, and Lily Konik Karly to Lily: Even though we fight over the littlest things and I’m never allowed near any of your stuff, you have made growing up and high school so much fun for me! You’re going to do great things at Boulder and HHS and I will miss you so much next year! Love you babe!
page 8 // the highlander senior magazine
Lauren to Jack: Jack, even though we spend most of our time constantly yelling at each other for stupid things, you have always had my back no matter what. It’ll be so weird to not have you there for me all the time next year, whether it’s protecting me or just annoying me. You’re going to do great things in college and I’m excited to see what the future holds for you. Can’t wait to visit you! Love you!
Jack and Lauren Curtis
going the distance Best friends share how they plan to continue their friendship through college
By Kate Price and Talia Eiseman
aaron cohen and talia eiseman
Where are you going to school? AC: Next year I will be attending Princeton University. TE: Next year I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. What is your best memory together? AC: My favorite memory would be running through the MOMA in New York together while our Rabbi waited in the lobby. TE: My favorite memories with Cohen are giving him coffee drinks in his Hawaiian shirt on his way to work at the Highland House. What is one one thing everyone should know about your FRIEND? AC: Don’t be friends with her unless you want to be late to everything. TE: He loves a good groutfit. How will you deal with being apart? AC: We will text and FaceTime several times a week to catch up and visit each other. TE: To keep in touch, we will definitely have a FaceTime date once a week-every Sunday at 9 p.m. for me, 10 p.m. for Cohen.
Elisa Carranza and Kate Price Where are you going to school? EC: I will be attending New York University (NYU) next year. KP: I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year. What is your best memory together? EC: When we went to Lollapalooza together and saw Sylvan Esso. KP: When Elisa left her car door wide open in the Cafe Hollander parking lot, so the cops came because someone thought she was kidnapped. how would you describes your FRIEND? EC: She (approximately) spends $1560 on Starbucks a year; this is an underestimate. KP: No matter how hard she tries, she can’t be quiet. How will you deal with being apart? EC: I’ll call her every day and visit her for Badger football games to get the college football experience. KP: We’ll text everyday and complain about our roommates.
Nicole Lennie and Lin dsey Bjornstad Where are you going to school? NL: I will be attending Colorado State Univeristy. LB: I will be attending MIT. What is your best memory together? NL: When we road tripped to Red Granite and went cliff jumping. I guess you could say that if my friends jumped off a cliff, I would too. LB: All of the Friday hot tub adventures. The water was cold, but what can I say? We’re a hot group of girls. What is one word that describes your FRIEND? NL: Spontaneous. LB: Nutty.
page 9 // the highlander senior magazine
Bartz’s passion for football shapes his college decision By Grace Magee
Photo by Caitlin Geurts
Brady Bartz lives to play football. He started playing organized football at age 8 with his dad, a former football coach. When his number one school offered him a roster spot on their football team, he couldn’t pass it up. Bartz will be attending Bemidji State University in Minnesota, studying mathematic education and human performance and health. “The main thing in my college decision process was my love for football, so I was looking into schools that I might be able to play at. I looked into Bemidji but at first it was for sports management and not math,” Bartz said. He decided on math after realizing he didn’t want to go into sports management, but instead study math, his favorite subject. Bartz credits the many skills he learned at Homestead, including one of the most important ones being time management. “I learned this with being in five classes mostly every trimester with no study hall, half of those being AP or honor courses and also playing two to three sports every year. To be successful with all of that I was forced to manage my time,” he said. Bartz explained how he will use this time management skills in college and beyond. When playing football in college, good grades are expected. College athletes have study time built into their schedule, which
will help Bartz with completing his homework and keeping track of his grades. Outside of that, the football coaches understand how important education is so they give players a lot of the tools needed to be successful. His college decision was not instantaneous, however. “I had a few schools in mind but none of them gave me a set in stone offer for me to play for them, so I couldn’t make my decision without knowing if I could play for them. Luckily, Bemidji State finally offered me a spot to play for them, and that was my number one choice so it wasn’t a hard decision for me after that,” Bartz said. Bartz credits his success to his teachers and counselors. “Find a teacher or counselor you trust because those people are there to help you, especially with tough decisions like college,” Bartz said. He believes that those are some of the best people in the school. He believes that they have your best interest at heart and that they will help you every step of the way. Bartz is excited to continue his passion for football at a college level. “Playing football is the one place where I have met my best friends. It creates relationships with people. Also, it’s the one place where I don’t have to worry about other things in my life; it’s my escape, and when I’m playing there, there’s not a worry in the world,” Bartz said.
eyes on the
ENDZONE
page 11 // the highlander senior magazine
FUTURE of a different hue White takes the road less traveled by attending college in Shanghai By Grace Magee
Photo by Caitlin Geurts
Straying from the norm is fuel for Andrew White. Though taking Chinese his freshman year challenged him at first, his drive to push through those challenges drove him to continue with the language to senior year. Expanding his passion for the Chinese language sparked him to create the Chinese Club of which he is now president. Keeping an open mind of traveling a different path, White has decided to attend New York University (NYU) Shanghai next year to study international business and finance. After attending NYU Shanghai for two years, he will return to the New York campus for a year, and London for a semester. After his initial college experience, he plans to attend graduate school. White discovered this unconventional program while looking through the NYU website. He had initially applied to NYU and then discovered the China program and decided to give it a try. “I decided to do this because I wanted a different college experience than everyone else,” White said. White believes it will give him the opportunity to study international business immersively on a daily basis. “This experience will allow me to become integrated into a new and different culture.” “Going to Homestead not only enhanced my education opportunities, but it also taught me to step outside my comfort zone,” White says. With taking chal-
page 12 // the highlander senior magazine
lenging classes in his high school years, he believes that finishing the classes felt good to overcome the difficulty and move onto the next challenge. “Homestead’s freedom has allowed me to step outside my comfort zones and learn new things, which create new adventures, such as China,” White said. Taking Chinese for all four years of high school, White is proud of his command for the language. He enjoys being in the class and believes it is fun to learn about new languages and new cultures. White claims that having a background in the language and the culture of China will help in his new adventure. “I’m interested in business and how the different cultures interact,” White said. While he anticipates this upcoming opportunity with enthusiasm, White admits he is worried about being so far away from home. “Being in a time zone 15 hours away will be challenging for my friends and family, but I know it will all work out,” he said. White plans to use Facetime as much as he can while studying in China. One piece of advice Andrew White would give to everyone is to have an open mind. “Open your mind to more options, not just schools in the Midwest. Attending a university not only out of the state, but also out of the country is a huge opportunity for me. It gives you, as an individual, a more worldly view,” White said.
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Wong to continue pursuing her passions in college By Talia Eiseman Photo by Caitlin Geurts From chess to acting to camp to orchestra, Chloe Wong fills her life with her passions. At the age of three, her dad taught her the game of chess and she has been playing in the Mequon Scholastic Chess Club (MSCC) and in state and national tournaments since. “My first tournament was the Wisconsin Scholastic All-Girls and after that, walking into any other tournament was daunting as almost every seat was occupied by a boy. In 2012, I played in the National All-Girls and seeing the strength in numbers and level of play of these girls helped me realize that while I would almost always be in the minority, I could beat the boys and wipe the smirk off their faces,” Wong commented. In 2013, she placed fourth in the National All-Girls tournament. She has also competed in Nationals, SuperNationals, and the US Amateur Team North tournament. In addition to competing, Wong teaches underprivileged girls chess in Milwaukee at Saint Monica’s in Whitefish Bay and MSCC. “I like that chess is a battle that doesn’t use physical violence or words and has no barriers of culture or language. Chess has taught me to be more patient, exercise control over my mind and body, various problem solving skills and pattern recognition,” Wong said. In the acting world, Wong has taken classes for seven years at First Stage’s Theater Academy. Currently, she is in her third year as a classroom intern. At First Stage, Wong also participates in Next Steps, a program that serves students on the autism spectrum. “Every time I work with the Next Steps students, I
catch a glimpse of the joy each holds. This joy is infectious, and Next Steps classrooms are filled with laughter. These particular students taught me not to take the little things in life for granted, even more so than before. That success, no matter how small, is an improvement in a positive direction. Inspiring all students and being a role model, learning from them, and having the ability to watch students grow as actors and people is a great gift I am proud to experience,” Wong shared. She plans to continue with acting and working with students on the autism spectrum. At Homestead, Wong plays the viola in orchestra and plans to continue with orchestra in college. She travelled with the orchestra to Spain in 2016 and performed with them in Carnegie Hall this past February. “For me, music, especially the power of a tight-knit ensemble, has a way of reaching and connecting with people through storytelling,” Wong said. Over her summers, Wong enjoys exploring and backcountry living with Camp Manitowish. In her first year, she spent two weeks in the Northern woods of Wisconsin, and the following year, she spent two weeks backpacking in Isle Royale National Park through Manitowish’s Outpost program. “I loved living life on nature’s time and all the marvels that come with being a small speck of life,” Wong commented. Her Isle Royale trip is what has influenced Wong to study environmental science in college. Next year, Wong will be studying at Santa Clara University in California.
making her
NEXT MOVE
page 16 // the highlander senior magazine
driving for success
Kent’s childhood spent on the links inspires her college path By Talia Eiseman Photo by Caitlin Geurts
When Hallie Kent was younger, her dad would take her golfing. She would run up to the tee and swing her mini club with joy. She would then run back to her dad and he would exclaim, “Oh my gosh, you are so speedy!” That, is how Speedy Kent was named. Her dad then began to sign her up for tournaments with the name Speedy because Hallie wasn’t as recognizable. Kent said that Speedy “just kind of stuck” after that. Some teachers at Homestead even call her Speedy. Her name is inscribed on her bag, her towel, on everything. Kent said that the name comes with its own difficulties however, “My golf coach calls me Speedy. Though it sounds like sweetie sometimes.” Kent is much more than Speedy in the golf world, she is also, Hallie, a senior at Homestead High School. Kent plays viola in the symphony orchestra, is the vice president of interact and is involved with Artistic Outreach. In the summer she teaches little kids golf. “They are so cute. They are so fun and it’s my way of giving back to them and bringing them up in a game I love the most,” Kent exclaimed. When one reaches the level that Kent is
at in golf, some things have to be sacrificed. Kent said, “It has always been golf, golf is the priority. My first three years, I never went to a high school dance. You have to sacrifice things and some things are worth the sacrifice more than others. I know if I want to be where I want to be then I have to sacrifice some of the little things in life.” She described her senior year as, “fitting all her years of high school into senior year.” Kent has humor about the experiences she might have missed out on for golf saying, “My first high school dance was senior homecoming, and I didn’t even wear a dress, I wore overalls.” Kent has always dreamed of playing Division 1 golf in college. So now that she has the opportunity to do it, it is a, “dream come true,” for Kent. Kent plans to give herself two years on the Symetra tour (which is just a set below the LPGA) to be in the top 10 on the tour and obtain the money card. Once she accomplishes that, she can take her ticket and go to the LPGA. Kent added that, “It’s a hard goal but if I work hard enough then hopefully it will come through. It’s always been a part of me, and I don’t ever see my life being without it, so I just want to continue with it.”
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Levy to broaden his horizons at the University of Wisconsin-Madison By Caitlin Geurts Photo by Sasha Shapsis At five years old, Danny Levy learned to play the piano, sparking his love with classical music. “Soon enough I asked to play a Bach prelude,” Levy shared. Eventually, he was given his own electric piano and began writing his own music. Levy laughed,, “It was boring and cliché at first, but I thought it was good at the time.” His passion for music comes from various experiences, an early catalyst being his piano teacher, Deb Klamen, who, “really supported and challenged me to improve as a musician, even at such a young age,” Levy said. In fifth grade, Levy expanded his horizons and tried the trombone. This led him to join MYSO (Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra). MYSO opened up countless opportunities in the music community for him. Those opportunities then carried Levy through middle school and onto Homestead High School’s music scene. While at Homestead, Levy flourished. “I began premiering a few of my own compositions and broadened my technique around composition to be a more free and contemporary style,” he said.
Levy’s compositions have been performed by the MYSO’s Brass Choir and the Homestead High School choirs. Levy is nothing short of a dreamer as, “The thought of composing professionally, and for film specifically, was always in the back of my mind, but I only recently realized that it was something I could actually pursue and not just a dream,” he said. With this mindset, Levy hopes to push his boundaries at the University of Wisconsin Madison this fall. He aims to discover new paths and learn more about what he is already passionate about. Levy was accepted to the university as a mathematics major and wants to take a lot of physics, math and world language classes. He will also audition for their music composition program. For post-college, he plans, “to go to grad school, hopefully at USC or somewhere in Los Angeles and become a film or video game scorer/ composer,” Levy said.
composing his
future
whirlwind of passion
page 20 // the highlander senior magazine
Dance fuels flames for Niedfeldt’s post-high school plans By Kate Price
Photo by Caitlin Geurts
Meg Niedfeldt feels ignited by her passion for dance. Starting at age three with only tap and ballet classes, she now takes hip-hop, jazz, musical theater, modern and lyrical classes. At age 10, she began to compete at dance competitions. “I’ve known since I started competing that I wanted to keep dancing for a long time,” Niedfeldt said. On average, Niedfeldt rehearses 15 to 20 hours a week at her dance studio: All the Above Dance Company in West Bend, WI. Her dance life consists of dance recitals and productions, competitions, performances taken to events such as The Washington County Fair or Dance MKE and summer dance intensives. “Throughout my eight years of competing I have been lucky enough to receive many awards including performance awards, choreography awards, top scoring numbers and various top 10 placements,” Niedfeldt said. Overall, Niedfeldt has attended three summer dance intensives. In 2014 and 2017, she went to the School of the Creative and Performing Arts (SOCAPA) and in 2016, she went to the Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary summer intensive all of which were in New York City. “At Joffrey it was basically classes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with different people every day and then afterwards we would have rehearsals for the final showcase,” she said. Over the course of three weeks at SOCAPA, Niedfeldt and the other attendees would learn two dances and film them. Her second year attending SOCAPA, she rehearsed and choreographed a solo in addition to her regular classes each day. “Through these summer programs I got the opportunity to work with a multitude of choreographers from all over
the country and specifically at SOCAPA last year, I got to film a solo video that I could send in for pre-screen auditions for college when necessary,” Niedfeldt said. In addition, Niedfeldt chose to pursue her dance studies at school by taking an independent study on dance. She choreographed five of her own pieces: a contemporary, modern, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop piece. “I had 10 days to work on each of the pieces, so each day I messed around with new ideas and continued my work from the previous days,” she said. Niedfeldt worked on these dances in order to perform them for her final where she showcased all of her time and dedication. Based off her experiences and knowledge gained through her dance rehearsals, competitions, summer intensives and independent study, Niedfeldt has chosen to pursue dance as part of her education in the fall at Chapman University in addition to majoring in kinesiology. She hopes to move closer to Los Angeles after graduating college and get a job in the commercial world as a dancer and eventually, possibly a job as a choreographer. “Dance has become so important to me and I couldn’t imagine spending my time doing anything else. I am continuing dance in college and beyond because I insist on being happy in life and I want to spend my time doing something that will fulfill this need. Life is too short to not being doing something that you love,” Niedfeldt said.
page 21 // the highlander senior magazine
color your world Chippewa Valley Technical College Madeline Sboros University of Wisconsin-Stout Katherine Ferguson Adam Gertz Elle Liniewski
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Jessica Bodner Maddie Gehr Andrea Greuel Sullivan Prellwitz Joe Hadcock
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Sara Kalkhoff
University of Wisconsin-Madison Carly Albright Micaela Bakman Alyssa Bokotey Margaret Burger Natalie Ceelen Corey DeToro Marie Downey Connor Duggan Talia Eiseman Ethan Ellerbrock Zach Francis Rachel Fu Leo Garcia Caitlin Geurts Megan Hagerty Spencer Heth Clara Huskin Nicholas Jeffries Julius Kellner Sandro Kulutbanis Francesca LaLonde Charles Langhoff Melissa Le Daniel Levy Emily Limbach
Ivy Marrufo Savannah Melan Ian McLaughlin Gleb Murashka Ethan Padgett Nikita Piryani Ellie Pramenko Kate Price Emma Rachum Ali Rahman Keaton Rathe Lydia Reimer Chahek Rustagi Adam Sadoff Naomi Schwam Mason Skaja Sam Sternman Patrick Stieve Grant Taebel Jacob Timmer Jack Van Vooren Andrew Wagner Olivia Wasserman Kayla Zimdars Ben Zimmerman
University of Wisconsin- Green Bay
St. Norbert College Ashley Heitz University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse Alyssa Boyer Emily Buczynski Lauryn Hart Olivia Herzog Heidi Hoffman Braden Hopsfenberger Lizzi Stendler James Stewart Gretchen Stahle Tyler Wendt
University of WisconsinWashington County
Isabelle Maleki
Lawrence University Christopher Aceto Caitlyn Lansing Elizabeth Liebau
Thomas Omann Marquette University Olivia Flores Chloe Marotta Julia Pawelec Harry Ward Taylor Wicklund
University of WisconsinWhitewater Milwaukee School Zachary Grinka of Engineering Kathleen Kasper University of Esme Bains Kevin Olson Wisconsin- Platteville Leah Neusen University of Carroll Jacob Bishop Kalla Taylor Wisconsin-Parkside University Carley Koc Cole Oberdorf Amanda Hooks Sanjitha Siva
page 22 // the highlander senior magazine
Concordia University Ty Barnhill Jillian Geiger Elizabeth Hacker Sofija Rosich
Milwaukee Area Technical College Dehanna Billings Ava Diehl Alexis Walton University of WisconsinMilwaukee Alex Aldape Yasmin Afifi Ann Collins Daniel Cullins Kate Do Brendan Herrera Eliza Imbrie Ayaan Jahangir Fotoula LaGalbo Mira Mayer Samantha McWilliams Casalyna Remsburg Alexandra Reynolds Molly Ryan Zachery Sickbert Lauren Tank Ricardo Torres Kennedy Wojcik
Seniors share their post-graduation plans Information compiled by the Highlander Staff llustration by Sasha Milbeck and Sasha Shapsis
As the class of 2018 transitions from high school to their future endeavors, the Highlander staff has compiled the post-graduation plans of each senior who responded to our requests. In less than a month, the graduating seniors will be igniting their potential and turning the pages on the next chapter of their lives. Next year, the class of 2018 will be represented in 93 colleges, 27 states and 6 countries.
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities Erin Carley Anthony Kimm Mackenzie Kurtin Sadie Leszczynski Connor Mason Kieran Powell Renee Schwarz Sarah Stoker Nathalie Tick Grace Warshauer
Bemidji State University Brady Bartz
University of North Dakota Mike Bruner
University of Minnesota- Duluth
Northern Michigan University
Bradley Woldt
Macalester College
Minnesota State University- Mankato
Winona State University
Jordan Schroeder Drake University
University of Iowa
Jack Barron Alyssa Bonfiglio Grace Looker Quinn Mobley Will Slawson University of Missouri Declan Eaton Daniel Klein Peter Quale
Washington University in St. Louis Cowley Community College Meseret Elgin
Western Michigan University Logan Timm
Grinnell College Hannah Bentley Hannah Malicky Loyola University Chicago
Community College
Matthew Hartlieb
Brian Devorkin
Rebecca Daubert Jordan Haddad Trinidy Pate Ben Price Lilly Raimann
University of St. Thomas Samantha Schindler Iowa State Helen Watkins University Shelby Parker Connor Siegel Iowa Western
Sydnie Horne Hannah Speich
University of Michigan
Katherine McCarthy
Ryen Ryba
University of Kansas
Kamya Hutchins
Sean White St. Louis University
Wayne State University Julius Wilkerson Defiance College Luca Demartino University of Dayton
Purdue University
Jeffrey Skow DePaul Sam Judd University Sage Austin Sara Kassander Julia Knuth Josh Schaeffer Indiana University Rachel Sandlow Patrick Shirley Ball State University Nicole Ziegelbauer
Finnian McCormick Denison University Gwenyth Cain
Ohio State University Julian Stechschulte
Xavier University Yezen Said
Quincy University Steven Bresser
Brett Morgan Cole Tietyen Catie Vierling
page 23 // the highlander senior magazine
University of Washington Benjamin Griffin Evelyn Zhang Gonzaga University Greg Foster Montana State University Joey Pietrowiak Owen Robbins
Utah State University Gerogia Miller
University of Utah
Addie Damron Ciana Engroff Lily Konik Jack Pfeifer
Jack Curtis Nicole Gauss Graham Gedman Ryan Gerner Sam Looft Lev Vasilyev
University of San Diego Rachel Truttmann
Isabella Scaffidi International NYU Shanghai Andrew White
Colorado State University Nicole Lennie Emilijia Mikalauskaite
Arizona State University
Chapman University Meg Niedfeldt
University of Southern California
University of ColoradoBoulder
Lexi Deford
Santa Clara University Chloe Wong
University of CaliforniaLos Angeles Max Kroft
Texas Christian University Thomas Haderlein University of Arizona Alex Buchanan Henry McKeegan Rachel Writz
Queen’s University Erin Lipkowitz AFS Returning To: Finland Kiia Paljakka Spain Carla Ferrer Garcia Brazil Pedro Henrique Cunha Brandao Thailand Chayanit Wanwanich Slovakia Chiara Mudrochova
Gap Year: Savanna Campagna Cooper Hunt Nathan Sande Marisa Schneider
Boston College Robert Baranko
Syracuse University Roman Stueber
Boston University Avery Orosz
New York University Elisa Carranza Carnegie Mellon University Vidya Jayanthi
Princeton University Silma Berrada Aaron Cohen American University Ginger Schwarz Sarah Sullivan
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts West Virginia University Jarod Moore
Sophie Ng
Virginia Tech
University of Virginia Drew Horter University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
Reilly Albert Ignacio Morales Wake Forest University Andrew Gebhardt
Grace Magee
University of Georgia Jackson Katz
Stephen Marcon
North Carolina State University Samantha Nickerson
Charleston Southern University Zanelle Willemse
University of Southern Carolina Camryn Reid Mason Salb
Emory University Chelsey Kim
Tulane University Lily Zall
Rice University
Ari Krayzman Chelsea Rowe
Anderson University Madeleine Treaster
Wofford College Hallie Kent
Auburn University
Massachussets Institute of Technology Lindsey Bjornstad
University of Tampa Rachel Mortensen
University of Central Florida Bailey Kramer Lynn University Zach Berger University of Miami Sasha Milbeck
page 25 // the highlander senior magazine
Sadie Leszczynski
ryan gerner
will hold the world record for most cheese curds eaten in one sitting.
will win a Grammy for his SoundCloud raps.
bailey kramer will become the enthusiastic mayor of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
alyssa bokotey will tell everyone at Madison that she is a vegetarian but eat meat in her dorm room in secret.
gretchen stahle will join the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association).
HANNAH BENTLEY
will become a world-famous yodeler.
silma berrada will become President
Mackenzie Kurtin
will continue to straighten her hair on only “shower days” (Tuesday and Thursdays!)
Olivia herzog
When people see
will paint portraits of the next president.
making
Seniors make predictions about their classmates By Caitlin Geurts Submitted Photos
matt hartlieb in 10 years they will still address him as “Buzz.”
predictions
jordan haddad
will continue to travel 100 mph in a 25 mph zone.
savanna campagna
will become one with the wolves.
hannah speich
will become a sumo wrestler.
brian devorkin
will have 15 kids and call them the “Devorkin Bunch.”
grace looker
will have 10 kids and live on a farm.
ari krayzman will still be convincing people that fencing is a real sport
caitlin geurts will become the next Carrie Bradshaw.
lily zall
will own a thousand pet chameleons.
page 26 // the highlander senior magazine
natalie ceelen
will marry an NFL player.
FRANKIE LALONDE
will become the District Manager of the Third Ward Lululemon Store.
jack curtis
will be turned liberal by his wife.
ey
Advice to your Freshman Self
By Kate Price and Talia Eiseman Submitted Photos
ivy marruffo
lev vasilyev
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself
Start a club
Marie downey
Don’t dress so cringey
reilly albert Go to school activities and sport games
maddie treaster
Watch out for getting hit with elbows in the hallway
grace looker Be involved in the homestead community, embrace school spirit, participate in everything, and have fun
Rachel TrUttmann Throw away your freshman year wardrobe
mason salb Play a sport or be in a club
Roman stueber Walk on the right side of the hallway
yasmin afifi Get more sleep
ELLIE Pramenko I know what math track you’re on. Don’t take AP Calculus
glowing up
Gwen cain
“I’ve never changed myself, only who I surrounded myself with.”
Alyssa Bonfiglio
“I went from a 2 to a 4.”
ethan ellerbrock Grow faster
Julius Wilkerson
Do what you want to do, live how you want to live
Seniors share their transformation pictures By Kate Price and Talia Eiseman Submitted Photos
Ethan Padgett “My growth spurt was slightly delayed”
caring
ENTHUSIASTIC
Inspirational SENIORS
BRIGHTDEEP +20 Impactful HOPEFUL
Rambunctious APPRECIATVE
Globally conscious
Eclectic Quietly boisterous
PLAYFUL COMPASSIONATE E Fantastic Multifaceted AMBITIOUSR A PGON P ER S Future-focused Original
EXUBERANT
R EL EASE!
The teachers and staff at Homestead submitted words to describe the class of 2018. Seniors, here is your very own word bundle.
Philanthropic