THE AZTEC
VOLUME LXXVII NUMBER VII
ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
Peter Pan spring musical a success KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Staff Writer This year’s spring musical, Peter Pan, had six shows, with three that took place on the weekend of February 27, and three that took place on the weekend of March 6. Presale tickets were $12, tickets at the door were $15, and tickets for reserved seating in the front rows were $20. Also, on Thursday, February 26, there was a preview of the show where everyone was invited to for $5. Before the shows, a red carpet event took place on February 25 where dignitaries, important figures, and parents are able to watch the actors and actresses perform a few scenes from the musical. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks were provided, along with a silent auction in order to raise enough money for the upcoming Scotland trip . The cast of the show included, junior Kara Chuang as Peter Pan, junior Samir Al-Alami as Captain Hook, senior David Tha as Smee, junior Lauren Estrada as Wendy, junior Bryan Ha as John Darling, junior Joseph Caldera as Michael Darling, senior Geraldine Gloria as Tigerlily, junior Lauren Chin as Mrs. Darling, junior Sammy Chen as Mr. Dar-
Keppel has five National Merit Finalists for the 2015 school year: seniors Annette Cai, Daniel Ho, Esther Law, Chaney Tse, and Yida Wang, who are being considered for the National Merit Scholarship. The National Merit Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who have the nation’s highest scores for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/
March 12, 2015
Keppel hosts annual Math Field Day competition SARAH McCORMICK News Editor
The Peter Pan cast and crew ends their performance with a picture.
ling, ten pirates, eight lost boys, and thirteen indians. The most struggling part for Chuang as Peter Pan is, “Having to be so high in energy all the time since Peter Pan is a little boy and in every scene it is draining to stay in the energetic mood.” However, Chuang said that her best day of the year was when she learned to fly for the musical. Al-Alami’s struggle as Captain Hook was the pressure as being the villain. He mentioned that, “Without a menacing villain, the show would lose its dynamic." In addition, he also struggled with
getting the choreography down, since he dances with “two left feet.” Junior and Tech Theater member Zhuo Zhou says, “We started to build the sets in December, so it took about months to complete.” Fifth and seventh period Tech Theater worked on the set during class and after school. In addition, the tech students would have work calls, which was extended time to finish the set. Tech Theater teacher Mr. Gillette said, “The cost for the sets were about $30,000, and [our]
COURTESY OF PETER PAN MUSICAL
hopes [are that] the show will make at least $34,000.” Sophomore orchestra member Raymond Deng says that a big difference with playing in the musical compared to other events and performances is, “Having to work together with the actors and actresses and responding to them, instead of just playing off a sheet of music.” With all the rehearsals that everyone has to prepare for the show, Deng adds, “It’s impossible to not become really close to each other, including Dr. Bartlett.”
Five Keppel students qualify for National Merit Scholarship LYDIA XIE Co-Copy Editor, Asst. News Editor
NMSQT). Counselors and teachers recommend that juniors to take this test to be considered for this scholarship. Merit scholars are awarded $2,500 for their tuition for their choice of colleges. The PSAT is out of 240 points. About 15,000 senior semifinalists were notified in February whether or not they were finalists. Winners of the prestigious scholarship are selected based on their PSAT score as well as their consistent academic performance. Finalists are also selected by teacher recommendations, leadership, extracurriculars, as
Mark
Your calendar 3/13 End of third quarter 3/14 Math Field Day 3/18 Collaboration Shedule 3/18 MKHS PTSA Meeting in Cafeteria 7-9 pm 3/19 Spring Sports Rally 3/20 Sadie Hawkins Dance 7-11 pm 3/23-3/27 Spring Break 3/25 MKHS Alliance Meeting in Cafeteria 6-7 pm
well as an essay by the finalist. However, the winners are not selected on the basis of financial need, college selection, or major. Senior Chaney Tse, who scored 236 points, said, “I was pretty happy... I expected a lot of me and my peers to get it.” Tse goes on to say that he took practice tests to prepare for the PSAT. The possible award money, he hopes, will go to his college tuition at his number one college choice, Harvard. Senior Yida Wang, who scored 224 points, said, “It was an honor to be recognized for my skill at
taking standardized tests.” She hopes to use the possible scholarship for tuition at her top choice college MIT. The Keppel merit finalists hope to be selected as the National Merit Scholars. Wang says, “I hope to be a merit scholar so that my parents won’t have to pay as much for my college tuition.” About 7,600 finalists who are awarded the scholarship will be notified beginning in March until mid-June.
Mark Keppel will be hosting the annual Math Field Day competition this Saturday, March 14. This competition is for sixth, seventh, eighth graders from different elementary and middle schools to compete in several categories of math, while integrating Common Core Standards. The schools involved in this competition were Brightwood, Highlands, Park Elementary, Huntington Middle School, South Pasadena Middle School, Temple Intermediate, Garfield, Ynez, Baldwin, and Northrup. They will be competing in competitions including March Hare, Approximath, Dramathic, Math Everest, Final Round, Topic of the Day, Chalk Talk, and Gallery Walk. Students from Keppel’s math club will be volunteering during the competition to help guide students around the school, proctor tests, and oversee the event. According to one of the head coordinators of the event, senior Akirah Limthaveemongkol, this year student volunteers were given special training to learn how to administer tests and understand rules. Training was given during lunch in different classrooms by the head coordinators including Limthaveemongkol along with seniors Traci Chan, Kimberly Tang, junior Amy Vuu, and sophomore Tiffany Joa. These coordinators worked alongside math Ms. Ling, Mr. Gualcherani, and Mr. Lien to create questions, make arrangements for the competition with different schools, and plan activities. Chan said, “There’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears and countless hours put into it, but in the end, everything works out. It’s totally worth the experience.”
IN THIS ISSUE...
News: Peter Pan • National Merit Scholars • Math Field Day • ACADEC state competition • Class Registration • Spring Sports Rally • Sadies Viewpoint: Buzzfeed • Disrespecting Teachers • Editorials: Bonnie Wong and Amber Batchelor • Uninformed Teens Focus: Luck Features: Joggers • Cuong Ta • Pet Peeves • Birthday Balloons • Eyebrows Height Differences • TA's Sports: Athlete's Profile: David Guan • Badminton • Baseball • Softball • Swim • Boys' Tennis • Track and Field • Boys' Volleyball • CIF • Performance competitions
Yearly registration and counselor visits begin
ACADEC advances to state competition
The ACADEC A Team poses for a picture after their win at the regional competition. COURTESY OF ACADEC
TAMMY LEE Staff Writer In a two day competition on January 31 and February 7, the Academic Decathlon Team won the regional competition, permitting them to go on to the state competition in Sacramento. The competition includes Academic Decathlon A Team which members are senior Chaney Tse, senior Annette Cai, senior Jason Chang, senior Eric Lin, senior Jeffery Wong, senior Jocelyn Shackleford, senior Jimmy Chong, junior Justin Ho, and junior Patrick Chea. The
team won by gaining 50,415.5 points and ranking 13th out of 66 teams. The A team will be competing against 65 other state finalists, including Alhambra High School’s Decathlon Team. Keppel’s Decathlon Team will also be competing against South Pasadena High School, Beverly Hills High School, and Edgewood High School. Their success is made possible by constant studying and late after-school study sessions. The students are also tested on 10 different categories which include art history, interview, science, language and literature,
Upcoming Spring Sports Rally to recognize senior athletes BRADLEY DEA Staff Writer The Spring Sports Rally will be on Thursday, March 19 at Palm Court during lunch. The rally will recognize senior athletes who are in badmitton, swim, softball, baseball, boys volleyball, boys tennis, and track. It is coordinated by ASB, specifically by commissioner of pageantry, senior Kristin Koga, and Commissioners of boys and girls sports, seniors Bertram Mak and Arin Lee respectively. Each senior will be given a sash as well as posters with their names on it, which are both made by ASB. Senior badmitton co-captain, Julian Chan said, “I’m humbled to be recognized, but I’m just glad that badminton is back as a sport in Keppel.” There will also be performances by Drill, Color Guard, Dance Company, and All Male.
Color Guard will be performing a routine with six members using pep flags (short black and white flags) while drill will be performing military with a combination of kicks that the members choreographed together. The Spring Sports Rally is a chance to honor the senior athletes who made a commitment to represent their school and recognize their dedication, sportsmanship, and hard work. ASB advisor, Ms. Carmona, believes the best part of the rally is seeing all the seniors stand together in their sashes and accept a moment of pride well deserved. Track and field senior Benjamin Chu said, “It feels amazing. I’ve been involved in track and field since freshmen year and have since enjoyed all the friendships and bonds that come with it. It’s a ton of fun even through difficult workouts and seasons.”
music, mathematics, social science, essay, speech, and economics. They will continue to study and practice for the state competition, which is from March 18 to March 23. Junior Patrick Chea states that speech is the team’s strongest category. Despite how much the team requires from each member, students still love it. Sophomore Jocelyn Shackleford states, “Although ACADEC takes a lot of time and devotion and I’m often sleep-deprived, joining the class is the greatest decision of my life.” This will be their third year making it to the state competition. This is also Mr. Tran’s third year as the Academic Decathlon Coach. Mr. Tran shows his dedication by stating, “ACADEC: Learn it. Live it. Love it.” Chea also shows his dedication to the team stating, “ This has been a phenomenal year in so many ways. From the highest score in our school’s history, to the amazing family that we are, the Academic Decathlon is the best team in the world. We look forward to the State Finals and we hope to do our best.”
JONATHAN LOU Staff Writer
Keppel students have begun to register for next years’ classes and will meet with their counselors to discuss their selections in the guidance office from March 2 to April 1. There were class orientations for class registration from February 10th to February 13th that presented the information and directions to select classes online. The orientation also consisted of reminding students of their A-G requirements. During the course of the presentations registration for classes was opened online on Powerschool, the online web portal for personal student information, and closed on March 9. Throughout the month counselors will be seeing a total of roughly 1,660 students, excluding the seniors, with each counselor seeing about 370 students each. Counselors will be discussing the classes students select according to what A-G requirements are needed
and recommended classes that make UC and CSU requirements. Counselors will look at each student’s classes, current transcript, and the student’s current goals for advising them on class selection. Students will sometimes have to talk to their counselors about what effects taking summer school will have on their classes, Honors or AP classes, and if they are unsure of what classes to take. Students will sometimes select classes that are too easy or too difficult for them. “When you’re selecting your classes, make sure it’s the right thing for you for the right reasons.” Ms. Matsuo, a Mark Keppel Guidance Counselor, says on the topic. The classes students choose for next year can vary in difficulty and experience and students can consult their counselors based on their preferences and goals throughout the month. Counselors will offer advice and insight to their students, but it is the student that will pick the classes they desire.
ASB presents a “Night of the Gods”
Senior Geri Gloria asks senior Kevin Aragon to Sadies.
RODOLFO ARIAS Staff Writer
This years’ Sadie Hawkins dance will take place on March 20 in Palm Court from 7 to 11 p.m. The ticket price will be $12 with ASB, and $14 without ASB. Tickets will be on sale until Thursday, March 19, and can be purchased in the student bank. ASB is also giving away a two
COURTESY OF GERI GLORIA
free tickets for the most liked Sadies proposal on Instagram. Unlike previous years, the location of this dance has been changed from being in the old gym to Palm Court. ASB Vice President Shiva Taghdis said that the reason for this is because, “It’s better for dancing and it won’t look so awkward.” Regarding the time frame for the dance, Assistant Principal of Business and Activities Mr.
Devaughn said, “[Students are] not permitted to stay past that time. This is for a number of reasons, most important being the curfew laws.” The theme is “Night of the Gods,” which ASB chose as a class effort. Themes were suggested and considered before the class decided on one theme. Singer Li believes that this dance will be more successful than last years’ Sadies. He said, “Last year, the location was too big and the DJ was not what we hoped for because of song choices.” This year’s DJ will be DJ Robert, a DJ approved by the district. Li said that the DJ for this dance could only come from an approved list because of time convenience and to help prevent last minute emergencies. Mr. Devaughn said, “It’s really amazing that we have these dances because not only is it a place where the kids can come to enjoy themselves but to also promote school spirit.”
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 Co-Photographer, Asst. Cartoonist
Brian Chen Asst. Viewpoint Editor, Web Editor Alexander Beaumont Asst. Features Editor Carmen Ma Asst. A&E Editor
Brandon Chung Historian
Emily Mu Asst. Sports Editor
Karen Ip Co-Copy Editor, Asst. Focus Editor
Sally Chen Asst. Business Manager
Lydia Xie Co-Copy Editor, Asst. News Editor
Edlyn Wong Head Cartoonist
Alex Dea Staff Writer
Selina Huang Staff Writer
Yang Lu Staff Writer
Bradley Dea Staff Writer
Christie Hui Staff Writer
Carmen Ma Staff Writer
Victoria Ramirez Co-Photographer
Joann Kong Staff Writer
Maliah Pierribia Staff Writer
Rodolfo Arias Staff Writer
Eric Lam Staff Writer
Ingrid Rodriguez Staff Writer
Karli Cheng Staff Writer
Ida Lam Staff Writer
Stephanie Robles Staff Writer
Kristin Ching buranakit Staff Writer
Tammy Lee Staff Writer
Shanae To Staff Writer
Jonathan Lou Staff Writer
Stephanie Tran 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.
TOP TEN REASONS WHY BUZZFEED SUCKS YANG LU Staff Writer Well, we don’t actually have ten reasons, but hopefully you got click baited, just like how BuzzFeed has taken over Facebook feeds with its own click bait headlines. Though BuzzFeed’s use of viral media may hold strong appeal to young adults, the focus on virality has heavy costs on truthfulness. According to the New York Times, BuzzFeed is compelled to cover the trending topics on social media regardless of actual journalistic significance. It also relies on social media for updates and traditional news sources to obtain verification and issue corrections. The rush to cover viral stories lead to wide readership of info that sometimes turn out to be hoaxes, despite BuzzFeed’s latest efforts to hire copy editors. One of these hoaxes presented a story manufactured by TV producer Elan Gale as fact about an airplane confrontation. Buzzfeed posted this feud as fact, though it was taken from Twitter. BuzzFeed has nothing close to factchecking system found at The New Yorker, which makes it vulnerable to an apparent lack of vetting and confirmed sources. However, its popularity remained so high that Bloomberg Business projected the sales of BuzzFeed Inc. to be over $120 million in 2014. This means that BuzzFeed has an enormous audience to which it owes the journalistic integrity of broadcasting truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. BuzzFeed’s news reporting represents a rising journalistic culture that accom-
COURTESY OF BUZZFEED
We are giving credit, unlike BuzzFeed.
panied technological advancements. This new approach boasts quick, democratic coverage of news that specifically caters to the audiences’ interests. For example, according to an article by Columbia Journalism Review, BuzzFeed’s editor in chief, Ben Smith, urged for his writers to present more stories as quizzes to appeal to the younger demographics.
BuzzFeed also reproduces news and entertainment through viral videos with its six YouTube channels. Junior Scully Kuo stated, “It’s a combo of things that the contemporary society today enjoys seeing and learning. Basically, BuzzFeed is a place that can bring people together as one because of the relation and entertainment we all share.”
Unfortunately, given BuzzFeed’s business model, it is unlikely for such an organization to withhold articles for proper authentication procedures. From an ethical perspective, BuzzFeed must uphold the virtue of truth in journalism and news reporting, which it is unable to do. Buzzfeed should forego its attempt at news gathering, and instead focus on its entertainment sectors. Junior Amanda Xaypraseuth said, “There aren’t any specific things I do with BuzzFeed since I only look at the videos online. It really takes your mind off of the stress for a bit because most of their content is hilarious.” Students simply do not find the news feature on BuzzFeed engaging or useful, and they enjoyed BuzzFeed solely based on its videos and entertainment value. This reinforces the idea that BuzzFeed should not continue its news operations of unvalidated information and focus on its successful video projects instead. Francis Chu, volleyball coach and English teacher, said, “I would not consider it to be a reliable news source… It’s the kind of website that I would fact-check.” He noted that the most popular features on BuzzFeed seemed to be the lists, and even those articles seemed to be “devoid of any real useful or significant content.” He critiqued the website as a “dumping place for things that I don’t really need to see or know.” BuzzFeed’s attempt at news has failed and its resources would be better spent on other viral media that people actually enjoy and repost. Buzzfeed, you tried.
Teachers should not be disrespected IDA LAM Staff Writer Teachers are the primary authority figure in a classroom. Students are expected to enter class , sit down in their designated seats, and listen to the teacher’s lessonwith deference. However, there are some students who knowingly challenge the teachers’ authority by displaying acts of defiance, such as talking back to the teacher or talking while the teacher is speaking. This disrespect can create a negative relationship between teachers and students, and nobody needs that. Senior Brian Chu stated, “I have witnessed other students disrespecting teachers. In class, there are some people who blatantly talk about the teacher in class, loud enough that the teacher can hear. It’s pretty obvious that they are doing it out of spite so they can get out of doing their work.” The word “disrespect” can have a variety of definitions for different people. Social science teacher Mr. Gillette stated, “It depends on what you call disrespect. Different teachers feel different ways. Some teachers say ‘if you’re talking while I’m talking, then that’s a certain amount of disrespect,’ and some teachers put up with it and some don’t.” This varying definition of “dis-
respect” is apparent in many of Mark Keppel’s classrooms. Mr. Lai’s former classroom contained many signs that stated, “No gum!” while other teachers are more lenient about gum chewing in their classrooms. However, students should behave accordingly to whatever classroom they are in. Students committing acts of defiance could put the teacher in an awkward position. Choosing to assert authority could result in an increased level of tension between the student and teacher, which can impair the student’s learning. Positive student relationships lead to a more beneficial learning environment. According to the American Psychological Association, positive teacher-student relationships—evidenced by teachers’ reports of low conflict, a high degree of closeness and support, and little dependency—have been shown to support students’ adjustment to school, contribute to their social skills, promote academic performance, and foster students’ resiliency in academic performance. For teachers, failure to respond to the student effectively can result in increased levels of defiance on the students’ part. But teachers have roughly 180 students a day. The average student
Mr. Tom and senior Stephanie Cao have mutual respect for each other.
has to see six teachers. Students should also put in the effort to establish positive relationships. Openly disrespecting teachers benefits no one. Teachers who experience students undermining their authority may respond in different ways. Senior Brian Chu stated, “[In my experience,] the teacher either just ignores them or sends the students to the dean’s office. However, that’s pretty rare considering that he doesn’t want to keep aggravating the students so they stop interrupting class.” But a cause for disrespect to ward teachers in the classroom
can often be traced to deeper personal issues, according to social science and academic decathlon teacher Mr. Tran. Tran stated, “When a student acts up, he or she is usually is having issues at home or elsewhere. Teachers can help the situation by taking preventative measures, meaning checking on [their students], making sure they’re on task, and having proactive classroom management techniques.” To all teachers facing student disrespect, Mr. Tran advised, “Don’t take it personally. The more structure there is [in your class], the less chance there is for
THE AZTEC/KARLI CHENG
a student to be out of control. Be well organized and have established procedures that you follow.” Over time, students develop a sense of which teachers have stricter or more lenient ideas of what “disrespect” is in their classroom, and can choose their future courses accordingly. However, it is only right that all Mark Keppel students should give their teachers the respect that students would want to be treated with themselves. It is common human decency and after all, teachers have feelings, too.
Am I living the Wong life? Too Amber to be black
BONNIE WONG A&E/Features Editor Growing up in the 626, I feel most at home grounded in the roots of my Asian heritage. I have to admit that I am living a sheltered life being surrounded by local boba shops, dim sum restaurants, and SAT prep classes where “Asian fail” (synonymous for getting a “B” on a test) is equivalent to any other usual teenage-slang phrase. Keppel’s culture has prepped me with all the standardized testing tactics that I could ever need, but at the same time I am totally clueless to the ways of the Westerners at times. I’m not saying that I’m a complete social klutz or a total foreigner to all things nonAsian, but I’ve come to realize that not all Asian approaches are best fitting outside of Monterey Park. I once went to my non-Asian friend’s house and saw that she had chopsticks at her dinner table. To my surprise, I screamed, “Do you know how to use those?” Yesterday, in AP Language & Composition, an Asian guy was giving his current event. He pronounced “wanton” (according to Merriam Webster as an adjective meaning “hard to control”), as “wonton”. For those of you who do not get the oh-
so-punny reference to these delightful dumplings, this just yet again shows how we’re so accustomed to the Asian lifestyle. Looking back, I honestly was appalled that she had chopsticks along with Asian tapestries hung around her home, but it shouldn’t have been such a shock to me (a side note: later she told me that they were solely for decoration purposes). I’ve been so comfortable around people of my ethnicity for so long that even going on a college tour (the irony) never ceases to THE AZTEC/YANG LU amaze me. It makes me think that I’ve been living in a nice, 72˚F bubble free of the harsh elements of the big, bad world outside. Throw me into an environment that I’m not used to being in and the nice bubble pops, leaving me to fend for myself. I honestly love being at Keppel because everyone thinks alike. We all have the unspoken language that automatically unites us as one Keppel family. This can have both it’s downsides and upsides. It makes it harder to be unique without being socially outcasted. At the same time, it’s nice to be comfortable at a school where everyone (for the most part) understands each other.
AMBER BATCHELOR Editor-in-Chief I’ve always lived in cities that are predominantly Asian and Hispanic, therefore it is very rare to run into “my own kind.” So why would I think Keppel would be any different? I honestly did not expect to see many black students. Mind you I went to Baldwin Elementary, where there were about two other black students in the entire school. So imagine my utter surprise when I discovered that I had a black girl in my freshman Spanish class. Honestly, one of the best things about being a minority at a school is the feeling of elation I receive when I find another one of my people. One of the worst things about it though, is the extreme levels of competition we face. Let’s face it, Mark Keppel students are known to believe it’s the end of the world they get below an A. We go to a school where students simply take AP courses for college credit instead of having a desire to be challenged in their academics. I know this may be a shock, but you don’t have to have four AP classes to get into a good college. This stiff competition make it hard to stand out academi-
cally at Keppel. However, standing out at Keppel is not my problem. I love the fact that I can pretty much identify all black students at Keppel. My main problem is my inability to relate to blacks outside of Monterey Park. I’ve become, what we like to call, an oreowhite, or Asian in this case, but black on the outside. Due to my sheltered lifestyle, I neglect the day to day happenings in the black community. Not knowing the latest isTHE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ sues, music, and dances causes me to be out of touch with my black heritage. My love of boba and my extreme grammar-nazi attitude don’t match with society’s view of how a black person should be, and frankly it doesn’t make me so popular with my kind either. Not excellent enough to meet the Asian criteria and not connected with my black heritage, I have found Keppel to be a temporary refuge. Mark Keppel is the place where I have been able automatically meet other blacks who are disconnected from their roots. We attract one another and, over the years, I have become friends with a lot of the other black students. Keppel is the one place where I don’t have to be anyone but myself.
Are teenagers uninformed on current events?
CARMEN MA Asst. A&E Editor While the famous saying “ignorance is bliss” is acceptable in many situations, teenage ignorance of current events and social issues should definitely not be one of them. Teenagers nowadays are very different from what they used to be. For modern teens, accessibility to information technology has expanded significantly over the past several decades. In addition to older mediums of information such as print journalism and television, the internet and new technological devices have contributed greatly to the spread of information. If information is more accessible than ever, why do so many teenagers not care to be informed of current events and social issues? According to reporter Julianne Micoleta from the Huffington Post, teens are “often portrayed as less engaged in politics; they have short attention spans and don’t care about the weighty issues that confront their generation and the nation, and they’re more interested in technology and celebrity than staying active in their communities and schools.” A survey conducted by Harvard University shows that only one in 20 teens read a newspaper on a close to daily basis. Senior and Vice President of the Student Advocates for Voter Empowerment club, also known as S.A.V.E, Andrew Lin agrees. He believes that many of “the teens of the present day have ... [an] affinity for current events” but not for “the types of events that have real profound impacts on
COURTESY OF METAFILTER.COM
Many are not aware of the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria.
our lives and on the lives of others.” One theory behind the teenage lack of curiosity to learn about current issues and social events is the priorities teens hold. The Huffington Post found that “teens today appear to desire money more than high school seniors did in the 1970s: 62 percent of those surveyed from 2005 to 2007 said it was important to them to have a lot of money, compared to just 48 percent from 1976 to 1978.” The numbers say everything: the teenage years of a person’s life are, for many, de-
fined by material interests and selfishness. Many teens are inclined to do things that affect them directly. Although math teacher Ms. Su’s own teenage daughter is “more of an introvert,” Ms. Su has deduced from observation that many “kids are more concerned about social media” and “define their popularity based on how many ‘likes’ they receive” on their platforms. To a certain extent, Ms. Su believes that age does have an impact on a person’s inclination to learn about the current events and social issues of the world. “People
learn things based on experiences. Over time, people become more thoughtful and then they want to read more about what’s going on in the world.” Although it is not imperative that teens read about the social issues and news of the world constantly, it is important to be informed about them. ‘ You should by no means stop looking at whatever news interests you, but you should be aware about what’s going on in the rest of the world-- one day, these events could profoundly affect you.
Strategies for SAT Success
$150
Scholarship Coupon
AcademicSolution.com
(626) 350-1333
/academic.aec (Near LA Fitness) 400 S. Atlantic Blvd., Ste. #226, Monterey Park, CA 91754 .com
Hang in there Aztecs! Spring Break is just around the corner! (3/23-3/27)
For more information, please visit theaztecnews.com!
What is your definition of luck? “Having good events happen to you randomly” -Denisse Barajas (12)
“Luck is finding something valuable in life.” -Mark Ramos (10) “Something that coincidentally happens” -Ryan Taing (9)
“I think it’s when you’re given the opportunity to do something that’ll benefit you when you don’t really expect it.” -Caitlin Chan (11)
Feel like hardwork is what you do VIVIAN TO Co-Asst. Editor-in-Chief, Focus Editor
For those of you who may feel like you’re not lucky or just not as lucky as the people around you, dont’t just sit there and do nothing, why not create your own luck: through hardwork. This may seem like nonsense since many people believe that luck is something that happens coincidentally, usually in a good way. However, working diligently and doing your best can help increase the chances in achieving wanted results. In fact, many people believe that hard work is great because it makes you feel more accomplished when you spent your time working on a goal. Senior Tiara Daniels said, “If you work hard, it’s more valuable because you know [that] you did it yourself.” Not only might working diligently help make chances of getting an expected result higher,
it can also lead to good karma. For those people who believe in karma, they can create their own luck by working diligently. Junior Kelvin Ko said, “For school related, I help my fellow classmates out with their school work not only to learn for myself but also to receive good karma in return.” Some people believe that luck is caused by working hard; they feel that luck doesn’t just come without a reason. Digital Media and video game teacher, Ms. Fillpot, quoted, “Luck is the residue of design,” she coninued to say, “it [luck] doesn’t just happen, it’s a result of just working hard.” Some people may not be born lucky, but having no luck should not stop them from trying to achieve it, and nothing is going to happen if people don’t try to make an effort.
U A
C E B Know wha STEPHANIE TRAN Staff Writer
Many times, good things may happen to us with luck. On many occasions we accomplish things with our skills, but sometimes we may believe that the things we have accomplished were based partly, or even solely, on luck. And where might have that luck come from? A special bracelet or a beloved amulet? Some individuals have good luck charms that they carry around to calm the nerves or to simply feel secure with the thing that they are about to pursue. Objects may be justified as good luck charms through associations of several instances in which the charm had worked and gave the power of luck. Different cultures obtain beliefs in specific lucky charms, such as the Irish and the four-leaf clover and Africans and the lucky rabbit charm, also known as the rabbit’s foot. Some Keppelites carry charms of their own to get through things such as tests, sports games, performances, or just a day in general. Junior Tommy Hu wears a jade necklace to
Senior Bria
bring h He sai luck [b blood Senior a cross every is con becaus
Feel like superstitions may be true Feel like horoscopes are meant for you F
SELINA HUANG Staff Writer
SALLY CHEN Asst. Business Manager
Superstition is the belief that one event causes another without any natural process that links the two events. Some common superstitions include knocking on wood, itchy palms, and breaking a mirror. Having a left itchy palm is believed to indicate that you are about to receive money while an itchy right palm indicates that you will lose money. The superstition of breaking a mirror will supposedly bring you seven years of bad luck. Freshman Ashley Tang stated that one of her superstitions is ghosts because “I have experienced paranormal activities which led me to believe that ghosts exist.” Drama teacher Ms. Phillips believes that if the word “Hamlet” is said around the theater, there will be bad luck on the entire theater. She has not personally done the Shakespearean play, but she said, “There have been incidents where actors broke something, tripped, or died. Most actors, including myself, won’t say the name of that play even outside of the theater.” This year, there is Friday the 13th in February and March. Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. On this day, some people are usually more afraid of getting bad luck. Junior Leilani Chu’s definition of bad luck is “when you feel like the world is out to get you. [For example] getting pooped on by a bird is [bad luck] because it could have landed anywhere, but it somehow just landed on you.” Chu believes that bad luck happens to everyone once in a while, but she does not believe in Black Friday because she thinks it is “just a coincidence without any significance.” For those of you who believe in bad luck on Friday the 13th, be careful tomorrow!
To start off the day, some people may get on their phones or computers and look at what their day will be like according to their horoscopes. Based on what horoscope they prefer, some people may refer to the astrological or the Chinese Zodiac horoscope. Astrological horoscopes are based on the positions of the stars and planets of which a person is born on. Each person is a part of their own category and each category has a different meaning. There are 12 in total, and they include Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Horoscopes have been trending on social media for some years now, but some people are skeptical about horoscopes. Junior Shaye Wang said, “Horoscopes are very general which is why [some] people believe in it.” Senior Nick Don said, “I think horoscopes give motivation for people to start their day because it gives them hope.” In addition to astrological horoscopes, many people look at their Chinese Zodiac to see how their year will be like. History teacher, Mr. Ko, said, “Just like western astrologies, it is a lot of superstition and not necessarily proven true.” The Chinese Zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle in which each year has the best luck for a sertain animal. The animals include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This year is the year of the ram. Freshman Eric Dinh stated, “They are cool. Sometimes, it is pretty true, but it [Chinese zodiac horoscope] does tell a lot about yourself.”
AL St
co rio lu nu an to we br stu pr ar ev
yo is an pl co fe ne
M ’ I E L S U U CLAP ALON C G IF YO KY U. . at good luck charms are to you
an Sewell (left) and Junior Tommy Hu (right) show off their necklaces.
him good luck on a daily basis. id, “I wear it for general good because] it supposedly cleanses and keeps away evil spirits.” r Brian Sewell wears a Jesus on s necklace, given by his father, day as well. He explained, “It nsidered my good luck charm se whenever I hold it with my
THE AZTEC/ CORY MAK
hands, good things tend to happen.” Some good luck charms can vary by culture or religious beliefs, while others may have been given by someone special. Senior Whitney Hung said that during her childhood, she used to have a beaded bracelet that her grandmother gave her. Hung said, “When I had the bracelet on, I felt like it gave
me luck on tests. Thing seemed to go my way and wearing it made me feel like my grandma was always with me.” Some individuals do not have good luck charms, but instead, have rituals that they perform. Junior Lauren Estrada, who played Wendy from Keppel’s Peter Pan Musical, said that the whole cast does a pre-show ritual in which they close their eyes and stand in a circle, hold hands, pass a hand squeeze, and then wish everyone good luck silently. She said, “One time, I missed the circle and had the worst time; I misplaced my costume, missed entrances, and felt terrible in general.” Since then, she came to believe that this ritual was a must before a show. Overall, good luck charms promote a positive and comforting attitude towards things. They can bring more hope and may make things a little less frightening many times as they help bring the best of luck for everyone’s well-being.
Feel like luck might be just fate
LEX DEA taff Writer
Rabbits’ feet and four-leaf clovers are some of of luck. The question is, does luck ome naturally, or is it simply faith? Many believe that luck definitely works in mysteous ways. Different cultures have different varieties of how to obtain luck or become ucky, but usually have the same methods. For example, in western and eastern cultures, umbers are extremely important when it comes to luck. The number “13” to westerners nd the number “4” to easterners are the most unlucky numbers. Objects also are said o give off magically lucky powers like a rabbit’s foot or a jade necklace. But how do e know if these things actually work? Some say that luck is a coincidence that faith rought to you. Certain events can happen based on how you set your future. If you udied for the big test, you will probably do pretty good on it. If you didn’t, your luck robably wont be the best. Some even believe in karma or, in other words, what comes round goes around. It depends how much you believe in luck and if you believe if luck ven exists. Coincidence can happen any time anywhere. An example of coincidence can be that ou find a dollar on the street, or your math test is canceled because the school printer out of ink. Again, luck or coincidence? Everyone has a different perspective of how nd why certain situations happen for a reason. People who do not believe in luck simly say that everything happens for a reason, also known as fate. Luck is almost always onnected with superstitions and dos and don’ts. Do these practices really make a diference? This battle between methods have been going at it for centuries, it is up to the ext generations to determine what they believe in.
Unlucky # (4, 13) Opening 6% umbrellas indoors
6%
Walking under latter
7% Step on a crack, break mom’s back 8%
Friday the 13th 16%
Top 8 Most Popular Superstitions at Keppel*
Knock on Wood 10%
15% Black Cats 15%
Broken Mirror 11%
DOES LUCK RUN IN THE FAMILY?
Yes- 22%
No- 78%
210 people were polled. Cartoon by Edlyn Wong Headlines inspired by Pharell Williams’s “Happy” *The poll was conducted by the Aztec Staff of 200 students from all grade levels. Graphic by Vivian To
Aca-awkward Discover the hidden gems of Monterey Park KRISTIN CHINGBURANAKIT Staff Writer
When people are feeling shy, can't make a conversation, unable to make friends, or feel anxious around others, these people might be considered as "socially awkward." Many high school students have the tendency to not speak up during class because they are afraid of being embarrassed and they would not know how to handle the situation. Without wanting to speak up, it is really difficult to meet new friends. For example, when junior Khrystalie Le meets someone new, she will "avoid eye contact at all times, say unlikely things, and hope that that person won't give [her] weird looks." Students always have awkward moments when they see someone from school in a public place, such as the market. Sophomore Joanna Huynh mentions that when she sees someone from school, she would try to “avoid them. But I try avoiding public places altogether knowing that I might see someone from school.” Teachers also have their awkward moments with students. Physiology teacher Ms. Dhala says, "I have awkward moments with my students all the time, but I don't find it as awkward anymore! They ask me interesting questions, since it is a physiology class and the students are curious. But I rather have them ask me over their peers for an accurate answer."
There is a whole list of moments that are dreaded by everyone. For one, walking in the hallway and a person’s hand brushes the person next to them. Another one would be, when someone waves to a person and the person does not wave back. Although, the worst awkward moment that everyone has encountered at least once is running into someone in the hallway and side stepping back and forth. Everyone has at least one, or more, awkward moments that will stick with them forever. It’s mostly around the years of 13 to 16. At these ages, people are trying to understand all the changes that are going on with their body, emotional and mental statuses. Le confesses one of her most awkward moments, “I saw my friend’s mom at Subway and I was trying to avoid talking to her, since I don’t really know how to speak Vietnamese well. She saw me and called me over and we had a nice conversation. I had to go so I said, ‘okay, bye thank you’ I walked away and in my head I thought ‘why did I say thank you?’ So, dumb me, walked back in quickly and said, ‘I don’t know why I said thank you, that was really weird. Okay bye.’ I was embarrassed and scarred for the rest of my life.” Even if you experience something that you might consider an “awkward moment”, don’t let it get to you and know that everyone is put into an uncomfortable situation during their life.
Awkward.
THE AZTEC/DARWIN TSE
EDLYN WONG Cartoonist With a population of 61, 000 individuals and a handful of recognizable parks, restaurants, and businesses, the city of Monterey Park has quite a few hidden gems. It’s hard to know every nook and cranny of a city that measures up to eight square miles. Just up the hill on Orange Avenue, operated by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, lies the Garvey Ranch Observatory. According to the LAAS website, “the observatory is also the home of an 8 inch refractor telescope and a library containing about 1,000 books and numerous magazines of various astronomy subjects.” Junior Vivian Tse who recently visited the observatory said, “I found the observatory through the Monterey Park newspaper. Many of us were first timers to see the planets through a telescope specifically used for observatories and that made us speechless.” Just around the corner, next to ELAC, sits the Vincent Price Art
The feature film “Furious 7” was released on Friday, April 3rd. Fans all over the world came out to watch, topping the box office at $800 million in just two weeks. “Furious 7” features everything a “Fast and Furious” fan would expect: Fast cars, hot girls in bikinis, witty jokes, and a lot of action. The cast features members from the original film such as Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, and Vin Diesel. Alongside them are members that joined later in the series such as Dwayne
“The Rock” Johnson, Ludacris, and Tyrese Gibson. One of the newest members joining the cast of “Furious 7” is Jason Statham. A lot of hype was built up after Statham was featured in the postcredit scene of “Fast and Furious 6”. In “Furious 7” Statham plays an antagonist named Deckard Shaw who seeks revenge for his hospitalized brother. Since the first film’s release in 2001, franchise has still implemented the same theme in every movie: family is everything. The Fast and Furious franchise portrays one of the most idealistic family and friend relationships amongst the characters in the story.
Museum (VPAM). Currently, the museum features three permanent exhibits including the art of the Ancient Americas, Modern Expressions, and Mexican Modernism, as well as showcasing a few temporary exhibitions. VPAM provides an environment that showcases a range of interpretation, collection, and preservation of works that “illuminate the depth and diversity of artwork produced by people of the world, both contemporary and past.” Life in the city can be quite exciting. Especially when you
COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
dedicate your day to the Monterey Park Golf Club who “strive to offer the number one Southern California golf experience.” This driving range offers a newly renovated nine-hole course for experienced players as well as newcomers. Besides the range, the facility is also home to a fully-stocked Pro Shop and the Cafe MPark, which provides a food and drink service to the driving range. These destinations are near and dear to Monterey Park. Maybe they’ll become your next go-to hang out place!
Got interns? Internships. The word may sound intimidating: long hours with little or no pay. “But I need it for college to list under ‘work experiences’!” you may bemoan. “It’s so hard to find an internship as a high school student and in what I’m interested too!” However, internships aren’t impossible to obtain and being an intern can have good benefits in the long run. Veronica Guevara Editor-in-Chief of Latino Bride & Groom and My Quince publications stated, “internships give students an overview of their specific majors. I think it... helps you in the long run to focus on major experiences in personal majors. It gives you a glimpse of the major and experience in the real world and helps you build
your resume.” Many students want an internship to gain work experience, to strengthen their college applications, and to give them an idea about their college major. Some believe that they don’t have the time or the commitment, feel that they lack the necessary skills to be hired, or simply aren’t interested at the moment. “It just never crossed my mind to look for [an internship],” senior Cally Ma stated. However, internships can be a beneficial experience because it can teach students invaluable skills and even open doors to more career opportunities in the future. Guevara also stated, “I look for how focused they are because when you meet someone for the first time, it’s hard to see who they are. I look for strong work ethic, a high GPA [which
shows] commitment to schooling [and] means more commitment to the internship, that they are eager to learn, hardworking, and a team player.” Another reason why people do not hold an internship position is becuase they are not sure where to start looking for one at. The Career Center is one of the many places where job opportunities await. Many local internships are available for students who are interested in specific fields. Even if an internship is not available, students always have the option of contacting people in the community who have occupations that they’re interested in pursuing and requesting to shadow that individual for the day. There are many opportunities for internship-seekers that can give students many beenfits and help shape their futures.
One of the main cast members, Paul Walker, recently passed away on November 30, 2013, still leaving many friends, family, and fans in grief. After the ending of “Furious 7”, a tribute video is played in remembrance of Paul Walker. Senior Luis Garcia said, “It was very touching because it showed the brotherhood between Brian and Dominic but also between Paul and Vin. It really showed their friendship outside the acting.” However, the question lingering in everyone’s head is: Does Paul Walker’s death call an end to the “Fast and Furious” series? Junior Joshua Chang said, “I really don't think that there will be a
Fast and Furious 8. Paul Walker was one of the main protagonists in the series and his involvement was what really made some movies make sense.” Chang also stated, “ However, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Furious 8, the series produces a lot of revenue.” If you have not seen “Furious 7” yet, I highly encourage you to do so. The producers demonstrated
creativity in the scenarios the characters went through, and the action scenes will leave you speechless. For fans of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, you will truly enjoy this movie, for the producers recreated iconic scenes from previous installments that will have you fan-girling all the way home.
BONNIE WONG A&E/Features Editor
Zooming into theaters AREN LIM Business Manager
The Garvey Ranch Observatory is a good place to locally stargaze.
COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
PowerSchool: Your all-in-one go to for quick access to academics IDA LAM Staff Writer PowerSchool (family.ausd.us) is one of the most regularly visited sites. The site is a convenient, streamlined way to keep track of a student’s attendance, grades, and disciplinary records. Mark Keppel’s Principal Ms. Cisneros said that PowerSchool was actually adopted in the district about eight years ago, and that its original purpose was to maintain students’ records. “PowerSchool wasn’t for grading, but for enrollment information, student addresses, and log entries for discipline,” Ms. Cisneros said. As the website developed, the Alhambra Teachers’ Association and the district declared approximately three years ago that PowerSchool would also serve as the official attendance record keeping program. Previously, different departments within the school would utilize their own record-keeping systems for grades. Students would only be updated with their current grades at certain times within the school year: semester warning notices, and quater and semester endings. According to Cisneros, PowerSchool has allowed students to check their grades at any time. Using the
This is where students are greeted with when they log in to Powerschool.
website also allows students to catch any mistakes that teachers may make. To keep students’ records up to date, the school board policy requires teachers to input grades regularly. School administrators are also able to review assignments that are inputted into the gradebooks, as well as the grades for every student. Administrators like Ms. Cisneros can also monitor sudden changes in students’ grades. When a usually well-achieving student has a sudden drop in grades, counselors are prompted to find the catalyst for the change in academics. This is usually caused by emotional problems or tragedies at home, according to
CARTOON/ EDLYN WONG
Ms. Cisneros. PowerSchool also gives parents an opportunity to be more involved in their child’s academics. Ms. Cisneros stated, “When I look at it, I can see how many times students log into PowerSchool. I can also see which parents are not looking at it.” This information can prompt administrators to hold workshops on how to access their child’s Parent Portal and be more informed about their child’s grades. PowerSchool branched out to include features for keeping detailed student records, including students’ academics, citizenship, attendance, and other basic business components.
College 101: Be smart about your future ALEXANDER BEAUMONT Asst. Features Editor Every spring, over 9 million Americans will be receiving acceptance and rejection letters from universities all over the country, which can be a very stressful time for seniors. With college acceptances delivered around mid- to late March, the period between submitting your application to receiving a letter of acceptance or rejection is one filled with anxiety. However, this may not always be the case. For the class of 2018, the average acceptance rate for the UC system was 35.8% and 58.3%, according to the University of California website and a California College survey. Moreover, the average acceptance rate for colleges nationwide is around 67% or 2 out of every 3 applicants, according to a study done by the National Association for College Admissions. But there’s more to getting into college than just an acceptance letter. Most all universities all over the US require an application to be filled out in order to apply to college. Applications can vary from school to school, but there are a couple basic steps when filling out an application, such as providing personal information, standardized test scores, high school transcript, personal statement, etc. The most impor-
tant part of applying is personal statement, which is an essay applicant writes about themselves and their lives. Senior Daisy Ramos agrees with this statement, saying, “I feel that the personal statement is the hardest because you have to find who you are and be able to write about that”. Another very strenuous part of the process is the essays. Private schools and schools within the UC system require that students complete a number of essays. Many students, including senior Andre Liu, believe that this is the hardest part of the application process because “every school requires you to write a number of essays, and you have to write all the essays for all the different schools and edit them and make sure that they're complete before the deadline.” There are even websites that have made applying to college much more effective. In California, the UC and CSU systems have streamlined their college applications, with each system having their own application sites. Students apply to CSU system schools at www.csumentor.edu and students apply to UC system schools at www.admissions.universityofcalifornia. edu. Students who are also applying to non-UC/CSU schools have the opportunity of sending
To go or not to go? STEPHANIE TRAN Staff Writer Balancing a rigorous academic and social life, there may be a time in a student’s life where they must make a decision between the two. This year, there were a few competitions that took place on the same day as prom for Keppel students. Competitions included FBLA, SkillsUSA, and Speech and Debate. Some students had to make a decision about which to attend, as most of these competitions lasted a few consecutive days and took place away from school. If a student had choosen prom over the competition, the opportunity to gain useful experience of leadership and teamwork would have been passed. But, if a student had choosen the competition over prom, he or she may
have missed out on a cherished moment with friends and a once in a lifetime experience, especially for a senior. An anonymous source said, "After much deliberation, I ultimately chose prom. Making this decision was undoubtedly one of the more difficult decisions I have ever had to make. Competition is my passion and drive, but I really had to focus on what my heart truly wanted in spite of what I was expected of me. I also received a lot of input from objective third parties including friends, family, and past competitors." A senior, the student explained that missing the prom would have left him or her feeling less closure from senior year. It was important to take into consideration that competitions happen a few times during a school year, and prom takes place once a year.
CARTOON BY EDLYN WONG
Seniors Speak: College Advice to Underclassmen KAREN IP & LYDIA XIE Asst. Focus & Asst. News & Copy Editors
“Be prepared and don’t delay anything. Last minute stuff is no good.” -Antoinette Nguyen COURTESY OF VANESSA MACH Senior Vanessa Mach poses with UCI’s mascot.
in their applications through the Common Application, an admissions site that allows students applying to over 400 colleges across America to use the same application for multiple schools. “If you’re being driven by some kind of career aspiration, take up an activity or hobby that complements that goal. For example, if you want to be a photographer, take photos and create a website or IG account showcasing your work. With new technology and social media platforms of today, there are endless possibilities you can create for yourself”, said college advisor Ms. Yu on improving your application. While applying to college may be stressful, know that your work will pay off when you receive your acceptance.
“Don’t procrastinate, and consider your options.” -Narmeen Almomani “Try not to let senioritis get to you.” -Kimberly Tang “Try not to slack off even when you’re a senior because grades still matter.” -Sophia Islam
Swim team prepares to defend Almont League title AMBER BATCHELOR Editor-in-Chief
Training since June 2014, the Mark Keppel swim team is now prepared to begin their season. The team’s preparation consisted of watching training videos in a classroom setting and attending weight training, which is offered 5 days a week. The team practices an average of 8 hours a week during preseason, which has now increased to 15 hours a week. The team has been assessed 9 times since June in order to measure the swimmers’ progress and compare themselves to their teammates. This season, the girls and boys varsity team consists of 35 seniors. The captains of the varsity girls’ team are seniors Jayme Chan, Megan Lee, and Sera Takenaka and the captains of the varsity boys’ team are seniors Andre Liu and Brandon Van and junior David Song. Mr. Ish Perez, the swim coach for the last sixteen years, believes that Keppel is its own biggest competitor. He says, “I always preach to our team that we are our best competition, due to the size and
talent on our team.” Mr. Perez believes that Gabrielino may also be one of their biggest competitors in league, especially their boys’ varsity team. The Aztec swimmers main goal for this season is to sweep league in all four levels: JV boys, varsity boys, JV girls, and varsity boys. Coach Perez would also like to have the team work hard and have 30 swimmers qualify for CIF and rank among the top 5. Mr. Perez said their strengths include their competitive attitude, attention to detail, camaraderie, and staying humble. The team believes that their main weakness is their lack of staff. Mr Perez said, “We need more coaches to help us work more with individuals on their stroke, their attitude, their family situation, or in guiding them on what they want to do in their lives.” Through their practices the team feels like they are well prepared to face this season. On March 10th, the swim team competed against Schurr High School for preseason. All four teams won their respective divisions. Varsity girls won with a score of 114-57 and varsity boys won 127-42.
Boys’ volleyball starts 2-1 in pre-season BRIAN CHEN Web Editor/Asst. Viewpoint Editor The Mark Keppel boys’ varsity volleyball team, 2-1 in the pre-season, played a home game against Gabrielino High School on March 3. The Aztecs lost the first set to the Eagles with a score of 18-25 The boys seemed more tense and struggled during the second set, ending the set with a score of 1-25. The team was off to a rough start on the third set, but they quickly picked up their game, making the score 6-8 in favor of the Eagles. This forced a timeout from Gabrielino. Improved defense kept the Aztecs in the game, but the Eagles managed to pull through in the finish, winning the third set with a score of 18-25, ending the game for the Aztecs, 0-3. Senior Christian Rubio said, “I think that the team played alright. We knew the game was going to be tough, but I feel that we could have won one set.” The team has been practicing daily, but according to Coach Chu, it has been difficult at times because some players have not been attending practice due to different reasons. Coach Chu said, “Overall the team this year is more experienced, we have a lot of
Senior Kirk Hum (2) skies for the spike as Aihrone Segundo (6) and Christian Rubio (11) look on.
THE AZTEC/ VICTORIA RAMIREZ
returners and more people playing at similar levels, so it should be better than last year.” The team is lacking physically, in terms of height, speed, and strength. However, the team has adopted a simple system that should enable them to compete against other schools. Coach Chu states, “Our goal this season is to play good volleyball and stay tough. I think we can match against the other teams.” On Tuesday, March 10, the Aztecs hosted Don Bosco Tech. They bounced back from their loss against Gabrielino by winning, 3 sets to 1.
Softball gears up for season Boys’ tennis goes 4-1
Junior Mercedes Serratos hits a ball off the opposing pitcher.
STEPHANIE ROBLES Staff Writer Mark Keppel’s girls’ varsity softball team played a home game on Friday, March 6, against the San Marino Titans. The Aztecs started the game strongly by allowing no runs in the first inning. When they went up to bat, senior Mariah Villalobos, team captain, got a hit that allowed senior Regina Gon
THE AZTEC/DARWIN TSE
zalez to bring home the team’s first run of the game. In the next few innings, the Titans picked up their game and took a 6-3 lead. At the top of fifth inning, the Aztecs trailed by three runs. Both teams scored one run each and the Aztecs could not narrow the Titans’ lead. The score at the end of the game was 7-4, a victory for the San Marino Titans. Although they lost the game against San Marino, senior and
Captain Samantha Mendez said, “I think we did a good job on Friday. It’s only our second game of the season and we are already improving. I think everyone played hard; we just need to fix some small mistakes.” Coach Gus Lou added, “We did what we could without our senior Monique Baca. Yes, the game could’ve been better but games like today are what will help us improve before league starts.” Both the coaches and the team players have a positive reflection on Friday’s game, believing it was little mistakes that cost them the game. Coaches Jason Alexis and Gus Lou are prepared for the Almont League season, calling Alhambra their biggest competitors, “Schurr and Montebello are tough teams to face,” mentioned Villalobos, “but with work on the team’s batting skills, we’ll do great.” The team, which has been practicing since late December, is working tirelessly on batting and field work. Alexis said, “We’re going to have a great season.”
to begin the pre-season EMILY MU Asst. Sports Editor
The boys’ varsity tennis team has started off their preseason with a record of 4-1. The most recent of their matches was last Friday’s game against Chino Hills, which they won with a score of 72 games to 68. With a good beginning to the upcoming season, the team’s strategy according to Coach Mike Ten will be to strengthen the doubles’ skills and beat the other teams with that. The team’s captain, junior Jeffrey Jen said, “Our goal is to win. For doubles, we attack mostly and for singles, we try to outlast our opponents. We lost about 8 or 9 seniors, but we have to find some way to fill the hole that they left. I think our team can do as well or even better. Our doubles just need experience.” The team’s only senior, Chris Wu, said, “The team is different from last year because last year a lot of our seniors were returning players, so now, because our seniors left, only a small portion
of our varsity team is returning players. During practice, the boys are a little more relaxed compared to matches, working on fitness. The singles work on their tactics while doubles work on their volleys. Together, the team works on their serves. Junior Kyle Yip says, “I want to hit stronger and better with my backhand. I try to practice strategies that will help me with my groundstrokes. I practice where to hit and try to spot out weaknesses of the other team.” The players were nervous for their game on Friday aginst Chino Hills but pulled out a win. Coach Ten said, “It was an ugly win. We weren’t perfect, but we pulled off a win because our doubles came through.” For the remainder of the season, the team has a full schedule for first time in years with 20 matches ramped up in competition, playing schools from different divisions and leagues. Wu says he wants to “win Almont league in order to uphold our dominance in the league.”
Baseball advances to Arcadia Tournament play-offs
Sophomore Daniel De La Pena (11) takes an at-bat.
AMBER BATCHELOR Editor-in-Chief
The baseball team has been preparing for their upcoming sea-
THE AZTEC/AMBER BATCHELOR
son, with their practices beginning in late December. The team is adapting to having a new coach, Andrew Macedo. Coach Macedo was the Assitant
Head Coach at Bell Gardens High School for five years and he is glad to be coaching at Keppel. He said, “I knew [Keppel] had a good team so I applied for the job.” Macedo’s main goal for the team this season is to win the Almont League title. The Aztecs started their preseason with the Arcadia Tournament, which started on Friday, March 6th. Keppel played an away game against Sierra Vista High School for the tournament on the 6th and won with a final score of 6-2. Following this win, the Aztecs played on Saturday, March 7th,
against Beverly Hills. The Aztecs were able to score in the bottom of the first inning when junior Isaac Medina ran home. As the game continued, the Aztecs executed their defensive plays, preventing Beverly Hills from getting on base. In the bottom of the third, junior Eli Castillo scored a run followed by a fourth inning run by Keoni Young, making the score 3-0 for the Aztecs. In the 6th inning, Beverly Hills began to pick up their defense and strengthen their offense, scoring twice. However, the Aztecs were able to get the third out and the
game ended with a final score of 3-2. The Aztecs also had a tournament game on Tuesday, March 10th, against Temple High School. Going into this game, junior Jason Gomez said, “I’m nervous [about the game] because they’re a good team, but I believe in my team. The game against Temple City ended with a loss for Keppel with a final score of 0-4. Despite this loss, the Aztecs will be competing in the playoffs for the Arcadia Tournament.
Badminton returns to Keppel this season after 1-year break
Varsity player Felicia Liu prepares to volley the birdie.
THE AZTEC/ BRIAN YEO
BRIAN YEO Sports Editor Following a year-long hiatus, badminton has returned to Mark Keppel. The Keppel badminton team, which did not compete last year because they did not have a coach, is once again active in the Almont League. Led by their new coach, Ms. Duong, and their captains, juniors Lawrence Chen and Kimberley Wong, the team now has over 15 varsity players. The team began practicing to-
gether last month, working on their footwork and scrimmaging against each other. They began their pre-season last week, winning games against South Pasadena and La Puente and losing on Tuesday against Diamond Bar. They now have a pre-season record of 2-1. After their game against Diamond Bar, Wong said, “The game showed that we need a lot more practice and we need to communicatemore with our team members.” Chen said the team’s major goal is “to get at least second place in league”, but Wong is looking higher. “We’re aiming for CIF,” said Wong. “We qualified 2 years ago and we can do it again.” To get there, Chen said, “The team needs to improve on stamina, speed, and footwork.” The team will play three more preseason games. Their regular season will start on April 7th against San Gabriel. Chen added some final words, “Badminton is not just a recreational sport; it’s really competitive.”
Athlete’s Profile: David Guan
THE AZTEC/BRIAN YEO
EMILY MU Asst. Sports Editor Senior David Guan has run in both track and cross country for four years. Initially, he joined the track team because he enjoyed competitive racing and wanted to be the best in the sport. Additionally, some of his peers from middle school who moved on to other high schools wanted to join track and Guan wanted to compete against them. Guan believes track and cross country develops a tight bond between teammates because “you go through hell together, you build each other’s trust, and you have that common understanding.” He loves that “everyone has the same circumstances and no one has the upper hand. Everyone has an equal chance and anyone can win who wants to.” Guan’s team inspires him to keep going. He says, “When I see them put in work, it challenges me to do the same.” Alumnus Michael Wu, a former cross country and track runner at Keppel, was a role model for Guan. He says, “The people who came before me set that standard and it prompts me to meet or exceed them.” Other people who inspire Guan are Phillip San, another
alumnus, and senior Christopher Chu. “Phillip San was fearless. Christopher Chu is the only guy who stuck with me in cross country and track all four years. He was an experienced runner and he helped guide me when I first joined.” Guan’s biggest accomplishment occurred during his junior year when the cross country team qualified for CIF for the first time in ten years. He also enjoyed his time as a member of the track 4 x 400 relay team. Guan suffered a leg injury during the cross country season that prevented him from competing in most of the races. Currently fully recovered from last year’s injury, Guan says it feels like day one all over again. He says, “With a new coach who is really motivating, I am set up to do my best.” Following high school, Guan is considering participating in cross country but is open to try new things. For college, he is hoping to go to UC Irvine or UC Santa Barbara, but if not, he will attend a California State University and then transfer. Guan would like to give a shout-out to his parents, PKLA, the Coffee-grinders, all his teammates, and God for giving him the opportunity to run.
Dance Co.
Drill
Color Guard
VICTORIA RAMIREZ Co-Photographer Mark Keppel’s Dance Company consists of both Dance Team and All-Male. Dance Team’s main style is Hip-Hop while All Male’s is both Hip-Hop and R&B. They spend many hours a week preparing for competition. All-Male Captain Collin Kumamoto’s favorite aspect of being on the team is the opportunity to form a brotherly bond with his teammates. Both teams recently competed in West Torrance High School on February 28. Dance Team won 2nd place for the kick category, and 3rd place for the medium female hip-hop category. All Male placed 3rd in both medium and small hip-hop categories. Mark Keppel’s Dance Co. will be at Tustin High School this Saturday for their next competition.
Drill Team is an independent -based team; members have grown to work together as a team on their own. Their militarythemed performances are unique, consisting of sharp arm and leg movements, precision, and flexibility. Many other factors are put into creating Drill Team’s competition routines that aren’t showcased at school performances. “It takes a lot of hard work, practice, and persistence,” said Captain Diana Tran. Drill’s last competition was nearly three years ago where they won 1st place. Since then, they have not been in any competitions. However, finally, after a three year break, Drill Team will be participating in a competition on March 14 at Tustin High School.
Color Guard is also an independent team that practices without the aid of a coach. Color Guard is a very visual performance group because of the tall flags they use, which adds some difficulty depending on the weather conditions. At her eighth grade orientation, junior and captain, Mindy Huynh felt inspired to join because of how much Color Guard stood out. The team prepares months ahead to make sure their routine is near perfect. They often perform in cooperation with band, mostly at parades. Their most recent competition was at the Holiday Parade of Lights, last December. They won 1st in two categories: ID banner and tall flags. Color Guard’s next competition is on May 16, at the Play Days Parade.
BRIAN YEO Sports Editor Both the boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams competed in the 2015 CIF-SS tournament this season. The CIF tournament, which consists of the best high school basketball teams in the southern part of California, took place in late February and early March. The boys’ team, after going 10-0 and placing first in Almont League play, qualified for the Division 2AA CIF playoffs as the 6th seed. Led by eight seniors, the team defeated Arroyo Grande High School in the first round of the tournament, 50-46. The boys were unable to keep momentum,
however, losing to Mira Costa, 52-68, and were eliminated from the tournament. The girls’ team, currently ranked 49th in California, also qualified for the CIF-SS tournament but was placed in the open division. The open division differs from the Division 2AA tournament as it pits the top 16 overall teams in the state. The girls were unable to advance in the tournament, losing their first game to Vista Murrieta by a score of 62-83. After their loss, the girls were able to enter a consolation round made up of the eight losing teams. The Lady Aztecs lost their first game, a 76-66 defeat to Cajon, in that round as
well and exited the tournament. Despite the team’s losses in open division, the girls qualified for the CIF Division II State Championship. They enter as the first seed in the southern bracket of the tournament. About the team’s prospects for the state tournament, junior shooting guard Sophia Song said, “I see us getting to the championship game. The main obstacle is just getting out in our first game and changing our mentality from open division.” The girls played their opening game on Wednesday, March 11, at Aztec Stadium. For a summary of the game, visit our website theaztecnews.com.
THE AZTEC/VICTORIA RAMIREZ
Basketball teams participate in CIF; Girls advance to State Tournament
Track & Field races in triple meet MALIAH PIERRIBA Staff Writer
Mark Keppel’s track team, which started organized practice the week after winter break, is preparing for a new season with high expectations and goals. Seniors Ben Chu, a varsity thrower, and Christopher Chu, a varsity distance runner, are not sure that the team is ready for its first meet as not all the players go to practices. However, they are confident that the team will improve over time, stating that members work their hardest when they do go to practices. Last year in the Almont League, the team did not perform as well as the captains would have liked, though Ben Chu said, “We did better than expected considering that we didn’t have that much time to prepare.” Though the team did not place in the top three during League Finals, they sent their varsity girls’ 4 x 100 relay to
the CIF preliminary stage. Head Coach Kym Snowden states that the team’s biggest competitor this season is Schurr High School as they are “well coached, well rounded, and good at almost every event”. Assistant Coach Laroen agreed with Snowden, saying that their biggest competitor is Schurr because Schurr’s team is very experienced. This season, Coach Laroen’s goals are for the team to become faster and stronger, improving every day. He hopes this will lead to more team wins at meets. However, Laroen feels like the team’s weakness is that they have a lot of young players, as freshmen and sophomore make up a majority of the team’s members. He does, however, believe they are “humble”, and the players have “good leadership”. Coach Snowden’s goals this season are to have the team be “competitive on all levels, win the league dual season champion
Varsity runners sprint to the finish line.
THE AZTEC/ BRIAN YEO
ship, and have runners participate in CIF”. He feels like the team’s weakness is that they lack experience, but the majority of players are “coachable,” and they “work hard,” which is what will help them win the league. The Aztecs participated in a pre-season triple meet with Rosemead and San Gabriel on Thursday, March 5, placing third in overall team points.