Elevate Vol. 7 Issue 3 | Spring 2022

ELEVATE LE MAGAZINE RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE

REGIS JESUIT HS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 3 SPRING 2022

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

JOIN OUR

ELEVATESTAFF

RJ Media is an open to all students.

We meet every Wednesday after school in P102.

Contact us at rjmedia@ regisjesuit. com

MOLLY NICHOLS ‘23, GRANT BARNES ‘23

STAFF

@rj_media @rj_media

@rjmedia

MISSION STATEMENT

The magazine will amplify voices from within our community, our faith, and our mission. Elevate will listen to and share unique perspectives through the prism that contributes to the Jesuit tradition of intellectual and spiritual growth. It will provide a forum to examine important and relevant issues while also encouraging discussion and debate.

TS RA S! NG OR CO ENI S

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN Comments, Questions, Ideas?

Come and see us in P102 or find us on Social Media.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: COPY EDITOR:

JACOB GOLD ‘23

HEAD DESIGNER:

SERENA NGUYEN ‘22

HEAD ILLUSTRATOR: JOEY PAOLUCCI ‘22

WRITERS:

Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22,, Grant Barnes ‘23, Molly Nichols ‘23, Jacob Gold ‘23, Rachel Hilty ‘23, Lyric Swift ‘23, Reza Mooaddeli ‘23 Mason Harris ‘24, Ed Amponsah-Asamoah ‘24, Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25

STORY MANAGER Mason Harris ‘24

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22, Reily Wible ‘22, Lenny Osuna ‘24, Owen Weis ‘24, Nick Marks ‘24

ADVISER:

ADAM DAWKINS ‘98

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

ONLINE MAGAZINE: RJMEDIANOW.COM

MISSION AND PROCEDURES Elevate is the studentrun magazine for Regis Jesuit High School. It is a quarterly, print and online publication. The magazine strives to produce objective, balanced, accurate, and thoughtful journalism that reflects the varied interests, talents, and viewpoints of Regis Jesuit’s students and staff.

DEAR REGIS JESUIT COMMUNITY, Thank you for taking the time to read Elevate Magazine. We can not do our jobs as journalists without the stories and contributions from our community. We hope to have captured the beauty of the hidden talents, skills, and hobbies shared with us in this issue. This publication celebrates the activities students and teachers participate in “after 3:00p.m.” while also showing off school events from this past semester.

We are grateful for all of our advisers this school year and everything they taught us. The time and dedication to us and this process is not always easy. We are also grateful for our three incredible seniors on staff. Thank you for all the guidance and inspiration you offered us. Thank you for the late nights and early mornings, the pizza parties, and the support you gave during our time together. We have gone through so much together both in person and online and that is something that deserves to be celebrated. We will miss you.

And finally, congratulations to the Class of 2022! We hope that your next journey and all beyond your time at Regis Jesuit is everything you wanted and more. We wish you the best of luck.

Once again, thank you for your contributions in making Elevate Magazine what it is. We hope you enjoy a safe and fantastic summer.

-THE ELEVATE MAGAZINE EDITORS

Elevate will seek the truth.

Its staff will minimize harm.

It will always be transparent.

COLOR PALETTE: Pantone 2347 CP, 4006 CP, 7466 CP, 3125 CP, Black 6 CP

FONTS USED: AHJ Franklin Gothic for body copy & captions Masthead: AYT Craft Gothic Condensned Headlines: Oswald Bold Subheadlines: AHJ Bodoni Display Drop Caps: AHJ Bodoni Display Pull quotes: AHJ Franklin Gothic Condensed

The magazine will amplify voices from within our community, our faith, and our mission. Elevate will listen to and share unique perspectives through the prism that contributes to the Jesuit tradition of intellectual and spiritual growth. It will provide a forum to examine important and relevant issues while also encouraging discussion and debate.

Bylined commentaries reflect opinions of the writers. Unattributed editorials represent opinions of the magazine’s editors and its staff.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. A letter will be published only if it includes a name and a signature.

Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine’s staff or of Regis Jesuit High School.

Letters sent between Elevate’s quarterly print editions will be published online and then in the next print edition.

Nothing published either as an op-ed, editorial or as a letter to the editor should be considered the opinion of the school, the administration, or anyone other than its author or authors.

Elevate’s editorial board welcomes conversations with students, faculty, and staff. Any student can join the school’s magazine club; any student can submit stories for publication.

All submissions will be reviewed by the staff and the process for considering publication will be evaluated using the same standards the staff uses for its own submissions. The magazine’s editors will withhold any submission that is deemed vulgar, tasteless, or is otherwise inappropriate.

An Elevate editorial is the opinion of the majority of staff editors on a particular topic.

Read our full mission and procedures at rjmedianow.com/about

A commentary or column is an opinion of one member of the Elevate staff, not of the publication itself. An op-ed, like a commentary, is the opinion of one person, often an Elevate staff member

Contact the Elevate Staff rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or at the RJ Media Lab (Steele Center-102). Online: rjmedianow.com Address: 6400 S Lewiston Way, Aurora, CO 80016

CONTENTS

SPRING 2022 18

17

10

COMMENTARY 26 ARE WE PUTTING ‘KIDS FIRST’?

27 HOW FAR WE’VE COME 28 TO SEE ALL THINGS NEW IN CHRIST

FEATURES 08

29 WE ARE THE EARTH’S WORST ENEMY

RJ PROFILES Get to know who your classmates are outside of school and the unique things they do

18

SPRING SPORTS View the best shots from our student athletes and teams during the spring sports season

20

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

11

Catch up with Regis Jesuit High School graduates Missy Franklin ‘13 and Ty Black ‘09

23

25

THE LEGENDARY COACH SHAW See the impact Coach Shaw has made on RJ students and high school basketball in Colorado

FUN STUFF 04

MEET THE STAFF

ON THE COVER

Have a laugh and get to know the small but mighty Elevate Magazine staff a little better

06

When the bell rings, students at Regis Jesuit relieve stress, do homework, and fly airplanes?

Check out the activities students do after 3:00

SPRING MUSICAL

ILLUSTRATOR

An inside look into the hit spring musical Little Shop of Horrors

24

DIVERSITY DAY Take a peak at some of the sessions and special guests students saw during the annual Diversity Day

Joey Paolucci ‘22

06

TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEVATE 01

Photo by Owen Weis ‘24

WELCOMING PRINCESS PIPPA SERVANT LEADERSHIP WELCOMES PIPPA TO REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL FOR WISH WEEK

Regis Jesuit kicked off Wish Week full of fun Disney themed activities. Students and staff took part in the special themed days, raising money for Pippa whose wish is to visit Disney World and meet all of her favorite characters! #TeamPippa

LEADING OFF ELEVATE 03

ELEVATE SPRING

MEET THE STAFF!

by Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22

GRANT BARNES MOLLY NICHOLS Grant is very playfulMolly is an icon. She describes herself as energetic and bubbly. Her celebrity crushes include, but are not limited to, Dylan O’Brien, KJ Apa, and Jacob Elordi. She can’t pick a fave because that would be a “tough choice.” (Neither can I, Molly. Neither can I.) She once asked me to set her up with a senior, and I failed her. (Sad Emoji) Molly wants to forever be known as a sweet human being, and she most definitely is.

sometimes too playful.

He once pranked the entire Elevate staff by writing in the groupchat, and I quote, “Through the countless late nights and early mornings, we are proud to finally announce that we are turning our attention to a children’s focused magazine, focusing on fun facts, activities, and quick reads suitable for the average 5–14-yearold HUMAN child (maybe others, who knows).” This was terrifying and no one including Molly knew that this was a joke. Outside of pranking us, he eats, sleeps, and volunteers at Children’s Hospital.

Here at Elevate, we are more than just our words on paper, our designs on the screen, and our drawings on the cover. We all have hobbies and a life outside of the dark yet never dismal room in BD 262.

SERENA NGUYEN SABRINA VIZUARRAGA Serena is the head designer of this mag and boss at what she does.

(She actually has to be a boss at what she does, because she is the only one who knows how to design.) Her words of wisdom to the staff are “Good luck next year.”

(Did I mention she is the only one who knows how to design?) Outside of the club, she is an artist and is involved with too many extracurriculars, because she is an over achiever and wickedly intelligent.

Best of luck to the Elevate staff next year, they’re going to need it.

(That’s me.) Sabrina is the one who is supposed to be funny and do more work for the mag than she should be doing.

Although she suffers from a crippling case of senioritis, she somehow writes her articles “on time” and shows up to the meetings. Outside, she can be found watching 30 Rock, worshiping Tina Fey, and volunteering her poor jokes and much worse basketball skills at Special Olympics practices. She comes to Elevate just for the social hour, because she doesn’t meet her friends outside of school.

JACOB GOLD Jacob’s role model in life is Mason, except he once (more than once, actually) asked “Who is Shawn Mendes?” Jacob still doesn’t know who Shawn Mendes is. Jacob seems like a nerd, but he’s a cool nerd. I have only ever seen him be serious, but apparently, he is not serious all the time. When he was five, he wanted to be a garbage man, but his parents did not live, laugh, and love with that idea. Jacob describes himself as cynical and occasionally funny.

MASON HARRIS Mason is “A-Wanna-Be Shawn Mendes” except he can’t sing and was happy about the Camila and Shawn breakup. He once said “You can’t be 100% Shawn Mendes at once. You got to go in intervals.” Mason is definitely the most stylish staffer and does not approve of the mullet trend going around. You can find him wearing an unnecessary jacket, even when it is too hot outside.

Unlike Joey, Mason likes student loans.

04 ELEVATE MEET THE STAFF

OHENEBA OSEI-FORDWUO JOEY PAOLUCCI When he’s not in an Elevate Meeting, Joey can be found with budget approved tap water and a pencil in hand, scribbling away a future Oscar winning script. Joey is also a former Discount Tire employee (wow, lady killer right there) and not a fan of student loans.

He is the designated snack runner, except we never get our snacks...

RACHEL HILTY Rachel is one of our newer members of the Elevate Magazine staff.

When she’s not busy going to Harry Styles concerts (solely for journalistic purposes), she likes to hang out with friends. Rachel is kind and eager to help in the newsroom and out with whatever is needed, which makes her a fabulous member of our team.

LENNY OSUNA

When Lenny was five, he wanted to be a chef.

According to Lenny, “I did some cooking and I was like ‘no, it’s too much pressure.’ I just didn’t like what I was doing.”

Needless to say, his fiveyear-old self would be disappointed. From what I’ve seen, he does more hard work than me: an easy task.

Oheneba, AKA my friend Maame’s younger brother, is a gem. He is very observant and likes to ask questions... sometimes too many questions. “I keep on asking until you answer,” he said. He’ll pester you until he knows the answer. Oheneba works at his family’s restaurant, The African Bar and Grill (which is delicious!) and likes to build Legos.

GLITZ, GLAMOUR & GRAND-MA Making Memories at Mom Prom Commentary by Grant Barnes ‘23

A

t center stage rocking out to classic anthems of high school dances, young men grab the hands of the most important woman in their lives. Between Sweet Caroline and Dancing Queen, they run off to take pictures and videos forever engraving fond memories into their hearts.

After a year-long hiatus, Regis Jesuit’s 2022 Mom Prom was in full swing. Everyone experienced the glitz and glamour, but not everyone knew that they were in the presence of my grand date.

The search for a date to Mom Prom wasn’t as simple as expected. You would think that it would be pretty cut and dry, but because my mom was out of town, I took someone who was just as near and dear to me. After “prom-posing” to my Lola (translated to grandmother in Filipino) with a homemade sign, she eagerly accepted the invitation.

She was excited to show off her vintage, yet stylish, gold and black dress: a perfect fit for the theme of Glitz and Glamour. It was an honor to dance with my Lola all night long.

Together, we had a night we would never forget.

Now when I say my Lola can dance, you better believe it! She was a non-stop dancing machine. We boogied and sang to

Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, I caught her up to speed as she accomplished her first Cha-Cha Slide, and I rescued her from the excitement of the teenage boy mosh pit so we could “jam out,” just the two of us. She was my partner in crime, the Ginger Rogers to my Fred Astaire, and she gave me a crash course in how to slow dance. Watch out ladies!

What an incredible, one-of-a-kind experience to spend with someone who means the world to me; someone who is always there to support me and give me everything that I need and more. Not every high school offers this opportunity to celebrate the influential women who help guide us to become gentlemen. Regis Jesuit’s annual Mom Prom is an event that allows us to recognize these women and show them just how special they are to us. I am thankful to have spent this special night with my special Lola.

Thank you, Lola, for being my date and for all that you do.

MOM PROM ELEVATE 05

ELEVATE SPRING

FRANCES SULLIVAN ‘24

SELLING THE PART as one of the first to interact with the mysterious ‘Audrey II.’ Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

THE RONNETTES

TOOK THE AUDIENCE all the way to Skid Row through an amazing performance dressed entirely in green.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

SPRING MUSICAL

ILLUMINATING THE STAGE WITH PERFORMANCES OF LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS 06 ELEVATE SPRING MUSICAL LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

SOREN FREUND ‘22 & CLAIRE MANN ‘23

INTERACT AS CO-LEADS in their roles as Audrey and Seymour in Little Shop.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

ANDREA CONTOS ‘24

WORKED HARD not only to make the Audrey II puppets but also to become their master puppeteers.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

RYAN OLDHAM ‘22

STOLE THE SHOW with his amazing performance of Orin, the crazy dentist with the even crazier hair.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

SAM OPFERMAN ‘22

ENTHRALLED THE CROWD with his raspy voice and his impecable taste in Hawaiian apparel as Mr. Mushnik.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

LYDIA HULKO ‘24

SHOWS SOME RONNETTE ATTITUDE during a performance teaching the audience what Skid Row is all about.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

SOREN FREUND ‘22

SINGS BOLDLY during a performance where he starred as Seymour.

Photo by Lenny Osuna ‘24

SPRING MUSICAL LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS ELEVATE 07

REGIS JESUIT

ELEVATE SPRING

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION Photo by Grant Barnes ‘23

STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SHARE THEIR UNIQUE ACTIVITIES AFTER 3:00 P.M.

When the bell rings and school is out, students and staff don’t wait for anyone to tell them what to do. From creating personal music to flying all over the state of Colorado, Regis Jesuit students and staff follow their passions and take part in their unique activities right when the clock strikes three. Take this opportunity to get to know the people you see every day in the hallways a little bit better.

08 ELEVATE FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

ELEVATE SPRING

STUDENTS

by Molly Nichols ‘23

CHLOE SIMON SHREDS THE SLOPES

SNOWBOARDING IS SOMETHING SACRED FOR THE YOUNG ATHLETE

T

he bell rings at 2:50 on a Friday afternoon.

There’s been a chill in the air since the early morning, and junior Chloe Simon is buzzing with excitement about hitting the slopes later that afternoon. From October to as late as June, Chloe is up in the mountains snowboarding in the best snow Colorado has to offer. On most weekends, she is either up at Copper Mountain or Winter Park.

Chloe enjoys snowboarding at these resorts because they provide her with a place to ride terrain like jumps, rails, and half pipes.

Chloe has been snowboarding since she was three years old and loves it to this day. Her whole family was taking lessons at that time and Chloe’s mom placed her and her brother in lessons because she thought it would be “hip.”

With snowboarding being such a prominent part of her

by Rachel Hilty ‘23

ERIKA LEWIS TAKES TO THE SKY

FOLLOWING IN HER DAD’S FOOTSTEPS, SHE LEARNS TO FLY

S

ix year old Erika Lewis ‘22 soars through the air, looking at the breathtaking views from above. Erika has been working endlessly to attain her pilot license, and even flew her family to Minnesota over Thanksgiving break.

Along the way, her dad has been her biggest supporter, teaching her all the ins and outs needed to fly a plane. Now, he proudly watches from the co-pilot’s seat.

Her dad is an international pilot for United Airlines, and he was the one who first took her flying.

He’s given her advice throughout her training, which helped her immensely during her childhood.

Unsurprisingly, Erika wants to be a pilot just like her dad once she graduates.

10 ELEVATE MEET OUR STUDENTS

One of the biggest challenges of becoming a pilot is the lack of female pilots hired in the industry.

Females take up just 3% of the pilot workforce worldwide, which creates a lack of diversity in this line of work. This unfortunate reality creates challenges for young women aspiring to be pilots.

Despite the challenges, Erika has persevered through it all, and she often flies small planes by herself.

Erika says anyone with an interest in becoming a pilot can take a discovery flight, which is often free, to see if they enjoy it. If they do like it, they could continue to learn how to fly with an instructor. “Be committed and put in hard work, and you’ll achieve your goal,” she said.

life, she wants to attend a college where snowboarding is readily available and the powder is prime.

“Snowboarding is all I’ve ever known,” Chloe said. “I’d definitely like to continue as long as I am healthy.” Due to a back injury earlier in her life, Chloe no longer snowboards competitively. Now her weekends in the mountains are simply for sheer enjoyment of the sport.

Even after all of the years of practice, the rush of adrenaline Chloe experiences when she’s entering into a jump or a rail hasn’t faded.

The feeling of successfully getting over a challenging obstacle is what makes the practice all worth it. “Doing it successfully is the best feeling ever,” Chloe said. With summer quickly approaching, she is excited for as many mountain trips as possible before the snow is gone for the season.

by Grant Barnes ‘23 and Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25

JUAN PAREDES IN A WORLD OF MUSIC

PERFORMING AT THE DENVER SONGWRITING COMPETITION

H

e was on stage strumming the acoustic guitar. Picking each string with purpose so that the tune would reverberate its own melody for the audience to hear. He sang about finding your soul and your purpose in life. Sophomore Juan Paredes, better known as JP, showed off his musical talent at the Denver Songwriting Competition in March this year.

Paredes is a songwriter and musician who started singing at eight years old. His passion for music soared when he was introduced to the electric guitar at age 12. From there he began to play more instruments such as the piano, acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. He eventually began producing his own music and started to DJ. For Paredes, music quickly became his world and he embraced it.

Paredes gets inspiration from the world around him. Inspired by a retreat in the mountains, the natural world around him

allowed him to reconnect with himself. This connection struck him to create a new song entitled “Beautiful Soul.”

When the songwriting competition finally came, Paredes was excited to find out he was a finalist. On the day of his performance, he was excited and inspired to share his music with the audience. This was the first time he would play acoustically for an entire song. While he was anxious, he persevered.

“It was nerve-racking, but it was super fun. I loved the adrenaline” When he finished his performance, everyone attending the competition gave him a round of roaring applause, providing him well-deserved recognition for all of his hard work and practice with his music.

“I felt honored.” Paredes said.

“I’m glad other people were able to listen to my song and like it, especially in a competition like this.”

by Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25

ELISE KUHN CREATES HER OWN RHYTHM

COMPOSING IS COMFORTING FOR THE SONGWRITER

T

he feeling of the flow of her song when playing.

The feeling of being in the moment. The feeling of her nervousness turning into pride during a performance as she sees her family happy and smiling. The joy of her song being heard.

That is how Elise Kuhn ‘24 felt when she played on the stage of the Denver Songwriting Competition.

Kuhn is a songwriter and musician who has been doing music since the age of seven. She has played a few instruments, such as piano and guitar.

The influence of her grandparents helped her on the journey to play, create and sing songs that she enjoys. Mainly because of her grandparents’ own passion for music Her song is called “You Lied.”

When you look at the title, it might seem like a song about how lying is a bad thing or how lying is

something that never ends well.

But according to Kuhn, that is not the full story.

“It’s better when you need to lie to benefit the other person,” she said.

What she means is that in certain situations telling the truth sometimes isn’t the best thing to do. That’s not to say the truth is wrong, but that a lie is sometimes what a person needs to hear.

When she got the opportunity to perform the song she created, she was surprised to be a finalist in the songwriting competition against many other students from several other schools.

At show time, all the nervousness from the past weeks dissipated and to her it seemed like any other day.

As she walked on stage, she began. “I start playing the first lyric and get lost in the music,” said Kuhn, “and from there it becomes natural.”

MEET OUR STUDENTS ELEVATE 11

ELEVATE SPRING

by Pete Armatas ‘22

LIAM WATTERS TAKES NOTE

FROM CONTEMPLATION TO INSPIRATION

A

reserved student sits at the table with his headphones on.

The music in his ears blocks out all his surroundings. He pays little attention to the world around him. The world pays little attention to him.

“I didn’t know where to go with it, so I just let it sit,” he says. “It happens at every stage of the writing or producing process where I just hit a writer’s block or kind of lose motivation.”

Junior Liam Watters sits next to him and is struck with inspiration. A few days later, he records the lyric that has been stuck in his head.

Later, Watters sits on the hard wooden bench in contemplation. He hopes his simple song structure and catchy melody will convey his point.

As an alternative rock artist and multiinstrumentalist, he strives to write songs that can connect with people and provide important messages.

His upbeat disposition and positive energy radiates through his music.

He sits in his studio. A small, quiet, square room with four empty white walls.

The room becomes a blank canvas waiting to be filled.

He writes the first part of the song with great passion. Watters lets out his anger over people who “only look at the outside, they don’t look at the inside.” He thinks “it’s kind of important to see everyone’s point of view.” His passion drives him to places he has never been before.

Then he stops.

“And then I just let it sit for a while.”

by Rachel Hilty ‘23

MICHAEL RYAN LOOKS UPWARD

FOLLOW MICHAEL ON HIS JOURNEY TO PILOTING

M

ichael Ryan ‘23 discovered his love for flying through Regis Jesuit. Michael wasn’t always interested in flying, but he discovered it in a unique way: the robotics club. Through the club, Michael got interested in the inner workings of a plane.

He got into flying freshman year, and he has continued to learn to fly throughout his sophomore and junior year.

“It’s the only way I can fully clear my head,” Michael said. Even when the flying gets stressful, he still feels relaxed. When Michael is flying all his worries drift away and he is able to focus on the task at hand.

Even though flying is such a good experience for Michael it does not come without some challenges.

Aside from the fact that he has to wake up before 6am to fly on the weekends, Michael says one of the biggest obstacles he deals with is the weather. Around half of his flights get canceled due to bad weather conditions, he said.

12 ELEVATE MEET OUR STUDENTS

Michael has continued to push past his challenges and now spends a large part of his weekends either flying or studying for his pilot exams. He is unsure of what he wants to do with his pilot’s license in the future due to the fact that he may not qualify to fly commercially. In order to become a pilot, he must pass an eye exam.

One of Michael’s worries is that his vision will not be good enough to qualify for some types of flying, like commercial.

Although he doesn’t know what he is going to be able to do he is hopeful that he will figure out what he can do with his flying skill in the future. Michael gave a good piece of advice to anyone who was thinking of becoming a pilot or anyone trying to achieve their goals in general. He said to, “talk to people that have done what you are trying to do and the more you talk to them the more you find in common with them.” Michael’s main piece of advice was, “if you can see it, you can be it.”

One day he hopes to find others as passionate about music as he is. He says the next step is to learn more about music. But for now Watters focuses on “just the little steps.”

And for now, every time he is near a piano his hands descend upon the little blocky keys and play to his heart’s content.

by Liam Mosley ‘24

CARVER HARR JOINS THE BATTLE

COMPETING FOR THE TOP SPOT

H

is parents placed him in a fencing day camp as a child to get him out of the house. He says they hoped that they could “get rid of him for a week for like 20 dollars.”

Unfortunately for them, he fell in love with it. With a name as perfect as Carver he had to.

Fencing in the form of Epee since he was a child, Carver Harr ‘24 swears that it is the best form of fencing regardless of what the other styles think.

Showing up for his first national tournament he was very nervous. He had never seen that many fencers in one room. Competing as one out of 300, an eight year-old, newish to fencing... sucked.

He scored two touches.

“It was pretty rough... I had done smaller competitions but this was the first national tournament. And it was not good.”

As he stood on the strip moments before his first match opposite a very loud fencer, Carver took a deep breath and a gulp as the match began. His opponent was hissing and yelling every time his blade connected. Carver, left a little sheepish after a loss, struggled to remember all of his post-bout formalities.

“I was eight so it was a little spooky, also just a lot of rules and regulations like

when you take your mask off, when you salute, which side of the strip you stand on.”

Countless hours and eight years later the star-eyed boy is now one of the best.

Showing up to the Junior Olympics two hours early at 6:30 A.M. for an 8:30 training, he starts checking his gear and warming himself up.

“I want time to warm up and work with my coach a little, but also to check all of my equipment, so they have to check your mask, check your blade, check your chord to make sure you aren’t cheating or that it’s not damaged to the point where you could, you know, die.”

Carver placed 46th out of 300. This time, he did not forget his post-bout formalities.

Competing, succeeding, and working his way to the top fifteenth percentile, Carver poured his heart and soul into the sport.

From being scared of a loud child to competing with some of the best up to five years older than himself, Carver has come a long way.

What once had been his parents’ plan to cheaply get rid of him for a week turned into a passion and obsession for a restless and enthusiastic young boy.

by Molly Nichols ‘23

SARAH MULBARGER’S NEW WARDROBE

AND HER SMALL BUSINESS

W

hen the coronavirus pandemic was in full swing, many people took up hobbies they never thought they had time for, and fun tasks they had never envisioned. While lots of people learned how to cook, and others were adamant about following all the latest Tiktok trends, Sarah Mulbarger ‘22 started to learn how to crochet. She began crocheting in April of 2020 by watching YouTube videos and tutorials, which showed her the basic skills needed for this type of art form.

The hobby has productive results, as the projects Sarah makes range anywhere from stuffed animals to pants.

She often wears whatever she creates, and discovered that her creations make awesome gifts for her friends

and family. After creating her small business, “Hooked on You,” Sarah has even started to sell her products to the public. Not only does Sarah plan on continuing to expand her crocheting business well past her time at Regis Jesuit, but she also wants to keep it in her life as a creative outlet to reduce stress. “It’s so relaxing and I love to create new projects,” she said.

There is something extremely special about being able to create your own wardrobe. She finds that putting hours of time into the production of her own clothes and projects makes her even more proud to show them off in public. As she continues to create brilliant products, Sarah loves making new designs and expanding the types of products she can produce.

MEET OUR STUDENTS ELEVATE 13

ELEVATE SPRING

by Matthew Tartell ‘24

ROBBIE MANOOGIAN, THE FUTURE MATHEMATICIAN

ALLSTAR MATHELTE WITH A PASSION FOR NUMBERS

A

s he sits down at the desk in his room to do his AP Calculus BC homework in the same spot for the last seven years, sophomore Robbie Manoogian thinks back to when he first fell in love with math.

Attending a small “math tutoring place,” Robbie was able to get ahead of all his peers.

Why? Because as the youngest in a family of six, Robbie felt a need to prove himself. He was done with Algebra 1 (generally a ninth-grade course) in sixth grade by attending summer school and tutors throughout his elementary school days. For the next two years, Robbie and his teacher would navigate the more advanced math classes together.

“It was kind of just me, YouTube, and her,” Manoogian said.

What really made him fall in love was not simply the math, but

his love for the idea of stability and regularity.

“The only thing that powered me through was the consistency,” he says. His success did not come from working “eight hours in one day” but from working “an hour a day for the last seven years.”

Now, Manoogian is excelling in AP Calculus BC and trying to figure out what math classes he will take during the rest of his high school career.

Each day of working pushes him one step closer to reaching his dream; not just pursuing a career in math but going somewhere like Colorado School of Mines; doing math during the week and skiing on the weekends.

Manoogian said, “If you want something, you can’t work at it for a day or two. You got to work at it for a month, two months, or even seven years.”

by Molly Nichols ‘23

HANNAH WILLER KEEPS IN TOUCH

LOVE EXTENDS OVER SIX THOUSAND MILES FOR THE WILLER FAMILY

H

annah Willer ’22 and her cousin Helen add a whole new meaning to the phrase “staying in touch.”

While Hannah and her family live in Colorado, much of their extended family, including Helen, live in Thessaloníki, Greece.

When they were younger, Hannah and her cousin emailed each other frequently. However, with their crazy, unpredictable lives, they try and check in with each other once a week.

Hannah and her cousin started emailing each other last May after Hannah’s grandmother asked her to reach out with the thought that the two would get along well. The two have been good friends ever since, and, aside from emailing, love to FaceTime and talk on the phone. The bonds that they created with each other became strong.

While Hannah and Helen were supposed to meet face to face

14 ELEVATE MEET OUR STUDENTS

in the summer of 2020, the pandemic changed those plans, so the pair have never officially met. Hannah hopes that she can meet Helen and her extended family soon in Greece. Reaching out to her cousin is something she plans to continue pursuing well past her time at Regis Jesuit High School. It has become an important part of her life and who she is.

Helen has been able to teach Hannah a lot about their family’s Greek roots, and Hannah has inversely been able to teach Helen a lot about her lifestyle in America. These two being connected not just by blood, but friendship too means everything to them. “I believe that we should do anything for family,” Hannah said. “I do what I do because I love her.” Despite its inconveniences, not even six thousand miles can break Helen and Hannah’s friendship apart.

by Mason Harris ‘24

JAKE BERRY AND HIS JOURNEY WITH MUSIC NEWLY EMERGING ONE-MAN BAND

H

e’s an experienced, übertalented one-man-band. Even when a song seems impossible to cover, he’s up to the task. Jake Berry ‘24 can cover songs with unprecedented accuracy and style, surpassing even the original artist’s aspirations behind a song. It’s hard to imagine him playing any differently. Yet, once he sat uninterested and bored during his piano lessons, thinking of better ways he could spend his time.

songs that he thought would help in certain aspects of his guitar playing.

They would sit together for thirty minutes breaking down each song. The learning didn’t stop when the thirty minutes were up. Instead, he began to practice the songs at home every chance he got. He was enthusiastic about learning songs on two different instruments. That experience changed his life, introducing him to the world of covers.

Five years ago he wasn’t thought of as a prodigy or a master of covers.

Instead, he was a young boy just beginning piano lessons. He spent time mastering the art of piano and guitar.

So, he began to cover songs with both instruments, slowly learning how to synchronize the separate covers into one video. In an era of fantastic song covers flooding YouTube, he created his own channel: “Jake Berry Music.”

Soon enough, his covers like “Bohemian Rhapsody” were uploaded, garnering thousands of views.

“It didn’t really click for me until I was about eight years old when I heard Ludwig van Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’ for the first time,” he continued. “That was when I thought that music was super cool, and I started to pursue it more.”

From that day forward, he practiced the piano for hours, playing whenever he could find time during his busy schedule.

A few years later, he picked up a guitar for the first time. He would meet with an instructor expecting modest progress over time. Not even those closest to him could’ve predicted his progress in five years.

Starting out, his teacher provided

He continues to aspire to reach greater heights, gradually covering harder, faster songs. He appreciates those who have and continue to mentor him, such as music teacher and band director Bernie Sauer ‘97. Well, what’s next?

“I really enjoy music, and I love making my own songs. I don’t plan to play professionally, but I will always keep making and publishing songs, and one day, I might even get picked up,” he continued. “Only time will tell.”

by Morgan Ronsse ‘24

WALSWEER RIDES AGAIN

MOUNTAIN BIKE COACH PLANS TO HIT THE TRAILS AGAIN

I

magine racing your bike in Florida at thirty miles an hour. Other racers crash around you just before the finish line. For history teacher and bike racer Mr. Chris Walsweer this was a common occurrence in the 90’s.

He first found his passion for the bike when it was his only transportation.

“If I wanted to surf a different break, I would take my bike. Everything was on my bike,” he said of his early days in New Jersey.

Later, during college, he would compete in triathlons to stay in shape for soccer. After his soccer program was canceled, he met a group of wrestlers, whose program had also been canceled. They had decided to start riding instead. They invited him along. He loved it.

“Oh, this is the coolest thing ever,” he said about his first ride with them.

“They just beat me senseless.” He was hooked.

He enjoyed the physical aspect of riding. “I just enjoyed the man-to-man, like the strongest dude is the strongest dude.” There is no faking it in this sport.

His most memorable experience was coming up to Boulder to race. “Getting to come up through the racing ranks in Boulder with all these dudes and getting to ride with the ‘who’s who,’ that’s just a cool scene... the Boulder of the 90’s.”

After taking a break for a while to focus on his son’s teams and spend time with him, he is ready to get back into the biking world.

“I’m like, kind of getting the itch to get back on the mountain bike and race,” Walsweer said.

But he has never been far away from the trails. He now enjoys coaching the Regis Jesuit Mountain Bike team and watching everyone improve so much.

“I remember being you,” he says about younger racers getting into the sport.

MEET OUR STUDENTS ELEVATE 15

ELEVATE SPRING

TEACHERS

by Jacob Gold ‘23 Reporting by Davis Hummel ‘23 and Matteo Ficco ‘22

MRS. SARAH SHERWOOD CRAFTS HER OWN STYLE CREATING AND WEARING CUSTOM MADE CLOTHES AND LABELS

M

rs. Sherwood took after her mother when she began to learn how to sew as a child. She began by making clothes for her Barbie dolls, and by middle school she was creating full-sized clothes for herself. Her passion for sewing has continued into adulthood, and she continues to make clothes for herself and others.

“I probably have thousands and thousands of yards of fabric in my house,” she said.

Sherwood has made more than just clothes; she has also sewn bags and other accessories all with her custom designs and special touch. With a little creativity the possibilities are endless.

“Pretty much anything you can sew together I’ve probably

16 ELEVATE MEET OUR TEACHERS

made,” she said.

This year, she decided to embark on a new challenge. She wanted to wear a brand-new set of self-made clothes every day for as long as she could. She was able to successfully wear a different custom outfit from the first day of school up until Thanksgiving break in 2021.

Sherwood now has her eyes on a new challenge: creating her own clothing brand. She has had some success with sales even with her busy schedule sometimes keeping her from sewing.

Her advice to others looking to sew is to be ambitious: “Just do it,” she said. “Grab a sewing machine, grab some fabric, and just start.”

by Oheneba Osei-Fordwuo ‘25 Photo by Nick Marks ‘24

MRS. TIMME & MRS. WUERTZ SHARING THE GIFT OF MUSIC

BRINGING SONGS TO LIFE IN THE COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS

F

or Mrs. Sydney Timme and Mrs. Karen Wuertz, one of the most exciting things about singing in a large chorus is “to hear everyone in fullness,” as Wuertz says.

“It’s mentally and physically challenging, artistically rewarding, and spiritually uplifting,” Timme said.

In 2017, when they heard there were auditions for the Colorado Symphony Chorus, they jumped at the chance.

“One especially powerful aspect of singing in a big chorus is when our heartbeats and breathing synchronize, and 180 unique people become one body,” Wuertz said.

They both made the audition cut, and they have been singing for the chorus for more than four years now.

“Singing in a big chorus with trained musicians is an amazing experience,” Wuertz says.

The group is an all-volunteer group, so their passion for the music and for singing is clear.

“Some members drive to rehearsals in Denver from as far as 2-3 hours away,” Wuertz says. “Much of the music is extremely challenging, and our rehearsals are serious, with very professional expectations, so it’s wonderful to be in a room with everyone working really hard and doing their best.”

The group joins the Colorado Symphony at the Denver Center for Performing Arts downtown for concerts featuring classical repertoire and classical masterworks. They are often led by world-renowned conductors.

Singing in a chorus can be tough, but the feeling of being together is powerful.

Singing connects people together. And this type of power and connection also comes from the music itself.

“Music has the power to transform our minds, hearts, and souls,” Wuertz said.

“Music is powerful because it can access both or intellectual and emotional realms,” Timme said.

Both Timme and Wuertz stress that when we are actively involved in the melody, it make us who we are and becomes a part of us.

“It allows us to communicate our deepest selves in ways that are not otherwise possible,” Timme said.

And that communication allows us to connect with one another.

“Music is a universal language,” Wuertz says.

by Joey Light ‘24

MR. NIEBUR ENJOYS NATURE

LIFELONG HIKER TALKS ABOUT HIS TOUGHEST CLIMBS

A

lways be prepared and climb with someone who’s experienced when you first start”, Mr. Evan Niebur said.

Being a hiker and climber requires a lot of confidence. Niebur got introduced when he was in fifth grade when his older brother would take him climbing.

He fell in love with the outdoors right then and there when he spent a week in the Colorado woods, learning about Colorado’s history.

Niebur feels like when he’s in nature he can really feel the interconnectivity of everything. He sees the snow melt that forms rivers, rivers that form valleys, and valleys that form mountains. He sees how animal life and the ecosystem fits together, too.

“I think that seeing the interconnectivity of nature helps me to understand how God is interacting with all of humanity and the world,” he says.

An experience that captured all of this was when he was 14 or 15 in high school.

He climbed Pikes Peak and found true happiness. But as he got more experienced, he tackled tougher climbs. That led to a near death experience while climbing Capitol Peak. “Capitol peak probably was the scariest,” Niebur said. “The knife edge is very notorious on Capitol peak. It’s 1000s of feet on both sides. And it’s kind of a slick point where you’re kind of to straddle it.”

Niebur says that “When you’re hanging off of a rock and you’re trying to find a foothold and you’re 1000s of feet up in the air, there’s a lot of room for error. Sometimes there can be loose rock, which is really bad if a hold were to break.”

But even while hanging over cliffs, Niebur says it’s still fun.

“The mountain allows you to climb it.

The mountain is much more powerful and much stronger than you are,” Neibur said.

MEET OUR TEACHERS ELEVATE 17

ELEVATE SPRING

ANNA LANTZ ‘22

PLAYING WITH A PASSION, Lantz dribbles the ball up the field in an attempt to score for Regis Jesuit.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

SAM LITTLE ‘22

DO YOU EVEN LIFT?

Little is elevated in a line-out to help the Boys Rugby team catch the ball and dominate their opponents.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

PEYTON BEAUMONT ‘22

ENTERING FAST into the wall while racing, Beaumont can’t be stopped.

Photo by Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22

TRISTAN CHRISTOFFERSON ‘22

BLESSED AND VOLLEYBALL OBSESSED Christofferson jumps into the air, ready to smash the ball to the other side.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

MAYSUN SIMONSON ‘23

JUMPING FOR JOY Simonson leaps through the air in a long jump event during a Track and Field meet.

Photo by Owen Weis ‘24.

18 ELEVATE SPRING SPORTS

CHARLIE ROGAN ‘22

SLIDES INTO HOME plate with a home run fast and smooth to score for the Raiders.

Photo by Sarah Faestel ‘22

SPRING SPORTS

AS THE WEATHER HEATS UP SO DOES THE COMPETITON JAMIE ROSENZWEIG ‘24 & FLETCHER SULLIVAN ‘23

BROMANCE NEVER STOPS for the lacrosse team when they score point.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22

LET THE GAMES BEGIN in the stands on campus. After a season of precautions and limited guests, the community gathers again to celebrate the goals and accomplishments of our student athletes. Regis Jesuit athletes were busy this Spring dominating 5A leagues and reaching new goals.

PARIS CORPORON ‘22 & ELSA PATER ‘22 SENIOR STARS Paris Corporon ‘22 high fives teammate Elsa Pater ‘22 during the announcement of the starting line, while Emily Bradac ‘23 and Gabriela Contos ‘23 embrace the spirit.

Photo by Reilly Wible ‘22.

ANNA NEFF ‘22 AND ELISE HOLT ‘24

SERVE LINE 3 DOUBLES. Neff (at net) and Holt (back) battle Rock Canyon in a very tough, windy match.

Photo by Tanner Smith ‘22

ELLA DENSLOW ‘23

AND THE GIRLS GOLD TEAM has hit the links this spring with impressive scores in multiple tournaments Photo by Ella Miller ‘23

SPRING SPORTS ELEVATE 19

ELEVATE SPRING

MISSY FRANKLIN ‘13 MAKING HER SPLASH Interview by Madeline Hepworth ‘25

HOW HAS/DID REGIS JESUIT IMPACT YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER?

200 M BACKSTROKE 2:00.03 at the 2011 World Cup in Berlin, Germany on October 22, 2011 at the age of 16

4 X 100 M MEDLEY RELAY 3:45.56 at the 2011 Duel in the Pool in Atlanta, Gerogia, US on December 16, 2011 at the age of 16

200 M BACKSTROKE 2:04.06 at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK on August 3, 2012 at the age of 17

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS ATHLETICALLY AND PERSONALLY?

FRANKLIN: Regis gave me an unbelievable high school experience, both educationally and athletically. Being able to compete for my high school swim team for four years was truly a dream come true.

Swimming for Regis brought me back to my love for the sport, allowed me to form incredible relationships with my teammates and coaches, and allowed me to be a part of something so much bigger than myself.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENT ATHLETES? FRANKLIN: Communicate, communicate, communicate!

With your parents, teachers, and coaches. Let everyone know what is going on and when, so that you have a full support system helping you to achieve your goals. It’s all about balance, and it is a total juggling act.

Know which balls are glass and which are plastic, and adjust according to your priorities.

We are student-athletes for a reason. If you feel confident in your studies and in the classroom, it will make working hard and achieving in your sport that much easier. Enjoy every moment. You are only in this phase of your life once, so enjoy every second and be as present as you can. Learn as much as possible so that moving forward, you know you are capable of

FRANKLIN: Just wanting to push myself to see what I was capable of. To me, there is no better feeling than setting an impossibly high goal for yourself and chasing after it with everything you have. Even if you don’t get there, you learn so much along the journey, and it’s the journey itself and not the destination that makes the fight worthwhile.

Franklin’s book Relentless Spirit is published through Penguin Publishing Group (2016)

handling whatever life throws at you. Also, invest in your relationships right now. Some of my high school friends and teammates remain my closest friends and greatest support system to this day.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PURSUE SWIMMING? WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION?

HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES, EXPECTATIONS AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AS A STUDENT ATHLETE? FRANKLIN: It is an incredible challenge, and we need to recognize that. We need to recognize all that we have on our plates and learn to take care of ourself and integrate rest and recuperation into our routine as a backbone of what we do. We need to surround ourselves with people who remind us of who we are and why we do what we do everyday, and who will support us through all the highs and lows. Most importantly, we need to make sure that we aren’t intertwining our identity with our achievements and failures.

You are so much more than your greatest failure and your biggest achievement.

Q& LUMNI SPOTLI A 4 X 100 M MEDLEY RELAY

3:52.05 at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, UK on August 4, 2012 at the age of 17

20 ELEVATE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: MISSY FRANKLIN ‘13

FRANKLIN: It has always been the thing that I loved most in the world. It was what brought me joy, and I knew that if I had joy and love for what I was doing every day, it would make even the hardest days worth it.

TY BLACH ‘09 ON THE MOUND Interview by Hudson Ridley ‘22 & Brandon Severns ‘22

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MECHANIC TO PITCHING?

BLACH: To me it means breeding the hitter. So me, I’m not going to overpower anybody so I have to be able to understand how to change speeds, how to hit the corners, and understand which corner to hit. At any certain point a hitter could be looking for one side of the plate to the other. So for me, I have to be able to see the bigger picture and see what that hitter is trying to do and how he’s trying to approach what I’m doing on the mount. And then I have to be able to adapt from there and execute pitches on either side of the plate at any given speed.

BLACH: I think the most important mechanic to pitching comes down to your mental ability to repeat your delivery. So I guess it would be repeatability, which is the most important mechanic in my opinion. If you can repeat what you’re doing on a consistent basis then you’ll be able to use those mechanics that you have in order to execute a pitch.

HOW TOUGH IS IT TO ADD NEW PITCHES WHEN GETTING USED TO THAT REPEATABILITY AND WHEN DO YOU ADD IN THOSE NEW PITCHES? BLACH: Unless you have that repeatability in your delivery, the key to adding new pitches is to be mentally quiet and not to overthink it. So you’re not thinking about the mechanics as you’re thinking about throwing, you’re trying for the feel. What happens from a broad perspective of how my whole body is moving, to where is this ball coming off of my fingertips?

How am I releasing it? Are my fingers coming through the baseball? For me, that started in high school after a couple different pitches, but my first year of college I really learned how to throw a change up, which was huge for me. I’ve developed different ranking balls that I throw, like a cutter and a curve

LIGHT

Blach spent four years on the mound of the San Francisco Giants and is now back home pitching for the Colorado Rockies. Photo by donjd2 Creative Commons 2.0

ball as well. And it takes years to master those things. Although, some guys can take it up in a week and some guys it takes them months to learn how to throw the right pitch. So it takes time, and it takes understanding of how your body works and finding things that are gonna be able to help you to execute those pitches at a high level.

HAVE YOU FOUND IT HARDER FOR SOME PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS TO FIND THEIR MECHANICS AND THEIR RHYTHM? BLACH: I think what that comes down to is the guys who were using some sort of substance, it was mostly in their head. They

felt like they needed that thing to pitch a baseball, to throw a strike. What we’ve seen since the crackdown is that guys are still throwing strikes, but it’s maybe not with the increased speed and they’re not getting fastballs that spin faster, therefore carry higher and I think that is the biggest difference.

It’s not necessarily your ability to feel the baseball or repeat your mechanics, it’s more of a mental thing about just trusting what your body is doing and that you can throw those pitches.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PAINTING CORNERS AND BEING A PAINTER OVERALL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

CAREER WINS

17 INNINGS PITCHED

334 STRIKE OUTS

184

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: TY BLACH ‘09 ELEVATE 21

ELEVATE SPRING

A PLAYBOOK FOR LIVING A LIFE FOR OTHERS A Guest Tribute by Damian Mencini ‘10

Lessons from Coach Shaw at Regis Jesuit High School

N

otching 800 basketball wins is an amazing accomplishment, but measuring Coach Ken Shaw’s legendary career coaching basketball simply on the basis of wins—or championships—doesn’t do it justice. What Coach Shaw brought to Colorado basketball and Regis Jesuit High School is way more than wins on a court. He has built a legacy; and along the way, Shaw gave every player he coached a playbook for life.

Most who walk by Coach Shaw’s office or the R.J. Demps Team Room may think it’s just like other basketball teams’ spaces.

There are champion plaques and player banners, a bunch of “RJ” basketball logos, and loads of Nike swooshes. But a keen eye would notice that beneath all the typical high school sports paraphernalia that there’s a lot more going on than coaching basketball.

There are a lot of quotes on signs and placards. Right next to Coach Shaw’s office there is a plastic hanging folder with a black-andwhite paper. “Character beats talent, when talent doesn’t have character!”

22 ELEVATE COACH SHAW

it says. The door to of R.J. Demps Team Room always has a quote for that day’s practice like, “When it’s only about you, you do what’s best for you. If it’s about something bigger, you do what’s right.”

Every player who trained under Coach Shaw saw or heard more of these inspirational quotes than we could count. Every varsity player was even required to purchase a binder for them because he would pass out papers after practice full of inspirational stories, basketball strategies, or motivational quotes— especially quotes from Steve Nash (Shaw’s favorite player).

But how realistic is it really that a teenage high schooler is paying attention, better yet embracing these wisdoms? As a player on 2009 and 2010 State Championship teams—one of the biggest of honors of my life to this day—I read maybe 25 percent of these papers when I was sitting in the team room. I can remember being too exhausted from a grueling practice, caring more about checking my phone, or thinking I was cooler than I certainly was. It’s safe to say reflecting on my character or my decision-making wasn’t my top priority.

Like many things in life, however, your priorities are different than they were in high school. It has been over a decade since I had the privilege of sitting in that team room and I find myself cherishing my binder—my playbook—even more than my two championship rings. It’s clear to me now that Coach Shaw, remarkably, was developing us as people as much as he was coaching us how to win. These papers we haphazardly shoved into our binders were meant to not only tell us why rebounding is important, but also to provide us with the building blocks to construct our character.

If you look closely at the Team Room, the jerseys, and the gear, you will see another logo. You will see a see five-pointed star with a big “A” in the middle flanked by an “H” and “W.” Coach Shaw designed this logo and it is the core pillar of his coaching philosophy—“Attitude and hard work are your only guarantees.”

I can’t tell you how many times or to how many hundreds of players Coach Shaw said this simple yet deceptively powerful phrase.

On the court, it means that you can’t control your talent, how tall you are, or how fast you are, but there

are two things you can control—your two guarantees—how hard you work and whether you have a positive attitude.

To this day, Shaw’s logo hangs above my desk. It has been a cornerstone principle in my life.

Whether in college, at work, in my marriage, or in any life pursuit, I’ve found Coach Shaw’s philosophy to be a guiding light.

But off the court, I’ve also come to realize that it reflects a deeper commitment to Jesuit ideals and education: living a life with and for others. It means keeping your chin up when faced with adversity, and keeping your chin down to better yourself and those around you. The motto applies whether you’re trying to be a better teammate, student, colleague, spouse, parent, or person trying to improve someone else’s life.

Now, make no mistake, Coach Shaw’s incredible 800 wins and only state titles for Regis Jesuit’s Boys Division in the school’s storied history is something to celebrate.

But we should also be honoring the legacy he leaves off the court and to the legion of players he has coached over the decades. He’s improved countless lives already, and I’m

by Molly Nichols ‘23 Reporting by: AJ Dugan ‘24 and Owen Casey ‘25

confident will continue to change more and more as his players leave the court behind them. I’m forever grateful for Coach Shaw’s compassion, leadership, and indelible mark on my life, as I’m sure many others are too.

THE LEGENDARY COACH SHAW A fter over eight hundred game wins and five state titles, two as a player and three consecutive titles as a coach, Ken Shaw has become one of the most successful coaches in Colorado and beyond.

He was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame in 2017 and explains that being involved in the basketball world is his passion and something that led him from being a player to his role now as an all-star coach.

And I’d implore you—regardless of whether you’ve ever picked up a basketball—to consider championing the same belief: attitude and hard work are your only guarantees.

Damian Mencini (‘10) was a member of the 2009 and 2010 Regis Jesuit State Championship Boys Basketball Teams and is the youngest of four brothers to attend Regis Jesuit High School (Brandon ‘98, Justin ‘00, Nathan ‘05). Damian lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Courtenay.

Left: Mencini and Shaw at Ball Arena.

Above: Mencini embraces coach Shaw with appreciation and gratitude for his commitment to coaching Mencini during his high school career. Photos provided by Damian Mencini ‘10

“A game like basketball is a very skilled type of game, but you have to be willing to work hard,” Shaw says, “and that’s what makes good teams

and good players.”

Even in the years where the basketball team did not emerge as State Champions, they had immense amounts of talent and learned valuable skills to carry forward into following seasons.

Shaw enjoys a fast paced game with lots of energy and seeing how players can manage that pressure through the way that they handle the ball or shoot. Basketball, he says, is a sport where you can tell that the players have a sincere passion for the game and to this day is still the activity that Shaw loves most.

by Mason Harris ‘24

AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER I

The telltale story of Dan Woodley’s remarkable coaching and playing career t’s Saturday, June 21, 1986.

It’s the biggest night of the year for many, including Dan Woodley, an all-star hockey player for the Portland Winterhawks, a Western Hockey League team.

Coming off a career year, he was poised for success in the National Hockey League. So, he entered the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. The clock began to tick as the draft officially began. Minutes passed, and other players started to fly off the board.

Eventually, the Vancouver Canucks were up at seventh overall. At that moment, he learned that they were selecting him with their first pick. A jolt of excitement and nervousness rushed through his body. He had never been recognized at this level before.

Despite his newfound recognition, he had never thought about playing beyond his high school’s Junior B-team. He grew up in a small town, Colwood, southwest of Victoria. His father coached the tightly-knit team.

Despite the nature of the group, they

“ “

weren’t overly successful for the first few years. He constantly aspired for recognition, particularly from the Victoria Cougars, but he was rejected instantly.

“I was told at one point that I was too small, and I wasn’t a good enough skater and that I was going to struggle,” he said.

The rejection lit a fire under him, and he began on a journey no one could have predicted. The following year, he had an astounding amount of success. He would arrive hours before practice every day and stay hours after practice to improve. He hated losing to the point where he would reflect on losses for months.

So, he began to minimize his mistakes, and his team compiled more wins than ever.

In his final year, his team was wildly successful and earned the right to host the Memorial Cup, the national championship in the Canadian Hockey League. He was enthralled with hockey, thinking

YOU’VE GOT THIS IMMEASURABLE ABILITY TO HELP KIDS STACK UP THROUGH THIS LANGUAGE OF HOCKEY, AND HOW TO MEASURE THEMSELVES THROUGH TRUTH, WHICH IS THIS AMAZING, SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE. I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. YOU TAUGHT ME THAT, IF YOU CAN GET TO THE RINK, IT’S GOING TO BE AN ADVENTURE”

Zach Bloom ‘06.

YOU TAUGHT ME A LOT ON AND OFF THE ICE: HOW TO BE A BETTER PLAYER, A BETTER MAN, AND A BETTER PERSON”

Connor Brennan ‘15.

“

about it every day. His goal was within reach, and soon enough, the Portland Winterhawks recognized his abilities and aspirations, which led to his stellar career that spanned across multiple leagues.

After a decade of stellar play, he made the tough decision to retire in 1995. Following his impressive career, he decided to take some time away from the game. Though his love for the game persisted, it began to fade away due to the sheer amount of time and effort each year requires.

In 2007, he decided to become the coach of the Regis Jesuit varsity hockey team. In his third year, the team posted an admirable record of 20-1-1. However, the team didn’t stop there, winning the state championship with a double-overtime 3-2 victory. The next year, the team went undefeated and captured another state title.

In his decade plus of coaching, he turned the team into a powerhouse, capturing numerous state titles.

“

I APPRECIATE ALL THE EXPERTISE AND WISE HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE EVERY ONE OF US BETTER“

Nicholas Shultz ‘19.

MY FAVORITE MEMORY WAS WHEN WE CAME BACK AGAINST MONARCH, AND WE BEAT THEM 2-1 IN OVERTIME. WOODLEY WAS SUPER INSPIRING DURING THAT GAME, AND HE GAVE US THE KICK THAT WE NEEDED TO COME BACK AND BEAT THOSE GUYS“

Andre Dugas ‘16.

His overall coaching record at the Raiders’ helm is an impressive 30844-11.

Beyond his success on the ice, he also fostered a culture of care, responsibility and service on the team that extended beyond the players and coaches to the families and even the greater community.

Through all the adversity, he’s able to reflect on one thing that changed the course of his life and career. ”The losing has motivated me far more than any winning,” he continued. “That made all the difference.”

“

HE ALWAYS TAUGHT US TO BE COMPETITIVE, PLAY WITH POISE, AND TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM UNDER PRESSURE. THAT’S BEEN A BIT OF ADVICE THAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE INTO MY LIFE OUTSIDE OF HOCKEY”

Luke Slouka ‘14.

COACH WOODLEY ELEVATE 23

ELEVATE SPRING

AN INSTRUCTOR

LEADS STUDENTS

DIVERSITY DAY LOOKING AT CULTURES AROUND THE GLOBE REGIS JESUIT celebrates its annual Diversity Day on March 8, 2022 with music, food, and presentations from students, staff, and guest speakers.

TAIGA CONWELL ‘23 & HARRY LIN ‘23 POUR TEA for students to enjoy during the Tea Time with Taiga workshop.

Photo by Maxwell Larson ‘23

MR. EVAN NIEBUR LISTENS TO A GUEST SPEAKER

during Diversity day.

Photo by Maxwell Larson ‘23 24 ELEVATE DIVERSITY DAY

through Krav Maga, the Israeli art of self defense.

Photo by Andrew Massie ‘23

MUSICIAN GREGORY NISNEVICH PLAYS RUSSIAN MUSIC for students to

MR. ERIC CAHN

immerse themselves in different cultures.

Photo by Nick Marks ‘24

TELLS STUDENTS about his experience as a Holocaust survivor.

Photo by Maxwell Larson ‘23

MR. DAVENPORT ‘04

LAUGHS DURING A LIGHT-HEARTED moment at a workshop examining Japan through Anime.

Photo by Maxwell Larson ‘23

A PERFORMER

FROM AT THE TABLE WITH DR. KING sings a

song at the end of Diversity Day. Photo by Nick Marks ‘24

MS. CHRIS LAYNE

TELLS HER STORY of challenge and resilience.

Photo by Maxwell Larson ‘23

DIVERSITY DAY ELEVATE 25

ELEVATE SPRING

OPINION

Nothing published either as an op-ed, editorial, or as a letter to the editor should be considered the opinion of the school, the administration, or anyone other than its author or authors. Bylined commentaries reflect opinions of the writers. Unattributed editorials represent opinion of the magazine’s editors and its staff. A staff editorial is the opinion of the majority of staff editors. A commentary or column is the opinion of one member of the staff, not the publication itself. An op-ed, like a commentary, is the opinion of one person, often an Elevate staff member. Read our full Mission and Procedures at rjmedianow.com/about

ARE WE PUTTING ‘KIDS FIRST’?

by Jacob Gold ‘23

DCSD Firing is a Sign of Dangerous Partisanship in Schools

“

Oh, can I go home?” whined Douglas County School Board member Becky Myers during a vote to remove now-former superintendent Corey Wise from the district in early February.

After a three-hour emergency meeting in which public comment — normally allowed in any board meeting — was not permitted, four members voted to fire Wise without any official reason.

Amid sorry excuses from board members claiming they had “trust issues” and that they didn’t have faith in Wise to be a “leader,” it was clear that the firing wasn’t about the students; it was about something far more malevolent.

The controversy has garnered regional, state, and even national attention from both critics and supporters. However, the board’s malfeasance started before the Wise firing was even mentioned — at least publicly.

Denver 7 reported that four conservative board members met outside of the board room and away from public view just a few days before the firing occurred. Wise was sent an email urging him to resign from his job or wait to be voted out by the secret majority. If the accusations of these secret meetings were true, it would mean that

the members had violated Colorado open meeting statutes.

The reason for the threats wasn’t immediately clear – Wise was very popular among students and teachers alike.

One student even said he was “in shock... because there was really no reason to fire him,” according to Rocky Mountain PBS. Some student protesters, according to RMPBS, said that the decision may have had something to do with the board’s controversy surrounding their equity policy. The policy, in part, reads that the district will not condone “biased, inequitable, racist, or exclusive practices.”

In mid-January, the board voted to change the policy due to parent concerns that the district would be teaching “critical race theory” to its students.

In the last few months, critical race theory has become a far-right buzzword in limiting schools from teaching about racism, segregation, and even the holocaust. School boards and state legislatures alike have made bold moves in limiting school curriculum. Texas’ House Bill 3979 made strides in the state legislature to limit the way schools can talk about race in America.

Florida’s House Bill 248 did the same. Even more recently, a Tennessee school

district banned “Maus,” a book meant to teach readers about the atrocities of Germany in World War II. It would appear, based on the board’s recent actions, that they plan to extend the use of the phrase to eliminate policies preventing racism in the classroom.

The board’s decision to change policies about equity and to fire anyone who gets in their way falls in line with recent handling of national issues of race in America.

But perhaps the most ironic thing about all of this is that all four board members conspiring to bring these changes to Douglas County campaigned under the guise of non-partisanship.

As it turns out, all four campaigned under the slogan “Kids First” in their recent elections to the board. Their website’s “About” page even tells constituents that “It is time to put Douglas County kids first and get politics out of our schools.”

More recently, a Douglas County judge ruled that “Kids First” board members had violated open meeting law in their secret discussions to oust Wise, according to an article by 9 News. While it does condemn the corruption that occurred and demands that further meetings take place in clear view of constituents, it carries no disciplinary weight to correct

the members’ actions.

Despite being an apparent step in the right direction, it leaves the county in peril at the hands of politicians who have already chosen to simply disregard the law.

There’s no more room in this country to tolerate lies, corruption, and censorship.

As a region, as a state, and as a country, it is our responsibility to stand up for the truth at all levels of society.

The truth is that nothing about firing an empathetic, passionate superintendent like Corey Wise puts kids first. Changing equity policies to appeal more to parents who would rather pretend that racism doesn’t exist isn’t putting kids first. Ignoring the voices of students, parents, and teachers in favor of advancing a political agenda isn’t putting kids first.

Of course, con artists like “Kids First” board members need to be held accountable, but this isn’t enough on its own. We must take steps to ensure that our education system isn’t precluded by disinformation and lies. Using our votes to keep malicious politicians’ hands off curriculum is only the start.

There’s a need for meaningful change in how we establish instructional standards in this country.

WE GET LETTERS. Letters to the editor are encouraged. A letter will be published only if it includes a name and a signature. Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine’s staff or of Regis Jesuit High School. Letters sent between Elevate’s quarterly print editions will be published online and then in the next print edition.

26 ELEVATE OPINION

OPINION

HOW FAR WE’VE COME Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Historic Confirmation

by Grant Barnes ‘23

“

It has taken 232 years and

115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. But we’ve made it. We’ve made it, all of us. All of us.” – Ketanji Brown Jackson.

English scientist Sir Isacc Newton famously wrote in a letter: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” Newly confirmed associate justice-designate of the Supreme Court of the United States, Kentanji Brown Jackson recognized the shoulders on which she stood. Historic trail blazers such as Dr. Matin Luther King Jr, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Justice Ruth Bater Ginsburg among others paved the way for her to have a seat on the highest court in the U.S. With the announced retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer, President Joe Biden was tasked with nominating a new justice to the Supreme Court.

Successfully completing hours of questioning about her work and life experiences during her confirmation hearings, she proved to be a qualified candidate.

President Joe Biden fulfilled one of his promises to make the Supreme Court a better representation of the American people: Americans like me.

“It’s a powerful thing when people can see themselves in others,” Biden stated during his speech celebrating the historic confirmation. “And that’s one of the reasons I so strongly believed we needed a court that looks like America.”

My grandparents experienced Black America during the Jim Crow era, defined by distinct lines of division and segregation. They faced hate head on for being who they were. They were smart, kind, loving people, but they were also black. Laws and regulations were made to stifle the progress

of people like them. It seemed impossible for a person of color to achieve a role in government, especially at the national level.

Just 50 years later, I’ve been able to see the first African American elected President of the United States in 2008 and re-elected for a second term in 2012. Barack Obama showed the world that a black man could be President of the United States.

I have seen the first black and Asian woman become Vice President of the United States.

Kamala Harris showed the world that a woman and a person of color could become the Vice President of the United States.

And most recently, I have seen Ketanji Brown Jackson nominated and confirmed to be a justice on the Supreme Court.

Jackson showed the world that a black woman can be seated at such a prestigious table.

Most importantly, my grandmother was able to see this

GLOBAL GRIDLOCK “

by Jacob Gold ‘23

Where is the security that the Security Council needs to guarantee?”

That’s one of many questions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has implored the United Nations to answer as of late. Who can blame him for wondering?

We all expect the UN to have some sort of magical power to stop atrocities in the world, despite our better judgment.

After all, their declared purpose is to encourage cooperation among different groups and to prosecute those who violate international law, right? Every time a major human rights abuse happens in the world, we ask them to end the violence. At times, it results in a strongly-worded condemnation or a few economic sanctions. But

all happen in her lifetime.

There will soon be one more person who understands the black experience and the important responsibilities of a mother in America who will have a voice in the important decisions that impact all of our lives. She is a model for everyone, but most importantly little girls and children of color will see themselves in her. Jackson proves that we are inching towards the idea of a more perfect union our country was supposedly founded on.

As a country we are moving in the direction of equal representation and opportunity for all people, regardless of color, race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

Who knows what opportunities will be available to our children?

Their opportunities only expand when people like Ketanji Brown Jackson continue to make history.

Paralyzed UN Should be Anything But a Surprise

resolutions are scarcely quick and virtually never meaningful.

predictably, remained in deadlock.

The latest country to throw away the rule book is Russia.

In their invasion of Ukraine, their government has flagrantly shown how little international law matters. Massive bombings of civilian targets, public executions of protesters, and kidnapping of Ukrainian citizens are just a few of the atrocities Russia doesn’t seem to mind committing. Despite verified reports, it took well over a month to remove Russia from the Human Rights Council — a symbolic action, at best.

Despite a dramatic speech

by UN ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya in which he told the UN to “act now or it might be too late,” the Security Council,

Perhaps a better question to ask is why we ever expect the UN to take serious action in stopping violence. The General Assembly, where every country has a voice, has few weapons other than words and economic sanctions.

The Human Rights Council, which Russia has been suspended from, effectively only investigates violations and issues declarations.

The only part of the UN with potential to stop the abuse is the Security Council, which grants veto powers to each member. In other words, all member nations on the council, including Russia, must reach a consensus to act.

The UN is plagued by the same problem that has existed throughout human history. No

organization can keep the peace when the most violent person in the room gets the final say, and the UN allows for just that.

That being said, the organization has been able to treat the symptoms of catastrophe with humanitarian aid. It does provide for arbitration of smaller disputes without war, and it does provide the world with a way to monitor conditions in war-torn countries when fighting erupts.

To express, as some have, that the UN’s flaws are enough to make it worth tearing down is somewhat extreme. But for those who want an organization responsible for preventing violence, it’s time to start looking elsewhere.

OPINION ELEVATE 27

ELEVATE SPRING

OPINION

by Lyric Swift ‘23 and Reza Moaddeli ‘23

TO SEE ALL THINGS NEW IN CHRIST Students Reflect on Diversity Day 2022 T

he keynote speakers are always intriguing and really set the tone for the day. We still remember the keynote from freshman year: Sr. Helen Prejean. St. Helen is a pro-life activist who speaks against the death penalty. Her speech was a powerful life lesson on the importance of human life. The compassion St. Helen has for every person is an admirable trait that we can all learn from. This year, we hosted Ms. Gloria Purvis, who had a very similar message. Ms. Purvis is an African-American author, commentator and host of the Gloria Purvis Podcast hosted by AMERICA Media. She spoke to us about the intersectionality of supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and being pro-life. She was very clear that both deal with the importance of human life.

Diversity Day is truly one of the parts of Regis Jesuit that teaches the whole person.

The keynote speakers share things that we are going through and already have encountered in our day-today lives. We are introduced to ideas that come from a variety of cultures and perspectives on things we have been taught and those that are outside of our normal experiences, but everything touches on who we are as humans in this world.

Beyond the keynote, we love the different options for

28 ELEVATE OPINION

the great workshop sessions Diversity Day allows us to engage in. If there is a topic you’d like to learn more about, there is most likely a workshop for it. Getting the chance to be with our friends, pick great sessions and learn about new things all in one day makes it exciting. We often wish Diversity Day was Diversity Week instead because there are so many good workshops it is hard to choose just three. We stressed picking our workshops this year until we remembered that it’s not about what sessions you pick. You could pick the “worst” ones and still have a great experience because you get out of it what you put into it. Diversity Day teaches you that everyone’s story is different, and everyone has challenges that help them get to where they are. We learned that in all our sessions this year.

LYRIC’S REFLECTION One of the things that challenged me to grow during Diversity Day, besides being presented with all the new ideas and possibilities, was stepping out of my comfort zone and picking sessions that my friends were not attending. I knew that if I picked different sessions, it would help me focus and grow because I would not be worried about what my friends were doing. One of the workshops that really

resonated with me this year was “Real Life Conversations with Mrs. Ames.” It was a panel discussion with several people who willingly shared their stories and the lesson that they learned from their experiences. It was really powerful. The main lesson that I learned was that you cannot let your past define you. What you can do is start where you are now and continue from there to make a better life for yourself. It is never too late to change your life; you just have to have the courage to try.

REZA’S REFLECTION Leading a workshop this year was amazing.

In November, I went to Washington DC for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTJ) with a group of students from Regis Jesuit. IFTJ is a gathering of students from all over the country who are committed to working for justice as our Catholic faith calls us to do. At IFTJ, we listened to a speech from Fr. Bryan Massingale, a priest who works at Fordham University and is a leader in the field of theological ethics. He spoke on wage gaps and the ways that the gap affects black vs. white Americans differently.

Fr. Massingale shared with us a game he plays with his college students that is a spin-off of Monopoly. Depending on the piece you choose at the

beginning, you are assigned a predetermined set of money and social setbacks.

The idea is to simulate how, in America, depending on whether you are born white or nonwhite determines your different extended privileges and amenities. After we returned from the TeachIn this year, our delegation decided to offer a workshop at Diversity Day to share this game with our peers and then have a conversation about it. After we played a round of the game, our discussion was awesome. It was nice to see the students recognize how unfair things can be for people who aren’t born as lucky as we all are.

Even after we leave Regis Jesuit, Diversity Day will always be one of the things that we remember because it is simply amazing. It is truly inspiring, and we are excited to be a part of the planning committee next year as seniors.

This reflection was originally written and published for the April 2022 issue of The Raider Connection.

WE GET LETTERS. Letters to the editor are encouraged. A letter will be published only if it includes a name and a signature. Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine’s staff or of Regis Jesuit High School. Letters sent between Elevate’s quarterly print editions will be published online and then in the next print edition.

T

OPINION

by Ayva Gallagher ‘24

WE ARE EARTH’S WORST ENEMY Plastic and Other Trash Pose a Threat to Life As We Know It I magine a world filled with trash and debris. The air becomes less and less fresh as it gets more polluted. Tons of trash surround the beaches. As every day passes, the chance of success for future generations decreases. Plants and animals are going extinct and the world as you know it is slowly rotting away.

Well, you don’t have to imagine, because you’re living in that world.

Humans generate enormous amounts of garbage every year, roughly 2 billion tons. All of this waste is threatening our environment’s health, safety, and well being. The trash in our world is killing off species of wildlife and plants one by one. This isn’t just something that effects individual people, but something that is slowly destroying the world as a whole and life as we know it. All the debris that isn’t dealt with properly travels through rivers and oceans as it harms habitats, human resources, aquatic life, wildlife, the air, etc.

In order to save our earth and leave it in better condition for future generations to come, people must dispose of all trash (especially plastic) correctly so it doesn’t end up in places it shouldn’t. Not only do we have to recycle, but volunteering at

places like beaches or helping with river cleanup can really make a difference.

Millions of tons of plastic trash litter coastlines and oceans.

Humans are creating and using plastic at a higher rate than ever before, which means more plastic is finding its way into the oceans and impacting wildlife and ecosystems. There is a patch in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California that is known as the Great Garbage Patch. It is quite literally a pile of trash in the water. According to the Ocean Cleanup the GPGP is the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world.

The patch covers an estimated surface area of just over 617,762 square miles. This patch has now grown to be about 1.6 million square kilometers and contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic floating around and settling beneath the surface. The surface area of the GPGP is roughly twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.

The problem is that plastic is everywhere. We use plastic all the time in our daily lives. We drink from it, eat with it, and buy products wrapped in it. What makes matters worse is that the production of plastic has also

increased as society has grown.

The higher the demand for plastic, the more plastic is produced, and the more plastic there is to stick around. The average amount of plastic waste an American creates every year is roughly 279 pounds.

That’s about 332,278,200 pounds produced yearly in the United States alone.

As more and more people come into the world, more trash accumulates. The amount of plastic waste throughout the world is predicted to nearly double by 2025. If the current rate of trash production doesn’t decrease, it is possible that the world could be covered in trash by the year 2157.

With the earth practically covered with trash it will be difficult for life to thrive. Humans need to conserve the space in our landfills which will help reduce the need for them. The more landfills we use, the amount of open space in the world decreases, and so does its value. With more and more landfills, the pollution gets worse only causing our environment more pain than efficiency.

Some say that one single plastic water bottle won’t do any harm, but studies prove that only about 9% of plastic gets recycled, leaving the other 91% to end up in landfills or the ocean. Some animals

affected by trash can be treated and helped, but studies show that over one million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic.

There are no veterinarians in the middle of the ocean, although some animals get lucky if a person spots them and saves them.

The Great Garbage Patch is a major problem in our ocean caused by too many landfills and people not dealing with their plastic appropriately.

Mistreatment of our world is causing global warming, air and water pollution, extinction of animal species, destruction of habitats, environments, and more.

Wildlife numbers are decreasing and the world as we know it is slowly sinking in a hole that’s getting harder and harder to dig back out of. Without action, our planet will no longer be a safe and healthy place to live. We don’t want to leave our future generations with no opportunity to experience wildlife or the beauty of nature. In order to save this planet we need to make a change.

Actions as simple as recycling your plastic bottles or dedicating your time to help clean up a beach can help.

ELEVATE STAFF

STAFF EDITORIAL

Thank you for your continued readership of Elevate magazine. Our staff is proud to produce a magazine that highlights the strengths, talents, and characters of our community and its members. We are grateful for the support we have received while producing artistically fascinating and journalistic stories. We hope that you will take the opportunity to read the contents of the magazine thoroughly and acknowledge the perseverance it has taken for it to be created.

We are grateful.

We are grateful for the continued support our staff has received this year. It has not

been easy. We have faced difficulties headon and learned from those experiences. We hope that everyone learns and grows from the difficulties in their own lives.

We are grateful for our previous advisers who taught us so much. We are grateful for the previous Elevate staff; know your work will not be forgotten.

As an editorial staff, we have a goal to accurately represent everyone in our community. Acknowledging and amplifying the diversity of thought that exists in our school is essential to our mission. Meeting that goal is not an easy task, but something that we are always working towards. Read

about our full mission and procedures at rjmedianow.com/about.

We welcome and encourage ideas, feedback, and letters to the editor. Elevate Magazine Club is open to all students, and we encourage any student who wants to write, take photos, or design for Elevate to do so. Reach out to us at: rjmedia@regisjesuit.com.

We look forward to our work at Elevate continuing to be an important voice at Regis Jesuit and providing a forum for all ideas and perspectives.

OPINION ELEVATE 29

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE Girls Division Chorale gave the gift of song for the whole school to enjoy during the closing ceremonies for Diversity Day. The Boys Division gym was packed full of students, teachers, special guests, and presenters.

Photo by Nick Marks ‘24