THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXX NUMBER III
November 16, 2017
VIEWPOINT PG 3
FOCUS PG 4-5
FEATURES PG. 6
VAPA requirements, yes or no?
Honoring Native American Heritage month
College-bound seniors get introspective
News in Brief DROP-OFF CHANGES Starting November 27th, the central parking lot will be closed from 7:20 to 7:45 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:00 p.m, to ensure the safety of students, staff, and community members when they are on school property. The main entrance at the front of the school will be opened for students to enter.
D10S wins spirit stick at fall rally On November 11th, over 8,000 Key Club members, including over 30 from Keppel, participated in the annual Fall Rally at Six Flags. Division 10 South won the spirit stick for the first time since 2013.
Fafsa/dream act application workshop Cash For College will be hosting a FAFSA and DREAM Act workshop on December 2nd, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Mark Keppel High School. The workshop will be held in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamnese.
Your calendar 11/17- Collaboration Schedule 11/20-11/24- Thanksgiving Break 11/29- Collaboration Schedule 12/6- Collaboration Schedule 12/15- First day of finals
theaztecnews.com
SPORTS PG 7-8 Preseason hopes and CIF recaps
Second annual Dancing with the Keppel stars WENDY YUAN Staff Writer Mark Keppel hosted its second annual Dancing with the Keppel Stars on Thursday, November 9th. There were performances by eight faculty members, juniors and seniors in Dance Team and All Male, every student in Period 3 of Intermediate Dance, and some beginning dance students. Faculty members included Ms Perez, Mr. Heredia, Mr. Alvarado, Ms. Burkhart, Ms. Bradford, Ms. Sinisi, Ms. Alexander and Ms. Carmona. Ms. Fillpot participated as a spectator because she was last year’s champion. Dance Company Director Arroyo says, “Everyone rehearses in advance for several weeks [and] Period 3 students are using this as a final choreography project for semester one. So they have to demonstrate certain choreographic principles in order to receive a good grade for their project.” Each staff member was gauged by three judges and received a score. In addition, there was a social media component factoring in audience opinion during the show, which attempted to save the faculty members who received low scores. The show was broadcasted on Facebook and consisted of live interviews
Mr. Alvarado admires his first place trophy after winning Dancing with the Keppel Stars.
THE AZTEC/TIMOTHY CHUMAN
after each performance, similar to the procedures of X-Factor and Dancing with the Stars. Dance Team Captain Kathryn Gee says, “It always takes hard work when preparing for an event, and this dance show is no exception. It’s especially challenging for us to create dance moves that the teachers, who have
never danced before, are able to perform and remember.” Mr. Alvarado and juniors Paul Im and Olivia Cheung won first place. Ms. Alexander and juniors Emily Jiang and Kristie Quan placed second, while Ms. Carmona and juniors Haley Inzunza and Elyce Kunisaki placed third.
Grab 'N' Go breakfast makes its debut SARENA SCOTT Staff Writer A new breakfast program called Grab ‘N’ Go was initiated on October 31 to make it easier for Keppel students to get breakfast without being late to first period. Grab ‘N’ Go breakfast stations are located by the west and east gates so that students can get breakfast as they walk into school. Grab ‘N’ Go breakfast was created so that more students can eat breakfast. "[Students] weren't coming to the cafeteria before perhaps because of the long distance." says Paul Saamp, who runs the Grab 'N' Go Breakfast carts at East Gate. There are several sections to each Grab ‘N’ Go station. The first cart contains the main course of your breakfast choice, the next cart is filled with fruit, and the final cart provides a choice of chocolate, strawberry, regular milk or juice. Since there are Grab ‘N’ Go breakfast carts on both sides of the cafeteria, students can get breakfast no matter where they are dropped off. Grab ‘n’ Go breakfast ends at 7:41AM and is very convenient., especially
Grab 'N' Go is now available at East Gate and West Gate.
for students who often arrive right before class starts. “We're hoping that all students that were missng breakfast in the past will have breakfast," says Saamp. "We're hoping that they will come and get a breakfast- grab and go." During the program’s first week, Grab ‘N’ Go passed out 30 front-of-the-line
THE AZTEC/JAMIE CHAU
passes. Now that this program has officially started, it is a faster way to get breakfast at a convenient location for people who are running a little late.
Language department offers tutoring JASMINE MA Staff Writer
Nurses attend to blood donors.
THE AZTEC/JAMIE CHAU
Students donate at annual blood drive JAMIE CHAU Copy Editor/ Historian Red Cross held its annual blood drive at Mark Keppel High School on November 13. It was hosted at the old gym from 8AM to 4PM. However, the blood drive was interrupted by a lockdown between 9:54 AM to 10:10 AM. The lockdown, caused by a misplaced suitcase, did not significantly affect the blood drive. “I was at the old gym waiting to donate blood when the lockdown happened,” says senior Desmond Lai. “The blood drive continued as normal and no one was panicking.” The rest of the blood drive played out smoothly. There were 41 donors that saved 125 lives in total. “I wanted to [donate blood] since freshmen year but I never got a chance because of
my classes.” says senior Yoon Noe. “I just hope I can save lives even though I don’t know who my blood’s going to.” “[Donating blood] is not as scary as [students] think,” says Veronica Sereno, the LVN Charge nurse. “The nurses here are well trained and all donors are doing well.” The premise of the blood drive is so that students can better understand blood donation and to save lives. “People in hospitals need blood everyday. The blood here goes to hospitals to save lives.” says Sereno.
Keppel’s World Language Department will be offering Spanish, Mandarin, and French tutoring during lunch and after school. Spanish tutoring is offered every Thursday after school. Spanish teachers Ms. Dominguez and Ms. Alexander take turns tutoring students. Students are arranged by grade level and start off with an activity. After the exercise, the teachers take a look at what the majority of students in each grade level need help on and proceed with a mini-lesson. In addition, Spanish tutoring offers help with essay writing. Although students are not tutoring others at this time, Ms. Dominguez hopes that students can tutor each other in the future. Mandarin tutoring is offered to students during lunch and after school. Students will attempt to improve their listening and speaking skills in addition to their writing skills. One-on-one tutoring is available upon scheduled appointment. French tutoring is run by Keppel’s French Club every Tuesday and Wednesday during lunch.
Peer tutoring is offered by higherlevel French students. One-onone tutoring is also available with Ms. Smith, who says, “French tutoring is terrific since it’s based on people’s needs and I’m always pleased when somebody steps forward to help and whenever I am able to help somebody.” Students are also feeling the benefit of this new opportunity. Junior Alice Khin says, “I feel that these tutoring sessions will be really beneficial for me, especially when I’m preparing for midterms and finals.” “I think a lot of our students need a one to one lesson sometimes and it’s hard [to do that] during the class time, so students can benefit from that extra learning time [during tutoring],” says Dominguez. Tutoring sessions are a great way to improve understanding of a new language, especially for those learning a different language for the first time.
Local high schools join for Tri-City Field Show WILLIAM DANG-NGUYEN Staff Writer On November 15th, the Aztec Band and Color Guard attended the annual TriCity Field Show at San Gabriel High School. The event brought together Keppel, San Gabriel, and Alhambra High Schools for a performance from each school’s Band and Color Guard. The show began with a parade and then field shows with mass band numbers and Color Guard routines from each school. Eighth graders also performed on the field.
The TriCity Field Show gave eighth graders a taste of what high school band is like. Band Director Mr. Lee says, “It [was] a lot of fun [because] each school [brought] something fresh and different. Alhambra definitely [brought] the showmanship, San Gabriel definity [brought] great music, and Mark Keppel [brought] good marching.” As a director, the most fun yet challenging part was “the whole learning process [which had] everybody working really hard [and bonded] everyone together.” Band and Color Guard practiced for three hours a day on Mondays and Thursdays since Band Camp in August. Accord-
ing to Lee, band “[came] a long way and [polished] their precision and marching.” Color Guard worked closer with band in the recent field shows. Band member and junior Esther Vega was excited for this year’s show because of the “new Disney theme which incorporates Fantasia, the different sets, or formations, [that can be seen] if you are high enough, and the new Color Guard element.” Color Guard added new and different aspects to the field show this year. Senior Color Guard captain Lyan Ly says, “We usually make shapes along with band, but this year we [were] not following their sets
exactly. We [were] doing our own thing [as well as] some dancing.” Color Guard recently got four new silks, and learned to use different colored flags for TriCity. Both Band and Color Guard worked hard to make this year’s field show a memorable experience.
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
Nicole Hernandez Lindsay Kung Christine Le 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 theaztecstaff@gmail.com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. We do not acknowledge unsigned letters. All internet graphics on The Aztec newspaper are the properties of their respective owners.
Alhambra, CA 91801
NOVEMBER 16, 2017
The AZtec
Viewpoint 3
Is No Shave November unbear(d)able? NICOLE HERNANDEZ Staff Writer
Andy To (11) work on the theater lights while Brian Phan (12) observe. THE AZTEC/ANGELA CHEN
Should VAPA classes be required to graduate? JASLYNN DIEP Staff Writer Imagine scheduling your classes for next year and struggling to find an available VAPA (visual and performing arts) class that suits your interest. In order to complete four years of high school and fulfill the requirements for graduation, students must take at least one year of VAPA. This includes classes such as dance, theatre, drawing, choir, orchestra, and band. However, are these courses crucial for student success? Senior Kevin Hu says, “I had a difficult time scheduling a VAPA class this year because the class that I wanted was full and the other classes that were available didn’t interest me at all.” Due to a small variety of VAPA classes, it can be a struggle for some students to get the class they desire. Sophomore Rosanna Ly says, “VAPA classes should be optional because students shouldn’t be forced to take a required class. It should be their own choice and action of however they choose to use the class to their advantage.” If students are not interested in fine arts but are mandated to choose one, they may find it difficult to seek enjoyment in the class. On the other hand, Junior Brenden Duong says, “VAPA classes should not be optional because they allow you to learn more about yourself as you cooperate with others and think creatively.” This goes beyond what is provided in academic classes, because creativity cannot always be found in literature texts or math books. Junior Victoria Yip says, “Drama has empowered me to gain more experience in public speaking and helped me express myself outside of academics.” Since then she has continued to pursue drama, Yip says, “It taught me how to be more confident as I learned how to face my fears...and explore new things.” Although Yip disagrees that VAPA classes should be optional, she believes that they are too limited. Yip says, “Not everyone can fit in VAPA classes that are offered at Keppel because everyone is different. We just need more options to explore ourselves.” In general, VAPA classes have proven to be beneficial to some students, but having more variety can give better options to meet other students’ interests. Since students are required to take at least one year of VAPA, it would be easier to find an interest if more classes are offered at Keppel.
No Shave November is a movement that encourages participants to stop shaving for the entire month of November. The purpose is to celebrate hair, since many cancer patients lose their hair during chemotherapy treatments. According to the Matthew Hill Foundation, an organization that promotes No-Shave November, 15,000 people have already pledged to not shave for the entire month in this year alone. No Shave November may be a widespread movement, but not many students at Keppel participate. Senior Angela Novack is one such student who does not participate in No Shave November. “I don’t participate because although it does bring awareness to for cancer, I don’t see the point. Me shaving or not doesn’t change the problem [cancer].” Novack doesn’t feel pressured to stop shaving either, “I already donate money to cancer campaigns, so I don’t see a reason to join in.” Even though Novack herself does not participate in NoShave November she supports people who do. “I don’t see No-Shave November as a bad thing; I think cancer awareness is a positive movement, because we need to find a cure. I just don’t participate in it [No Shave November] because I can still shave and support cancer research [simultaneously].” On the other hand, Junior
No Shave November Logo
COURTESY OF NO-SHAVE.ORG
George Shahin hasn’t decided whether or not he will participate in No Shave November, but he is compelled by the cancer awareness aspect. “I think it’s great that we’re bringing awareness to cancer patients and their struggle.” Shahin has supported other cancer campaigns in the past, which also makes him want to participate in No Shave November. “I wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month, so why not do the same thing for chemo[therapy] patients.” Even though Shahin supports cancer awareness movements he does have some reservations about participating in No Shave November, “I would want to do it but I like to shave and I might forget to not shave. Either way [shaving or not], I support cancer awareness campaigns.”
No Shave November is a great idea in theory, but in reality, it requires a lot of effort from participants, and offers minimal help for cancer research. Shaving plays such a large role in society, so asking someone to stop shaving for an entire month is an incredible sacrifice. The sacrifice may be for the good cause of cancer awareness, but there is no way to guarantee that those who stop shaving will actually donate to cancer research. There are certainly other, more effective ways to spread cancer awareness that do not require participants to break one of the biggest beauty regimens in society. But why not participate in No Shave November and donate to the nearest cancer fund?
THE AZTEC/KODY WOO
Daylight Savings - Saving nothing since 1974 KEVIN LIU Copy Editor/ Asst. Business Manager Daylight savings moves the clock one hour back in the beginning of winter, shortening our perceived daytime by one hour. Seven o’clock in the morning is now the new six o’clock; who wouldn’t enjoy the extra hour of sleep or homework time before school or work? Daylight Savings Time (DST) lasts from the Sunday, March 12th to Sunday, November 5th. First implemented in the U.S. in 1918, it proved unpopular following the World War I and was rescinded after seven months. However, it was reinstituted by Franklin Roosevelt during World War II and eventually signed into law in 1974
by President Nixon after being amended by Congress multiple times, especially in 1966 when they established a uniform system of time throughout the U.S. Into the twenty-first century, DST is now a fundamental aspect of the yearly cycle of school, recreation, and work. “I just like the extra hour of sleep [when DST is over],” says senior Cristina Ruiz. “I don’t understand daylight savings time… in general.” Given that the world wars are over, why is DST still an aspect of our society? Studies done in the mid-1970s justified it with studies noting that Daylight Savings
reduces overall energy consumption by a small amount, but is increasingly minimized by increased consumption in early mornings. In addition, more recent studies such as one in 2001 by researchers at the University of Michigan noted that there are greater pedestrian casualties around the period of when DST begins and ends. That one extra hour might have a wider influence than just car accidents; businesses capitalize on this extra hour too. Since 1915, the principal supporter of DST has been the Chamber of Commerce, whose goal is to further business interests in the United States. Utiliz-
ing this extra hour, businesses can sell to more shoppers, who now suddenly have an extra hour of time to do so. “If I had that extra hour, I would go out to eat, hang out with friends, and visit family,” notes Ruiz. “[Plus] lighting really affects schedule; if it’s dark outside [such as when DST is over], I’m more likely to just stay home.” DST is now propelled by other factors, like businesses trying to make more money and the politicians that depend on them to be reelected. So what are we really saving when we start Daylight Savings next year?
THE A
4 FOCUS
Celebrating Native Ame 1915
Red Fox James of the Blackfeet Indian tribe, presented at the White House for a day to honor Indians
1924
Indian Citizenship Act grants citizenship to all Indians born in the U.S.
1983
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed American Indian Day to be May 13
1990
President George H.W. Bush designated November as National American Indian Heritage Month, now known as National Native American Heritage Month
2000
U.S. Mint issues a dollar coin with the image of Sacagawea
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrat histories and important contributions of the native people. President George H.W. Bush declared November Native Am purpose was to give the Native Americans of the United State culture, beliefs, and way of life. During this month, national libra the Smithsonian, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Muse the ancestors and traditional cultures of Native Americans. Som include learning about American Indian history, watching movie trying a Native American food recip
We asked you for the first three words tha upon hearing “Native American.” Here is w
WORD CLOUD COMPILED BY JAMIE CHAU AND ANGELA CHEN
2002
John Bennett Herrington of the Chickasaw tribe becomes the first Indian in space
2004
National Museum of the American Indian opens in Washington, D.C.
2005
National Collegiate Athletic Association bans use of “hostile and abusive” American Indian mascots in postseason tournaments
TIMELINE AND INTRODUCTION BY IZABELLA COFRESSI DRAWINGS BY KODY WOO
Sailing away from Col HAOXIAN HU Photographer Columbus Day marks the day Columbus landed on the Americas on Oct 12, 1492. This federal holiday has sparked controversy since the 1900s, mainly due to Columbus’s exploitation of Native Americans. Now, this holiday is meant to honor both Columbus’s achievements and the cultures of the indigenous people of America. According to officeholidays.com, however, half of the United States no longer observe Columbus Day as an official holiday and celebrate Native American cultures in other ways. In 1937, president Franklin D. Roosevelt made Columbus Day an official holiday as a result of countless requests made by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization. Roosevelt strongly supported the celebration of Columbus Day, saying that “Columbus and his fellow voyagers were the harbingers of later mighty movements of . . . every country in Europe.” He discusses that celebrating Columbus’s discovery of the New World is the least he could do for the
“march of human progress.” Senior Nam Truong thinks that celebrating Columbus Day is justified because “we would not be here without Columbus, and Columbus has changed how the world operates single-handedly with [the] Columbian exchange and other trades between Europe and the New World.” Regarding what celebrations are to take place on Columbus Day in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison said, “Let the people . . . cease from toil and devote themselves to . . . express honor to [Columbus] and their appreciation of the great achievements of the four [hundred years that followed].” However, Junior Brendan Duong says, “I don’t think we should celebrate Columbus Day because the holiday celebrates a man who has enslaved Native Americans. By celebrating Columbus Day, we’re supporting actions against natives.” Without Columbus’s arrival on the Americas, it can be inferred that the indigenous people would have prospered without European
November 16, 2017 5
AZTEC
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lumbus Day interference. U.S. History teacher Mark Garcia says, “Columbus is seen for his hostile actions that span over his four trips to the New World. Columbus kidnapped and enslaved the Arawak people [to make a profit].” Many states including Nevada and California have already stopped celebrating Columbus Day and celebrate “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” instead. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is seen as a counter-celebration to Columbus Day to commemorate Native Americans’ broad cultures and shared history. Columbus Day was initially celebrated to honor Columbus’s discovery of the New World. However, in recent years, controversies have risen regarding the appropriateness of the holiday. Celebrating Columbus Day is a way to thank Columbus for our ways of life, without whom it may be much different. On the other hand, the holiday is extremely offensive to Native Americans, whose lifestyles and cultures have been destroyed by Columbus.
Caught with the wrong mascot VIVIAN LUK Asst. Viewpoint Editor It is a term that has dominated the media; from Halloween costumes to NFL mascots, headlines across the nation blare the words: “cultural appropriation.” Yet, many still are not quite sure what the term means. Simply put, cultural appropriation is the exploitation of a culture that is not one’s own. At San Diego State University (SDSU), the concept of cultural appropriation has prompted many student petitions to abandon their Aztec mascot. In April 2017, SDSU’s Native American Student Association submitted a proposal to the university’s Associated Students Council asking to retire the controversial mascot. Although the proposal fell short, narrowly rejected in a 14-12 vote, Native American students on campus remain absolute, refusing to allow the debate regarding indigenous identity and respectful representation to quiet. The debate at SDSU is especially pertinent, considering that Keppel’s mascot is also an Aztec. Though the debate is not as prominent as it is at SDSU, juniors Therese Du and Gabby Santos agree that Keppel’s mascot does not need to be changed. Du, president of the Human Rights Association, says that the mascot is a significant part of the school’s history and altering it would disrupt the way things have always been. Meanwhile, Principal Scanlan is undecided. He is against cultures being appropriated as mascots, but he recognizes that “society is slow to change and resistant to change,” which results in fierce push-back. Scanlan admires the route SDSU has taken - student movements, noting that abandoning a mascot is a gradual process, and not an immediate decision. Animated by the progress at SDSU, he has contacted the superintendent and anticipates some discussion in regards to Keppel’s longtime Aztec mascot.
Santos, who is of paternal Aztec descent, does not feel that the mascots are offensive as schools represent the Aztecs respectfully and in a positive light. While Santos is not personally offended, she understands how others can be, noting that “sometimes [people] don’t really understand a culture and get a lot of misinformation. Since [they] don’t fully understand it, [they] follow it in the wrong direction, which can upset people.” Ultimately, the decision to retire appropriated mascots should lie with those who have the authority to make it; those whose cultures and pride have survived colonization and centuries of oppression - the Natives.
thanksgiving with no strings attached WESLEY ZENG & EVAN CHENG Sports Editor & Features Editor Recently, America has been attempting to compensate for the historical struggle of Native Americans. Five years ago, the US awarded $3.4 billion to Native Americans in a settlement over mismanaged tribal land. Just last year, protesters vehemently fought against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which disrupts Native burial-grounds. And even earlier this year, the LA City Council joined other municipalities in renaming Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day. If this trend continues, Thanksgiving, a holiday with similar historical context, may be targeted by activists next. “I do not find it [Thanksgiving Day] offensive,” says junior Mia Heidt, who is a quarter Native American. “I’ve always celebrated Thanksgiving with my family… we do it just like every other family: [we] get together at someone’s house and eat festive Thanksgiving foods.” But what exactly is Thanksgiving, and when did it begin?
Although it was not officialized until 1863 under President Lincoln, Thanksgiving began in 1621 as a friendly celebration between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Native Americans. Today, Americans celebrate it to show appreciation with family and friends. APUSH teacher Mr. Luong comments, “I can’t speak for Native Americans, but…[despite] what happened afterwards with settlers expanding into native territory...the original intent is out of friendship [so] I think the spirit should be celebrated.” In the midst of conflict, the original Thanksgiving feast was a rare, peaceful interaction between the settlers and the Natives. Therefore, its significance should be one to commemorate.
6 fEATURES
THE AZTEC
November 16, 2017 Preserving The Spirit of Veterans Day EVAN WOO Asst. Focus
Senior Timothy Chu scrutinizes his college application for errors.
I Write, Therefore I am
THE AZTEC / EVAN CHENG
EVAN CHENG Features Editor
In One Thousand and One Nights (aka The Arabian Nights), the maiden Scheherazade must continually tell stories to a tyrant king in order to postpone her execution. Her ability to craft engaging narratives literally determined the outcome of her life. Seniors today find themselves in a similar - albeit less dramatic - situation with their college applications. From the Common App’s 550 word biography to the UC Application’s relentless Personal Insight Questions, ambitious seniors are often driven to bouts of existentialism and identity-crises. “I think [my application depicts] a
very surface-level version of me,” says Natalie Foong, who’s set her sights on UC Berkeley. “I’m not putting things down about myself that are inaccurate or untrue. But what I’m doing is - I’m whittling myself down to a very basic representation of what a good student is.” With the future at stake, presenting oneself candidly becomes a secondary objective. “You have to make yourself appealing to other people,” says Harvard-hopeful Timothy Chu. But even with clear goals in mind, Chu still faces difficulty. “I don’t want to seem pretentious, but at the same
time, I don’t want to be too modest.” It appears that writing a college application is not only a desperate search for meaning, but also a precarious balancing act. “If you’re trying to highlight a specific trait that they want to see, what you really are gets a little lost in that,” says Foong. And yet, these students feel little inclination to cling to their past selves. “The definition they have of a good student… or someone they want at their institution,” adds Foong, “ - it’s a pretty solid view of who individuals should strive to be in society.”
The meaning of Veterans Day seems self-explanatory. “It is mainly to praise veterans in our country and [thank] them for their service,” says senior Jian Yu. Wong adds, “We should celebrate their sacrifice,” adds junior Samuel Wong, “ to preserve our freedom and liberty in our nation.” However, from a veteran’s perspective, the holiday may be something more. “Veterans Day makes you reflect back and realize how few families have connection to the military.” says World History teacher Mr. Tran, one of the few veterans at Keppel. Unfortunately, some Americans just do not have the time or connection to fully appreciate Veterans Day. They may even do things that distract from the meaning of the holiday. “The sales on Veterans Day miss the point of the holiday,” says Mr. Tran, “and to many students, it’s merely a day off from school.” Despite this, there are still many people who celebrate the holiday for its true purpose. For instance, there are many events across the nation honoring veterans, ranging from subtle to overt celebrations. Americans are planting flags in cemeteries of former service members and hosting parades, music festivals, and firework shows in their honor. Subsequently, veterans may feelv honored to have fought for the nation of freedom and liberty. So, taking some time off and being able to thank a veteran goes a long way to honor their service and sacrifice, even if it is not Veterans Day anymore.
Are You at Risk? MAGGIE LUU Photographer According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to one in five kids living in the U.S shows signs of a mental health disorder — which can range anything from struggling to sleep to struggling to smile. “I think [school] makes people sad and anxious all the time. [Students] are always so concerned with getting good grades,” says junior Therese Du. “Grades for a lot of kids is like everything and it used to be everything for me,” agrees sophomore Helena Villanueva. “Now it’s just stress put on more stress.” These students’ opinion aren’t just unsurprising; they’re the norm. A survey by Stanford’s Challenge Success initiative found that 67% of their sampled students were often stressed about school. High levels of stress can cause distress and make us vulnerable to emotional problems. To relax, Villanueva “likes to hum or sing to calm [herself ] down.” Du, on the other hand, has a different strategy. She “always tries to stay positive by giving [herself ] treats or reminding [herself ] that learning is a good thing” whenever she felt stressed about school. An inflation in stress levels can increase the likelihood of mental illnesses such as depression. This may cause severe symptoms that affect how one would feel, think, or handle activities. “When you have depression, it’s hard to see yourself having a future and you constantly just want to give up,” says Villanueva. Villanueva spoke of her grades, which “are what stresses [her] out but [she] feel[s] incapable of doing anything.” Despite her struggle with school, Villanueva says that “[her] teachers who are amazing, helps [her] in any way they can.”
ICON COURTESY OF NOUN PROJECT
Hello Kitty & Friends greet guests at Tanaka Farms
THE AZTEC / LINDSAY KUNG
Hello Kitty Takes Over Tanaka Farms LINDSAY KUNG Staff Writer
Sanrio, the Japan-based corporate home of Hello Kitty, recently began their partnership with Tanaka Farms in Irvine, California, for a year-long collaboration where characters such as Hello Kitty, Keroppi the frog, and Pochacco the dog will serve as ambassadors to the Japanese family-run farm by appearing in photo opportunities as well as meet-and-greets with visitors. The partnership kicked off September 30 with the opening of Tanaka Farms’ Pumpkin Patch with Sanrio. Visitors were allowed to purchase admission to the pumpkin patch, wagon rides, petting zoo, and the Corn Maze. The characters have also joined the 77-year-old farm’s educational initiatives on topics like healthy eating, sustainability, and responsible farming. They’ll also appear throughout the 30-acre property for photo opportunities in full-costume. For years, Tanaka Farms has been a staple of the community, a working farm dedicated to providing families with quality produce and educational experiences. Senior
Evan Sakuma, an avid attendee of another event held at Tanaka Farms, is excited to hear that the farm is collaborating with a franchise he loved since childhood. As a Japanese-American and a visitor of the farm in past years, Sakuma predicts that the event will be “very successful in luring in the Japanese community”, and would love “to see a collaboration with Hilton in which an array of clients could be subject to ‘Sanrio Fever’.” Junior Stephany Wong says, “If I had the chance to go to Sanrio’s next collaboration, I would definitely go.” Like Sakuma, she hopes to see Sanrio partner with other franchises to expand its popularity. In particular, she is interested in a Sanrio and Sephora partnership as she believes that it would attract a lot of young girls like herself to buy their products. Senior Arie Lea Kuo also has made it a plan during the Christmas season to stop by the farm, and has expressed her excitement to “see what other collabs they come up with and, of course, all the little characters in cute outfits!”
november 16, 2017
sports 7
the aztec
Dodgers fall in record-breaking series SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ Asst. Sports Editor The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros faced off in the 113th annual World Series with the Astros coming out on top to win their first championship in franchise history. The Dodgers dominated Game 1 as star pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, only allowed one run on seven innings pitched, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 win. Despite holding a lead in Game 2, the Dodgers allowed the Astros to come back and tie up the series at one game a piece. When the series returned to Houston, the Astros won two out of the three games to take a 3-2 lead. On the brink of elimination, the Dodgers stayed alive with a win in Game 6, but ultimately fell in Game 7, as the Astros pieced together a commanding 5-1 win. Many Dodger fans blame the losses on the constant change of pitchers throughout the course of the series. Ms.Flores, English teacher and die-hard Dodger fan, agrees as she believes that, “That’s the way baseball has become, a statistical probability outcome with unlimited unpredictability.” Despite their loss, Dodger fans prove to remain loyal. Mr.Sakahara, math teacher and dedicated Dodger fan, maintained that the World Series loss would not affect his love for his lifelong team. “I’ve been a Dodger fan since ‘77, so that’s 40 years. [No] I will never switch,” said Sakahara. Although the Dodgers were defeated, fans can still admit that the Houston Astros deserved their title as the World Series Champions of 2017. Sakahara said, “[Yes] without a doubt, they deserved to win. They made plays when it counted.” Both teams hit incredibly well throughout the World Series as they combined to break the record for the most home runs in a championship series with 25. George Springer set a few records of his own en route to picking up the MVP award of the series. With unbelievable games and packed stadiums, the 2017 World Series brought one of the most exciting classics of all time. While they applaud the Astros on their first championship in franchise history, Dodger fanatics hope they won’t have to wait another 29 years to see their team win a World Series.
THE AZTEC/ JAMIE CHAU
Sophomore Michael Granados (24) dribbles the ball while going through plays during a weeknight practice.
Boys Basketball pivots as rebuild continues WESLEY ZENG Sports Editor/Business Manager With two members gone and a team consisting of five new Varsity members, the Boys Varsity Basketball team vigorously prepares for the upcoming season. The team had ended their season last year with a League record of 5-5. Following their season’s end, the boys continued to practice. Junior Joseph Haluska explains how “we’ve been just trying to keep our minds and bodies right… push[ing] ourselves during practice to make sure we’re prepared to give it our all during season.” In preparing for the upcoming season, the team conditioned during the summer by lifting weights to match up to the bulk of other teams and constant running to build stamina. One major benefit with the new roster is the experience the players have had with each other. “[After] bonding [for] over a
year, we now recognize that we’re more than a team; we’re a family” Haluska says. Despite the team’s familiarity with each other, Haluska expresses how the team needs to “improve on communication… [and making] sure we understand what we’re doing.” Another obstacle they face is their youth. “We need to grow up and our maturity will develop… once that happens we’ll be able to step up and do [well],” says Haluska. Sophomore Diego Bustillo agrees, but explains that although they are a young group, “we’ve done this for a year now and we should know how the atmosphere will be.” The basketball team is also working towards improving their skills at every position. Bustillo states how point guards need to work on pushing up the ball on offense, while the team can transition better to defense.
In addition, the team needs to work on getting easier points through defense, as Bustillo believes that the team’s “defense needs to improve [because] defense wins games.” One strategy Bustillo explains that will improve the team’s performance is playing aggressively. “Playing aggressive can get you really good points off the court, [and] having smart basketball skills can get you more opportunities on the court defensively and offensively.” Although the team still has room for improvement, both Haluska and Bustillo are confident for the upcoming season. Haluska notes that the boys have the skills to win and a coaching staff that can help them succeed; all they need is effort. “[The] only way we’ll learn from this coming season is to take what we learned during the summer and preseason and apply it to the court,” says Bustillo.
Girls Soccer kicks off with new season ANGELA CHEN Asst. Editor-in-Chief Mark Keppel’s Girl’s soccer team is preparing for a rigorous season with tough opponents at the beginning of their schedule. In fact, their first game of the season will take place on November 28th against the South Pasadena Tigers. Last year, the Tigers were ranked 509th in the state in Division 5 while Mark Keppel was ranked as the 690th in Division 6.
After making CIF last season, the Lady Aztecs hope to challenge themselves by playing against tougher opponents in higher divisions in order to improve themselves and their teamplay. This season’s team looks promising with strong new players and a renewed enthusiasm to win. However, the Lady Aztecs are quick to acknowledge that they are not without weaknesses. Varsity Captain senior Alina Shahin admits that the team needs to work on their communication, spacing, and control of the ball.
Shahin says, “There’s a lot of raw talent [on our team]. The team has changed a lot from my freshman year. I think this [season], in particular is going to be hard, especially since we lost a lot of [good players] last year.” JV coach Thanh Vu has high expectations, stating, “It’s going to be tough, but we have a lot of solid players on our team, so hopefully we will get to [CIF].” Despite the mounting challenges in their way, Girls Soccer still hopes to perform well this season.
Boys Soccer aims toward their goals TIFFANY LEUNG Web Editor Boys’ Soccer kicks off preseason with intense drills and practice scrimmages under the supervision of three new coaches alongside returning Junior Varsity Coach Benny Heredia. Both JV and Varsity soccer teams lost players from last season, yet remain hopeful with the addition of new underclassmen players. Head Varsity Coach Andrew Marin alongside Assistant Varsity Coach Isaac Alvarado acknowledge these new players in which they hope to integrate and enhance their talent into both teams. “[There is] a diversity of classmen that have a lot of potential to really do something this year”, said Marin. “We look to be more competitive [than] the past and these [new] athletes have the abilities to do that.” Since being rehired in June, Coach Marin has high expectations
for this season’s teams to succeed as he did coach for Mark Keppel before. Players in both teams, especially Varsity, are anticipating the season as they will be facing against tough competitors. Preseason will begin in two weeks and the remaining time to prepare for the team’s first match is limited. Captain Calvin Hung is both concerned and excited about both teams’ readiness as both junior varsity and varsity still need to work on the fundamentals of soccer. “[We] need to build better chemistry... and have a better attack” said Hung. “This year, we have more talent...more young players to reach [our] potentials.” As the younger generation is pressured to replace last season’s lost players, they have been conditioning nonstop to strengthen their physical capabilities. Accompanying his expectation, Coach Marin prepared a schedule for both teams in order to achieve this season’s goals.
“Our coach is more strict,” said Sophomore Diego Herrera. “He makes a plan of what we’re going to do instead of what he wants to.” With such planning and training, all four coaches are hoping to guide
both teams to league finals as well as CIF. Boys’ soccer will play their first non-league match against La Salle on November 21 at Mark Keppel.
november 19, 2017
the aztec
8 Sports Burglar steals Homecoming game TIMOTHY CHUMAN Editor-in-Chief With all of the festivities of the homecoming game in store, Mark Keppel’s matchup against the San Gabriel Matadors took an unexpected turn as the game was cancelled following an hourlong lockdown, giving the Matadors a 14-0 win. Despite coming off of a 54-8 loss to Alhambra, the Aztecs were motivated to put forth their best effort yet against the two-win Matadors. “We had that tough loss [against Alhambra], but we were still expecting to come out and give 110%, especially since it was the last game of the season,” said junior Jason Jimenez. San Gabriel put up two early touchdowns and had a 14-0 lead as the first quarter ended suddenly, fans began to flock toward the far side of the stadium. Initially, fans were told to return to their seats by school advisors, but after receiving instructions from authorities, the stadium was put on lockdown and fans were forced to congregate on the field. The lockdown began at approximately 7:20, and fans and players were held on the field for over an hour. The cause of the lockdown was a search for a masked burglary suspect, and when the perpetrator was apprehended, the game was officially called off, much to
THE AZTEC/ JAMIE CHAU
The Aztecs defense lines up against the Matadors’ offense in the first quarter.
the dismay of both the players and fans. Although they trailed 14-0, both players and coaches felt that the Aztecs had what it took to pull off their first win of the season. “I knew for a fact that the wait had cooled both teams down which made it anybody’s game. The momentum they had was gone and I knew that we could’ve come back if they continued the game,” said senior Jacob Preciado. Head Coach, John Tuttle, agreed with Preciado, claiming that, “We had plenty of time to chip away at the lead.” Considering that this was the last game of the season, the result was not only disappointing in terms of who came out victorious, but it was also heartbreaking for the seniors who were playing in their last game. “The fact that the game was canceled was very disappointing, but the fact that
ALEX HUA/ THE AZTEC
it was my last time playing under the Friday night lights made it terrible,” said Preciado. Ultimately, the night was a disappointment for many as the cancellation of the game put a damper on the end of the season. However, the seniors were still able to reflect on their football career and reminisce the journey that it has been. “My favorite memory from football would have to be senior night because the atmosphere was totally different. Having my parents walk me down the 50 yard line was one of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced,” recounted Preciado. While losing his seniors is indeed a challenge, Coach Tuttle remains optimistic heading into next season. “I’m hoping that we continue to improve and that we can start to string together some wins,” said Coach Tuttle.
CIF Spotlight ALEX HUA Photographer
GIRLS TENNIS
BOYS WATER POLO Boys Water Polo finished their season off with the record of 2-2. After winning their match against Alhambra, the team was able to enter the CIF league. The team was matched against Beverly Hills High School, playing an away game on October 31. Like many of the games they played in the season, it was a very difficult one. Co-Captain Mitchell Luong says that despite their lost, he thought it was good that they did not get “shutout by scoring a point in the fourth quarter.” Beverly Hill’s coordination and teamwork was one of the major reasons why Keppel did not win game. Another reason for their lost was because of,” recovering for defense because of one of their fast sprinters, which counter us by picking us off,” says Luong. Despite losing, the Water Polo team is looking forward to next year’s season with high hopes of competing in CIF again.
Girls Tennis ended their season off with the record of 6-2. They played Glendale high school in their first round of CIF playoffs. Playing them before in a preseason game, the girls knew what to expect. Although Keppel ranks as a Division 4 team while Glendale ranks as a Division 2, the Lady Aztecs were not discouraged as they were motivated from a good league season. However, Glendale’s skill
and their ability to hit the ball at certain spots, exhausting the girls, caused them to struggle throughout the rounds. Keppel fought hard to try to defeat Glendale, but ended up losing the game 11-7. Despite losing this game, this showed that they were able to keep up with a division 2 team and shows that they have the girl power and skill of playing tennis.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Finishing the league with a score of 6-4, Girls Volleyball proceeded their way into the CIF playoffs. The girls began with a game against Jurupa Valley High School in their first round of CIF playoffs. Keppel won the first, second, and fourth set, allowing them to advance to the next round. Co-Captain, Joline Kwok, said that,” Jurupa Valley played well, but lacked the teamwork that we
brought to the game, which majorly benefited us to our win.” The Lady Aztecs then moved to round two of the CIF playoffs and played Yucca Valley High School in an away game. Although the girls won the second set, they had lost the first, third, and then fourth, resulting in a lost. Kwok says that,” We struggled in defense quite a lot because Yucca Valley had a strong offense.”
Athlete’s Profile: Dillion Garcia KODY WOO & NICOLE HERNANDEZ Cartoonist and Staff Writer
Confidence. Iron will. Team player. These phrases are frequently used to describe Senior Dillon Garcia, captain of the Cross-Country team. Garcia has run Cross-Country since Junior year and has been an active member of Track and Field since his Freshman year. Garcia has proven to be a strong captain and a distinguished runner. “[I think it’s] important to be bigger than yourself. I’m all about helping others and team support.” This season alone Garcia has ran in 6 races and won 3 medals from those invitational races; his personal record for 3.1 miles is 16 minutes 41 seconds. Additionally, Garcia is the only runner from the team to advance to CIF finals. He credits his focus as one of the reason why he has accomplished so much this season, “I never imagined I’d get here, but I pushed myself to get here, [after all,] you’re only as good as you make yourself.” Garcia also thanks his coaches for their support and guidance this season. “Coach Tony and Coach Romero, they’ve pushed me because they saw the potential I had in the beginning of the season.” In addition to running Cross-Country and Track, Garcia is also a member of various clubs and extracurriculars on and off campus. Garcia’s other activities consist of participating in the Monterey Park Police Explorers, Sergeant of Arms for the Association of Latin American Students, and a part time worker at a Ralphs grocery store. “I learn discipline and keep pushing myself to continue,” he says. Garcia credits his success in balancing school, sports, and work to his time management and organization skills, “It gets pretty hectic, but it needs some organization.” Garcia would like to specially thank the entire cross country team for their support, particularly Emily Wu, as well as Nicole Hernandez, and Alina Shahin.
Sports Calendar Boys Basketball On 11/21 versus Glendale at Mark Keppel On 11/24 versus South Pasedena at Mark Keppel On 11/27-12/2 Sierra Vista Tournament On 12/11-12/16 Bellflower Tournament
boys soccer On 11/20 versus San Marino at San Marino On 11/29 versus South El Monte at South El Monte On 11/30 versus Rosemead at Mark Keppel On 12/5 at Wiseburn DaVince On 12/7 versus Temple City at Mark Keppel On 12/14 versus Whittier at Whittier
Girls soccer On 11/28 versus South Pasadena at South Pasadena On 12/4 versus South El Monte at Mark Keppel On 12/7 versus Temple City at Temple City On 12/12 versus Glendale at Mark Keppel On 12/14 versus Whittier at Mark Keppel On 12/16 versus Ganesha at Ganesha