Finalpulse1 3

PULSE Man Of Steele Fr. Phill Steele ‘66

The Beauty Revolution

Recognizing beauty beyond influence

RJ Looks Forward Plans for the future of RJ

[RJ ]

People Of

An Award Winning Student Publication

| Vol 1.Issue 3 | April, 2015

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REGIS JESUIT HS | AURORA,CO

RJ Media operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students.

RJ MEDIA

STAFF

Megan Jones ‘15 & Maddie Merritt ‘16............... Co-Editors In Chief Cristian Adams, Noah Sakr, Mason Scheer,, Ben Steyaert, Joey Bonnel, Jonah Cohen, Nick Tirone, Gage Dyer, Mitchell Bickmire, Connor Chase, Zach Bodeau, Mark Ahern, Nick Iwata, Jack Harden ................ Editors

RJTODAY.ORG & SOCIAL MEDIA Nathan Shutts ‘16............... Editor In Chief Patrick Britti ‘17 ..................... Managing Editor Megan Jones ‘15 .........Managing Editor Sarah Darley ‘17 .........Associate Editor

RJTV Mason Scheer ‘15 & Drake Emlong ‘16............... Producers Matt Shanahan ‘16 .............Lead Engineer, Technician Noah Winston ‘18 ...............Associate Engineer Max Zahringer ‘17 .........Lead, Film Production & Events

RJTV SPORTS NETWORK Tyler Ballinger ‘16.............. Lead Announcer, Producer Jack Brown & Ryan Maxfield ‘16.................. Lead Announcers Drake Emlong ‘16................Lead Producer, Engineer Charlie Smith ‘16 ..............Producer Sam Bornhorst ‘17, Alex Osredker ‘16, Patrick Britti ‘17, Noah Sakr ‘16, Myles Murphy ‘18, Patrick Heffernan ‘17........Reporters & Camera Operators

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature. Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the newspaper staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length. The staff will not edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review.

Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedianetwork@gmail.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102).

Visit RJToday.org 2

The publications will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. RJ Media strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, balanced, truthful and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm and act independently. We promise to be transparent, accountable and open. The staff also upholds Ignation values with regard to social justice and openness to growth. The staff prides itself on using the Ignation Pedagogical Paradigm to help make decisions: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

EDITORIAL POLICIES

PULSE MAGAZINE

The staff aims to balance what the audience wants with what it needs, and strives to make solid judgments with regards to news value and news awareness.

The student Editorial Board will have final say in the content of the publications. The advisers advise. The students make the decisions.

The publications advisers will not act as a censor or have final say in determining the content of the newspaper. Rather, the advisers will teach journalistic skills and guide the students in making sound legal and ethical decisions.

The publications advisers are the faculty members who teach the journalism courses and advise the RJ Media clubs.

School officials, administration or faculty and staff, likewise, shall not practice prior review or the have the ability to censor any student publication, with the exception of material deemed to be legally obscene, libelous, substantially and materially disruptive, or coverage on any one of the following three topics: In cases where there is the possibility of coverage on any one of the following three topics, the student reporters and Editorial Board will work closely with the school president and the divisional principals on coverage and content decisions.

1. Obituaries 2. Crimes and situations that are currently in the court of law 3. Termination of employees

The following content is not authorized in any student publication in any way, shape, or form: 1. Expression which is obscene; 2. Expression which is libelous, slanderous, or defamatory under state law; 3. Expression which is false as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern; or 4. Expression which creates a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts (as defined by state or federal law), the violation of school regulations, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or which violates the rights to others privacy or that threatens violence or property to persons.

The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff.

Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked.

In the event of error (or omission, misidentification, etc.) the Editorial Board will attempt to mitigate the damage. Every reasonable precaution is made in avoiding errors, but some amount of error is perhaps inevitable. Each case will be evaluated on its own merit. The Editorial Board welcomes questions, comments, concerns, and complaints.

Reporters for RJ Media will always identify themselves as functioning in that capacity before an interview or a survey. It is not our intention to catch people in embarrassing or misleading questions. The editors reserve the right to correct gross grammatical errors in quotations, if the source’s meaning will be distorted without such editing. Otherwise, quotations will be reported as stated by informed sources.

Sources will not be allowed to read the final text of any story published

by RJ Media prior to publication. Reporters may read back quotations to sources, and will follow up with sources who wish to supplement their initial interviews. They will also follow up on anything that may be unclear or needs further explanation or comment before use in a story. The Editorial Board will consider the relative experience of the source in dealing with the press in each case.

All material published by RJ Media is copyrighted to RJ Media, year and date of original publishing. RJ Media will not publish any material that is a violation of copyright.

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE STORIES Day in the Boys Division..............................15

Man of Steele........................................40-41

Can’t Take My Eyes Off Netflix...............18-19

March Madness ....................................46-47

Standing Up For Life..............................20-21

Red, White, and Blue............................48-49

Beauty Revolution...................................22-23

American Sniper....................................50-51

Act 1 Level 1...........................................24-25

New Generation of Music at RJ............52-53

Sports Superstition ................................30-31

Vaccination............................................54-55

Year of the Arts Retrospect ....................32-33 RJ Looks Forward...................................34-35 Boots for Brains......................................36-37 Equestrians.............................................38-39

PROFILES Kellyn Toole....................................................4

Briauna Hysaw............................................16

Sydney Fillipi..................................................5

Angela Burns..............................................17

Emily Witt......................................................6

Emily Langenderfer ..............................26-27

Olivia Shipp....................................................7

Nick Frasersmith....................................28-29

Jewell Humphrey ..........................................8

Riley O’Connell.....................................42-43

Chrissy Clark..................................................9

Max George..........................................44-45

Mrs. Larsen...................................................10

Mackenzie Austin........................................14

Cristy Sevilla.................................................11

Anne Morrison............................................56

Maddie Merritt & Megan Jones ............12-13

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Triple Threat

By: Emily Eads ‘17

Gymnastics. High Jump. Dive.

Competing at the state level in three completely different sports, the Regis Jesuit senior excels in them all.

The extremely motivated senior has five of these accomplishments under her belt including diving, gymnastics, and high jumping. She does each with a smile on her face, and an unwavering optimistic attitude.

“Just do everything with a smile on your face, then people think you’re having fun. Even if you aren’t, you just gotta fake it till you make it,” Kellyn said with a hint of humor.

As any dedicated athlete knows, intense sports come with injuries and setbacks of their own. Kellyn was able to continue her sports, and win, after suffering from a broken foot. Twice. During her senior year of competition in both gymnastics and dive, she was able to recover and give all that she had.

Not only does this three sport athlete excel in all of her competitions, she also does so in school and extra curricular activities. She currently actively participates in several clubs including Link Crew, Espirit de Corps, and NHS. On top of all of this, she juggles two AP classes and the process of college admissions.

Toole was offered a diving scholarship from Stanford University, as well as applying to St. Catherine’s and Notre Dame.

What motivates her to do well everyday? Obviously her love for Harry Styles.

“I look at a picture of Harry and I’m like, heck yea Kellyn, you’re gonna go to practice today and you’re gonna slay.”

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Animating Actress

By: Sabrina Skaggs ‘18

Freshman Sydney Fillipi played an integral role in the school production of Twelfth Night. On stage she was the real world Viola and off she was sketching and animating. Once she received a concept from Mr. Pantoja, Fillipi used a computer with specialized software to get her sketches to come to life. She drew the scene and manipulated it by making small changes to create movement when put together.

“Mr. Pantoja will talk to me and say ‘can you do this’ and usually I can do it. Then I design it.” As simple as it seems, Filipi’s role was key to the success of the play. Without the animation, the transitions between real life and video game characters wouldn’t have run so smoothly.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night took on a new life in the Z Theater as the scenes jumped from a video game world to real life. Regis Jesuit actors and actresses embraced long rehearsals along side the crew who was busy at work building the sets, perfecting the lighting, and making the show go off without a hitch.

Sydney knows this all too well, “I was on cast for Twelfth Night as well but also on crew. I see that a lot of people don’t give crew as much credit but it’s like those are the people doing the sound, lights, sets, all that and the whole fact that I did the animation by myself just makes me appreciate it to a whole new level.”

But what really drew her to the animation world is Disney’s Paperman. “It’s a short animated film and I love that. It’s like a piece of me,” she said. Even watching videos on YouTube have given her ideas for her animations. A company called Rooster Teeth who creates a short anime series has been one of her favorites.

“I like the fact that I can animate and explore it because I want to be an animator when I get older.

So it’s the whole fact that I’ve been able to open up my experiences with it,” Sydney said.

Despite her passion for animation, it hasn’t all been easy. Fillipi must draw out each individual scene which can be rather time consuming. All of her roles in the play allow her to see many sides of the acting world. “Well I have to both act and animate and work out all the mess-ups. I have to go through a lot of times to figure it out and I’ve gone through the script about 20 times just trying to get everything I have to do in there,” Fillipi said.

A new approach to a classic, Twelfth Night definitely impresses and showcases the students’ hard work. “ It’s the whole fact that I’ve been able to open up my experiences with it,” Sydney said.

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Many Rhodes Ahead By: Marisa Reeves ‘18

Emily Witt, who graduated from Regis Jesuit in 2011, and senior at Stanford University, was recently selected to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Witt, who comes from a large family of Regis Jesuit attendees, especially stands out as being only the second Rhodes Scholar to come out of Regis Jesuit, the first out of the Girls Division. The overall qualities a Rhodes Scholar must represent is those of a person that is not only intellectually gifted, but also willing to make an impact on the world with a commitment of the common good.

“When I heard her name, and I read it in the newspaper, at first, I said, ‘That has to be Emily, the one I taught.’” Mr. DeLorm, Girls Division, Chemistry teacher says, “It’s actually a very rewarding feeling for a teacher anytime any of our students are successful in their own way.” Mr. DeLorm also adds, Witt, who is currently majoring in Human Biology, with a concentration in neuropathology, and minoring in Psychology, will attend the Oxford University in the fall hoping to achieve a master’s degree in neuroscience and a master’s in experimental psychology.

“When you look at what she is planning on studying at Oxford or what she has studied at Stanford, it’s not just, she wants to study the scientific bases of neuroscience, it’s that she has a care for what does this mean for fairness in society.”

Mr. Broderick-King, the moderator for a club Witt was strongly involved in, Social Justice League says regarding her strong devotion to the social justice issues around the world.

Both teachers agree they weren’t surprised that Emily Witt received this honor. She showed great initiative and care inside and outside of the classroom. This is such a proud moment for our high school. Mr. Broderick-King talks about that, “I hope that kids being aware of this, realize, this is something Regis Jesuit students can do. I think kids should pay attention to what are the qualities that make up a kid like Emily Witt.” She is a true example of a woman with and for others. We wish her the best of luck on her attending Oxford in the fall, knowing no matter what she does she will be successful. Who knows, maybe you could be Regis Jesuit’s next Rhodes

Scholar!

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What Dreams are Made of: Olivia Shipp By: Haley Post ‘16 & Felicity Watson ‘16

Mid 2012: Olivia’s close friend, Laura Gabrielson, inspired her to start acting End of 2012: Olivia signed an agent Summer 2013: spent time in L.A. trying out for numerous auditions August 2013: Olivia was featured in a Toyota modeling campaign October 2013: Olivia starred in a Toyota car commercial Summer 2014: she spent time in L.A. filming, studying in acting studios, and auditioning

Olivia Shipp, junior at Regis Jesuit High School Girls Division, has a very busy high school career.

She juggles 3 AP classes, golf, and acting, but still manages to have time for her friends and family.

Olivia says, “When I was filming episodes of Kirby Buckets I missed a whole week of school. So, it is hard to balance school and acting, but it’s easy to make up my school work because there is a lot of down time on set while filming in LA.”

Olivia is living out her dream of acting through starring in TV shows and commercials.

Olivia is currently starring in Kirby Buckets which airs on Disney XD.

“I always loved movies and TV show because of the stories they told. Film had a huge impact on me while I was growing up, so I wanted to possibly inspire others,” Olivia says.

“Filming is really exciting because you work so hard to book a job and then everything finally comes to life when you start filming,” says Olivia.

Olivia plans to attend college in California while advancing her acting career at the same time. Olivia has a full team supporting her, including Chloe Moretz’s brother as her acting coach, a manager, and two agents.

Olivia also has the continuous support of her family. Olivia’s mom, Nancy Shipp comments, “auditions are pretty last minute so we just have to get up and go to LA. We have spent the last two summers in Hollywood where she was studying in acting studios, auditioning and filming some.”

“Auditions can definitely be hard because you audition way more than you book jobs, but it makes actors more resilient and strong. It’s very worth it,” says Olivia.

Olivia remains to be a honor roll student while living out her Hollywood dream.

According to Nancy Shipp, “Olivia is learning valuable life skills. Hollywood has helped expose her to a lot of diversity.”

The things Olivia has learned during her acting career will stay with her for the rest of her life.

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Humans of RJ By: Mary Harpole ‘17 & Anna Thompson ‘17 Jewell Humphrey ‘17

Jewell Humphrey, sophomore at the Regis Jesuit High School Girls Division reflects on her younger self and compares it to her life as a Regis Jesuit student today. Giving us insight on goals for the future based on these comparisons.

The usual student would look back on their younger self and think “I would of tried harder.” But, Jewell is the complete opposite. She had certain characteristics from such a young age, striving to be perfect in all that she does. When asked one word she’d describe herself in she says, “Perfectionist.” Which is a very unique characteristic that not everyone has. But also is a changing characteristic that she wishes she obtained in a later older age.

As a student at Regis Jesuit, Jewel has now become accustomed to a more secluded small school.

Before Regis Jesuit, she went to Challenge Middle School. Being larger than RJ, Jewel never expected to be here at RJ. She always thought of high school as being a bigger school. But then again when she was younger she had no idea of high school at all and what it really was. It wasn’t till her 8th grade year that she started to look into Regis Jesuit.

First semester sophomore year Jewel left to Mexico for the exchange student program. For the entire semester, she explains how this experience was probably her greatest achievement, learning Spanish and meeting new people was a experience she definitely recommends to others who are interested. Jewels, Mexico experience aids to her striving personality in showing that she is very interested in later on learning more languages. She says,”I think that being able to communicate with anyone is the most important thing you could learn.”

Being away for four months starting in August, she comes back to a welcoming community of Regis Jesuit and her former friends. In her opinion her happiest moment was being at school and seeing her two sisters here. (Destiny Humphrey ‘17 and Aliyah Humphrey ‘15) “It was funny because we all hadn’t been to the same school together.”

Jewel is a very striving, level headed sophomore who has achieved a lot of great things only being her second year here at Regis Jesuit. A big influencer in her life is her dad. She says,”He has influenced me most because he had a really hard, hard life and to hear his story and see how well he has turned out just inspires me to do better.”

That inspiration is working very well for Jewell as she continues her last semester as a sophomore in all honors/AP courses and securing her spot on the Varsity Basketball Team for a second year. Her goals for the future is to find something that she enjoys and make that into a career. In the end she says,”I just want to be happy with whatever I pick and happens in the future.”

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Letter to my Younger Self She reflects on her 8 year old self saying, “I would tell my 8 year old self to not be too hard on myself and to just try, as long as I’m trying that’s good enough. I don’t have to strive to be so perfect.”

Capturing the World With a Flash By: Ashley Fernstedt & Natalie Baltizar ‘15

Imagine a life where you get your picture taken in a variety of different locations. You open a magazine and you just might see your face staring at you from the page.

This is the reality for Regis Jesuit senior, Chrissy Clark.

Clark’s life changed when she was approached at a volleyball tournament and was asked if she ever considered being a model.

This question has allowed her to travel around the world to foreign countries that many don’t ever get to visit in a lifetime.

“I like traveling and meeting new people who have similar interests as me. My favorite part is having the opportunity to be in the industry and traveling around everywhere.”

She has not only been able to be apart of New York Fashion Week, but had the experience of a lifetime modeling in China.

She says, “It challenged me a lot and definitely helped me grow in my career.”

Modeling in the Asian market kept her extremely busy and also got her photos out to a wider audience.

Colorado is a small market for the industry, but in big cities, you have many more opportunities.

Now Clark has her biggest break yet.

Two well known agencies have recently signed her: L.A. Models and Wilhemina Miami.

L.A. Models has some of the biggest teen models signed with them, including Hailey Baldwin and Sofia Richie.

Clark says, “It’s important to be signed with agencies in each big city.”

She is visiting both California and Florida over Spring Break to gain a better understanding of the locations and decide if modeling full time will be a viable career choice.

If it looks that way, then she intends to pursue this opportunity full on and defer from college for a year or two.

Clark’s dreams are becoming a reality.

She is living life in front of the camera and making a flash on the world.

Chrissy Clark poses at a modeling shoot in order to get the perfect picture.

By: Matthew Tyler Priestly. Photo used with permission.

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Humans of RJ

By: Mary Harpole ‘17 & Anna Thompson ‘17

Mrs. Larsen

Everyday at Academic Support, you can be sure to find theology teacher Mrs. Larsen in Room 112 providing her shoulder to cry on, chatting about her day, or laughing with her beloved students. Her back story gives insight to what it really takes to be not only successful teacher, but also a role model to high school students.

Growing up in the small town of Hamden, New York, Mrs. Larsen thoroughly enjoyed her childhood surroundings. She enjoyed many activities in her younger years such as ice skating in the winter.

Larsen exemplifies a wife, teacher, mother, and woman of faith, which she had pictured for herself when she was young. She takes pride in her two children, now in their 20s.

Larsen has been teaching for 30 years.

Her favorite part, as she puts it, is, “being able to teach Theology and teach the Catholic faith, and really hope that the girls, no matter what their faith is, or even if they don’t have a faith, will become closer to God.”

One of the happiest moments in Larsen’s life did come from some desolation. “Seven years after my parent’s divorce, my mother met a wonderful man who was my step-dad for many years, he died four years ago, and he was the father for me that my father never was.”

Her parents divorce was painful, but it has helped her in many ways. “I use that in teaching, especially girls who’s parents are going through a divorce. At least I have an understanding of all the baggage that goes with that,” she said.

Her experiences also help her with being a mother and wife. “Your child should always know you love them no matter what they do wrong,” she said. This, she learned from her greatest role model, her mother. Larsen’s mother suffered from severe depression and was in a family where both her parents were alcoholics.

Despite this, she was able to overcome the many obstacles and heal.

“My mother is my very best friend and I look to her for everything,” she said.

Although Larsen was at risk for depression and alcoholism due to her family’s past, she decided early on that those would never enter into her life, and she has carried that with her since she was young.

Larsen has been able to become a moral role model for girls at RJ and a teacher who instills her own love for God and life into her students.

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Letter to my Younger Self She reflects on her 16 year old self saying, “I would say to always strive to maintain integrity and dignity as a young woman with God.”

Foreign, but the same.

By: Maggie Sayers ‘17

As she walks down the airport terminal, Cristy Sevilla looks for the people who will be her family for the next six months.

She has more on her mind than remembering her locker combination and fitting in.

Sophomore Cristy Sevilla was selected from many of her peers in Guadalajara, Mexico to come to Regis Jesuit for a semester. Coming to Regis Jesuit will provide her with more opportunities in her future. “In Mexico, it is really important to speak English,” says Sevilla.

Though Christy attends a Jesuit school in Mexico, Regis Jesuit is very different than what she is used to. One of the main differences is that Christina’s school is not co- divisional, and goes from preschool through high school.

Back home in Mexico, she has played volleyball since she was six years old. Cristy played for her state team, and has participated in international tournaments.

Unfortunately, she could not play here at RJ because she arrived after the season ended.

However, she joined the track team and the rock climbing club.

Another major change for Cristy is family structure. In Mexico, people are very close with their extended family, and families spend more time together.

A new family, new school, new environment, and a different language all provide opportunities and challenges.

Through it all, Cristy loves the school and has made many friends, “Regis Jesuit is special to me because you are always happy, you celebrate things and always are helpful.”

When asked what her favorite experience has been, she says, “Every day is a new exciting experience, and I have fun with everything! I’m doing this because I want a better future.” Cristy will return to Mexico with new experiences, new friends, and a brighter future.

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Co-Editor in Chief: Maddie Merritt Lexi Christopher ‘15

Maddie Merritt, only a Junior, steps up to fill the role as Co-Editor in Chief for Pulse Magazine.

Public Relations first sparked her interest, but Journalism captivated her full attention.

Being younger and in the middle of the most academically challenging year at Regis Jesuit, her leadership position entails a lot of late nights filled with lots of writing.

“For me, it’s a lot harder because I have to study for the SAT/ACT and also prepare for college,” Merritt said. But to her advantage, she sees the work she does for Journalism as a break from her ordinary homework.

She’ll work on stories and designs while on a study break from her regular academics.

Although computer programming isn’t her favorite part of being an editor, she does enjoy planning out spreads and designing templates like the ones used in this very magazine.

“It’s a lot of fun. I love the design aspect of it, and just helping people write their stories,” Merritt said.

Be sure to keep an eye out for her original articles in the Denver Post, as well as some great writing and leadership that she plans to bring to RJ Media in the upcoming year.

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Co-Editor in Chief: Megan Jones Emma Walker ‘15

Senior Megan Jones fell in love with Journalism by accident.

With one senior credit left to fill, Jones signed up for Journalism and never looked back.

As a lover of graphic design she jumped right into responsibilities on the RJ media staff. In fact, she accumulated an impressive resume quickly including designing the RJ media logo, the banner for the website and the logo for Pulse.

It is no surprise, then, that she has since assumed the role of editor in chief of the magazine.

Jones then oversees everything from proof reading articles, to meeting with the printers of the magazine. Outside of journalism, Jones is an active member of the theater program at Regis Jesuit and has four hours of it a day. She also enjoys writing songs in her free time and has even won awards for her music.

Balancing all of her editor in chief responsibilities while maintaining her other two passions is no easy feat. But Jones takes it on with a smile.

When asked how she keeps up she states, “It is something I love doing, so it is kind of like a break for me.�

A dream of becoming a journalism teacher drives Megan Jones and a love for every step along the way keeps her a motivated and successful editor in chief.

13

Diving Into The World of McKensi Austin By: Regan Cadieux ‘18

McKensi Austin is a normal junior at Regis Jesuit High School. She works hard in her classes, hangs out with friends, does the normal routine.

Except she’s a Colorado state winning diver.

Austin started diving when she was nine, when a family friend suggested that she should try it after doing gymnastics. “I thought ‘Oh, why not?’ so then I tried it, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Austin said.

Austin helped the Regis Jesuit Girls Swim Team at 2015 State finals this year, bringing in a total of 277 points for the team. This year, she was also awarded with Diver of the Year in the Class of 5A from CHSAA. “It was really exciting to win and do it as a team with Regis, and to help contribute points to the team. It was really exciting and cool just to be able to go there and compete,” she said.

Along with diving here in the state, Austin has traveled around the United States for her sport, as well as going out of the country to Canada for meets. “Its been really cool to meet people and have such great experiences,” Austin said.

“It feels great, jumping off the board,” she said, “You think about all your corrections and how to set the dive up and be good, and to make sure to stay calm and not freak out. But then you almost have to turn your brain off and let your body take over.”

Now that this swim season at Regis is over, Austin plans on focusing on her club diving team, as well as starting the recruiting processes for college, talking to diving coaches across the country. She plans on continuing her diving career through college, some of her top picks being the University of North Carolina, University of Texas, and Michigan State University, which are all Division I diving schools.

“I don’t know if I want to have a career in diving,” said Austin, “but I definitely want to do something that involves sports, like sports medicine or physical therapy.”

When asked about what she loves most about diving, Austin said, “I love the people I get to dive with and being able to become so close to them. Diving will always be in my life, no matter what I do.”

14

Our day in the Boys Division By: Anastasia Conley ‘18 & Maya Fair ‘18

The Girls Division and Boys Division are separated by the Performing Arts Center and about a hundred feet, but it can feel like each division is a separate world.

It is not unusual to wander into the opposite division for a class or after-school activity, but there is still a shroud of mystery surrounding what happens in each building during the classes. Each division has their own routines, traditions, and culture.

With this thought in mind, we ventured to the opposing side and, for one day, immersed ourselves in the life of the Boys Division.

We quickly realized that this experiment was not only unnerving for us, but for the boys as well. At first, our presence affected how they would normally act.

“It was more behaved, less talking,” explained freshman Tony Zinno.

However, after being given time to adjust, we were hardly noticed and the boys settled into their normal routine.

“I think as time moved on they went back into their habits, both good and bad,” said Mr. Maes, a Fine

Art One teacher.

These habits included making jokes and enthusiastically participating in class discussions.

While walking along the halls during passing periods the space was filled with noises, over-crowding, and movement.

The often talked about brotherhood was obvious. The absence of pressure to impress anyone provides both divisions with an environment where students can truly be themselves.

“Friendship is better, you get to bond with your brothers,” freshman Landon Hovey said.

In the Girls Division, this was something that we found in common between the two divisions.

Maggie Sayers, a sophomore, said, “ I think it’s a lot easier when we are talking. I feel like boys will judge you sometimes if you say really open things. We are a lot more comfortable with girls and it feels like you have your friends in the class.”

This is just one point on the overwhelming list of similarities

between the divisions. There are many differences as well, but we won’t know anything until the boys spend a day in the Girls Division.

To read Colin Giardino and Blake Green’s “Our Day in the Girls Divison” visit rjtoday.org!

15 Photo by Eriq Adams ‘18

Photo by Anastasia Conley ‘18

Motivation of a Personal Record By: Eliana Drennan ‘17

A ball of energy as she flies through the finish line to win the race. Beginning each race with positive thoughts, a warm up, and series of tests on the blocks that await her. Briauna Hysaw ‘17, sets up for another race to beat her Personal Record and break 13 seconds in the 100 meter dash.

Hysaw says, “ My family has pushed me to reach my goals and excel in every sport that I do.”

When she runs a race she remembers it is more important to race against herself rather than her opponents.

Personal records are all about you and how fast you can get to the finish line.

While the athlete has come a long way no improvement is too little.

People in the race are not the opponent you are racing if your goals are to be the best you can possibly be.

The athlete feels that track even though it is more individual she sees herself as a representative for the team.

Hysaw enjoys running relays with team members as well. “ The 4x100 has significantly helped me, your teammate hands you everything you need and all you have to do is fly,“ she says.

During the season of 2014 Hysaw had gotten the award for having determination and always desiring improvement within herself.

Coach Taylor was highly surprised with the athlete being she was only a freshman at the time.

Hysaw in a race against time has excelled greatly by having her bar set higher than most expectations for her upcoming sophomore season.

Hysaw is now a sophomore and begins her carrier with high expectations and a reputation to uphold. We can’t wait to see what she does next. See you at the finish line.

16

It Takes Two

By: Sarah Darley 17’ & Rebecca Krempasky 17’

“You two are a team, you don’t speak the same language, but if you work together, you can accomplish amazing things”, says Angela Burns of horseback riding. Burns, having ridden for 12 years knows exactly how to be a part of a team that is half 1200-pound animal, half human and demonstrates this daily in her riding.

Burns is a sophomore at Regis Jesuit and part of a select group from both our divisions that has a passion for riding and horses in general. From her first word, which was “horsey”, Burns has developed a love for the sport and began riding at the young age of 4. By the age of 7 she was ready to compete and participated in her very first show.

Riding as well as showing can be extraordinarily dangerous and Burns’ scariest moment as a rider was when “I was riding my horse in a show and he took off, we were going towards a jump and I fell. I almost broke my hand but I got back on the horse and managed to fall again and blackout. I will never forget that day. It reminds you just how scary doing this sport can be.”

Now she is riding at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida and competing in the junior jumper division, which is roughly 1.25 meters. “The hardest part of competing out of state is missing all of the schoolwork and the dances, as well as not being able to see my friends.”

Burns travels a few weeks out of the year but says that “I’m lucky because it’s a full family thing for us; when I travel to show we can all do our own thing.” Many equestrians are not this lucky and Burns radiates gratefulness when she says that “my family is all so supportive and I can’t thank them enough.”

When asked about her future as riding, Burns hesitates. Riding is a hard field to succeed in as a professional, and just reaching that level is difficult enough. This does not stop Burns and she says with hope that “it would be amazing if I could make it to the level where I could compete in a Nations Cup or the World Equestrian Games.”

But it’s not the showing or the competition that drives Burns to ride and succeed. “My favorite part is being with the horses, the riding is great but they are truly what I am there for,” she says, “they just make it worth it.”

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Can’t Take My Eyes Off You...Netflix Netflix Takes Over.

By Natalie Baltizar ‘15 & Ashley Fernstedt ’15 Regis Jesuit senior Amber Ackerman procrastinates on homework to watch her favorite shows.

Photo by: Natalie Baltizar & Ashley Fernstedt ‘15

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It’s a Saturday morning, and you have nothing to do. The Netflix screen has caught your eye and the “Press for next episode” is taunting you...what would you do?

The invention of Netflix has increased the amount of hours people spend binge watching their favorite tv shows.

Netflix is easily accessible with a press of a button, so it can be very tempting to watch episodes for hours on end.

Binge watching is watching multiple episodes of a tv show back to back.

While this is an addictive habit to get into, it can effect different parts of life from sleeping schedules to neglecting other responsibilities.

While Netflix is used by all ages, it especially targets 16-30 year olds.

The students of Regis Jesuit certainly fall into this trend.

Senior Amber Ackerman spends a big majority of her day laying in front of her iPad watching her new addiction, Grey’s Anatomy.

When asked how Netflix has increased her tv habit, she says, “There’s no commercials so it’s way more convenient and there’s so many tv shows to choose from.”

The new iPad Program here at school has also impacted the amount of time students spend binge watching tv. Even though, RJHS may have blocked the website while on campus, it still has an effect on student’s time management at home.

Senior Ryan Buchanan explains that having an iPad has influenced his time spent watching tv.

He says, “I watch ESPN all the time now that I have an iPad. Before, I never really had anything to watch it on.”

While students are doing homework on the iPad, it can be very easy to get distracted and switch on Netflix. This takes time away from getting schoolwork done and adds to the hours of binge watching.

Students tend to stay up later trying to complete assignments but also watch their tv obsession. It is difficult to multitask so the two activities conflict with each other causing one to be more stressed and lose sleep.

Junior Stacy Fernstedt says, “I would choose Netflix over homework and sleep any day. In fact, I do all the time.”

Wouldn’t you?

RJHS Girls Division Poll: “How Many Hours a Day Do You Spend Watching TV or Netflix?”

Less than 1 hour: 37 students 1-2 hours: 96 students 2-3 hours: 22 students 3-4 hours: 20 students 5+ hours: 25 students Things to Do Besides Binge Watching TV: 1.) Read a good book 2.) Exercise 3.) Spend time with friends and family Most Popular Shows Being Watched in the GD: 1.) Gossip Girl 2.) Grey’s Anatomy 3.) Vampire Diaries 4.) Friends How Much Are you Spending on Netflix in a Year? $95.88 19

Standing Up for Life RJ students create Pro-life club, and go on to travel to Washington D.C. to win a national award.

By Anna Thompson ‘17 & Mary Harpole ‘17

Left to Right: Emily Harpole ‘15, Haley Chirico ‘15, Lexi Christopher ‘15, and Sydney Gillespie ‘15 at the March for Life in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Emily Harpole ‘15.

Left to Right: Executive Vice President of Students for Life of America Tina Whittington, Emily Harpole ‘15, Haley Chirico ‘15, President of Students for Life of America Kristan Hawkins on stage at the Students for Life Conference. Photo by: Students for Life of America

Did you know?

According to Guttmacher Institute...

-There have been more than 53 million abortions performed in the United States since the court case Roe vs. Wade in 1973.

-86 percent of all abortions are done for the sake of convenience.

-Approximately 3,000 Americans lost their lives as a result of the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11. Every single day, more than 3,000 American babies are killed by abortion.

-The number of American babies killed by abortion each year is roughly equal to the number of U.S. military deaths that have occurred in all of the wars that the United States has ever been involved in combined.

-14,710 women received abortions in Colorado in 2011 alone.

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A Pro-Life foundation called Students for Life of America, founded in 1988, helps young people all over America actively join the Pro-Life movement in their communities. Last year, a group of students at Regis Jesuit Girls Division reached out the this foundation in order to become one of the many high schools nationally who have an active Pro-life club.

In January of the 2015 school year, as Students for Life of America president and founder Kristan Hawking announced RJ Students for Life club as the New Group of the Year, co-presidents of the club seniors Emily Harpole and Haley Chirico walked to the stage in awe. They could finally see how their efforts into starting a Pro-Life group were paying off.

“I never thought we would win a national award,” Harpole commented. As the rest of the club received the news, everyone was as shocked as the co-presidents.

Before Harpole and Chirico, along with co-president Mary Montoya ‘15, won

Students for Life club.

5 years ago, Señora Gonzalez-

the award, they reached out to Mrs. Gonzalez-Hill, a Spanish teacher at Regis Jesuit, in order to officially start the RJ Students for Life club. 5 years ago, Señora GonzalezHill attended the March for Life in Washington D.C. From that point on, she knew she must stand out against abortion. “Ever since then, 5 years ago, I have been thinking about expanding the effort,” Gonzalez-Hill said.

So, when the girls came to her, she was all for it. Like any new club, they faced some obstacles such as time and finding members.

“In order to be successful, we would have to be out there,” Harpole said.

In May of 2014, they did just that.

The upcoming club hosted their first event in order to seek out students who were willing to be active in the Pro-Life movement.

The club threw a Baby Shower and Cupcake Giveaway in the Girl’s Division quad during lunch. “It was a welcome to the community, and we were trying to let them know that we were ready to begin,” Gonzalez- Hill said. There was a great turnout and the club received over 100 interested students. Since abortion is such a high profile and political issue, there was concern for opposition.

“Abortion is such a controversial issue and we always had that in mind, but I never felt there was too much against us. I felt a lot of support through it all,” Harpole said.

With the growing support of new members, the RJ Students for Life club was able to officially come together. Although not all of the students began participating in the club, there were plenty of members to continue building off of the Pro Life movement at Regis Jesuit. In their weekly meetings, the members do everything from praying for mothers and the unborn all around the world, to planning events at RJ and learning about apologetics concerning abortion.

In November of last year, RJ Students for Life put on a Diaper Drive in the Girls Division. The diapers went to mothers

The sign leading the March for Life in D.C. read, “We are the Pro-Life Generation”. Photo by: Emily Harpole ‘15

and their babies in need of supplies in the Denver area.

During the first week of the two week long drive, the diaper bins were completely empty. But, as the second week rolled around, over 6,000 diapers had been generously donated to the cause. “I didn’t expect the success we had with the diaper drive,” Harpole said.

As the club continued to grow, some members were able to go with Regis to the March for Life in Washington D.C. The group represented Regis Jesuit in the march and were able to go lobbying in the House of Representatives.

While in D.C., Chirico and Harpole were able to attend the Students for Life National Conference, put on by the same group that helped Regis Jesuit start their club. The RJ club applied for the New High School Group of the Year award, but were among 800 schools nationally who also applied. Montoya tells how she received a text from Harpole and a Regis Jesuit student within minutes of their winning and, “actually started crying.”

“When we got it, it was very reaffirming knowing that people are seeing what we’re doing,” Montoya said.

With the 500 dollars in prize money, RJ Students for Life plan on going on trips to pray in front of Planned Parenthood. They continue praying for the unborn and for a future America where killing, no matter who is killed, will be against the law.

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OUR beauty REVOLUTION Inside the teenage world of beauty and how we can get girls to see themselves as beautiful.

By: Cami Crowley ‘16 Fiona Neylon ‘18 & Eliana Drennan ‘17 Only 4 percent of women around the world consider themselves beautiful. Or that only 11 percent of girls globally are comfortable describing themselves as beautiful. According to Dove, women and girls are struggling to recognize themselves as beautiful and self confidence decreases as girls get older.

Today, beauty revolves around outer beauty and appearance including being tall, skinny, dark and wearing make up. Young girls today are being influenced to see beauty in themselves and in others on this outer appearance that surrounds our culture.

“Beauty to me is Miss Universe,” 11 year old, Juliette Lord said.

When being asked what is the definition of beauty to Lord, she said, “Make up, acne free skin and perfect body.”

Instead of seeing beauty from within and seeing yourself as beautiful, young girls are taught that beauty involves wearing make up and trying to make their face beautiful. Since most girls can’t keep up with what our culture says about beauty and be the ideal beauty, it causes girls to be less confident in themselves and their self-esteem deceases.

Dove has created a Beauty Revolution and self-esteem projects to help young women

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see themselves as beautiful and boost their self confidence. They include tips, advice and ways to communicate to girls. They stress about educating girls at a young age because of the ideal beauty images pressured on the Internet and the current culture we live in today.

Girls must be encouraged that they do not have to look like the models they see in the magazines.

Being themselves is beautiful because it is not fake. Being a good person through your actions and words is beautiful.

Giving a compliment to someone boosts confidence which makes the world a happier and a more beautiful place.

The sight of someone helping the poor is more beautiful than a model, who is photoshopped and hiding in make up.

When girls are shown two difference pictures of the same girl with and with out make up, girls should think that the picture with make up is how society thinks beauty is and the picture with no make is how girls should see beauty.

Girls should know that you don’t have to wear make up to be beautiful.

What is beauty in girls to you?

“Confidence in themselves, I think not being afraid of who you really are in front of everyone, not changing yourself in front of certain people.” Nina Kelley ‘15

‘When girls are nice to each other because you are nice and you care about other people and your true beauty comes out.” Darian Little ‘18

What do you look for in girls?

“Someone who is artsy, stylish, loyal, honest, pretty cute.”

Kaleb Chaney ‘20

“Someone who is really nice, who has nice eyes. Someone who has a nice smile and good personality and someone who is really confident in themeselves.” Ulises Venegas-Rivera ‘15

What can make a girl feel more beautiful?

“Not caring about what other people say about you.” Mackenzie Fisher ‘18

“You try to point out what you like about yourself rather than all the imperfections you see.” Aly Miller ‘15

Personality vs. Appearamce

“Combination of both. Personality compliments the looks. But personality more because personality is what keeps the relationship going.” Tommy Gaessler ‘16

“Combination of both. But for long term relationships, personality.

Personality does not change over time, but looks fade away over time.”

Elijah Sanford ‘15

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Act 1 Level 1 Twelfth Night Regis Jesuit students take on Shakespeare with a new approach.

By: Marisa Reeves’18 & Erin Biafore’18

Have you ever wondered what’s Shakespeare plays would look like in the setting of a video game? Well our own theater geniuses have put their brains together to create something truly unimaginable. Mr. Pantoja, teacher and director of the Spring play, Twelfth Night, describes what it’s like to take on such a different and modern day approach on Shakespeare’s tale.

“We are really using our tech group to our advantage, a lot of projections and digital music, no live instrumentals like in Jesus Christ Superstar,” Pantoja said. Twelfth Night, is the fourth show Mr. Pantoja has directed here at Regis Jesuit.

“Twelfth Night is not your typical Regis Jesuit play, nor your typical play in general.

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From my perspective I think that it will be more challenging to understand, because of the Shakespearean language. But to top it off the play is basically a video game version of the story. It has been challenging, but fun,” freshman crew member Rachel Albert said before the opening night.

Challenging yet fun indeed. The students who are putting their hearts and souls into this amazing creation have seen an outcome of pride and praise.

“It’s a role playing game, we made it more of a retro game and took it as an 8 bit resolution. We used the style from video games such as Minecraft to invigorate our set and acting styles,” Mr. Pantoja said.

The concept of Twelfth

Night is mind blowing. The way the theater program is one community, changing Shakespeare to modern day using our time of technology to their advantage.

“Goosebumps. It gives me goosebumps. When it works it gives me chills. When I have an idea, and I let the other artists know and share with them that compact idea, and they go and expand it to something bigger and better… It’s something I can’t fathom,” Pantoja said.

The show was truly amazing and the use of technology really expressed the program’s skillful work, especially the animation. Freshman Sydney Fillipi created all the animation from scratch. The makeup and costumes exceeded our expectations and really lit up the room. The actors and crew worked very hard over the course of a few months and really put on a show to remember.

Megan Jones, senior and the lead in Twelfth Night gives her thoughts on the performances overall. “I had such a fun experience, and I am so glad that it all worked out. It was amazing because it never really all came together up until the end. All of us work off of the audience and you never really know how they are going to react. There are a lot of late nights, but I am blessed to be a part of it all.”

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PROFILE: EMILY LANGENDERFER ‘16

From commitment to grades, to sacrifice and involvement, Junior Emily Langenderfer opens up about the work it takes to pursue an athletic scholarship.

Ever since Emily Langenderfer was young it has been her dream to get a scholarship and play soccer in college. “I have always wanted to play soccer in college ever since I was little that has always been what I wanted,” Langenderfer says.

Langenderfer committed to Boston College last year as a Sophomore, making her one of the only students at Regis Jesuit to commit that early.

Even though Emily is already committed to Boston College she still plays soccer for Regis Jesuit and Storm Colorado as center midfield.

The 2015 season for Varsity soccer is just starting. Emily has played three games so far with a total of 11 shots at goal, that averages to about 3.7 shots per game.

There is much more to come for Emily and the upcoming games.

Soccer always had been important to Emily, but she knew she needed more than just sports to help get her way into college.

Emily makes sure she puts in a full effort for school too. She is apart of The National Honors Society which requires a GPA of 3.5 or above each semester. Having both school and sports makes her

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a well rounded student athlete.

“Colleges are very competitive but I realize just how important my grades are to get into a division one school like Boston College,” Emily said.

Soccer isn’t just about being successful, you have to love the sport as well. Emily tells us that she has so many great memories that she will always remember because of soccer.

As a freshman, she went to a National camp and had a blast getting to be there and getting to experience it. Even growing up with soccer, all her teams she has had, have been great because of her teammates and friends. Lastly, of course committing for soccer.

Friends of Emily say that she is very hard working and is always sacrificing things to play soccer.

Emily knows that you have to get serious sometimes with soccer. As much as she loves goofing around, she knows when to be silly and when not to. Sometimes getting serious with soccer means having to give up certain things. It may be hard for her, but Emily knows thats what it takes to get to the top.

“I definitely had to work hard and sacrifice a lot of time in

order to get where I am, but it was worth it in the end.”

Emily trains year round and has up to two practices a day. She trains at Elite Speed to help get faster and to weight lift so she can become stronger.

She also travels 7 times a year throughout the state.

Emily said she wouldn’t have been where she is now without the support and encouragement she got from her friends.

Junior Olivia Shipp, Emily’s friend since first grade, says “She is an amazing best friend and means so much to me because she is so supportive and she never fails to bring a smile wherever she goes. I hope Emily will be very successful, happy, and that our friendship is everlasting.”

Emily isn’t just a stud at soccer, she is more than that.

She has a passion for success that not everybody has. She will do anything it takes to get to the top and she isn’t afraid to work for it.

The Road to Boston College Maya Fair ‘18 & Cami Crowley ‘16

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Coach of a Lifetime Kate Weis’16

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PROFILE THE PEOPLE OF RJ: Nick Frasersmith

COACH OF THE BOY’S AND GIRL’S REGIS JESUIT SWIM AND DIVE TEAM Regis Jesuit High School Hometown: Denver, Colorado Nick Frasersmith has led both the Boy’s and Girl’s swim teams to mulitple state victories as well as founded one of the top swim clubs in Colorado, Denver Swim Academy.

It takes a special kind of person to devote themselves to 4 A.M. mornings, late nights in a claustrophobic bubble, tired teenagers, and the smell of chlorine. It takes an even more special person to do this with grace, kindness, intelligence, and hard work.

Nick Frasersmith, the Regis Jesuit Boys and Girls Swim and Dive coach, won yet another “Denver Post Girls Swimming Coach of the Year” award for the Raider’s 2015 Girl’s Swim and Dive Season this past February during the state meet in Fort Collins, after the Raider’s placed second out of many 5A swim teams from around the state.

Not only did Frasersmith achieve this outstanding title for the second time, he also led the Raiders to yet another amazing season with record-breaking times, many wins, and even more laughs and is ready to lead the Regis Boy’s Swim and Dive team to yet another possible state title.

Frasersmith’s accomplishments do not stop at the High School level. The talented coach has developed some of the top swimmers in the nation during his time on the staffs at some of the top swim clubs in Colorado as well as at his current position as head coach of the Denver Swim Academy, which he founded.

However, if you ask any swimmer that has had the privlege of swimming under Nick they would tell you there is so much more to this coach than his titles and awards.

Perhaps the most important thing to know about Frasersmith is how much he cares for his swimmers as people. Junior swimmer Emily Protz said, “The thing I love most about Nick, is that as much as he cares about my swimming, he cares about me as a person even more… He even (sometimes) encourages me to skip practice and go out with friends if he knows that I need a night off. He has always looked out for me as if I were his own daughter.”

Not only do swimmers appreciate Frasersmith’s coaching but his fellow coaching staff sees the brilliance as well.

“Nick knows moreabout swimming than anyone I’ve ever met,” said Regis Assistant Coach Brian Davenport. “It never ceases to

amaze me how I can continually learn new things from him about coaching swimming.”

“I think the most important thing about coaching is to keep a positive environment,” said Frasersmith when asked on how he built one of the top swim clubs in the state. Frasermith’s favorite thing about coaching is seeing improvement in his swimmers and he is always amazed at the dedication of kids he coaches.

What makes Nick Frasersmith the “Denver Post Girls Swimming Coach of the Year” is not his titles, his awards, or the accomplishments of his swimmers. It is the way he is there 24/7 for every single swimmer on his team. It is the way you can hear his voice stand out in a crowd, cheering you on during your race. It is the way he brings in nutritionists to help his swimmers feel the best they can. It is the way he cares that makes him the best coach, not only of the year, but in many swimmer’s opinion, their lifetimes.

Regis Jesuit thanks Nick Frasersmith for the hours he has dedicated to this school and it’s students. Thank you, Nick.

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“Good Luck” How surprising is it that the small details of these athletes must do routines that are trusted to bring them luck, actually create big changes in their performances?

By: Lexi Christopher ‘15

Basketball legend, Michael Jordan, was known to wear his University of North Carolina shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls uniform. In an attempt to cover the shorts he wore longer shots. Jordan was known to start the trend of long basketball shorts in the NBA. As he became more and more successful, other people thought if they wore longer shorts, they would play “like Mike”.

Performing the same habitual actions is a way of relieving anxiety for many athletes.

As most routines, however simple or crazy, are thought to bring luck and impact their performances.

How important are these superstitions to not just pro athletes but high school athletes here at Regis Jesuit?

According to senior basketball player, Nolan Ebel, very.

“I feel like I won’t play as well and when I don’t do it, I’m in my head the whole game.”

Sports, broken down in the simplest form, are just a series of various similar movements that use a muscle group familiar to the athlete. Because of the fast pace of most games and minimal reaction time, players don’t have time to think about what exactly they are doing.

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Their actions instead are more habitual.

“I believe over half the game is mental,” track runner, Dani Orban ‘15 said.

Most players know what is required of them in order to play well, but it’s their minds and inner thoughts that get in the way. Always completing the same routine is a way of putting themselves in the correct mindset.

“Performing my superstition definitely changes how I perform,” Orban said.

Think these superstitious routines are just for the “jocks”?

Think again.

According to National Geographic, the same part of the brain that is used to solve crossword puzzles and depict language, is responsible for forming these superstitious habits and they are more common then you might think.

From not walking under a ladder, sleeping on the same side of the bed, or the way you go about eating an apple we all do them, whether we notice them or not. They may not be as “make or break” as athletes see them just because the pressure is greater and the stakes are higher, putting more emphasis on the crazy routine thought to bring them success.

Look for our video piece on RJToday.org

Senior Nolan Ebel takes control of the game by taking control of the ball.

Photos By: Christian Adams ‘15

RJ Athlete Superstitions:

Senior track runner, Dani Orban shows off her hair tie that never leaves her wrist when preparing for a meet.

1. Nolan Ebel ‘15 basketball: wears two pairs of socks 2: Brian Starekle’15 basketball: puts the same dollar in his sock before every game 3. Anthony Gerken ‘15 baseball: listens to the same five songs before every game 4. Carter Alcock ‘15 hockey: always puts left skate on first 5. Dani Orban’15 track: black hair tie on her right wrist 6. Haley Chirico ‘15 tennis: says a quick prayer before and chews gum the entire match 7. Natalie Baltizar ‘15 soccer: drinks a protein shake before every game 8. Nina Kelly ‘15 lacrosse: wears the same headband for every game

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Year of the Arts: Retrospect Regis Jesuit took on a new quest in the school years of 20142015 to open up a new appreciation and encourage the arts.

By: Emma Ciafone ‘18

Regis Jesuit branched away from the high school norm this year by embracing and encouraging the arts. This theme was welcomed whole heartedly by the new addition to Regis Jesuit, the Performing Arts Center.

More commonly know as the PAC, this building expanded students’ opportunities to explore the arts with a new theater that held the first semester play, Jesus Christ Superstars, and the second semester play Twelfth Night.

New orchestra and band rooms were also added and provided a wonderful practice area for Regis Jesuit’s musicians - such as the Guitar Club which held jam sessions outside the PAC at lunch to celebrate Year of the Arts. Spontaneous performances, including a flash mob, to new opportunities for students to take part in, like the Video Game Competition which emphasized Regis’ new theme and showcased the usefulness of the PAC for the artists of Regis Jesuit.

Art found its way past the walls of the PAC, into all areas of Regis Jesuit. In early March over 50 students were showcased at the 5280 Art Show. Equally impressive, in April the dancers

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of Regis Jesuit perform their complication with the professional dance company, Cleo Parker Robinson.

Although there has been no lack of artistic opportunities this year at Regis Jesuit some students believe that Year of the Arts had potential to be bigger and better. “There are so many amazing artists in the Regis community. From singers and actors, to more material art, the halls of Regis are filled with such talented people and I don’t think Regis highlighted that enough. It didn’t seem any different than any other year.” Abby Lease, a senior, said.

Mr. Pantoja, Regis’ theater teacher, agreed stating that, “only the surface of Year of the Arts had been scratched”, and that he and many others are anxiously waiting to see if the Year of the Arts will continue on to future years giving Regis more of an opportunity to explore more unconventional talents.

“Everyone has some kind of gift for creativity, it might show itself in mathematics, it might show itself in a sports game, but the hope is that in one way or anuther, throughout your time at Regis Jesuit, students can come to really understand that what they’re doing here is creative, that what they’re doing is imaginative.”

-Sean Powers

This Year’s Events: Jazz Night - October 14 Jesus Christ Superstar - November 7-9 & 14-16 The Power of the Dream: A Variety Show - November 21 Co-Divisional Instrumental Concert - December 9 Co-divisional Choral Concert - December 11 Continental League Music Festival - January 12 Presentation by Larson-Incitti Architects February 18 “Film Revolution” RJ Student Film Festival - February 25 Student Art Show at Elements 5280 Art Gallery March 6-14 Boys Select Choir Concert - March 12 Upcoming events Presentation by Mark Steele on The History of the Jesuits in the Arts Mural RJHS Theatre presents Twelfth Night March 2021 Mission Week Murals Canta Bells Easter Vigil Concert March 26 Continental League Art Festival at the Lone Tree Arts Center April 4-14 Screening of Alive Inside April 9 Advanced Jazz Ensemble Performance at Dazzle Jazz Club April 15 World Premiere of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s The Radiance: The Story of St. Maurice, the First African Saint April 17-18 Poetry SLAM April 23 Co-divisional Instrumental Concert April 28 Co-divisional Choral Concert April 3

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RJ Looks Forward Regis Jesuit is an exceptional school with many opportunities and much going on. So, what does the future hold for RJ? Every few years, the Strategic Planning committee meets to make plans for the future.

By: Maggie Sayers 17’

The strategic planning committee is currently made up of staff, faculty, alumni, major donors, parents, and Fr. Phillip Steele, President of Regis Jesuit.

Fr. Steele guides the committee to maintain the co-divisional school’s emphasis on Catholic faith and the Jesuit mission. He also sees a future with improved facilities and an increased endowment to help middle class families afford a Jesuit education for their children. The committee ranks the top concerns of Regis Jesuit--in order of importance--with increased endowment and retaining middle-class families at the top of the list.

Ten years from now, Father Steele envisions Regis Jesuit as an overall top-performing high school that is available to families of all incomes. Girls Division Principal, Ms. Gretchen Kessler adds, “We want this education to be do-able for all people and helping the ones who need it.”

Endowment money would be available to help families who could otherwise not afford to come to Regis Jesuit.

However, these changes will take time. “I like to use the image of juggling, says Father Steele, “You have to keep all the balls in the air and not drop one.”

Plans include a new sports complex and a new sci-

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ence and technology center, a more energy-efficient campus, and additional amenities such as improved parking, locker rooms, and a girls’ weight room. The expansion of the property is not intended to increase the number of students but to better serve them and their families.

The sports complex would include a dance studio, unique to American high schools, an updated pool, upgraded girls’ weight-room, and more locker space for both girls and boys. This sports center would be a state-of-the art place for RJ athletes to prepare and train.

The committee would also like to update classrooms to accommodate changing technology. More mobile desks and chairs will allow students to break into small groups and re-assemble without disrupting the classroom.

“Seeing what we will do as far as updating classrooms is exciting,”says Ms. Kessler.

Regis Jesuit is known for being co-divisional, and is the only school of this kind in the world. It will remain co-divisional but in the future there may be more interactions between the boys’ and girls’ divisions. The committee is planning to make subject departments co-divisional and to have faculty teach in

Top Nine Concerns 1. Increased Endowment 2. Retain Middle Class Families 3. Update and complete master plan 4. Diversity

both divisions. The idea is to continue to build bridges.

Being healthy is another concern, involving going green through composting, recycling projects, and higher energy-efficiency are important.

Expanding light rail may provide a major form of transport for high school students, along with more bus routes to and from the school. Transportation concerns also help expand the geography of Regis Jesuit which enhances the student body. Decisions most directly affect students, and their voices will be part of RJ’s continuing progress.

Currently, there is no student involvement in the planning committee. But when innovations arise, students, parents, and teachers will have opportunities to voice their opinions. Students are invited to test almost everything, from the chairs to the food. Regis Jesuit strives not only to provide for its students but to show them they matter.

Much of the money to finance new building projects comes from alumni donations. The percentage of Regis Jesuit alumni who support the school, however, is the lowest of all the Jesuit schools.

The committee is working to get alumni more involved and helping them to find ways to connect and to contribute. Ideas such as including

6. Size of School 7. Financial Model 8. Focus on Academic Rigor 9. Marketing the School

Regis Jesuit in their wills and donating to scholarships provide easy ways to donate. Other ways of sharing their success includes ideas to provide internship positions to students in the alumni’s work place.

Through all these changes there is one thing that will always be an important part of RJ: our Catholic faith and Jesuit mission.

“The same values and ideals that originated with Ignatius and the early Jesuits will remain the same but how it manifests itself could look very different,” says Mr. Kabadi, a member of the committee.

“This is about a greater emphasis on community engagement and inclusion in the spirit of Christ,” Ms. Kessler adds. “I think it will be continue to be an exciting vibrant place.”

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Wanted: Women in STEM Careers Equality has increased dramatically, but men still dominate math and science careers By: Regan Cadieux ‘18 & Sabrina Skaggs ‘18

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With the year coming to the end, students look to the future and see the different career paths they might follow. From the arts to archeology, girls have a wide interest in varying subjects.

But few are interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers. According to the Washington Post, only 14% of women entering college chose a science related field of study, compared to the 39% of men.

In a study provided by Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), some of the highest ranking countries show girls leading in math and science. The United States has fallen significantly behind in STEM career path for girls. Women only hold 25% of the STEM jobs in the United States.

With the numbers, there must be a reason girls aren’t looking towards math and science classrooms for inspiration.

Its understandable to see why the interest in these classes is lacking, if girls are not confident with their performance in the classroom.

“Maybe they are already discouraged by not having a good experience with those courses prior to even getting into high school,” said Ms. Jackie Phillips, a college counselor here at Regis Jesuit. “I think to rebuild that confidence would be a goal for a lot of high schools.”

Girls’ self esteem in the classroom is affected by what society deems women’s roles. Supporting girls can dramatically increase their performance in STEM related classes.

Ms. Phillips sees first hand that a good experience in the classroom can heighten girls’ enthusiasm in

math and science. She has witnessed girls come into high school with these interests, and the support from teachers to continue on that path has helped to solidify what girl students major in college.

“The opportunities are amazing and if a girl can get beyond the thought that they can’t do well in that field the doors are available and open for those students,” said Ms. Phillips.

One issue with that is so prevalent in today’s society is how girls view themselves. Girls are significantly less confident in their own skills compared to boys.

According to the study by OECD, the lack of confidence and poor performance in math and science in standardized testing could be connected. Girls who feel insecure about their ability in these fields score less than girls who are confident in what they are testing in.

“I think that one thing statistically is that girls do lower on the standardized tests which can be discouraging but that’s not an indicator that they aren’t going to do well in that field. It shouldn’t be a barrier for them but it can be,” Mr. Mark Giesman, a college counselor at Regis Jesuit said.

According to a study provided by the NASSPE (National Association for Single Sex Public Education), girls prove to do better on tests and show more interest in math and science courses when

they are in all-girl schools, rather than girls who are in co-ed schools.

“Here at Regis being educated single-sex - I think (girls) are pushed to be whoever they are and be the best of who they are. If their interests lie in math and science so be it because there is a huge push for that in society,” Mrs. Larsen, a GD theology teacher said.

She elaborated on how support from parents and teachers is essential to girls feeling empowered. And with that supports lacking in some homes, it may be another hurdle that girls must overcome.

“If she doesn’t have a lot of support at home - that totally plays into what they might choose for a career or even whether or not they choose to go to college,” Mrs. Larsen said.

The goal is for girl students to embrace their love for STEM courses, not to shy away from them. Hopefully there will be an increase in more women in these types of careers, but for now, just getting the enthusiasm for this movement is more in demand. So here’s to having girls become a fixture in these roles, and help expand society’s ideas of what a woman can be.

Girls Division science classrooms are full of resources, but the career fields aren’t.

Photo By:Regan Cadieux

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We Are Equestrians.

By: Maggie Sayers ‘17 “Equestrians need to have the concentration and ability to judge distances like a golfer, the strength and stamina of a hockey player, and the artistic flow and ability to make a hard task look easy and elegant like a ballerina.”

If Riding was just bright lights and blue ribbons, I would have quit a long time ago. ~George Morris

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When people ask them what sport they do, they will say they are equestrians.

“That’s not a sport,” people tell them.

“That’s easy.”

“You just sit there, anyone could do it.”

However, what defines something as a sport?

The dictionary defines a sport as: “an athletic activity requiring physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.”

So why doesn’t being an equestrian count?

Horses are powerful. A rider must tell them to move one inch to the left. And then to the right..

“People look at riding as not a sport because I think that they are ashamed to admit that they can’t do what we can.

This is by far the hardest sport I have ever competed in,” says equestrian Jake Wasson.

Riding is often overlooked as a sport because the skills and athleticism required are so unique. Riding requires leg strength, core strength, and hand-eye coordination in order to control a horse that weighs ten times as much as its rider over a course

jumps. Riding is an intricate dance with an animal that does not even speak our language.

Riding burns an average of 5.8 calories per minute. “Straddling a large, powerful animal with a mind and agenda of its own is a full body workout that will engage muscles you did not even know you had,” says track athlete and equestrian Alexis Bennet.

Many equestrians are upset about the lack of recognition from high schools.

RJ senior, Maddie Mangnall says, “It’s always been a thing between me and my horse and my accomplishments are enough for me. I just want to be respected in this sport. I want to be a professional.”

The United States Equestrian Federation has recently started their High School Equestrian program to recognize high school equestrians. In order to earn a varsity letter through the USEF, a rider must complete 100 hours of riding time and at least three competitions.

Riding is an enormous time commitment. In order to keep a horse in peak condition, it must be ridden almost every day. Riders that compete have 3:00 mornings, trailering and getting their horse ready for the show, and late nights almost every weekend.

However, for the lack of recognition, the time, the stress, and the mean comments, I would argue that it is worth every second.

Riders form strong bonds with their horses, and consider them to be their best friends. Horses give us a freedom that nothing else can.

“We equestrians need to stick together and have more ways to connect,” says freshman Erin Turner.

“I’m going to succeed because I’m crazy enough to think I can.”

“A blue ribbon built on trust, a championship built on teamwork, a gold medal built on passion, and a fame built on love.”

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Man of Steele An insider’s look into the devotion behind Father Steele’s memorable time at Regis Jesuit High School By: Maddie Merritt ‘16 & Noah Sakr ‘16

Guy Gibbs gymnasium is packed for Father Steele’s last mass as the school’s President.

Just days after suffering a minor heart attack, the long time Regis Jesuit leader gives a moving message to the student body. “In being shown the fragility of my life I was also shown the preciousness of it,” Father Steele says in his Ash Wednesday homily.

Fr. Phil Steele’s journey from student to president was a Herculean feat, with surprising details along the way.

Fr. Steele began his adventure at Regis Jesuit as a freshman in 1962 - graduating in 1966 almost fifty years ago. That same year he went on to enter the Society of Jesus.

Father Steele holds degrees from St. Louis University, Tyler School of Art at Temple University and The Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

In 1980, he was ordained into the priesthood and for fifteen years worked as an art teacher and pastoral director at St. Louis University High School and Regis Jesuit.

For seven years he served as the Jesuit Provincial’s assistant in St. Louis. After one year as Pastoral Director of Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, he came back to Regis Jesuit as president in 2006.

It’s been five decades since Father Steele graduated from Regis Jesuit. Back then, almost everything beat to a different drum.

“There used to be way more Jesuits; however, the camaraderie is the same. We still get

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together and tell stories about teachers and fellow classmates,” Father Steele said about the guy’s from the 60s.

While the focus ahead is blurry, the picture is clear.

Father Steele will leave an imprint on all of our lives, while making his own on the new people that will be blessed to know his nonjudgmental smile and kind eyes.

Steele says he wants to be remembered as “somebody who held the community together.” Someone who was “able to express who we are when we are at our best.”

Laughing, Steele adds, “mainly, I’d like to be remembered as a good priest.”

Father Jeff Harrison, who has been in the Society of Jesus for 40 years has known Father Steele for about that amount of time.

“Fr. Steele is an excellent chef, so we can always count on him for over the top special meals,” Harrison says. “I’ll miss that about him, but I’ll also miss his weakness for sweaters of all kinds.”

In terms of a priest, Father Steele was out of the mainstream of Jesuit teaching (math, English, science, etc.). “As an artist he has a different style and a unique way of looking at things,” Harrison said.

The Performing Arts Center and Student Commons will remains Father Steele’s favorite place on campus.

“There is no way to think of Fr. Steele without seeing the PAC,” Father Harrison says, “That will be his monument to Regis Jesuit.”

“One of the most memorable days for me was the ribbon cutting of the new building, everyone was outside drinking hot chocolate.

When the ribbon was cut, I remember all the students flowing like water into the building. It seemed so natural and so excited. Theater kids were crying, it was really cool,” Steele said of the historic day.

Now, it is time to start looking forward to the new President, and all he has in store for the ever-improving RJ community.

While Father Steele and Father Paul Sheridan are similar in a few ways, they are also drastically different. Fortunately, that is also a good thing. It helps to provide varying views and shed new light onto questions like, “so where do we go from here?”

Essentially, it is a matter of “style and personality,” Steele says. “Where he spends his time will be different. For instance, he is a baseball fanatic, so he will be at more games and than I was. Visibly, he wants to be around, like in the front of the building greeting kids.

He is also a very strong fundraiser, and he will make an impact on the school’s endowment.”

Fr. Sheridan was a highly sought after candidate for the position.

“It’s a good sign out there at Bellarmine that they’re mad at us for taking their president,” Father Steele adds, laughing.

Father Steele plans on returning to Regis Jesuit from time to time to check in on the school and the students.

I can’t come back every week but I’ll be back for big events”.“One of the projects I had hoped to have completed before I left but didn’t was the statute of John Francis Regis in front of the PAC.

But it’s not just about the buildings, positions held, or decisions made. It’s about the “community in which every individual feels accepted and at home,” Fr. Steele wrote in his famous ‘Man of Steele’ blog.

“Regis is my home, and no matter where I go, I bet it won’t feel like home for quite some time,” he adds bittersweetly.

Father Steele takes a moment, leans back into his couch and reminisces on the past, “It’s never totally been the same. Each year is different. When you first start, you ask a lot of questions, in the middle you tend to make the changes you feel need to be made, and then you settle in and everything is fine. It’s kind of quiet.”

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THE AUTHOR

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PROFILE THE PEOPLE OF RJ: Riley O’Connell

By: Emily Eads ‘17 A look inside the life of Denver’s first Youth Poet Laureate

You’ve seen her stories and her reports, maybe you’ve even come across her poetry on social media.

Either way, odds are that you have read something by Riley O’Connell, a senior here at Regis Jesuit.

Crafting stories and poems since early childhood, O’Connell has created an output for her emotions through writing. Her pieces not only help her through her busy life day by day, but they inspire and impact those who read them.

Channeling thoughts and feelings through words is what she has learned to do best, and what she fell in love with when she was a little girl.

“I listen to the phrase, ‘Write what you know.’ Since relationships are such an important part of my life and of my being, I feel like that’s what I really know. And that’s what I write

about,” O’Connell says about her poetry.

Very recently, Riley was honored to win the Denver Youth Poet Laureate. Upon winning, she will receive several opportunities for reading and sharing their poetry, as well as the Russell J. Arkind Memorial Scholarship and a book deal from Penmanship Books.

Riley O’Connell won this prestigious title by performing her slam poem “Thinking about Waffles” at the Althea Theater on Friday, March 20th.

In an interview with 5280 Magazine, Riley stated that, “Friday night was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced. When I forgot one part in the middle of my piece, just the support, the rubbing of the hands, the calling out ‘You got it girl.’ It was so cool seeing how everybody there embraced and loved and supported each other and our art and our expression, our stories. Being up there, when I was performing, I didn’t feel scared. I just felt like I had everybody’s attention.

Besides focusing on her writing, Riley manages to maintain a 4.3 GPA and was recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program for scoring within the top three percentile in the PSAT exam. She is an outstanding leader in the community and plays an active roll in countless clubs, including Link Crew and Espirit de Corps.

Riley also looks to the future, and works towards it by continuing to try and improve herself as much as she can.

“I feel like I’ve grown a lot in terms of English and writing academically,” she says. After overcoming her first-ever C paper early in the year, she managed to work to a flawless 100 percent on her final essay of the semester. Applying to several schools including Stanford University, she has her sights set on a very successful life.

Whether her pen is moving furiously crafting new works of writing, or she is working with others in her community, Riley O’Connell never fails to succeed and inspire others with her words.

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RAIDER TO ROCKIE Max George

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By Erika Rasmussen ’16

PROFILE THE PEOPLE OF RJ PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER Hometown: Parker, Colorado Max George throws for a double play during a game against the Idaho Falls Chukars last summer.

Photo by Post Register / Pat Sutphin.

Max George has become a well-known name around the Regis Jesuit community, and if you don’t know who he is, you should.

Its certainly not every day that a Regis Jesuit alum is drafted into the Colorado Rockies only a few weeks after graduating.

He was drafted in the 6th round to play for the Rockies of Grand Junction in June of 2014, and is currently in Arizona, beginning his first ever spring training as a professional athlete.

Born and raised in Parker, George grew up outdoors. He spent his time in the Colorado sun, riding his bike, playing whiffle ball, and most importantly, beginning his baseball career at a very young age. “I’ve been playing baseball for as long as I can remember,” he said. To be exact, since he was 3 or 4 years old.

And that’s where it all began.

He played throughout his childhood and into high school, swinging up for varsity as a freshman and making varsity every year after that.

During the summers, he continued to play competitively and got better and better.

When he started doing well, he began to make a name for himself.

Now he is living every athlete’s dream as a professional.

In his own words, George’s past season was “kind of crazy.” After the draft, he was thrown into a completely new program with a culture shock on his very first day. Over half of the athletes spoke no English, he explained, and it took a bit to absorb it all. The season was filled with new experiences, a new home, and long bus rides traveling for out-of-state games; it certainly was crazy. Crazy busy, but also crazy good.

After that first day, George got to know his teammates better as the season went on, and it all got easier. “I’ve made a lot of good friends,” he said. He’s also picked up some Spanish, and hit for the cycle last July, meaning he hit a single, double, triple, and home run, all in one game. It was only his 16th professional game. Pretty good, Max. Crazy good.

His long term goal is to play for the Rockies in the MLB, but for now, he’s just enjoying his new team and continuing to work hard. “I love just competing and being around the ballpark and around my teammates,” George said, when asked what he loves about his sport. It is easy to see how devoted he is to doing his best.

This devotion is confirmed by

those that have seen it in action. Coach Matt Darr, who coached George his senior year, described him as “a very hard worker” as well as “a great leader and a great teammate last year.” George’s teammates would say the same.

Regis Jesuit junior Quin Cotton, who played with George last year for our team, describes him as very focused and very serious when it comes to baseball.

“Going to Regis has helped me realize the importance of hard work and how, if you want something great, you need to work for it,” George said about how high school influenced him in his commitment and work ethic. In addition, his father impacted him greatly too. “I would probably say that my role model is my dad. He’s always kind of pushed me to be who I am today and to always try my best and work hard.”

On the field, George is hard-working and dedicated. Off the field, his great personality continues to shine. Senior Dani Orban, who has known him for several years, described him as modest, optimistic, and passionate. His down-toearth attitude and charisma are apparent, especially to those around him.

“He’s very grounded and humble, despite all his success as a player and now playing professionally,” Darr said. “He’s just kind of one of the guys.”

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March Madness

All about the hype of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament By: Haley Post ‘16 & Felicity Watson ‘16

It is finally time for March Madness. This is the best news of the month for college basketball fans across the country.

“I like college basketball because the players have more heart than the NBA players,” says Junior Nicolia Papadeas.

Selection Sunday is the choosing day for who moves on to play in March Madness. 64 teams continue playing out their season.

Each team’s slates are wiped clean on this day. From this point on, every team’s focus is on winning 6 consecutive games in order to win the national title.

Over 60 million Americans fill out a March Madness bracket every year. The first tournament was held in 1939, but it wasn’t the NCAA men’s basketball tournament—it was run by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and featured eight teams split

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Photos by: Haley Post ‘16

into two groups. According to CNBC, over 14 million people tune in to watch the national championship game every year.

“March Madness is one of the several times throughout the year that everyone, even those who don’t know much about basketball, can get involved, make choices or guesses, and just have fun debating and arguing with their friends,” says Junior Geoffrey Kelley.

So why does everyone get so into March Madness?

“I think everyone gets so into March Madness because anything can happen and you never know who will win,” says Junior Ezekia Johnson.

BD Varsity Basketball Bracket

We asked players from both teams for their brackets them tallied the results for a common team bracket

GD Varsity Basketball Bracket

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RED, WHITE,, AND BLUE

By Erika Rasmussen ‘16 & Kate Weis ‘16

You have to hate Creek, right? Do you know why this rivlary exists? We decided to be a Bruin for one day, to find out.

We had the opportunity to shadow Creek for a day and we found many differences, but even more similarities between the two rival schools.

As we arrived to Cherry Creek High School on the morning of March 5th , 2015, polo-less, we had no idea what we were in for. The first thing we noticed, not to be cliché, were the boys. While we were walking through the halls, we noticed the absence of the sly comment, “What are girls doing in this building?” We blended in everywhere we went.

No one said “hi” either, which is very different from the close-knit community at Regis Jesuit. As our journalism exchange student, Hanna Schwinn, said, “I see a new face everyday.” That hardly ever happens at Regis Jesuit, unless you happen to wander to the other division. Each grade at Creek has about nine hundred students which is over triple of our two hundred per grade. We felt tiny.

The first class we went to was called “Lit Into Film.” As we walked into the classroom there were some stares, but we were never questioned as to why we were there. It seemed like our visitor’s passes gave us away, and we wanted to fit in. So we took those off.

We watched a movie called K-Pax by a teacher who was obviously very passionate. There was some talk about the supernatural in the movie, and it was interesting to see how public school teachers aren’t allowed to talk about God. At Regis Jesuit, God is a normal topic. At Creek, the subject of God was tip-toed around.

If you thought Regis Jesuit was more challenging, you’re wrong. Both schools challenge students academically depending on what classes they take. While attending the AP courses, we experienced heated discussions, a surprise in-class essay, and awesome teachers. It was easy to see why Creek is nationally recognized.

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The Raiders taking on the Bruins last fall.

Photo by Jack Eiber/Jacks Action Shots

Our Raider stands proudly in the Boys Division Traditional Hall. Photo by Regan Cadieux ‘18

Cherry Creek’s logo displays their school spirit.

Photo by Kate Weis ‘16

Then, guess what juniors, we got to go off campus for lunch. Jealous? We didn’t even have to sneak off. With every bite of our burritos was a taste of freedom.

It was fun to venture off campus, but it was difficult to eat and get back in time for class with 1,700 other kids who had lunch the same hour.

Speaking of hours, it was nice to be able to have some off. However, going to eight periods a day left us exhausted by 2:51, the end of the school day. After experiencing that many periods in a day, we decided that we like our block schedule.

The final class we attended was Marketing. It was here we most felt the effects of the rivalry. CCHS junior, Blair Ewalt, was kind enough to share his opinion of the rivalry. “Generally I just don’t like Regis, except for a select few. Because I’m a Bruin.” This Bruin obviously isn’t a fan of the Raiders.

Another junior, Alex Bushell, told us, “It’s [the rivalry] growing.” It was in moments like these that we felt the animosity between our schools, especially towards athletics. So rowdy up for spring sports Raiders, these guys are serious.

For the most part, however, everyone was really welcoming towards us and treated us as their own.

After all, as our friend, CCHS junior, Ameila Colliver said, “We live in the same place, and we’re all getting borderline the same education.”

It’s true we’re a lot more similar than you might think.

Colliver continued to call the rivalry, “ridiculous,” and we agree. CCHS junior Malcolm Odell added, “The rivalry has probably just been there, we didn’t do anything to perpetuate it, it was just already there. We are just expected to live in this rivalry.”

So remember that the next time you feel the urge to key a Creek car or start a fight on Twitter, we are really all the same, just teenagers trying to survive the pressures of high school. So let’s be kind, keep the competition friendly, and join hands to sing “Kumbaya.”

Let us forge friendships with our rival school because, as CCHS junior Ted Walker stated, “Variety is the spice of life.”

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AMERICAN SNIPER Many have heard of the movie, some have seen it, but most might not realize the truth behind it.

By: Taylor Bush ‘17 & Emily Eads ‘17 The world renowned phenomenon story of A​merican Sniper, takes the true story of Navy Seal Chris Kyle, and tells it in a realistic and attention grabbing masterpiece. The movie is wrapped around Chris Kyle’s life, played

by Bradley Cooper, and his life before and after he volunteered to fight in the Iraq War. The movie to show the real cases of PTSD and how some Veterans don’t know or understand that they have it. ”I think the movie is true to life, and I think it’s factual,” says Clinton Eads, a Vietnam War veteran.

The movie takes its viewers in the battlefield with Chris Kyle. Every single moment in the moment, has the audience on an emotional roller coaster. From being happy, sad, angry, confused, of all of the above all at once.

Being in the military is represented well through this movie.

“It’s indescribable to someone who hasn’t been in the military.

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It’s a whole new lifestyle,” says Mr. Sean O’Dea. After the movie finishes and the lights come back on, the entire theater is silent out of respect, understanding, or just pure shock.

People in the theater just watched the life of Chris Kyle in a way that they never saw coming. The movie not only displays the life of Chris Kyle, but how war can take a drastic toll on someone’s life.

American Sniper r​elates to the fact that, “war is a sad thing,” said Mr. Chris Cook.

Everything in this movie is something that is relevant to our society today. Ranging from how real the war is, to how it affects families of the military. A​merican Sniper i​s a movie that projects the realness of a true story, in a way that has movie­goers everywhere, on the edge of their seat, wanting to see what happens next.

The American Flag is proudly displayed in many locations across the country.

Including the Regis Jesuit Boys’ Division gym. Defending our country holds a very important place in the hearts of Americans. Photo By: Emily Eads ‘17

When it comes to the reality behind this theatrical phenomenon, it seems that some people don’t understand the truth of the movie, or don’t understand how big a topic this movie has proved to be.

Many diverse opinions are held in regards to this motion picture, but regardless of thoughts, it is a true story. For years, terrorism has been a predominant threat to countries around the world.

Groups such as Al­-Quada and more recently Isis have become extremists with a religious base.

The definition of terrorism is the use of violence or intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Any individual who watches any news program has undoubtedly heard about Isis.

More frequently than not, the group of extremists are featured in the news for bombings, shootings, and manslaughter.

These attacks aren’t always on American Soil, but by no means does that make them less of a threat to Americans. Isis has recruited from social media outlets, corralling people into the program from Colorado’s very own Overland High School.

According to CBS Denver News, the girls were originally reported as runaways, having later been tipped off to the cops about their relations

The head council chairman of the Colorado Muslim Council commented, “I was shocked because, according to our prediction we thought that the boys were easy targets. To our surprise the girls were easy targets.”

The actions and pursuits of these groups are a threat to all, and have reached the global scale.

“Our troops need to be committed. They need to be given a specific goal, and not held back by political constraints,” said Eads.

Opinions vary from the dehumanization of religious groups, to the need for defense for the country and it’s people. Not so much is it a moral issue at this point considering the intensification of the attacks, but it is a predominant threat to people of America, and people of the world.

The question surrounding the entire topic is whether or not war should be acted upon by the United States on the terrorists. When is enough enough?

“I think it is a duty of the United States not only to defend ourselves, but defend others. It would be like walking down the street and seeing someone with a baseball bat beating somebody, it is your duty to help that person, not stand there and watch it,” says Mr. Cook.

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The New Generation of Music at RJHS By: Erin Biafore ‘18

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18

Students dash out of their classrooms at 12:25 on Thursday afternoons to fill their stomachs with food, of course. But mainly, to fill their minds and ears with the booming and brilliant sounds of EDM.

What really is Electronic Dance Music? Ask junior Brogan Hannon. Brogan has always had a passion for music. Not just plugging his headphones in, and singing with it, but producing it also.

“When I was around eight years old I started to take up guitar lessons, from there on I’ve been pretty interested in music. I started experimenting with music production when I started my first year of high school, and I now run DJ Club.” Brogan says. DJ Club is a great illustration of how the Year of the Arts at Regis Jesuit has given students an outstanding opportunity to grow and display their skills, outside of class.

The beginning idea of the club didn’t just start with just Brogan but with his friends Tim Toole, and Justin Given also. A graduated Regis student, named Sam planted the roots for a club that gave you the chance to learn and expand your skills in the music production area.

Brogan, Tim, and Justin had the thought about continuing the club when Sam graduated. Keep the new generation of music alive at Regis Jesuit.

“We all have a universal love for EDM. All of us would mess around in Brogan’s studio and throw stuff together. We wanted more people involved though… Demonstrate what abilities we had. Teach and show the community around us about the EDM culture.” Junior Tim Toole said. Give it a shot Sam told them, and so all three sophomore boys took that compact idea and grew it into what the club is now today.

The majority of the students that signed up in the Fall, only listened to that genre of music.. Not knowing how hard it would be to produce something that sounded so similar to their favorite EDM song.

“My impression when I walked in on the first day was that this is going

to be way harder than I thought it would be. Brogan has given me helpful advice about Beats Per Minute and transitions to make my songs more superior, also my beginner experience easier.” Freshman, Ian Vandevelde said.

Such as sports, academics, or arts… It takes practice to achieve your goals and to meet your best abilities.

Brogan looks up many major artists in the EDM industry, such as Seven Lions, Porter Robinson, and Above and Below.

He finds inspiration by hearing songs he loves, then producing them. He decided he wants to share that mutual feeling with his peers around him.

“I’m interested in the way that music can affect everyone in the world, no matter how slow or fast the beat is. I love playing for other people. Music can stimulate the mind and the body, and I love how people get so much enjoyment from one note, or a verse in a song.” Brogan voices. Music is a beautiful element in the world, come to the Z Theatre every Thursday and see how lucky we are to have students like Brogan Hannon to remind us of that.

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To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate

Recent oubtreaks of previously eradicated diseases and connections between autism and vaccinations begs the question; should parents vaccinate or not?

By: Sarah Darley 17’ & Rebecca Krempasky 17’

Disneyland is a place where families and their children go to vacation and enjoy the wonders that are the Disney characters, castles, and amusement rides. But what happens when your fun family getaway results in a case of measles?

Measles was eradicated in 2000 when the vaccination against this illness became prevalent with as few as 34 cases per year, but in recent news we have seen a significant spike in measles cases with 644 cases in 2014 alone, most of which originated in Disneyland. But why is a disease that has been mostly eliminated suddenly reappearing at such an alarming rate? Its simple; vaccinations and lack thereof.

Certain studies suggest that vaccinations could potentially lead to childhood autism and many of the parents of our world’s youngest generation have decided against vaccinating their children for this reason among others.

This is a controversial topic and quite a gray area but “there is wide acceptance among physicians that vaccinations are one of the greatest advances of modern medicine and have saved many hundreds of thousands of people from death and disability,” says Lisa Corbin, a physician at the University of Colorado Hospital.

As a mother and doctor, Corbin has seen both sides of the story but strongly believes in “prevention whenever possible, and vaccinations are one of the most surefire ways to prevent a lot of horrible illnesses.” The polio epidemic in the 1940’s and 1950’s brought sudden awareness to the importance of vaccinations as it killed or paralyzed over half a million people yearly worldwide. Parents rushed to get children vaccinated and therefore protected from the epidemic, as this was the only way to truly prevent anyone from contracting this infection.

This was the beginning of the collective understanding into just how important it was to

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protect from truly preventable illnesses, as parents were much more concerned about their child’s overall wellbeing as opposed to the possible issues that could arise from vaccinating.

Corbin adamantly states that “we now have the power to prevent so many other illnesses and while there are risks, these are far outweighed by the benefits,” and that there is truly “no debate regarding vaccination in my field, everyone should do it!”

It is also believed that media coverage of this issue does not properly portray the medical fields true opinion. Corbin says, “In an attempt to portray both (or more) sides of the story, [the media] gives equal time to doctors who are pro vaccine and anti vaccine.

The public then feels there is actual controversy, ” and statistics show that the amount of doctors that believe in vaccinations versus those that don’t is truly 1 in 50.

She goes on to say, “many people who are ‘anti vaccine’ are not motivated by science,” and studies are coming out to contradict those that believe in connections between autism and vaccines. Extensive research is being done in the field but there is certainly no solution to this debate at the moment.

Vaccines have many different opinions to back up the different views on them, but either way vaccinating or non-vaccinating is a personal choice and this decision is based on the wellbeing and health of a person, which is truly what vaccinations are all about.

Parents and Vaccinations Parent for Vaccination

Why did you vaccinate?

Our family doctor recommended vaccinating our children. Since he went to medical school and I didn’t, he is the trusted expert in his field.

Why did you feel that this was the best option?

I wanted to make sure my kids were protected from preventable illness, and I felt it was responsible parenting to guard other children from spreadable diseases.

Do you ever question the safety of vaccines today? Never. Science doesn’t support it.

Parent Against Vaccination

Why didn’t you vaccinate your child?

Doctors often give multiple vaccines at the same time which compounds the negative effects.

I figured that the whole process wasn’t well thought out and decided to take a more cautious approach when I got my second child vaccinated.

Why did you feel this was the best option?

I feel that I should do what I can to protect my child to the best of my knowledge and to the extent that’s possible. I prefer to take cautious approach: take both sides of opinions and make a decision that’s best for my child.

Do you ever worry about your child getting sick due to a lack of vaccination?

That depends. I talked about chickenpox vaccines with the doctor and decided to not vaccinate her for that. She got the disease and recovered well.

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A DANCER WITH A PASSION By: Fiona Neylon ‘18

As the busy poms season at Regis Jesuit High School has finally started to dwindle down, I was able to sit down with Freshman Anne Morrison to talk about her and her passion for dance. “My parents got me interested in dance because they wanted me to do something athletic, so at around 2 and a half my parents signed me up for a basic little kid’s ballet and tap class,” she explains as she plays with the end of her sweater.

“Ever since then I have loved dance, it gives me a chance to express my self.”

Most people express themselves in other forms of art like painting, drawing, or acting, but Anne likes to break through the walls of a so called “art form.” Her emotions fuel how she dances. So far her poms experience at Regis Jesuit has been amazing. She made JV Poms and hopes to make varsity next year. She has meet many girls and have grown very close to all of them because of their extremely busy practice schedule.

“I met so many awesome people and I feel it made the transition from middle school to high school a lot easier,” she says with a smile.

For her the transition was hard, but through her passion of dance she was able to meet so many amazing people. Through her experience, and with the help of the team captains, Morrison was able to grow as a dancer and make dance more of an art for her. When she expresses that new growth, she experiences a wave of happiness and enthusiasm. When she is on stage and giving it her all, she fills with even more emotion. “ The moment you get off the stage and you know you did it perfectly. At poms state, we got out onto the floor and I was filled with adrenaline and even though I was exhausted and I felt like I could not dance anymore I could still keep going. I was able to push past it. Afterward, we all felt amazing.”

When the poms schedule is in full swing, she put forth all her time and effort into poms.

She cut back from the outside dance, from ten hours a week to just two. With the little spare time she had, she would fill it with the overwhelming amount of homework she had from taking 56 four honors classes. Even with her busy schedule, she plans to do poms all four years.

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