NW PASSAGE MAY 10, 2017 VOL. 48 ISSUE 09
SENIOR MAGAZINE
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY BEAUMONT & TARYN SMITH
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Issue 09 | May 10, 2017 SENIOR MAGAZINE SENIOR STAFF: LEFT TO RIGHT DESIGN EDITOR SHELBY BEAUMONT ADS MANAGER SARA BABCOCK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GRACE GORENFLO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BENJAMIN BECKER STAFF WRITER MICHAEL ROCK PHOTO EDITOR TARYN SMITH
5-10 14-15 20-21
Influential Seniors
Ten students were chosen as Influential Seniors by the Class of 2017
Final Words
Seniors look back on their time at Northwest
Saying Goodbye
Nine faculty members wrap up their last year at Northwest
STAFF: SECTION EDITORS:
PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT: Editor-in-Chief Online Managing Editor
Grace Gorenflo Jack Lynch
CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Copy Editor Photo Editor Photo Editor
Shelby Beaumont Cadence Elder Taryn Smith Maddy Manning
Opinion & Lifestyle Editor Sports & Multi-media Editor Entertainment Editor Ads Manager
STAFF WRITERS: Asher Norberg Matthew Owens Benjamin Becker Sara Babcock
Will Gross Annalissa Houser Samantha Joslin Anastasia Kling
Sonni Meyers Michael Rock Jordan Sherfy Josh Sherfy
ADVISERS: STAFF DESIGNER: Rachel Albers
Adviser Assistant Adviser
Susan Massy Wes Mikel
OUR PURPOSE: 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. As a newsmagazine, 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 16-page newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during fourth hour. 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 say in all decisions. 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-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.
02 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
Time is of the essence
Truth be told... certainly uncertain Not knowing is half the battle
The reality of everything changing has made me realize why I don’t want it to change +BY GRACE GORENFLO
I
hate change. I was not in favor of my switch from elementary school to middle school, nor was I in favor of my switch to high school two years later. But in the grand scheme of things, not all that much changed during those transitions. And what did change was not only gradual, but definitely for the better. Nevertheless, I dreaded it. For me to be admitting this in the midst of an ending is troubling, to say the least. I may have been the only senior not eagerly waiting for May 12, but at this point I cannot avoid the shouts of constant countdown — I am graduating. A gradual change, seemingly for the better. My change is unique, however, in that my move will occur just 17 days after graduation, to Glenwood Springs, Colo. This move has been my parents’ plan for over a decade, and it makes perfect sense for our family. But this is only the first move, followed by my move to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln two months later. Shawnee is the only place I can truly call home to date. In less than six months, my first, and only, two moves will leave me standing at a crossroads between the place I regularly make my home, the place that is permanently my home and the place that actually feels like home. While “everything is changing” for hundreds of seniors, everything is changing for me. What I am left with is a decision: do I leave with a feeling of regret or of contentment? To every underclassman wanting to be the oldest roaming the halls, wanting to get away from your parents or wanting to rid yourself of the constrictions of a high school classroom: just wait. Find the benefits in being young and listen when they tell you to not grow up too fast. Take advantage of being home, with the ability to make mistakes and still have people to help you get back up when you fall. Most of all, take time for everything you want to do in high school. I am content with the decisions I have made and excited for the next year of my life. I am forever grateful for every late night in Room 151 or on the band bus after a football game. My only regret lies in the fact that I lived my senior year in denial, as if nothing was changing. I did not say yes to every opportunity, I did not take any leaps with the excuse that it was my last chance. And now, with less than a month left at home, I have run out of time to do everything I thought I would. This year I provided a list of 48 things to do before you graduate for the Freshman Magazine. Looking back, I really wish I had taken my own advice. Underclassmen: I hope that you will.
High school was rough, but we got through it.
+BY BENJAMIN BECKER
I
don’t know. And I’ve never known. I didn’t know where I wanted to go to college until two days before the deadline. I didn’t know how to ask my prom date until 24 hours before the dance. I don’t know what I want to eat for dinner most nights much less choose my major. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life right now. Rarely have I been able to make a split second decision, or even a decision I’ve had months to think about. So, when I was asked what my final words to Northwest would be, the all too familiar “I don’t know” raced through my mind and stuck, like a car in mud. No matter how much I hit the gas, nothing happened. Of course, I could write corny, sentimental last words like “I never liked change, but I think I’ll like this” or “high school goes by pretty fast.” But that isn’t me. My message is simple: keep an open mind. This is what not knowing is all about: an open mind. Not every second of your life needs to be regimented because when you have those four or so supple hours intermingled between sports, school and work, something interesting may happen. Experience what you can in high school because they will, hopefully, be extremely transformative years. There is no detriment in trying to make this as advantageous and informational a time as you can. Don’t be afraid to go into situations with the outline of a plan but not the specifics. Let it be malleable. Allow yourself to make the best of every situation. The lack of expectations allows great things to happen. For me, transitioning from a small, private school into the tumultuous sea that is Northwest was the biggest change I confronted thus far in my life. Yet, I had no plan for it. I went in with wide eyes and an open mind and came out with the greatest experiences and closest friends I’ve ever had. Indecisiveness often feels like a curse I can’t break, but, in the grand scheme of things, it may be my most valuable asset. I am always open for what life throws my way. I didn’t know where I wanted to work. Two jobs were offered to me without application, so then I took both. I didn’t know where to go to college, so I flipped a coin and feel confident with the decision it provided. I didn’t know what sport I wanted to do, so I tried as many as I could and enjoyed my involvement in each. And, for the vast majority of high school, I didn’t know what the heck was going on, but it was a gratifying experience overall. So, while I don’t know much about my future or the decisions I will go on to make, I’m completely sure of one thing: it’s okay not to know.
+BY SARA BABCOCK
I
don’t think I will look back on my high school memories as “those good old days.” However, my experiences in high school have taught me lessons that will influence me for the rest of my life. Freshman biology taught me that school isn’t easy. Before biology, I didn’t know how to take notes and study. I had never needed to. But if it wasn’t for the lessons I learned in biology, I certainly wouldn’t have been able to pass chemistry or college algebra/trig. Sophomore year, I rode shotgun all across Johnson County selling ads with my marketing partner. Free from the social constraints of our normal friends, we talked about everything: boys, religion, our favorite foods. Then one day she told me she had a secret: she had a crush on a girl. Her world was complicated by her religious household that was intolerant when it came to same-sex couples. Slowly, during those trips to sell ads for the newspaper, we pieced together her opinions about herself and the LGBT+ community. We didn’t share many connections outside of marketing, so she didn’t have to worry about me spilling her secret. Some days she would walk into the room and say, “We need to talk,” and I would understand. Eventually, she came out to her friends, and lost some in the process. I learned so much from that marketing class: how to sell ads and how to listen to a friend when they need it the most. Not everything I tried was a success. The fact that Girl Effect ended while I was on the exec board really hurt me. It was a great concept for a club; it aimed to empower girls on an international level. I’ve been told that it had some very good years, but the decision to stop the club for good was made by myself and the sponsor at the time. We tried hard to be a successful club, but, in the end, it just didn’t work out. Junior year, I elected myself DECA president and struggled throughout the year with a sponsor who wasn’t invested. Then, I was elected president again senior year by the now-members of DECA. With the new sponsor, Jane Stanley, I was able to have consistent meetings. I’m so proud of everyone who participated in DECA. They taught me that being responsible for a group is difficult but rewarding. Senior year was difficult. I became Ads Manager for the newspaper, which is probably one of the most stressful and interesting things I’ve ever done in high school. Senior year I knew that in order to pass anatomy I would have to remember my note-taking days in biology. Although I didn’t have another experience like the one in marketing, I tried to be there for my friends when they needed me. Learning from my failures in Girl Effect, I made sure to never over-promise when working in a group. DECA had a new sponsor, and I had a constant schedule, meetings and competitions. Truthfully, high school was tough but I got through it because of the lessons I’ve learned.
NW PASSAGE | opinion 03
Leave the Yearbook open
Even if you don’t realize it, every second you spend in high school is worth remembering
+BY SHELBY BEAUMONT
“
You’re doing senior year right.” My dad said this as we sat down to dinner to talk about how I felt about high school coming to an end. It seems like everything that was supposed to happen in one’s senior year, happened in mine: being nominated for court, my first break up and reaching my personal goals in track and journalism. I can look at my life right now and see that I am surrounded by people who made high school worth it. Bus rides to track meets made high school worth it. Ordering pizzas for newspaper work night and spending endless Friday nights in my basement made high school worth it. I catch myself looking through my photos and smiling at everything my friends and I have done. It’s impossible
to remember every second of high school. Trust me, I would if I could. But it makes scrolling through my camera roll, watching the years roll by, that much sweeter. It’s a chance to relive all that I have forgotten. I get angry at myself for not realizing that, in that moment, I was happy. I was enjoying my time without thinking that these four years would be over so soon. I feel like half of me has some sort of stake in high school, keeping me stuck here. I want to hold on to every second. The other part of me realizes how much is ahead of me. I’ve realized an important part of my life is over. The majority of people I know now, I won’t know a year from now. I won’t have a family like the newspaper staff anymore, and I won’t
have my track team. I won’t have most of the people who came to my house on the weekends. Few people will still be by my side after graduating, but I can’t put into words how often I will find myself looking back. I’ll still think of them. Here I am, on the verge of graduating, and I’ve realized I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and it’s all about to change completely, maybe even for the better. My dad isn’t wrong. My senior year has been better than I could have ever imagined it. When I’m 50 and showing my kids my yearbook, I’ll have plenty to say about the people in it and the stories I’ve been able to tell through photos. I’ll be content knowing that I was able to make the most out of my final year of high school.
Not how I’m supposed to feel Senior year is ending and I’m ready for the change
I
thought that by the time my senior year rolled around, I would become sentimental about graduating. I thought I would get a little choked up during the senior song or that I would be upset about leaving everyone I’ve gone to school with for the last four years. But now that it’s that time of year, those feelings are nonexistent. Senior year is one of those times where you just feel like you’re floating in between everyone. You can’t really relate to those who are a year older than you because they have started a new phase of life, and you can’t relate to those younger than you because
shortest four F years of your life
Don’t let high school pass you by +BY MICHAEL ROCK
04 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
our years ago, as I graduated eighth grade and prepared for my freshman year, all of the adults in my life warned me about how quickly high school would go by. In my pre-adolescent arrogance, I disregarded this advice and instead lamented that I would be imprisoned in another school for four years. It wasn’t until the beginning of senior year I realized that they were right. The first half of freshman year was a slog; getting adjusted to another school with 1,800 students that I had never met before was a bit jarring. But after I got used to all that, school once again became monotonous. The first three years went by in a blur of assemblies, dances, games and memes. I remember very clearly the moment when I realized just how quickly high school was passing me by. I was getting my school ID picture taken, and as the camera snapped, it dawned on me that this was my last first day of school. I would never again walk through the mall, seeing
+BY TARYN SMITH
their concerns don’t mirror your own. I’m not upset about leaving this stage of my life. Although change can be scary, it seems more enticing to me than no change at all. I’ve always liked change. I get bored with the usual routine and I’m constantly trying to adapt something. This is a bit contradictory, though, considering I hate being pushed out of my comfort zone. My life is filled with changes I want to make. That’s why rooming with someone I don’t know, majoring in something I have no idea how I’ll do in and moving into a completely new state starting
this fall, brings me both anxiety and excitement. High school is not everything to me. The friends I’ve made are great, but I’ll make many more in college. The games and events I attended were fun, but I’ll go to many more in college. Graduation isn’t a sad time for me. Yes, high school went by fast. I’m not the first to say that and I definitely won’t be the last. Make the most of it and do what you like while you’re here; you shouldn’t have much to miss when you finally graduate.
my friends and discussing how our summers had been. I spent that day reminiscing on my early days at Northwest. Freshman year was a trial by fire. I had very few classes with my friends, and I felt too young and insignificant to reach out to anyone I didn’t know. At the first all-school assembly, I sat in the very back row of the freshman section and tried to disappear into the wall. After a few months, I felt comfortable enough with my new surroundings to put myself out there. That simple decision ended up being one of the most important choices I ever made in high school, as it led me to not only form several integral friendships, but also to enjoy high school more as a whole. All of the memories I’ve made are a consequence of that one decision. And then suddenly, it was all over. I found myself having less time to hang out with friends and spending more time sending out graduation announcements and planning
for college. There were plenty of times when I sat at home, college paperwork sprawled on the desk in front of me, wishing that I could have one more Friday night with my friends, driving around the city without a care in the world. However, adulthood snuck up and caught me square in the jaw with the haymaker called “responsibility.” So when your parents tell you for the 50th time that high school is fleeting, don’t just roll your eyes and brush them off, because they’re right. You have to use these four short years to shape yourself into the person you want to be. Don’t waste any opportunities to learn or experience new things. Step outside your comfort zone. Try that club, go to that dance, take that class. One day, you’ll wake up and be a senior. As Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
Back Row: Alex Oleson, Daniela Silva, Hannah Gruman, Lily Ottinger, Courtney Jones, Trent McHenry, Ashton Hess Front Row: Greta Christiansen, Tavin Cook, Kevin Thompson
class of 2017
Influential Seniors
INTERVIEWS COMPILED BY BEJAMIN BECKER, CADIE ELDER, GRACE GORENFLO, ANNALISSA HOUSER, SAMANTHA JOSLIN, ANASTASIA KLING, JACK LYNCH, SONNI MEYERS, ASHER NORBERG, MICHAEL ROCK, JORDAN SHERFY, JOSH SHERFY & MATTHEW OWENS PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH
NW PASSAGE | feature 05
Alex Oleson
Q: What does it mean to you to be influential? A: Well obviously we all have our own beliefs, we all have our own reasons for doing stuff, and that kind of guides your life and what you believe. Being an influential senior, to me, proves that hopefully what I’m doing, I’m doing to the best of my ability and people recognize that. Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of? A: I am most proud of being able to do so much and be involved in so many different groups, whether it was for just one club meeting or if it was just doing something for another club. Being able to balance basketball, all the training we did for that, with StuCo and KUGR and NHS and all the other events and things I was able to do, it was really cool. Q: Where do you see yourself in the future? A: I want to make a big impact in foster care. I was a foster kid at one point and my mom still fosters, so I see all the kids and I just want to do something like that to make people’s lives better. There are a lot of people who have unfortunate circumstances in their lives, and they need something to help them turn around. Q: Do you think your foster care experience helped mold you into the person you are today? A: Yeah, definitely I think that’s one of the big things. I try to not take anything for granted because I don’t know if it’s God, I don’t know if it’s coincidence or karma, but there is some force that changed my situation before it got the best of me. Q: What is the most important lesson that you’ve learned in high school? A: Meet all the people you can. By interacting with people through clubs and different events, you gain more of an appreciation for the school and the different individuals in it. We are not all the same. I think that is important that we are not all the same. I think being involved helps.
PHOTO BY SHELBY BEAUMONT
PHOTO BY MADDY MANNNIG
Hannah Gruman
Q: What did you do in high school that you are most proud of? A: Junior year, cross country, helping score for the team when we won second at regionals. That season was a climb back because I had a stress fracture in my femur. It was three months of not walking; it was months of physical therapy and it was worth it. It was one of my best races. Q: What activity shaped you the most? A: Cross country. I’ve learned extremely important lessons through all of my activities. I’ve learned to overcome obstacles and adversity. I’ve learned to have a bad day or a bad race and be okay. I’ve learned the value of teamwork, leadership and late gratification. The skills I’ve learned in cross country, I know, will translate to later in life. Q: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in high school? A: Be yourself because you will find people that will love you for who you are and, if you don’t, you need to find other people. You are a fantastic person and you don’t need to be anyone else. Back before high school, I tried to play up the nerd thing, [I thought that] people would only like me because I’m smart. I got to Northwest and I found people who appreciated my sense of humor because I was Hannah Gruman, not because I was Hannah Gruman with all the answers. Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind at Northwest? A: I want to be the person that inspires people to be themselves and do what they love because it’s worth it. I hope that I helped people to chase their dreams. Q: Who would you like to thank? A: My mother. When I grow up, I want to be her. Not a high school principal, but always extremely positive. She has always encouraged me to be the best that I can. She cares a lot about everybody.
06 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
Kevin thompson
Q: What are you most proud of in high school? A: Both of them are wrestling accomplishments. First is being district champion senior year which was a really big accomplishment for me. It was something I had been waiting for. The other was the dual winning pin junior year against Olathe East. I went up a weight class and wrestled this guy who had been wrestling for nine years, me being a first year varsity guy. I was losing the match and pinned him in the second round. Q: What teacher made the biggest impact on you? A: Coach Coopman: I loved him as a teacher and loved him throughout high school. He makes everything simple. He did so much for me and, on a personal level, we were friends. I knew him before high school because my sister was friends with his oldest daughter. Q: Who has influenced you the most? A: Derrick Thomas. I met his son at the draft party this year at the practice field at the Chiefs’ facility this year. His name is Darrion. When I met him, the first thing I told him was, ‘Your dad is an inspiration to me. I wore 58 as my number junior year of football just so I could show my respect for him.’ I wanted to model my play after him. It was important for me to say that to Derrion because I never thought I would be able to. I think he is a local hero. They tell me not to look up to football players, but why not? They’re such great guys. Q: Why do you think you were chosen as an influential senior? A: I make sure I have more than one person by my side at all times. A big fear of mine is being lonely, and so I make sure to surround myself with people that I love. I love getting myself involved in things and I always saw myself as a leader in football and wrestling and photo journalism, even in yearbook. I love making an impact on people and I love giving advice and I love getting in people’s business just because I want to help other people achieve their goals. Q: How has your Twitter helped you to become an influential senior? A: Really, it is a trademark thing. People will actually walk up to me in the hall and call me by my Twitter name. The one thing in high school that hasn’t changed is people will come up to me all the time and tell me that they love my Twitter account. Follow me on twitter at @OgKevtheGOAT.
PHOTO BY PIPER SHUERMAN
Tavin Cook
Q: What does it mean to be influential? A: I think of someone that by being themselves has affected others positively.[It means] being a fair person to all and being positive.
PHOTO BY NATE THOMPSON
Q: What do you feel is the most important part of high school? A: The most important part of high school is the start of freshmen year and the end of senior year. Freshman year is important because you’re building relationships with people that you will be spending four years with. And you are making your first mistakes in high school and learning from them. The end of senior year, you are looking back on those memories, and you are grasping onto those same relationships with friends that you made freshman year. You are looking back on those mistakes and you realize you are a better person because of them. Q: How have you changed since freshman year? A: I have become stronger since freshman year. I have learned to speak up and I have learned that my opinion matters. I used to be scared, and I wouldn’t speak up for myself, but now I am different and I realized the only opinion about myself that matters is my own. Q: What advice do you have for the freshmen? A: Be yourself. Don’t let your friends define you. Have courage in yourself and in all the activities that you do. Club Day is the day for you to sign up for as many clubs as you want to. You won’t know you like something until you try it. Stay focused on your grades and stay focused on your dreams. Respect others and be nice to all. Q: What does it mean to you to be named an influential senior? A: I honestly get a warm feeling in my heart. I don’t why, but I think it comes from the fact that this is a really nice compliment. And I am just happy that I got the chance to make a good impression on someone. Even if it was a couple of people, I am glad that influenced them in some way. Being nice has benefits to others and to yourself.
NW PASSAGE | profile 07
PHOTO BY BRYCE REX
Greta Christianson
Q: What does it mean to be influential? A: I never realized how much [I] impact people. It really means a lot that you can do something that you don’t think is important or that goes unnoticed but people are constantly watching you and being like, “whoa.” Q: What would you say is the way to be successful in high school? A: Don’t let yourself give up. You’re going to fail stuff and you’re not going to always succeed and you’re not always going to get what you want and you’re not always going to be the perfect person. But it’s okay because everyone else is going with it too. You’ve got to learn that just because you’re sitting on the floor, it doesn’t mean you don’t have legs to stand back up on. Q: What activity do you do that best defines you/your time at Northwest? A: This music department because this is literally where I spend all my time. I once had somebody approach me and ask if I slept in the practice rooms at Northwest. It’s not true, but sometimes it feels like it. Q: What is the most important lesson you learned in high school? A: Not everybody is going to like you. You cannot please every person and if you go on trying to please every person, you’re going to end up more miserable than they are. Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind at Northwest? A: That I was a kind person. People always want to be good at this or good at that, but I’d rather be known for how I made people feel.
PHOTO BY JORDEN DURKEE
Lily Ottinger
Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of? A: People compliment me on my art and say I inspire them. People like the stuff I make, which is neat. I’m glad that people relate to me because I never really had anyone to relate to. That makes me proud more than anything. Q: What activity best defines you and your time at Northwest? A: Debate defines me more than anything because people think of me as loud and not afraid to speak my mind. It taught me self-advocacy. Q: What will you miss most about Northwest? A: I will miss the teachers. The teachers I’ve had at Northwest have been amazing and I’m really glad I got to have the educational experience that I did. Sometimes on the first day of school, I would walk into a class and think that this is a class where my best friend is the teacher. I met a lot of really inspiring educators while I was here, like Dr. Winston, Mr. Hunt, Mr. King, Mr. Pabst, Mrs. Deines, Mr. Boren and Mr. Wolfe. Q: Do you have any advice for underclassmen? A: Get involved. I know they tell you that at orientation, but it’s true. My freshman year, I showed up to five different clubs and I was always the only freshman. I was the only freshman on Academic Decathlon and Categories. I really envy people who have known their best friend since preschool, but you should have some diversity in who you hang out with and who influences you. If you get involved and meet as many different people as possible, you can take all the high school archetypes and find out what works for you. Basically, don’t let yourself be pigeonholed. Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2017, what would it be? A: I wish I’d gotten to know you better. People think I influence them, but I didn’t do anything except be myself. I don’t wish I had more time, I wish I had met more people.
08 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
Daniela Silva
Q: What does it mean to be influential?` A: I think it’s a big honor to realize that all your peers notice what you’re doing. I think I’ve always thought of myself a little bit as a wallflower and I’ve kind of disabused myself of that notion in the last few months. It’s cool to realize the majority of your class has a really positive opinion of you and thinks the things you are passionate about or do within the school are cool.
PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH
Q: What would you say is the way to be successful in high school? A: Find your place, find what you should be doing. Northwest, especially, really does offer you a super broad range of activities, so if you don’t find something to do, you’re not looking. If you don’t have the club, just start it yourself. Everyone can have something they can get involved in here, and you meet so many people that you would not know otherwise and form so many incredible relationships through whatever you’d be doing. Q: What activity do you do that best defines you/your time at Northwest? A: Louder than a Bomb and slam poetry because that’s something I’ll continue to do after high school and continue to pursue because I’m going to be a writing major. I’d love to go to collegiate nationals and if my college doesn’t already have a team, I guess I’m the first draft pick. Q: What is the most important lesson you learned in high school? A: No one is paying as much attention to you as you think they are. Literally, everyone is self-absorbed and that’s not really a bad thing. That’s just an inescapable fact of being a teenager. Once you realize that, it’s so freeing.You’re so much happier, so much more yourself and so at peace. Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind at Northwest? A: The fact that I get to go on a list with Isabel Zacharias and Sam Gross and Spencer Dang and Lily [Ottinger] before me — that means more to me than anything else that happened that week. I think Northwest has always had a really great poetic community. I’m really happy to be a part of that legacy.
Courtney Jones
Q: What have you done in high school that are you most proud of? A: I would say the thing that I’m most proud of is becoming a soccer captain this year because I’ve worked so hard since freshman year to establish a role as a leader, and finally all that has been recognized by my teammates and coaches. Q: Where do you see yourself in the future? A: I hope that in the future I will continue to pursue my dreams of becoming a doctor, but more than that to still keep that sense of service toward others and giving back to the community through volunteering and mission trips around the world. Q: What is the most important lesson you learned in high school? A: I’ve learned to not stress the little things in life. You’re expected to do a lot of things in high school and in life, big and little, and you have to learn to make choices, though sometimes those choices seem greater at the time when later you realize it wasn’t as important as you thought. Q: What advice would you give to underclassmen? A: I would say to underclassmen that you need to stay true to who you are, and don’t change for other people. Do things that make you happy and that are important to you and not others. Q: What is the one thing you wish you could say to Northwest before you leave? A: The one thing I wish I could say is be nice because everyone matters. You never know what someone else’s story is and you should always give others the benefit of the doubt. Every person and everyone’s life is important and you should treat it as so.
PHOTO BY BROOKLYNN ROTH
NW PASSAGE | profile 09
PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH
Ashton Hess
Q: Why do you think you were chosen as an influential senior? A: I wore a spacesuit to school probably three or four times this year, that might be the reason. I feel like I’ve been pretty involved. I know a lot of people from band, through debate and forensics, and then through all my classes. Maybe it’s the poetry slam. So I’m remembered for spacesuits and dog butts? I don’t know if that’s what being influential means. Q: How would you like to Northwest to remember you? A: What I did for band: being a drum major [involves] being a leader of like 150 people, but also trying to encourage leadership in others. That’s what I really tried to do because not everyone is a section leader but everyone is a leader, and that’s something I really try to encourage. If I got that through to 10 people, then that’s pretty cool. Q: What’s your biggest piece of advice to incoming freshman? A: Nothing is the end of the world. It’s one moment of a really long life. [Also], get involved so you can find that support system. When tough things happen you have those people who will support you. Q: What is your goal in life? A: The point of life is to be happy; whatever you are doing, whoever you’re with or whoever you’re loving, I think it’s ultimately to be happy. But also to know that most of that happiness comes from making other people happy. My goal is to go forward and — [through] architecture — create spaces that make people feel safe, inspired and happy. Q: How did you get involved in band or debate and forensics? A: My brother went through band here when I was in kindergarten through third grade. Initially, I kind of didn’t want to do it because I wanted to be separate from my brother. My parents kind of put him on a pedestal and I wanted to just do my own thing. When I got here, I realized I could do my own thing in the same program. I definitely thought about quitting band before coming to high school, but I stuck with it because of the upperclassmen. It felt like such a community. Forensics-wise, I had a free period and I signed up for the class. It’s probably been the best decision I’ve ever made.
PHOTO BY BROOKLYNN ROTH
Trent McHenry
Q: What is your favorite memory from high school? A: My favorite memory from high school is definitely when I was elected governor of the Youth in Government program. I used to be really shy freshman and sophomore years, so I started coming out of my shell and [taking] more leadership positions, just because of the fact that I cared about the community. The moment I went up and had a political debate in front of 100 plus people, was able to accurately answer questions and do a great job of public speaking really represented to me a shift in my personal identity. Q: How has being involved in band changed you? A: For me, involvement in band has always been trying to help people younger than me, kind of realizing what they’re good at and what they want to do and how they can do those things. That goes from teaching the freshmen in my section how to march and helping them become successful players, to going and working on a piece for an audition with my co-section leader. Q: What teacher has influenced you the most? A: The teacher that has influenced me the most is Dr. Winston. He made me question my values in life. He taught us that it is more important to actually learn something than to get the grade and that we have the values of always being the best that you can. Q: Who are your influential seniors? A: The people in my class that have influenced me the most have been Ashton Hess, Saron Demeke and Hannah Gruman. Ashton Hess because she made me realize what I wanted to have for values as far as succeeding for the point of personal growth and giving back. Saron Demeke because she made me realize that the people who are in the shadows, the people who aren’t acknowledged as often, are very often doing things for better reasons and more successfully than the people who are seen. Hannah Gruman because she is one of the nicest people ever and has just been wonderful and supportive through my entire high school career. Q: Why do you feel like you were chosen to be an influential senior? A: One of the goals that I have always had at Northwest is to make a positive impact on the community. I’ve tried to give students as many opportunities as possible to make the community better and make themselves better.
10 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
in Favorite Restaurant Then
mcdonald’s
Favorite Restaurant Now
Favorite NonDisney Movie
Favorite Disney Movie
Shrek
The lion king
Favorite School Lunch
chipotle Otis spunkmeyer cookies 22 votes
Favorite TV show Then
Favorite TV show Now Pizza 21 votes
Spongebob
the office chicken nuggets 13 votes
NW PASSAGE | entertainment 11
College
36
Animal behavior college
1 2
Damien Kendrick
3
Kara Knapp Camille Henderson Alex Willming
Avila University Josh Harris Olyvia Anothayanontha
Baker University
Baylor University
4
Hannah Gruman
5
Natalia Kidder Briana Handley
6
Paige Holgate Sarah Hedrick
7
Javier Pena Nathan Ryan Mikayla Washington
8
Benedictine College
Butler County Community College
California Polytechnic State University Christa Stoll
9 10 11
Annie Connor
12 13 14 15
Emily Sanders
College of the Ozarks Michael Maust
Colorado State university Will Hauser Morgan Seiter
Concordia University Cornell University Colton Skeens
Creighton University Benjamin Becker
Drake University Anna Beck Mahi Patel Jackie Sayers Daniela Silva Alayna Watts
Emporia State University Kasey Gardner Alison Rosebaugh Brennan Mills
Evangel University
17 18
Ashley Ard
Fort Hays State university Britta Coleman Natalie Egan Taylor Martin Jacob Robinson Tyler Tummons
Garden City Community College
19
Donavyn Hill Jasean Parker Baqurious Stokes
Hutchinson Community College
20 21 22
19
26 20 44 63
Brigham Young university
Central Methodist University
16
18
Dylan Nedved
Illinois Institute of Technology Ashton Hess
Johnson County Community College Isabella Acosta Haley Alexander Gillian Alvey Megan Anderson Darian Arano Devin Araujo Jackson Barnhill Carlos Barrios
Sara Berberick Ethan Block Holly Bracken Christopher Brisneo Zach Brooks Courtney Burnett Tristan Case Yolanda Chavez Camryn Clark Orlando Corona Gabriella Cortez Payton Cross Maria Dattenney Moura Shane Delamore Brandon Diaz Katy Doleshal Kaitlin Dowell Athena Duffel Valerie Emerson Karen Garcia-Ortiz Travis Gardner Kiley Gerkovich Nick Gluch Nicole Graham Mercy Haboro Brandon Harrell Noah Herzberg Svetlana Holliday Max Hoops Emily Hughes Molly Jewett Ishara Johnson Keyara Johnson Charles Johnston Kooper Jones Colton Kinsella Ryun Ladd Irwin Lopez Dominic Lorino Jaylen Love Jocelyn Luna Cristian Madrid-Pineda Ana Mancilla César Marcano Adriana Martin Sánchez Derrick Maughan Ryan McGaw Hailie McManness Carter McPheeters Cole Megerson Vanessa Mendoza Donis Miguel Dylan Miller Getrude Mogondo Melody Molina Jenae Moore Ethan Moreno Randall Moore Chloe Morse Connor Mount Daniela Munoz Tyler Noland Evelyn Nuñez
12 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
5 1 55 2 9 25 53 2223 3 24 54 16 38 39 48 34 40 7 17 27 33 10
Evan Patton Dawn Peters Harry Petersen Jennifer Pham Inga Phillips Garrett Powers Jaret Priddy Siena Radice Kaitlin Ristic Maria Rodriguez Olivia Sabal Krit Sarai Megan Saunders Stayton Savoie Rachel Schultz Maram Secka Alyssa Sipe Sabrina Smith Trenton Smith Gavin Stegman Klara Stevermer Lea Stuart Jiahiu Sun Ertan Tatli Blair Thomas Nate Thompson Marcel Tilmon Irma Valencia Heidy Verbena Vincent Villot Owen Walter Jack Ware Madison Williams Imani Willis Roslyn Wohler Beau Wright Elizabeth Zimmerman
23
Kansas City Art Institute Haley Brwown
24
25
Kansas City Kansas Community College Dante Campbell Jessica Juarez Blake Lee Hope Medis Briana Moye Gena Ojeda
Kansas State University Agnès Aycock Ellie Binkley Sara Blunk Virginia Bohling Jordyn Burke John Chapple Lucy Coopman Carlee Dubbert Anna Farmer Marta Fears
Sydney Gerfen Sophia Gonzales Jackson Grotegut Claire Guigli Courtney Jones Noah Kendall Colby Kostelac Caleb Kuestersteffen Jake Leyva Lauren Londeen Marlaina Markwart Sam McAnany Haley Nunnink Matthew Oszman Chase Peterson Jared Ray Antonio Santos Garrett Shouse Kristen Smith Benjamin Snyder Thor Striker Anna Taylor Luke Terrell Kevin Thompson Hailey Utech Mills Vick Zach Vielhauer Isabelle Wallis Kaitlyn Ward Ashley Weigel Rhiannon Wilhite Drew Winter
26
Kansas Wesleyan University Camryn Coffelt
27
Labette Community College
28
Leeward Community College
30
Michigan state
college
31
Mid america christian university Daniel Valles
32 33
Millikin University Kenzi Parsons
Missouri Southern state university Tinia Wade
University Of Alabama
Joe Todd
35 New York University Jordan Ray 36 Northwest Missouri State University
Isabel Blanco Rachel Tompkins
37 Olivet nazarene university Ty Ball 38 Ottawa University Emmalee Rose 39 Paul Mitchell the school overland park
41
Chloe McCrary
45 46 47
University of Arizona Katie McCluskey
University of Arkansas Austin Heinisch Claire Hutchinson Emily Moore Bryce Rex Taryn Smith Alex Teeple Drew Vander Leest
University of central Missouri
Maureen Jacobsen Allison Kessler
48
Keaton Rex
Alondra De Santos Colin Donovan Raian Hajmahmoud Jessika Henchek Cassidy Johnson Caitlyn Loeffler Taylor Pagacz AJ Patterson Taylor Pflumm Noah Roberts
49
Ryan Rebori Alyssia Vallejo
Saint Louis University
52 53
40 Pittsburg State University
Joe Taylor Christopher Thompson Allison Smith Ashley Zhang
8
34 Neosho county community
Leah Griffin
Lindenwood University
29 41
28
Devonte Smith
29
78
Luis Corona Alex Oleson
College 42 Simpson Seth Bowman Illinois university 43 Southern Carbondale Rana Schenke
College 44 Sterling Preston Killingsworth
University of colorado Boulder University of Evansville Zach Reeder
50 51
Indiana University bloomington Tamerra Horton
University of Iowa Winter Sparks
University of Kansas Jonathan Alexander Hayden Barbour Shelby Beaumont Andrew Chen Haylie Converse Tavin Cook Saron Demeke Jason Eskina Manon Eubanks Justin Flickner Adam Gleason
61 6
5957 125614
11
62 15 4252
49
31 58
60
30 21 37 32 51 50 43
38
35 59 Undecided
47 45
46 Harry Green Drew Higginbotham Maddie Hissong Tess Holcom Lovelight Jonah Heather Jones Sarah Joslin Samreet Karra Lynnsey Keehn Michaela Keller Colton Kreie James Lang Morgan Lowry Pavan Mahendrada Jess Martin Madeline Martin Liam Mays Katie McClure Lily Ottinger Alec Overmann Leah Pfeifer Joshua Plagge Andrew Price Jr Neema Rafizadeh Juan Pablo Ramirez Michael Rock Joe Ruis Josh Ruvalcava Maci Said Emma Sanders Krit Sarai Will Schade Von Schnorf Sarah Scott Joe Slattery Lakha Sood Katie Springer Ally Steinmetz
13
4
54 55
Adam Vanderwerf Reed Williams
Japan
University of Missouri
MExico
Elizabeth Drummond
University of Missouri— Kansas City Mark Babcock Sara Babcock Kara Berger Andy Chapel Jacob Fuchs Meghann Gottfried Emily Lopez Seth Petrich Lynzie Prater Dejana Rucker Jack Shockey Gunner Smith Jacob Stratton
56
Paige Jones
University of Nebraska — Lincoln Amy Abadie Grace Gorenflo Michael Senior
Irma Valencia
Netherlands
59 60 61 62 63
University of Pennsylvania Trent McHenry
University of Tulsa Samuel Athey Sophie Leonard
University of Wisconsin— Stout Davia Clarke
Wartburg College Greta Christianson
Wichita state university Lucia Agbor Joel Asante Alison Huddleston Annelise Chemgne Ngoa
Studying Abroad Austria
57
University of Nebraska Omaha Kara Brown Hailey Brull
Reggie Black
58
University of Oklahoma
Docker Clark
Cole Biery
Belgium Germany Josh Barcomb
Isabella Benner
Spain Kayla Craigmile
Armed Forces
Davis Bradley Andy Chanthalahaka Tony Mauna Bria Mayhew Abey Lewis Thruassy Dubique Sydney Taylor Ever Rodriguez Robert Harris-Webster Benjamin Hall
Early Graduates William Andruss Ariel Cheffen Jennifer Contreras Moreira Aubrey Jones Deja Marable Allison Marx Elizabeth Merchant Jordan Morris Lauren Sachen Charles Tann LaDatra Williams
Working
Joe Baker Tabitha Bozarth Saul Del Real Jorden Durkee Nathan Fry Justin Hoelting Desiree Husband Zackary Lading Valentin Lopez Wilfredo Manzanares Ryan Moyer Xavier Perry Brandon Prosser Thomas Reid Harrison Root Sydney White (Spain) Brooklynn Roth Alyssa Saylor Aime Serna John Stecher Maycee Steele Hanna Weaver
Traveling Abroad
Post High School John Baska Hannah Gettino Ahmalik Willingham
Returning Home
Nere Elorduy (Spain) Anna Hoffman (Germany) Alma Lauricella (Italy) Kristina Shelemba (Kazakhstan)
Logan Aguilar Otis Agyapong Blake Andrews Chase Brown Logan Bur Nic Chitwood Brian Cummings J.T. Hawthorne Cy Howard Desirae Johansen Anthony Ly Noah Mechnig-Giordano Hannah Moose Zach Ragan Anna Reynolds Noah Simbeck Adam Snawerdt Jake Snider Travon Taylor Wendy Trinidad Federico Velazquez Aleman Miles Weiss Autumn White Shania Yusuf
Abstained
Tai Berry Maguy Bikene Assembe Tyrel Brown-Donahue Makenzi Bryant Michael Chavez Katrina Costes Branden Cunningham Aruky Dominguez Jae'Briel Francis Ahmad Jeffery Corey Martin Amoris Martinez Diaz Jack McHenry Ailen Ortega Salazar DeMarius Parker A.J. Patterson Xavier Rodriguez Michael Salierno Megan Saunders Isaiah Schoemehl Alexis Scott Makenzee Smith Darhon Thomas Kassidy Voelker Shatauna Williamson Sierra Witten Hector Zavala Gonzalez
NW PASSAGE | feature 13
I’ll miss you SM Northwest… well… everything but your crappy parking and driving. — ALONDRA DE SANTOS
Cougars now and evermore. — LAUREN LONDEEN
SM Northwest, our time has come. It’s not you, it’s me. It’s time for us to go our separate ways. — EVELYN NUÑEZ
SENIORS LOOK BACK ON THEIR TIME AT NORTHWEST What is your favorite NW memory? Being C Team soccer captain. Honestly, so much has happened in my life in these four years that soccer has been my rock. First off, the fact that people voted for me to be captain was humbling and no one had really played soccer before so it was as if I was a teacher for them, too. It was just a season for me to really understand that me being a player didn’t matter if I didnt better my teammates and vice versa.
— MANON EUBANKS
Playing with the drumline in front of the student section and/or in the mall. Music is a huge part of my life and being able to share it with Northwest and people dancing along gives me butterflies because y’all are so awesome.
— LIBBY ZIMMERMAN
14 May 10, 2017 | Senior Magazine
I think the most memorable moment for me was the whole day of October 7, 2016. That was when we had the Homecoming Assembly, Homecoming Parade, Homecoming Set-up, and the Homecoming game. That day was such an awesome 24 hours. When I look back on that day, I smile and laugh a little because I had such a fun time, my family and friends were there to support me when I was on court and I was cheering, too.
— TAVIN COOK
Taking my final bow on the NW stage. After four years spent performing on that stage, creating characters and stories, doing it for the last time is something I will always remember.
— JONATHAN ALEXANDER
If I had to pick one, I think it would be senior Homecoming parade. I, of course, loved being on court, but my favorite part was getting to ride so close to the KUGR float. We took so much pride in that float with the music and everything. I thought it made the parade overall just a lot more enjoyable, so getting to experience both that and and the convertible ride was unforgettable.
— KATIE MCCLUSKEY
Presenting the Spirit Stick during assemblies. It’s really hype. Before we announce the Spirit Stick, everyone gets really quiet and then, whoever wins it, the whole section explodes in excitement. For me to be a part of it is just an awesome experience.
— CARLEE DUBBERT
Have a great summer. — JOSH RUVALCAVA
Josh Ruvalcava stole my quote. — COLE BIERY
Don’t peak in high school, you have so much more to live for. — KATIE SPRINGER
Favorite Memory of Parents My favorite memory of my parents was Flying kites with my dad. We would when we used to drive around and look always play soccer or something after. It at Christmas lights in our old car (it had was just pure fun and we didn’t have to a bench seat in front). My dad always put worry about anything. one arm around my mom when we were — ANTONIO SANTOS driving and [I remember] thinking how nice it was.
On my mom’s 50th when we built the number out of roses and chocolate strawberries and my dad tried to make everything perfect.
— PAIGE JONES
— SARA BABCOCK
How have you changed since freshman year? I have gotten more responsible. I’ve stopped caring what other people think of me. That has really allowed me to be who I am instead of who I want other people to think I am. I think I have gotten happier, too. I’m more focused on the little things rather than being brought down by the overwhelmingness of existence.
— ROSLYN WOHLER
Well, I was very much a keep-to-myself I definitely used to straighten my hair kind of person, then I decided to audition for and do makeup daily freshman year. Now “You Can’t Take It With You” my sophomore I could care less if I look decent more than year. There I met some people who I became once a month. very fond of. They showed me so much — EMMA SANDERS kindness and respect that I grew and became more talkative around them. Then I became more talkative around different people in the theater department and pretty soon I found myself talking to everyone. So, I guess you could say theatre is what made me bloom.
— TONY MAUNA
What is your favorite high school sports memory? It was junior year at a track meet at Topeka Seaman and it was pouring rain for hours on hours. Shelby Beaumont, Colton Skeens and I were locked outside in the rain and we all got soaking wet. When we finally got inside the whole track team just hung out and it was possibly the most fun I have had at a track meet.
— ALAYNA WATTS
On the rare occasions that the pep-band The first night I stepped onto the varsity got to play ‘Cougar Fight’ in celebration football field under the lights sophomore of our football team scoring points, the year. band would always be filled with energy — XAVIER PERRY and excitement as if we were winning the games.
— JACOB STRATTON
Any moment with the javelin family. Coach Stiegemeier is very passionate about what he does, to the point where not only does he help our team, but when he sees other teams who don’t have the proper javelin resources, he will like take them in and guide them. Javelin, no matter what school you’re in, you’re a part of the javelin family, it’s bigger than just our team.
— TYLER TUMMONS
NW PASSAGE | feature 15
Eric Beatty, O.D Andrea Beatty, O.D
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Home: 913.631.8252 Cell: 913.927.5340 nelsport@everestkc.net Commercial & Residential Contractor 16 May 10, 2017 | Issue 9
THIS YEAR IN 1.
photos
2.
Embracing his mother Janet, senior Alex Oleson sobs after being named homecoming king in the Main Gym on Oct. 8. Senior Josh Plagge was first runner up, senior Ty Ball was second. “I started crying because I realized I wouldn’t be who I am without my adopted mom,” Oleson said. “She is one of the few things I cherish most. Seeing my friends was great, but sharing that with her was really special.” PHOTO BY
BROOKYLNN ROTH
3. 1. Lip syncing dressed as Santa, sophomore Sam Converse stands among other sophomores during the skit Nov. 30 in the Main Gym. They danced and lip-synced to many Christmas themed songs such as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” PHOTO BY ABBIE ROBERTS 2. Senior Mills Vick smiles as she wraps a rose for the NW Rose Sale Feb. 14 in the mall. Individually wrapped and sold for $4 a rose, Prom Committee raised over $300. PHOTO BY JORDEN DURKEE 3. Senior Annie Conner celebrates after blocking a hit from the Lawrence Free State Firebirds. This was the first match of the game and this block tied the game back for the Lady Cougars. The Cougars lost to Free State overall at the Topeka Expo Center Oct. 28.
PHOTO BY NATE THOMPSON
4.
6.
5.
7.
4. After winning the prom spirit stick, the junior class storms the gym floor April 21. The juniors won the final spirit stick for the year under the new Spirit Club rubric for assemblies. PHOTO BY GRACE ROEDER 5. Sophomore Alieu Jagne passes Canned Food Drive t-shirts to students Nov. 8 in Room 126. T-shirts cost $5 and were worth 2,000 points. PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING 6. Jumping in unison, junior Michael Filsinger and seniors Austin Heinisch and Winter Sparks protect their representative from inbound water balloons Sept. 14 at Theatre in the Park. They had to keep their representative as dry as possible from the aerial, aquatic attack. PHOTO BY BRYCE REX 7. Senior Sydney Gerfen cheers before the start of the prom assembly April 21 in the Main Gym. PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH
NW PASSAGE | photos 17
You can’t buy from a nicer bunch of guys. 13020 Shawnee Mission Parkway Shawnee, Kansas 66216 ShawneeCyclePlaza.com
18 May 10, 2017 | Issue 9
Barry Bunner scp2@swbell.net Phone: (913) 631-1111 Fax: (913) 631-1217
‘Round the World Recently honored by the Fellowship Fund for Teachers, social studies teacher Rebecca Anthony packs her bags for South Africa + BY CADENCE ELDER
I
t was just another day in Rebecca Anthony’s IB History of the Americas class when the door opened. However, instead of a student returning from the bathroom,a representative from the Kauffman Foundation walked in to present her with the 2017 Fund for Teachers Award. “I was a nervous, anxious wreck, checking my email every five seconds,” Anthony said. “I’m excited — it’s one of those things I dream, that one day I’ll go to Africa. To have it be real is very exciting.” To be considered for the program, teachers must complete a lengthy application explaining where they would like to travel and how the trip would benefit their classroom. Along with that, they must plan and budget their entire trip. Anthony will be traveling to South Africa from June 24 to July 10 to learn about the history and culture of the country, specifically focusing on apartheid. “I realized last year when teaching [about apartheid], ‘Oh this is something I don’t know a great deal about,’” Anthony said. “It was not something I ever really took a class on in college. ‘I could be better at this.’” Her trip will involve tours through townships with guides who have experienced apartheid or reported on it as photojournalists. She will spend several days on a safari without electricity, and will
then visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years. “I think having a personal connection and an experience to what you’re teaching makes it a lot more meaningful,” Anthony said. “I can stand here and show my students pictures of a township, but if I can come back and say,‘here is what this felt like and here is what I learned talking to people who live there,’ I think you get a lot deeper understanding of the culture and the people. Bottom line, history is about people.” Anthony is not only bringing information back to her class but has also reached out to social studies teacher Kelsi Horner and IB English teachers so that the information she gathers can be shared. “Here, there is always one more thing to do, always work to be done, papers to be graded,” Anthony said. “I think it will be nice to unplug and just enjoy being.”
What is Apartheid?
Why Travel?
Apartheid: a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race. “It’s a not-at-all subtle way of ensuring white supremacy,” Anthony said. “People were locked into categories and forced to live and work in certain areas based on their race.”
Be a Part of The Trip
“I think it lets you know that there is a lot of different people, ideas, cultures and ways of living. None are better than the other. I think traveling and seeing things outside your norm makes you a much more empathic human. We’re small, we’re a little bitty part of a really big world and we should act as such. Appreciate everyone and Safari in everything. I think traveling teaches you to be nice, especially in a place where you don’t speak the language. You rely on the kindness of others, even to order food.”
Kruger National Park Johannesburg
Anthony plans on posting pictures of her trip in hopes that students will comment or ask questions about the places she is visiting.
Follow @smnw_to_southafrica
Robben Island 1.
2.
1. Laughing with the students, AP U.S. history teacher Rebecca Anthony leads the class in Room 126 May 1. Anthony was helping students who will take the AP test prepare. PHOTO BY MADDY MANNING 2. Anthony has already begun gathering materials for her trip to South Africa, including her passport and camera. PHOTO BY MADDY
Capetown
Check out smnw.com to see what the Interact Club members are going to be doing in Panama this summer.
MANNNING NW PASSAGE| features 19
SAYING Goodbye
Nine faculty members wrap up their last year at Northwest + BY ANNALISSA HOUSER, JACK LYNCH, ASHER NORBERG & JORDAN SHERFY
Jennifer Willis
Photo by Nick Styers
For the last nine years, Jennifer Willis has worked with special needs students at Northwest and will be transferring to a program for post-secondary students. “Post-High [housed at SM South] is for the students with developmental disabilities and the district provides services to them through age 21,” Willis said. “When they [graduate from] high school, they go into this transition program where we help them get ready for independent living, help them get ready for jobs. It’s like a vocational type.” Willis knew she wanted to be a special education teacher even before the birth of her son who has Down Syndrome. “When I was in college [at Emporia State], one of the professors offered us extra credit if we would volunteer
Jane Stanley
Photo by Thomas Delzeit
Other faculty members leaving at the end of this year include: 20 May 10, 2017| Issue 9
with. It’s a whole different way of teaching,” Stanley said. “[The program is] a business incubator.” Stanley had hoped to add an internship program into Northwest’s current business offerings. “The numbers didn’t make,” Stanley said. Without the minimum required enrollment, the class could not be offered. When Stanley became aware of an opening to manage the CAPS program in the Northland, she jumped at the offer. “The opportunity was there,” Stanley said. “I’m going to be a lot closer to home. It’s going to be a 15-minute drive instead of a 40-minute drive.”
+ BY ANNALISSA HOUSER
After being hired in November of this year, school psychiatrist aid Marsha Rohrer will be ending her time at Northwest because her position has been eliminated. Although the reason for the elimination has not been disclosed, Rohrer assumes it was due to budgetary concerns. Rohrer will have another job opportunity within the Shawnee Mission School District for the 2017-2018 school year, but she does not know what that job will entail or where it will be. In the time that Rohrer spent at Northwest, she was an aid for Jo Paccapanniccia. Rohrer is thankful for not
Sherry Ely
for this organization called Families Together,” Willis said. “Basically we would just hang out with kids with disabilities while their parents went to conferences, or went to get some parent training and learn about IEPs (Individual Education Plan). I was assigned a family that had a little boy with Down Syndrome. I got to spend an entire weekend with him and just fell in love with him, fell in love with the community. That was when I knew what I wanted to do.” In her time at Northwest, Willis has co-taught with multiple teachers ranging over multiple subjects. “I love Northwest, I love everyone I’ve worked with,” Willis said. “I have absolutely adored every one of them. The co-teaching was a good experience for me because of the co-teachers that I had.”
+ BY ASHER NORBERG
Jane Stanley will be leaving to manage the Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program after three years at Northwest. Stanley initially started teaching Computer Applications part-time in 2014. Her schedule expanded the next year to include Introduction to Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Business Management full-time. She also sponsored DECA and supervised the sale of ads for The Northwest Passage and smnw.com. The Northland CAPS program allows students to create a professional network through internships in the business community. “It’s specifically entrepreneurs that I will be working
Marsha Rohrer
Photo by Grace Roeder
+ BY JACK LYNCH
Ely has worked as a secretary in the attendance office for 30 years and is retiring.
only Paccapanniccia, but all of the staff that she has had the opportunity to meet in her time here. “Northwest is a great environment,” Rohrer said. “The people are all welcoming.” Northwest has been close to Rohrer’s heart for much longer than the time she has worked here. Her children attended high school here. “I have always really liked it [at Northwest], but it is kind of déjà vu,” Rohrer said. “My kids went here and my college roommate went here, too. I enjoyed being back at Northwest in a different capacity.”
Jonell Carter
Carter has served as a para professional for the Special Education department for one year.
Jami Paugh
+ BY JORDAN SHERFY
Sixteen years after being hired, English teacher Jami Paugh is leaving to teach at Olathe Northwest in order to be closer to home. While here, Paugh served as the Spirit Club Cosponsor for seven years and started the Teacher Lifesaver Award for the staff five years ago. Paugh was also the assistant varsity softball coach for four years and helped the team win two state championships. Paugh will continue teaching English at Olathe Northwest, in addition to being the Spirit Club sponsor. “I hope to teach [students] about forming
Kimberly Hanson
Photo by Nick Styers
+ BY JORDAN SHERFY
After being originally hired by the Shawnee Mission School District in May of last year and joining the NW staff as a special education teacher at the end of September, Kimberly Hanson will go to Olathe Northwest to teach in the Special Education program there. The move puts her much closer to home. Hanson has taught at Northwest for one year. “The days were definitely interesting,” Hanson said. “Every day there was something new and unpredictable. Sometimes it is a good thing and other times it is very challenging.” Hanson has loved being at Northwest, particularly
John Reiff
relationships and making connections, as well as how to express themselves in writing and speaking,” Paugh said. As Paugh heads out to the teacher parking lot for the very last time, there is one thing she wants to say to incoming teachers: “Northwest is a great place to learn, work and form friendships,” Paugh said. “Teachers here challenge students to be the best they can, while at the same time leading them in the right direction.”
the ability to interact with both special education and general education students and helping everyone fit in here. “I really like the teachers that I work with and the community of the school,” Hanson said. “I think there’s a lot of good things that go on at Northwest.” As Hanson will begin her new job at Olathe Northwest next year, there is one thing that she wants to say to incoming teachers at Northwest. “Relax. There is going to be hard days, but you’re going to meet some fabulous people,” Hanson said. “Enjoy it because time flies by quickly.”
Photo by Nick Syers
+ BY JACK LYNCH
After 41 years of teaching, longtime coach John Reiff is ready to retire. “[I knew it was time to retire] when I got social security and my insurance was paid for,” Reiff said. Reiff got his start during the 1975-1976 school year at Mary Harmon Weeks Elementary School in Kansas City, Mo. In 1993, Reiff began teaching health and coaching at Northwest. “I will miss some of the people that I work with,” Reiff said. “I will miss a few of the kids because there are a lot of good kids, but there are a lot of kids [who] eventually wear you down. So it’s time for me to go.”
Heather Aldridge
During his time at Northwest, Reiff has been an important part of the faculty. “[In] 1993, when I started, I had three health classes and I was the varsity girls’ basketball coach. I also helped with softball that year.” Reiff is ready to join his wife in retirement and looks forward to freedom from work. “I have 10 grandkids, so I will enjoy spending time with them,” Reiff said. “It’s all about, ‘Can you stay healthy’ and I plan to do that, plan to do a little traveling and do what I want, when I want. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Photo by Brooklyn Roth
+ BY ASHER NORBERG
Heather Aldridge’s move this summer will be a homecoming. Aldridge will be leaving Northwest to return to Minnesota, where both she and her husband grew up. “My husband and I are [going home] to start our family,” Aldridge said.
Aldridge’s husband’s job brought them to Kansas, where they have worked for the past two years. For two years, Aldridge has taught Algebra 1, Algebra 3 and Consumer Math. After running track in high school and in college, Aldridge coached track, focusing on the girls’ sprints.
Photo by Maddy Manning
Ziba Vissoughi
Vossoughi has taught physical science and chemistry at Northwest for 17 years. She will be at SM North next year.
Letha Colley
Carter has served as a para professional for the Special Education department for one year.
NW PASSAGE | feature 21
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Hours: M-F 6:00 am-4:00 pm Sat/Sun 7:00 am-4:00 pm 22 May 10, 2017 | Issue 9
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TURFED UP Athletic field upgrades are coming over the summer
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ew turf fields will be installed over the summer in an attempt to alleviate that the stress that is put on spring coaches when inclement weather forces teams to scramble for the finite indoor space available. “One [benefit] is you get to practice all the time,” SMSD Athletic Director Richard Kramer said. “You have very little chance of getting rained out. It is also able to create a community atmosphere having the ability to host games on campus.” This multi-sport turf field will accommodate soccer, baseball and softball in addition to hosting regulation softball games. The turf fields will replace the grass football, c-team baseball and softball fields on the south side of the building. Both Northwest and West are receiving this upgrade this summer, the last two schools in the district to receive the turf field. The cost of the project is approximately $600,000 and the funding came from a bond issued in 2015. “I think it makes us more competitive in that we can do that much more,” athletic director Angelo
+BY MATTHEW OWENS
Giacalone said. “I think another issue is that once it is completed, it will take a load off spring sports with regard to safety. When you have baseball, softball and throwing implements all up on one field there is always [safety] concern that has been there. I think the district had enough visionary foresight to address the problem before a major incident occurred.” The fields will be completed before school begins next August. This plan does remove a baseball field, due to the expanded soccer and softball field. Instead of a field, sub-varsity baseball will be put in a corner section that is approximately 210 feet to center. This is the size of field that is regulation for third and fourth graders. “The turf field will be a great addition to the NW facility,” head baseball coach Dominic Mussat said. “Since baseball will lose its sub-varsity field, we will have to be more creative in organizing our practices amongst four teams on our one varsity field. However, we will be able to utilize a section of the turf for infield work. This will assist our players in
becoming familiar with the way turf plays as many of the fields we play games on are turf.” A majority of the games that will be held at Northwest will be sub-varsity games. SMSD has no plans to cut its contract with 3&2 Baseball, or stop using district athletic facilities including the Shawnee Mission District Soccer Complex (SMDSC) or the Shawnee Mission School District Softball Complex (SMSDSC). Future plans for Northwest including redoing the main turf located inside of the track. The plan is to widen the turf to the end of the track and take out the track pits like pole vault and long jump. These along with the javelin, discus and shot put would be relocated to the grass soccer field currently located along 67th Street. No specific date for completion has been set, but the plan is for it to be completed in the next one to three years. “It is happening now because we are next on the list for getting it done,” Giacalone said. “We kind of knew for the last couple of years that it would be coming, we just did not know when.
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Along with these upgrades, video boards will be added to the district stadiums. This year the SM South District Stadium will get one and the SM North District Stadium will be next to get one. Future projects including adding videos boards to the new swimming natatorium that will be located along 87th Street by the new Lenexa Community Center along with each high school’s main gym except for SM East. East already has a video board paid for by private donations. “The goal is to allow students to participate in that process so that when it is your home game you will have access to the video board,” Kramer said. “This includes making videos and PSA announcements. I see that as being a big plus.”
NW PASSAGE | sports 23
“HOME” LYRICS WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY SENIORS RACHEL THOMPKINS & REED WILLIAMS
Dear sister, there is so much to tell you My first day went pretty well but was drenched when the rain suddenly fell Despite the gloomy skies, I was surprised at how fast it all went by Chorus: There’s nothing I would trade For the memories we made No matter what path we choose This will always be home for you Dear best friend, have I ever told you? You mean the world to me and made the hour fly by in chemistry All the ice cream runs and FaceTime calls, just know I’m here for the long haul Chorus Repeats Dear mother and father, how can I repay you? Though I may have been a troublemaker, your love for me spans for acres Thank you for shaping me into who I thought I could never be So now that we all head off and go our separate ways When it gets rough, just look back on all the good ol’ days This big world may make you feel like you’re all alone But you’ll always have your friends right here at your home
PHOTO BY BRYCE REX