The Northwest Passage: Volume 54, Issue 10

NW PASSAGE

IN CASE I DON’T SEE YOU

The 2023 NW Passage Staff presents the Senior Magazine

NW PASSAGE

Issue 9 May 11, 2023 Vol. 54

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 Set up Failurefor

– editorial

Students are not preparing themselves for what comes after high school.

Heard You

Senior Map

OUR PASSAGE

The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

Saying

As a news magazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students.

The Northwest Passage is a 24-page news magazine. The paper will be distributed monthly as possible. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25.

The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and

opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise, the editorial board and adviser will discuss the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editor-in-chief and editorial board will have the power to make the final decision.

Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-inchief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.

PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT

Editor-In-Chief Grace Logan

Editor-In-Chief Veronica Meiss

CONTENT MANAGEMENT

Copy Editor Morgan Tate

Copy Editor Izak Zeller

Photo Editor Sophia McCraney

Photo Editor Evan Johnson

Asst. Photo Editor Ashley Broils

Asst. Photo Editor Kara Simpso n

WRITERS

DESIGNERS

Senior Angel Moritz waves to the camera May 8 in the Mall. Moritz will be graduating with the class of 2023. “[To the underclassmen,] embrace every opportunity that comes your way,” Moritz said. “Don’t back out of things just because you’re scared.”

photo by Kara Simpson

Zadie Tenpenny

Elaina Hammes

Sofia Ball

Sophie Delaney

ADVISER

Susan Massy

Bella Alvarado

Greta Grist

SET UP FOR FAILURE

Students are not preparing themselves for what comes after high school design

by Sophie Delaney

The class of 2023’s experience in high school has been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. Freshman year was cut short and sophomore year was almost completely online or in hybrid learning. Junior year was the first time current seniors were able to experience a somewhat normal second semester.

Even then, it had restrictions.

During the pandemic, most NW teachers adopted a passive standard when it comes to late work. That standard has remained in place.

According to principal Lisa Gruman, most late assignments are graded as if they were turned in on time. Grades are based solely on the content of the assignment, not whether the student turned the work in on time.

This ultimately excuses students from meeting due dates.

While most have learned academically, students have not been expected to meet deadlines. As a result, they don’t have the skills needed to survive in the real world – or even in college.

That isn’t because teachers don’t help students. It is because students don’t take advantage of the opportunities to get help.

Administration has continued to provide a seminar twice a week for students to complete work and get help from teachers. Instead students

use it as a social hour, nap time and, only occasionally, a work time.

Teachers Brett Mach and Rebecca Anthony offer a writing center staffed by upperclassmen offering extra

have been since March 13, 2020.

As students, we need teachers to hold us to higher standards to make sure we have the skills we need to be successful in life.

Nothing can be done now, in May, to fix the shortcomings of this school year. But going forward, teachers need to set higher standards and students must realize that ultimately, they are responsible for what they learn — not their teachers, or parents or administrators.

assistance with written assignments.

French teacher William Espeset encourages students to come to tutoring sessions on a specific day each week, and most teachers are available before and after school.

Students do not take advantage of these opportunities given to them to complete their schoolwork.

Another aspect to be considered is the current emphasis on mental health. While mental wellbeing is important, perhaps too many compromises are being made for it. There’s a difference between accepting you have a mental health issue and learning from it, versus using it as a crutch.

How can the current seniors go out on their own and become successful in college if they do not know how to take advantage of the resources available to them?

The problem at hand is that expectations for students are low and

THE VOTE

A staff editorial is an opinion piece crafted by a single writer and voted on by the entire staff of the NW Passage. It is not an unbiased news article, but an opinion piece tackling a major issue. This is how the NW Passage staff voted.

Both students and teachers need to hold higher standards for each other.

SIGNING OFF

JUST NEED TO SAY THANK YOU

I shed a bunch of tears writing this

I don’t always know who I am or where I’m going, but I do know, for sure, that I will always be moving.

And the thought of the future is always exciting – that is, until I remember the people who have made me who I am today. Our time is coming to an end too quickly, and I don’t want to leave without a few goodbyes:

To the swimmer who took me to a Wallows’ concert even though I had never listened to their music before: Thank you for loving me unconditionally. I will always think of you when I’m browsing for the latest Lisa Jewell novel or drinking an iced Chai tea latte.

To the musician who has racked up hours and hours with me at Sonic: Thank you for always listening. I will always think of you when I hear the first album you recommended to

me, “Those Who Throw Objects at the Crocodiles Will Be Asked to Retrieve Them” by Bruno Pernadas.

To the photographer who, sometimes, knows me better than I know myself: Thank you for supporting me when I didn’t have it in me to support myself. You will always be able to make me laugh and I can’t help but think of you when I watch Scott Pilgrim Versus The World or hear mourning doves in the evening.

And thank you to every acquaintance, teacher, friend and family member. It’s times like these where I wish I could experience our memories together for a second time – scratch that, make it a third. I hope our paths cross again soon.

If I were to write a novel about my life I would want it to start with this quote from John Berger: “Never again

There’s no doubt that I’m not great with affection and expressing how I feel, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you and view you as a maternal figure. You’ve been the only person throughout my high school career who has shown me it’s okay to not be okay.

Thank you for helping me discover where my passion lies. Without your class I’m not really sure what I would be doing right now. From being someone who didn’t speak much during my freshman year to now being someone who maybe speaks a little too much, I appreciate you tolerating me. I hope your retirement is full of peace and rest. You deserve it!

— Evan Johnson

will a single story be told as though it’s the only one.”

Because my story wouldn’t be my story without you.

Northwest Passage seniors present their final columns THANKS COUGH

Cough — there are not enough things I can say about the change that you have made in my life. From breakups to exciting college news, you have been the one to see me as my truest self. Thank you endlessly.

Cough, thank you for your unconditional love and support. You are one of the strongest people I know and will always be an inspiration to me. I will remember you for the rest of my life. -— Grace Logan

Sitting down, senior Grace Logan reads a book April 29 at Prospero’s Books. photo by Ashley Broils

— Veronica Meiss

To the woman who’s laughed with us, cried with us and made us who we are today, in case we don’t see you...

-—Sophia McMcraney

PAPER CHAIN

I don’t know if I’m just a stupid nostalgic senior about to go to college, but it feels like everything is coming full circle.

The other day, I went to Olathe East with my friend, Alyssa. Going to see their shows has been a tradition since our freshman year, when they did “Heathers.” Both of us thoroughly enjoy every show we see. But this time we saw “Clue.”

The same show we did the fall of our freshman year.

At the prom assembly, someone I knew in the band performance was wearing a flapper dress. This dress was used in “Singing in the Rain.”

The same show we did the winter of our freshman year.

In some senior English classes, they are reading “1984.”

The same show we were supposed to do the spring of our freshman year — stupid COVID-19.

It’s not just theater stuff that I’ve

noticed throughout my senior year.

As an IB English student, I have Mr. Pabst this year for English. Who did I have freshman year?

Mr. Pabst.

It may seem odd to point out these weird parallels between my freshman and senior year. But I look back at these things because I’m scared of the future.

It’s not just going to a new school. It’s finding independence. It’s living away from home. It’s saying goodbye.

Goodbye to Olathe East shows with my friend. Goodbye to weird conversations with Mr. Pabst. Goodbye to the Greg Parker Auditorium and all the shows I’ve done there. I’m not ready to say goodbye.

After performing in “The Rehearsal,” I was awarded the Wandering Robe. I was ecstatic. I looked at past speeches and realized

THE CLOCK KEEPS TICKING

I thought I had so much time.

I thought nine months was plenty of time to do what I wanted.

If this story doesn’t work for this issue, I’ll just write it for the next one.

If I can’t go on a run now, I’ll do it the next time I wake up early.

The “next times” and “next ones” ended up turning into nevers and not gonna happens.

I wanted to learn how to take photos. I wanted to become a better storyteller, a better person and a better leader.

But as it always does, life got in the way. Health and family issues interrupted. College decisions and the need for scholarships interrupted. Missing math assignments and poetry analysis interrupted.

All this time I thought I had kept shrinking. Now, all I can think about

is the time I have lost and how I will spend the time I have left.

Three weeks to learn how to use a camera turned into two weeks to write all those stories I wanted to write. One week to teach everything about the website turned into one day to say goodbye.

It’s like I’m frozen and everyone around me is still moving, scrambling about, planning the first big thing of next school year, while trying to hold onto 2022-23.

I’ve been trying not to be cynical and give up, but May 12 is rapidly approaching. In reality, I don’t have the time for anything but finishing high school with the grades needed to maintain my college scholarships. I no longer have time for all of the nexts.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: Don’t wait for

— time goes on. There will be future recipients of the robe and I will be back in the fall to award the robe to the next person.

It’s not all goodbyes. Some things are gone, but as my high school years come full circle, a new loop is added to the messy paper chain of life.

the time to take the next opportunity. Make the time, now.

Write that award-winning story, now – everyone has a story that can be told. Go to that dance, now – even if you don’t have a date. Do that research paper, now – sorry I was so late, Dr. Boren.

Seize those opportunities as they come, or run the risk of running out of time – like I did.

Senior Veronica Meiss holds a clock in Room 151.

photo by Sophia McCraney

I still have so much I want to do

Wearing the Wandering Robe, senior Morgan Tate holds a book May 1 in the Little Theater. photo by Haylee Bell

As my senior year ends, the universe feels like it’s trying to give my closure

How photography changed my perspective THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER

The four of us stood in front of a golden yellow background dressed head to toe in business formal attire. “We’ll try this shot one more time,” I say to my friends as I examine the screen of my camera. Michael Houser, Micah Reeves, Ian O’Neal and I arrange ourselves for the third time, this time with our chins down, backs straight and our props in frame.

Ca-Chick

1/80 shutter, 2000 ISO, 5.6 aperture. These were the settings used to capture the front cover of my editorial magazine known as “Well Dressed Wednesday,” a 32-page self-published photography project dedicated to the brotherhood of me and my close friends.

Photography has always been about connecting with others, regardless of whether I’ve been conscious of it. During my first year in my high school’s photojournalism program, I viewed shooting sports and events merely as a task to document the event.

What’s the score? Who scored a

goal? Whose cheering the loudest?

In spite of a less-than-personal mindset, I was inadvertently telling stories. As I matured as a photographer in the following years, my perspective broadened and I began to notice the stories I was telling. This realization helped me understand and enjoy not just my journalistic work, but my personal creative projects as well. When my hands were on a camera, new questions replaced the old ones.

What’s unseen? Who is going unnoticed? Whose story should I tell?

Maybe it’s photographing the school district’s football announcer who was merely a booming voice prior to this coverage. Maybe it’s capturing a senior soccer player shedding bittersweet tears with his teammates after his final varsity match . Maybe it’s documenting my closest friends sharing the gift of simply being together for a homemade magazine.

WHO WILL I BE

Making big decisions sends me into existential crisis

At the beginning of Camp Rock, there’s a song in which Demi Lovato’s character, Mitchie, contemplates which side of herself to show the world.

“How to choose who to be. Well let’s see, there’s so many choices now.”

With the end of high school approaching, I relate to her sometimes. Making big decisions like choosing a major, or even a college to attend are crucial and have a big impact on the rest of my life.

Change can be highly frustrating for someone as indecisive as I am. I’m indecisive to a fault. No matter how much advice I seek, my decisions are never backed with 100% confidence. There are so many paths I can take.

Is this what will make me happy?

Is this what will make me successful?

Do I really know what I’m getting myself into?

I want to major in Language Arts and be a college professor, but what if I don’t like it? The rest of my life is approaching and I don’t want anything to be final.

Will I reinvent myself like I did in the past? Who will I become this time?

The number of ‘what ifs’ multiplies daily . Will I be a crafted version of myself or do I let myself shine the way I am?

What decisions that I make as an 18-year-old will affect who I’ll be in 20 years?

“Who will I be? It’s up to me. All the never ending possibilities.”

Through my passion, I’ve been able to tell the stories of those I may only see from a distance, as well as the ones closest to me.

With two different personalities represented in her makeup, senior Sophia McCraney looks at herself in the mirror May 1 at her house.

photo by Sydney Jackson

Senior Evan Johnson looks through a lens April 28 in Room 151.

photo by Cooper Evans

WE HEARD YOU

Seniors share what they wish they had known while juniors share their concerns for next year

by Sophie Delaney design by Sophia McCraney

“Do things for yourself. Do what YOU want to do, not what anyone else wants you to, or what you think is the coolest/most socially appealing thing to do. This is the time in your life where you can start making decisions for yourself and really shape your life how you want it to be.”

— senior Sam Baldwin

“Whatever happens, happens. It’s only one more year of high school. I just need to push through and finish up strong.”

— junior Will Ensley

“I am worried about falling behind and not taking the right classes to set me up for college. I also hope that my credits are good enough to transfer over to college

— junior Catherine Ancell

“Don’t tell people where you are applying to college [or] where you have been accepted. Just tell them where you are going. Trust me you don’t want their opinions.”

— senior Kenna Heller

“I [wish I] would’ve made more of an effort to be more outgoing throughout the year. It’s hit me that I won’t be seeing most of the people here after we graduate. I’ve made some great friends, but I’ve also missed opportunities to make new friends and relationships.”

— senior Allison Tran

“I’m nervous about growing up. Soon I’ll go to college, away from my parents and everything I know and grew up with. [I’m] nervous that I won’t be ready.”

— junior Ellison Bonge

“

WHERE THEY’RE GOING GOING

ARIZONA

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Grace Karlin Ella Huggins

ARKANSAS

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Logan Reading Hannah Wilson

JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY

Sandra Hogya

CALIFORNIA

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Kenna Heller

COLORADO

REGIS UNIVERSITY

Gavin Salzsieder

ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

De’ja Reeves

FLORIDA

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Samantha Lockett

Seniors leave Northwest for their postgraduation destinations

ILLINOIS

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

Grace Logan

ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY

Jaxie Smith

INDIANA

INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON

Micah Reeves

LOUISIANA

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Erin Moody

MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Autumn Posey

MISSISSIPPI

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

Bryson Mischlich

MONTANA

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

IOWA

CORNELL COLLEGE

De’Shawn Johnson

DRAKE UNIVERSITY

Veronica Meiss Monty Russell

GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY

Lucas Hageman

GRINNELL COLLEGE

Samantha Sullivan

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Abigail Bates

NEBRASKA

DOANE UNIVERSITY

Jade Taylor

NEW JERSEY

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

Riley Brull

Joey Fox

Jonah Gralapp Casen Legried

NEW YORK

ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Brody Carlson

NORTH CAROLINA

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY

Rohan Shroff

OHIO

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON

Macy Malik

OKLAHOMA

ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY

Carlos Guerra

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

Nathan Hoener

PENNSYLVANIA

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Kaylee Larson

TEXAS

NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Elijah Coppage

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

Aleecya Adams

UTAH

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY

Kelvin Acheampong

WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY

Ben DeLaughder

WEST VIRGINIA

CONCORD UNIVERSITY

Cassidy Randolph

GAP YEAR

Emma Bolander

Layla Harris

Zachary Jenkins

Savannah Miner Kerensa Weinvrenner

MILITARY

Lilly Harris

Drew Dahl

Damian Micek

Skyler Wilson

SM POST-HIGH

William Hall

Eddna Yartitza

Guillen Salazar

Alex Tevis

Miranda Williams

TRADE SCHOOL

Sophia Allen

David Arredondo

Manuel Arroyo

Jaxson Cowan

Octavio Kantarcioglu

Nathan Martin

Braden Olinger

Braden Riley

Sofia Valles

Reagan Westbrook

UNDECIDED

Gabriela Barrientos

Oliver Bishop

Maddi Blaine

Benjamin Bratten

Xavier Brown

Ahkeial Chrisman

Gabriella Galvan

Isabella Gonzalez

Daron Kelly

Mallory Kruckenberg

Siliya Lin

Nate Martin

Joshua Miller

Scott Monroe

Allyson Ramsey

Yanni Townsel

WORK FORCE

Elijah Aguirre

Daniel Benitez-Martinez

Kevin Bervena

Marcus Estrada

Rushirra Jackson

Tamiya Jackson

Tylen Junius

David Leugers

Gage McFadden

Angel Moritz

Meli Ponce

Jeleane Varela

design by Veronica Meiss

KANSAS

BAKER UNIVERSITY

Michael Houser Abby Klein

BENEDICTINE COLLEGE

Jason Avendano Castillo

BUTLER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Valyrie Freeman

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY

Lily Jones Jamorian Lawson Malik O’Atis

HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY

Samael Caraveo

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Anthony Acosta

Dimitri Anderson

Anna Arnold

Kaleb Ashagarr

Christian Ashlock

Emma Baty

Josh Bengfort

Breanna Brown

Anthony Bustos

Evan Coates

Vinnie Conner

Seth Cunningham

Maurice Davis

Asher Demo

Maria Diaz

Shaun Dunn

Raychel Ely

Maddie Evans

Fanta Fofana

Bryce Forbes

Ella Fosburg

Jamar Fowler

Job Garcia Campos

Adrian GomezBernardino

Anna Gonzalez

Samuel Goshu

Jeny Sanchez

Adriana Jaime

Khamylle Espares

Ethan Johnson

Nia Johnson

Lucas Jones

Miles Hardison

Alejandro Hill

Brady Holliday

Jackson

Huetenmueller

Evie Hussaini

Alyssa Kempf

Lucky Kollaram

Claudia Lainez Hernandez

Angelina MadrigalHernandez

Silvia Martinez Munoz

Sophia McCraney

Treneja McGovern

Sandy Meda Peraza

Nichole Mentzer

Max Miller

Jacklyn

Mintskovosky

Issac MirandaEscorcia

Hugo Orrego

Jack Overesch

D’Mario Parker

Franco Perez

Lester ReyesEstrada

Sarah Roberts

Nathaniel Senteney

Chesny SerriozMckinney

Fiona Smith

Marlena Stinnett

Abigail Tessman

Calvin Thomas

Kaedynn Tong

Lester Vasquez

Alexys Young

Jordan Young

Milka Zagada Alvarez

Brooklyn Ziebell

KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

David Alvarado, Jr.

Mason Betts

Dominic Garcia

Perla Moreno

Bennett Peck

Asher Trimble

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Selena Albright

Skylar Anderson

Simon Anstine

Sam Baldwin

Keaton Blount

Chilton Bondurant

Jonas Bronson

Jaylen Brown

Hayden Bump

Katie Burke

Avery Burns

LABETTE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Adrian Elson

MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

Wilson Del Cid Sanchez Nestor Reyes

PAUL MITCHELL THE SCHOOL OVERLAND PARK

Allison Manion

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

Jill Blocker

August Brocker

Jadyn Freeman

Corbin Glaser

Nathan Hackleman

Kirsten McConnaughey

Cody Meylan

Paige Mullen

Hollyn Smith

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

Anna Barfield

Jonathan Bemberger

Reese Bowman

Keith Buford

Cynthia Chen

Wyatt Coates

Nicole Cohen

Peter Crafton

William Flickinger

Lucas Godwin

Braylon Harvey

Melaina Hesterlee

Nico Jurani

Ravnoor Karra

Cindee Kue

Zackery Lash

Crismari Leon

Jordyn Mace

Kaylan Martin

Jack Marx

Maddie Mauch

Khalil Moses

Annaliese Nguyen

Abbi Nicol

Natalie Nolan

Oscar Ohly

Bridgette Opoku

Alexis Petry

Ales Rabia

Alyson Randolph

Dylan Reed

Aidan Ruble

Mackenzie Ruiz

Nick Ruschill

WASHBURN UNIVERSITY

Aubrie Cantu

Katherine Valdez

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

Riley Araujo

Elena Thompson

Victoria Vilott

Hannah Wood

Lilly Sails

Ella Seibold

Sara Seibold

Madalyn Stephens

Morgan Tate

Frank Tomasic

Allison Tran

Noah Van Auken

Max Van Daalen

Isabella Wade

Carter Walsh

Ta’Lisa Westbrook

Xavier Williamson

Josua Yu

Katelyn Ziegler

Drake Zimmerman

Jake Congrove

Aaron Davis

Nevaya Davis

Piper Denning

Jack Groebe

Owen Hooper

Bryce Larkin

Adrien Lee

Vaibhav Marada

Olivia Niemann

Jaxon Nilges

Jacob Van Dyke

WHY STAY IN KANSAS?

Clare Taylor

Mason Thomas

Bryan Tran

Keith Springer

Justin Stratton

Kyle Vogel

Ella Voos

Grant Ware

Max Waren

“I wanted to stay close to my family, and JCCC was able to provide the opportunities I wanted for what I wanted to do when I am older.”

– BRADY HOLLIDAY, FINE ARTS MAJOR

“After moving through different states Kansas felt like the best for me. Compared to other states, Kansas has given me tons of opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

– ISABELLA WADE, PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

MISSOURI

12. AVILA UNIVERSITY

Maleah Batrez

KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE

Alexis Harrington

13. MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Henry Born

Evan Mitchell

14. NORTHWESTERN MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

Lissa Gray

Easton Gunter

TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Victoria Creason

15. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI

Elinor Engel

Tanner Pruter

Nat Rogers

16. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Comfort Adegoke

Sydney Jackson

Evan Johnson

Aubrey Rawlings

17. UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY

Grace Allen

Mehania Asir

Hillary Baca

Kayla Forbes

Madalyn Hesterlee

Yency Hernandez Sanchez

Kelly Kowalczewski

Troy Lee

Ian O’Neal

Valeria Perez-Alvarez

Ashley Solis-Jiminez

Dy’Kyja Quinn

Clay VanWalleghem

Mariana Verdin

Rah’ki Walker

STUDY ABROAD

Evelyn Bachamp

Kendal Adams-Fink

Maddy Stone

Austin Tevis

NOT LISTED

Fredy Cazanga

Alexander Howard

Tyler Lawson

Jaylee Rodriguez

Allison Urich

Evelin Romero Osorno

Junior Romero de

Lancer

Skylar Stewart

Christian Taylor, Jr.

Vance Tran

Francisco Vaca

Gave Wagner

Skylar Westerfield

Donovan Willis

Matilde Lo Monaco

Beau Long

Alysa Maberry

Alison Manion

Noah Moulthroup

Antoine Moultrie

Kissa Mwaisella

Eliud Ortega Aguilar

Shondie Parker

Owen Patton

Emily Potter

Cachet Richardson

Jason Rivera

Wil Rodriguez

Alicia Romero

Mary Gomric

Ailyn Gonzalez-Nino

Jesus Gutierrez Diaz

Jeremiah HarmingFranz

Malcom Hill

Isabella Hopkins

Zoey Hunt

Maliah Ingram

Beau Johnson

Jude Duckworth

Ethan Burrows

Kaylee elder

Gabriella Barrientos

Casey Blair

Ashley Bonewitts

Elijah Boyd

Graham Worden

18 PERCENT OF SENIORS plan on attending Johnson County Community College in the fall

FIVE OF TEN

S E N I O R S plan on staying in Kansas after high school

.02% OF SENIORS are attending an ivy league school in the fall

design by Veronica Meiss

This year’s group left an impact not only on their class, but the school

Comfort Adegoke

Q: A:

What’s your favorite part of Northwest?

How many different people there are and how exposed you are to different people and different ideologies and beliefs. You may not agree with all of them, but I think it’s important to be exposed to different people and different belief systems.

Q:

What was the Homecoming parade like for you?

That was so fun. We got to use my uncle’s little convertible. I was in a brace because I tore my ACL but, as we were going past, I could envision myself as a freshman watching the parade and thinking

photo by Evan Johnson

still really, really enjoy cross country.

How does a good run make you feel?

INFLUENTIAL SENIORS

INFLUENTIAL SENIORS

Asher Demo

A: Q: A: Q:

Favorite and most challenging theater role?

The King in “Once Upon a Mattress.” I got to be really goofy on stage and do just what I wanted. The most challenging role was in middle school when I was the Cat in the Hat because there are a lot of lines I have dyslexia which puts a pretty big boundary between me and lines.

What do you believe makes you an influential senior?

I smile a lot. I was kind of surprised when I was told that I would be an influential senior. I talk to a lot of people. I like people because there’s just a lot of stories to be told. Everybody has a story. I like each of their stories.

A: Q: What are your passions?

Theater and music. They have been a part of my life since the beginning. My mom was a theater major and my dad was really into music. A: Q: What is your biggest regret?

Trying to put all of myself into everything I do.

photo by Claire Reed

photo by Evan Johnson

Q:

A: A: Q:

Q: What do you wish you could have accomplished?

A:

I wish I could have met more people at the school. It was really hard to learn everyone who was going here when we didn’t see each other for a whole year. There are a lot of kids I wish I had met earlier.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in

Probably to advocate for yourself and also just to try new things. Especially when I was a junior, I was still involved in a lot, but I was more hesitant to branch out to things I haven’t been in before. A lot of that was because I still felt really new and more nervous to meet people. But the more people you meet, the easier it gets to keep meeting new people. And I feel like that’s such an

INFLUENTIAL

Micah Reeves

Q: What are you passionate about?

Q: A:

Do you see yourself as a leader?

I don’t think I’m much of a leader. Maybe more of a role model.

photo by Evan Johnson

SAYING GOODBYE

Seniors aren’t the only ones leaving Northwest; some retiring faculty give their final words

administrator

EDDIE LYDAY

TWENTY-SIX YEARS AT NORTHWEST

What made Northwest stand out?

“It’s just an outstanding community When you think about all the families who have gone through here. It’s just a strong, tight knit community. Great teachers and kids, this is a really good school.

What will you miss the most?

The people. The relationships that have been formed over the years, working with different families. The whole Northwest community and how everyone supports each other. It’s just phenomenal. They rally around each other through the good and the bad.

Why are you retiring?

“I’ve worked summer school for a number of years, helping kids recover credit so they can graduate. So I’ve always thought about Horizons high school because thats their focus over there, kids who have gotten behind on credits.

spanish & french teacher DOUG MURPHY

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AT NORTHWEST

What will you miss the most?

“It gave me the opportunity to teach the types of students that I wanted to reach the most — students who have not been successful in the past at mathematics.

What do you want to tell the individual filling your position?

You need to have a toaster in your room. It’s always good to have a test runner.

by Veronica Meiss & Izak Zeller design by Veronica Meiss

photo by Sidra Sakati

photo by Sidra Sakati

25 YEARS AT NORTHWEST

What are your plans for retirement?

“ government and law teacher SARA SCHAUFLER

I would like to work for Habitat for Humanity. They build houses for impoverished people. It’s always been an organization near and dear to my heart because I just want people to be able to have a home.

What do you want your final words to your students to be?

Have fun. Enjoy life. Don’t regret. If you feel like you are having regrets, make a change. So my parting words would be: Embrace change.

journalism adviser SUSAN MASSY

FORTY-TWO YEARS AT NORTHWEST

“What made Northwest stand out?

The drive for excellence that I saw in every classroom as I walked through the halls. I have spent my career in disbelief that I am so lucky to work with so many incredibly talented and driven students and teachers. “

What do you want to tell the individual filling your position?

1. This is the best place in the world to be – excellent teachers, great kids, caring administration and wonderful colleagues. Unfortunately, he won’t have a lot of time to get to know very many of them. 2. Don’t forget to go home.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind in Room 151?

“The same legacy that my high school teacher left with me; ‘There’s always room for the best. Go be the best.’

photo by Sophia McCraney

photo by Evan Johnson

NATURALLY HER

Senior Evie Hussaini finds her place in cheerleading

by Sofia Ball design by Veronica Meiss photo by Sydney Jackson

While some were out partying, others were at the movies and most curled up in a queen-size comforter, senior Evie Hussaini spent her Friday night cleaning out her closet.

As she sorted through old sweatpants and winter jackets, something caught her eye.

Just like that, she was 12 years old again, out on the mat in her sister’s two-sizes-too-large athletic shorts, and a neon t-shirt with “Little Sally Walker” echoing throughout the church gymnasium.

I don’t know anything. Let me just try my best. If I go in the back, they won’t notice if I do something wrong, she thought to herself, eyeing the brick walls anxiously.

Hussaini had wanted to cheer since stepping foot on the Olathe North bleachers, eyeing the older girls form pyramids on beat, their flashy skirts like raindrops beneath the fluorescent lighting.

Since then, she’s dreamed of grasping the shiny plastic pom-poms.

Hussaini is naturally loud.

Naturally bold.

Naturally peppy.

Naturally her.

But cheer never came naturally.

“I was so worried about doing something wrong and them thinking I didn’t have what it takes,” Hussaini said. “My jumps [were] like two inches off the ground. I wasn’t very flexible. [And learning]routines? You could drill that into me 24 hours a day and I wouldn’t know what I was doing.”

However, six years later Hussaini gets ready each morning, smiling at four All American cheer ribbons neatly taped to her vanity mirror, crowded by Post-its filled with encouragement from her teammates.

But beneath the eyeliner, the combed back hair, the black and orange SMNW halter top and that preppy facade, there would always be a hidden part of her.

“I think I had the mentality down that I was a cheerleader in my head,” Hussaini said. “But physically, no. I was always a bigger kid. Originally when I joined with one of my best friends, she

had always been a lot smaller than me. And she looked a lot different in the uniforms than I did. Whenever we’d take pictures together our parents would be like ‘Oh my god, you should hold her up because she’s so small and you’re like the bigger friend’. It just made me feel less than she was because I was the supporting friend and she was more what a cheerleader should be.”

But over time, throughout the late nights, the routine rehearsals, the games and the water breaks, Hussaini started to gain confidence.

“Everyone has their own insecurities,” Hussaini said. “At the end of the day, you just have to be confident and if you can’t be confident, fake it till you make it, because once you get over the fear of ‘Am I gonna fit in?’ or ‘Are they gonna like me?’, it’ll come to you naturally and you’ll find [your place].”

NO EXCUSES

Jay Black faces familiar medical complications like those he experienced before his kidney transplant in 2000

by: Grace Logan

Wide receiver coach Jay Black stands on the NW football field May 4. In spite of medical complications, Black plans to coach this summer and next fall. “At one time I just kept thinking ‘six months,’ and now here I am six months later. This summer in August, I thought it was over. With the way I’m feeling now and the way I’m gaining back weight again, I told Bo Black that he can count on me to coach next year.”

Jay Black lies alone in a hospital room. The buzz of the fluorescent light is only momentarily drowned out by each rhythmic beep of the heart monitor. Beep, buzz. Beep, buzz. Beep, buzz.

A foot-long incision from the base of his abdomen to his ribcage is held together by surgical glue. Tubing protrudes from the opening in his right side. It is working to drain any blood that may escape Black’s arteries – arteries that had just been fused with Cheryl Willems’ kidney.

Black is thirsty. He rolls his head to the left to see his water and begins to reach. His fingertip grazes the side of the cup.

He tries again. It’s just barely out of reach.

Since the surgery on August 2, 2000, it’s been a few days and he hasn’t been able to move much. He hasn’t wanted to move much. Moving hurt – it hurt bad.

Outside Black’s room, Willems paces back and forth down the hallway. Today is the first day she can see Black in person. She wants to make sure that her kidney takes.

Willems walks into Black’s room, looks him up and down and half-jokingly says, “Get out of bed, Black. No excuses!”

“No excuses,” that was one of Black’s slogans while coaching football in Protection, Kansas.

“No excuses,” he lifts his head.

“No excuses,” he moves the bedspread.

“No excuses,” one foot on the floor.

“No excuses,” then the other. ***

A few months prior, the hand seizures began. Black’s fingers would lock up curled into a fist. From thumb to pinky, Black would pry each finger loose.

“Weird stuff starts to happen when your blood gets dirty,”said Black, a NW football coach and history teacher.

Next came the vomiting. Each hurl brought up more and more blood. At times, it was pure blood, and the amount made it look like he had cut himself open.

He thought it was a stomach ulcer, what else could it be?

He didn’t think about his dad’s high blood pressure or, even, his own high blood pressure.

He didn’t think about his grandma, who died while on dialysis for kidney-related complications. He didn’t think about his own kidneys.

So, when he finally went to the doctor and was asked: “Can you drive,” it came as a surprise. Of course he could drive, everything was going fine – he thought everything was going fine.

The doctor’s next words came quickly, too quickly:

‘Well…’ He said, ‘You’re in critical condition.’

***

Everybody at Protection High School in the 1990s knew Jay Black, and Cheryl Willems was far from an exception. Three of four of the Willems’ kids had Black as a coach, history teacher or both.

“The one word I would say about Jay Black is motivator,” Willems said. “It’s not something that just comes and goes. He has constant energy and continues to motivate from the first thing in the morning until whenever his players see the last football film at his house [that evening].”

In the halls or on the field, Black was always there for the Willems kids. Black had been Jaelyn Willems’ football, basketball and track coach.

So, when he showed up to watch Jaelyn’s All-Star football game on June 7th, 2000, it wasn’t a surprise. When Cheryl first saw him that night, she knew something was wrong. Critically wrong.

He had lost weight, his face was pale and he didn’t have the usual bounce in his step. But when she talked to him, he was still the old Jay Black – the coach who was always 100% behind her son and every boy out on the field.

He told Cheryl and her husband that he was receiving dialysis – a treatment that would filter out his blood, doing the work his kidney couldn’t do alone.

He told them that he was on a transplant list, waiting for a kidney.

During the car ride home, Cheryl looked at her husband and said, “I’m going to go get tested.” Her husband replied, “If you’re not a match, I’ll get tested too.” ***

The average lifespan of a kidney transplant is 20-25 years – it has been about 23 years since Black’s.

With Willem’s kidney, Black was able to continue coaching football and came to Northwest in 2015. He’s also been able to continue farming wheat. He’s been thinking about picking up golf. He loves steak and doesn’t like paperwork, especially the paperwork to file taxes.

“One of the misconceptions is that people think when you get a kidney transplant, you are automatically cured,” Black said. “[The transplant just] replaces dialysis.”

When Black is dehydrated, he can tell because his hands begin to seize up again. He has felt pain in his lower right abdomen, right where Willems’ kidney sits.

Last summer, Black’s health plummeted. He felt like he was freezing and his weight dropped to 123 pounds. He was certain Willems’ kidney was worn out.

“When I walked in last spring, Dr. Gruman was really worried about [Jay],” head football coach Bo Black said. “I

hadn’t seen him in a month and a half. I walked in the room and, if I were a betting man, I’d say this guy is going to be dead in a month, month and a half.”

Bo Black and Jay Black have been coaching together for over 20 years. Despite sharing a last name, there is no formal family tie. However, their friendship has held strong for years. The summer of Jay’s health decline, Bo was worried about him coaching throughout summer conditioning.

“I felt like I owed it to him, for him to be the one who tells me that he’s not going to be able to coach,” Bo said. “He sat out most of last year and I know that was really hard for him. When he made that decision, I really wasn’t sure that he’d ever be back. But I’ve always thought, [Jay Black’s] family is football.”

Since that summer, Jay has recovered, and he’s back at school. Now, he’s faced with a new choice: get another transplant, or go back on dialysis – neither of which he wants to do.

He was put back on the transplant list, but declared inactive due to other medical complications. His doctor told him he will probably need to go back on dialysis next year. He has been mapped for a new fistula to be placed in his left arm. The fistula is a tool used during dialysis that will allow Black’s blood to be filtered out of his system and replaced more easily.

“I got a nephew at home and some people that would probably offer [a kidney]. It’s just that, you know, I’m starting to get up there in age and stuff and…,” Black trailed off for a moment. “Anyway, I might have to look back at dialysis. As terrible as it is, I might have to get used to that.”

Cheryl Willems gave Jay Black the gift of life. He feels there is no right way to fully thank her. He knows she doesn’t want him to think of the kidney as having monetary value, but he wants to help her and the family.

Somehow.

Some day.

For now, he wants people to know he’s given this his all.

“I take pride in my little farm,” Black said. “I take pride in our football team. I take pride in the classroom. Maybe pride is not a good word, but I’m going to give you everything I got. 100%. I can always get better. There’s ways to get better.”

Smiling, Jay Black and his organ donor, Cheryl Willems, stand side by side. “Everyone in Protection, Kansas would have offered Jay Black their kidney,” Willems said. “I was just the lucky one who got to donate my own.”

BIGGER, THINNER, ROUNDER, SMOOTHER

Senior Nathaniel Senteney always pushes to improve his pottery abilities

by Sophie Delaney

Clay meets the wheel with a slam.

Senior Nathaniel Senteney is ready to start another pottery session.

“ROCKY” by Bari plays in the background. All his materials are laid out in front of him.

His mind is calm.

Senteney has been working with clay since his freshman year. His mother insisted that he try ceramics. Ever since then, his abilities have been progressing exponentially.

“[My mom] bought a wheel at home that [we both] use,” Senteney said. “She funded a bunch of stuff so we could both do ceramics.”

Always wanting to push himself, Senteney makes pottery bigger than the instructions require. He isn’t focused on perfecting just one thing, but rather trying to make every piece bigger than the previous one.

“It’s easier to make a

nice-looking, smaller piece than it is to make a bigger piece,” Senteney said. “That’s why I like to push myself to do bigger pieces. It’s more about seeing what I’m able to accomplish than perfecting my skills.”

Of the pieces he makes, Senteney considers half to be failures. Whether it’s because it doesn’t meet the standard his previous pieces set, or because there’s instability in the form that can lead to more issues down the road. There’s always improvements that can be made. There’s always something keeping his pottery from being perfect.

It can be bigger, thinner, rounder, smoother.

“I always want to be better than I am,” Senteney said. “Any piece I have, there’s always something I could’ve been working on, and it’s always going to be like that.”

No matter how rough the pottery session, Senteney always comes back.

“It’s such a hard process. You can spend your whole life [doing pottery] and never actually master it.”

Senior Nathaniel Senteney forms a pot May 3 in room A. One way to form pots is called wheel throwing.

“It’s a process of a ball of clay being spun and pressure being applied [to the clay],” Senteney said. “That changes the shape of the clay all the way around.”

photo by Cooper Evans

design by Evan Johnson

YEAR IN

Holding hands, freshman Ava McMahon dances with freshman Julie Anisimova Aug. 12 on the track. At the Freshman Mixer the youngest students danced with Link Crew and StuCo members. “I think the Freshman mixer was a good experience,” McMahon said. “I had lots of fun and it was a great start to my freshman year.” photo

Recording a video, senior Micah Reeves helps hold up the Spirit Stick Oct. 7 in the Main Gym. Reeves used the footage for his YouTube video titled “Homecoming 2022.”

“It was really cool when all the seniors brought the spirit stick back,” Reeves said. “When I looked back at the clips, I got [one] of me extending my hand and touching spirit stick.” Reeves said. Photo

During the team’s pre-game huddle, sophomore Omarion Dilunga, junior Brooks Borgman, senior Jack Groebe, junior Caleb Munsayakham, junior Lucas Taitt and senior Nestor Reyes shout Oct. 13 at Gardner-Edgerton High School.

While the Cougars were huddled, they performed their “Boom Boom” chant before the match. “The pre-game huddle gets us locked in and focused for the game,” Groebe said. “Our chant has been a tradition for years and gets us pumped up to go out and win the game.”

Senior Evan Mitchel begins his race Oct. 15 at Rim Rock Farm. Many cross country runners have different mindsets throughout the race. “In the first half of the race I’m thinking smart, not trying to go out too hard,” Mitchell said. “Then in the second half, I’m just trying to pick people off one by one.”

photo by Evan Johnson

by Kara Simpson

photo by Cooper Evans

by Brody Carlson

PHOTOS

Looking over at senior Lucas Jones, senior Gabriela Barrientos-Sanchez sits on the Latinos of Tomorrow float Oct. 7 in the teacher parking lot. The Latinos of Tomorrow float showed their representatives dressed in Dia de los Muertos fashion for their “Coco” themed float. “We chose the theme ‘Coco’ because it represents Mexican culture and it would be very recognizable to the students,” Barrientos-Sanchez said. “I loved driving past the kids and seeing them wave at us and recognize our theme.” photo by Haylee Bell

Senior Autumn Posey recites her lines to freshman Savannah Siceloff Oct. 25 in the Greg Parker Auditorium. Posey’s character, Sarah, used the pendulum to connect with spirits. “My favorite part of playing [Sarah] was that I basically got to play my self just dramatized,” Posey said. “I am a pagan and a witch so all of the props that I was using during the show as Sarah were all things I brought from home.” photo by Ashley Broils

Mid-air, senior Malik O’Atis scores a touchdown Sept. 29 at College Boulevard Activity Center. The Cougars lost a close game, 49-53 to the Olathe West Owls. “I don’t have any regrets for the season, but it definitely could have went better than it did,” O’Atis said. photo by Ashley Broils

design by Ashley Broils

During the junior class skit, junior Clayton Habben does a backflip with the assistance of junior Parker Pavlik April 13 in the Main Gym. The Prom Assembly theme was music genres and the juniors were Rock. “We chose to do the backflip because we knew it would hype up the crowd,” Pavlik said. “Rock ‘n’ Roll is all about being wild and crazy and I feel like the flips added to that.”

photo by Annamarie Torres

1. Senior Morgan Tate makes chicken noises during the showing of “The Rehearsal” April 26 in the Greg Parker Auditorium. In this scene, Tate’s character, Deb, smeared lipstick on her face and pretended to be a chicken. “I did enjoy playing Deb,” Tate said. “Deb is like the epitome of overacting and sometimes it’s just fun to go absolutely nuts.” photo by Sydney Jackson

2. Sophomore Mac Herbst dives into the water Jan. 7 at SM Aquatic Center. During a flat start, competitors must react quickly to the starting strobe that signals the beginning of a race. “That’s the moment you know that you have a whole race ahead of you,” Herbst said. “It’s your time to show everyone watching that you deserve to be there.”

photo

By Evan Johnson

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PHOTOS

3. Leaping, senior Piper Denning performs her solo “Golden Hour” Jan. 20 at Lee’s Summit North. Denning chose to use the song “Golden Hour” by JVKE for her solo. “The mood of my solo is idyllic. It’s supposed to be a breath of fresh air or a realization of, ‘I just go out of a rough place and now I have found my light, my golden hour,’” Denning said.

photo by Sydney Jackson

4. Sophomore Eric Wilson hands out snacks during the NW Market Day March 9 in the Mall. Wilson’s Business, the Five Musketeers, sold snack packs featuring a variety of foods such as chips, Kool-Aid and fruit snacks. “Market Day is a lot of groups coming together to sell products to pay their profits back to investors,” Wilson said.

photo by Evan Johnson

5. Picking up his feet, sophomore Malik Taylor Green does the 110-meter hurdles March 25 on the track. Green participates in many additional events including long jump and the 100-meter dash. “Before [my events], I just tell myself ‘you’re doing something exciting’,” Green said. photo by Annamarie Torres

6. Senior Jake Congrove throws the ball to senior Jamon Beck March 28 at 3&2 Fields. Before their game against Olathe West, the Cougars practiced passing to warm up. “[A good throw means] stepping in and following through,” Congrove said. “If you don’t warm up, you can get hurt pretty easily.”

photo by Evan Johnson

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Senior Maddy Stephens and sophomore Addy Baker hug May 4 on the football field. Stephens and Baker are stepsisters.

photo by Ashley Broils