THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXX NUMBER IX
May 17, 2018
theaztecnews.com
Class of 2018 Formula JESUS ABARCA RAYLENE ACUNA DENISE ADAO ALBERT AGUILAR SEIDO AKIYAMA SOCORRO ALCALA DELA CRUZ KALKIDAN AMARE ANDREW AN ALIYAH ANGELES SAMANTHA ANZAI ZOE ATKINS JULIAN BADILLO SARAH BANG CHRISTINA BANH ERIC BANH DIEGO BARRAZA MIN BO JULIEN BROWN IVAN BULAON BRANDON CANTU WEIJIE CAO CRYSTAL CARDENAS RAYMOND CARMONA JALIEN CASEY MAYA CASTELAZO KIMBERLY CASTILLO AMANDA CERVANTES MICHELLI CHAI BRYCE CHAN CELESTE CHAN JULIA CHAN MICHELLE CHAN NICOLE CHAN VICTORIA CHAN KENNY CHANG PHILBERT CHANG TOMMY CHAO JALAN CHAU JAMIE CHAU KELVIN CHAU WINSTON CHAU AUSTIN CHEN BIBIN CHEN FULIANG CHEN GARY CHEN HUNG CHEN JIAYI CHEN JING CHEN JONATHAN CHEN JONATHAN CHEN KELLY CHEN MINNIE CHEN QI CHEN QIANJU CHEN XIANGZHI CHEN XINYUE CHEN XIONGLI CHEN YI-AN CHEN ZEHAO CHEN ZHI CHEN BRENDAN CHENG CORY CHENG DARREN CHENG EVAN CHENG TINA CHENG ELIAS CHESHEWALLA EMILY CHHEN LAYTON CHHOUR JIAHUI CHI LILY CHIK KELLIE CHIN NEIL CHING JOANNE CHIU SUPHAWADEE CHOOSANOI CELINE CHOW JING CHOW JONATHAN CHOW PAULINE CHOW CLARISSA CHOY CHRISTINA CHU JANICE CHU MENGCHEN CHU MICHELLE CHU TIFFANY CHU TIMOTHY CHU COLIN CHUNG SABRINA CIBRIANJIMENEZ KENNETH CORDOVA OLIVER CORONEL MELINDA CORREA MELANNY CORTES ASHLEY CUAN FRANCIS CUARTEROS KAINING DAI CHRISTOPHER DAO LEONARD DELURINTU DION DENG CRISTIAN DIAZ MAKARYA DIAZ MANUEL DIAZ SEBASTIAN DIAZ ERIC DINH CYNTHIA DO DINORAH DOMINGUEZ SHELTON DONG ALEXANDER DUNG TINA DUONG ARMEN DURAN ESTEBAN ESTRADA SAMYA FARAJ ANDREW FERNANDEZ SYLVIA FERNANDEZ CELESTE FLORES ERICK FLORES JUSTIN FONG NATALIE FOONG BAO FU XINMING FU YUNXI FU ABBIE FUNG DANNY FUNG TIFFANY FUNG DI GAO JACKIE GAO ANDY GARCIA JAERIK GARCIA KRYSTAL GARCIA XOCHITL GARCIA DAVID GARMA KATHRYN GEE JOEL GIRON CATHERINE GO GRACE GOMEZ RUBEN GONZALES CARLOS GONZALEZ MATTHEW GONZALEZ SHANNON GRANADOS JOANN GUAN TIFFANY GUAN YAN GUAN YINQI GUAN CLARISSA GUERRERO JAZMIN GUZMAN BRIAN HA ELAINE HA RAYMOND HA SAMIA HAMIDEH WENG HAN KAYLA HANG NICHOLAS HANSEN KASSIDY HATA JING HE XUYING HE HANIA HENDRICKSON ELIZABETH HERIJANTO ANTHONY HERNANDEZ NICOLE HERNANDEZ VANESSA HERNANDEZ KENNETH HERRERA-GARCIA ADRIANNA HO BRYAN HO IVAN HO NATHAN HO ROCHELLE HO SAMUEL HO ANDY HOEUR THEAN HOEUR MICHELLE HOM HUY HONG MATTHEW HONG RUNZE HOU SHIXING HOU BIN HU DIEMING HU KEVIN HU KWAN HU MEIFANG HU BRIAN HUA AARON HUANG BAOLI HUANG BENSON HUANG JACKY HUANG JIAQI HUANG YOUBIN HUANG ZIBIN HUANG KIRA HUM CALVIN HUNG JASMINE HUYNH JOHN HUYNH SEBASTIAN HUYNH STEPHEN HUYNH BRUSEN HY JACOB INOCENCIO DANIEL IP VIVIAN JI PEILUN JIANG SHUYI JIAO VICTOR JIMENEZ YANGLIN JIN DELTON JOA BRANDON JUVERA SARAH KASFY AUDREY KATO JEFFREY KHA CHRISTOPHER KHUU TATSUYOSHI KIKUCHI ESTHER KIM BRANDON KISHISHITA BARRY KOBAYASHI LINDSAY KUNG ARIE KUO PING-HSIN KUO CASEY KWAN KIRSTEN KWAN TREVOR KWAN JOLINE KWOK MIRANDA KWOK DESMOND LAI DOMINIC LAI JEANNIE LAI JENNIFER LAI MELISSA LAI ALYSSA LAM BRITNEY LAM JOSEPH LAM JUSTIN LAM KARINA LAM KIMBERLY LAM MAN LAM OSCAR LAM VIVIAN LAM BRANDON LAO DHEVYN LAO JULIAN LAREDO LARGO ANDY LAU BRENDEN LAU CELINE LAU HOLMAN LAU TIMOTHY LAU DANIEL LAVERDE KYLIE LAW ANDERSON LEE KARINA LEE MATHEW LEE MILTON LEE RONALD LEE SAMANTHA LEE TERRENCE LEM JULIE LEUNG SHANNON LEUNG TIFFANY LEUNG BRIAN LI CARINA LI CHENG LI EVA LI HOWARD LI JIAHAO LI MEIJUN LI SIDNEY LI XING LI YONG LIANG WILLIAM LIAO DAVID LIEU CATHERINE LIM MELISSA LIM SIDNEY LIM BRANDON LIM-EFFENDY SASITAH LIMTHAVEEMONGKOL AI-LIN LIN CHRISTINA LIN STANLEY LIN YINRU LIN ANDY LIU CALLISTA LIU HSUAN LIU JENNY LIU JIAZHENG LIU JUSTIN LIU LIN LIU PHOENIX LIU ZHIKANG LIU BRANDON LO EMILY LOCKETT ALEJANDRA LOPEZ DESTINY LOPEZ JAVIER LOPEZ JOSHUA LOPEZ ANNIE LU FELICIA LU LAUREN LU MEINI LU RAYMOND LU WILLIAM LU JASON LUC XINYAO LUO HILARY LUONG MITCHELL LUONG WINNIE LUONG BILL LUU LEON LUY ANDREW LY DEREK LY DIANA LY JASMINE LY LYAN LY MY LY RANDY LY TOM LY MENG MA WEIMING MA JACKIE MACH JASON MACH JOHNATHAN MACIAS RUBIO CHRISTINA MADRID ABYGAIL MADRIGAL NELSON MAI MILTON MAK DAVID MARTINEZ ELENA MARTINEZ PEDRO MARTINEZ SHADEN MARTINEZ TIANYU MENG RYAN MITTWER ERIC MORALES-BANDA KEVIN MU YUUKI MUANPHO MICHAEL NAJAR-GARCIA ANNISA NATASYA ERIKA NAVARRETTE AGNES NG JACLYN NG KAITELYNN NG MEI NG NICHOLAS NG SHEENY NG ANNIE NGO DAVID NGO YVONNE NGO AUBREY NGUYEN CELESTE NGUYEN JASON NGUYEN JOHN NGUYEN JOHNNY NGUYEN KATHY NGUYEN THERESA NGUYEN TOMMY NGUYEN ALLISON NISHIMURA YOON NOE ANGELA NOVACK KAILEY OGAWA-MONROE JOSIAH OJIRI EMI OKUNO LANCE OKUNO SHUON OLOWU EMILY ON BRENDA OPORTO MEJIA SAMANTHA ORTIZ KYLE OSHIRO YOHEI OYA DAVID PAN KE PAN EMILY PANG SEAN PANGILINAN IRENE PARK SHIVAM PATEL BRANDON PELAYO ELEANOR PENA MARIO PENALOZA ZHENXIANG PENG DEANNA PEREZ JOSEPH PEREZ PHUNG PHAM VINCENT PHAM BRIAN PHAN TONY PHAN HENRY PHANNGUYEN BRIAN PHU EDWARD PHUN JOY PHUNG WESLEY PHUNG MALIAH PIERRIBIA DIANA PIMENTEL-CAMPOS KAITLYN PITUGNARONGPHOR CAITLIN PRACHASAISORADE JACOB PRECIADO JACKSON QI YING-CHAN QIAN STANLEY QIANG-JIANG HONGFAN QIN MENGKE QIN ALLISON QUACH TIFFANY QUACH TAM QUAN LIA QUINTANILLA RAMIREZ ITZEL QUIROZ MICHAEL RANGEL KAITLIN RAZON WINNIE REBECCA ABEL ROCK DOMINICK ROMERO MARIA ROSALES ANNIE RUAN GERARDO RUIZ DE ESPARZA ANGELICA RUIZ ANGELICA RUIZ CRISTINA RUIZ DARLENE RUSLI EVAN SAKUMA SARAI SALINAS CYNTHIA SAM JACQUELINE SANDOVAL MARIO SANTOS CARA SCHAWLB GENESIS SERRANO ALINA SHAHIN ALICE SI WILLIAM SI KAITLIN SIMPSON KORALIE SINILA ZIMING SITU MAXIMUS SLOAN SALLY SMITH LINUX SO ADITYA SOEDHARTO KEVEN SOM JOCELYN SONG KIANA SOOHOO LESLIE SOTO ZIJIE SU HAOYANG SUN JIANI SUN RYAN SUN SONG SUN XIAONAN SUN ALVIN SUPARMAN FRANCINE SY DYLAN TA EMILY TA RYAN TAING MISAKI TAIRA RYAN TAKESHITA ASHLEY TANG DANIEL TANG JOSEPHINE TANG MOIRA TAYLOR-MORA ANDY THAI RYAN THONG ALEX THOU KENNETH TIET KAYLA TIRADO JEANNINE TJANDRA ALAN TO DIEN TO STEVEN TO STEVEN TODA BRYAN TORRES MARTHA TORRES ANDREW TRAN ANDY TRAN ANNIE TRAN HEATHER TRAN MIRANDA TRAN STEVEN TRAN TOMI TRAN VICTOR TRINH ALAN TRUONG ALEXIS TRUONG AUSTIN TRUONG JULIA TRUONG KELLY TRUONG KYLE TRUONG LEON TRUONG NAM TRUONG CHANEL TSAN CHI TSANG ELINA TSAO MEGAN TSU BRANDON TU MOLLY UNDERWOOD CARMEN UNG TAYLOR UNG ALEX VALENZUELA ANGIE VAN THOMAS VAN ARELY VARGAS JACOB VAZQUEZ JOSE VAZQUEZ JUDITH VELAZQUEZ LUIS VERGARA KEVIN VI JESSE VILLEGAS JEREMIAH VUE MATTHEW VUONG NATHAN VUONG ANTHONY VY ANTONG WANG EILEEN WANG FEI WANG QI WANG THOMAS WANG TIAN WANG XIAOHAN WANG XINYUE WANG YANGFAN WANG YIMIAO WANG YIYING WANG YUYAO WANG ZIYI WANG HARRY WEI ALYSSA WONG BRANDON WONG CHRIS WONG CODY WONG DONALD WONG PHOEBE WONG SOPHIA WONG JONATHAN WONG-LAU JENNIFER WONSE CARENNA WOO EVAN WOO ANTHONY WU EMILY WU HAO WU HUIJING WU HUIWEN WU JASMINE WU KEKE WU WALLACE WU ZHENG XIA CHRISTINE XIAO JUN XIE FULONG XU RONSON XU SABRINA XU DE XUAN MEGAN YAN TIMOTHY YAN TSZ YAN DENGMING YANG ISAAC YANG IVY YANG JUSTIN YANG TAO YANG YAZMIN YANG PENGWEI YE WEIDA YE KEVIN YEE AIDA YEH BILL YEH PAUL YEH KE'ALE YIP BRIAN YU ELAINE YU JIAN YU JIAN YU XAVIER YU YUEN YU ZI YU JIA YUAN JIA YUAN WENNY YUAN JAAFAR ZEINEDDINE MOHAMMAD ZEINEDDINE BAOFANG ZHANG HONG ZHANG JIANCONG ZHANG KAIXIN ZHANG LINSEN ZHANG SHICHEN ZHANG SHILONG ZHANG SYDNEY ZHANG ZHI ZHANG ZHUO ZHENG TERESA ZHONG QINA ZHOU XIAOYING ZHU ANDY ZOU DANIEL ZOUEIHID
Congratulations!
Thank you, Principal Scanlan HAOXIAN HU Photographer After more than two years of service to the students and staff at Keppel, Principal Scanlan is moving on to lead the nationally known “Gateway to Success” program as the new assistant superintendent. Principal Scanlan’s work at Keppel has most definitely prepared him for his new role in the district. Principal Scanlan says, “I have always felt that meeting the overall needs of our students is my number one priority as a principal and it will be exciting to put the work into doing that for all of the students of our district.” Principal Scanlan also says that his work here at Keppel has been very important to him. Scanlan says, “I will
miss the students, who are a constant reminder of why I wanted to go into the field of education.” Likewise, junior Ethan Young says, “[Principal Scanlan’s] appearance and speech during the walkout in honor of the 14 victims of the Florida shooting was indicative of that trait; he truly showed to me that he was a committed and conscientious principal for our school, and for that, I remember him.” Besides being an advocate for education and human rights, Principal Scanlan has also put in tremendous effort to make the school administration more effective. His enforcement of stricter rules such as having off-limits areas during lunch have played a large role in ensuring student safety. With his leadership being out on full display, Prin-
cipal Scanlan will soon work with the district in providing more opportunities for students and helping the community as a whole. While Principal Scanlan will no longer be directly affiliated with Keppel, his future work with the district will still have a large impact on students in the school. According to the “Gateway to Success” program, their mission is to “help each student reach his or her educational potential by addressing [each] student’s … overall well-being.” Young says, “Knowing that [Principal] Scanlan is a committed and dedicated principal, I would expect many positive changes as he transitions into leading Gateway to Success. I would love to see him implement policies geared towards improving the school atmosphere for students.”
COURTESY OF ALHAMBRA CHAMBER
THE AZTEC/EVAN CHENG Monterey Park citizens enjoyed games and rides, food, and performances at the Play Days carnival. THE AZTEC/CALLISTA LIU
Dance Company presents "The Black Lodge" BABYRUTH TORRES Staff Writer The MKHS Dance Company held their 7th annual spring concert called “The Black Lodge.” Beginner and advanced dance students performed alongside All Male and Dance Team on May 9 and May 10 in the auditorium. “The Black Lodge” is an interpretation of what lies between good and evil, dark and light. This showcase explores the mind of filmmaker David Lynch and the ‘90s drama “Twin Peaks.” Director Mr. Arroyo put together “The Black Lodge” to reach out to the community about dance. All-Male and Dance Team both per-
formed their routines from the 51st Miss Dance Drill Team USA (MDDTUSA) annual U.S. Nationals. Co-captain Olivia Cheung says, “‘The Black Lodge’ is special because… it is new and an unexpected theme Mr. Arroyo has [created].” Cheung says that the best part of this show was “making memories for the seniors because it is their last year on the team and everyone wants to make it as memorable as possible for them.” Cheung would like to give a shoutout to everyone who came out to support the team, and a special thanks to the administration and Arroyo for making everything happen.
Monterey Park celebrates 102nd birthday
EVAN CHENG A&E/Features Editor Monterey Park celebrated its 102nd birthday with the Play Days carnival and parade from Thursday, May 10, to Sunday, May 13, at Barnes Park. The celebration included specialty food trucks, numerous carnival rides like the ferris wheel and fun slide, all situated next to the Monterey Park City Hall. Several tarped booths could be found along the path, representing various organizations, such as the nonprofit poverty-fighting Borgen Project and the insurance company New York Life. The booths also advertises clowns, marching bands, drill teams, and novelty acts. The Mark Keppel Aztec Band and Color Guard per-
formed during the parade, along with bands, pep teams, and martial artists. On the Thursday, Play Days kicked off with one-dollar admission discount deal for all carnival rides. Junior Esther Vega attended on Thursday with her friends, taking advantage of the opening-day deal. “[I liked] the one that spun and goes super fast [while] you lean to the left,... because it was the fastest one open that day.” “I was like, ‘wow look at all these lights, games, and people,’” says senior Itzel Quiroz, who attended on Friday. However, she did not ride any of the attractions, noting that, “I had decided to go last minute and hadn’t brought any cash.”
The Aztec 2017-2018 Timothy Chuman
Wesley Zeng
Vincent Bagabaldo
Maggie Luu
Sophie Wong
Tiffany Leung
Vivian Luk
Staff Writers
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor
Angela Chen
Asst. Editor-in-Chief
Anny Jiang
Viewpoint Editor/Photographer
Aurora Zeng Focus Editor
Evan Cheng
A&E/Features Editor
Sports Editor/ Business Manager Web Editor
Callista Liu
Chief Photographer/Multimedia Editor
Kevin Liu
Copy Editor/Asst. Bus. Manager
Jamie Chau
Copy Editor/ Historian
Kody Woo Cartoonist
Asst. News Editor
Asst. Viewpoint Editor
Evan Woo
Asst. Focus Editor
Samantha Hernandez Asst. Sports Editor
Haoxian Hu Photographer
Alex Hua
Photographer
Photographer
Izabella Cofressi Jaslynn Diep
Lindsay Kung Christine Le Joyce Lee
Jasmine Ma
William Dang-Nguyen Sarena Scott
Babyruth Torres Hannah Won Wendy Yuan
The Aztec is published monthly by the journalism class of Mark Keppel High School and is 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 Mr. Yankowsky in room A236 or sent to theaztecsubmit@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
MAY 17, 2018
Phoenix Award: Elias Cheshewalla CHRISTINE LE Staff Writer
underclassmen to “always strive for a better life and [not to] worry about what others have to say.” At the end of the day, he finds that life is more important than the opinions of what people like to put you out to be. Other than working on improving academically, Cheshewalla is a part of a band. His band, Tidal, the Wave, started last year in December. Cheshewalla found that being in the band didn’t have a negative impact on his school life. Rather, it helped him balance everything out. “It helped me prioritize what I needed to do more than just irrelevant things.”
Presidential Award: Celeste Nguygen TIFFANY LEUNG Web Editor College: UCLA Major: Biochemistry GPA: 4.25 The U.S. Presidential Award is given to acknowledge the efforts of some of the nation’s top prestigious high-school seniors. Though an outstanding student, Celeste Nguyen is also a volunteer who demonstrates passion for her community; All of which helped her secure the award for this year’s graduating class. Throughout her high school career, Nguyen was able to balance rigorous courses, a volunteer lifestyle, and an active social life to experience the most of her youth. “I like playing the piano, binging The Office, and watching movies,” says Nguyen. She is swarmed with activities daily, ranging from trying to avoid Senioritis, to being the top of the class. Though she takes on these tasks with ease, she still wants to accomplish more of her ambitions after high school. “I definitely want to travel everywhere when I’m older. I love [traveling]!” Though Nguyen feels lucky for not having many obstacles against her goals, she acknowledges how her efforts are not much without her family. As youngest in her family, Nguyen recalls her fortunate childhood, which were the result of her parents’ sacrifice for her and her
hard after that, and I have no regrets.” Outside of school, Tsang plays the piano every Saturday at her local church. Despite playing the piano for ten years before high school, it was not until being in Mark Keppel’s band this past year as a percussionist, had Tsang
discovered her passion for music. In fact, Tsang will be attending Pasadena City College after high school, but plans to transfer to a four-year university in the future to study music therapy. Tsang feels that she owes her improvement to her friends who motivated her in academics and helped her on homework after school. Tsang says, “I think my greatest accomplishment is getting this award… Many people cheered for me and supported me even after [the pep rally.]” Tsang believes in a healthy balance between schoolwork and enjoying oneself in high school. However, she also warns underclassmen to have a clear goal to work towards, so that they would not be caught unprepared in their senior year. “It’s okay to mess up,” states Tsang, “It’s okay to get bad grades as long as you try your best and learn from your failures.”
Composition with Ms. Chan, and AP Literature and Composition with Mrs. Flores. When asked about how she kept herself motivated over the years, Kwan responds that she “loves to learn new things, no matter the sub-
ject.” In regards to receiving the Iron Aztec award, Kwan says,“I was very surprised. I am very grateful for all those who have supported me.” Despite Kwan’s well-rounded high school career, she says that if she had the chance to do it over, she would try out for the cheerleading team because “it’s been a childhood ‘dream’ that I never acted on.” Kwan would like to advise underclassmen to “pave your own path and focus on your own goals and interests. In the end, this is your own life, so do what you want, not what everyone else is or what others want you to.” Kwan would like to give a shoutout to Sequence Squad, Phelps Chat, and Tim. “Thank you everyone for putting up with my crazy self.”
ANGELA CHEN Assist. Editor-in-Chief College: Pasadena City College Major: Music GPA: 3.7
College: N/A Major: N/A GPA: N/A Senior Elias Cheshewalla was awarded the Phoenix award, an award given to a senior who has shown the most improvement in their academics throughout his or her four years of high school. Being a student at Mark Keppel has taught him how “to be more committed and diligent because without those factors, you can’t get anywhere, especially if you’re not a hard-worker.” However, Cheshewalla’s success didn’t come without adversity. After struggling his sophomore and junior year, he realized how important it was for him to return his father’s effort and investment in him.“In order to give back to my dad is to do well in school and so that pushed me to do better,” Cheshewalla says. “My dad is by far the most hard-working person I know [and] I want to be able of giv[e] back to him.” Elias would like to advise the
The AZtec SENIOR SPOTLIGHT 3 Soar Award: Priscilla Tsang
Transferring from a different school can be challenging and disorientating, but try a different country. This year’s Soar Award recipient, senior Priscilla Tsang, moved from Hong Kong to the United States in her junior year, and has demonstrated significant academic improvement throughout her four years in high school. Tsang says, “Because the standards [for education] are different in every country, my grades were really bad when they [were] transferred over [to my new high school.] I was pretty disappointed, but I had to accept things the way they were. I worked really
COURTESY OF PRISCILLA TSANG
Iron Aztec: Casey Kwan JOYCE LEE Staff Writer College: UCLA Major: Biochemistry GPA: 4.4 One of the Iron Aztecs chosen this year is Casey Kwan. Kwan is an active member of the community through her service in Crown and Sceptre and Math Club. Kwan says that Crown and Sceptre and Math Club had helped her gain more confidence and “take charge.” In addition, Kwan credits her motivation to her teachers. “Every one of my teachers has served as inspiration for me to try harder.” Her favorite class was AP Chemistry, AP Language and
Iron Aztec: Evan Sakuma two older sisters. “I feel pretty lucky to not really have any major struggles over the past years,” says Nguyen. Therefore, she studies diligently throughout the years to be someone her parents could be proud of. Receiving the presidential award overwhelmed her. “I felt really honored,” says Nguyen. “It felt like the work I put in these past four years were recognized.” Though she is the recipient of such a prestigious award, Nguyen has endured through occasional flaws. She grew to learn about her limits and pressures throughout her experience here at Mark Keppel. Nguyen advises the underclassmen to “always try [their] best [but not to] succumb to self pressure or pressure around [them].” Nguyen will continue her studious, lively adventures while majoring in biochemistry at UCLA in the fall.
LINDSAY KUNG Staff Writer College: N/A Major: N/A GPA: 4.2 This year’s Iron Aztec is Evan Sakuma, who has demonstrated excellence in both his academics and extracurriculars. Sakuma says he is extremely honored to represent Keppel as one of two Iron Aztecs for the school year. “To think I was rewarded for all the work I had put into the community was unfathomable.” Sakuma has been an active member in Keppel’s Theater Company, appearing in nearly all of the school’s plays throughout his four years. Sakuma’s natural ability to perform on stage has earned him Best Actor in a One Act, Best Supporting Actor, and Rookie of the Year. “From improv to musical theatre, all of it is so real, connecting us to what it tru-
ly means to be human.” Aside from being a prominent figure in theater, Evan is also the President of CSF, as well as a member of a multitude of school clubs like Math Club and Crown and Sceptre. Evan’s leadership is further exemplified outside of school in his 11-year involvement in Boy Scouts. Sakuma credits Keppel’s competitive environment as a driving force in pushing him to always
do his best and preparing for whatever comes his way. “When I enter college next year, I’ll be a little guppy entering an ocean of extraordinary people… Keppel has taught me to appreciate those differences and find what makes me as an individual: unique and irreplaceable.” As a senior, he advises his underclassmen to “know your limits [and] don’t take on more than you can...There is more to life than good grades and board positions. Life is too short to not want to attempt everything you want to accomplish.” Sakuma would like to give a special shoutout to his mom, dad, and older brother for always putting up with “[his] crazy schedule.” “I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish as much as I had if not for their endless support. To all of my treasured friends, you know who you are, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
4 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
The AZtec
MAY 17, 2018
English: Nicole Hernandez Math: Jaclyn Ng WILLIAM DANG NGUYEN Staff Writer
TIFFANY LEUNG Web Editor College: Loyola Marymount University Major: English & Political Science GPA: 4.0
College: MIT Major: Chemical Engineering GPA: 4.5
English is one subject that has always been in Nicole Hernandez’s mind due to its many challenges, ranging from learning the grammar to understanding the complex works of Shakespeare and Vonnegut. It is no surprise she is the recipient of this year’s Subject Award for English as declared by the English department. Despite the struggles, Hernandez has persevered through all four years of English classes, which all were ranked at either the high-school honors or college level. “Even though these classes were challenging, they definitely shaped me into the writer I am today,” Hernandez says. The award was surprising to Hernandez because she never enrolled in these classes with any intention of gaining recognition. However, she does feel proud of being named as the recipient. “English has always been my favorite subject,” says Hernandez. “It’s such an honor. . .because I feel that this is a true reflection of my passion for this subject.” Though often flooded with English assignments, Hernandez has been able to manage her time wisely. She has partici-
Senior Jaclyn Ng has always had a passion and ability for math and science, which is why she was recognized as the Math Department’s Academic Senior Spotlight. “I feel honored to be chosen by the math teachers,” says Ng. She has taken Geometry Honors, Algebra II Honors, Trigonometry/Precalculus Honors, Calculus AB AP, Calculus BC AP, and Statistics AP. Ng takes AP and Honor classes in math and science because she “loves STEM.” Ng says, “Ever since I was young, I have been interested in numbers more than words. Math is a language to me, and it is fun and interesting to learn.” From her entrance into GATE math, Ng realized that she wanted to “challenge [herself ] with higher level math.” Ng received early acceptance and a full ride to MIT. She considers her acceptance at MIT to be her greatest accomplishment in high school because “it is her dream school.” There she can pursue her major of Chemical Engineering. Other than excellent grades and test scores, Ng has participated in many extra-
pated in extracurricular activities, such as National Honors Society, Crown and Sceptre, the Association of Latin American Students, and French Club. She also led Keppel’s Girls’ Varsity Soccer as captain alongside Alinah Shahin. Although Hernandez is busy with school, her main priority is family. “I would. . . like to thank my parents for encouraging me to pursue and develop my interest in English,” says Hernandez. “ Hernandez would like to thank her friends and Mrs. Flores. She plans to double major in English and Political Science at Loyola Marymount University in the fall.
Scholar-Athlete: Ryan Takeshita TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief
curricular activities, which include Math Club, Mu Alpha Theta, United Sciences Club, MKHS National Ocean Sciences Bowl, Science National Honors Society, Society of Women Engineers, and Keppel’s Badminton Club and Team. Although Ng herself has a lot of extracurricular activities, she advises underclassmen to “not join clubs or take classes just because they look good on your application [and to] do what you enjoy because experiences matter much more than a line on your application.” Ng would like to give a shoutout to all of her teachers, friends, and “the one and only Physics C squad.”
Scholar-Athlete: Sally Smith TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief College: University of La Verne Major: Education GPA: 3.4
College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Major: History GPA: 4.0 Success in the classroom translates to success in athletics. Despite heavy competition amongst his peers, this motto helped senior Ryan Takeshita win not only several awards in track, but also the scholar-athlete award. “I worked really hard so I’m glad that they gave [the award] to me, but it’s worth mentioning that there are plenty of other people who are just as deserving of this award as I am.” In his first and final year on track, senior Ryan Takeshita could not have been expected to make as big of a debut as he did. Yet, after medaling in the Rosemead Invitational, Takeshita worked his way to an undefeated league record and set two new Mark Keppel records for the fastest 1600m and 3200m before qualifying for CIF. The track star also spent four years on the basketball team and all the while was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA. His success on the court, the track field, and in the classroom was largely due to his ability to balance his priorities, his willingness to make sacrifices, and his dedication to his sports. “If you want to be a really great student or if you want to be really good at a sport, you have to be able to put the time in. As long as you love whatever you’re doing and you have a passion for it, the success will
come with it because it will drive you and make it easier to work.” As Takeshita reflected on the impact that being a student-athlete has had on his life, he pointed out all of the life lessons that he has learned, such as the ability to work with others and persevere through difficult circumstances. Yet, the harsh reality that his time as a student-athlete has come to a close, made him grateful for the experiences that he has had on this journey. “I’ll miss the people the most because they are what make this school and the sports so great.” Takeshita would like to give a shout out to his close friend Maya Castelazo and Coach Duong for their continual guidance and support.
After being named to first team all-area by the Pasadena Star News and recognized as the defensive Most Valuable Player of Almont League, senior Sally Smith can add the Scholar-Athlete award to her prestigious list of achievements. “I’m super thankful that I got [the award], but I know there are hundreds of other students who do the same thing as me and I think it wasn’t just me that deserved that award; it was everyone,” says Smith. Smith, a four-year player on girls basketball and volleyball, had to dedicate a lot of time to reach her success at the varsity level, but with this dedication came an emphasis on maintaining a healthy balance between academics and athletics. “You really have to figure out time management and how to balance school and practice… For me, it came down to not procrastinating and getting everything done in a timely manner,” says Smith. This mindset was clearly effective for Smith, as her academic excellence translated into several accolades and a high degree of respect amongst her peers. “It was great to hear that Sally received the award because it reflects not only her performance on the court, but what she has done in the classroom as well,” says Smith’s basketball coach, Jose Herrera.
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU, ALEX HUA, MAGGIE LUU, TIMOTHY CHUMAN
As her time as a student-athlete at Keppel has come to a close, Smith claims that she will miss the home games and the support of her fans the most, yet the experiences that she has had will certainly benefit her in the future. “[Being a student-athlete] really helped me with my time management skills and it taught me that being active in school is important. It really taught me a lot about myself,” reminisces Smith. Smith would like to give a shout out to her basketball team, her volleyball team, and her mom for their never-ending support.
The AZtec SENIOR SPOTLIGHT 5 Science: Kenny Chang World Languages: Elena Martinez MAY 17, 2018
ANGELA CHEN Assist. Editor-in-Chief
HANNAH WON Staff Writer
College: Brown University Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology GPA: 4.7 Star of Mark Keppel’s science department, senior valedictorian Kenny Chang sets his sights high, a fact recognized by both his teachers and peers. In his years of high school, Chang has always been very driven in his academics, opting to join Mark Keppel’s Science Olympiad, Math team, and the Chemistry club. “AP Chemistry [was what sparked my love for science.] It was really fun studying… electrons and protons in detail,” says Chang. In his freetime, however, he spends his time watching Korean dramas, reading romance novels, and weightlifting. In fact, Chang states that his ultimate goals in life are to, “save lives, get super buff, and become a renowned [biomedical researcher.]” With that being said, it comes as no surprise that Chang aspires to become a world-class surgeon. He will be attending Brown University in the fall as a biochemistry and molecular biology major, and was accepted to the prestigious eight-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), which guarantees him admission into Brown’s
College: LMU Major: Applied Mathematics GPA: 4.43
Warren Alpert Medical School. Out of the numerous classes within the science department that he has taken, Chang felt that AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Physics were the most memorable because of their rigor. “I remember waking up at 4 or 5 AM just to grind out free response [questions] for Physics summatives,” says Chang. Despite the difficulty of AP science classes at Keppel, Chang encourages underclassmen to have fun in them and to, “[not] think in terms of getting a good grade [and to instead] think about actually understanding and learning the material.” Chang would like to thank senior Melissa Lai for helping him with his homework and his mom for always making him breakfast.
CTE: Felicia Lu EVAN WOO Assist. Focus Editor College: UCI Major: Business Administration GPA: N/A Fascinated by the market of today, senior Felicia Lu has been recognized by the Career Technical Education department for her work. Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, she intends to major in Business Administration at UC Irvine. “I’ve definitely taken classes that were more social science and business-focused,” says Lu. “I chose all the AP social science classes that I could and also added in business courses such as accounting and finance as electives in my senior year so that I would graduate with a decent foundation in my intended major.” Graduating this year, she willmiss many of her teachers around Keppel. “[During] my time in Keppel, I genuinely believe that my teachers care about me as a person and where I go in life,” she says. “I have never felt as if I was merely a part of their jobs and I always knew that if I needed to, I could talk to them freely.” Throughout her high school years, Lu has contributed to many of Keppel’s clubs and extracurricular activities. She was on the MKHS varsity badminton team from her freshman to ju-
Senior Elena Martinez is recognized for her excellence in the World Languages Department. Martinez has received several awards here at Keppel and has scholarships for her academic and athletic effort at school. She attends church,volunteers at the American Youth Soccer Organization as a referee, is a member of Mark Keppel Alliance, and is a part of National Honor Society. Martinez also writes poetry and paints during her free time when she is away from her busy schedule. Martinez says, “I feel that I am academically prepared because after taking many AP classes, my time management has improved and over the years [you get used to] working on a tight schedule.” She is grateful to Keppel for helping her learn to juggle her extracurricular activities and her academic studies. In her four years of high school, many people have given Martinez encouragement and advice.
Social Science: Qi Wen Chen VINCENT BAGABALDO Assist. News Editor
College: Pasadena City College Major: Business GPA: N/A During her freshman year, senior Qi Wen Chen struggled to understand English and American culture. However, in her senior year, Chen struggles to grasp the fact that she was nominated for the Social Sciences Department’s Senior Spotlight. Chen says, “It was very unexpected and I’m happy that I was chosen.” Chen moved to America from Mexico right before her freshman year and it was difficult to adjust to life in an unknown environment. “For the first two weeks, I had to eat alone because I didn’t understand anything [anyone] said to me; people thought I was quiet.” To overcome this obstacle, Chen had to “open [herself ] to more people” by interacting more with teachers and classmates. As for her hobbies, Chen says, “I go to after-school dance [practices]. I have also been in quite a few shows in Keppel. Outside of school, I [perform] in Chinese television shows.” The advice she gives to her underclassmen pri-
VAPA: Abel Rock
nior year and is one of the board members of both Math Club and UNICEF. Lu says that the most memorable moment of her high school life happened while being in Math Club: leading the prominent Math Field Day event. “The pressure was certainly on for me to succeed; it wasn’t just my reputation on the line but also the reputation of our school as a whole. Knowing that the event went off without a hitch is a moment that will stay with me forever,” says Lu. In addition to focusing on her academics, Lu enjoys playing the piano and hiking. Despite initially being forced into playing piano by her parents, she has grown to love it. “[Plus,] hiking alone at unfamiliar places is one of my favorite things to do when I travel, as it offers me much-needed solitude and the chance to collect my thoughts.”
Martinez says, “I’d like to give a shoutout to my family and friends for all their moral support these past few years. I would also like to give a shout out to ASB and my colleagues for always being there.” Martinez is saddened to part from her friends that she has seen everyday but is happy to take a step forward towards her goals. In the upcoming fall, Martinez will be attending Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Applied Mathematics.
marily focuses on determination. Chen says, “Sometimes, things [may] seem hard and it [may] seem that you’ll be alone but things get better… it all depends on how much time you put into improving.” Chen also believes that being proactive and getting in touch with your community is a great way to be prepared of life after Keppel. She did so by “[asking] counselors and [going] to a lot of meetings [regarding college].” Grateful for their critical guidance, Chen would like to give a special thanks to Ms. Duanes, Ms. Arzate, and Ms. Bennett.
MAGGIE LUU Photographer
College: N/A Major: Theatrics & Japanese Minor: Psychology GPA: 3.8 Noting her dedication to Drama, the VAPA department has nominated Abel Rock to be in the senior spotlight. “I didn’t even know that was a thing,” says a shocked Abel Rock. Rock has been an actress for the drama department since her sophomore year. Her passion for drama was sparked by an assignment given to her in the 7th grade. “My English teacher gave [the students] a 10 minute play to memorize and perform,” says Rock. “That first small performance made me realize that becoming a character takes me away from my normal fears, away from myself.” Rock feels that it is “liberating to connect to your audience through the story.” In college, Rock plans to further explore her love for theatrics. In her spare time, Rock enjoys learning Japanese and takes online classes for it. Her desire to learn comes primarily from the absence of the language being spoken in her family. Rock says, “Languages
have always been incredibly fascinating to me, [but] I have an affinity for Japanese specifically.” Alongside with theatrics, she plans to achieve a double major in Japanese with a potential minor in psychology. Rock’s impressive acting and performances have garnered her recognition from both her peers and teachers both formally and informally. “Last year at my theater banquet, I won best scene in the play, The Suitcase Dreams,” says Rock. With graduation coming soon, Rock says she will miss the Keppel stage the most, but looks forward to her time in college. To the underclassmen, Rock advises them to “turn in homework and [not to] slack off !”
6 Senior Ads
THE A
AZTEC
May 17, 2018 7
8 Senior Ads
THE A
endlessly grateful for all your I’m so blessed to have Wu and guidance. have fun sneezing at the Ho in my life. They made high ucsd. i’ll miss you school bearable for me and for that I love them very much.
congrats to varsity girls for winning runner up in CIF!
This body is hindering me from my true potential
Captain Bryan reporting for duty
AZTEC
May 17, 2018 9
10 College
THE A
Are you ready (fo Four years later... Top 10 Universities/College 1. Pasadena City College 2. California State University, Los Angeles 3. East Los Angeles City College 4. University of California, Riverside 5. University of California, Irvine 6. University of California, San Diego 7. Cal Poly Pomona 8. California State University, Fullerton University of California, Los Angeles 9. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo California State University, Long Beach 10. University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Davis
Other Colleges In ABC Order
63 47 46 25 22 16 13 9 8 6
Amherst College Azusa Pacific university Bentley University Brown University California State university, Northridge California Baptist University Carnegie Mellon University Citrus College Drake University Harvard University Jefferson University Los Angeles City College Loyola Marymount University Massachusetts institute of technology Mt. San Antionio College university of Notre Dame Orange Coast College Phoenix University Rio Hondo college San Diego State University San Jose State University Santa Barbara City College Skyline College University of California, Berkeley University of Washington University of Southern California Universal technical institute Whittier college West Los Angeles College
1 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 4 2 1 1 4 3 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 1
Navy Army air force marines
6 6 3 2
Military
AZTEC
May 17, 2018 11
or college), kids?
i n i Bik m o t Bot
12 Senior Ads
THE A
Good bye Principal Scanlan and thank you to the admin team! -Anonymous
shoutout to these amazing seniors! gonna miss you guys!
Let’s go CLASS OF 2018!
May 17, 2018 13
AZTEC
WE’LL MISS YOU ACADEC SENIORS!
The Aztec News Staff 2017-2018 Advisor: Mr. Yankowsky (from top to bottom, left to right)
Evan Woo, Vivian Luk, Wendy Yuan, Christine Le, Samantha Hernandez, Vincent Bagabaldo, Jaslynn Diep, Alex Hua, Kody Woo, William Dang Nguyen, Lindsay Kung, Jasmine Ma, Joyce Lee, Izabella Cofressi, Maggie Luu, Hannah Won, Sarena Scott, Babyruth Torres, Haoxian Hu, Tiffany Leung, Kevin Liu, Sophie Wong, Timothy Chuman, Wesley Zeng, Evan Cheng, Anny Jiang, Angela Chen, Aurora Zeng, Jamie Chau, Callista Liu
The Editorial Board
News Editor: Sophie Wong Asst. News Editor: Vincent Bagabaldo
Editor-in-Chiefs: Timothy Chuman & Sophie Wong Asst. Editor-in-Chief: Angela Chen
Viewpoint Editor: Anny Jiang Asst. Viewpoint Editor: Vivian Luk
Focus Editor: Aurora Zeng Asst. Focus Editor: Evan Woo
Features/A&E Editor: Evan Cheng
Chief Photographer: Callista Liu Copy Editors: Kevin Liu Web Editor: Tiffany Photographers: Alex Hua, Anny and Jamie Chau Leung Jiang, Maggie Luu, Haoxian Hu
Historian: Jamie Chau
Sports Editor: Wesley Zeng Asst. Sports Editor: Samantha Hernandez
Cartoonist: Kody Woo
Business Manager: Wesley Zeng Asst. Business Manager: Kevin Liu
14 Senior Quotes
THE AZTEC
May 17, 2018
What advice would you give to underclassmen? g n ti it s e il h w p e le “Learn to s Som n e v e K .” p u t h ig a str ak
“Be
on M t l i M ” . d a tr yhar
“Just Brend BS all you r wor en La k.” u
“Leave senioritis to the seniors.” Emi Okuno
“The real treasure was the friends you made along the way.” Gerardo Ruiz de Esparza “Walk faster.” Miranda Kwok
“Be true to yourself and all mistakes are forgivable.” Joseph Lam
to your lk a t o t “Be wild id a r f a n’t be o D , do so ! s n io t c e n n mething ake co Tiffany L “M lie Law y K s .” s eung pontane r e e p r u o ous.” teachers or y “Take ca
lculated
risks.” B
ryce Ch
an
“All the tears from school are worth every drop.” Joline Kwok
g N y n e e h S ” o not gamble.
“D
“Take classes and join clubs that you truly find meaningful. Do not do it because of anything else.” Jaclyn Ng
“Take a ll of Mr . Carr‛s He‛s re classes ally coo . l.” Gary Chen
Yeh l u a P ” . t r ur hea o y w lo l o F “
“Research abo ut what to do i n high school not procrastin “Don’t s e arly, do a t i n a t t e r , . e . . s b s e more th a realist.” Elea about a a d n nor Pena r eam col one pa with a th lege. Th e ind.” Ttio success. W ork harer’s ffany Gu d an
n open m
“The hallway isn’t the place to check your phone or have conversation!” Catherine Lim
May 17, 2018
THE AZTEC
Senior Quotes 15
What will you miss most about Keppel? “Spending every lunch with my boyfriend.” Shaden Martinez
“Sitting on the
“The girl I find really attractive but can’t build up the confidence to talk to her.” Raymond Carmona
The cafeter
lliam Lu
“I’m go ing to m iss how Emily Lo close m ckett y house
gro
“Mr. Luong’
ia food.” Wi
is.”
Pan id v a D .” y a d y r und to eat eve
a T y l i m E ” . e v a s weird hand w
“I’m going to miss my friends, as well as my sports teams. I’m literally going to cry. I’m going to miss them so much.” Dillion Garcia
“Probably all the sleepless nights.” Christopher Dao
“Being able to sleep in nearly all classes.” Kenny Chang “The staff. The atmosphere. The people. Spirit Weeks. Mrs. Flores. Mr. Chin. Ms. Hake. Mrs. Hoang. Ms. Bradley. I’m going to miss everyone and everything.” Dion Deng
“Everything.” Kaitlyn P.
cia
Gar k i r e a !!” J
!
ING H T O “N
“Friends, teachers, memories made.” Theresa Nguyen
“Being at school with my friends because we’re all going to different schools so I’m going to miss everyone so much.” Nicole Hermandez
“Climbing up four flights of stairs at C Building every day.” Kevin Hu
“My friends, my traumatic experience with the disneyland ride, lines at Mr. Carr’s room, my teachers.” Jonathan Wong
“Being able to see my good friends all the time.” Carlos Gonzalez.
t u o k o o l s y “The Keppel River when a w l a s r e h c y e ea h t t e t have boots to splash in.” h u t b t w i o e h k i s l s i m m e e s t “I’ll ’ Arie Lea Kuo n s e o d t i ( s ” t . s n for stude iss all my tiny familie “I will miss my underclassmen and some teachers who do). I’ll m Santilla Diaz are just a blessing to have met.” Sarah Bang Makarya
you
16 Senior Quotes
THE AZTEC
May 17, 2018
What is an embarrassing moment you've experienced at Keppel? “There was this one time I farted in class while I was asleep.” William Si
“I accidentally called one of my teachers ‘mom’.” Hania Hendrickson
“I was sleep-d e forgot to bring prived, and I my bac school.” kpack t Leon Lu o y
“Being called Evan Sakuma’s girlfriend.” Jasmine Wu
ng
eaki p s e l i h w h y mout m f o t u o ew araj F a y “My gum fl m a S ” ! ops o . . . r e h c a e to a t
“I walked into the wrong classroom on the first day of school and sat there till the teacher introduced herself... YIKES.” Esther Kim
“Tripping.” Jonathan Chow
r e t f a h c n lu “I went to ao William Li
4
. y a d b a l l o th on a c
ua H n a i Br ” . d e s s dre s s o r c “I
“I dropped everything I was holding in the hallway, and as I reached down to pick my a o ton J l e D .” stuff up, I dropped everything m o r p r o f s l r i g by 3 d e t c e j again!!” Samantha Anzai e r g n i “Gett
“When the lock on my restroom door in the P.E. locker room wasn’t shut completely and someone walked in on me when I was on the toilet.” Lindsay Kung
“Being called Jasmine Wu’s boyfriend.” Evan Sakuma “Forgetting I had my earphones plugged into my chromebook, then getting up and taking the chromebook with me, making it fall.” Shannon Granados
“I was listening to music but asked my friend a question, but turns out that I yelled in a UC silent classroom.” o t g n i o g g is N t in.” s o a l g I o t h h c i g N u ‘ o Miranda Tran “I yelledy,!’ and someone th “Going to school on a Saturday.” Holman Lau
Berkelen Lim-Effendy Brando
“I have none that I can recall because I have no problem with embarrassing myself.” Ryan Takeshita
”
may 17, 2018
the aztec
Chanel Tsan
Volleyball
College: Cal State Long Beach Major: Nursing GPA: N/A
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ Asst. Sports Editor Chanel Tsan has been in Volleyball since her freshman year. Tsan had prior volleyball experience before becoming an Aztec, playing volleyball recreationally during her middle school years. She had also played basketball to socialize more with her friends, but decided that volleyball suited her more. Tsan had tried out for volleyball because she thought it was a good time and she was also influenced by her friends who encouraged her to try out. Her experience on the volleyball team has led her to decide to play volleyball during the extra time she’ll have in college. “I plan on playing in a vol-
senior spotlight 17 Brian Ha
ALEX HUA Staff Writer
leyball club on my free time and maybe try beach volleyball,” she says. Tsan has an undoubtable passion for the game. “My favorite part of volleyball is playing in games. I just love the competition and I really love playing on the court with my teammates,” she adds. Tsan is incredibly proud of all her seasons on the team, but she has a memory she will never forget. “My favorite moment had to be going to CIF for the first time. [Keppel’s] volleyball team hadn’t been to CIF in around 20 years so it was a memorable experience.” Aside from volleyball, Tsan is a member of CSF and volunteered at the Pasadena Humane Society. When she isn’t busy with volleyball or her school work, she enjoys having a good time with her friends, just relaxing, or playing her guitar. As her final hurrah, Tsan would like to give a piece of advice to the underclassmen. “You guys need to have school spirit! You’d be super surprised to see how much more bearable school becomes when the environment isn’t dull.”
Brian Ha has been on the volleyball team for four years, playing J.V. for one year and varsity for the rest of his high school career. As a freshman, Ha’s sister, Elaine Ha, convinced him to try out. From that point on, Ha learned how to play and love the sport throughout his high school career. As one of the captains on the team, he has the responsibility to make sure his teammates are doing what they are supposed to be doing, while making sure he is doing what he is supposed to do. Ha also has to make sure he puts in time off the court as well as in the court. Just like any other normal person in high school, Ha has many things he likes to do on his free time. “I like to sleep, hang out with friends, play volleyball, and play video games.” Ha loves to have fun and joke around with his friends, but is very serious when it comes to school and volleyball. He knows that though volleyball is important, studying and doing homework is more important, and makes time for it. Being in several clubs and committing time towards these clubs, including being a lifetime member of CSF and NHS, Ha has to balance school, his clubs, and volleyball.
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
College: Cal State LA Major: Communications GPA: N/A In his four years in volleyball, he learned to keep up with school work and while being active in volleyball. Ha says that, “I’d go to practice, and then I get home, finish homework, and go to sleep.” This system helped him keep up and maintain his grades and improve his play in volleyball in all his four years. This being his last year at Keppel, Ha has committed to attend California State University of Los Angeles to study communications. Ha will remember the wonderful things that both him and the team had accomplished, one being making into CIF two years in a row.
Track and Field: Yuuki Muanpho VIVIAN LUK Asst. Viewpoint Editor
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
Yuuki Muanpho joined Track and Field in his freshman year and has found a home within the team over the years. He says, “The team is more of a family to me. Even though [track and field] is technically an individual sport, there’s a lot of team bonding from cheerings and practices.” Muanpho credits the team’s solidarity as a means of motivation for improving his times. Track and field has also prepared him well for college. “Since I’m a captain, [track and field] helped me build leadership skills and speaking skills. I think that will help me with finding internships,” he says. While some athletes suffer from competition jitters, that is not the case for Muanpho. “When I compete, I’m not nervous. It’s more of an exhilarating feeling, because I love
competing,” he says. Before his races, Muanpho likes to hype himself up by doing body shocks, a technique in which he repeatedly hits his body in order to “wake up.” As a twotime Almont League champion in the 400 meters run, he has met with great success. Besides track, Muanpho has also been recognized for his dedication to service and community for his work with Home of Angels. He has actively volunteered with the organization for about year and plans on continuing to do so. As he nears the end of his high school career, Muanpho would like to remind underclassmen to “take things seriously” and give a final shoutout to his 4x4 relay team. College: Cal State LA Major: Civil Engineering GPA: 3.4
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
Football: Bryan Torres
KODY WOO Cartoonist
Like many of his peers, senior Bryan Torres has quite a lot to look back on from the past few years, specifically his years participating in Keppel’s football team. “I didn’t know about [football before high school] because I was into soccer, so I didn’t really care about [football] that much,” says Torres. “But I got to feel what [football was] like when I joined the football team in my freshman year. The adrenaline I felt when playing was just amazing, and I loved everything about it.” Torres strived to be successful in class, using football as a method of maintaining his grades. Torres plans to attend Pasadena City College, in hopes of eventually earning a degree in law enforcement. Yet even then, he knows that his love for football will follow him there. “I still want to play, [so] I’m going to play college football,” Torres says. Torres would like to acknowledge his fellow classmates and teachers that have made his years of high school as fun and memorable as they have been.
College: Pasadena City College Major: N/A GPA: N/A
18 senior spotlight
THE AZTEC/ MAGGIE LUU
Boys Basketball: Josiah Ojiri WESLEY ZENG & KEVIN LIU College: Major: GPA: Beginning his career in basketball at a young age, Josiah Ojiri has been on the boys basketball team since he began high school, advancing to varsity in his sophomore year and leading the team since them. “I joined [basketball] because it was just natural for me to since I’ve been playing basketball for so long,” says Ojiri. His experience speaks for his position on the team as the longest-standing varsity member of the basketball team, working with his teammates to proudly propel Keppel to CIF quarterfinals. In addition to playing basketball with his
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
Girls Tennis: Sarah Bang KEVIN LIU Copy Editor/Asst. Business Manager
Tennis player Sarah Bang is no stranger to the outdoors; she’s been playing tennis since the summer of her eighth grade, in addition to participating in discus and shotput in track. In her freshman year, she was a part of the second junior varsity team of girl’s tennis, but it did not take her long to rise up the ranks. Throughout all four years in high school, she has steadily improved her skills on and off the team. “[I see a lot of inspirational people] like Serena Williams and [others such as Gael Monfils] who does really nice trick shots,” says Bang, “[and] it [also] takes a lot of dedication and working on your own because you can get practice in with the team during practice hours, but you have to practice [individually] to really get there.”
the aztec
friends, Ojiri enjoys going to the gym and working out. Other pastimes include watching movies and YouTube videos and eating delicious food. Simultaneously finishing high school a steady 3.8 GPA, Ojiri plans to attend San Diego State University studying kinesiology. Despite his high school career in basketball, Ojiri does not plan on playing for the San Diego University team but considers playing in intramural activities. “I plan to learn new things and experience new [things] in college,... like surfing,” says Ojiri. “I [like to] do things I wouldn’t [have been] able to do in high school or just here in Monterey Park.” While Ojiri is willing to learn new things, he treasures the memories he made at Keppel. “Every single senior night game I played [was memorable] because there was a bunch of people and the games were very [intense],” reminisces Ojiri. “[Also,] I enjoy playing with my teammates because they’re really good guys… [who] put hard work into the game… [which] is why we bond so well.” As Ojiri will be graduating in a few weeks, he would like to give a shout out to the whole basketball team, WIlliam, Ryan, Wallace, and Raymond whom he has played basketball with over the last four years, Christina for always being there for him, and everyone else for supporting him over the years.
Since then, she has gained the admiration and respect of her teammates who played with her. In addition, she was ranked as the third-place doubles pair in Almont League with her partner Crystal Chen. After placing third, Bang notes that she “would have practiced more outside [practice hours] with my partner… to coordinate [better] with her.” For the most part, during game time Bang is steady in the face of pressure. Despite the team placing second overall in the 2018 season of Almont League, Bang and her partner Chen swept four of the six games they played in the final match against Alhambra High School. “I’m really relaxed and tense at the same time because it’s really good if things go right, but if things don’t go right I’ll be really tense and [annoyed],” says Bang. However, tennis is also a form of relief for Bang. “It gets my mind off of things and it’s more of a personal achievement if you can get [to a level you’re proud of ]; it’s a sense of pride. [Plus,] I get to be outside and just enjoy being out here,” she says. In addition to all her teammates, Bang would like to thank Sophia Wong for simply being a great friend. “It doesn’t matter what school you are, but [more so] the people you’re surrounded with,” says Bang, in regards to her tennis experience. College: Cal State LA Major: Mechanical Engineering GPA: N/A
may 17, 2018
Girls Soccer: Alina Shahin KEVIN LIU Copy Editor/ Asst. Business Manager Persistence and dedication is embodied by a select few student athletes, who must juggle their academics and sports. With a 4.4 cumulative GPA and consistent activity in volunteer activities, senior Alina Shahin balances the the two high school essentials on her hands while her feet play soccer. “I was 5 when I started playing soccer in a little league,” says Shahin. “[My parents] encouraged me to do it and I ended up liking it so I stuck with it.” Despite starting at the age of five, Shahin notes the important role of persistence and practice in improving at the game. “Even if you don’t get something during one practice don’t wait until the next practice to do it but go out on your own and… do it by yourself and learn how to do it until you’re better at it.” Shahin’s persistence paid off as she received the Best Defender Award for two consecutive years, in addition to being a starting player on the varsity team. “Overall, just being able to be a captain to the Keppel girls was an accomplishment in itself,” says Shahin. In addition, this year’s girls’ soccer placed in the top 3 girls’ soccer teams in Almont League. Leading the team to CIF in her last year at Keppel, Shahin reminisces about her experiences with the team. “This year’s team was really different from last year’s [team] because we had a lot of new girls… and I
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
kind of liked it because… [I] got to teach them how you play the game.” In addition to actively taking on a mentor role in soccer, Shahin is a part of the California Scholarship Fund (CSF) and the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), and volunteers at the Alhambra City Library. “[Soccer has] taught me to work hard and be persistent if I want to get better at something,” says Shahin. She plans on majoring in biological sciences at CalPoly Pamona. She would like to shout out Elena Martinez, Nicole Chavez, as well as all the seniors on the girls soccer team for a great year.
College: Cal Poly Pomona Major: Biological Sciences GPA: 4.4
Boys Tennis: Cody Wong College: Cal State LA Major: Computer Science GPA: N/A VIVIAN LUK Asst. Viewpoint Editor After an Almont League doubles title and four years as a top player on Keppel’s varsity team, it is no surprise that Cody Wong is one of the most accomplished seniors in boys tennis. Wong started playing the sport six years ago with his father. He enjoys “the competitiveness of the sport” and the fact that “not many other people play it, which makes [him] somewhat unique.” When he plays, Wong balances having fun and practicing seriously. He acknowledges that tennis is a mentally taxing sport, saying, “[I] always need to be in a positive state because in tennis anything can happen. There is no time constraint, [so] the only thing holding [me] back from winning is [myself].” During his time on the tennis team,
THE AZTEC/ ALEX HUA
Wong has learned to adopt a “think positive” mindset. He recounts, “I was playing a match in which I was down. Instead of just believing I was going to lose, I just kept calm, did what I had to do, and came back to win the set.” He extends this advice to underclassmen, reminding them that “if things seem like they’re going bad, it will always get better.” Outside of school and tennis, Wong spends his time playing games, like Fortnite and League of Legends, or hanging out with his friends. Wong credits his friends for motivating him, since “they make things fun in life.” Among these friends, Wong would like to give a shoutout to Ben Ong in particular. After graduation, Wong plans on pursuing computer science at CSULA. He says, “I’ve always liked computers, and programming is something I haven’t tried. I think it’d be fun.” He definitely wants to continue playing tennis for fun, but is unsure whether he will continue to play competitively.
may 17, 2018
the aztec
Oliver Coronel
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU
College: N/A Major: Aeronautical Engineering GPA: 3.6 School celebrations back in the Philippines sparked interest in dancing for Oliver Coronel. Since the age of five, Coronel has danced in every school event until he immigrated to Los Angeles. Between his immigration and acceptance into All Male, the flame inside him died down, as the opportunities for dancing were limited. It was not until his addiction for dancing games like Dance Central and Just Dance reignited his passion for dancing, eventually motivating him to join All
Dance Company
Male. From then, Coronel’s love for dancing has grown, with the help of his team. Coronel believes having the right mentality contributes to a great dancer’s success. “That mentality would be a mix of willingness and desire. Without these two, you wouldn’t have much motive to take up the skill of being and looking like a good dancer,” says Coronel. Some things he enjoys about dancing at Keppel is the support staff and students have given, and diversity. “Though I’ve competed for four years with my team, I really haven’t seen [any] schools that have diversity within its members on stage as much as Keppel does,” says Coronel. Dancing at Keppel has given him the opportunity to present dance pieces professionally with visuals. Coronel is also involved in Keppel’s Key Club, National Dance Arts Honor Society, and Math Club. In his spare time, Coronel enjoys playing basketball, soccer, golf, and baseball. In addition, he enjoys keeping up with fashion trends, and playing online games. Coronel would like to give a shoutout to his supportive parents, All Male, Dance family, Bonzai 3.0, Fourth Hour founders, his lunch table group, Ynez family, and his previous teachers.
senior spotlight 19 Kathryn Gee
SOPHIE WONG Editor-in-Chief / News Editor Dance Team captain Kathryn Gee started dancing in kindergarten In elementary school, her mother signed her up for a Chinese folk dance program. Dancing started off as an extracurricular activity, but eventually became one of Gee’s top priorities when she joined Dance Company. Through her four years in Dance Team, Gee has learned patience, dedication, and how to manage her time better. She credits dancing for teaching her how to be a great leader, listen, and communicate. “Those are personal awards for me,” says Gee. This year, Gee received the honor of serving as Dance Team captain. Through practices, competitions, and dance shows, Gee has built solid relationships with each member. Gee says, “Everyone is super supportive of each other. We are all really really close… Even though it’s such a big team, we’re all one giant family that we can all connect with.” Gee’s passion was not the only thing that motivated her to continue dancing; it was also the support from the dance community. “The dance community is so nice; everyone is so encouraging,” says Gee. “It’s
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU
College: Thomas Jefferson University Major: Health Sciences GPA: N/A not whether you’re a good dancer; it’s just working hard to be a good dancer, to work towards that goal.” Besides dancing, Gee enjoys reading, eating, and watching Netflix. She is inspired by Instagram dancers like Kaycee Rice and Bam Martin. Gee would like to shoutout her parents; sisters; her second sister; friends; her dance team leaders Olivia, Paige, Elyce, and Haley; alumni who have helped her before; Kalyn Inzunza, and Mr. Arroyo.
Color Guard: Lyan Ly JASLYNN DIEP Staff Writer
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU
Band: Alice Si WENDY YUAN Staff Writer Learning the clarinet since fifth grade, Alice Si has been in band for all four years of high school holding numerous positions such as president of band and section leader of the clarinets. Joining Band gave her the opportunity to perform, travel, and make memories with her friends. In addition, it has taught her how to work well with others in different environments and how to manage her time well, due to the fact that she has to commit a large amount of time to finish her tasks. The positive motivation given from her friends and family inspires her to make them proud of her, work harder, and achieve more. Her fellow extremely talented student musicians help encourage her to play her best. With a passion for biological sciences, Si will further pursue her love for science at UC Davis. However, her love for music continues to flourish as she goes off to college. While there, Si plans to join service clubs and hopefully a symphony or orchestra. Si says, “I am proud of my accomplishments in the music program as band president.” This year, she worked together with the orchestra president, Kellie Chin, to help lead their respective councils together in reaching a successful goal of $10,000 for a trip to San Diego. Si is also proud of being able to organize a senior ensemble of one of her favorite pieces at her last concert, “Some Enchanted Evenings.” Si would like to give a shout out to her fellow clarinets, winds, and band instructor Mr. Lee. College: UC Davis Major: Biological Sciences GPA: N/A
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU
Captain Lyan Ly has demonstrated incredible willpower by supporting Color Guard since her freshman year. As a long-time member, Ly appreciates the welcoming environment that her team provides, especially now that they have come to care for each other as family. Despite pressure from her academic classes, the load on Ly’s shoulders is not too overwhelming because of the emotional support she receives from her teammates. Ly will always remember the practices that were held after school because her teammates all teased and shared funny stories with each other, creating memorable moments. “I love the different personalities that come [to] the team because a lot of us have different moves and formations that we can often learn from,” says Ly. Her teammates have pushed her to become an independent and passionate young individual. When Ly first joined Color Guard, she was afraid to speak up or
share any ideas, but once she became comfortable with her teammates, she was able to open up and express her opinions. One of Ly’s best experiences was when she choreographed her first routine as a freshman. The opportunity for Ly to create her own routine and perform it in front of the captains gave her confidence. Besides Color Guard, Ly is also part of the United Sciences Club, the Science Olympiad team, and NHS. As her last year at Keppel nears its end, Ly encourages her underclassmen teammates “to continue to strive for the best, to not be confined to limits, and to always reach for their goals.” For those who have greatly played an influence on Ly throughout her four years in high school, Ly says, “I would like to give specific thanks to Queenie Xu, Hilary Luong, Samantha Lee, and Mr. Lee.”
College: N/A Major: Biological Sciences GPA: N/A
Badminton: Anthony Wu
College: N/A Major: Computer Science GPA: N/A
VINCENT BAGABALDO Asst. News Editor
From playing badminton in his neighbor’s yard to competing in CIF his senior year, Anthony Wu has improved in leaps and bounds over the course of his four years in Mark Keppel High School. His avid love for badminton has allowed him to meet great people on the team. With them, they were able to snatch a win in CIF, an accomplishment Wu is very proud of. “We won [first place] in CIF division two [in] my junior year,” says Wu. They were able to make a huge comeback after becoming runner ups during his freshman and sophomore years. When it comes to what he enjoys about playing badminton in Keppel, Wu says “The competition during the game and the pace. [Badminton] is a fast paced sport. “The adrenaline he feels when vying for that win is what ingrains badminton in his mind. Other than that, just the experiences he
has with his fellow teammates is enough to make his high school life an unforgettable journey. If he’s not playing badminton, Wu would participate in games similar to chess. He practices computer coding in his spare time as well. This goes in accordance with his aspirations for the future, that being a major in computer science once he gets into college. Wu would also like to mention key people in his high school career such as Kiko Barez and Brenden Lau who have been with him all four years of high school, badminton manager Mandy Lam, and Mrs. Duong who worked so hard to keep the badminton team going. “Shoutout to my dog Cinnamon and my family who’s been supporting me all my life. [And lastly] to Delton Ryan Joa.”
20 senior spotlight
the aztec
may 17, 2018
Drill: Kayla Hang JASMINE MA Staff Wrtier
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU
College: Mt. Sac Major: Pre-Veterinary Studies GPA: N/A
Kayla Hang has been on Keppel’s drill team for all four years of high school and has served as co-captain her junior year and captain her senior year. Drill team has inspired Hang to become a more active student, as she is always dedicating her time to the team. The current team has played a huge role in motivating Hang since “[my teammates] have allowed me to see how much they have grown and accomplished within a short amount of time.” Hang says, “Being a part of Drill is very enjoyable because the memories I have created are unforgettable and I enjoy being surrounded by such inspiring people.” When performing, Hang feels nervous at first; but once the performance is over, she feels a sense of accomplishment. During her time as captain of Drill team, Hang has led the team to place first in the
SHARP competition and second in the CADTD competition.“As their captain, I am very happy that I was able to help them improve in our practices,” says Hang. In order to be a good drill team member, one must be hardworking, determined, and have great communication skills. Throughout her four years on the team, Hang has realized that Drill has shaped her into a more outgoing, confident, and hardworking person. In the future, Hang plans on attending Mt. Sac for one year and transferring to a UC, where she plans to pursue pre-veterinary studies. As Hang is nearing the end of her high school career, she wants to give a shoutout to her best friend, Michelle Chan, and her amazing co-captain, Jeannine Tjandra. Hang wants her team to know that she is very proud of what they have accomplished together and strongly encourages the team to continue striving for the best.
Cheer: Ashley Tang
THE AZTEC/ CALLISTA LIU
SARENA SCOTT Staff Writer
College: San Diego State University Major: Nursing GPA: 4.2
If it wasn’t for her passion to spread school spirit, then there wouldn’t be a senior captain named Ashley Tang on the Mark Keppel Cheer Team. Although it is only Tang’s second year on the cheer team, she is very grateful that she was able to be captain this year. Her team also recognizes her efforts on the team as well as her generosity, which was awarded with the Best Sportsmanship Award at the recent banquet. Tang stated that,“Cheer was something I enjoyed because I’ve always been extremely passionate in promoting school spirit and spreading and bringing my positivity to the school was a must for me.” Being on the Cheer Team has not only motivated her, but also made her very proud to see the team become closer through overcoming struggles. “This team has impacted my life greatly and I love every single one of them and although I wasn’t apart of the competition
team, they deserve all the recognition because they put in tremendous amount of work and effort in all of their practices. I’m extremely proud of them all,” says Tang. Besides her cheer life, Tang is also involved in ASB, Promoting Youth Advocacy, CSF, NHS, Crown and Sceptre, Leo Club, as well as other clubs. Tang enjoys hanging out with her friends, hiking, and running. She also loves all types of foods except any type of spicy food. With all the factors that have played a part in Tang’s high school career, she is well prepared for college in many different ways, such as being able to support and motivate others. Despite learning how to support and motivate others in her high school career, Tang finds that there is still room for improvement no matter what.“There are three most important aspects in cheer for me, and that would include improving and practicing my communication, flexibility, and trust.”
THE AZTEC/ SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ
Softball: Jacqueline Sandoval IZABELLA CONFRESSI Staff Writer Senior Jacqueline Sandoval is captain of the Aztec Softball team, with one year of prior experience before coming to Keppel. “After playing softball for so long, I can definitely say it has taught me responsibility, time-management, and how to be a good team player.” she says. Sandoval never expected to love softball, but when she wanted to try a sport, softball was the only one that appealed to her. Now, it has become her escape from the stress of school and life, where she can forget about everything else when she is playing. “My teammates and friends make playing here at Keppel really special, so I can really just enjoy it and lose myself in the game,” she says. In addition to playing softball, Sandoval enjoys expressing her creativity through drawing, where she can be in full control of her art. She also does prom makeup and special event makeup for classmates on the side. Knowing that this year’s softball team is hardworking and talented, her only advice to the team is to continue practicing. “To be a good softball player you need to be dedicated, interested in the game, and determined to do your best” says Sandoval. Sandoval would like to give a shout-out to Sarena, Faith, Angela, her sister Bernie, and “[her] faves. They know who they are,” as well as Ms. Meyka, Ms. Perez, and Ms. Sutton.
College: Cal State LA Major: N/A GPA: 3.6
Girls Basketball: Jocelyn Song JAMIE CHAU & EVAN CHENG Copy Editor & A&E/Features Editor
THE AZTEC/ MAGGIE LUU
College: Claremont McKenna Major: N/A GPA: 4.0
At five, she started playing basketball. In her sophomore year, she made Keppel’s varsity team. By her senior year, she was leading the team as co-captain. Soon, she’ll be playing for Claremont McKenna College. And today, she’s the choice for the Girls’ Basketball Senior Spotlight: Jocelyn Song. “I really like basketball because of the energy and rush and thrill I get from playing it,” says Song. “There’s something about executing a play, making a key shot, or winning a big game that excites me.” Born into a “basketball-centered family”, Song is propelled to success by more than just her sheer love for the sport, but by her family’s support as well. “The thought of doing this for my family [keeps me motivated,]” she says. “They sacrifice a lot of time
and money for me to be the best player I can be.” Song dedicates two hours a day to basketball practice, except on Sundays. When Keppel’s team is on off-season, she plays club basketball. This is how she caught the attention of scouts from Claremont McKenna College, where she will be attending after high school. In addition to striving for self-improvement, the co-captain also commits herself to the growth and coordination of her team. “I have to… make sure everyone’s okay mentally and physically [and be] the leader on the court when it comes to making plays,” she says. “I’m really close to all my teammates so that made the role easy.” Song knows that being co-captain is something she had to earn, and even from the very beginning she had her mind set on joining the Keppel basketball team.
She was able to join the varsity team in her sophomore year, a position usually reserved for juniors and seniors, and even devoted her extra time to playing club basketball in the summer. Thanks to this, she became exposed to leadership skills that allowed her to communicate with and support her teammates. Basketball opened many relationships for her, and she was able to connect with others much more easily. Song cherishes each and every moment she has spent with her team, and keeps even the smallest memories at heart. One of her favorite memories is a team tradition right before CIF where the team spends a practice session playing every sport except basketball. Song especially wants to shout out her dad for his support, saying, “He’s a big part of everything basketball-related in my life.”