THE AZTEC
VOLUME LXXVII NUMBER VI
ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
FBLA to compete against Mission Valley schools at Six Flags Magic Mountain
FBLA poses for a group picture in a Keppel hallway.
CHRISTIE HUI Staff Writer Mark Keppel’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will be competing against various schools of Mission Valley on Saturday, February 28. The event will be held at Six Flags Magic Mountain and will start at approximately 9 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. The competition is to showcase the business
knowledge that FBLA members have acquired. 25 students ranging from 10th to 12th grade will be participating. The event will be held in the Six Flags Magic Mountain Theater. FBLA is an academic club that promotes business leadership and helps students understand American business enterprise. FBLA will be competing in business related topics such as accounting, global business, business ethic,
COURTESY OF FBLA
etc. Students will compete in various events ranging from section, state, and nationals. There will be team events as well as individual. There will also be workshops that will teach team building, motivational speaking, and more. Tommy Tang, an FBLA member, will be in the digital video section, a state event, and the spreadsheet section, a section event. The section event is the first level of the competition.
Keppel will be competing among the Mission Valley Area, which consists of 17 schools in the San Gabriel Valley area. Those who make it into the top five will move to the state event. There will be a test with 100 multiple choice questions that lasts for an hour for topics such as accounting, spreadsheet, word processing, etc. The judges will consist of business people and teachers from other schools. Awards will be given out at the end of the competition. Senior Kimberly Thai, the president of FBLA, says she is looking forward to “networking and bonding with the members of FBLA.” FBLA advisers, Ms. Salama, Ms. Baca, and Ms. Fillpot will be chaperoning the event. Ms. Fillpot thinks this competition can benefit students by giving them a chance to meet new people and learn how to prepare for a competition. She advises to students competing that “it is never too late to start studying.” Ms. Baca’s advice to students is to “be prepared and realize that this is a great leadership opportunity.” FBLA members will soon have a chance to display their academic ability outside of school.
School Wi-Fi restricts access to students and staff BRANDON CHUNG Historian Beginning this semester, many students have noticed that the school wi-fi is no longer up, spurring many rumors on campus as to what has happened. This problem is not exclusive to Mark Keppel’s campus; it is happening all over the school district. Alhambra High School, San Gabriel High School, even the elementary schools are all suffering problems with their wi-fi connection, according to Principal Cisneros. “After Christmas, we did a
statistic on when the bandwidth (the amount of traffic that the network can handle at a given time) is used,” said Cisneros. “[We noticed that] the two highest peak times were before school and after school, the reason being teachers coming [on campus] and accessing [the wi-fi].” It was around this time that the district began experiencing significant problems with their electronics. According to Technician Eric Chau, the problems are stemming from a large influx of devices attempting to access the wi-fi.
Mark
Your calendar 2/12 Drama Boosters Meeting A114 7-8:30 pm 2/16 Washington's Birthday Holiday- No School 2/25 Collaboration Schedule 2/25 "Peter Pan" Red Carpet Event in Auditorium 7-9 pm 2/25 MKHS Alliance Meeting in Cafeteria 6-7 pm 2/27, 2/28 Spring Musical in Auditorium 7-9 pm 3/4 Collaboration Schedule 3/6,3/7,3/8 Spring Musical in Auditorium 7-9 pm
“There’s so many devices connecting to the wi-fi, and all that contributed to the network problems we’ve been having,” Chau stated. Not all of the affected devices are mobile. The desktops in the computer labs, many of which are used by students throughout the day, are also impacting the network connection. However, the bandwidth is being prioritized in certain areas, such as the Student Bank, the Career Center, and other places. Because of this, only the mobile wi-fi was temporarily disabled while equipment in the District Office,
where wireless connection for all the schools in the district is based, was upgraded. This decision is the reason why so many students and staff have been left without mobile Internet access. Most of the impact has been on phones as well as some of the iPads, according to Cisneros, noting that her own wireless access has suffered along with the majority of the student body. The district is taking such measures to root out the source of the problem due to the SBAC testing, which is all done on computers at the same time.
February 12, 2015
Eyes Around the World collaborates with Crown and Sceptre in glasses drive SARAH McCORMICK News Editor The Eyes Around the World group is working along with the Keppel club, Crown and Sceptre, in order to collect and reuse students’ old glasses to send to the people of Malawi, Africa. The origin of this glasses drive came from the platform that was suggested by seniors Megan Lee and Sera Takenaka, president and vice president of the off campus club Eyes Around the World. These two sought the help of Crown and Sceptre to help their project reach a larger amount of people. Crown and Sceptre began this years’ collection at the end of January, and it will continue until around April. To donate to the cause, Keppel students can drop off their old pairs of glasses to the shoebox in Mr. Luong’s room, or they can create their own box to leave in their classroom for donations. Glasses can be preowned, but not broken in order to be donated. Takenaka says that the target for this year is to collect at least 75 pairs to add to the 60 pairs they already collected in last years drive. The glasses will be shipped through airmail to people with matching perscriptions. According to the president of Crown and Sceptre, senior Vincent Lin, the goal of this project is to collect something that students are no longer using in order to recycle them to be useful for those in need. Lin said, “We are aiming to create an environment of empathy and an environment where we are actually giving back and giving to the less fortunate.”
IN THIS ISSUE... News: FBLA • Wi-Fi • Glasses Drive • Teens for Jeans • Science Olympiad • Lunar New Year Festival • Esther Suen Scholarship
Viewpoint: Basic • Community College • Sex Ed • Does the thought count? • Smart Phone Reliance • The List
Focus: Valentine's Ads Features/A&E: High School Relationships• Saying Yes or No • Music Streaming • Jupiter Ascending • Trivia Craze • 50 Shades of Grey
Sports: Athlete's Profile: Mia Kato • Boys' Basketball • Girls' Basketball • Girls' Soccer • Boys' Soccer • Girls' Water Polo • Wrestling
Keppel participates in Teens for Jeans campaign TAMMY LEE Staff Writer From January 12 to February 9, Mark Keppel participated in the Teens for Jeans organization's jean drive. ASB advisor Ms. Carmona presented the idea to ASB and this is the first year Mark Keppel contributed in the donation. In the past several years, Aéropostale partnered with DoSomething to fuel the Teens for Jeans campaign. According to DoSomething’s website, they hold campaigns that “make the world suck less.” This organization strives to urge people and their communities to ease current issues. Some may ask why jeans and not other clothes. According to the DoSomething website, teens and children in need often request a pair of jeans as they can be “worn multiple times between washes, can be dressed up or dressed down, and provide a
Science Olympiad to compete at regional competition
sense of normalcy to the person wearing them.” In the Teens for Jeans, members of the community can donate old or new pairs of jeans. Junior Amanda Xaypraseuth, a donor, says, “Teens and adolescents can save more money for food and other necessities so that they do not have to spend money on clothes such as jeans.” The school that has the most donated jeans will have the privilege to listen to a performance by The Vamps. ASB currently has about 30 pair of donated jeans. If our school does not win the most donated jeans, ASB will continue to donate clothing for the homeless and underprivileged. ASB will still receive donations and send them out to Salvation Army and Goodwill until the end of the school year. Senior Rebekah De La Peña, the ASB member in charge of the donation, states “Teens for Jeans is an effective way to help out the less fortunate for our age."
Monterey Park holds annual Lunar New Year Festival
Science bowl members and some of their families at the LA County Regional Science Bowl competition.
KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Staff Writer The Science Olympiad Regionals is on February 28 at Occidental College from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Schools around the LA County, Santa Monica, and San Fernando Valley will be competing. Mark Keppel’s team will include 15 students and many science teachers, such as Ms. Hake, Ms. Ng, Ms. Cowell, and Ms. Eggerman, to supervise throughout the day. The team meets every Sunday at school with Ms. Hake from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. beginning in November. Also, the students would meet independently out of school to study. Although the team did not place first at regionals, they have made it to state competition eight times, which is the top eight
COURTESY OF MS. HAKE
schools. Junior and co-captain Karen Fann is “confident that we can make it to State this year”. She also adds, “Competing in Science Olympiad is fun, just as competing in sports is fun. It gives that rush of adrenaline and excitement.” Likewise, senior and captain Jason Chang says that “we will do a lot better than last year since we know where we fell short last year and we are trying to get those areas covered.” The team is going to compete in about 30 events, which include forensics, chemistry, physics, and biology. United Sciences administrator, Ms. Hake, said “Many of the events are on content that the students need to memorize and self study from books. There are also events where the students build things, such as airplanes
and bridges.” There are about 5-15 students who build while the other members help assist. The roster will allow only 15 students to compete. Hake would like to recognize the 20 students that help assist and the two parent assistants, Mr. Tong and Mr. Chin. It costs $350 to register for the competition and around $300$400 on materials. In total, the yearly expense would be around $1000 and the United Sciences club helps to fundraise. Being on the Science Olympiad team is enjoyable to many of the students, including four year member Julian Chan. Chan said, “This is definitely one of my highlights of my four years in high school. I made friends with some of the smartest people I’ve ever known. It was very rewarding working by their side.”
least a two-year commitment to a single sport while maintaining an unweighted GPA of 3.5 out of 4, so AP and honors courses would not award additional points. The applicant’s household income must not exceed $100,000 annually, and the applicant must also submit a 500-word essay. Suen’s family established this scholarship with their own funds through PTSA two years ago. However, few people have applied over the past two years and none met all the requirements. The GPA requirement has been dropped to 3.5 from the previous 3.8 in hopes of higher interest from students. Principal Cisneros stated, “I’d like to see more of our scholar-
ships being applied for. [Esther was] an overall good student, just a kind, kind person. People are going to remember Esther no matter what.” Mr. Carr, Keppel’s physics teacher, noted that these scholarships may not be huge individually, but when combined, these small scholarships can piece together to significantly alleviate student debt, which is, “one of the largest problems that America is facing right now.” Carr encourages students to be active in searching for scholarships and hopes that scholarshiprelevant information would be better advertised in the future.
Scholarship honors Esther Suen A crowd gathers at the Monterey Park Lunar New Year Festival.
ALEX DEA Staff Writer Monterey Park had their annual Lunar New Year Festival the weekend of February 7 and 8 on Garvey Avenue. This festival consisted of live entertainment, food, booths, games and rides. It also included the traditional dragon and lion dance, which is a dance used to scare evil spirits and bring good luck and fortune. The actual Lunar New Year is on Thursday February 15. The Lunar New Year is also known
THE AZTEC/ALEX DEA
as Chinese New Year, or Tet, for the Vietnamese New Year. Senior Jasmine Han said, “My favorite part of new years is getting together with my family. I also enjoy going to the Buddhist temple to remember my ancestors." Another big event during the New Year is the Golden Dragon Parade located in the Chinatown in Los Angeles. The parade is part of a two-day festival on on February 21 and 22. This festival is all day and has a carnival with rides and games, live entertainment, and some of food trucks.
YANG LU Staff Writer Applications for the Esther Suen Memorial Scholarship are available in the scholarships bin of the Guidance Office and must be submitted to the Guidance Office by February 27. In memory of Esther Suen, a Keppel student and PTSA member until March 2013, the eligibility requirements are set with her achievements as the standard. This $1,500 scholarship is exclusive to seniors interested in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields. Applicants would also have to demonstrate experience in community service and at
The Aztec 2014-2015
Amber Batchelor Editor-in-Chief
Brian Yeo Sports Editor
Vivian To Co-Asst. Editor-inChief, Focus Editor
Aren Lim Business Manager
Darwin Tse Co-Asst. Editor-inChief, Viewpoint Editor Sarah McCormick News Editor Bonnie Grace Wong A&E/Features Editor
Alex Dea Staff Writer
Selina Huang Staff Writer
Yang Lu Staff Writer
Bradley Dea Staff Writer
Christie Hui Staff Writer
Carmen Ma Staff Writer
Carmen Ma Asst. A&E Editor
Victoria Ramirez Staff Writer Asst. Photographer
Joann Kong Staff Writer
Maliah Pierribia Staff Writer
Brandon Chung Historian
Emily Mu Asst. Sports Editor
Rodolfo Arias Staff Writer
Eric Lam Staff Writer
Ingrid Rodriguez Staff Writer
Karen Ip Co-Copy Editor, Asst. Focus Editor
Sally Chen Asst. Business Manager
Karli Cheng Staff Writer
Ida Lam Staff Writer
Stephanie Robles Staff Writer
Edlyn Wong Head Cartoonist
Kristin Ching buranakit Staff Writer
Tammy Lee Staff Writer
Shanae To Staff Writer
Jonathan Lou Staff Writer
Stephanie Tran Staff Writer
Cory Mak Photographer, Asst. Cartoonist
Lydia Xie Co-Copy Editor, Asst. News Editor
Brian Chen Asst. Viewpoint Editor, Web Editor Alexander Beaumont Asst. Features Editor
The aztec is published monthly by the journalism class of mark keppel high school and is printed at american foothill publishing co., inc. all newsprint used is 100% recycled. 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.
We are all a little basic on the inside
CARMEN MA Asst. A&E Editor As if the vocabulary of today’s youth lacks a substantial number of ludicrous phrases, the youngsters of the modern generation have coined yet another trendy phrase: basic. According to Urban Dictionary, ‘basic’ is “an adjective used to describe someone devoid of defining characteristics that might make a person interesting or extraordinary.” Buzzfeed’s definition of a basic person is someone who is extremely absorbed into popular, mainstream culture. What separates a basic person from a regular person is that the former is driven by the desire to keep up with what is popular merely for the sake of being up to date with trends. A basic person is “extra regular” and someone who would overindulge in Starbucks, follow the latest clothing and food trends, and overuse slang words such as “fleek” and “thirsty.” Although the qualities of basic people make them easy to target for insults, doing so would be inconsiderate. Freshman Milton Mak agrees and says “it is like calling someone out as someone who just follows trends” and “saying that they have no originality.” When many of the adults on campus were questioned about their thoughts on the
CARTOON BY EDLYN WONG
term, many of them did not know what it meant. Teacher and volleyball coach Mr. Chu was one of them. “After you explained it, I understand why no one would want to be called basic.” Mr. Chu definitely defines himself as the opposite of a basic person because “I know
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what I like and whether or not [something] would be relevant to me. I don’t care if it’s trendy.” On the contrary, senior Steven Ha says that he is “pretty basic” when it comes to his interests with popular items such as name brand t-shirts. However, Ha says, “I
don’t really take [being called basic] seriously.”Whether we would like to admit it or not, nearly all of us are guilty of following trends and using popular slang, regardless of our reasons. We should be defined by our actions and motives, not by our affinities for overpriced coffee and logos.
STEPHANIE TRAN Staff Writer
nity college(s), less class availability, and larger class sizes.” Overcrowding is one of the big issues of this idea and it may also increase the amount of people who attend community college rather than paying for the first few years of education at CSU’s or UC’s. But, transfer rates could increase as a positive result. Funding would have to come from the taxpayers, and that could mean taking a risk to pay for the education of others, seeing that some may take this opportunity for granted. Ms. Yu, Keppel’s Career Technical Advisor, said that having free education “tells everyone that college is accessible,” but also remarked, “money should also go to other services within college to ensure student success and degree completion in a reasonable amount of time.” Obama’s proposal does not answer a few questions. Would this plan help those who used to qualify for the Pell Grant? Would changes also have to be made for CSU’s and UC’s since it is more likely for those to then choose free college? Some states may disagree with this idea and would rather have the option to have free community college in their state. It could be a while for Congress to take action on this one of many proposals, and this newcoming idea could use a little more work due to the fact that it can negatively affect other colleges and the population in community college campuses. However, our country should have free community college because it gives the chance for those who cannot afford college to higher educate themselves. Education is important, so helping the students who will use the opportunity to work hard for the success in our constantly advancing world would be worth it.
Obama pushes for free community college
During the State of the Union Address on January 20, 2015, President Barack Obama made a proposal that offered free tuition for two years of community college throughout the United States. He explained that he wanted to “lower the cost of community college — to zero.” Elgibile students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA during their schooling in college and attend at least half time in order to qualify. This idea seems to mainly target middleincome families who do not qualify for grants but cannot pay for yearly tuition. There are certainly some pros and cons of this proposal as people question whether it is a beneficial or not. According to Obama, 40% of college students choose to attend community college. He wants to make sure that more people go to college and that those who graduate exit without debt. Junior Kendall Gerber, who plans to attend community college, said, “I agree with free community college because people who are not that fortunate can now have a free education.” It would also motivate college students to work harder and maintain their GPAs; otherwise, they must pay the tuition. Getting a degree and higher education can boost up the economy as more people acquire high demand job positions that require skill. With more people obtaining an increase in their earnings, these people could be able to help fund free community college for others, continuing the cycle. “[I think] some good things about having free community college is [that] more educated people will be in the workforce and will [have] less concerns for financial situations,” said senior Nelson Kuan. “However, some bad things may include the flooding of students into the commu-
Students should have the opportunity for sex education DARWIN TSE Co-Asst. Editor-in-Chief/ Viewpoint Editor Sex. Just hearing or reading the word sex probably makes you uncomfortable, but humans are designed to reproduce, so sex shouldn’t be such a taboo topic. Sex is not a joke, and high schools should make sure their students are educated and know how to practice safe sex. However, Mark Keppel does not provide substantial sex education. In fact, the most memorable sex moment for me is seeing a woman’s “feminime parts” give birth in Biology Honors. While most elementary schools do indeed provide sex education, most teenage sex does not even happen during middle school. “It’s helpful,” said senior Nicke Yu. “But they give it to you at such a young age and it only lasts a week, so most people don’t remember it.” The American Academy of Pediatrics states that fewer than 2 percent of adolescents have had sex by their 12th birthday. By the time they are sixteen, 33 percent of teens have had sex, and nearly half by the time teens are seventeen. By age eighteen, 70 percent
COURTESY OF GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE
of of US females and 62 percent of US males have initiated vaginal sex. Previously, students would be required to take a year long Health class that would cover
Are YOU on the list?
IDA LAM Staff Writer A common practice with high school yearbooks is the creation of a list of overrepresented individuals in an effort to represent the entire school. This list is created to avoid excessive photos of the same people throughout the different spreads. Sera Takenaka, one of Yearbook’s editor-in-chiefs, stated, “[The list] is just a list of names of people who have been covered too much. After they have been covered three times they get put on the list.” Once somebody is put onto the list, the yearbook editors are not allowed to feature that person in any other spreads. The only exception to this rule is when the person has positions that require mandatory photography, such as Winterball King or Queen, or cheer pictures. Our yearbook editors try the hardest to feature a wide variety
of students into their pages. Takenaka stated, “There have been some problems in the past where we had trouble with featuring everybody in the yearbook. We try to put everyone in at least three times.” The editors make an effort to seek these people out so they can be included in the yearbook. These missing people could be asked to recreate old Mark Keppel photographs, be featured in an early college acceptance page, or be included in a baby photos page. As a final statement, Takenaka said they are trying their best to feature everyone, including those who have already purchased the yearbook, . The yearbook is a collection of high school memories. By preventing over-representation, yearbook is doing their job in ensuring that all groups are being represented equally.
topics such as HIV, AIDS, and birth control. However, this requirement was cancelled 5 years ago. Mark Keppel currently does not have an sex ed in any curriculum.
“It’s a shame that it’s cancelled because the information that kids need to know; they’re no longer getting it,” said P.E. teacher Ms. Heredia in regards to the Health class. “When we had the sex ed classes, they [students] would know the safety procedures and the different diseases they could get if they were promiscuous, and now lots of valuable knowledge is being left out of the curriculum.” According to a report compiled by Advocates of Youth, sex education has led to decreased frequency of sex, partners, and the increased use of condoms. Further evaluations show that these programs do not increase rates of sexual encounters. Hormonally distressed and confused teenagers need to be educated on the ways of sex. Without a proper sex education program, teens turn to “50 Shades of Grey” and pornography, corrupting their image of sex. Teenage sex should not be encouraged, but statistics show that it is inevitable. Educating teens on the right path to sexual enlightenment is the best way to prevent unprotected sex and teenage pregnancies.
Does the thought count?
JOANN KONG Staff Writer
Which seems to be the better gift, an extravagant display of affection with balloons and food, or $5 a gift card? It shouldn’t matter. Simply the fact that a student took time out of his or her busy schedule should warrant appreciation from the receiver. An experiment from two professors from the National University of Singapore and University of Chicago Booth, respectively, showed that most people appreciate gifts given from friends and acquaintances simply because of the thought put into the gift. Keppel students have agreed that thoughtfulness is something that is greatly appreciated. Sophomore Jason Xian joins in on the appreciation for the efforts of a gift-giver. “It takes a whole lot of devotion and care to craft a well-made present,” Xian said, “and even if it’s not well-crafted, at least that person tried.” So to all students to take the time out of their hectic schedules to give someone a gift, know that your efforts are recognized.
The prevalence of smartphone addiction BONNIE WONG A&E/Features Editor It is not uncommon to see people glued to their cellular devices everywhere you look, whether it’s crossing the street, sharing a meal, or waiting in doctor’s offices. Even at school with the regulations, many students still use their phones. Is this dependence and technological obsession healthy? Does having a cell phone make us too dependent on our devices to occupy our time? According to Medical News Today, “The study of high school students found that 60% say they may be addicted to their cell phones, and some say they become agitated if it is not nearby.” For some, the addiction stems from all the frills that come with having a cell phone: the newest features, a better camera, more apps and games at their expense. For others, it is the desire to be connected to an expansive network 24/7. The fear of missing out on the latest news or the newest update can also play a factor. Although there are many valuable study resources available online and tailored as apps for phones, there are also many time wasters that contribute to the usage of mindlessly using a phone just to use it. Junior Jeffrey Lu stated, “I rely on [my cell phone] probably 90% of the day…I think it has impacted me a lot because I feel like
Freshman Jansy Hurtado Zuniga , senior Jessie Garcia, and senior Amanda THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ Duque use their smartphones for entertainment and communication.
without it, I wouldn’t know what I would do during my free time.” Why is it that we feel the urge to waste an hour of our life scrolling through Instagram, or constantly checking for that one text message? According to an L.A. Times article published in 2013, more and more teens would choose having a cell phone over a car and this number has increased since then. Ironically, the main purpose for the creation of cell phones: to call is now almost an outdated form of communication. Rather, people resort to firing off a quick text message. Some believe that the use of cell phones as such a big means of communication is not a good thing because it lowers people’s ability to correspond in person.
“I believe that teens waste time of their precious lives by always being on their phone, which makes them isolated and therefore, anti-social. Even being on a social network is very anti-social,” said senior Patrick Trieu. While using a phone is needed for a real-world skill, so is the ability to converse with others, especially in professional settings. The usage of cell phones can lower our chance to get out there and have a real conversation with people besides hiding behind an illuminated screen. Trieu added, “…There’s more to life than looking down at your screen. Many people don’t enjoy the sunset or sunrise or beautiful scenery…because they’re too busy looking down at their phones.”
To the Swimmer, Becky Su This One’s For You
To: Ms. Fillpot
Tienes una sonrisa muy hermosa.
Fr:Your Secret Admirer
This is dedicated to my favorite table in the back, fifth period. You guys make my day. -Mr. Sakahara
HAPP Y VALENT INE’S DAY LOVE! ^STEVEN HA
LEYNA,
THIS PAST YEAR OF BEING WITH YOU HAS BEEN THE BEST
YEAR OF MY LIFE.
I
DIDN’T KNOW THAT A GIRL AS SPECIAL, BEAUTIFUL,
AND SMART AS YOU COULD MAKE ME SO HAPPY. FOR YOU.
THERE IS NO ONE BEYONCE. LOVE YOU BABE,
I’D
WOULD DO ANYTHING
RATHER BE WITH.
YOU’RE THE BEST.
NOT
EVEN
-LEMMY CEDOPEZ
Valentine’s Day shout out to all my amazing instrumental music students in Guitar, World Drumming, Band, and Orchestra. You rock my heart! -Dr. Bartlett
f
Tiffany Lau!!! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!! I just wanted to say that I love you so much and that you are the most beautiful girl ever! Every time you smile, I just can’t help but smile back because I know that you are the one for me.:) There is so much I would say, but I’m running out of room, LOVE YOU! ^ Love, Dylan Urban:)
ELSE
I
p i l n
CAST, CREW, AND ORCHESTRA.. WE DO BELIEVE IN ALL OF YOU, WE DO, WE DO! ALL THE BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL RUN! -MKHS DRAMA BOOSTERS
Alex, Ida, Karli, Elaine, Kristin, Kyle N., Dawson, Alvin, Brandon W., Kyle S., Frances, Amy H., Diego, Brandon L., Amy L., Jesse, Billy, Michael, Joanna, Van, Chris, Callista, Crystal, Cailtin, Ryan K. Take care.
#RELATIONSHIPGOALS EDLYN WONG Cartoonist Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are the epitome of “relationship goals.” Some might argue that the fictional characters of Troy and Gabriella from Disney’s High School Musical trilogy may come close. This term has been with us for a little while now, and according to Urban Dictionary, it is defined as, “when two people are in a relationship and girls envy them, usually a celebrity couple or a popular couple in high school.” “Communication is key in a relationship,” said junior Allison Tam. In the article from Bustle, lifestyle writer, Sara Altschule wrote that communication, respect, quality time, and appreciation are healthy habits in a strong relationship. “I also want to be like Troy and Gabriella,” Tam adds. As seen on the media, many of us fantasize about the “perfect” relationship and attempt to
Valentine’s Day: Saying Yes or No? KARLI CHENG Staff Writer
COURTESY OF GOOGLE An example of high school relationships.
carry out these goals. Senior Justin Tang said, “I look up to Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. Personally, respect is essential in any relationship, and their respect for each other is very motivating.” Role models in the public eye and power couples often set a high standard of how others view relationships. Many people feel the need to fulfill these “perfect” roles. This Valentine’s season, don’t let other’s relationships define your personal idea of how your relationship should be.
Many singles are miserable on Valentine’s Day and tend to say yes to anyone that would ask them out. Most of the time, singles feel obligated that they have to have a date on Valentine’s Day, just like everyone else. If you ask someone out on Valentine’s Day, are they more likely to say yes or no? Junior Kyle Tse says otherwise. He believes that Valentine’s Day shouldn't be praised as a special day where you treat your significant other better. You should always treat your loved ones with love and care. While it is nice to have someone to show affection towards you on this special day, it is not necessary to have a “bae” on V-day. However, there are others with a different perspective of the holiday. Mr. Chu says that “it’s all marketing.” The holiday is mainly targeted towards that ones who care about it. It gives florists, candy shops, and jewel-
THE AZTEC/CORY MAK
People should not feel obligated to ask someone out just because it’s Valentine’s Day
ry stores chances to take a bang out of your pockets. It increases sales and gives more profit for the manufacturers. Around Valentine’s Day, there are many stores that are filled with the colors red, pink, and white. However, people should ask their crush out on a regular day, when they aren't emotionally challenged. They shouldn't say yes when they are feeling lonely and are only saying yes to fit in unless it is truly from their hearts. It wouldn't be a genuine “yes” if they are pressured
into saying so. There are many things to factors to consider: are you asking or accepting just because you feel pressured to since it is a holiday? A better bet would be asking him or her out on a regular day. All in all, Valentine’s Day does give the person more confidence and courage to ask that girl or guy out, “It gives them a little boost of confidence,” says Mr. Chu. This special holiday also has the ability to put more pressure on individuals as well.
#JustJournalismThings Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, the Editors
Cracking the Trivia Craze LYDIA XIE Asst. News & Co-Copy Editor
In the Grey area SALLY CHEN Asst. Business Manager
Mark Keppel students seem to be even more attached to their smart phones. Locked in intense concentration, they’re trying to beat their opponents at the one game spreading through campus: Trivia Crack. The instructions to play the game are relatively simple. There are six categories: geography, art, history, entertainment, sports, and science. Players need to obtain all six characters in order to win. However, if a player answers the question incorrectly, then his or her opponent can have the opportunity to answer a question correctly. This repeats until a player wins or until all 25 rounds are completed. Players have 30 seconds to answer each trivia question such as, “Who is on the $100 bill?” The questions usually comprise of general knowledge about the categories. Senior Richard Yip said, “I enjoy the satisfaction of getting questions correct and of beating my friends. I play almost every hour when people reply to the challenges.” Many Keppel students have been introduced to this game by their friends. Senior Grace Lee said, “I downloaded [Trivia
A student plays Trivia Crack on their phones during lunch.
Crack] and tried it. At first I didn’t like it because the questions were obscure. But I started playing more people, and now I’m addicted.” Although the uprising obsession with this app only began late January, Trivia Crack was first released in October 2013 by an Argentinean company named Etermax. They’re also known for apps like Aworded, Word Crack, and Bingo Crack. With the recent obsession, Trivia Crack was the most downloaded app of December 2014 from the Apple Store. The game is available for downloading in 10 different languages on the iOS, Android, Windows
THE AZTEC/CORY MAK
phones as well as on Facebook and the Amazon App Store. Since February 2015, there have been over 3 million downloads on Google Play. Junior Daniel Chung stated, “A woman at my church suggested that I play it because she wanted to play against me. I like trivia in general.” A game about random facts has made its way into the Keppel community. Although Trivia Crack is simple, the competitive quality of the game continues to bring out the determination of Keppel students who won’t stop playing until they conquer all their friends.
E.L. James’s best selling novel, “Fifty Shades of Grey,” will be produced into a film starring Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey. The X-rated film is expected to hit in theaters on Valentine’s Day. The film revolves around a college graduate named Anastasia Steele who meets Christian Grey, the CEO of Grey Entreprise. After meeting him for the first time, Anastasia Steele instantly becomes attracted to him. It was not until their second encounter that Christian Grey take interest in her. He chases after Anastasia and makes her fall into his lifestyle of BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, and Masochism). The couple goes through many difficulties that arise from the past. When faced with these problems, Anastasia and Christian start to trust each other more and face these problems together. The movie is controversial because of it’s sexual content. Some believe that both the book and the movie are controversial because it is viewed as pornog-
Movie poster for “Fifty Shades of Grey” COURTESY OF
raphy. Senior Thomas Le said, “I feel like they are letting their inner fantasies become realities by making this novel into a film.” However, Senior Melissa Aguilar said, “I think it will be weird to make this into a movie because the book discusses and is centered around the topic of sex. Also, since its in the theaters, it’ll be easy for young viewers to sneak in.” Although the film hasn’t been released, the novel has received a 3.7 out of 5 stars on goodreads. Senior Jonathan Dam says, “I expect the movie to have a great outcome and receive good reviews because many people liked the novel and are expecting the movie to be just as good.”
Hear the world’s sounds Ascending to theaters near you with music streaming BRADLEY DEA Staff Writer Jupiter Ascending was released on February 6, 2015 starring Channing Tatum as Caine Wise, Mila Kunis as Jupiter Jones, and Eddie Redmayne as Balem Abrasax. The film is a space opera, a subgenre of science fiction that often emphasizes romance and has a melodramatic adventure set mainly in space. The Wachowskis, American film directors, screenwriters and producers, wrote, produced, and directed the film. The company is known for their impressive visuals producing: The Matrix, Cloud Atlas, and Speed Racer. The movie is centered on Jupiter Jones, an unlucky janitor, and Caine Wise, an interplanetary soldier who convinces Jones that her destiny is beyond Earth. A tyrant son named Balem, born from a powerful family that lives on a planet in need of an heir to take the throne, is fighting with his two siblings for power. With Caine, Jupiter travels to the planet in order to stop his evil ruling. Initially, the film was planned to be released on July 25th, 2014 but it was changed to July 18th, 2014. However, the film’s final release was shifted to February 6th, 2015 due to additional time needed to complete over 2,000 special effects shots. Web design student junior Emmeline Lam stated, “The animations were cool. The motion pictures were vibrant, altogether, and realistic looking.” The film has gotten mixed reviews, receiving 2 stars on Rotten Tomatoes, 3 ½ stars on Roger Ebert, 3 ½ stars on Metacritic, and 3 stars on IMDb. Supporting cast member Douglas Booth who plays Titus, described the film a cross between The Matrix and Star Wars while Kunis named its themes as indulgence and consumption.
ALEXANDER BEAUMONT Asst. Features Editor
Every day, more and more people are tuning into online music-streaming services instead of purchasing and listening to music. Within the past few years, various online music-streaming services have arisen, including Spotify, Soundcloud, and Pandora. These music-streaming services offer a range of features, including
Spotify
Spotify was founded in 2006 in Sweden by Daniel Ek and has over 60 million users On the site, users can search through over 30 million songs and create playlists with these songs. There is also an option for a “Premium” service, which for a nominal fee removes advertisements and increases the overall quality of the music. Spotify’s Premium service also allows the user to listen to their songs and playlists when not connected to the internet, a major plus for avid music listeners. Junior Jimmy Chan said, “I like Spotify because you have the option to create playlists with songs that you want to listen to.” Even though Spotify has only 60 million plus users, Spotify has netted over two billion dollars in revenue since their founding and are available in 58 countries.
Soundcloud
Soundcloud is a community-based music-streaming service founded in 2007 in Sweden by Alexander Ljung, with over 40 million users. Users can like songs and create playlists to share with other users on their profiles, similar to Spotify. What sets Soundcloud apart from other musicstreaming services is the inclusion of the user into the service. On Soundcloud, users can upload their own songs to share with other users. Freshman Andy Lau said, “ I like Soundcloud because it [Soundcloud] is an interesting program that promotes people to create their own music. Also, the music selections are large, making the search for what you want slightly easier and more manageable.”
Pandora
Pandora Internet Radio is an online radio service founded in 2000 in the United States by Will Glasser. Pandora is a bit different than the other two music-streaming services, where set radio stations are created for the user to listen without the option of customizability. Despite that, Pandora is one of the most popular music-streaming services, with over 250 million users worldwide. So, whether you like Spotify for their premium music services, Soundcloud for the ability to create your own music and share it with the world, or Pandora for the convenience of having set radio stations that you can choose from, music-streaming services are surely here to stay.
“Jupiter Ascending” was released on February 6.
COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
Girls’ basketball dominates against Almont League competition
Boys’ soccer searching for first win of season
Senior Dominic Garcia and sophomore Gabriel Vera (5) chase after the ball. Senior Meredith Lew Tan (12) dribbles upcourt on a break.
VICTORIA RAMIREZ Asst. Photographer The Mark Keppel girls’ varsity basketball team displayed their prowess against Alhambra High School on February 6th, winning with a final score of 68-23. Before the game, a Senior Night ceremony was performed in honor of both the boys’ and girls’ seniors on the varsity teams. It was an emotional night for the Lady Aztecs, especially since all but two of their players are graduating this year. The energy could be felt throughout the arena, bringing out Keppel’s school spirit. Keppel played efficiently during the first half of the game. The starters were able to build an early lead in the first quarter. Most of the team’sscores were made away from the paint, scoring long-dis
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tance jumpers and three-pointers. Not only was Keppel making shots, but they also displayed a strong defensive effort. It was a fast pace game from the very beginning, a type of momentum that was felt by the audience. “Tonight’s main focus is just to have fun,” said forward Sophia Song. “There isn’t anything that we would have done differently.” By the end of the first half, the score was 40-8 with Keppel leading by 32 points. The beginning of the second half of the game was no different than the first. Keppel continued to score continuously and kept their defense strong and intact. Senior forward Tiffany Lau believes that their success was due to their relaxed mindset. The Lady Aztecs did not allow the Lady Moors to break their
lead and kept them from finding many openings, controlling the number of shooting opportunities for Alhambra. The girls on the varsity team kept up their energy for the entirety of the game; showing support and encouragement for their fellow teammates. Keppel took the victory by the end of the game, finishing with a score of 68-23. Coach Kikuchi was very proud of how his team performed on Friday night’s game and believes that they are capable of playing excellently for the rest of the season. After Friday night, the Lady Aztecs were 8-0 and, after Tuesday’s 63-20 win against Schurr, they now have a league record of 9-0. Their final game of the season is on the 13th against Bell Gardens.
MALIAH PERRIBIA Staff Writer
THE AZTEC/MALIAH PERRIBIA
the second on a 15-yard corner shot from Fernando Evangelista. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, the two goals were not enough to recover and they lost by 2. Following the game, senior and Captain Ryan Mejia said, “We didn’t play [at] full intensity [during the game] and played best toward the end.” Senior Dominic Garcia added by saying they did not win because they “didn’t communicate and weren’t ready.” Though the team does have a tie, a 2-2 draw against Alhambra, the Aztecs are still searching for their first league victory. Marin’s goal is to “win the first league game since February of 2010.” The Aztecs lost on February 10 against Schurr, 0-4, meaning they now have one more chance on the 12th to gain that win.
The Mark Keppel Aztecs boys’ varsity soccer team lost to the San Gabriel Matadors, 4-2, last Thursday. The game, played at San Gabriel High School on January 5, dropped the Aztecs’ Almont League record to 0-7-1. Head coach Andrew Marin, who has been with the team for three years, explained the reason for his team’s loss, saying, “It’s late in the season, guys are banged up, and San Gabriel wanted it more.” The Aztecs’ defense was weak the in the first half, and, due to poor communication, their offense was unable to score for the majority of the match. However, during the second half, the Aztecs were able to score twice. The first came on a penalty kick by Gabriel Vera and
Wrestling sends two players to CIF tournament BRIAN YEO Sports Editor
The Keppel wrestling team poses during practice.
COURTESY OF HECTOR RUIZ
The Mark Keppel wrestling team competed in Almont League Finals on January 31 against wrestlers from five other schools. At the meet, two Keppel wrestlers qualified for the CIF preliminary tournament-junior Hector Ruiz and freshman Julian Davidson. Ruiz placed 2nd overall in the league while Davidson placed 4th. CIF will take place on Saturday, February 21st. In preparation for
the competition, Ruiz said, “We have been preparing by practicing our takedowns and keeping our endurance and strength up.” They have also been training together with CIF wrestlers from other high schools like Alhambra. At CIF preliminaries, Ruiz and Davidson will be competing in a tournament-style meet to qualify for CIF Masters. Ruiz’s main goal at CIF is “to place and represent Keppel.” He said, “[I want to show] other high schools what underdogs can do.” The rest of the team, which con-
sists of seven competing members, also performed well during the season. Heading into League Finals, they were the first-place team in the Almont League. The team believes that their small size, both physically and in the number of members on their team, negatively affected their placing in league. However, the team and their coaches plan to build on the success of this season. “The team plans to stick together and grow our wrestling program.”
SPORTS CALENDAR Varsity Girls’ Soccer -2/12 vs Bell Gardens @ Keppel 3:15 p.m.
Varsity Girls’ Water Varsity Girls’ BasketPolo ball -2/11 vs. Alhambra @ Barnes 3:15 p.m.
-2/13 vs. Bell Gardens @ Bell Gardens 5:15 p.m.
Badminton -3/15 vs. La Puente @ La Puente 3:15 p.m.
Softball
Boys’ Tennis
-3/3 vs. Pasadena @ Pasadena 3:30 p.m.
-3/3 vs. El Monte @ El Monte 3:30 p.m.
Swim Varsity Boys’ Soccer -2/12 vs. Bell Gardens @ Bell Gardens 3:15 p.m
Varsity Wrestling -2/21 @ California Interscholastic Federation Tournament
-3/4 vs. San Marino @ San Marino 3:30 p.m.
Varsity Boys’ Basketball
Baseball
-2/13 vs. Bell Gardens @ Bell Gardens 7:00 p.m.
-3/3 vs. Gabrielino @ Keppel 3:30 p.m.
Track & Field -3/19 vs. Alhambra @ Keppel 3:15 p.m.
Boys’ Volleyball
-3/4 vs. Pioneer-Whittier @Pioneer-Whittier 3:15 p.m.
Athlete’s Boys’ basketball comes back to defeat Alhambra Profile: Mia Kato ERIC LAM Staff Writer
Mark Keppel’s boy basketball team topped Alhambra by a score of 57-45 in a Friday night league game on February 6 at the Aztec Arena. The Aztecs had a 7-0 league record going into the game with a 56.6 points-per-game average while the Alhambra Moors had a 3-4 record going into the game with a 53.3 points-per-game average. The game also featured a former Mark Keppel player on the opponent team, junior Jonathan Barajas, who was one of the starting players on the Moors. The first quarter started with extremely tight defense by the Moors, who managed to keep the Aztecs far away from the basket. Some notable plays by Kep-
pel featured senior Bertram Mak making an clean alley-oop and senior Trey Shishima making a clean three-pointer. The Moors defense kept the Aztecs from scoring and the Aztecs fell behind 10-14. The Moors managed to stay ahead in the second quarter as well, although the Aztecs did manage to focus more and break through the Moors’ defense. The Aztecs managed to make it a 2-point game, with the quarter ending at 24-26. After half-time, the Aztecs really started to focus on the game and gained much needed momentum. The quarter started with the Moors and Aztecs trading shots, and coming at a 28-28 tie. After gaining strategic control of a loose ball, the Aztecs started to finally gain the upper hand and went on a 9-0 scoring spree. The quarter finally ended with the
Senior Bertram Mak (30) jumps toward the rim over defenders.
Aztecs scoring 18 points and the Moors scoring only 4. The final quarter started with a 3-pointer from senior Bailey Kikuchi and immediately gave Keppel the momentum they needed to close out the game. Along with an aggressive dunk from Bertram Mak, Alhambra could not seem to pick themselves back up and ultimately lost with a final score of 57-45.
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
When asked about the tough first half of the game, Bertram Mak said that “We were playing with a lot of emotion because of senior night. We started to start picking things up and focussing after the second half. “ The team, with their overall record of 21-4 and league record of 9-0 so far, will be participating in CIF.
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
EMILY MU Asst. Sports Editor Senior Mia Kato has been playing water polo for three years. She began playing because she wanted to try something different from swim and she fell in love with the sport. Kato said water polo taught her to be strong both in and out of the pool. “Water polo is a mentally and physically tough sport, so it is important not to let the little things get to me,” she said. Kato believes her team is amazing. She said, “We are all extremely close because we are such a small team. Although its cliché, this team is my second family and I’ll really miss them next year.” Her favorite part of water polo are the bonds that she has been able to create with all her teammates. She said, “Although we all know each other from swim, playing polo together has allowed us to be closer.” Kato’s biggest influences are her parents because they are supportive of her. Along with her family, Coach Perez and Coach Sam influence her because they are patient and helpful despite the occasional lack of organization. Kato’s biggest accomplishment this year was being able lead the team with Fion Gu and Nathalie Martinez. She said, “It was tough because this year our coaches weren’t here as much because they are both teachers, so we had to organize many of the practices and workouts this year.” For the future, Kato says she doesn’t have any set college plans right now but she hopes attend the University of Washington. She would like to major in business and develop her own start-up company. Kato wants to give a shout-out to the polo team, her sister Audrey, and the extravagant eleven.
Girls’ water polo team narrowly misses CIF berth
Girls’ soccer loses close game to Schurr
Freshman Elena Martinez (16) fights Schurr player for possession. Senior Fion Gu (8) takes shot.
AMBER BATCHELOR Editor-in-Chief The varsity girls’ water polo team competed against Bell Gardens High School on Wednesday, February 4th . The Aztecs had possession of the ball well throughout the first quarter. However, Bell Gardens was able to steal the ball and score a goal. Bell Gardens had a very tight defense throughout the first quarter, making it hard for the Aztecs to score a shot. The second quarter started with Keppel in possession of the ball, and they started off strong in offense and defense. The Aztecs had strong, consistent passes and were able to score a goal. However, as they entered the third quarter, Bell Gardens picked up their defense and offense. Bell Gardens aggressively pushed the ball forward and started scoring against the Aztecs. The two teams were neck and neck throughout the game; however, when the fourth quarter approached, the Aztecs increased their offense and were able to take the lead. The game ended with a final score of 9-7.
THE AZTEC/AMBER BATCHELOR
Senior Yujeong Kim scored a goal, senior Fion Gu scored two goals, sophomore Vienna Tan scored three goals, sophomore Jessenia Barbarena scored two goals, and senior Jayme Chan scored one goal. Coach Chan believes that Bell Gardens put up a good match and played exceptionally well. He said, “Both teams were at stake. They needed to win in order to have a chance make CIF.” After this game the water polo team had a tournament on Friday and Saturday, the 6th and the 7th. Coach Chan wanted the team to use the tournament as a learning experience. He expected the team to build on their communication, teamwork, using their time wisely, and being aware of where their skills are at. The water polo team played Alhambra high school on Feburary 11th at Barnes Park. Whoever won would move on to CIF. Although the Aztecs played aggressively and excessively well, they lost with a score of 8-7 in double overtime. Despite the loss Coach Chan says, “I am very proud of the team. Their motivation went up to another level.”
AREN LIM Business Manager The Lady Aztecs played their last away game at Schurr High School against the Spartans on Tuesday, February 10. The game was competitive and aggressive for both teams, but the Spartans came out on top with a score of 1-0. Throughout the first half, Shurr played aggressive defense and the Aztecs were unable to break through to score a goal. Both the Aztecs and Spartans were held without a goal in a very competitivelyplayed first half. The game often got physical, as both teams attempted to withhold the other from scoring. The Aztecs had several shots on-target throughout the game, but all were saved by Schurr’s goalie. The scoreless tie was broken in the beginning of the second half. Schurr drove the ball into the penalty box quickly, and managed to kick the ball past the goal line. That was the only goal of the game, dropping the Lady Aztecs’ season record to 1-6-1.
THE AZTEC/AREN LIM
In spite of the loss, the play ers believed the team played well. Senior Denisse Barajas said, “We played hard. We had some missed opportunities, but we did play well, and we worked our butts off.” Freshman Alina Shahin said, “We did really well with passing and looking for open spaces. We were more aggressive this game and we took control.” With soccer season coming to an end, Coach Steve Shahin felt that he has met his goal of teaching and developing his team. “The more hard work they put on the field, the more successful they will be every game.” Coach Shahin looks forward to coming back next year to coach. “There is potential, and I think that the girls that are coming back are excited, and I certainly hope that will continue for next season.” Shahin would like to give credit to the effort and hard work the girls have put forth. The team’s last league game is on February 12th against Bell Gardens.