THE AZTEC
VOLUME LXXVII NUMBER IX
ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
January 22, 2015
The Mach Keppelerians victorious in the 2014 Zero Robotics Virtual Finalist Championship YANG LU Staff Writer Keppel’s Zero Robotics team, named “The Mach Kepplerians,” defeated the Italian team, AGNELLITRONICS, to claim victory in the 2014 Zero Robotics Virtual Finalist Championship on January 16. With a closing score of seven to six, the Mach Kepplerians were able to secure their triumph due to clever strategies and effective countermeasures. Ellen Hake, advisor of MKHS Zero Robotics, commented, “They [AGNELLITRONICS] tried to one-up us, but we oneupped them instead.” The Mach Kepplerians competed among 179 teams in the international Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) contest hosted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Each team was expected to create algorithms that would command satellite modules to perform specific tasks, such as transporting materials and taking photos.
Back Row (Left to Right): Sophomores Scott Chin, Russel Chin, Raymond Deng, Carleton Tam, Daniel Ip, Holman Lau, Kevin Kuramoto, Front Row (Left to Right): Sophomores Tiffany Joa, Douglas Chin, Rachel Wang, Caitlin Tieu, Bonnie Woo, Jason Xian, and Advisor Ms. Hake
Though the Mach Kepplerians were newly formed with only lowerclassmen, they were able to rank 19th out of 28 alliances in December. After Tier Two semifinals, they climbed to first rank to face against AGNELLITRONICS in the championship. During the three-minute final, the Mach Kepplerian satellite ran out of fuel before its Italian counterpart. Fortunately, it was able to drift into the “Shadow Zone”, using its last burst of energy to spin
Winter Festivals bring community to Keppel TAMMY LEE Staff Writer The Winter Festival will be on Friday, January 23 at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., featuring games, food, and music. Winter Festival is open to both students and other members of the community. Clubs were invited to participate and hold booths where other students can come by and have fun. For example, the ASB booth will be selling Tasteas and tacos. CSF is going to be selling egg rolls and dumplings. Journalism will be selling hot chocolate and hot cheetoes with nacho cheese. Other clubs will also be providing food and forms of entertainment. There will also be two perfor-
mances that will take place during the Winter Festival. Junior Tommy Tang said, "I can't wait to try all the food." According to Ms. Carmona, some clubs were not able to participate in the Winter Festival because they did not follow proper procedures in turning in the correct fundraising forms two weeks before the event. District policy did not allow these clubs to have booths. Ms. Carmona said that the purpose of the Winter Festival is to gather people to form a community in the school, and also to allow elementary or middle school students to see what high school is about. Winter Festival also gives clubs a chance to advertise and fundraise.
Mark
Your calendar 1/23 Minimum Day- dismissal at 12:17 pm 1/23 Winter Festival 1/28 Collaboration Schedule 1/28 MKHS Alliance Meeting in Cafeteria 7-9 pm 1/29 AP Parent Meeting in Auditorium 6:30-8 pm 2/4 Collaboration Schedule 2/9 Lincoln's Birthday Holiday- No School 2/16 Washington's Birthday Holiday- No School 2/18 MKHS PTSA Meeting in Cafeteria 7-9 pm
and take photos. This earned the Mach Kepplerians a few points at every interval, while the Italian AGNELLITRONICS satellite attempted to reposition itself with conserved fuel to take higher-value photos. In the end, the Mach Kepplerians’s strategy earned them enough points to surpass AGNELLITRONICS. After seeing his team’s codes executed on the International Space Station (ISS) and winning the championship, Sophomore
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Douglas Chin, MKHS Zero Robotics Club President and Team Captain, said, “After much hard work, perseverance, and a little luck, it was gratifying to see our SPHERES satellite fly in space with the software code we wrote.” He noted that the significant differences between virtual simulations and the competition on ISS made the process “an exhausting and grueling three minutes” to watch. In the end, he was
proud to be the leader of the 2014 Zero Robotics Virtual Finals Champions. The 13 active members of the MKHS Zero Robotics Club were recognized by the City Council on January 20th. The vice president of the club, Sophomore Rachel Wang, said, “I’m really grateful for Ms. Hake because she’s really supportive of our club, and she takes time during her lunch to let us use her room for meetings, just helping us to get the recognition we needed in school.” Sophomore Bonnie Woo, a general member of Zero Robotics, discussed the routines of the club: members met in Hake’s room every Friday during lunch and twice monthly via online communication. Active team members were expected to complete programming tutorials and acquire proficiency in coding languages. Woo said, “It [programming] would be a lot faster if I took a physics course, and it would have been much better if we had upperclassmen that were knowledgeable about physics.”
Winter Formal returns to Keppel LYDIA XIE Co-Copy Editor, Asst. News Editor ASB announced this year’s Winter Formal 2015, "Frozen in Time" on January 9 in Palm Court. The dance will take place on Saturday, January 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier. Although, it has been traditionally open to juniors and seniors only, Winter Formal will be open to all grade levels. However, Winter Formal Court will be exclusively for the junior and senior classes. Juniors and seniors will be able to nominate and vote for their respective classmates. The nominees for winter formal king and queen will be in a fashion show the week before the dance. Juniors and seniors will be able to vote again for their respective classes the following
days. The final winners will be announced at the dance. This year’s Winter Formal is unique from the Winter Ball held two years ago. The price of the ticket includes dinner and dessert as well. Traditionally, ASB hired each person or company separately. This year, ASB collaborated with Wow Entertainment, an event planner company. Senior Christian Rubio, one of the ASB members in charge of planning the event, said, “We gave the company a price range. Then we looked at the cost and places they had to offer.” ASB uses the funds from tickets to pay for the location, entertainment, flowers for the court finalists, decorations, and security. This year’s Winter Formal will also include a photo booth. In addition to event planning differences, Senior Tammi Matsukiyo, an ASB member also in
charge of Winter Formal, said “Two years ago, we were not allowed to have dinner. This year, we are at a high end country club. Administration is even letting us go outside on the grass and bridge. We also got a great DJ who has been highly recommended.” ASB is also holding a contest on Instagram this year to give away two free tickets to Winter Formal to the couple who gets the most “likes” on the photo showing their Winter Formal ask. Entries to the Instagram contest will end on Friday night, and voting for this contest will end on Sunday night. Ticket prices are $90 early bird with ASB, $95 early bird without ASB. During regular ticket sales, the prices will be $100 with ASB and $105 without ASB. There is no limit on tickets this year. Ticket sales will end on Monday.
IN THIS ISSUE... News: Robotics Competition • Winter Fest • Winter Ball • Writing Center • School Cameras • Winter Blood Drive • Calc Airband
Viewpoint: Charlie Hebdo Attacks • Going to School When Sick • The Interview • Name Brand: Worth It?
Focus: School Spirit Features: Study Spots • The Hype • New Years' Resolutions • T.A.s Sports: Athlete's Profile: Ryan Mejia • Boys' Basketball • Girls' Basketball • Girls' Soccer • Boys' Soccer • Girls' Water Polo • Wrestling
Cameras installed in Keppel buildings BRANDON CHUNG Historian Recently, Mark Keppel High School has undergone a new security measure and has begun installing new security cameras on campus. A total of 39 cameras are currently being set up around campus in the A, B, C and D buildings. Principal Cisneros said, “They’re really for safety and security.” She also added that the cameras already installed are not yet activated, but that she is “anticipating having them up by the end of January.” The installation of the cameras is being handled by an outside contractor called Vector, whose workers come on campus after school at 3:00 p.m. and continue installing the cameras until 10:00 p.m. The camera’s main focus is within the hallways and campus
perimeters. They are motion-activated and are intended to catch any criminal activity, such as drug use, burglary, graffiti, etc. In addition to crime prevention, the cameras are also useful for tracking students’ whereabouts. According to Mrs. Cisneros, “...there are times when students have medical issues [and become disoriented, and walk off campus], so we’re gonna be able to know [if anything like that’s happened].” Mark Keppel is the last school in the district to have installed security cameras on campus. The other two schools, Alhambra High School and San Gabriel High School, already have previously installed cameras on their campuses. Principal Cisneros said, “I think it’s a real plus for us. I think it’s a real positive addition to increase our safety and security.”
Cal State LA collaborates with Keppel in new Writing Center program ERIC LAM Staff Writer Cal State University-Los Angeles students and professors will be collaborating with Keppel teachers to help students improve their writing skills in a new program, the Writing Center, which began on January 7. The Writing Center program will take place each Wednesday after school until 3:45 p.m. According to Dr. Robert Land from Cal State LA, this project began when professors and associates from the college came together with Keppel staff to develop this
program. Preliminary meetings to plan the project began in November and December, before its actual opening this month. Funding for this program comes partly from district provided support as well as federal funding on a larger scale. The primary goal of the Writing Center is to help students pass the CAHSEE, but English teachers will also use the Writing Center in order to help their students improve their writing skills. AP Language and Composition teacher Mrs. Flores said “The Writing Center will aim to increase overall student proficiency
in their writing skills.” Although the Writing Center will be here this year, it is not known whether or not the Writing Center will be a permanent addition to Keppel. So far, students have a positive outlook on the writing center. Junior Melinda Av said, “I heard about the Writing Center in my English class. I think that it will be really helpful to students.” Junior Anastasia Lothringen said, “The Writing Center shows a lot of promise and I think that it will achieve its goal of helping students pass the CAHSEE.”
AP Calculus students and band members participate in annual Calc Airband
Keppel hosts annual winter blood drive CHRISTIE HUI Staff Writer Keppel’s winter blood drive took place on January 21 from 8 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. in the old gym. ASB organized and ran the event along with support from the Red Cross Organization. The Red Cross Club will also be helping by handing out appointment times and explaining procedures to students. In order to donate blood, students must be at least 16 and meet the height and weight requirements. Their parents must also sign a release waiver which the students must bring to their appointment. Tattoos and piercings are allowed if they were done in a germ-free environment. All donors are required to bring I.D. Donors are recommended to eat a healthy breakfast and drink lots of water before they donate blood. The Red Cross Organization provided a certified staff and equipment to endure safe donations.
Most of the Red Cross’s donations come from high schools. Keppel will be starting in a blood drive competition between San Gabriel and Alhambra High. Whichever high school donates the most blood will win the Cup of Life Trophy. ASB Senior Tammi Matsukiyo, a chairperson for the blood drive said, “The blood that one person donates can save 3 lives.” ASB Senior Megan Lee, also a chairperson for the event, encourages people to donate because, “it’s a little thing you can do that can really make a difference [donating blood]”. Teachers and other adults can donate blood as well anytime during the blood drive. There were also free snacks given out for those who donated. Ms. Carmona, ASB advisor, said that donating blood “provides a much needed community service for our local community hospitals such as Garfield hospital.” “Every blood donation can save lives.”
Senior Taylor Kwan, junior Clara Wai, and senior Annabelle Lau sing for their performance as part of Calculus Airband.
KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Staff Writer Calculus Airband is an annual event that is performed by students to fundraise for band, which took place on January 15 at 3 p.m. Admission tickets were $5 and could have been bought from any of the AP Calculus AB students. The show started with Keppel alumni Dr. Kamei introducing the origin of Calculus Airband. In 1990, Dr. Kamai rapped in front of his class everyday. As days went on, other students began to sing and dance as well, thus creating the tradition of Calculus Airband. Ms. Ling, the AP Calculus AB teacher, separated each of her three classes into a total of six rings. In each ring, there are sixteen people. Each of the routines are about three to five minutes long. The students are able to sing, rap, dance, or play instru-
ments. The groups were given class time on the week of the show to practice on stage along with the weeks during winter break to mix the music, plan, and practice the routines. Many groups had trouble with creating the routines, so dance team members helped them with the choreography. Junior Timothy Tran says, “The hardest part of this experience was trying to think of the dance moves and then having to dance in sync with my group. But I sure had fun no matter how much we embarrassed ourselves.” Dr. Bartlett, the band instructor, is in charge of Calculus Airband said that this show raised about $1,700. The money will go towards repairing instruments, buying new instruments, and music scores. The show originally raised money for AP Calculus testing. However District policy did not allow airband to raise
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money for only one AP class’ tests. Emcees for the show were seniors Nicole Ang and Jason Chang. The first to perform was senior Kalyn Khuu’s ring followed by senior Jolan Chau’s ring. At the end of Chau’s ring’s performance, there were three Winter Ball askings by Chau and two other members of his ring. Performing next were band students playing Treasure by Bruno Mars. The show went on to senior Ida Lam’s ring then senior Traci Chan’s ring. Chan said, “It was stressful being a ring leader and a challenge since I didn’t know how to approach the situation at first, but it later became really fun getting together and just dancing.” After Chan’s ring, there were six band students performing trombone suicides. The last two rings were junior Joy Li and senior Fred Cuarteros.
The Aztec 2014-2015
Amber Batchelor Editor-in-Chief
Brian Yeo Sports Editor
Vivian To Co-Asst. Editor-inChief, Focus Editor
Aren Lim Business Manager
Darwin Tse Co-Asst. Editor-inChief, Viewpoint Editor Sarah McCormick News Editor Bonnie Grace Wong A&E/Features Editor
Cory Mak Photographer Brandon Chung Historian Karen Ip Co-Copy Editor, Asst. Focus Editor Lydia Xie Co-Copy Editor, Asst. News Editor
Brian Chen Asst. Viewpoint Editor, Web Editor
Bradley Dea Staff Writer
Christie Hui Staff Writer
Carmen Ma Staff Writer
Alexander Beaumont Asst. Features Editor
Victoria Ramirez Staff Writer Asst. Photographer
Joann Kong Staff Writer
Maliah Pierribia Staff Writer
Carmen Ma Asst. A&E Editor
Rodolfo Arias Staff Writer
Eric Lam Staff Writer
Ingrid Rodriguez Staff Writer
Emily Mu Asst. Sports Editor
Karli Cheng Staff Writer
Ida Lam Staff Writer
Stephanie Robles Staff Writer
Sally Chen Asst. Business Manager
Kristin Chingburanakit Staff Writer
Tammy Lee Staff Writer
Shanae To Staff Writer
Jonathan Lou Staff Writer
Stephanie Tran Staff Writer
Yang Lu Staff Writer
Edlyn Wong Staff Writer
Alex Dea Staff Writer
Selina Huang Staff Writer
The aztec is published monthly by the journalism class of mark keppel high school and is printed at american foothill publishing co., inc. all newsprint used is 100% recycled. opinions expressed are those of the writers, not of the faculty or administration. Articles without bylines are staff editorials, and reflect the opinion of the staff. Letters to the editor are welcome and are subject to editing. Letters can be given to Ms. Bradley in room a225 or sent to THEaztecstaff@gmail. com. All letters must be signed, but on request, names will be withheld. we do not acknowledge unsigned letters. All internet graphics on the aztec newspaper are the properties of their respective owners.
Muslim terrorism exaggerated in Western media
RODOLFO ARIAS & DARWIN TSE Staff Writer & Asst. Editor-in-Chief/Viewpoint Editor The phrase “Je Suis Charlie”, “I am Charlie” in French, has become an international rallying point after a sequence of terrorist attacks shocked Paris, killing 17 people. Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for these attacks, which spanned across three days, killing 12 staff members at the headquarters of the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, on January 7. The next day, a French policewoman was gunned down, and on the final day, four hostages were killed when a terrorist seized a Jewish grocery. According to Michael Morell, former deputy director of the CIA, the motive of the assailants was “to shut down a media organization that lampooned the “Prophet Muhammad”. However, these extremist Muslims are outliers of their religion. There are an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. This minority of extremists should not represent the entire religion. With so much media attention on ISIS and other Muslim extremist groups, one may automatically assume all terrorism comes from Muslims. According to Europol, less than 2 percent of terrorist attacks in Europe are even religiously motivated. Furthermore, an FBI study revealed that 94 percent of terror attacks were committed by non-Muslims from 1980 to 2005
Supporters of Charlie Hebdo rally in France.
on American soil. A 2014 study by the University of Northern Carolina found that 37 people were victims of Muslim-linked terrorism since 9/11, a miniscule number when compared to the 190,000 Americans who were murdered in the same time frame. Islamic based terrorism is just not as prevalent in the Western world. So if Muslim-linked terrorism is not as widespread in the Western world as we may perceive it to be, then why does the media focus so much on it? The Daily Beast writes, “Stories about scary ‘others’ play better. It’s a story that can simply be framed as good versus evil with Americans being the good guy and the brown Muslim as the bad.” Muslims are usually grouped with the extremist terrorists portrayed in the media. “They [Muslim extremists] make Muslims like me look bad, and it makes me
Students should stay home when sick
BRADLEY DEA Staff Writer Flu season is here, and classrooms force you to be within a few feet from a sick person. According to a study by MIT, a sneeze can spread germs up to 200 feet. Although it may simply be a case of the common cold, students should leave their germs at home. Students usually get sick when they don’t wash their hands or or come in close contact with someone already sick. Hearing sniffs and coughs during class is a normal sound in the classroom now. Becoming infected, many students decide to go to school rather than stay at home and rest. The result is continued sickness and a delayed recovery. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine found that sleep does indeed speed up recovery, in an experiment that revealed how sleep-deprived infected fruit flies had a lower survival rate than the non-sleepdeprived fruit flies. However, academically driven students fight through sicknesses by taking medications such as Advil, Tylenol, and Dayquil, in order to go to school, believing that they cannot afford to miss a
Sophomore Jessica Lee blows or nose.
day or two of school. Junior Lynn Takahashi suffered stomach problems throughout first semester, forcing her to miss the majority of the school year. “I always had stomach problems but this year was worst,” said Takahashi. “I wanted to go to school but I was barely able to function when I went to school and then I ended up fainting. In the end, I couldn’t come to school for a couple of months because of my condition.” Though school is very important to many students, your health should be your first priority. School nurse, Sophie Wang, believes “It is inconsiderate if students come to school even though they are sick. They need to take care of themselves first by not touching your face, getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising.” Staying home when you are sick yields many benefits. You can be a decent human being by keeping your germs to yourself, chill at home, and even catch up on your school work if you need to. Getting sick sucks, but students should not feel remorse about missing a few days of school.
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angry that someone would do this,” said junior Samir Al-Alami. “This gives people another reason to label Muslims as crazed Islamists wanting to kill off the western world.” With the amount of tragedy that these attacks have caused, the French and Muslim community has received global support.. Over 5 million people rallied in France in support of national unity. Mahmoud Abas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyhu, who have had a history of conflict, resolved their differences to come together and prevent extremists from defacing Islam. “To be honest, I don’t know how to say it in words [except] that it is so beautiful”, said Al-Alami. “It’s good to see that even with so much hate bringing people apart and ending lives, that good can come of the bad and bring people together.”
Name brands: Worth it?
JOANN KONG Staff Writer People have two choices when they go shopping: buying the expensive name brands or the cheaper generic brands. When it comes to deciding whether to purchase designer products and generic items, price is a very big factor to consider. Designer shops, like Gucci, sell bags for as much as twenty-seven thousand dollars, whereas Forever 21 sells tote bags as cheap as three dollars. The price makes people question whether name brands are worth it. Some Keppelites say that name brands are, indeed, worth the price that they have to pay because it insures the quality of the product they are getting. Sophomore Austin LoCurto says G-Shock watches are worth the money because they are “durable and look fashionable.” But that doesn’t mean the Keppel population always chooses to purchase the more pricey products instead of the cheaper version. English teacher, Mr. Tom, says he favors both generic and name brands but he buys name brand items “when they make a difference” like when the name brand product last longer. So whether one prefers to spend their money on generic brands or name brands, the only things that matter at the end of the day, are feeling satisfied with the products that you own and whether your wallet can handle the dent.
“The Interview” stirs up unnecessary controversey CARMEN MA Asst. A&E Editor Ruthless dictators have been the subject of ridicule in movies for decades, but the release of the most recent political satire film, “The Interview,” has caused unnecessary backlash. The plot of the film centers on the attempts of journalists Dave Skylark (James Franco) and Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) to assassinate North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-Un. Because the ending of the film shows the assassination of Kim Jong-Un, this film has stirred up a commotion. The incident that skyrocketed the film to widespread attention was when a group of North Korean hackers called the “Guardians of Peace,” who wanted to halt the release of the film, hacked the computer networks of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In response
to the release of internal emails, employee records, several recent and unreleased Sony Pictures films, many have criticized Sony’s decision to release the film. Senior Emerald Tse has a split opinion on the film. Tse says that “it was a good film,” but its creators are “being offensive” because although Kim Jong-Un is notorious for his decrees, “he is still a person.” She also says that “everyone makes fun of Hitler, but he’s not here to respond” to ridicule, but Kim Jong-Un is alive and has a lot of power to do so. One of the harsh criticisms about this film that sets it apart from other political satires is that the villain is not merely inspired by a real dictator, but characterized as the actual ruler. Drama teacher, Ms. Phillips, is also for the release of the film because she believes that “satire
is acceptable and interesting” and “raises [the audience’s] level of knowledge” of many different topics. “That’s why I love theater,” she says, “It raises the level of debate and that is one of our jobs as artists.” Whether one agrees or disagrees with the appropriateness of “The Interview,” it is fact that the film is fiction. It’s obvious that the events that take place in the film are exaggerated and probably will not occur. Seth Rogen, co-star and creator of the film, says the film is intended as a fun, goofball comedy and that the angle of the movie is “not an edgy position to take” and that the angle of the movie is “not an edgy position to take”. Even with all of the controversy and attention “The Interview” has received, it is, after all, still a movie, so just relax.
The heart of school spirit: Pep Teams EDLYN WONG Staff Writer The heart of our school spirit spreads from our own pep squads, which includes dance team, all male, colorguard, cheer, and drill team, as well as band and ASB. Through them, they act as our main source of enthusiasm, and they continue to spread good vibes throughout our campus. As of now, dance team and all male have a total of approximately thirty members, colorguard rounds to twenty, cheer makes up thirteen, drill team has a group of around twenty, band has about fifty, and Leadership and ASB both contain thirty-six members, with a grand total of about 205 individuals. Although the numbers may be small compared to
Stay spirited and suppo KARLI CHENG Staff Writer
the school population of about 2,500, these students continue to promote and increase the participation of our school’s spirit weeks, along with school events, fundraisers, and spirit days. As a Dance team member, junior Leilani Chu said, “In every performance and event that we [Dance team] are a part of, we are able to impact Keppel’s school spirit with the amount of dedication and spirit we put into everything we do.” As performers, their main goal is to exemplify our school’s pride and represent our school well. Together with these groups, let’s all work together to create a school full of spirit and excitement.
Keppel has been known for its high academic achievements. This could be one of the reasons as to why we don’t have many attendees at sport games. Athletics director, Mr. Trieu, said that it is rare to see 300 people at a game; it is mostly when the basketball teams make it into CIF. “Most of the fans that go to the events are mostly family and friends,” says Mr. Trieu. Some people agree that students may go to events for extra credit or supporting their friends on the team. Sophomore Becky Su says that “most students won’t go to things unless [they] get something out of it”. Mr. Trieu says that the away games are even worse than home games.
Some Keppel athletes may feel disco aged when few people show up to gam and rarely get any support. As a mem of the girls’ volleyball varsity team, jun Elaine Ha said, “I remember at one of volleyball games, the whole gym was fil and everyone was cheering us on. It enco aged me to do better for my team, my coa and everyone. That was hands down one the best games I’ve ever played in. I gues simply encourages me to do better and a adrenaline.” It could also be that sports such as b ketball and swim are more recognized t some students forget about the other spo Junior Ryan Chan, who plays on the bo
How and Why Keppel shou Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
Freshman Kevin Mu “I dress in school colors.”
KAREN IP Co-Copy Editor/Asst. Focus Editor
There are many ways that a student can get involved in Keppel’s community, which can help to boost school spirit. Students have the option to join clubs, participate in sports, or even take an elective class of their interest. When asked about his initial motivation in trying out for the football, wrestling, and track & field teams, freshman Lorenzo Arce said, “I joined football because I wanted to keep myself out of the wrong crowd and keep out of trouble at school. I also wanted the feeling of being part of something bigger. I [then] joined wrestling and track and field because I wanted to get stronger and quicker for the next football season.” On the other hand, senior Akirah Limthaveemongkol “wanted to join clubs based on what [she] was told by upperclassmen friends [that] were good.” There are many ways for a student to be involved, depending on where his or her interest lies. Students should be encouraged to reach out of their comfort zones, as there are many opportunities for them to explore their interests. In fact, if students are un-
sure, they should try asking a teacher for advice. English teacher Mrs. Alburger-Pendergrast said, “It’s hard to talk to people you don’t know, but putting yourself out there is important.” Students should not be afraid to explore their interests, and if “you’re interested in something, and a club for that doesn’t exist, found it yourself”. Teachers and peers are always there for support and can even be encouraging and welcoming. Limthaveemongkol says that she “would tell them [underclassmen] the benefits of [the club] and how much fun it is”, while Arce says that he would “tell them that they will get the experience of a lifetime being a part of school sports. They will meet new people, make new friends, and get stronger physically and mentally.” There are many extracurricular activities that students can take part in on campus. They just have to reach out to their interests, and take one step out of their comfort zones because it is definitely something that will be worthwhile. Arce said, “I just remember how my father told me [that] a small moment of hardship is worth a lifetime of success.”
Freshman Caitlin Prachasaisoradej “I would participate in school spirit week.”
Sophomore Dana Gil “I’m in the marching band, and I try to lift up people as much as I can.
HOW DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO SCHOOL SPIRIT?
ort sports
Appreciate pep rallies
VIVIAN TO Focus Editor/ Co-Asst. Editor-in-Chief
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tennis team, said, “Only the important sports get recognition.” Ranking from high to low, the most attended games are usually football and basketball. Other sports sometimes get “less than 20 people,” said Mr. Trieu, at the games. Even though this may be true, the enthusiasm and support of the fans who do attend other sports, like swim or soccer, make up for the lack of attendees at the games. Although there are students who frequently attend home and away games for “popular” sports, many Keppel sports teams need support as well. Going to sports games is not mandatory, but even so, it doesn’t hurt to go out and support Keppel’s sports teams.
Pep rallies have been a part of Keppel for a long time now, and every student taking part in them have been giving his or her all into making them something that’s worthwhile for the other students. However, as the years have gone by, some students may not feel as excited as they should be when attending them. Junior Jessenia Barberena said, “They [pep rallies] could be better. I think that we all could show more school spirit because that’s what it’s about but I don’t think we make it a big deal at Keppel.” Keppel places academics high up on priorities so it is not a surprise that having school spirit is not very emphasized.
Therefore, when there are pep rallies, some students may feel glad that classes are shorter. Sophomore Andy Xiang said, “It allows us students to have less knowledge shoved into our brains.” ASB advisor and English teacher, Mrs. Carmona, said that heat could be a problem which is why students may not react to pep rallies with too much excitement, like Kick-Off, for example. Although some students may feel more negatively than others, senior Belinda Chen encourages students to participate more. Chen said, “I think that pep rallies are a good way to show school spirit and to get the students involved.
The bad thing is that as a whole school, we don’t have much spirit. Everyone should participate in the pep rallies to showcase their spirit and to show ASB that we appreciate what they do for us. Besides ASB, pep teams, like Cheer, put much effort in learning routines for the sake of boosting school spirit and excitement in the pep rallies. Mrs. Carmona said, “Students should appreciate the groups that perform.” To make this new year worthwhile, let’s boost up our school spirit because pep rallies are a lot more meaningful if the whole school participates in it together.
uld have more School Spirit THE POWER OF THE ACADEMIC EPIDEMIC Senior Isaac Pizana
SELINA HUANG Staff Writer
“I’m a really outgoing person in general, and I get the football players pumped up.”
Junior Janai Castillo “By cheering on our football and basketball teams.”
Mr. Chan “I follow the themes. If it was college day, I would wear something to related to that.”
Students are introduced to the rules and traditions of Keppel by attending the annual KickOff event. However, the rest of the upperclassmen who attend Kick-Off are once again reminded about the cultural dynamics of Keppel. From day one, many students are encouraged to think about academics which include taking AP/honors classes, maintaining a good GPA, and meeting the A-G requirements to attend the best of colleges. Having school spirit is another aspect to being a well-rounded student. Besides having a good academic standing, school spirit may not be stressed upon students, so it makes sense that some students don’t attend activities that doesn’t relate to their academics. Students can show school spirit by dressing up for spirit week, participating in the spirit week games during lunch, attending games, and etc. Junior Philip Lui states that he participates in spirit week once in a while, but he does not go to school games because he thinks it is important to put academics before his social life. Senior Richard Yip says that he does not participate in spirit week games during lunch because he is busy “catching up or getting
ahead on homework”. However, freshmen Ashley Tang says that she goes to most of the games because “it’s fun going with my friends and the games are free since I have ASB”. Even though some students put academics before school spirit, it is definitely possible to balance academics with showing school spirit. As a member on Drill Team, junior Joy Li is currently taking five AP classes. She is required to participate in spirit weeks and attends all home games at Keppel. When asked how she balances both, Li said, “I make sure I manage my time wisely in order to get all my schoolwork done and still be able to support our school’s teams during their games.” When asked what advice could be given to Keppel students to have more school spirit, Vice Principal Dr. Northcott stated that “school spirit can be encouraged more through word of mouth by students because students respond best to their peers”. As the Vice Principal of Business and Activities, Mr. DeVaughn encourages all grade-level students to participate in more school activities, clubs, and teams to get more involved and show more school spirit.
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
Meet the TAs of Mark Keppel New Year, Same Goals BONNIE WONG A&E/Features Editor
We see them in our classes normally sitting off to the side. Although not officially enrolled in the class, these students are still a part of the class. They are the TAs of Mark Keppel. Keppel offers the option of teacher/office aide (TA) as a course open to students in which “students enter an employee/ employer relationship with their teacher/supervisor [and] have the opportunity to learn good work habits and attitudes while providing valuable assistance in the classrooms and offices” according to the course catalog. It is not an A-G course, so it will not factor into GPA on college applications. Being a TA is on transcripts as a pass or fail and has the potential to earn five elective credits for graduation purposes. According to guidance counselor Ms. Sesztak, the benefits of being a TA include filling open holes or slots in schedules as well as providing the opportunity to gain work experience that can be put on a resume. The formal process includes filling out a TA Contract and meeting with a Guidance Office staff member in charge of the contracts. Priority goes to filling needed spots in the Principal’s
IDA LAM Staff Writer
Ms. Bhakta’s second period TAs Junior Phillip Chang and Senior Raymond Li.
Office, Guidance, Activities, Attendance, and Student Services. Teachers who request TAs are put on a roster. Lastly, students interview with the department or teacher and if the teacher hires them, the contract is signed and submitted to the Guidance Office for processing where the info is put on the student’s list of semester courses. Math teacher Ms. Bhakta stated, “Having a TA is helpful because they can perform tasks which make it easier for me. For example, five minutes that they use to stamp homework can translate to five minutes that I have to work with the students.” In total, Ms. Bhakta has six TAs who perform various tasks including stamping homework, recording grades, correcting papers, assisting stu-
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dents, and more. Junior Phillip Chang, TA for Ms. Bhakta’s second period elementary calculus class, said, “My original reason for becoming a TA was to not forget my calculus in the case that I didn’t get into Calc BC… [Being] a TA is fun [and] helping people is fun.” Sesztak said, “Being a TA [affords the] opportunity for a student to learn what it is like to work in an office setting or working for an individual in a classroom or office setting. [It] oftentimes provides them with insights into themselves as well as the world of work. It can be very informative and many students develop lasting bonds with the people they work with over a semester or two.”
After the peak of the New Year, many people see the beginning of a new year as an opportunity to create new goals for themselves. Some people make New Years’ resolutions, which dictate the goals that a person wishes to achieve within the year. Senior Jason Koon stated, “My resolution is to go work out more.” Similarly, Ms. Fillpot stated, “My resolution is to just be healthier…Go to the doctor’s and dentist’s more.” This type of response is considered the “usual” New Years’ resolutions. According to Forbes, the most common resolutions include “go on a diet, stop smoking, get more exercise, lose 20 pounds, and stop biting my nails and twirling my hair.” However, New Years’ resolutions are notorious for being tough goals to keep. Senior Cecilia Trejo stated, “I didn’t make resolutions, because I knew that I wouldn’t keep them.” Many resolutions that students make are easily forgotten as the year continues on. Trejo avoided the entire problem of breaking her resolutions by refusing to create any in the first place. According to Women’s Health Magazine’s Terese Weinstein
Katz, Ph.D., New Years’ resolutions to lose weight often end in failure because people expect to see the end result of their goal, but they do not “take into account all the minute details of what needs to change for the long-run.” Katz suggests, “Write down your goal…[to] keep you from tweaking it when things get rough, and strengthen your resolve.” When resolutions are a continual reminder in day-to-day life, it can be hard to slack off on them. Other students at Mark Keppel pay little mind to resolutions. Senior Akirah Limthaveemongkol stated, “I don’t have any resolutions. They were never really a big thing for me. I just do what I do.” Although some resolutions may be unoriginal or easily broken, people should not be deterred by the prospect of making new goals. Ms. Fillpot added, “I’ve kept bits and pieces of my past resolutions, but not totally. I don’t want to give up on making resolutions because I want to keep on trying to improve.” The important fact of the matter is that we should continually strive to refine ourselves as individuals through the implementation of defined goals.
Keppel and “The Hype”: Drink up your studies followers or trendsetters? SHANAE TO Staff Writer
STEPHANIE TRAN Staff Writer Keppel has trends of its own, and most students have followed at least one before. So, what are some of the biggest hypes for the beginning of 2015 and what makes these things a trend? “The Hype” is following a trend. Fashion has always played a big part in trends. Winter in California is never really winter, so we do not see many students with heavy coats, thick scarves, and boots. This time of year, the girls at Keppel favor wearing leggings with sweaters and fashionable scarves. Once in a while, they still manage to wear shorts as well. Senior Diana Tran said, "I have seen a lot of people wear baseball jerseys lately." She added, "I have caught myself following these trends without even realizing it half the time." The fashion trend for guys do not change drastically like it can for girls. A simple brand name t-shirt, such as The Hundreds or Diamond Supply Co., is the basic trend for the guys. Junior Kelvin Ko said, "I [think] it's popular because as our generation develops, people want to look better, and it just shows who you are today." The clothes that students wear are usually based off of what is sold in stores, and we cannot help but wear the things that are popularized in the places we shop at. Students also get inspiration from their peers. Trends can include foods as
Senior Peter Lu sports his Diamond Supply Co. Shirt
well. Spam musubi seems to have been a popular thing at Keppel for a while, but latest hype is a tea bar located in Pasadena called Tpumps. There, they sell drinks including the infamous boba teas. Pictures are posted on Instagram or Snapchat and word spreads around quickly throughout the campus. Soon enough, it becomes the newest hangout. According to students, the shop is different because customers are allowed to choose three flavors of tea for a drink. There are also free samples that are always given out right when you walk in. One of the most important things, besides taste, is the price. Senior Erin Hang said, "I think Tpumps is popular because it's cheap and it tastes really good. The boba is super soft and chewy. Plus, who doesn't want free samples?" A drink has no tax charges and can cost a total of $2.95. Many Facebook users have
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probably gotten numbers of game invites to the game Pirate Kings. Pirate Kings is one example of the many temporary Keppel fads. It is a simple spin-the-wheel game that many are playing right now. Players spin a wheel to get riches or attack opponents and progressively build an island with what is earned. It might just be the newest popular Facebook game since Candy Crush Saga. Why is this particular game so popular? Freshman Crystal Chen said, "There were a whole bunch of requests sent to me so I decided to give it a try." She ended up liking the game like others did. Chen continued, "The game is really intense, and it's fun to compete head to head with friends." The latest hypes are featured from fashion to foods to games on the internet. Trends constantly change throughout time, but they all have one thing in common: they bring us together.
Going out to study is an easy way to get engaged in school work and catch up with friends at the same time, and popular study spots include Starbucks and Tea Brick. The closest Starbucks is on East Valley Boulevard in Alhambra. Starbucks’ calm and relaxed environment helps students concentrate. Junior Mikla Enciso says “I really appreciate how Starbucks always has study music on, it keeps me focused on my work.” Starbucks is full of tables and charging outlets, and it offers free wifi. “I love studying at Starbucks because I love their yummy drinks and I always get my work done, ” says senior, Jodie Yu. Another popular place is Tea Brick, a family operated store located in Monterey Park. It offers a variety of Asian drinks such as boba milk tea. It is a small, noise friendly place packed with teenagers. Tea Brick offers few table and outlets, free wi-fi, has toler-
THE AZTEC/SALLY CHEN
Tea Brick drinks are a refreshing way to relax and study.
able noise levels, and plays modern music in the background. Tea Brick has a cozy, home-like environment that students feel comfortable studying in. Sophomore, Terena Phan says, “The environment is one of the main reasons why I go to Tea Brick, it’s very loud and comforting..” Overall, Starbucks and Tea Brick are some popular study spots that students enjoy studying and hanging out at. Looking for the right environment that best suits your studying style is necessary when you want to go out to catch up with friends while getting your school work done.
Boys’ basketball off to undefeated start in Almont League
Wrestling in first place in district MALIAH PERRIBIA Staff Writer
Senior Bailey Kikuchi(3) takes on two San Gabriel defenders.
VICTORIA RAMIREZ Asst. Photographer The Mark Keppel High School boys’ basketball team won their second Almont League game of the season, 58-32, against San Gabriel High on Friday, January 16. The team started off the first half of the game strongly, playing well on both offense and defense. Every player did their part, whether it was stealing the ball from the Matadors or making shots. Throughout the first two quarters, the Aztecs displayed effort, shooting a number of shots from the outside and within the paint. They also garnered numerous steals, succesfully forcing turnovers from San Gabriel’s offense. The Aztecs ended the first half of the game by grabbing a lead of 20 points, scoring 38 to San Gabriel’s 18. Keppel seemed to have lost some of their focus in the begin-
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ning of the second half but managed to maintain a strong lead. Not long after, the team started to perform in their usual fashion by shooting baskets, making good passes, and playing good defense. The Aztecs displayed strong teamwork and communication. “There’s a lot of energy, and we all get along pretty well so that helps,” said senior Bailey Kukuchi. The Aztecs finished the game with a score of 58-32, winning by 26 points. The team plans to continue improving their game by making sure not to lose their handle on the ball whenever they try to execute a fast break. Since the team is already short in numbers, training to be faster is something they plan on doing often. ”I feel like we can make it far,” said senior Bertram Mak on the team’s chances in CIF. On January 20, the Aztecs defeated Alhambra, 48-36, to raise their record to 3-0.
The Mark Keppel wrestling team participated in season matches against wrestlers from Bell Gardens, Schurr, and San Gabriel at Schurr High School on Wednesday, January 14. Team captain, junior Hector Ruiz, won all his matches against the three schools and emerged undefeated. His performance earned him the first individual seat in the league. Ruiz said the team’s strategy this year is to “create a better wrestling
program by getting people into wrestling and not quitting.” The team’s record in Almont League following the matches at Schurr is 5-0, which, like Ruiz, places them at first seat in the district. Freshman Lorenzo Arce said that his personal goals are to “build strength and become more physically fit” in order to place high in matches. He said, “I feel the team has very dedicated players.” However, the Aztecs only have seven competing members and their lack of size is why they be-
lieve they don’t place as high as they could. Ruiz also commmented that he thought the team has a problem with conditioning. Coach Elias Rocha, before the matches on the 14th, said, “We’ll do well, but it’ll be a tough match.” His goal this season is to “finish off strong and have individuals succeed in CIF. Rocha agreed with Ruiz and Arce in thinking that the team needs to work on conditioning, as well as adding more players to the team.
SPORTS CALENDAR Varsity Girls’ Soccer -1/22 vs Schurr @ Keppel 3:15 p.m. -1/27 vs. Bell Gardens @ Bell Gardens 3:15 p.m.
Varsity Boys’ Soccer -1/22 vs. Schurr @ Schurr 3:15 p.m. -1/27 vs. Bell Gardens @ Keppel 3:15 p.m.
Varsity Girls’ Water Polo -1/22 vs. Pioneer @ Barnes 3:15 p.m. -1/27 vs. Schurr @ Barnes 3:30 p.m.
Varsity Wrestling -1/31 League Finals @ Bell Gardens 9:00 a.m.
Varsity Girls’ Basketball -1/23 vs. Schurr @ Schurr 5:15 p.m. -1/27 vs. Bell Gardens @ Keppel 5:15 p.m.
Varsity Boys’ Basketball -1/23 vs. Schurr @ Schurr 7:00 p.m. -1/27 vs. Bell Gardens @ Keppel 7:00 p.m.
Girls’ basketball wins big against San Gabriel
Junior Sophia Song(21) leads a fast break.
SALLY CHEN Asst. Business Manager The Mark Keppel girls’ basketball team won against the San Gabriel Matadors with a final score of 63-37 on Friday night, January
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16, at home. The game started off with the Aztecs playing by their own strategy and then, later on, adjusting according to the way San Gabriel played. According to Coach Joe Kikuchi, “They were face guard-
ing our shooters, Kelli Kamida and Sophia Song, so I let Lauren Saiki loose to attack and create.” The first quarter ended with a score of 14-9 in favor of Keppel. Coach Kikuchi said, “Defense was good, and they were able to put pressure.” Keppel played full court pressure on San Gabriel, forcing them to throw the ball away multiple times. However, Keppel’s defensive rotation did not perform as well as planned. Senior and captain, Lauren Saiki said, “We need to improve on getting defensive rebound and not letting them get easy shots.” Captain Sophia Song, one of the two juniors on the team, said, “We did best in the second half,
because we were a little cold in the beginning, but we warmed up. I could’ve improved by grabbing rebounds and hustling more on defense.” The game ended with Saiki scoring 17 points, Song scoring 20 points, and Kamida scoring 9 points by the end of the game. They have their eyes set to CIF, where the team competed in last year. Saiki said, “We still have to keep working hard, everyday even through league games, because our goal is to win a CIF game.” At Alhambra on January 20, the Lady Aztecs defeated the Moors, 67-21. They now have a record of 3-0 for the season.
Boys’ soccer unable to Girls’ soccer team falls short to San Gabriel, 0-1 come back in 0-2 loss BRIAN YEO Sports Editor The Aztecs boys’ varsity soccer team lost their home game against the San Gabriel Matadors, 0-2, on Tuesday, January 20. The team, which now has an Almont League season record of 0-3, began the game aggressively. However, a few minutes into the game, the Matadors scored on a two-player charge. Following, the quick goal, the Aztecs were unable to regain control of the game. For the remainder of the first half, the Aztecs could not get a shot attempt on target. San Gabriel took advantage of Keppel’s lack of aggression and scored once more before the end of the first half. After the break, the Aztecs once again began attacking and spent the majority of the second half in San Gabriel territory. They kept heavy pressure on the Matador defense, but they were unable to score a goal. Following the game, Coach Andrew Marin said, “This loss does not represent the how good our team actually is. I know we can play better.”
Despite the Aztec’s 0-3 league record, the team believes their talent is greater than the numbers suggest. In the pre-season, the team won 4-2 against Serra High School on December 13, their first win in several years. Senior and co-captain, Keoni Young, said, “We have a lot of good players. We have to work on our communication and passing.” Marin, a Keppel alum, believes this year’s team is improved from last year’s. “We have a lot of new players, new seniors,” said senior Ryan Mejia, the other co-captain. “But they’re talented. [The team] just needs to be more aggressive, like we did near the end of the game.” The Aztecs, who have been practicing since the summer, are looking to win more games but are more focused on improving their skills. Marin said, “ My goal is for the team to learn how to play well and play together. The wins will come in time.” The Aztecs still have 6 games remaining in their league schedule. Their next game is against Schurr on January 22.
Senior Lindsay Kui(12).
AREN LIM Business Manager
THE AZTEC/ VICTORIA RAMIREZ
The Lady Aztecs played an away game at San Gabriel High School on Tuesday, January 20. The beginning of the first half was very chaotic as both teams tested plays to find weak points in each other’s defense. As the first half continued, the Lady Aztecs struggled with driving the ball towards the goal. Poor positioning allowed San Gabriel to break through the Aztec’s defense whenever they managed to get the ball. The first half ended 0-0. The second half was very intense, as both teams desperately tried to score a goal. The lady Aztecs made several scoring attempts but fell short every time by just inches.
Halfway into the second half, San Gabriel scored the first and only goal of thegame, resulting in a 0-1 loss for the Lady Aztecs. Upset about the result of the game, senior and captain Claudette De La Vega said, “I’m disappointed that we lost to them. They were very aggressive and foul-mouthed.” A dispute broke out near the end of the second half that resulted in yellow cards being given to multiple players from both teams. The Lady Aztecs have started off their season with a three game losing streak. Senior Leyna Cedeno said, “It is unfortunate, but all we can do now is move past them and work harder. I have faith in my team.” Despite the team’s lackluster beginning of the season, Coach Steve Shahin keeps focus on achieving a positive end result. Coach Shahin aims for the team to improve every day and believes that hard work, concentration, and dedication are key components to improving. Cedeno said, “Soccer isn’t about winning or losing, soccer is all about how you can grow and develop into your true potential. Every game teaches us something that will make us better in the future, and I can’t wait to see what the future has planned for us.”
Girls’water polo remains positive after scrimmage loss AMBER BATCHELOR Editor-in-chief The girls’ water polo played a home game against Cal High School on January 16. This was a scrimmage game for the team and Coach Joseph Chan wanted to use this game as a learning experience for the girls. In the first quarter, the Aztecs gained possession of the ball, but Cal High stole the ball and immediately drove in to score a goal. Keppel responded by tightening their defense and breaking past
Cal High. Junior Jessenia Barbarena scored a goal to tie the game. Cal responded with two scores ended with a score of 3-1. The Aztecs were able to hold Cal High back a lot in the second quarter, but were unable to score a goal themselves. Despite Keppel’s tight defense, Cal High was able to lob the ball into the goal twice. The half ended with a score of 5-1. In the second half of the game, the Aztecs began to lose focus. Cal gained a huge lead to win 16-1. Despite the loss, the Aztecs felt like they had a strong team
A Cal player passes over Mia Kato(4) and Jayme Chan.
bond. Junior Caitlyn Gonzales said, “I think we showed a lot of effort considering the fact that we didn’t have a break throughout most of the game. We always motivate each other to do our best.” Chan said, “The team stuck it out till the end of the game despite
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their fatigue.” The team plans to overcome this loss by working on running better offensive plays. Despite the score, Chan and the team believe they showed a lot of effort and they still think they have a good chance of making it to CIF.
Athlete’s Profile: Ryan Mejia
THE AZTEC/EMILY MU
EMILY MU Asst. Sports Editor Senior Ryan Mejia is a player for the Mark Keppel varsity soccer team and has been playing soccer for 11 years.Since watching his father play soccer when he was young, Mejia said, “I have grown to love the sport with a passion. Soccer means a great deal to me.” Mejia says his team means a lot to him and through the years of playing, he has grown mentally and physically. He said, “Although sometimes I might yell at them, I’m only trying to help them get better and help us win games. They are like another family to me.” Mejia’s favorite thing about soccer is the intensity. He says “We always give it our best from start to finish. No matter what the score, we keep fighting.” Mejia’s biggest influence in soccer is his father because he encouraged him to play and pushed him to be the best at what he does. His father tries his best to give Mejia the best training possible to become a professional soccer player. Mejia says, “My role model is my mother cause she shows up to as many games as possible for the whole 11 years that I have been playing. Whether I lose or win, she’s always there to encourage me.” He says his plan for college is to be a student athlete and get scouted into a professional team. In the future, he wants to be a professional soccer player because, as he said, “Soccer is the thing that I am best at and I love the sport with a passion.” His biggest accomplishments are winning many accolades throughout the years he’s played and “playing my heart out with Keppel all four years on varsity.” Mejia would like to give a shout out to “Jimmy Lopez for making soccer an enjoyable, fun experience, Dominic Garcia because he and I are the only two players that played all 4 years on varsity in Keppel, and finally my girlfriend Nenetzin Martinez for supporting me through all the harsh losses and amazing wins.”