The Pack: Senior Edition 2024

THE Pack

WHAT’S Inside

CO EDITORS-IN-CHIEF:

STAFF WRITERS: Jordyn Bouer-Myers

Sydney Nicklas

Audrey Acerno

Luke Fincham

Molly Murphy

Luke Pierce

Hannah Stine

Ella Thomas

A Fond Farewell

BY MISS COLEMAN

This year, I was privileged to become your adviser. As a group of writers and media journalists, you excelled in the quality of your content. Though this was my first year with you, the growth this program has had has been something that I will always be proud of. You have shown me the ropes of The Pack, and we have worked together to have something I am very proud of. I have loved reading your articles, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and creating the morning news together.

SENIOR DEDICATION: A FAREWELL FROM MISS COLEMAN

by Miss Bria Coleman

POST SECONDARY PLANS .

by Molly Murphy

CLASS OF 2024 COMMITTED ATHLETES

byAudreyAcerno

PROM 2024: A NIGHT IN GREECE

by Sydney Nicklas and Hannah Stine

TUSCARORA WATER WARS

by Luke Fincham

A FUTURE OF FILMS .

by Hannah Stine

“ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL” THE SENIORS’ FINAL BOW

by Luke Pierce,Sydney Nicklas,and Hannah Stine

SIZZLING SUMMER Q&A

by EllaThomas

To The Pack seniors, I have loved getting to know each and every single one of you, and I will miss you so much. I want to thank you all for welcoming me to Tuscarora and for your flexibility and hard work. You are leaving behind a legacy. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

Jaz, this year, you joined Broadcasting 1. I have appreciated the thoughtful projects you’ve created. You are a kind and caring person who has the drive to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. You are resilient and courageous. Best of luck at Shepherd!

Stella, I will always remember your quest for snacks every day. You have made me laugh so much at the end of the day. Thank you for your kindness and gentle spirit. Best of luck at Charleston!

JAZLYN AFSHARTOUS KILEY BIRNEY STELLA BLUM VIVIAN BLUM JORDYN BOUER-MYERS

Vivian, you are the senior face of the morning news! I will miss your famous “Good Morning, Huskies!” You have been such an incredible addition to the Broadcasting program, and I will always appreciate your hard work this year. Good luck at Penn State!

Jordyn, this year, you have served as co-editor-in-chief for the Newspaper. Your passion from the moment I met you shows me how much you will accomplish if you set your mind to it. Thank you for sharing your passions with us, and thank you for leading Newspaper this year. Enjoy Georgia!

Kiley, this year, you served as co-editor-in-chief for Broadcasting with Alexa and Olivia. You have been flawless, organized, and hard-working throughout the implementation process. I hope you continue to show the world what you are capable of. GMU is privileged to have you!

Alexa, this year, you served as co-editor-in-chief for Broadcasting with Kiley and Olivia. Thank you for being patient as we shifted leadership around. I have enjoyed your podcast and am grateful for the things you’ve created to help next year’s set of students. You will do great things! Best of luck at Pitt!

Alysa, your quest to do as little as possible at the end of the day makes me chuckle because you always get it done. One of my favorite things about you is how much you have given to the Tuscarora community may it be sports or in the classroom. We will all miss you, but know you will be incredible at Princeton!

Olivia, this year, you also served as co-editor-in-chief for Broadcasting with Kiley and Alexa. You have been a phenomenal leader, and I have loved watching you grow as one. Best of luck next year at St. Lawrence!

Preston, I have loved watching you grow into a leader. You started out the year as the producer of Behind the Pack and now are leading your friends in the morning news show. Thank you for your kindness, your humor, and your reliability. Best of luck at CNU!

Emma, I have so enjoyed your creativity and vulnerability in your podcast and love how much you adventure and explore new realms of broadcasts. I know you will explore and change the world in your gap year, and I am looking forward to seeing you around Tuscarora as you begin your coaching journey!

Kiana, it has been an honor to have you in Broadcasting and Advisory this year. Your podcast with Jordyn has been one of my favorite things to listen to on my way into Tuscarora. I hope you end up with all of the things you dream of. I hope to run into you in California!

Meleena, you are talented, brilliant, and the quality of production in your films is incredible. I have appreciated your gentle spirit in the mornings, you are going to do amazing things at Emerson!

Hannah and Gabrielle (BB), it only seems right to say goodbye to you together. Your friendship is a beautiful thing that I hope continues to prosper at VT. Your podcast, while informative, made me laugh multiple times. Go Hokies!

Ella, you have remained cool, calm, and collected all year. You are among the most giving people I have ever met, and I appreciate your thoughtful responses. Enjoy the next year at NOVA and wherever you transfer, I know you will be an invaluable addition. Good luck!

ALEXA BYRNE

ALYSA CARRIGAN

OLIVIA COHN

PRESTON HARPER

EMMA HECHT

KIANA KHANI

HANNAH LEISURE

MELEENA MANALANG

GABRIELLE NIEMIEC

ELLA THOMAS

POST GRADPlans

Eyasu Neale

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Skylar Bapst

Cole Grubbs

BEACON COLLEGE

Anthony Roach

BELMONT UNIVERSITY

Hana Malik

BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY

Alyson McCuin

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Luke Getz

Zachary Hayes

Sofia Wither

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Declan Bullis

Seniors were given the option for inclusion in this senior edition. Please note that the list does not encompass all members of the senior class; it includes only those who submitted surveys or whose post-high school plans were recorded by our staff. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information as of our print deadline. The list was compiled by The Pack staff.

COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Mason Raborg

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Ellie Moravek

EMERSON UNIVERSITY

Meleena Manalang

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Agha Alikhan

Kiley Birney

Nancy Carballo Escobar

Scott Ewart

Daniel Germano

Anika Kanchan

Talha Khan

Emebet Neale

Ava Peach

Ayaan Rehman

Jared Ruggles

HANZE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCE

Ayrn Fiorenini

JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY

Mohib Akbary

Renatto Baskovich

Madelin Delcid-Martinez

Madison Franz

Alexia Glancey

Claire Gomez

Alexis Gryder

Robby Heaver

Matthew Hess

Grace Kennedy

Adam Linder

Ryan Lunt

NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Kethelem Borges Riberio

Mariano Buitrago Barquero

Edwin Funez Ortiz

Carlos Guerrero Suarez

Jessica Hacker

Anthony Hayman

JJ Helbing

Rebekah Hunt

Caylin Lovato Gomez

James Mangovski

Christopher Monge-Navarro

Hannah Schmittle

Will Stuntz

Evie

Rebecca Joback

Alex Jones

Laura Koissy

Justin Osborne Nick Swann

Marfia

Alexis Adams

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY

Ian Dodds

Grayson Gutierrez

Preston Harper

Jayden Johnson

Nicholas Williams

Xander Hasan HAMPTON

HOOD COLLEGE

Stella Blum MISSOURI

Sami Puterio

Michael Janicki LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY

Leila Palewicz

Claire Perrault

Samantha Phillips

Sergio Portillo Perez

Angelica Ramirez

Brian Santos-Chicas

Corey Shanklin

Desiree Shea

Estella Zarou

Niko Camacho

Faza Marshall

Carrigan AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Collin Norton

Kyra Tarpley

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

Sarah Adams

Vivian Blum

Valeria Gonzalez

Valdez

Carley Virostek

ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Wyatt Gonzalez

SCAD

Rachael Giessmann

SHENANDOAH UNIVERSITY

Chris Claudio-Segovia

SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY

Jazlyn Afshartous

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

William Just

SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Tommy Peede

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

Olivia Cohn

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

Alex Carroll

SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE

Veronica Barney

TULSA WELDING SCHOOL

Tony Philpot

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Audrey Nitta

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

Canyon Balao

Kaylie Garcia

UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE

Mahyaldah Wayson

UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG

Abby McDonald

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Neha Joshi

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Sarah Bensel

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON

Sarah Bensel

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Alexa Byrne

Samara Mansoor

Michael McCollum

William O’Sullivan

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Larlyn Cook

TJ Duggan

Brooke Eichenser

Mateo Gutierrez

Sophia Kistner

Summer Schwedes

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

BEAUFORT

Kensington Daigle

THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

Val Colon-Nieves

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Brady Koza

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

Jayden Ortega

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

Liam McCormick

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA

Thompson Brock

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

Joelle Aheto

William Anderson

Christian Bolton

Antonio Herrera Maldonado

Junior Leke Taleambong

Jb Santos

Bree Scanlon

Tabitha Shin

Carina Smith

Audrey Stelle

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

Betty Barthel

Favor Benitoe

William Blackin

Kristina Breland

Victoria Ezumah

Bella Hubble

Anne Ilyas

Danna Larkins

Savanna Lee

Jayde McBorrough

Kimberly Morales Barrera

Jessica Owusu

Lauren Robinson

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE

Logan Borakove

Sterett Prevost

Mascen Powers

VIRGINIA TECH

Amogha Bangalore

Grace Belcher

Maddie Butler

Andrew Cotterill

Brendan Cowen

Ashton Debosky

Mia Escalante

Faith Fanning

Mary Hackman

Natalie Hayman

Sofiya Iliassov

Hannah Leisure

Olivia Medeiros

Gabriella Niemiec

Nicole Pham

Maddie Quill

Isaiah Salberg

Ibrahim Seshan

Elana Shapero

Nick Sheehan

Evan Simpkins

Paige Simpkins

Camden Stafford

Stephanie Steele

Brandon Stefkovich

Daniel Todd

Ashley Ure

Sarah Van Glanden

Elliott Wiehn

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Rachel Henson

WEST VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Allison Hernandez

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Emily Alawadi

Elise Bradin

Kate Devault

Dylan Hagewood

Eva Finlayson

Reese Law

Braden Scott

Anna Surline

Jonah Ulloa

WASHINGTON AND LEE

UNIVERSITY

Aubrey Powers

WESTERN CAROLINA

UNIVERSITY

Felix Guenther

WILLIAM & MARY

Elana Brunton

Sebastian Laughlin Ferry

Claire Gibson

WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

Delaney Pearson

WORKFORCE/MILITARY/OTHER

Sandra Alvarez Martinez

Jackson Bordes

Ellie Borrego

Jaquelin Borrego

Jose Díaz-Bravo

Lara Dix

YasmineDunbar

Avy Escobar Ortiz

Ariana Flores Moreno

Laura Goodrich

Alisson Gracias

Ian Haw

Christian Henríquez-Meza

Michael Hernandez

Alex Leoni

Ryan McCallum

Tristan O’Neill

Melanie Perez

Bri Santander Arteaga

Gloria Saravia Cubillas

Lucas Schwarz

Gerasimos Solos

Natasha Tate

Nancy Tinoco Monroy

Evan Wheeler

CLASS OF 2024College Athletes

VERONICA BARNEY SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE

Track & Field and Field Hockey

KENSINGTON DAIGLE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT Soccer

ALEX CARROLL STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

Football

ALLISON HERNANDEZ WEST VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Soccer

ALYSA CARRIGAN PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Track & Field

JANICKI HOOD COLLEGE

Baseball

BRENDAN COWEN VIRGINIA TECH

Baseball

JAYDEN JOHNSON CHRISTOPHER

NEWPORT UNIVERSITY

Basketball

MICHAEL

As the school year comes to a close, we proudly celebrate our 16 outstanding senior athletes who have committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. These dedicated Huskies have shown exceptional talent, perseverance, and sportsmanship, making us proud both on and off the field.

ABBY MCDONALD UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG

Softball

JARED RUGGLES GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Cross Country and Track

DELANEY PEARSON WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

Soccer

AIDYN SHATARSKY WASHINGTON COLLEGE

Lacrosse

TOMMY PEEDE SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Football

JONAH ULLOA WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Football

SAMI PUTERIO MARY WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

Soccer

FLETCHER WESTPHAL UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

Football

WATER Wars

This

Felix Guenther’s strategy, like many other students, was playing it safe: “I wanted to stay in my house and outlast the other people, so I could get people out at the end.”

This year’s prom transported students to the enchanting landscapes of Greece, where they experienced a night of elegance, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Under twinkling lights and amidst stunning decor reminiscent of ancient Greece, our Huskies danced the night away, celebrating the end of an incredible high school journey. From dazzling gowns to charming suits, every detail added to the magic of this special evening.

1 DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Olivia Medeiros shines on the dance floor, making unforgettable memories at prom.

2 DRESSED TO IMPRESS Victoria Ezumah looks amazing in her elegant prom gown: “Dressing up for prom was very stressful but 100% worth it. It was very nice to see everyone dressed up like royalty.”

3 FEELIN’ THE VIBES Helena CallowayJones exudes confidence and style, capturing the essence of prom night.

4 PROM PRINCE Jayden Ortega looks dashing as he embraces his royal moment at prom.

5 STRUT YOUR STUFF Claire Gibson, a member of the prom court, embraced her title as she sashayed through the crowd: “Walking the aisle for prom court was really fun because I just danced and let loose.”

spring, the Tuscarora High School senior class eagerly participated in their annual water balloon battle.

Senior Emma Hecht scores her first elimination: “It was a really fun, crazy experience that brought the entire senior class together as a group, with the making of alliances and going after each other.”

Preston Harper gets on the leaderboard: “I had to have my parents, sister, and friends do things like open the garage and pull my car out for me so I didn’t get out when people were hunting me.”

Orion Marshall loved the chase: “I just tried to be aggressive as possible and get people out early without getting eliminated myself.”

PROM 2024

6 ONE IN A HUNDRED Alexis Adams stands out with her unique style.

7 GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT Carina Smith, pictured with Rebecca Joback and Kate Devault, shares, “Prom is a night I will never forget because of all the fun memories I made with my friends.”

8 LIGHTS OF THE PARTY Ibrahim Seshan and Aedan Zollo light up the prom with their energy.

9 FRIENDS AND FUN Hannah Schmittle and Michael Thoppil enjoy an unforgettable prom night.

A FUTURE OF FILMS

By Hannah Stine

2023-2024

CINEMATIC CARTOGRAPHY 2023-2024

The film industry went on a wild journey this year, from strikes to the Oscars. How does a year that starts off with cinematic instability become one boasting of critically acclaimed films? Despite the writers’ and actors’ strike near the beginning of the school year of 2023-2024, films like “Oppenheimer,’’ “Barbie,” “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” and “Dune: Part Two” were major highlights of the journey that this year’s cinema took. Not only were these films the talk of the town, but they broadened the scope of film and became the word of the world. Meleena Manalang, a Tuscarora graduate of 2024 who will pursue a media arts production major at Emerson College, offers her insight into the film frenzy that occurred this year.

LOS ANGELES OR LOST ANGELES?

BARBENHEIMER

THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES DUNE: PART 2

The Final Bow

“Let me have a moment…let me say goodbye,” sang the cast of “Anastasia: The Musical” in the heartfelt number “Stay, I Pray You.” Tuscarora’s seniors involved in the show said their goodbyes both as actors playing a part in the show and literally as they took their final bow on the THS stage. Many are leaving for college or a career beyond high school, anxious yet excited for what lies ahead. As they leave, many of them will take awards with them as a memento of their hard work and a reminder of their theatrical haven at Tuscarora.

On May 1st, the Blue Ridge Cappies announced their nominees for the 2023-22024 performance season, and Tuscarora Performing Arts received a whopping 19 nominations - one of the most rewarding seasons the school has seen yet. Leading this talented cast and receiving nominations for both Lead Actor in a Female Role and Best Hair and Makeup is Ava Peach, who played Anya, the lost amnesiac princess that goes on a journey to find her family. “For me, the show really enforced the idea of finding yourself... [Anya] goes on this journey to figure out who she was, to discover her own background and she just really finds out who she truly is and I feel like that was a very important thing to me,” said Peach about her connection to the role of Anya.

Alongside Peach was Queen Kincaide as Dmitry, who received a nomination for Best Actor in a Male Role. Kincaide discussed how much time she got to spend with her friends before they separate for college, saying, “My favorite part in creating this show was working with my friends. I loved working with Ava and James because we

could always work off each other and we would create something new and beautiful every single show. They made me what I am today and I thank them for that. They have made me a stronger and better actor.”

The third part of the iconic trio of main characters was James Mangovoski as Vlad Popov. Mangovski stepped into his first lead roles this year, both in “Clue” and “Anastasia: The Musical.” “At first, having a lead role in ‘Clue’ was intimidating because I’d never had a lead in a show before, but once we began the process, it became less intimidating and it ended up being a lot of fun embodying my character,” said Mangovski.

Other seniors that received Cappies nominations were Emma Marfia for Best Costumes, Graduating Critic and Critic Team, Joelle Aheto for Best Choreography and Creativity, Elena Brunton for Critic Team, and Sarah Bensel, Chris Claudio, Olivia Cohn, and Patrick George for Pit Orchestra. This is the first time the Tuscarora Pit Orchestra has ever received a nomination and the first time in the Blue Ridge Cappies charter that Tuscarora received a best choreography nomination. One senior member of the pit orchestra, Olivia Cohn, reflects, “This is my first year doing pit orchestra and it’s been a learning process, learning this amount of music in such a short period of time, so it has helped my sight reading abilities and just my overall musicianship along with playing with others.” Being a part of the Tuscarora pit orchestra allowed many musicians to develop their skills and apply their musical abilities. The curtain closed on the final show at Tuscarora for the seniors, making the close-knit community emotional as they acknowledged that their graduating friends would now be embarking on a new journey without them. In fact, some seniors will continue their theatrical pursuits in a post-secondary setting. Kincaide relates, “for me this is yet another confirmation that I am pursuing the right career, and I will have a chance to leave my mark in the theater community.”

Sizzling Summer Q&A

IS THERE A MOVIE OR SONG THAT PERFECTLY CAPTURES YOUR SUMMER VIBE?

“The song that immediately screams summer to me is ‘Girls’ by The 1975; it was all I listened to last summer.” —Aly McCuin

WHERE IS YOUR GO-TO VACATION SPOT FOR THE SUMMER? SHARE A FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THERE?

“When I lived in Oregon, my family and some close friends would camp at Cultus Lake. My favorite memory would be walking to the ice cream shop.” —Kiley Birney

FOR A SUMMERTIME, WINDOWS DOWN DRIVE, WHAT’S THE FIRST SONG YOU’RE PLAYING? WHY?

“This is a difficult question, but I’d say ‘Rara Vez’ by Taiu and Milo J.” —Eyasu Neale

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ORDER FROM THE ICE CREAM TRUCK?

“My favorite order from the ice cream truck as a kid was those Toll House cookie ice cream sandwiches.” —Elena Brunton

WHAT’S YOUR FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY OF SUMMERTIME?

“Going to the United Kingdom with my mom to see family.” — Veronica Barney

AWARDS & ASSOCIATIONS

WHAT FOOD OR TREAT BRINGS BACK NOSTALGIC SUMMER MEMORIES FOR YOU?

“Ceviche! It brings me back to the beach and having dinner with my family.” —Greyshell Matos

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE GAME TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS IN THE SWIMMING POOL?

“We played sharks and minnows. We loved to play it a lot.” —Summer Schwedes

WHAT FUN SUMMER TRADITIONS DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR?

“We always make a trip to Hershey Park right before the last day of school, and a week long beach trip.” —Colin Fay

WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE SUMMER VACATION, AND WHAT MADE IT SO SPECIAL?

“My most memorable vacation was climbing a mountain in the salt flats of Bolivia because it was so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.” —Niko Camacho

IF YOU COULD VACATION ANYWHERE, WHETHER IN A FICTIONAL WORLD OR THE REAL WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

“I would want to go back to Japan because I miss the food.” —Leo Anderson

Our student journalists are members of VHSL Activities (Publications), the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Pack has won various awards since its establishment in 2011.

CSPA Silver Medalist Critique 2016, 2018

2016, 2018, 2023 Second Class Virginia High School League 2019, 2020, 2021 First Class Virginia High School League 2019, 2020, 2021 First Place American Scholastic Press Association Member of National Scholastic Press Association Tuscarora High School Chapter Quill and Scroll Honor Society