Issue 7, May 31

The Game of

Wednesday, May 31, 2023 ECHO

E ECHO

STAFF LIST

Editors-in-chief: Katie Nelson, Elena Ortiz Fishman

Managing editor: Maren Wilsey

Photo editors: Mya

Stanberry, Eliah Fink

Copy editors: Alex Geretz, Scott

Schmidt, Jesse Belen, Ena Mekic

News editor: Abby Keller

Features editor: Abby Bartleson

In-Depth editor: Alicia Mainjeni

Sports Editor: Aidan Shafton

Opinion editor: Crystal Diaz

Entertainment Editor: Anya

Panday

Social media editor: Modesty

Manion

Web editor: Noah Leventhal

Staff: Rachel Arkis, Serena

Bovee, Cole Denham, Tyler Eoff, Caedon Exsted, Jamar Hester, Alex Hoag, John Hunter, Johanna Kaplan, Lex Lee, Ari Lissauer, Jacob Martenson, Ayelel Meyen, Layla Mickelson, Maya Nieves, Jacob Perszyck, Sarah Peterson, Taylor Voigt, Roberto Alvarez, Lilly Fandel Thompson, Jana Faust, Dahlia Herman, Leo Justesen, Anisa Kahin, Nafisa Kahin, Sarah Kluckhohn, Owen McColgan, Abby Meisler, Cole Taylor, Anna Williams, Liz Williams, Hanna Wilsey.

Principal: LaNisha Paddock

Printer: North Star Media

Adviser: Andrew Wilkes

Awards:

NSPA Hall of Fame member;

2006-2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014,

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,

2020, 2021 NSPA Print Pacemaker

Finalist; 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021 National Print Pacemaker Award recipient; 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Online Pacemaker Finalist:

2013, 2015, 2016, 2020 CSPA Gold

Crown: 2015, 2020, 2022 CSPA

Hybrid Gold Crown: 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 CSPA Silver

Crown: JEM

All State Gold Award print and online.

3 George Floyd anniversary brings reflection, discussion

4 Seniors celebrate years of work, Building up Park’s future

FEATURES

5 Two paws up for therapy dogs

Editors

Happy cycle 7! We are both going to miss writing this silly little letter to introduce the beginning of each print edition of our beloved newspaper, so please enjoy the final publication of Echo for the school year. Our staffers have been working tirelessly all year to deliver worth-the-read content and we are so proud of all the dedication and love put into this paper. Luckily, as a staff, we were able to celebrate all the hard work together during the first annual Echo Feast. May has been a very important month and just this last week on May 25 students gathered together to give honor and discuss the murder of George Floyd, which is covered on page 3. Additionally, graduation coverage begins on page 4, where a brief preview is given for the next week to come. On pages 6-7, we present our annual senior spread which outlines the post-grad plans of all graduating seniors. Lastly, as seniors prepare their goodbyes, check out some advice given by Echo staffers to current highschoolers, on page 11. Thank you to everyone who has made this year a good one — we would not be able to do this without our committed staff and supportive readers! Go Park :)

6-8 Pieces of the past — plans for the future

SPORTS OPINIONS

9 Sports for every season

10 Staff editorial: senior survival guide

11 PCP: End the year with a splash

12 Barry breaks hearts

Final roll Orioles: Seniors Katie Nelson and Elena Ortiz pose together during decision day May 11. Nelson will be attending Iowa State University, while Ortiz is committed to Macalester College.

Photo by: Maren Wilsey

Sofia Jerney, junior

George Floyd anniversary brings reflection, discussion

SOAR holds anniversary memorial for George Floyd

Sarah Kluckhohn

Students Organized for Anti-Racism (SOAR) held a memorial for the three year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd May 25. The memorial included a discussion of the aftermath in the Twin Cities and the legacy left behind. SOAR advisor Lee-Ann Stephens said students wanted to hold the memorial in part to confront the decline in activism in the three years since Floyd’s passing.

“The students wanted to have this discussion to find out what people have been doing in the three years since George Floyd’s murder,” Stephens said. “So many people were posting black squares, supporting black businesses and Black Lives Matter, joining protests and now a lot of that has died down. They wanted to have this discussion today, on the third anniversary of his murder, to hold people accountable and let them reflect on what their commitment is to social justice and anti-racism.”

Sophomore Janet Kromah said some people were unaware of the gravity of the issue and participated in only surface-level activism.

“If you were living in St. Louis Park at the time as a white resident, you probably weren’t as aware of the situation as people around you that were (people) of color,” Kromah said. “Their main form of protest was posting a black square, trying to seem like this ally that they’re not. It was over quickly because they never thought of it as something more than a trend.”

The black square was brought up repeatedly in the discussion. The black square refers to the trend during the protests of Instagram users posting black squares to show support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Sophomore Tina Benyam said the trend bolstered performative activism and ultimately did more harm than good.

“Someone said that even though (the black square) was performative, it still spread the word and caused

more activism to be done, but it pushed the narrative that activism only has to do with posting something,” Benyam said. “Most people posting black squares didn’t do anything else. They didn’t donate, they didn’t go to protests, they didn’t post anything else. On top of that, it hurt the movement by flooding BLM hashtags that previously had important information.”

The discussion also touched on the effect of the riots in Minneapolis. Senior Najma Abdimalik said she went to protest initially because she saw people were making progress and was surprised to see the damage.

“When I first saw the protests on TV, I saw that people were making change, talking to the police and I decided I wanted to go myself,” Abdimalik said. “The protest turned into a riot and I saw things getting burned down. I saw a building get lit on fire and completely demolished. After that, things didn’t get rebuilt for months, and a big community was affected — a Cub Foods, a Target, the police station, a corner store, a clothing store, a gym, all got burned down. It wasn’t black people — (it was) people living in those neighborhoods who were doing that.”

According to Kromah, the effects of the riots still hurt black communities in Minneapolis to this day.

“The stereotypes got worse after people started looting stores and rioting,” Kromah said. “It detrimentally affected our community because people living in those areas couldn’t get food and things they needed. If they were there and experiencing it, they would understand that even though it brought a lot of change, it also really hurt those communities in the long run.”

Along with discussions of performative activism, the audience was asked to consider their own activism in the years since 2020. Guest speaker Kahlique Rogers said some people have not been doing enough since coverage has died down.

“Allies are often in spaces that are light — by light, I mean they can be there and not do much. They can dip their toe into the problem, but not fully dive into how they can help,” Rogers said. “They stop when the going gets tough, when it’s not as cool and glamorized as a space to be in. When it gets tough, are you going to just leave, or are you going to stand there and be part of the

tough moments? The difference between an ally and a co-conspirator is if you really live it or not. Is this an act, or is this your way of life? That’s the whole point.”

Sophomore Jaiden Leary said the memorial refreshed feelings that first inspired him to take action. Leary said keeping the memory alive is important to keep people invested in making change.

“I’ve been interested in politics since middle school, but after George Floyd’s death, I was inspired to actually go into politics and help,” Leary said. “A lot of these deaths are forgotten too quickly, and having a memorial like this keeps them fresh in people’s minds — it reminds them that people will keep dying unless we do something.”

Sophomore Blessing Middleton said that despite the fear that the audience would disrupt the memorial, she’s happy with the discussion and grateful for the turnout.

“We were worried about people not coming, or about people coming and being disrespectful, but I’m more than happy with the turnout,” Middleton said. “Everybody who talked was so respectful — it was a nice community to be in.”

According to Stephens, this turnout was due to the decision to require attendees to pre-register online. The registration form included questions about the personal effect of Floyd’s death on the applicant.

“They were very intentional about making sure people pre-registered. When we did this the first year after his murder, anybody could come, and just about every seat was filled, but not everybody was there for the right reasons,” Stephens said. “They only wanted people to go if they really wanted to be there.”

Rogers said he was inspired by the initiative of the students who organized the memorial and hopes they are inspired as well.

“Seeing the group of young people we had in this space really be excited about the potential impact they could make, acknowledging the impact they already made, is really amazing,” Rogers said. “I hope the students see the faces of the people that showed up today — the community they made with SOAR — see how that’s thriving and feel inspired.”

DESIGN BY Abby Keller

It’s sad we have to deal with this still in 2023, but I have hope because there are people still showing up in support.”

Photo by: Abby Keller

Moment of silence: SOAR members discuss the three year anniversary of George Floyd’s death May 25. The memorial was held with the intention of reflecting on changes made throughout the past three years.

Seniors celebrate years of work

Class of 2023 prepares for graduation ceremony

Lilly Fandel Thomson

The class of ‘23 is wrapping up their senior year and preparing for the biggest celebration of their academic year: their graduation ceremony.

Principal LaNisha Paddock said the involvement of students in their graduation celebration highlights student voice and values that the district stands for.

“They have an opportunity to put their voice into the space — to be recognized at the end of the year and recognize each other,” Paddock said.

Senior Jaida Puentes said as a speaker for the ceremony she is eager to share her experiences at Park and take time to soak it in with her peers.

“I’m going to be sharing how it’s impacted me and the strengths that I’ve taken from high school,

Building up Park’s future

Construction to commence

Roberto Alvarez

Park has started the process of construction on classrooms and certain parts of the school, including the cafeteria and the Media Center.

This summer, a number of classrooms will be seeing remodels and will be finished by the start of the school year. Since the cafeteria will be a full-year project starting during the 2023-2024 school year, students will have to eat in the gym area which will alter their experience.

Sophomore Arun Ferran-Sapatnekar said construction for the cafeteria will cause more inconvenience for both students and teachers.

“First of all, the hallways will be much more

We are getting a new track, so hopefully we can host meets.”

and the things that I’m going to carry on into the future,” Puentes said. “It’s great for us to get together one more time, to celebrate all the things we’ve accomplished.”

Senior Nananti Omer said it is important for students to be involved because it aligns with what Park stands for, and it makes the celebration more hands-on for students.

“It definitely shows the fact that they are keeping true to their words by involving students and showing student voice,” Omer said. “It allows for students to have an in, instead of just walking on stage.”

According to Puentes, the students at graduation are eager to speak at the ceremony and have been working with adults close to them to properly prepare themselves for this opportunity.

“I wrote a speech and I’m going to be working with English teachers to perfect it,” Puentes said. “I’ve also been reading it to people close to me. I get more nervous if I read things to people that I know instead of strangers.”

Omer said being able to share special moments from their years at Park makes the ceremony more personal and special.

“My experience at the high school was very unique, and I really just wanted to talk about that,” Omer said. “Senior year specifically launched me into being able to say, ‘I’m ready for college.’ I’m most looking forward to seeing my friends walk the stage and cheering for them.”

Graduation June 6 at 7:00 p.m.

Graduates must arrive at 6:00 p.m.

Rehearsal June 6 9:00 a.m.

hour,” Ferran-Sapatnekar said. “It’ll also make it inconvenient for the teachers because there will be a lot more noise outside of their classrooms, which will be a big distraction and a detriment toward student learning.”

According to English teacher Jodi Schifsky, she is glad that the school is finally remodeling classrooms.

“Most of the classrooms have been overlooked for the past decade or two, just in terms of their style and upkeep,” Schifsky said. “The new layout is hopefully going to make it more welcoming to students, and able to feel a little more collaborative.”

Assistant Principal Derek Wennerberg said there will be “growing pains” during this time of construction, and hopes that students will be able to understand and be patient during this time of construction.

“Anytime you have construction, it always gets uncomfortable and awkward,” Wennerberg said. “Many students at the high school had to go through construction at the middle school. You have to go through some growing pains to make things better. The good thing is that most of the classrooms are going to be finished by the start of the school year.”

Building manager Jim Lodge said that the priority for ongoing construction during the school year is to be as safe as possible when doing construction when it interferes with students and teachers.

“First and foremost is that this project is going to be safe, not only for students and staff, but for the community as a whole,” Lodge said. “We have to make sure that we maintain the school. School is the primary, that’s why we’re here to make sure that the education process keeps going. It’s like a juggling act trying to make sure that we have enough space available,

and yet we’re doing this in a timely manner so that we don’t drag out construction too long.”

Wennerberg said only a certain amount of classes are getting remodeled this summer in spaced out tiers.

“A majority of the classrooms will be remodeled, but it’s done over a three-year process,” Wennerberg said. “They’re gonna start with phase one up on the third floor. Phase two will be on the second floor and then phase three will be the bottom floor.”

Sophomore Max Olson said the remodeling of classes will create a better learning environment for Park.

“The few new classrooms do have a better learning environment,” Olson said. “It will make everything more open, which creates a better learning environment and we’ve needed that in the school for a long time. My grandparents went to Park, and not a lot has been done since they went to this school — hopefully it will look nice and modern.”

Lodge also said that construction will hopefully finish on time for the classrooms, cafeteria and Media Center.

“I do believe that the construction will be done on time,” Lodge said. “The challenge we’re always going to find out is the unforeseen things. When we open a wall up and there’s something that we don’t know that wasn’t on the plans from the original design build, we just go from there and make the progress that we can. But we will always try and be as accurate as we can when creating a timeframe for how long construction will last.”

Graphics by Noah Leventhal

Madeline Anklam, junior

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Life as a lifeguard

Jana Faust

With school getting out, getting a summer job is the next item on my list. This summer I will be working as a lifeguard. When temperatures increase, so does the amount of people swimming.

I decided I wanted to be a lifeguard two years ago because I wanted to spend time outside in the sun, hang out with kids and swim. However, I quickly realized that there would be more to the job.

As a lifeguard, I am a first responder. I am required, by law, to make the best attempt possible to help people in an emergency. As a teenager, I am trusted to save lives. When thinking about lifeguarding, it is a position commonly filled by people ranging in age from sixteen to mid-twenties. It’s looked at as a desirable job by kids my age because all you do is “sit there.”

There are many misconceptions of why people choose to be lifeguards. Some people think we just sit there and tan while daydreaming. In reality when on stand as a lifeguard, my head is on a swivel, constantly watching the pool. Lifeguarding is a job that comes with a big responsibility.

Park holds therapy dog event

With the end of school nearing and finals piling up, stress is on the minds of many students, according to senior Sophia Earle. To help reduce stress levels, Natural Helpers held a therapy dog event on May 22. Earle said this opportunity was a chance to take a step back and relax.

“I thought this would be a good idea to do after AP and IB testing, to have everyone destress from three weeks of stress,” Earle said. “I reached out to North Star Therapy and they were super willing to come in and help us out. I know they go and help out other schools with therapy dog events, so I thought it would be great to partner with them.”

Senior Ruby Livon said the experience took away unnecessary stress.

“It benefited me because school can get really stressful, especially towards the end of the year with finals and everything,” Livon said. “Having the dogs was just nice and calming, (and you) kind of forget about everything else going on. You could just go in and chill.”

Senior Sam Coggan said her previous experience with therapy dogs led her to take part in the event.

“I remember in elementary school they would bring therapy dogs, and they hadn’t done so in high school before,” Coggan said. “It was cool that they had them there and I wanted to check it out.”

Sophomore Micah Curtis said the relaxing environment was a big part in his enjoyment at the event, and saw the opportunity as motivation for the rest of the school year.

“My favorite part was getting to meet all the puppies and see how cute their faces were,” Curtis said. “Now I’m more relaxed and I know that I have puppies on my side, so I’m going to use these puppies as motivation for finals.”

Earle said the therapy dog event’s success may influence it to become offered at Park on a more regular basis.

“As a senior, I’m not exactly sure where this will lead next year because I won’t be here,” Earle said. “But I would love for North Star Therapy to partner with us. Maybe even on a regular basis and coming in once a month or once every few weeks would be great.”

Coggan said the event allowed students a beneficial break from classes and she would encourage others to attend.

“I got to chit-chat with some people, and it was nice to have a little break in the middle of the day,” Coggan said. “A lot of people would benefit just from being able to take a break from their classes.”

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Two paws up for therapy dogs INTERESTED

Getting certified was a lengthy process with online and in the water training. In a group taught by a Red Cross instructor, we learned all the different types of saves, and how to perform them correctly. After our skills were assessed, we took a written test. If I passed all three portions, I would be certified, and that’s how I became a lifeguard. A lot of people spend significant amounts of time at pools during the summer. With no school and high temperatures, swimming is the perfect activity. However, that can sometimes mean unsupervised kids. Parents find comfort in the fact that there are guards keeping their children safe, which is what makes lifeguarding so impactful.

Summer job not as simple as many think

Since I lifeguarded last summer, I learned some valuable skills. I learned how to take leadership in a work environment and how to navigate through an emergency. These are skills that can be used in other aspects of my life as well. I have learned multiple lessons from lifeguarding that I will carry with me for the rest of my life such as how to deescalate and take control over situations, problem solve and how to interact with adults or authority figures.

Lifeguarding has provided me with fun experiences as well, like playing with kids and swimming in the pool with other guards during breaks. Lifeguarding is a great summer job with just the right balance of fun and responsibility. I am looking forward to being on stand this summer.

- register for training courses

- complete the pre-test

- finish the training course

- earn you CPR, First Aid and AED certification

Design by Abby Bartleson Hanna Wilsey

Therapy dogs are great because being around them helps take off a lot of stress surrounding school. It’s a nice break in the middle of my day.”

Furry friends: Freshman Susannah Israel plays with a dog May 22. Students could sign up through Student Support Time to participate in the event.

Infographic

Infographic by: Hanna Wilsey

Source: Alliance of Therapy Dogs

Photos by: Caedon Exsted

Katie Nelson

Caedon Exsted

Barking up fun: Sophomore Marley Curtis poses with a dog for a selfie May 22. Natural Helpers coordinated the event for students to relax.

The seniors this year have a lot of hype and Park Pride. I value the seniors in our choir class, they bring a lot to the table.”

Pieces of the past — plans for the future

MIDWEST

Illinois

Columbia College Chicago

Abby Baudhuin

Loyola University Chicago

Gretchen Huebsch

Roosevelt University

Lauren Pawlyshyn

Iowa

Iowa State University

Katie Nelson

Fiona Schaack

Luther College

Gunnar Anderson

University of Iowa

Eli Kaufman

Kansas

University of Kansas

Lily Olson

Minnesota

Anoka Ramsey Community College

Ava Hoffman

Jordan McMahon

Atelier Academy of Beauty

Ella Wasvick

Augsburg University

Maecee Alexander

Saynab Mohamed

Tednaisha Satterwhite

Bethany Lutheran College

Jacob Anderson

Bemidji State University

Henry Eaton

Carleton College

Ryan duSaire

Molly Horstman Olson

Josh Madigan

Concordia University - St. Paul

Mahdi Abdirahman

Dakota County Technical College

Cole Nowak

Dunwoody Technical College

Phillip Hirte

Zakira Joya

Calvin Ombaso

Jasper Raasch

Gustavus Adolphus College

Halima Bigirindavyi

Will Graves

Hamline University

Shaydi Falcon

Hennepin Technical College

Raelen Crisp

Aidan Jones

Quinton Piper

Deon Sewharack

Macalester College

Elena Ortiz-Fishman

Gwen Rockler-Gladen

Metropolitan State University

Muna Ambashe

Minnesota State University - Mankato

Shantell Harden

Megan Herkenhoff

Samantha Meyer

Normandale Community College

Mathew Alvarado

Alex Dando

Maggie DeForge

Chuku Kamara

Amina Mohamed

Salah Mohamoud

Leyla Muxudiin

Elmi Noor

Miles Rost

Luke Streefland

Shannon Weeks

Khayria Yusuf

North Hennepin Community College

Luqman Harbi

PCI Academy

Jinx Clarke

Saint John’s University

Henry Bendickson

Zach Helfmann

Sam Wolden

Saint Paul College

Rozie Tahalov

St. Catherine University

Nicole Juela Ortiz

St. Olaf College

Aiden Cullumber

Rachel Katzovitz

University of Minnesota - Duluth

Zoe Gutz

Zach Johnson

Raima Nashita

Frankie Robello

Jonah Schmieg

Jonah Schultz

University of Minnesota - Morris

Kendall Kreifels

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Amira Abdirahman

Ashaar Ali

Andrew Badhwa

Nadia Bireh

Wilton Bomsta

Clark Brousseau

Abigail Christiansen

Elliot Descarpentrie

Scarlett Gann

Finnian Gidden

Kamryn Halley

Julia Holm

Edward Holt

Allison House

Maimun Hussein

Jason Jensen

Kahiye Kahin

Manny Kaplan

Tori Kennedy

Emelia Koehler

Nadia Kovalchuk

Emma Kremer

Charlie Kroells

Fiona Long

Tenzin Lungthok

Kevin Martinez Herrera

Belan Muse

Ayub Mohamed

Alicia Narais

Shallin Nyakundi

Jacob Perszyk

Rachel Pope

Greta Runyan

Eli Schmelzer

Rocco Serrano

Fatma Sharif

Iftha Sharif

Asher Shertok

Sydney Shultz

Nathaniel Sternberg

Lauren Thon

Jack Thyne

Keira Trill

University of St. Thomas

Tenzin Dhondup

Reem Elbassal

Coco Gutzke

DESIGN BY Alicia Mainjeni

47%

MIDWEST

Stefano Giovannelli

Tommy Kniser

Jack McCarren

Sean McMahon

Miles Rider

Juweriya Sherif

Sara Taye

Owen Winecoff

Winona State University

Sophia Meyer

CC Peters

Missouri

University of Missouri

Andrew Yakes

Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Stella Rostal

Peru State College

Antonio Speed

North Dakota

North Dakota State University

Katie Crocker

Gillian Kapinos

Jack Walker

University of North Dakota

Leila Campbell

Kwame Fokuo

Bryce Martin

Wisconsin

Carroll University

Audrey Brown

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Sam Hauer

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

August Muehlhausen

Dylan O’Dea

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Isaac Cantor

Winifred Fritz-Durocher

Cecelia Meyen

Izzy Nathan

Adina Tirado

Maren Wilsey

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Norah Vogt

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

David Gakinya

Nanati Omer

University of Wisconsin - Stout

Gabe Carlson

Carter Heinrichs

Ohio

Ohio State University

Anna McCallon

NORTHEAST

Massachusetts

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Jack Mintz

Emerson College

Emma Samuels

Fitchburg State University

Nora Hall

New Hampshire

Dartmouth University

Axel Abrahamson

New Jersey

Princeton University

Isaac Israel

New York

Ithaca College

Johnathan Cohen

Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

Micah Davis

Villanova University

Joey Falzone

Vermont

New England Center for Circus Arts

Elliot McGary-Walters

University of Vermont

Ami Fischer

WEST

Arizona

Arizona State University

Mason Amelse

Arika Barth

Jordan Dolinar

Ava Hart

Isys Morrow Colton Taylor

University of Arizona

Anna Becker

Abby Ellingson

Denly Lindeman

Ruby Livon

California

California State UniversityNorthridge

Angelina Lattassa

San Diego State University

Lily Fadell

Colorado

Colorado College

Miles Nordling

Colorado State University

Anna Hodges

Quinn Wildgen-White

University of Colorado Boulder

Cece Jenson

Sophia Nagorski

University of Denver

Johanna Kaplan

Montana

Montana State University

Esme Johnson

Oregon

Lewis and Clark College

Ellie Callahan

Char Priadka

University of Oregon

Rose Huse

Willamette University

Wes Anderson

Utah

University of Utah

Auden Whitlow

Washington

Western Washington University

Sam Coggan

Boys ball for a win: Senior Salah Mohamoud attempts to block an opponent from passing the ball Dec. 9. Park won 85-76 against Washburn.

Infographic by: Alicia Mainjeni

Source: 2023 Seniors

Where you’ll find the class of 2023

SOUTH

Florida

Eckerd College

Mya Stanberry

Florida A&M University

November Marshall

Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

Sebastian Tangleson

Morgan State University

Nevaeh Dobyne

North Carolina

Duke University

Amanuel Shetaye

North Carolina A&T

Job Lawrence

South Carolina

College of Charleston

Sadie Lund

Tennessee

Rhodes College

Charlie Poulter

University of Tennessee

Zoe Wyatt

Vanderbilt University

Sophia Earle

Washington D.C.

American University

Luca Alvarez

George Washington University

Daniel Bevell

Howard University

Stayci Spates

ATHLETICS

“

ABROAD

Costa Rica

Amira Cosey

South Korea

Kayla Birkeland

Kenya

Umul Ali

GAP YEAR

Nimo Abdikadir

Munira Abdullahi

Angel Salazar Aguilar

Justin Ancelmo

Israel Baltazar-Chon

Anthoni Barrientes

Cianny Belen

Sigalit Cassuto

Connor Hallett

Gabriella Emoruwa

Isaiah Klepfer

Marisa Peck

Maya Skorheim

Quentin Solheim

Yesica Villalobos

Alana Weiser

Landon Xiong

MILITARY

Air force Angel Adolfo Rincon Montes

WORKING

Hudo Ali

Sami Bouzrara

Lotus Deuel

Avery Filley

Dayvion Freeman

Ben Funk

Keymani Green

Daniel Hamm

Katelyn Hysell

Calder Horton Landis

Jaxson Kropelnicki

Solin Mendez Duffy

Deziree Meringdol

Tabitha Moraa

DaJuan Pierson

Jaida Puentes

Olivia Rabine

(I am going to miss) my soccer teammates. They’re cool guys and they’re really nice and funny.”

Lucas Tangelson,

Edward Sutter

Luis Sosa Burgara

Alasia Thammavongsa

Warren Watson

Aicelin Yang

UNDECIDED

Antonia Antony

Tyler Bainbridge

Katrina Bednarski

Luis Benitez Matias

Jayden Deloney

Sharon Luna Silva

Hawa Mohamed

Isaac Nelsen

Julius Nyakundi

Justin Okere

Cameron Pearson

Mireya Ramirez

Ruwayda Shaikh

Jackie Tamay

Christopher Walker

Estela Zendejas Herrera

UNKNOWN

Abdullahi Abdi

Hanad Abdi

Lugman Abdi

Yahya Abdille

Najma Abdimalik

Zahrah Abdulhay

Abdifitah Abdullahi

Suhaib Adam

Luke Affeldt

Isam Ahmed

Adnaan Ali

Bahaja Alisahal

Bennett Anderson

Marcellous Anderson-Stanifer

Mikal Andrews

Antonia Antony

Loui Azem

Yalila Barrera Segovia

Isabella Brown

Demetrius Burges

Olivia Cosey

Aleiya Curry

Theodore Dahlin

Blue Denz

Adam Frahm

Adin Garcia Castaneda

Kemarion Guy

Quinn Hartnett

Mohamed Hassan

Sahur Hassan

Dataveon Hatcher

Ariana Henderson

Zakaria Hersi

Jimmy Hager

Denim Hairston

Steven Hall

Emma Holden

Anas Hussein

Daraartu Hussein

Rakhiah Ibrahim

Wyatt Johnson

Treyonno Jones

Farzana Joya

Griffin Lahm

Tenzin Lama

Alex Licopoli

Jake Licopoli

Kamryn Lindstrom

Mahamed Mahamed

Meshach Mandel

Citlalli Marin-Beltran

Amelia McGregor

Jayden Mitchell

Asad Mohamed

Ayub Mohamed

Mohamed Mohamed

Sudeysi Mohamed

Sundus Mohamed

Tevin Murphy

Belan Muse

Jett Nelson

Nickalaus Oknick

Jonathan Oliver-Coleman

Jonathan Olvera Oros

Abdifatah Osman

Dylan Palacios Chavarria, Luis Perez-Barriga

Britney Puchaicela Sanchez

Ronald Pullum Jr

Leissah Rendon Gomez

Angel Rincon Montes

Jonathan Rodriguez Cruz

Julian Rohweder

Hera Roush

Ariatna Saldivar Santos

Avantae Sanford

Peter Schaehrer

Sayer Severson

Mohamed Shafi

Zakariye Sharif

Ilhan Sheikh

Brady Soja

Johanna Solis-Cano

Lynn Starkweather

Djwan Stewart

Theodore Thalhuber

Camila Vargas Hidalgo

Andruw Vela-Bravo

Ian Wandrie

Ky’ra Wesson

Heaven Whitson

Zamir Yassin

DESIGN BY Alicia Mainjeni

Snuggly sunrise: Seniors gather on the tennis court for annual senior sunrise Sept. 2022. The event took place at 6:20 a.m.

Photo by: Serena Bovee

Splashing into senior year : Seniors Shantell Harden and Lily Olson chase eachother with paint Sept. 2022. Each student had the opportunity to place handprint on the wall.

Photo by: Abby Bartelson

The

Tommy Walsh, junior

Sports for every season

Year-round athletics benefit athletes

Park has a high percentage of students involved in its athletic teams, but a much smaller number play sports during all fall, winter and spring seasons. Coaches and athletes at Park commented on how playing three sports can be a bigger commitment while also providing a plethora of advantages for student athletes.

Cross country, basketball and track coach Chris Nordstrom said athletes who participate in three sports can see many benefits.

“There’s both physical and mental positive things that come with it,” Nordstrom said. “Physically, athletes are using a lot of different muscles and joints and moving in different ways when they’re doing multiple sports, and that’s building them up physically to be overall stronger.”

Sophomore Lucas Tangelson, who does soccer, Nordic skiing and track, said he sees a difference between athletes who do year-round versus only one or two seasons.

“The level of athleticism and competitiveness — it’s very different because there’s not the same level of experience if you’re not doing year-round sports, maybe you’re not conditioning fully for each sport,” Tangelson said. “If you’re working every single season as hard as you can, then you’re going to be more prepared for the next one.”

Nordstrom said the benefits of year-round athletics for mental health are crucial to students.

“Mentally, it prevents burnout,” Nordstrom said. “It’s very easy to burn out from a sport when you’re doing one sport year-round constantly. It doesn’t always happen, but I have seen it, so having that variety is a nice mental break for a lot of students.”

Freshman Gretchen Fandel-Thompson, who plays tennis, hockey and lacrosse, said because of her

WHAT’S THE POINT? From teammates to opponents

Abby Bartleson

Since fourth grade I have been playing lacrosse. This sport has always been a big part of my life and my family’s life, especially now that my younger brother plays lacrosse as well. For every spring that rolls around, the season starts up again and you can catch me on the field with my stick.

However, the people that surround me during the season haven’t always been consistent. In my younger years of playing, Park decided to co-op with Hopkins due to their lack of girls registering for the sport. This meant that I got the chance to play with a ton of new faces and build friendships with girls who went to Hopkins but this changed when I hit seventh grade. During this transitional period, the lacrosse program changed from playing with the association to just playing through the middle school.

While playing co-op with Hopkins, it brought a lot of memorable experiences for me as a young girl. The playing itself wasn’t very competitive, my teammates (as well as their parents from the sidelines) and I would always push each other to do better on the field.

involvement in multiple sports, she has gained the ability to work with others and build relationships with many different people.

“School-wise, they all have different groups, which helped me branch out and meet different people,” Fandel-Thompson said. “That really helped me. I’ve built a skill off of being able to communicate with different people.”

Strength and conditioning coach Jessica Gust said as long as athletes take care of themselves and don’t overuse their bodies, playing sports all year isn’t a risk.

“The risk isn’t necessarily doing multiple sports, the risk is how you manage the total volume of work you’re asking your body to do,” Gust said. “Then on the flip side of that, are you giving it enough recovery, nutrients, sleep, all of those other things.”

398

One-two-three, sports at SLP

219

42

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Experiences playing co-op vs. high school lacrosse

We knew that we could trust each other on and off the field and I remember going to certain girls because I knew they’d be able to boost my spirits. Our main coaches were also spectacular, I felt close with both of them and we got to participate in a lot of team bonding because of them. I have vivid memories of going to tournaments bright and early, super far away, and it always seemed like playing the actual games of lacrosse were the least fun. We got the opportunity to build a strong community and took advantage of every chance we got to have some fun. We would file into countless booths and push together tables so we could share a meal after playing our games. I remember being super excited every time the weather started to warm up and the snow began to melt because that meant it was lacrosse season and I got to hang out with some of my favorite friends.

In contrast, high school lacrosse runs a little differently. Now that I play just through the school, we have to face off against Hopkins, which consists of all of my past teammates.

It’s a weird feeling because at some point I was really close with a lot of these girls but now I don’t really talk to any of them. In public, I get the occasional “hi” but our relationships are nothing like they were when we were younger.

While I feel close to some of my current teammates my age, a huge positive that I’ve experienced this year as well as last year is building relationships with the underclassmen. I’ve been claimed as “mom” of the team recently since I always have snacks ready as well as being prepared to give rides to and from games and practices.

I will always value my experiences of playing co-op with Hopkins as they were a large part of my childhood but I do really enjoy playing with the younger girls and occasionally reuniting with past teammates when we do play against them.

biggest benefit of playing three sports is being able to stay competitive and stay active the whole year round.”

Aidan Shafton DESIGN BY

Photo by: Ayelel Meyen

Photo by: Eliah Fink Volley-fall: Dressed in pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness, junior Addison Chenvert prepares to serve the ball Oct. 10. Chenvert participates in volleyball, Nordic skiing and track.

Ice cold, baby: Racing down the slope, junior Addison Chenvert competes in the Nordic state meet Feb.15. Park ended up finishing 13th overall.

She’s a runner, she’s a track star: Junior Addison Chenvert warms up for track practice May 24. Park is set to compete at sections June 1.

Maren Wilsey

Photo by: Eliah Fink

Three-sport athletes Two-sport athletes One-sport athletes

Infographic by: Noah Leventhal Source: Registration data

Najib Rashid, sophomore

POINT COUNTERPOINT

End the year with a splash

Senior water fight against code of conduct

Abby Keller

While it may be fun for seniors to pelt the other grades with water balloons on their last day of school, I have never seen it that way. Instead I see a terror inducing act of celebration that goes against the code of conduct the school says it’s committed to.

On the face of it, the water fight sounds like fun. The seniors start a water fight as their last hoorah in high school. They band together as one grade, soaking the rest of the school with water. In reality, this onesided water fight is their last chance to annoy everyone, leaving their mark in the least flattering way possible.

I have nothing against the seniors enjoying their last day of high school, but when that fun puts their classmates’ lives in danger, issues arise.

My sister, a senior at the time, had told me she wouldn’t be at school that day because doing so could kill her. My sister has a deadly latex allergy, and a few weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown, she was rushed to the ER because she came into contact with a balloon in a classroom. The school has a no-latex-balloon policy, but also warned her they couldn’t enforce that

policy well enough to keep her safe on her last day of high school.

There are other policies in the student handbook the water fight violates, mainly the section regarding hazing. The school defines hazing as, “the use of force or coercion to negatively affect others. This applies to any of the following behaviors: teasing, intimidating, defaming, threatening, terrorizing or retaliation.” I can attest to the intimidating nature of the water fight, plus the sense of coercion, feeling like we must endure being pelted with water balloons because it’s the seniors soaking us.

The water fight goes against what the school says it stands for, but it’s a longstanding tradition many people aren’t ready to leave behind. There should be a way of opting out of this tradition, allowing the seniors to have their fun without forcing everyone else to either skip school to avoid it or suffer the consequences. This could be done by giving the seniors a designated area for their water fight like the field, track or courtyard, or simply barring them from being in the parking lot or by the doors waiting for people to leave school.

Senior tradition proves harmless

Roberto Alvarez

Ibelieve that the senior prank is harmless and enjoyable. No one is getting hurt in the activities or pranks that are being placed by the seniors, which simply includes a water balloon fight. That being said, I understand students who wish to steer clear of the event but there are ways to stay away from it.

In my experience, I’ve never seen anyone complain to the extent that they shouldn’t do it anymore. Compared to other schools’ senior pranks, ours is harmless. At Park, no one is doing anything illegal or harming the school.

Senior pranks are a tradition. They’re a goodbye and one last chance for seniors to have their last moment at Park. This prank should be a memorable moment for seniors to do something fun for their last week of school. I agree that some pranks are extreme and have major consequences, but this is not one of them.

While there are alternatives, there aren’t any that are better than our current tradition. It’s the

end of school, it’s warm and hot out, and what better way is there to cool off than the senior prank. Furthermore, everyone is involved. Kids from other grades get involved and the senior prank is one of few student-led events that administration has little to no say in, which makes it more fun. Other ideas like the senior parking prank aren’t as inclusive or as fun.

As an underclassmen, I can only assume that seniors would be disappointed if the prank changes. It’s not that big of an issue for people to be stressing that much over, unless it causes harm to students or staff. Over the last couple of years, this prank has started no issues and I don’t believe any will occur.

Overall, the senior prank shouldn’t be looked down upon because it’s proven to be harmless and people look forward to it. Getting rid of it would only cause unnecessary disappointment from the senior class, especially if no one in the first place wanted it to be changed.

25%

students believe there should be a different tradition.

DESIGN BY Mya Stanberry Crystal Diaz

91%

Source: Poll of 250 Infographic by: Elena Ortiz

“I never thought about the latex and how that can be an allergy. I personally don’t mind it.”

Martaysia Minus, sophomore

Ruth Kanyinku, junior

students believe the senior water fight tradition is safe. Comic by

“I don’t think it is safe because some parents don’t joke around like that when they come to pick up their kids.”

“ It’s safe, let the kids have fun. It’s entertaining and a way to have fun on the last day of school.”

“ Don’t skip any classes freshman or sophomore year so that by the time you are a junior or a senior it’ll fly

Olivia Rabine-Chatlain, senior

Staff Editorial: Senior survival guide

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Sophomore becomes a Minnesota Teen Activist

Anisa Kahin

Minnesota Teen Activists is a group of teens that work with government officials, communities in Minnesota and other activism groups to create change. Minnesota Teen Activists was created in 2020 by Aliyah Murray and has now reached over forty thousand people statewide.

I’ve always admired the work that Minnesota Teen Activists have done. Being in seventh grade when the organization first started, I’ve always watched their work from afar. I was inspired by the amount of protests that were started and created by kids my age. With their platform, I saw that they used social media to uplift student voices. The page is made up of youth who have the same mindset of creating change as I do. When I saw that they were looking for more team members, I took that as a sign to register and hoped to get in.

Happy to leave, sad to stay: Senior Rachel Katzovitz receives her cap and gown May 24. The seniors’ last day is June 2, and they will be graduating at the stadium June 6.

High school is notoriously difficult to navigate, and it’s easy to look back with both a sense of nostalgia and regret. The Echo seniors collaborated to create a list of tips that we wish we knew going into high school. Below are our top five pieces of advice for rising freshman and sophomores, because “be yourself” and “follow your dreams” don’t cut it.

Join clubs and sports

The easiest way to form friendships is through mutual activities. This is why clubs are a must for underclassmen seeking social connections. Worst case-scenario: you absolutely hate the club or sport and you drop it. It might sound scary, but it’s unlikely you’ll be the only new person. It’s important to take advantage of these opportunities early on in high school. In all honesty, joining a club or sport senior year is pretty uncommon. As for freshmen and sophomores, it’s a lot more widespread to dabble in extracurriculars. You can definitely join clubs or sports later on, but this will put you in a more isolating position.

Do what you want, not what others want

By the time you’re in high school, you’re old enough that you have some sort of identity — you know what sets you apart from other people, and more importantly, you know yourself better than anybody else. When it comes to making a big decision in your life, it’s important to do what you feel is the right choice for you. Don’t let other people decide your fate for you. If you’re somebody who’s impressionable and takes what other people say to heart, it can be really

MEDIA POLICIES

Publications are designated public forums for student expression in which students make all decisions of content without prior review from school officials or the public. The adviser will not act as a censor, but will advise students. Students have the final decision on all content.

Prior review does not teach students how to produce higher quality journalism. The only way to teach students to take responsibility for their decisions is to empower them to make those decisions freely.

Content represents views of the student and not school officials. The publications will work to avoid bias and/or favoritism. We will strive to make our coverage and content meaningful and interesting to all our readers. In order to strive for objectivity, journal-

hard to trust yourself. This is easier said than done, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

Your grade is your school family, so be nice to them

Senior year is full of social events for seniors specifically, so it’s nice to be on good terms with your classmates. You don’t have to be best friends with everyone, or even friends at all, but keep the peace. All in all, this one is pretty simple: keep an open mind and be respectful to your peers. Being able to find a community in your grade, especially senior year, will make your high school experience so much better.

Don’t take things too seriously

In high school it’s normal to get caught up in dayto-day drama and fail to see the full picture. Whether it’s a failing grade or a falling-out with a friend, these kinds of situations can feel like the end of the world. It’s important to remember that 99% of your current problems won’t be problems a year from now, let alone 10 years from now.

It goes fast, especially at the end

Our final takeaway is to make the most of your time. This one is a total cliche, but there is a good reason for it. Senior year, in particular, practically flashes before your eyes. You blink and it’s over. You may or may not like high school, but try to take advantage of literally anything you can in your final year.

Shout-outs: Merkle, McDonald’s, C2 hallway

ists should avoid covering stories of which they are involved. Journalists should avoid a real or perceived conflict of interest as well.

The publications will not shy away from covering newsworthy controversial issues of importance to students. We will make every effort to avoid printing libel, obscenities, innuendo or invasions of privacy.

The publications will avoid electronic manipulation that alters the truth of a photograph unless clearly labeled as a photo illustration. Bylined articles are the opinion of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or administration as a whole.

The publications welcome reader input. Letters must be signed and should be no longer than 250

What’s the POINT?

Dreams to create change

The process of getting into Minnesota Teen Activists was by filling out a form they had in their Instagram bio. They had the forms open until mid March. After their forms closed, they had a Google meeting with all of the applicants and we just discussed our goals and reasons on becoming a Minnesota Teen Activist. The admission came out in late April and then there was a follow-up meeting after that. As someone who strives to solve problems, I’ve always wanted to use my voice for good. I also understood that I couldn’t do this work on my own. When I found out that I got into Minnesota Teen Activists, I was beyond ecstatic. I’ve always dreamt of being able to create real change that would stick and now I’ve been given that chance.

My dream of wanting to create change started with me coming to terms with my identity. Growing up, I was surrounded by kids who looked just like me. I didn’t directly face racism until fifth grade. I was shocked when it happened but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t defend myself until the year was over. But things changed when I transferred to St. Louis Park Middle School. It was the first time I saw kids who looked different than I did. So I made it my goal to fit in. My views started to shift once COVID-19 hit and after the murder of George Floyd.

My goal now, after becoming a Minnesota Teen Activist, is to continue advocating for change within my communities and outside of Minnesota. I wouldn’t be in the spot that I am in without the help of Students Organized for Anti-Racism (SOAR.) SOAR caused me to really dig deep and understand why I believed what I believed. I was able to expand and grow as a human being. SOAR taught me how to use my voice to create an impact.

I am now able to use my voice to impact those beyond my school. I am impacting little boys and girls who look just like me and are hoping to see themselves in my place one day. My hope is that future generations don’t have to fear speaking out against wrong doings and that they act against them. One thing I would recommend to anyone hoping to create change is to gain the ability to speak honestly.

words and may be e-mailed or submitted in room C275. Anonymous letters wherein the publication name does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed.

In the event of an error being reported by readers or noticed by staffers, students should first check to see if the information is erroneous. If students deem the material to be incorrect, they should alter any online content to reflect the correction and then print a correction in the next edition.

In regard to material appearing on the websites, nothing will be taken down unless it’s proven factually false or otherwise legally deficient as of the time it was published.

DESIGN BY Mya Stanberry Crystal Diaz

by.”

Photo by: Maya Nieves

Anya Panday

Season four of “Barry”

Starting now” has become the emblematic phrase of HBO’s hit show,

(Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for every season of “Barry.”) On its surface, “Barry” is about an ex-veteran (Bill Hader) who has succumbed to the joyless lifestyle of a hitman-for-hire. Manipulated and exploited by his manager, Fuches (Stephen Root), he is ceaselessly pulled into a life of crime. During an unexpected hit in LA, he is flung into the world of theater and film — in the classic, absurd nature of the show, this quickly spirals into a self-revealing discovery of Barry Berkman’s passion for acting. This is nurtured alongside his acting coach, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), and love interest, Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg). Three seasons, several mob involvements and many murders later, “Barry’s” fourth season

The aforementioned phrase, “Starting now,” has been repeated throughout the narrative of “Barry.” Berkman struggles with an unending moral back-and-forth where he battles with himself and tries to justify his horrific acts of violence. The same amicable, well-meaning hitman we were introduced to in the pilot has become an absolute shell of

At its darkest center, “Barry” is simply about the decay of human ambition. Alluded to when Berkman plays Macbeth in a parody drama, the viewer begins to see the connections between the two pieces. The story of “Barry” is recounted in a very Shakespearean nature, as it revolves around a theme of tragedy. In this season, Reed has become an integral character that denounces the double standard put on women in film. She is dragged alongside Berkman, and is endlessly belittled and cast aside while being forced to play the housewife in Berkman’s utopian-evangelical fantasy. Though initially jarring, halfway through the season we experience an eight-year time skip. Transported to the future, we can see immediately how Reed has been reduced to a hollow-eyed plaything for Berkman as they now reside in a rural house. She has been stripped of her ambition when formerly she was characterized as a cutthroat actress. However, my favorite character is the comedic relief: NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan). From the end of season three, his development has darkened and I was so heartbroken by the direction Hank had taken. Yet, Anthony Carrigan has done an amazing job elevating Hank to a completely new level. He

‘Barry’ was an interesting show because it combined humor with a very dark topic in a relatable way.”

Alyssa Johannes, sophomore

breaks hearts

will always be one of those characters I hold close to my heart, and Hader’s inclusion of a “NoHoBal” museum was a clever nod to his loyal fans who have been supporting NoHo Hank and Cristobal’s relationship.

This season would not be as good as it is without Hader’s expert direction. He uses purposeful silence, dream-like sequences that distort reality and long, open shots to accentuate the feelings of f horror within “Barry.” Previously known as a dark comedy, this last season has become steeped in extremely sinister themes. My favorite shots share the same elements of horror and surrealism, which makes season four the most absurd installment yet.

“Barry” is incredibly character-driven, and relationships and motives have taken the forefront for this season. The show is crafted in such a delicate way, that each joke is perfectly choreographed. Hader’s bizarre line delivery and pan-in shots can make even the most disturbing scenes comedic, in their own off-beat way. Now, with the way the penultimate episode ended, Berkman’s fate is entirely up in the air, and I have never been more excited for a series finale. All I know is that Hank should be absolutely terrified of the oncoming threat of Berkman’s ire.

Fair use from Columbia Pictures, Genius, Pixar Animation Studios

Design by Anya Panday

June 2

Originally slated for release in 2022, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” crawls into theaters June 2. In the second installment, Miles redefines what it means to be a hero.

June 9

After a three-year hiatus following Niall Horan’s sophomore album, he’s set to release his third album, “The Show,” on June 9. The first single was released on Jan. 26.

June 9

Chief Keef’s awaited sequel to his 2013 album, ”Almighty So,” is scheduled to stream June 9. Keef has been dropping song snippets leading up to the anticipated release.

June 16

The next episode in the “Up” mini-series, “Dug Days,” which focuses on Dug’s life, is set to release on June 16. You can stream the sixth episode, “Carl’s Date,” on Disney+.

What you need to know before watching season four of “Barry”

Barry has been arrested for murder and attempted murder

Morgan Fuches is going to Barry’s prison

Sally stabbed someone in self-defense and fled back home

Hank and Cristobal finally reunited after Hank escaped from the cartel to save Cristobal

Source

Infographic by Anya Panday

Illustration by

Elena Ortiz Alex Geretz