The Aztec - March 2016 Issue

THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXVIII NUMBER VII

March 17, 2016

theaztecnews.com

IN THIS ISSUE VIEWPOINT PG 4-5

Black power performers are "gon' be alright" National Merit Scholar finalists (from left to right) seniors Andrew Pham, Joy Li, Brian Yeo, Jourdyn Lao, Arlene Siswanto, Angie Chen, and Grant Shimada

FOCUS PG 6-7

Down on cash, still up on life

A&E/FEATURES PG 9-10 Finding the value in value meals

SPORTS PG 11-12

Aztecs defeat Panthers in fifth game of the season

Your calendar

3/23 Collaboration Schedule 3/28-4/1 Spring Break 4/6 Collaboration Schedule 4/8 Minimum Day 4/14 Drama Boosters Meeting 7-8:30 p.m. in A114 4/16 Prom 4/19 School Site Council Meeting 1:45-2:45 p.m. in Aztec Conference Room 4/27 Collaboration Schedule 4/27 MKHS Alliance Meeting 7-9 p.m. in Cafeteria 5/3 School Site Council Meeting 1:45-2:45 p.m. in

THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ

S even National Merit S cholarship finalists announced at Keppel

BONNIE WONG & BABYRUTH TORRES Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer

Seven Keppel students were named National Merit finalists in early March. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic scholarship competition privately funded by the non-profit organization National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).

Seniors Angie Chen, Andrew Pham, Jourdyn Lao, Joy Li, Grant

Shimada, Brian Yeo, and Arlene Siswanto were named finalists.

In its mission statement, the NMSC aims “to recognize and honor the academically talented students of the United States.”

To enter, students, mostly juniors, take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). Students’ scores are sent to the NMSC. Score Reports are sent back to the students, showing individual Selection Index score (used to designate

which competitors earn scholarships) and whether they qualify for the scholarship.

“I feel rewarded for my efforts [in] preparing for the PSAT exam,” Pham said.

Semi-finalists are also named and can advance to Finalist level, where they will then compete for scholarships. About half of the finalists named are awarded scholarships and notified via rolling admissions between March and June.

“It's really surreal because it's

like my efforts and nights studying paid off,” Lao said.

There are three distinct scholarships awarded to Finalists: Merit $2,500 Scholarships, corporatesponsored Merit Scholarship awards, and college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards. There are also special awards given to certain non-Finalists who meet specific criteria. The scholarships must be used solely for US undergraduate college or university tuition.

Science Olympiad and Oceans Bowl compete in first competitions of season WESLEY ZENG Asst. Business Manager Keppel’s Science Olympiad and Oceans Bowl teams had their first competitions of the season on February 28. The Science Olympiad team went to Occidental College while the Oceans Bowl team went to Jet Propulsion Laboratory to compete.

The Science Olympiad team won 4th in Air Trajectory, 5th in Astronomy, 4th for Disease Detectives, 6th for Experimental Design, 6th for Game On, 1st for Geologic Mapping, 2nd for Protein Modeling, 2nd for Wright Stuff, and 6th for Wind Power.

In this competition students competed in events that relate to biology, chemistry, physics, and other branches of science. Keppel’s Science Olympiad team competes in division C, the highest division for high schools. “[Only] 15 people can compete, [making up the A team], but we have a B team… so we have around 19 to 20 people” said sophomore Kenny Chang.

The team placed 6th in sweep-

stakes and will advance to the state competition that will occur on April 2 at CalTech.

Oceans Bowl answers both buzzer style and free response questions for the competition. Unlike Science Olympiad, Oceans Bowl is a four person team in a panel format. To earn points, each team has to buzz before the other teams to answer questions about the ocean's geology, biology, and chemistry that are incorporated in the waters, and technological and political standpoints regarding nautical issues.

The competition started off with the Round Robin Tournament, where individual teams compete against each other in five rounds. The top eight teams moved up and faced other winning teams during Double Elimination until there was only the winning school. Keppel’s team was eliminated after the Robin Tournament.

“We [improved] a lot from previous years… everyones more confident with buzzing in and making an effort…,” said Oceans Bowl Captain, senior Patrick Chea.

Students performing on stage at Mandarin Airband.

COURTESY OF DAVID ZENG

Students perform in eighth annual Mandarin Airband ANGELA CHEN Asst. Focus Editor

The annual Mandarin Airband occurred on March 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission was free for teachers and staff, and students paid $5 presale and $7 at the door.

The idea of Mandarin Airband was first started by Mandarin instructor Mr. Lien seven years ago, after seeing Keppel’s Calculus Airband. Participation in Mandarin Airband was open to any student whose performance reflected some form of Chinese culture.

Mr. Lien stated, “[Mandarin Airband] is a talent show. We have a lot of talented EL (English Learner) students on campus, and this is a chance for them to show off their talents.”

Students in the performance who also happened to be in Mr. Lien’s Mandarin 5/6 class are permitted to practice their acts for a few minutes nearly every class period, but students not in Mandarin are required to rehearse on their own time.

Mr. Lien said, "I hope people will come and support the show [next year]. If there’s anyone who is interested in performing next year, then please let me know.”

World Language Department holds International World Languages Week BRANDON CHUNG Historian/Copy Editor

Dance Team performs at the CADTD state competition at John Burroughs High School.

COURTESY OF CATHLEEN KWOK

Dance and All Male compete in regional and state competitions

SARAH McCORMICK News Editor Dance Team and All Male recently competed in two competition including the regional “West Spirit Day” at West Torrance High School on February 27 and the CADTD state competition at John Burroughs High School on March 12.

At the regional competition, Dance Team walked away with several group and individual awards, including 1st place in High Kick division, 1st place in Prop division, 6th place in Medium Hip Hop division, 5th place in Military division, 1st place for Stella Ng in 12th grade lyrical, 2nd place for Leanne Duong in 12th grade lyrical, 4th place for Laura Huang in 12th grade Jazz, 4th place for Sammi Luong in the 11th grade lyrical, 4th place for Melissa Vuong in the 10/11th grade Jazz, and 4th place for Kristie Quan in 9th grade Jazz. All Male received 3rd place in both Large All Male and Small All Male.

At this competition, Dance Team competed in the High Kick, Prop, Medium Hip Hop, Military division, and had sev-

eral soloists. All Male competed in the Large All Male and Small All Male divisions.

At the state competition, Dance placed 3rd in the Kick Division, and All Male placed 2nd in the Large All Male Division and 5th in the Small All Male division.

At the state competition Dance Team did not compete in the Prop Division, Military Division, or in their solo routines.

All Male competed in Small All Male and Large All Male.

Dance and All Male routines, except Dance Team’s Medium Hip Hop routine were choreographed by Dance Director Mr. Arroyo. Dance Team’s medium Hip Hop routine was choreographed by famous dancer Dmitri Mendez.

In order to prepare for the competition, both Dance and All Male had intense practices where they worked to perfect each routine.

Dance team captain and senior Leanne Duong said, “I would like to tell my team how much they mean to me and [that] they made me extremely proud with their work ethic and determination.”

ACADEC to go to state competition BRANDON CHUNG Historian/Copy Editor

The Keppel Academic Decathlon Team will be competing in the California Academic Decathlon State Finals in Sacramento on Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19.

“Our goal is to get into the top 5 [schools ranked in California],” said ACADEC Captain, senior Justin Ho. “But getting into the top 10 is [good] too.”

The Acadec team prepared for the competition by staying at school past 6 p.m.

every day, practicing required speeches in front of one another. They also practiced using mock Super Quizzes, which is similar to Jeopardy played in groups of three.

Each team is presented with twelve multiple choice questions, each shown one at a time, and has ten seconds to come up with the correct answer.

“We’re looking forward to enjoying [the State competition],” said Ho. “Usually we’re just crammed up in here [the Acadec room] the whole time, so the change of pace is really good for us.”

The Keppel World Language Department is holding International World Languages Week from March 21 to 25.

“It’s a week of celebration of foreign languages,” said Spanish teacher Isabel Dominguez.

In previous years, the Foreign Language department has considered hosting an event celebrating different world languages. Individual teachers have held their own events in recognition of their language, a notable example being Mr. Lien’s Mandarin Airband. However, this is the first year the entire department is convening to hold a collaborative event.

Decorations are being put up around the school by the world language classes in cooperation with ASB in honor of the International Wrodl Languages Week.

There is also an essay contest held by the department, the winners of which will be announced towards the end of the week. In addition, there will be a volunteer assembly on Thursday, March 24, in the auditorium during fourth period. The assembly will feature different cultural performances from the the three different foreign language classes at Keppel.

“We want to make sure that we value and celebrate the languages that are spoken and also make students understand what value it [being bilingual holds] in today’s century,” said Ms. Dominguez.

Drill Team goes into formation during their SHARP competition.

COURTESY OF TAYLOR MARTY

Drill Team participates in SHARP competition SARAH McCORMICK News Editor

Keppel’s Drill Team participated in a competition held by SHARP International at Santiago High school on February 21.

According to Drill Team Captain and senior Joy Li, “Many drill, cheer, and dance teams [came] to compete in different divisions and [were scored] according to specific criteria [at the competition].”

Keppel’s team competed in the Large Military Division at SHARP. Overall, the team received first place in Large Military, and the Judge’s award. Drill members also competed in special events such as Best Kicks, Best Leaps, and Drill Downs. Individually, freshman Angie Law received a medal for Best Leaps, and Li received a medal for Best Kicks in these special events.

Unlike previous performances, drill performed to several dramatic soundtracks such as “Unstoppable” by E.S. Posthumus, and “Harbinger” by Danny Cocke, instead of their usual pop songs. Routines were choreographed as a collaborative effort by all members of the team. Each member created their own mini routines, which were put together to make the overall routine. Li and Co-Captain Jamie Huang created the formations and transformations for the routine.

Li said, “I am really happy with the results from our competition, but more importantly, I’m even happier to see my team [growing] and improving these past few months.”

Due to funding, Drill will not be competing in any other competitions this year, but Li hopes that the team will be able to compete in parades.

The Aztec 2015-2016

Bonnie Wong Editor-in-Chief/ Asst. A&E/Features Editor Vivian To Editor-in-Chief/ Focus Editor Darwin Tse Asst. Editor-in-Chief/ Web Editor Sarah McCormick News Editor

Alexander Beaumont A&E/Features Editor Brian Yeo Viewpoint Editor Eric Lam Sports Editor Karli Cheng Business Manager Victoria Ramirez Chief Photographer Brandon Chung Historian/Copy Editor

Yang Lu Copy Editor/Business Manager Edlyn Wong Head Cartoonist Aurora Zeng Cartoonist Wesley Zeng Asst. Business Manager Kristin Chingburanakit Photographer

Rodolfo Arias Photographer Jalien Casey Staff Writer Angela Chen Asst. Focus Editor Dianne Do Staff Writer Noelle Frasher Staff Writer Arodi Garcia Staff Writer

Cristina Gonzalez Asst. A&E/Features Editor Anita Huang Asst. Web Editor Anthony Jian Asst. Sports Editor Cole Kim Staff Writer Kevin Kuang Staff Writer Kenneth Liu Staff Writer

The Aztec is published monthly by the jourEric Tam Asst. Viewpoint Editor nalism class of Mark Keppel High School and is

Shanae To Staff Writer Babyruth Torres Staff Writer Sophie Wong Asst. News Editor

printed by News Publishers’ Press.

Opinions expressed are those of the writers, not of the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are staff editorials, and reflect the opinion of the staff.

Letters to the editor are welcome and are subject to editing. Letters can be given to Ms. Bradley in room A225 or sent to theaztecstaff@gmail. com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. We do not acknowledge unsigned letters.

All internet graphics on The Aztec newspaper are the properties of their respective owners.

Alhambra, CA 91801

Science Field Day

Math Madness

Middle schoolers will be participating in this event hosted by the United Sciences Club. Competitive events will include Egg Drop, Bottle Rocket, Element Race, Hot Air Balloon, and oters, which are based off of Science Olympiad. Another event is BECAP, which uses buzzers, and it is based off of Science Bowl. At the end of the event,

Math Club will be holding its first district-wide math competition at Alhambra High School. Students from Mark Keppel, Alhambra, and San Gabriel High Schools will be participating. The competition will be from 8:00 am-2:00 pm, and prizes will be awarded to top scorers and schools.

March 19, 2016

March 26, 2016

Junior Brandon Lim-Effendy places first at Alhambra Rotary Club Annual Scholarship Speech competition.

March 15, 2016

Monterey Park recognizes FBLA and Zero Robotics at City Hall.

March 15, 2016

Mrs. Fillpot and Mrs. Baca congratulate congratulate the students who were awarded at the event.

Next Tuesday he will be competing against the winner from the San Gabriel Rotary club competition next Tuesday.

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Living as a WhiteMexican hybrid

THE AZTEC/DARWIN TSE

ALEXANDER BEAUMONT A&E/Features Editor Growing up, I thought that being a White-Mexican would be a piece of cake: I could choose to be white or Mexican whenever I wanted. But I soon came to realize that life wouldn’t go as swimmingly as my 5-year-old brain thought it would.

Quickly, I learned that I didn’t really belong anywhere within these two ethnic backgrounds. I was not Mexican enough for my Mexican peers and too Mexican for my white counterparts.

Finally acknowledging my ethnic ambiguity was probably one of the hardest lessons I had to learn while growing up.

Often times, I resented this diversity within me. All I

wanted was to belong to a solid community, just so I wouldn’t be seen as an outsider and could finally feel normal. Now, trying to appear as Mexican as possible with a last name like Beaumont is nearly impossible, but I did my very best in my attempt.

But just when I thought that I finally fit in with my Mexican peers who adjusted to the fact that I wasn’t full Mexican, high school happened, and that completely changed my world.

Now, I have Mexicans criticizing me from all aspects, saying that I wasn’t Mexican because I was too smart or liked British alternative music. This not only hurts my pride as a Mexican, but also made me feel angry as I saw my own kind placing the negative stereotypes that other ethnicities have placed on them.

I knew that I had to do something because I couldn’t go on the rest of my life trying to fit myself into some ethnic box. It was then when I decided that I should be more comfortable with my individual identity and embrace about my multiethnicity.

I was born multi-ethnic and I should be proud of that because it’s something that makes me special. Now, I still may not be fully comfortable accepting this fact, but I am working towards making the best out of

FBI vs. Apple: Fight for privacy ‘

ERIC TAM Asst. Viewpoint Editor

Protecting Internet privacy has been a lingering issue for the Obama administration. After CIA contractor Edward Snowden’s revelation about the National Security Agency’s PRISM program, Americans are increasingly concerned about their privacy, not only from hackers or theft, but from the federal government.

The PRISM program allows the NSA to eavesdrop and collect personal data from Internet communications in bulk. The federal government continues to illegally compile data on smartphone users, while the ethics of mass surveillance is still being debated.

Unfortunately, the NSA, which is responsible for the bulk collection of all Internet communication, is partisan in favor of secret surveillance.

This agency opposed the USA FREEDOM Act, which effectively bans the act of covertly collecting data and eavesdropping.

The bill was signed into law on June 2, 2015, ending surveillance.

In response to the tragic 2015 San Bernardino shootings, in which 14 people were killed by US citizen Sayed Farook, the Department of Justice has issued a court order for Apple to unlock the deceased shooter’s iPhone.

Apple CEO Tim Cook defied

the Department of Justice's order on the grounds of protecting customers' privacy.

Apple presented its concern over potential future government requests for unlocking phones.

Although spying on innocent Americans is both unethical and illegal, the facts regarding the case are not in Apple's favor.

Firstly, the iPhone in question doesn’t belong to the shooter. The iPhone was issued by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. The terrorist, Sayed Farook, was working as a health inspector. In other words, the phone is property of the San Bernardino County, not the terrorist.

Secondly, the NSA has been covertly tracking data from consumers without needing Apple’s compliance. Apple has given permission to the federal government to search iPhones seventy times since 2008. Apple did not object to any of those searches.

The FBI just wants the ability to unlock a phone that is owned by the government. A report by The Guardian Editor Ewan MacCaskill reveals that the federal government has been able to access Apple servers since PRISM’s inception.

The United States government has always been able to access iPhones. This case won’t change any of that. Title VII of the USA FREEDOM Act includes provisions that allow for searches and

THE AZTEC/RODOLFO ARIAS A student faces the same problem as the FBI.

surveillance on suspected terrorists.

When it comes to the ethics of government surveillance on citizens, these students reflect two popular perspectives.

Junior Firmin Luong does not feel threatened by federal government surveillance of phones. “I guess I would [support surveillance] because I have nothing to hide, if you know what I’m saying,” he says.

Senior Cristian Jimenez, however, is skeptical of federal surveillance. He says, “It’s not worth it. It’s a violation of privacy. [It’s as if ] the government doesn’t trust you.” His concern is shared by millions of tech-savvy Americans who value their privacy.

The fight for individual privacy cannot be won through Apple’s feud with the FBI. That issue is for another case.

Black power performers are “gon’ be alright” DARWIN TSE Asst. Editor-in-Chief/ Web Editor

An “Anti-Beyonce Protest Rally,” was held on February 16 outside the NFL headquarters in New York, calling Beyonce’s performance a “race-baiting stunt” and accused Beyonce of glorifying a hate group.

Only about five anti-Beyonce testers showed up, proaccording to the New York Post, but the protest turned into a positive scene full of fans

Beyonce’s halftime show at Super Bowl 50 made headlines this year due to reasons far different from last year’s left shark meme and her infamous “ugly picture” from Super Bowl XLVII. With her backup dancers wearing black berets in homage to the Black Panthers, Beyonce performed her single, “Formation,” which had been released the day before Super Bowl. The music video, deemed a “black power anthem,” included clips of a flooded New Orleans neighborhood, references to police brutality against AfricanAmericans, and lyrics such as, “I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros.”

However, Beyonce was accused of using the performance “as a platform Kendrick Lamar performs at the Grammys. to attack police officers who are cheering for the singer. the people who protect her and The Black Panther Party was protect us, and keep us alive,” founded in 1966 to monitor according to former New York the behavior of police officers Mayor Rudy Giuliani. in Oakland, California. These

wary, armed citizens saw this as the only means of self-defense against police brutality. The 60s were full of violence and abuses of power, especially towards black individuals.

Camirah Townes, a writer for Think Progress, compares this form of “cop watching” to smartphone cameras today. Social media and police body cameras are analogous to the Black Panthers because both have the power to expose police brutality. Critics of Beyonce claim that the Black Panthers were terrorists in a militant group, and glorifying them was an attack on the police.

However, nowhere in the Black Panther’s Ten-Point program is there a mention of violence against police. Their ideology can be summed up in their last point: “We Want Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Justice And Peace.”

That’s not to say that the Black Panthers were entirely free from blame. On April 7, 1968, 17-year old Panther Bobby Hutton was killed in a shootout with police.

Although the Panthers had initially claimed that the police ambushed them, several party members later admitted that Eldridge Cleaver, Black Panther Party Minister of Information, had led the group on a deliberate ambush

against the officers to provoke the shoot-out, according to a 1980 interview with New West Magazine.

In later interviews, Cleaver admitted that the Panthers did have a sense of disrespect towards abuses of the law.

He also added that if his violent, militant movement prevailed, there would have been a “bloodbath,” and he wishes that the black youth had role models to teach them the proper channels for their desire of justice.

The problem with Beyonce’s critics lies in their misinterpretation of B e y o n c e ’s Beyonce at the Super Bowl. message, which was not advo-

cating for the violent militarism by the Panthers, but their original ideology, one that sought for an end to unjust crimes against blacks and equal opportunities. Beyonce’s performance brings back memories of corrupt law enforcement, all too familiar today.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s, whose song “Alright” addresses police brutality against African Aermicans, ended his Grammy’s performance by standing in front of a large image of the continent of Africa, with the words “COMPTON” in the middle. Chris Rock’s opening monologue at the 2016 Oscars spoke about the underrepresentation of blacks at the Oscars. These public displays of black pride have been called “reverse racism.” However, people need to realize that being problack does not necessarily mean anti-white.

Why prom is important

why it actually isn’t

Internet pirating is inarrrrrg-uably wrong BRIAN YEO Viewpoint Editor

THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ

KARLI CHENG Business Manager

ERIC LAM Sports Editor

Prom is the one and only night when you are in the most glamorous dress--except your wedding dress, of course--and the only night to see everyone in your class all dressed up for the last time. Seeing all the guys in tuxes instead of their tshirts and basketball shorts is a rare sight.

I went to two proms. Going as a sophomore was very weird, I literally knew no one but my date. Going as a junior was less awkward, but I went to Alhambra’s prom.

It is different every year; obviously, your own senior prom is the most special. This year, I’m actually going with my boyfriend.

From a girl’s perspective, I love getting ready with my friends and taking pictures.

You are going to look back at the pictures and show them to your kids. It’s also important to participate in your last senior activities. Another reason to go to this year’s prom is that the location is at the Disneyland Hotel. Compared to last year’s venue, Santa Anita Race Track, this is a big upgrade.

This is the night to feel like a princess.

In previous years, I went to take the usual pictures at a mall, and while I was walking around with my date, I heard the cutest and sweetest thing in my life.

A little girl walking by me said “Mommy! She looks like a princess!” Me? Karli Cheng? A PRINCESS? I nearly cried.

Although there are about 200 other girls that night, you are a princess. We are all princesses! Prom is honestly really fun. You should not miss it if this is your senior year.

With or without a date, rock out in your dress because we all just want to have a good time.

Prom is among the biggest investments one can make in his or her senior year.

Tickets alone are nearly a hundred dollars, and after everything else has been planned and paid for, the average price (from personal experience) comes out to be over three hundred dollars.

From my point of view, prom really is just for girls. As a guy, there’s not much to be excited about except for the after party, really.

Stressing out over how to make your “ask” special, where to get all that money, where to get your tuxedo, even down to when to cut your hair so it grows out perfectly in time for prom is a hassle.

To some extent, I agree that prom is important because it’s nearly a once in a lifetime event, but even so, it really is an event more for couples than for people who aren’t in a relationship.

Going with a friend undermines the importance of prom even more-it is no longer a magical night between two people who have a connection; instead, it becomes an event that seniors feel obligated attend because “why not, senior year”.

In fact, if you really wanted to, you could go to prom in your junior AND senior year.

Some freshmen even end up getting asked to prom.

Ultimately, prom can be important but there are definitely different levels of importance. It’s not much of a life-defining event--graduation and Gradnite will probably be much more emotional and much more important. I really don’t care much for prom--it might actually create more stress than worth the trouble.

Every year, hundreds, maybe even thousands, of Keppel students and millions of people worldwide sit in front of their computer screens and channel their inner Jack Sparrows as pirates. Internet pirates.

According to a 2013 Columbia University study, 45% of all Americans pirate music, movies, and other entertainment media. Pirating is the act of downloading, using, or distributing someone else’s work without permission. The act itself is illegal under U.S. copyright infringement laws, but that hasn’t stopped torrent sites like PirateBay, which allows people to download all types of media, or the hundreds of sites that stream movies and T.V. shows.

To put it bluntly, pirating is a form of theft. By illegally downloading content for free, piraters are taking the work of artists and producers for their own pleasure without proper compensation.

Recently, Kanye West released his newest album, ‘The Life of Pablo’, but only on the subscription-based service Tidal.

As a result of this move, Kanye’s album was pirated 500,000 times in the week after its release. Not only would this have made the album be certified gold, it would have netted Kanye $2,000,000.

Of course, people argue that many pirates would not have bought the content anyway so downloading for free is not actually taking away earnings from artists, but this is missing the point.

Theft is theft, even when the theft can be performed with the click of a button and

the item being stolen cannot be touched physically. People are much more willing to accept the moral wrongness of stealing a bottle of pepsi from the local 7/11 or a car from the auto lot than online pirating.

Of course, the negative impact of piracy of the entertainment industry is not as drastic as it may seem. The current movie industry is booming, though recent music sales have been suffering.

However, while piracy definitely contributes to a loss in profit for these industries, the extent to which it does is largely unknown. Streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and Hulu may also affect these sales numbers.

Perhaps the most justifiable case of piracy is in occasions when the pirated content is not available for purchase. Many movies or TV shows are locked in specific regions, making pirating the only way for people to access the content.

Regardless of whether pirating is right or wrong (and the signs point to wrong), the environment around pirating is not going to change drastically. As long as there is content being produced and a means to access them for free, people will take advantage.

Numerous legal efforts have taken place attempting to halt pirating, such as proposed bills SOPA and PIPA. However, these bills attempt to combat copyright infringement by expanding the ability of the government to control the freedom of the internet.

While pirating may be wrong, cracking down on it cannot come at the cost of internet freedom.

Cartoon by Edlyn Wong

Women fight for equality with men, but is it as good as it seems?

COLE KIM Staff Writer Gender equality, especially women’s rights, is an ongoing problem in the United States.

While women may jump at the chance of taking up traditionally masculine roles, a question stands: are women ready to be treated like men? In almost all cases, the answer would be yes, but in some areas, problems may rise.

First, in order to be treated equally, we must look at the expectations and duties given to men alone. One of the major responsibilities is conscription, or drafts.

Drafting is the act by

the government to employ men, and only men, in the event that the military has gaps that can’t be filled by volunteers.

Drafting has not been used since the military moved to an all-voluntary system after the Cold War. However, if a third world war or another civil war were to happen, the government may have to draft men.

Would women want to be drafted, if necessary? Stereotypically, women are not expected to be a part of the draft, but if men and women were treated equally in this sense, the government would not hesitate in a time of need.

Senior Emily Castelazo supports the drafting of women. She said, “If we want equality, we should have equality in all aspects.”

Being a “man” isn’t all fun, games, and privileges, either. In history, the man of the family was (and is) expected to have a job, while the woman took care of the child at home and did chores. At least, that’s how the stereotypes go.

Men are supposed to be able to provide financial and mental support for their families. Men are viewed as dependent on women for food and house chores while women are viewed as dependent

on men for income. While this is often untrue, gender equality would mean all women (or men, not trying to be sexist) that are actually dependent would have to become independent.

In any event, the mindsets of

people who have sexist principles are not easily fixed by genderneutral laws. This is an area that we need to work on together as a society. Gender equality may be able to be given to women, but would they be ready for it?

Cartoon by Aurora Zeng

Voices: How does your financial status affect the way you live?

Senior ey ell rence K

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Junior Tyler Kim

Sophomore Eleanor Peñ a

Freshm an Joyce Lee

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10 ways to save money$

AURORA ZENG Cartoonist Every student’s background is different; no doubt this will affect students’ daily routines, including school habits.

Many factors, especially financial status, may impact the various ways students obtain necessary resources.

At Keppel, freshman Kevin Liu is one of the many students who qualifies for free lunch. Living with a single mother and an older sister, Liu is definitely not as financially stable as other students may be. Although his family has enough to provide themselves with daily necessities, Liu tries to avoid any extra costs in order to not burden his mother. For instance, Liu does his best to keep his diet healthy and takes plenty of Vitamin C avoid illness. He said, “Being sick has many drawbacks [so] being healthy is one of the better things I can do to avoid burdening my mother.”

About 30.5 million school lunches are served in America daily, out of which nearly 60% are given out to students who qualify for a free lunch, like Liu. Over two million lunches are sold to students on a reduced lunch meal plan, and 8.5 million are sold to students who have to pay the full price. In some schools where there are many low income students, free lunches are given to everyone in order

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• Save your money in the bank.

• Hide your money somewhere and then you’ll forget about it.

• Set a goal to keep in mind so that you don’t spend until you reach your goal.

• Always keep coupons with you because you’ll never know when you’re going to need them.

• If you’re going shopping with your friends, don’t bring money so you don’t spend any.

• When shopping online, put your items in the shopping cart, and wait for a discount.

• Recycle your water bottles.

• Throw all your coins in a piggy bank, and count them at the end of the month.

• Do not go out to eat as much and make more food at home.

• If you can handle the temperature, then don’t use either the air conditioning or the heater.

College within reac ANITA HUANG Asst. Web Editor Students, who will eventually be graduating, must overcome multiple crises to determine their paths for the future. In some cases, colleges may be a distressing financial burden.

Grades factor into the college decision,however, for low-income families, it may be incredibly difficult to support the students due to their budgets.

Fortunately, there exists the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), Cal Grant, other scholarships, and nonprofit support sites.

The FAFSA is available for all U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who have valid Social Security numbers. One must also be a regular student in an eligible certificate program. Ultimately, the students must maintain their grades in order to be provided the federal aid. Senior Sammy Chen gave his thoughts on financial aid and said, “I think the state tries to help as best as they can. For me, I will see the payment plans and how much they’re willing to pay for it.”

In addition, Cal Grant is a financial aid program administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) that provides aid to Californian undergraduates. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University, or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges. There are three kinds of Cal Grants, labeled A, B, and C, but students do not have to figure out which one to apply; instead, eligibility for a Cal Grant is based on one’s FAFSA responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA and the type of California colleges you list on your FAFSA. Keppel provides students with a variety of services at the Career Center. During the school year, college and career presentations take place, Artwork by Edlyn Wong

providing studen with college rep who work in a va tions. The Caree plete career libr and programs th or college questi their future and e By providing in colleges, college areas surrounding lege, the Career C the college explo giving students a they are applying Keppel’s senio “[The Career C presentations and ships. College p active during the two is usually fo tend community Despite all th many options fo chooses to atten cides to transfer juniors in the 4 In some cases, t tism can have th military. Senior V enlisted in the n provides money country. Howeve lege, I would app job.”

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that every student will have a healthy meal. ition, as Liu has seventh period Academic Dend tennis practice while his sister does not, his as difficulty coordinating their schedules with olve this problem, the family has created a caran with a neighbor, who is also a Keppel student. on particularly inconvenient days, Liu and his e no choice but to find a solution themselves. Liu t in first semester, his only option was to walk himself once a week. while, sophomore Vida Castillon, who also lives gle mother but has three siblings, experiences a uation. She shares that she is able to get a ride to t in the afternoon, she has to walk home. Howamily does not qualify for reduced lunch, so she o bring her own lunch to school. ding to American School and University, as of ut 26 million students take the school bus for ation, and 480,000 buses are required to transport ents. any students, issues like health and transportao much of a given to them that they don’t realize h effort is put into maintaining their schedules by nts.

ch for all

nts the opportunity to speak presentatives as well as people ariety of industries and occupaer Center also provides a comrary with written information hat help students answer career ions so that they can plan out explore their potential abilities. nformation about the types of majors, financial aid, and other g the matter of getting into colCenter guides students through oration and application process, a more solid foundation when g for colleges. or clerk typist, Mrs. Robles said, Center] provides CTE classes, d workshops, and even internpresentations are usually more e first semester, while semester or those who’re planning to atcolleges.” he financial issues, there are still or graduating students. If one nd community college and der, they are already considered 4-year colleges or universities. those who display true patriohe choice to be drafted into the Victor Wang, who will soon be navy, said, “Joining the military for college and I can serve the er, if I did choose to go to colply for student loans and get a

ancial issues do not completely from achieving what they want. ents continue to strive towards if the path towards success may will eventually reach the end.

Saving cash and taking care of business SOPHIE WONG Asst. News Editor High school is the start of many new experiences and one of them is getting a job. Another is getting good grades so that you can get accepted into a good college. These two might not seem as difficult separately, but together they can be challenging for high school students. Some adolescents are faced with the responsibility of supporting their family, which is something that not many students may have to do.

High school students, especially seniors, find this inconvenient since the amount of pressure is huge and as students, they have many other priorities.

In addition, taking care of younger siblings can also be a struggle for high school students, since this is usually what the adult would do. The stressed teenager must make decisions for their sibling, while dealing with their own situations at school. How does one still manage to maintain good grades and keep up with school work?

“You’re going to have to figure out a routine where you can babysit and do homework,” states Biology Honors teacher Mrs. Hake. “You have to find a way to balance your personal and professional life.”

Alumni Anthony Rodriguez took care of his siblings while having academic responsibility. “The experience has taught me to distinguish my priorities and stick to a plan. It’s evident that no one has time, but people make time. You have to learn to juggle both work, family, and school,” Rodriguez said.

According to Dr. Laurie Kramer, a University of Illinois expert in siblings, young adults who are 18-25 are at the age of self-exploration. Kramer said, “if the older siblings are taking care of the younger ones, they’ve lost the opportunity to be free.”

Although some may only look at the negative outcomes, taking care of a younger sibling can strengthen relationships and help develop skills in time management and responsibility. “I think it can be beneficial, and bring brothers and sisters together. It can also bring siblings further apart. An older sibling shouldn’t be treated like a parent because they’re not,” says Mrs. Hake.

Taking care of siblings in his high school years, Rodriguez feels like they developed a stronger bond. “Taking care of my siblings wasn’t just an obligation. It was a responsibility I took upon myself to give them the best example and leadership possible,” Rodriguez maintains.

Money ‘matters’ for high school memories ARODI GARCIA Staff Writer Poverty affects all aspects of a person’s life, especially at social and school events. For some Keppel students, although they are not experiencing poverty, they still have budgets that limit their extra-curricular activities. The sad reality is that not everyone can afford school activities, club merchandise, and school supplies.

Dances require a lot of money, from dates, to getting the tickets, to finding the right outfit. Sophomore Joline Kwok said, “Thankfully, money doesn’t limit me from going to dances. However, I do feel as if you are paying to get into dances to pay more for pictures.” For some student, money can limit what they wear to dances. One dance that students, especially seniors, may stress about is prom. Senior Katie Yee said, “The prices of those activities make me more hesitant to participate. I’m currently looking for my prom dress, and they are very expensive.” On the other hand, senior Edmundo Fernandez said, “For guys, it’s not as much as girls because [some] guys just rent the tux.” Dances are not the only thing that may be emptying students’ wallets.

Money can be an obstacle for a person when it comes to buying sports or club gear. Fernandez says, “I have to pay for my spirit pack for baseball and now that my brother is in baseball we have to pay double, and it’s a lot [of money] so we have to save up.” Some students may also find it unfair to pay for club merchandise. Freshman Alan Quach states, “I think club merchandise is way overpriced. It has stopped me from buying stuff such as jackets.” However others, believe it’s the price to pay to show school spirit. Freshman Noelle Wong says, “Merchandise is expensive but it’s worth it to represent our club or sport.”

Throughout the school year, there are many activities and events to look forward to. Unfortunately, many of them are pricy. For example, grad night is $120 this year. Senior Vanessa Carpio will not be attending grad night because it is too expensive for her. She said, “When I first heard about grad night, I was so excited. Then I heard it was over hundred dollars. I was sad but not surprised about the cost.”

Many teachers are understanding of low-income students and the trouble they may have when considering financial costs of things. If a student cannot afford to buy a notebook, some teachers may give an extension or even provide one for them.

Science teacher, Mrs. Eggerman says, “I save old binders, old pens, erasers, any old school supplies, and with my own money I buy notebooks and index cards, just in case.”

Not having enough money is a sad truth about life, but it is possible to make the best out of a bad situation.

Cartoon by Aurora Zeng

Finding the value in value meals

ALEXANDER BEAUMONT A&E/ Features Editor

Wendy’s 4 for $4 value meal.

Wendy’s 4 for $4 Value Meal

THE AZTEC/ALEXANDER BEAUMONT

Wendy’s unveiled the original value meal- the 4 for $4 back in October of 2015. The 4 for $4 consists of four food items- the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, a 4-Piece Chicken Nuggets, Small Fries, and a Small Drink. As the original proponent of the value meal, many other fast-food establishments, such as Carl’s Jr., Burger King, and Jack in the Box (in certain locations) have created their own version of the value meal in order to compete with the value and quality Wendy’s. As the original meal deal, I de-

cided to tryout Wendy’s 4 for $4 to see if their meal deal lived up to the hype.

Upon first reveal, the 4 for $4 seemed like a fairly good deal, but there were some drawbacks. The small fries was too large to complement the burger and nuggets, turning it into a french fries meal with a side of a cheeseburger and chicken nuggets. Even though the drink was large in comparison to the burger and nuggets, it did complement the meal when the french fries were taken into consideration. The variety of items

served in the meal makes the 4 for $4 interesting and appetizing, compared to McDonald’s.

Overall, Wendy’s provides a topquality value meal product that has set the standard for value meals across the board. While the exorbitant amount of french fries served along detracts from the overall quality of the meal, the variety and quality of the food makes this an overall good deal, one worth spending $4.

Burger King’s 5 for $4 Burger King released the 5 for $4, their own version of Wendy’s 4 for $4 back in late January of this year. With a meal offering almost exactly the same as Wendy’s 4 for $4 meal, save for Burger King’s inclusion of a chocolate chip cookie, Burger King got into some confrontation with Wendy’s on social media over who had the better value meal. Burger King claimed to have the better value meal, offering 5 items for $4. Wendy’s retaliated and saying that their meal was better because they offered customers “edible food”. Thus, I decided to

go ahead and see which fast food restaurant offers the better $4 meal deal.

Burger King’s 5 for $4 right off the bat seemed like a better deal than Wendy’s.

The food portions were more balanced and the cheeseburger seemed to have a bit more substance. Flavor and quality were not as high as those of Wendy’s, but the inclusion of the chocolate chip cookie helped make up for this. The cookie was warm and soft, serving as a nice finishing touch to the meal. If it weren’t for the chocolate chip cookie, the meal would not

score as highly as the other value meals.

All in all, Burger King’s 5 for $4 wasn’t all that much more special that Wendy’s 4 for $4. Sure, the cookie made a very big difference between the two meals, but with the same menu offerings, it’s almost impossible to distinguish which one is better. While Wendy’s meal was tastier, Burger King’s food portions were more adequate when the entire meal was taken into consideration. Both are very good options if you are seeking to find a full meal at a valuable price.

THE AZTEC/ ALEXANDER BEAUMONT Burger King’s 5 for $4 value meal.

McDonald’s McPick 2 for $5

THE AZTEC/ ALEXANDER BEAUMONT McDonald’s McPick 2 value meal.

Originally debuted as the McPick 2 for $2 in January of this year, McDonald’s changed their marketing and rebranded their value product as the McPick 2 for $5.

The McPick 2 for $5 offers larger portions and a more premium menu with items such as the 10-piece Chicken McNuggets and Big Mac, in comparison to the McPick 2 for $2’s menu of McChickens and Mozzarella Sticks. Regardless, as a value meal option at McDonald’s, I decided to take the plunge and sample McDonald’s latest value meal creation.

Ordering the Quarter Pounder and 10-Piece Chicken McNuggets, the amount of food I received for $5 was quite impressive. While most fast-food restaurants are using smaller portions of food in their value meals, McDonalds is choosing to use full size items in an attempt to lure customers, and it worked. Upon first glance, I was immediately under the impression that this would be the best deal. However, my first impressions seemed to deflate quickly as we started to eat the meal. While having two full price menu items at a discounted price

seems like an ingenious idea at first, having two food items for $5 without any sort of beverage to wash it down or side item to accompany the meal wasn't really that good of a deal. If McDonald’s were to ever try and improve their value meal product, they might want to consider adding an option to purchase a beverage at a discounted price in order to attract more customers and sell the idea that the customer is paying for a full meal at a discounted price, rather than an assemblage of food items at a discount.

Stay tuned for our newest edition of Behind the Spear, coming soon to our YouTube channel!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @theaztec.

Batman vs. Superman: The Ultimate Battle VICTORIA RAMIREZ Chief Photographer 2016 is setting up to be a great year for comic book fans, young and old. Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated release of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is just a week away. The film has received endless hype since it first got announced at the San Diego Comic Con in 2013.

Director Zack Snyder and screenwriter David Goyer work together to develop the film’s storyline. The actors that will be portraying the iconic heroes are: Ben Affleck as Batman, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Henry Cavill as Superman, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. There have been rumors of the appearances of The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman ( Jason Momoa), though it’s not known how they will make their first onscreen cameos. The actors playing the film’s villains: Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and Robert Atkin Downes as Doomsday.

The film takes place after the events of Man of Steel. Now, many are wondering what kind of direction the film is going to

Superman and Batman as they prepare to battle in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, out March 25.

take considering the amount of information given in the trailers. It’s a possibility that all assumptions made just by looking at the trailers may be false. Instead, the film could be a cinematic interpretation

IMAGE COURTESY OF GOOGLE

of Frank Miller’s classic 1986 four-issue series of The Dark Knight Returns. It’s safer not to continue due to the possible spoilers. One thing that’s confirmed is that Batman v. Superman exists in a completely

Spring Music Update: Get ready for new tunes EDLYN WONG Head Cartoonist The music industry is fascinatingly huge, and with new hit songs coming out every so often and artists constantly releasing new music, it’s definitely a world of its own.

Even in the spring season, the music scene is not slowing down.

Ariana Grande recently starred on ‘Saturday Night Live’ as a musical guest and host. Throughout the night, Grande introduced two songs from her upcoming album, “Dangerous Woman”, set to release on May 20th by Republic Records.

After a decade of not releasing a full-length album, Gwen Stefani will release her third stusio album, “This Is What The Truth Feels Like”, this Friday, March 18. The album also features a collaboration with Fetty Wap. Kanye West is no exception to the fast-paced music industry.

He released his seventh studio album, “The Life of Pablo”, last month. However, the album did not make it on the US Billboard 200, making it West’s first album released not featured on the chart. Despite the reviews, West will be coming out with another album, “Turbo Grafx 16”, later this year.

After leaving One Direction last year, Zayn Malik revealed his first solo album, “Mind of Mine”, on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “Mind of Mine” is scheduled to be released on March 25th. Accord to an English news publication, The Sunday Times, “Malik is definitely going to be more R&B… and his record will deal a lot with sex.”

Fifth Harmony willl also be realeasing an album on May 20th, titled 7/27, in honor of the day the group formed.

Look out for all these upcoming and already released albums because the music never stops.

Riordan promises a good read in Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer BRANDON CHUNG Historian/ Co-Copy Editor From best-selling author Rick Riordan comes a whole new cast of gods, villains, and, in Riordan’s signature hand, snarky, witty characters whose slapstick dialogue and hilarious perspective keep the reader laughing throughout the book.

Let’s start with the beginning, which starts with Riordan’s signature opening.

Magical gods and beasts make an entrance into the otherwise-mundane world we live in, creating a public uproar, and in comes a regular kid who just so happens to have previously unknown connections to this strange new reality. Except, this time, the protagonist is anything but regular. Magnus Chase is both an orphan (what an original idea, Mr. Riordan), and a homeless kid living on the streets. Wait, what?

A homeless kid starring in a Rick Riordan book? (Now that’s original). Yes, folks. Our first glimpse at Magnus isn’t on a bus with no idea who he is, or on a field trip gone wrong. Instead, it’s on the streets of New York, on a cold winter day, as Magnus tries simply to sustain himself for one more day.

However, in typical Riordan fashion, that doesn’t last very long: strange monsters

different universe than the heroes we see on TV. One thing that’s confirmed is that Batman v. Superman exists in a completely different universe than the heroes we see on T.V., that universe being set in DC Comic’s Extended Universe.

Batman v. Superman opens a lot of doors for DC’s lesser known heroes. Such a film allows the DC Cinematic Universe to further expand much like our friends back at Marvel Studios and Marvel Entertainment. It’s exciting that Batman v.

Superman will be the first step in putting together The Justice League. Not only is Warner Bros. expanding, they’re also setting a different, darker tone to their films, which is quite apparent through the trailers.

Yes, it’s nerve wracking to even consider the possibility of the film not living up to our expectations. Even though the film seems like it’s crammed with multiple characters, it’s best to keep an open mind. So, whose side are you on? Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25, so make sure to preorder your tickets! Also, don’t miss out on DC’s Suicide Squad that’s set to release on August

IMAGE COURTESY OF GOOGLE Title cover for Rick Riordan’s latest novel Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer.

from Viking mythology quickly enter into the mortal world and wreak havoc, until Magnus sacrifices his life to stop them.

Wait...back up a second. The protagonist of the novel can’t just...DIE like that! We haven’t even passed the 50-page mark yet!

But, if you’ve read any of Riordan’s pre-

vious books, from Percy Jackson and the Olympians to The Kane Chronicles, then you know that Riordan has a way of bringing back beloved characters. How he does so this time, though, is probably one of the most interesting concepts in all of his books (and I say this with full knowledge that his previous books feature men with three bodies, dwarves whose faces can turn Medusa to stone, and main characters who are really clay dolls).

I really liked this series, partly because I’ve always been a huge fan of the Norse myths. More than that, though, I loved the diverse backstories that Riordan wove for all of his main cast. From Magnus Chase, the homeless kid, to Samirah Al-Abbas, the Arabic Valkyrie, Riordan weaves elaborate lives for his characters that are reflective of many problems that persist in the world today- problems most of us are lucky enough to never experience. I was also really appreciative of the fact that Magnus and his female companion don’t seem to display any of the sappy affection that usually pervades the first book in a new Riordan series, because, honestly, it’s cliche. I’m really interested to see how this series turns out, though. Keep at it, Mr. Riordan.

IMAGE COURTESY OF GOOGLE Promotional poster for Allegiant, out March 18.

Allegiant to diverge from the curve KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Photographer

Allegiant, the third film in the Divergent series, will be in theaters on March 18, 2016. Allegiant is the first part of the book and there will be a second movie set to come out in March 2017, and will be named Ascendant rather than Allegiant: Part 2. The action/adventure packed movie stars Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Academy Award winning actress Octavia Spencer, and the Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts. Senior bookworm Amanda Chiu says that Divergent was her favorite book in the whole series because it was “unlike anything I have read before.”

Allegiant sold 455,000 copies during it’s first day of release back 2013, according to ComingSoon.net. Furthermore, the first two films of the series grossed over $550 million at the global box office.

They are considered Lionsgate’s highestgrossing films domestically, with the exception The Hunger Games and Twilight franchises.

Chiu adds that she is excited for the movie but isn’t really looking forward to it because the “book made me sad so I think the movie would make me sad as well.” Go to a theater near you on March 18 to be the judge yourself.

Baseball wins rescheduled game

ERIC LAM Sports Editor

In their most recent game, the Keppel basball team played against Duarte on March 15, away, and came out with a victory of 141. The Aztecs managed to score poitns in nearly every inning while Duarte only scored one point in the first inning and failed to score any points afterward. Initially, their game was to be played on Friday March 11 but was cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions.

As the season kicks off junior Daniel de la Pena

and senior Johny Wright reflect on last year’s team.

Wright says, “We lost as much as we won but I improved a lot.” Junior Pena says, “[Although we didn’t win league,] it was a good season. We played well, and did things the right way.”

Looking forward, Wright hopes for a winning season. He says, “ [I’m want to] focus on fielding rather than pitching, pick-offs and getting the “extra-out.”

Pena says “We are improving more drils and focusing on our defense. We’re run-

nimg more, lifting weights, and focusing on [defense]. I hope we can win league and make CIF.” The next baseball game is on March 18, against Alhambra away. Overall, their current record is 3-2. Last season their record was 1111 overall with a league record of 7-7. Their game against Alhambra will be the first conference game of the season. Currently, the boys are practicing for two and a half hours each day, three days per week.

Boys tennis starts season undefeated ERIC LAM Sports Editor The Mark Keppel boys tennis team went up against the El Rancho Dons on March 10, coming out with a 13-5 win, putting their overall record at 5-0 and their league record at 1-0.

This year the team has more players total as compared to last year with 12 players on the team. Last year the team had an overall record of 15-5 with a league

record of 8-0, and a roster of 11 players.

They have so far made it through their games without too many major problems. In their less recent games against West Covina and Rosemead (both non-conference matches), the Aztecs came out with a convincing 15-3 win. Andy Xiang says, “We placed in all our subs. However, we also experienced a lot of cramps and leg injuries.”

The boys tennis team has

not failed to qualify for CIF in recent history, and Xiang shares that they are confident in qualifying again this year. As the team kicks off their season this year with a strong start under the lead of team coach Mike Ten and team captain Jeffery Jen, they will be facing one of their toughest opponents yet - Arcadia on March 17.

Despite this, Xiang is confident in the team’s ability to succeed.

Senior Blake Yokoyama, Terrance Sy, and junior Kevin Cheung (from left to right) at practice preparing for their next game against Temple City.

THE AZTEC/YANG LU

Boys volleyball confident for upcoming season RODOLFO ARIAS Photographer Returning senior player, Blake Yokoyama stated “We’ve all worked really hard to make ourselves stronger and to make this year very memorable.” Blake attributes the team’s hard work attitude to their 3 day workouts with Mr. Luong.

“Working out with him has really been a challenge and I really think that the things we learn with him can definitely be used on the court.” says senior Kevin Kuang.

When recalling last season, Blake said “There’s not a lot of things I regret about last season and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any fun but if I could change something it would be the mind set the team had last year.” The boys had a total of 5 loses last season, giving them a Almont League score of 5-5. “Some of the members were as confident in them-

selves and that kind of sucked but this season will be different”.

Many members agreed with Blake when regarding this seasons possible outcome. “I’m really confident about this season and I’m looking forward to playing San Gabriel since they are our biggest rivals.” says junior Kevin Cheung.

“I’m also really excited to play my last season with my seniors.” he added. A lot of the players feel the same as Kevin, they all want to enjoy their last season as a team while also leaving their mark behind at school.

The boy’s volleyball team is preparing for their next home game on March 22 against Temple City High School. “I know a lot of the players would agree with me when I say that I appreciate it when people from school come and watch play. The support really is nice and its cool that people care about our sport.” said senior Terrance Sy.

Sports Calendar Badminton

Baseball

March 22 @ 3:15 Away March 24 @ 3:15 Home

March 18 @ 3:30 Home March 22 @ 3:30 Home Junior Emanuel Acosta dives off into the water during practice.

Boys Volleyball

Track and Field

March 22 @ 3:15 Home March 24 @ 3:15 Home

March 22 @ 3:15 Away March 24 @ 3:15 Home

Boys Tennis

Softball

March 18 @ 3:15 Home March 22 @ 3:30 Away

April 05 @ 3:15 Home April 07 @ 3:15 Away

THE AZTEC/BRANDON CHUNG

Swim victorious against Schurr

CRISTINA GONZALEZ A&E/Features Asst.

Three out of the four Keppel swim teams won, with the exception of the boys varsity swim team on Thursday, March 10 against Schurr.

Michelle Ng, junior and swimmer for JV girls, feels that her team’s hard work was evident by their outcome. However, she thinks that they can still continue to improve on little things like “turns and dives”.

Similar to Ng’s point of view on her team’s win, fellow junior, Justin Young, swimmer for JV boys, thinks their win was well deserved. He is also proud of his individual work on Thursday because he “dropped time, so that’s always a plus”.

In preparation for the meet, they practice about 3 hours a day, everyday of the week. At practice, according to senior and swimmer for varsity girls, Caitlyn Gonzales, they work on things like “pulling skills, flip turns, dives, relay exchanges, and so much more.” Also, “before a meet, we do a cheer to get everyone pumped and ready to go.”

Caitlyn also adds that “I did expect the outcome to be as it was… we are very well prepared and a well-rounded team so I knew we would perform our best,” but does recognize that throughout the rest of the season they must continue to work on “being aware of what event is going on in the water, because it is quite hard sometimes to not miss your meet”.

Athlete’s Profile: Londyn Lau

THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ

Freshman Faith Allenbaugh #40 as catcher prepares herself to catch the pitch from senior Leilani Young #27.

THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ

Aztecs defeat Panthers in fifth game of the season NOELLE FRASHER Staff Writer

The Keppel softball team played their fifth preseason game against the Rosemead High Panthers on Tuesday, March 15. They emerged from the match victorious with a score of 11-4.

During the first inning, the Aztec defense was able to prevent any runs from the Panthers, maintaining a score of 0-0. However, during the second inning, where the Aztecs took offense, a strong hit from team captain Londyn Lau (#39) allowed three of her teammates to make complete runs, bumping the Aztecs up to a score of 3-0. The Panthers were able to catch up in the third inning, where the Aztec defense began to falter, resulting in a score of 3-3.

By the fourth inning, the Aztec offense was able to smuggle in another

run, giving them a small lead and ending the inning at a score 4-3. The defense from both teams in the fifth and sixth innings grew stronger, as the score remained the same. In the seventh inning, though, the Panthers were able to sneak in a run, tying the game again with a score of 4-4. During the eighth and ninth inning, the Aztec offense was capable of gaining a small lead, resulting in a score 5-4.

However, during the tenth inning, the Aztec offense broke through the wavering Panther defense, and was able to acquire a significant lead of seven runs. The Aztec defense was able to stay stable and prevented the Panthers from completing any more runs, thus sealing the game with a final score of 11-4.

This victory puts the Lady Aztecs at a record of 3-2. Sophomore

team captain Londyn Lau (#39) said, “We definitely came into the game a little rough, but we were able to shake it off and come together as a team. I believe our communication worked really well during the game [but] we need to work on our base running. I’m confident in my team and their abilities.” Coach Gustavo Lau thought similarly, stating, “I feel good going into the season. Preseason games are good for [preparing] the girls and us coaches on what to work on and where to place them [the players] in their [best] positions.

We [the coaches] like to promote confidence and positivity to make sure we have a great season. That’s our goal.”

Keppel’s varsity softball team’s next game will be on Thursday, March 24, against Sierra Vista High, home.

KARLI CHENG Business Manager Starting at the age of eight, Sophomore Londyn Lau #39, is a star player for our very own Softball team, who is also the underclassmen Captain. “I have been playing softball for nine years,” says Lau, before she was a part of the Keppel’s athletics, she played for leagues. She has been a part of Keppel’s Softball team since her Freshman year along with the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team as the goalkeeper. Lau grew up playing sports and it is her passion. She mostly spends her free time practicing softball.

Lau was very clear of her future and have big ambitions of pursuing in cardiology, chemistry, and photography. “My ultimate goal is to go to University of Oregon and play for their softball team,” says Lau. She has two other siblings who graduated from Keppel and two younger siblings who will soon attend Keppel. Lau has great potential to become a great athlete for the next two years at Mark Keppel. Aside from playing sports, Lau also enjoys traveling and hiking anytime she gets to. She is always up for an adventure!

Lau would like to give a shout out to her Softball team and her beach house squad!

Field does an intensive training exercise as track practices in the background.

Sophomore Yoon Noe #13 watches on as junior Jessica Lee #3 prepares to return the birdie.

THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ

Badminton suffers loss against San Gabriel Matadors ANTHONY JIAN Asst. Sports Editor The Mark Keppel Varsity Badminton team played against the San Gabriel Matadors on March 15th.

Advisor Ms. Duong said, “Our goal for this season is to make into CIF for individual pairs and doubles like last season, do better in Division, be the #1 team.” Last season badminton end up in CIF Division 2 in second place. They’ve lost the first place by 1 win.

Other than that, Ms. Duong said she would have the kids work harder, watch more video’s

on professional badminton players, conditions, and teamwork. After this game, there are 11 upcoming games.

In their first game appearance, Mark Keppel Badminton has lost to San Gabriel.

The final score was 4-17. After their first game, Ms. Duong said, “I think we could’ve done better cause some kids lacked hard in motivation.” Other than that, she also said the lineup should be changed which different kids would play in different positions with different pairs, do more conditioning, and practice in a different technique. The next game is today which takes place at Mayfield at 3pm.

THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ

Track and field looks for fresh start with new coaches ANTHONY JIAN Asst. Sports Editor The Track and Field team has been preparing for their upcoming season, with their practices beginning in the second week of February. In this season, the team has hired new coaches, Mr. Shapiro, along with Mr. Trieu, Coach Cortez, Coach Raymond Justiano, Coach Brian Justiano., Coach Gerson Justiano, and Coach Jose.

According to Mr. Shapiro, they have started practice about a month later than all other schools. There’s practice 5 days a week from 3:155:45pm. There are approximately 100

members in the team.

Last Sunday, March 12, the team competed at the Rosemead Invitational with 24 other high schools from the region.

The first Almont League meet starts next Thursday against Alhambra. There will be five dual league meets for the Aztecs this season in which they will match up against another team. At League Finals in April, the team will compete against all other Almont League teams to qualify for CIF. Last season, the Aztecs did not win any dual meets. They aim at improving on that this season.