THE AZTEC VOLUME LXXVIII NUMBER III
November 12, 2015
theaztecnews.com
IN THIS ISSUE VIEWPOINT PG 3 California high schoolers say goodbye to the CAHSEE
FOCUS PG 4-5 Giving Thanks from the Bottom of our Heart
FEATURES PG 6
The Real Businessmen of Keppel
SPORTS PG 8
Keppel faces Schurr in Homecoming Game
Keppel seniors pose for a class picture at the Homecoming Pep Rally.
ASB presents Homecoming: "You're Timeless to Me" BONNIE WONG & ARODI GARCIA Editor-in-Chief/ Asst. A&E/Features Editor & Staff Writer
Based on the musical Hairspray, Keppel’s homecoming dance, “You’re Timeless to Me,” took place on November 6. The dance was held in Palm Court. There was a total of 192 people who attended and the Associated Student Body (ASB) earned a total of $1,800 from ticket sales. Early bird tickets
were reserved for seniors from October 19 through 23 for $10 with ASB sticker and $12 without. Regular priced tickets were sold for $12 with ASB sticker and $14 without, from October 26 through November 6. No tickets were sold at the door. Senior Patrick Chea said, “It [is] senior year, and I thought I might as well experience [it]. It was nice.I think seniors who know that this is their final opportunity to do this really enjoyed it.” During the week leading up to Homecoming, ASB hosted spirit
Theater Honors class hosts second annual talent show DARWIN TSE Asst. Editor-in-Chief/ Web Editor
Your calendar 11/12 Drama Boosters Meeting 7-8:30 pm 11/17 School Site Council Meeting #2 in Aztec Conference Room 1:45-2:45 pm 11/17 English Learner Advisory Council Meeting #2 6:30-7 pm 11/18 Collaboration Schedule 11/18 MKHS PTSA Meeting 7-9 pm 11/23-11/27 Thanksgiving Break 12/2 Collaboration Schedule 12/10 Drama Boosters Meeting in A114 7-8:30 pm 12/16 MKHS PTSA Meeting 7-9 pm
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
Mark Keppel will host its second annual talent show, “Keppel’s Got Talent,” on Friday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. This year’s talent show is directed and produced by the new Theater Honors class. There will be 24 student acts and one teacher act, ranging from singing to playing the Guzheng, a Chinese plucked instrument. Tickets will cost $10. The judges for the talent show this year are Emily Bratmon, Tim Izo Orindgreff, and Cameron Parker. Bratmon has 29 years of dancing experience and teaches dance at the Collenette School of Dancing. Bratmon has also spent two summers with the Salzburg International Ballet Company in
Salzburg, Austria. For 20 years, Orindgreff has recorded, composed, and/or performed with artists such as The Black Eyed Peas, Cee Lo Green, Dr. Dre, and Meghan Trainor. Cameron Parker is a Mark Keppel alumni, who graduated from the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts. In addition, Parker is the co-artistic director of the Mosaic Lizard Theater in Alhambra. “We chose people who were not affiliated with our school,” said co-director and senior Sammy Chen. These judges were also chosen in order to have a wide range of expertise to properly evaluate the acts. Keppel’s Got Talent is open for all students to audition, and there are no prerequisites. The audition process intends to figure out where to place the act during the show and what equipment the act would need.
week with games and music in Palm Court. ASB adviser Ms. Carmona said, “I was extremely pleased. ASB students put in a lot of planning and organization into this year’s event. I thought it was extremely smooth. there were no last minute planning.” “The theme is related to a song in Hairspray, which is the drama production. For the last 3 years we’ve tried to align our Homecoming dance theme with our drama production to promote the story and kind of collaborate with drama. They help us by allowing
us to borrow some of their costumes for half time show,” said Carmona. The annual Homecoming Pep Rally was held at the field before lunch, featuring class games, the announcement of this year’s Homecoming King Bryant Chow, and performances from Band, Colorguard, Dance, AllMale, Drill, and Cheer Teams. Later that night, the football game between The Aztecs and the Schurr Spartans took place, and during ASB’s halftime performance senior Dianne Do was crowned Homecoming Queen.
News in Brief Cal State LA professor, Dr. Land, develops personal statement workshops in the Writing Centers Cal State LA professors and tutors will be available to help students with personal statements in the Writing Center, A243, from 2:40-3:30 pm on Nov. 17 and Dec.1.
Journalism students participate in Cal State Northridge Write Off Competition Journalism senior and Editorin-Chief of The Aztec, Bonnie Wong, was awarded honorable mention in the Features section for her participation in the Cal State Northridge Journalism Write Offs on Oct. 24.
Directions for navigating Keppel during lunch
To view full-sized image, visit theaztecnews.com
THE AZTEC/EDLYN WONG
Tunesday brings music to lunch RODOLFO ARIAS Photographer
Every Tuesday during lunch, ASB has started a new activity called “Tunesday.” Tunesday encourages students to request songs on a piece of paper provided by ASB at the front doors of B Building. Tunesday has been going on since October and is planned to continue on for the rest of the year. This idea was borrowed from San Gabriel High School. ASB President Sydnee Law said that The newely renovated Cascades Waterfall in Monterey Park.
THE AZTEC/KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT
Monterey Park celebrates 85th anniversary of El Encanto
DIANNE DO Staff Writer
Monterey Park celebrated the 85th anniversary of the El Encanto building and reopening of the Cascades waterfall, also known as Heritage Falls Park, on October 23. This park is a point of interest in the city, located at 700 S. Atlantic Blvd. Monterey Park. The waterfall was the centerpiece of a rededication ceremony and festival, called “The Magic of the Cascades,” following a series of recent improvements, which included new colored lighting in the fountain, steps, landings, upgraded irrigation, a new flag pole, and upgraded mechanical and electrical systems in the park. This renovation was funded by a grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. The El Encanto building was built during the Great Depression by Peter
K. Snyder. Originally, it was supposed to serve as a sales office and community center for Beverly Hills of the East Side, but the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began, ending the real estate boom. Although Snyder's proposal was brought to an abrupt end, the building and waterfall still became the symbol of Monterey Park. The activities began at 5 p.m. with a family friendly festival featuring jack-o’-lantern decorating, a Dia de los Muertos face painting booth, a magician, the library's Book Witch, cake walk, food, games, and music. At around 6 p.m., local dignitaries unveiled the new multi-color lighting of the waterfall. Also, Keppel’s Band and Colorguard performed a small set during the festival. Senior Lily Tsan said, “It was a great opportunity to perform at our city's birthplace; the audience was supportive and everyone had a great time.”
the lunch time activity is trying to “promote student participation and better school spirit.” Freshman Kacie Le says that she is very happy that the school plays music that students actually want to hear. “I like being able to request the music that maybe other people haven’t heard…” she said. Poching Lao, an ASB member in charge of cultural affairs, encourages the students of Keppel to not be afraid and “to come in front of B Building and request your favorite songs.”
San Gabriel High School holds annual Dia de los Muertos Festival
A performer dancing at the Dia de los Muertos Festival at San Gabriel High School.
ALEXANDER BEAUMONT A&E/Features Editor The Alhambra Latino Association hosted its annual Dia de los Muertos Cultural Festival at San Gabriel High School on this past Saturday, November 7. The festival had numerous food vendors, from professional caterers to high school clubs Also at the festival were arts
COURTESY OF ALHAMBRA SOURCE
and crafts for children, Dia de los Muertos altars on display, and various performing groups. There was also a special folklorico show from Inspiraciones de Danza Mexicana by Susana Hinojosa. The Dia de los Muertos Festival is a return to tradition; last year the Alhambra Latino Association held a Christmas Around the World Festival instead of their usual Dia de los Muertos Festival.
ASB collects donations El Niño expected to bring extreme for Canned Food Drive weather in upcoming year
JONATHAN LOU Staff Writer
The infamous “El Niño” weather phenomenon will be affecting the world with changing temperatures and increased rainfall in the upcoming year. El Niño is a climatic pattern shift that affects the global climate, potentially causing rainfall and floods in areas such as Peru, or longer droughts and fires in countries such as Australia and India. El Niño has also caused the Pacific Ocean to become warmer, which, in turn, has also caused the migration patterns of whales and sea lions to change.
According to the KTLA, California is expected to have triple the rainfall as the usual, which is roughly 10 inches of rain. This year may bring 30 inches of rainfall, expected in a series of storms but not all at once. This amount of rainfall can help California’s drought but it can also pose dangers such as flooding. El Niño is a natural occurrence and has happened before in the late 70’s, 1982-83, and 1997-1998. Biology and Environmental Science teacher Ms. Eggerman said El Niño is not a bad thing, in fact it might be good for us. “El Niño is good, it’s natural [and] we need it, we just need to be prepared for it,” she said.
ANTHONY JIAN Staff Writer
ASB is currently holding the annual Canned Food Drive, which began on November 2. ASB Advisor Mrs. Carmona said, “The purpose of the canned food drive is to help the community and give [to] people who do not have enough food to eat. It has not been determined where the can foods will go [yet] because ASB is still trying to find a food bank.” November 13 is the last day that ASB members will collect cans in students’ fourth period classes. Mrs. Carmona also said, “There is no
contest for which class who collects the most can foods, it’s just helping the community.” The reason why ASB does not give out any awards this year is that, unlike previous years, district rules now ban gifts from being given out to students. ASB President and senior Sydnee Law said, “I hope we can receive at least 400 can foods this year from every class.” Students may drop off their can food donations to either their fourth period homeroom or the ASB room, A132. The collected cans will be stored in the ASB room. The donation of non-perishable foods such as soup, cup noodles, sausages, beans, and corn is encouraged.
2015-2016 Bonnie Wong Editor-in-Chief/ Asst. A&E/Features Editor Vivian To Editor-in-Chief/ Focus Editor Darwin Tse Asst. Editor-in-Chief/ Web Editor Sarah McCormick News Editor Alexander Beaumont A&E/Features Editor
Brian Yeo Viewpoint Editor
Edlyn Wong Head Cartoonist
Celeste Arambula Staff Writer
Cristina Gonzalez Staff Writer
Jonathan Lou Staff Writer
Eric Lam Sports Editor
Kristin Chingburanakit Photographer
Anna Badros Staff Writer
Anita Huang Staff Writer
Eric Tam Staff Writer
Calvin Chan Staff Writer
Anthony Jian Staff Writer
Shanae To Staff Writer
Dianne Do Staff Writer
Cole Kim Staff Writer
Babyruth Torres Staff Writer
Noelle Frasher Staff Writer
Kevin Kuang Staff Writer
Sophie Wong Staff Writer
Arodi Garcia Staff Writer
Kenneth Liu Staff Writer
Karli Cheng Business Manager Victoria Ramirez Chief Photographer Brandon Chung Historian/ Copy Editor Yang Lu Copy Editor
Rodolfo Arias Photographer Aurora Zeng Cartoonist Wesley Zeng Asst. Business Manager Angela Chen Asst. Focus Editor
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 Ms. Bradley in room a225 or sent to theaztecstaff@gmail.com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. we do not acknowledge unsigned letters. All internet graphics on the aztec newspaper are the properties of their respective owners.
Alhambra, CA 91801
California high schoolers say goodbye to the CAHSEE YANG LU Copy Editor Prior to this year, California high students were required to take the CAHSEE (California High School Entrance Exam) to graduate from high school. However, since Governor Jerry Brown signed measure SB 172 on October 7, the CAHSEE has been suspended for three years. This measure is also retroactive, meaning that all students since 2004 who fulfilled all other graduation requirements except passing the CAHSEE would now be able to obtain their diploma. The contract with Educational Testing Service for the exam ended after the May test. The CAHSEE was also designed in an era prior to the Common Core stan-
dards. Cynthia Lim, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Office of Data and Accountability, stated, “CAHSEE is a test aligned to the old California standards, so it’s probably time for revamping Cartoon by Edlyn Wong that.” While there is logic behind updating test before renewing contracts, supporters have also padded the argument with emotional anecdotal evidence that skews the larger picture.
For example, the Los Angeles Times wrote about Telsis Radford, a 27-yearold graduate from Santa Rosa High who passed the English section of the CAHSEE but failed the math section three time. Radford can now receive her diploma and she said, “I’m so excited I get to start my future. I feel pure joy.” Rather than suspending it, the CAHSEE should be revised to align with new Common Core standards, . While anecdotal evidence evokes sympathy, it holds little merit against empirical evidence, such as the 95.5% pass rate of the 2014 CAHSEE (California Depart-
ment of Education). The fact remains that this test only covers materials up to the tenth grade level. Special exemptions are given to disadvantaged students. The test does what it should, indicating which students have mastered school content. When a student is two points below passing, the question should not be “why is the passing score not low enough” but rather “why did this student not reach the passing score.” Students can take the test eight times. The test is not designed to be challenging, unlike the SAT or ACT. According to edsource.org, “many of those failing students are often missing school credits and would not have graduated anyway.” This shows that the problem may lie in the students, not the test.
P.E. locker times cut down 5 minutes BABYRUTH TORRES Staff Writer Students used to have ten minutes to change back into regular clothes and then go to their next classes at the end of P.E. Recently, the school’s administration cut the time down due to P.E. students changing quickly and entering buildings, where they make a lot of noise that disturb classes. Now P.E. students must change in five minutes, and a teacher stands watch to make sure that no students go into the building. Some students have felt left out of the decision process regarding this new policy. Freshman Courtney Tat said, “Why should they have to enforce all these rules… It is really hard to only change in five minutes.”
On the other hand, some students are fine with the new rule. P.E. student Princess Ford said that she is okay with the new rule because she did not need the full time to change. Several students have expressed happiness with the new rule because they enjoy P.E., and they like having longer class times. P.E. teachers announced this policy change to their students, and several stated that they have received negative responses from students. P.E. teacher Ms. Hill said, “I like the new policy. It’s not fair to teachers to have to talk over students who go into the hallways.” Teachers have stated that the rules are changeable, and if the students follow the rule, the administration may change the time back to the regular ten minutes.
Senior Phillip Chang wears the same sweater on multiple days.
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
The stigma around clothing repeaters SOPHIE WONG Staff Writer A question often heard around campus is, “didn’t you wear that sweater yesterday?” The continuous fear of being called out in public for wearing the same clothes makes some students feel socially unaccepted. The term “clothing repeaters” refers to people who wear the same clothing twice or more in a week. Some may find this perfectly ordinary; sometimes, they may not own enough clothing for alternating between days. Others find this unusual, believing in the importance of keeping up with the recent fashion trends. This may lead students to question whether or not they are being socially accepted in school based on what they choose to wear. Freshman Vanessa Aguirre said, “I feel socially accepted in school from what I wear. I believe what you wear can affect the way you fit in with others.” Aguirre said that she does keep up with the current fashion trends. However, she may consider herself a clothing repeater at times. The most commonly repeated type of
clothing in school is sweaters. Sophomore Stanley Lin said that sweaters are versatile. “There are different materials available for different styles. People wear them when it’s cold or to represent their organization,” Lin stated. Lin believes that keeping up with the newest fashion trends is not really important, saying, “Not everyone values the notion of ‘newest fashion.” According to EliteDaily, successful people tend to wear similar clothing every day. Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Albert Einstein bought many sets of the same outfits. When stressing over little things like what to wear, people may become less efficient at completing other tasks. This concept is called decision fatigue. Decision fatigue is a psychological condition in which a person’s productivity deteriorates due to insignificant decisionmaking. Choosing what to wear may have become one of the hardest choices since the opinions of others are often taken too seriously. Being socially accepted in school helps boost confidence levels. However, students should all be socially accepted in school regardless of their attire choices.
TUTORING IN YOUR HOME Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, SAT UC Berkeley Graduate Roy Wu (626) 818-2657
Voices: How do you define thankfulness, and for what are you thankful? harlotte C lar
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I define thankfulness to be appreciative of something, and I’m grateful for the Aztec Singers program. THE AZTEC/ VIVIAN TO
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aniel de la Peñ D r a It means that you’re thankful for the good things in life, and I’m most thankful for my friends and family for always being there.
THE AZTEC/ RODOLFO ARIAS
giving thanks f Editor’s Note
Sometimes, people in general may be so focused on something that they might end up forgetting about what’s in front of them. In this case, being thankful for what we already have. You don’t have to worry about what you don’t have because that will only leave you feeling unsatisfied. Go beyond that and express your gratitude because that’s the very thing that turns what we have into enough. The Aztec challenges you to go on social media and post either a status, a photo, or even a video about what you are grateful for and add #thankfulness challenge at the end Also, tag us @theaztecnews and nominate your friends to take the challenge.
less self, more community ANITA HUANG Staff Writer
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I think thankfulness is showing gratitutude and saying ‘thank you’ after someone gives you something. I’m thankful for my friends and family. THE AZTEC/ VIVIAN TO
Whether working for the community or for personal goals, high school students can benefit from community service in countless ways. People who are involved in their community can get a better understanding of the world, in addition to gaining opportunities for the future. Sometimes, it can be better to offer help for free rather than expecting something in return. If one were to look at oneself and see that he or she already has everything in life, like friends, family, and happiness, there is no reason not to offer help to those in need. Junior Tyler Kim said, “Community service is something that we should do in good nature, so I believe community service allows a person to feel good for what they do for the community.” On average, about one in four people
who volunteer are teenagers under the age of 16. There are high school clubs, like Leo Club, Key Club, or Interact Club, that provide their services to the community. These clubs offer events, ranging from marathons to helping out in the kitchen, almost weekly in which students can volunteer. These events can provide the volunteers with new skills by working with people outside their comfort zone. Key Club advisor, Ms. Bhakta, said, “They [students] get an idea of how they can give back to the community. They get good experience in terms of how it can help others.” Not only can volunteering strengthen the community, it can also promote personal growth. It is a chance to return to the community what was received from it.
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THE AZTEC/ VIVIAN TO
I think that it means being grateful. I’m thankful for everything that has been given to me, such as growing up in a good neighborbood and going to a good school.
Although volunteering may be helpful for the community, students may be blinded by the fact that getting involved with their community can provide a better chance for them to get into good colleges. It does require one to take away some of their personal time just to provide assistance to others. In order to take their mind off the drawbacks of community service, they think of how it can benefit themselves instead. Some student volunteers completely neglect the fact that it can help many people in need. Leo Club advisor, Mr. Tran said, “It takes people with good intentions and these are things you can learn by doing, not just reading out of a textbook.”
Some club advisors must elect someone into positions, like president or secretary, annually. They must wisely choose between candidates who would actually dedicate themselves towards the services versus the ones who are only volunteering for the “hours” that make them appear better for colleges. “The students must make the effort into showing up to their community service times, how much time they put into the [service] clubs, and how well they participate,” said Ms. Bhakta. Teenagers are usually very busy, along with the stress from academics, sports, or even at home. However, their choice to give up their personal time for some people they have never even met before is an act of dedication.
from the bottom of our heart Cartoon by Aurora Zeng
HOW DO YOU EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE? Saying Thanks and Being Grateful Helping People and Giving your Time Giving Gifts/Food Give Hugs, Smiles, or Kisses Sharing Acts of Kindness Other
14%
10% 9.5% 9.5% 10%
47%
900 students were polled. Poll compiled by Kenneth Liu
Do Materials Matter? NOELLE FRASHER Staff Writer Being thankful is a tricky thing, as it can be interpreted in many ways. Theoretically, it means to be deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received. However, over the years, the definition has been altered dramatically. “I think people don’t take the word ‘thankful’ seriously anymore. That’s sad,” freshmen Victor Acevedo said when asked about the true meaning of being thankful. The reason behind this response about the modern meaning of thankful is the lack of sincerity and thought that has been more common nowadays, especially when it comes to gifts. Why are gifts given away? There are many different motives to giving presents, but how can anyone know whether the cause is selflessness or selfishness? According to biology teacher, Mrs. Hake, it’s the thought that differentiates between the two. She said that when there is effort and time put into a gift, it shows. Those types of presents are far more valuable than the flashy or expensive gifts that might require no time or thought.
However, not everyone agrees with this position. Sophomore Jason Hoeur said, “The bigger, more expensive gifts are cooler. I have more use for them. It doesn’t matter how much thought is put into them.” Hoeur also stated that more expensive or flashier gifts tend to be better quality. Some students believe that gratitude is best expressed through more sentimental or thoughtful gifts. Freshman Nathalie Zamora said, “Sentimental presents mean that [the people who give them] really care about you and thought about you when they got or made it.” She continued, “Expensive gifts that are just cool to see don’t require any thought to be put into them; you could just buy it and give it to the person.” Despite these differing views on ways to express gratitude through gifts, November is truly the month to be grateful. Whether that gratitude is shown through effortless, expensive gifts, or sentimental, thoughtful ones, it is up to the giver. As Mrs. Hake stated before, “The value of the gift isn’t based off its financial price; it’s the thought that counts.”
"Gobble, gobble" gratefulness AURORA ZENG Cartoonist “Thank you” is no doubt one of the most commonly said phrases in the daily life of a high school student. Someone might have held a door for you this morning, or a classmate might have helped you pick up a piece of paper. Simple actions like these are usually met with an expression of gratitude, mainly something along the lines of “thank you.” However, what if someone has done more than just holding a door or sending a picture of the homework? Will a short verbal gratitude be enough? Freshman Zachary Norman shared his opinions on showing thankfulness. Although he said that he uses the words “thank you” all the time, he believes that it is not enough in certain situations. Norman stated, “If a deed done for me was very helpful or kind, just saying thank you wouldn’t be showing my full gratitude. I think someone in that situation should show their full gratitude in a similar way to whatever the person who helped or was kind did.” Norman felt that, in his own life, a “thank you” would not be enough if someone has bought him something like food or a gift, and he will almost always repay them by buying them something as well. Sophomore Heather Tran has similar views on simply saying “thank you”. She felt that if someone has done something major for you, saying “thanks” isn’t quite enough, but if it was something like opening a door for you, a “thank you” is adequate. Personally, Tran has “paid her respects by being supportive”, buying gifts, as well as being there for her friends when they need someone. “I was indeed satisfied to be able to put a smile on their faces,” she said. Even the trendy “To Be Honest” posts on social media and such can be a form of gratitude. Many of us may write on a friend’s Facebook wall something along the lines of “You’re an awesome friend” or “Where would I be without you?” Although it is a less direct way of expressing thankfulness, the feelings are still the same: extreme gratefulness for having such great friend around. For most, this type of thankfulness is definitely enough to lighten one’s mood. With Thanksgiving around the corner, many of us might wonder if a simple “thank you” will be able to satisfy the countless deeds our friends and family have done for us. Sometimes it might not, and we would have to think of other ways to show our sincere gratitude.
We challenge you to take part in the #thankfulnesschallenge
The Real Businessmen of Keppel BRIAN YEO Viewpoint Editor
Jeffrey Wang
Senior Jeffrey Wang is the face behind iCubeMart, an online retail company that sells speedcubes and puzzles similar to Rubik’s Cubes. Wang has been running iCubeMart since sixth grade, after getting into speedcubing and realizing there was no existing store in the U.S. that sold speedcubes. Wang used YouTube to gain publicity for his store. He provided YouTube reviewers with free products in exchange for mention of iCubeMart. Simultaneously, he created his own YouTube channel and posted videos. Eventually, he built up enough revenue to place ads on a popular online forum for speedcubing. Currently, iCubeMart has performed well enough that Wang says he “actually [earns] enough money to be able to live comfortably by [himself ].” However, Wang had to spend years growing his business and dealing with “cutthroat competition.” Wang remarks that the most memorable parts of his experience with iCubeMart have been the strategic planning he has done in marketing his site.
Kenneth Zhang
Trendwares Co. is an online retail clothing business created and owned by senior Kenneth Zhang. The store focuses on selling specialty streetwear. Zhang gained inspiration to create Trendwares from his father, who he says also runs his own business. He began developing Trendwares after meeting with different clothing suppliers at trade shows and establishing good relationships with them. He faced his first obstacle in deciding on a name before landing on Trendwares. “I thought Trendwares would be a great way to express what I’m trying to sell: trendy clothes,” said Zhang. A large hurdle for Trendwares came through marketing issues. “Many people were interested, but no one initially bought in,” said Zhang. “It took different marketing strategies to boost our attention.” Zhang was pleased to find that, after a slow start, Trendwares took a huge jump in sales, generating more every month. “I think my business has just gotten past the beginning phase,” he said. “And I definitely see potential [in the company] as
Aaron Chan
Senior Aaron Chan first created his clothing brand, Versatile, in his freshman year at Mark Keppel. The brand reflects Chan’s own interests in fashion. Chan began designing clothes for Versatile in his graphic design class in 2012. Shortly after, he launched his own brand and started gaining traction through social media. Chan said, “I used social media to get connections and models. I reached out to people who were famous on Instagram and that’s when they started to rep my clothes.” Chan does all of the production, marketing, and shipping by himself, though he says his parents also support him financially. He said, “Sometimes my customers don’t understand that I’m a one man band.” Most of Chan’s favorite moments in running Versatile come from his time conducting photo shoots in L.A. “It allows me to come out of my comfort zone and experience new things,” said Chan.
Keppel Veteran VIVIAN TO Editor-In-Chief/ Focus Editor
THE AZTEC/ VICTORIA RAMIREZ iCubeMart owner and Keppel senior Jeffrey Wang.
Additionally, he said that getting recognized by customers at speedcubing events and receiving heart-warming emails gives him a sense of accomplishment that has made business more enjoyable. If Wang were given a chance to do something differently when starting his business, he said, “ I would definitely have not named my company iCubeMart; it’s a weird name.” You can learn more and purchase cubes at www.icubemart.com.
In observance of Veteran’s Day, which just passed, here is one of Keppel’s very own veterans, Mr. Tin Tran. Prior to becoming a History teacher and Academic Decathlon Coach, Mr. Tran was a Lieutenant in the Navy, serving on active duty in the Aviation and Surface Fleets as a Naval Flight Officer and a Surface Warfare Officer, respectively, for four years. For Mr. Tran, Veteran’s Day is not just a day off or a day of store sales. It’s a day where “[I] reflect and remember the good times about the people I served with.” Mr. Tran wanted to be a military officer since he was a boy because he was inspired by his father and uncles, who were also in the military. Another reason was that Mr.Tran wanted to pay back for all the opportunities he and his family received from the United States of America - after coming here as a refugee of the Vietnam War in 1975. He also loved the idea of “traveling around the world and living an adventurous life.” Veteran’s day is usually a quiet day for Mr. Tran, and it mainly reminds him of his father, who was a Colonel in the South
THE AZTEC/ RODOLFO ARIAS Veteran and Keppel teacher Mr. Tran.
Vietnamese Marines, and “all the combat and hardships he [his father] had to go through.” On this day, Mr. Tran would find time to visit his father’s grave with his mother, and if he can, meet up with other veterans in the family as well.
long as my team and I continue to work hard.” Zhang’s plans for Trendwares’ future includes designing his own clothes by working with companies like American Apparel, as well as adding on new retailers like Brandy Melville. Trendwares also partakes in humanitarian efforts, donating a part of its profits to the World Education charity. “We want others to have the knowledge to be able to achieve their dreams and success as well,” Zhang said. You can find Trendwares online at www. trendwares.com or on Instagram: @trendwaresco.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
Why do we have turkey on Thanksgiving and not chicken?
A Big Thanksgiving Question: Why not Chicken? THE AZTEC/ RODOLFO ARIAS Kenneth Zhang, senior and owner of Trendwares.
Though Chan is satisfied with the success that Versatile has enjoyed so far, he envisions it growing more every year. To students who want to start their own business, Chan’s advice is to stick through the difficulties because the payoff is worth it. His parting words are “stay versatile.” Chan’s clothes can be purchased at www. stayversatile.co.
THE AZTEC/ KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Versatile Co. founder and senior Aaron Chan.
ANGELA CHEN Asst. Focus Editor Turkey is revered as one of the greatest meals of our time, especially during the Thanksgiving season. However, a bird is a bird, and a lingering question remains. Why not chicken? Why is turkey considered the staple dish for the popular American celebration? Could it be that the pilgrims were simply in a fowl mood (pun intended), or perhaps the chicken crossed the road in a manner too quick to catch? According to Mental Floss, the reason might have been very simple. Ever since President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, people, having heard that the colonists had hunted these wild birds in 1621, had decided on a whim that turkey shall be eaten during the respective holiday. In other words, why not? In addition, turkey is a variation of bird that is native to the Americas, and thus this practice might stem from a sense of nationalism, or just simply a matter of
convenience. Sophomore Natalie Foong stated, “I think [people eat turkey] because they enjoy being a part of a subculture, and in a sense, eating turkey is like a subculture. I believe that it is fun for society to participate in something that everyone knows.” The consumption of turkey remains a popular tradition even today. According to Ralph’s employee Donald Martinez, the demand for turkey is as unyielding as ever during the Thanksgiving season, with Martinez even stating, “We almost always sell out.” This suggests that turkey still retains its status as a valuable centerpiece on the Thanksgiving table. In any case, whether your family considers turkey as an irreplaceable traditional course during the season of thanks, or you simply prefer to supplement the dish with other poultry such as duck or chicken, the underlying theme of gratitude, appreciation for loved ones, and unity in the Thanksgiving holiday, is a custom that transcends simply one’s meal on the table.
Girls volleyball completes season; hope to improve next year
CHRISTINA GONZALES Staff Writer
Mark Keppel Girls Volleyball season has come to an end. Overall, the standings for all three teams were not as high as expected by players. Varsity ended the season with a score of 0-10, Junior Varsity ( JV) ended their season with the standings of 5-5, and Frosh finished up with a standing of 4-6. However, even with these standings, varsity players and juniors, Shawnee Gonzalez and Sarah Kim, think that “it was a good season.” They also said that they “worked extremely hard throughout [the season], and were points away from a win in several games… and are looking forward to redeeming themselves next year because the record doesn’t show all the hard work and progress that went into this season.” In accordance with Gonzalez and Kim, fellow varsity player and junior, Kristyn Lee, agreed that there were so many times that they came close, yet couldn’t manage to score the win, but this season can be used as a learning experience for their next year’s season because they can do better. Similar to the thoughts of some of the players on varsity, JV player, Erika Sato, said that “it was a little bit harder for us in
The Mark Keppel girls varsity volleyball team (missing Senior Elaine Ha and Junior Sarah Kim) poses for a group picture.
the beginning, but as the season progressed we improved and got better as a team… and it was overall a good season for us.” Sato’s teammate, junior Justine Pham, agrees with her about the team definitely trying their best, and said that they had a lot of fun doing so. Almost following in the footsteps of Ju-
nior Varsity, the Frosh team ending their 2015 season with standings of 4-6. Freshman Sophie Zhu said that her and her team are “really proud of what [they] were able to accomplish,” and that they “improved a lot from when the season first opened up.” This year all three of Mark Keppel Girls Volleyball levels did not qualify for
The Mark Keppel girls varsity tennis team poses for a group picture. The Mark Keppel varsity cross country team poses for a group picture.
COURTESEY OF JANELLE ZAMARO
Cross country finishes first season with new coach COLE KIM Staff Writer
With their last race on November 6th, Mark Keppel’s Cross Country team brings the season to a close. They’ve been training hard for the past few months and have put their effort into the races at the best of their ability. In their first race at the end of September, both the boys’ and girls’varsity and junior varsity didn’t end up placing well. However, the boys and girls frosh teams placed in second and third, respectively. Senior Kyle Tse of the boy’s varsity team said, “We [varsity] improved, but so did the other teams as well so we didn’t place as well as the other teams. We placed quite well in Frosh.” Following the trend with some improvements, their second race on October 21st placed them in 4th for boys varsity, 5th for girls varsity, 2nd for boys frosh and
3rd for girls frosh, all out of 6 schools. “We are all really scared and nervous but we know we can finish with a good time,” said Captain Janelle Zamora before a race. With the last and most recent race of the season on November 6th, Boys and Girls Varsity in addition to Girls frosh both ended up 4th, about the same as compared to the previous race. Boys frosh again placed 2nd, a good finish to end off the season. “We barely missed CIF but we still did fine overall,” says Tse. Cross Country has had an improved season this year, and as Coach Justiniano states, “my frosh boys got second place, and the best part is they improved their time and all the teams improved their ranks from past years where they always finished last. “Everyone improved their times and that’s great,” adds Tse.
COURTESEY OF KEVIN LEE
CIF, California Interscholastic Federation, Championships, but all teams did try their best and are looking forward to improving in the seasons to come. They did, however, have fun while preparing for their season and stand by their teams when they say they fought their hardest and will continue to do so.
COURTESEY OF MIKE TEN
Girls tennis places second in league; win 2nd round of CIF
CELESTE ARAMBULA Staff Writer
Keppel’s girls varsity tennis won, 144, against Bishop Montgomery High School, while away on November 4. The Lady Aztecs also took the win on October 27, 10-8, continuing their streak with the game against San Gabriel. The girls made it to second place in league and won their second round of CIF games, which is a major accomplishment this season. Varsity girls made a comeback in the second half of the season, according to Senior Mika Miyagi. “I feel like we accomplished making a comeback in the second half of season,” Miyagi said. “We made it to second place in league and even won our second round of CIF games.” She also stated that one of her strengths was “the desire to win because it’s my last season.” She said she was really motivated for this reason. Sophomore Maliah Pierribia’s main goal this season was to “be more dedicated to tennis and be prepared for games
and I feel like I accomplished that.” Pierribia stated that one of her weaknesses this season was getting injured a lot and missing several games, but that did not stop her from giving 110% at each game and practice. Overall, Pierribia felt like this season was better than she expected. “We won most of our games and ended up second in our league,” she said. Captain Arianna Acuff noted that the team has accomplished a variety of things, including teamwork. Acuff said, “our bond has become so strong since season started, which helps us win our games and get through anything.” Having a great bond can be very important, according to Acuff. She also mentioned that “the season went fantastic [is because] we have discovered our strengths and weaknesses and what returning players can do better ourselves for next season. Overall they played a great season and conquered this season by winning most of their games. And by working on bettering themselves for next season. We will bring in that first place plaque next season.”
THE AZTEC/ KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT
Athlete’s Profile:
Cerrin Toh
BRANDON CHUNG Copy Editor/ Historian
Senior Jose Lara (52) prepares for the play as Ruben Arauz (7) readies himself.
THE AZTEC/ KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT
Keppel faces Schurr in Homecoming Game WESLEY ZENG Asst. Business Manager Friday’s homecoming game against Schurr High School ended with the score 0-52, the Aztec team losing. The first quarter ended with Schurr scoring two touchdowns, leading 0-10. Gradually, they gained two touchdowns each quarter, ending the second 0-24, the third 0-38, and the fourth 0-52. The team throws were intercepted multiple times throughout the game, leaving it harder for the team to catch up to Schurr’s score. Keppel football player junior Kobe To said, “Friday’s game was a
wake up call to show us how much harder we need to train for next year’s season. Schurr was a better team overall in strength, skill, and their assets.” Although the team had dropped from last year’s score, 0-38 against Alhambra, they are confident with incoming JV members for next season. Head football coach, Aaron Sepulveda, senior quarterback Elijah Castillo, and sophomore team member Jad Khazaal all agreed that the team had good spirit and passion. “[The San Gabriel game] is going to be the most memorable... we were on brink of victory… [because] our players came into the game extremely focused with pas-
Boys water polo plays first round of CIF
Senior Stanley Yu (1) blocks the shot as teammates Lance Oh (21) and Matthew Chan (3) watch.
THE AZTEC/ DARWIN TSE
sion,” said Sepulveda. “[In] many of our games, we’ve been overwhelmed, we have to have a more established focus on the weight room”. Sepulveda emphasized how the football team would be better if they trained with absolute focus during their training inside the weight room. Castillo and Sepulveda had both also mentioned how they needed more players. “We don’t have that many players, [although] no one quit, everyone stayed with the process,” said Castillo. The amount of players had increased, this year with a total amount of about 30 players remaining on the team compared to the low 20s last year.
DARWIN TSE & BRANDON CHUNG Asst. Editor-in-Chief / Web Editor & Historian / Copy Edito The boys varsity water polo made it to the first round of CIF, after narrowly missing CIF qualifications last year. Although they lost their game on Tuesday against Estancia High School with a score of 7-19, the team was grateful for a successful season. “We made a lot of progress
Senior Cerrin Toh has been playing tennis for three years. She started playing tennis for Keppel because her brother was also in tennis, and she wanted to give it a shot. Toh said that tennis has taught her the importance of group dedication. “I learned that it’s not individual dedication that really matters in a team sport, but overall dedication that truly matters,” she said. For her the hardest part about being a student athlete is “going home really late and having to do all the homework without falling asleep.” Her biggest tennis accomplishments were not made in the games, but rather were the memories she made with her teammates. “I like the close friendships that were made between all of us,” said Toh. “I enjoyed hanging out...and experiencing new things with them. I like the memories that were made and the times where we just talked and shared stories.” Toh is largely influenced by her friends and family. However, this year her biggest tennis influence is her coach, Mary Ma, for guiding her through the games. In her spare time, Toh enjoys reading, watching TV shows and movies and watching YouTube videos and going on Netflix. Toh would like to give a shout-out to her doubles partner, Michelle Lam.
this year and improved a lot,” said captain and senior Kyndall Ting. “We had an experienced coach that taught us a lot about polo.” At the start of the game, the Aztecs were able to keep pace with the Estancia Eagles. Towards the end of the first half, both teams were tied at three points each. However, the Eagles began to pull ahead, ending the third quarter with a score of 11-5. The final score was 7-19. “We showed them we meant
business,” said coach Wendy Centeno. “But towards the end, they let their blunders get to them, and I think that’s what defined the game, them getting upset because I know they are amazing players.” Despite the loss senior Stanley Yu is thankful for the bonds he has made with his team. “The best part of the team is how close we are and how much we have connected,” said Yu. “We bonded so much it seems like we’ve been playing forever.”