THE
FALCON WHEN THE PARTY ENDS
The Kinkaid School 201 Kinkaid School Dr. Houston, TX 77024
After school, a mix of societal pressure and alcohol can lead to unexpected consequences
March 6, 2020 Volume 73, Issue 4 thefalcon.kinkaid.org
Story on page 10-11
INSIDE P. 4 | FRESHMEN IN DEBATE P. 7 | THE ISSUE OF CONSENT P. 9 | TALIA KALMANS ABROAD P. 16 | WINTER SPC RECAP
2 The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
NEWS
A NEW COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE. The new plaque reading “A Gift of the William Stamps Farish Fund” lines the journalism room as journalists work on the upcoming paper. Photo courtesy of Frankie Wimbish.
Farish family honors senior’s work in journalism Gift to support academic enrichment, technology for student publications By Ayush Krishnamoorti
of the journalism program, which has
A generous gift donation from the Farish family, who have been a part of the Kinkaid community for nearly a century, will be used to fund
or so in streamlining the newspaper from 24 to 20 pages and strengthening its online platform,” said Dr. Kimetris Baltrip, Upper School journalism and yearbook teacher. “The Farish family’s benevolence will help further our strides by affording students the opportunity to attend off-site journalism workshops and get their hands on new camera equipment to support both the print and digital platforms.”
going towards future conferences and online publishing for The Falcon, and The Kinkaidian. The fund is dedicated to senior Maggie Johnston and her commitment to the the school newspaper, The Falcon, and its future ventures. “to honor the devotion and interest of student and Farish family member, Maggie Johnston, the Publications Room in the Student Life Center will be named the Williams Stamps Farish Fund Room.” for summer camps, community service projects, and online publishing services for the student publication teams. “The gift from the Farish family is a tremendous blessing to the future FAMILY LOVE Senior Maggie Johnston and William Stamps Farish III, her grandfather.
INK INSIDE
KINKAID
conference this past summer, where two seniors were taught a range of skills from how to use different online publishing services to better dexterity on InDesign and Photoshop. Kinkaid Student Newspaper Online “SNO” App, which allows easier access by writers to the website, and more accessibility to the users who read The Falcon. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for future ‘journalizers’, and [the conference] was very helpful in designing and writing this past year,” said senior Charles Garrison, sports editor, in regards to future conferences. The process of
Check out the best of online. To see more, visit our website at thefalcon.kinkaid.org or on the Student News Source app.
securing funding began almost a year prior to the recent announcement. Kinkaid received funding in October: “The publications room was not
‘The Falcon’ wins gold
a fantastic opportunity to honor Maggie’s commitment to journalism,” said the assistant head of the
By Ayush Krishnamoorti
securing funding. member of the Stamps Farish Family to graduate from Kinkaid. However, as written by Francita Stuart in her book The Kinkaid School: First Fifty Years, “The fundraising committee [for the new campus] consisted of [several men including] Mr. W. S. Farish to building and more grounds in the early 1920s.” A vast majority of the family years before going to boarding school. Johnston joined Kinkaid as a freshman, and has since participated avidly in sports, arts, and community service alongside academics. “Kinkaid cultivated my passions and helped me develop those into life skills. One of these was my love for writing, which only grew through being on staff for the Falcon,” she said. The Farish family’s generous gift will make an “everlasting impact on the skills developed by those interested in student publications. My love for journalism is something I want future students to be able to experience. I hope that the staff of Falcon continues to grow and develop,” Johnston said.
ART FEATURE Senior Priscilla Mach displays her artwork completed during her independent study.
The Falcon, Kinkaid’s student-run newspaper, received a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, or CSPA, for last year’s volume of 6 issues. The newspaper received a score of 815, almost 200 points higher than in the 2017-18 school year, and a clear step from silver to gold. “This was a fantastic achievement for our students,” said Dr. Kimetris Baltrip, journalism and yearbook teacher. The gold medal came with a critique on the verbal, essentials and visual categories of the newspaper, but the CSPA judges’ overall feedback was summarized in a two-sentence highlight: “The Falcon presents members of The Kinkaid School community with a newsworthy mixture of stories and related photos and graphics. It’s clear that the publication aims to serve its readers by informing them of matters that are useful, educational and interesting.” The medal was received under the leadership of past editor in chief Emma Stout, but leadership shifted to a new editor in chief, Madi Babine, who is a senior. gold medal last year. [Stout] clearly left a lasting impact, and I hope to leave as profound a legacy as she has,” Babine said.
DANCER Q&A Senior Katie Taylor discusses her experience with choreographing a dance performance.
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | NEWS 3
Black history celebration takes on greater meaning By Ethan Jett
T
he stage lights were bright in Brass Recital Hall as students from all grade levels performed in honor of Black History Month. The event began with Lower School students signing of the Negro National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which was followed by a thunderous applause from the audience. dresses, sophomore Kevriana Scott, freshmen Portia Robinson and Lauren Byrd performed a powerful and graceful ballad inner voice. The strength and gracefulness displayed throughout the dance provoked many emotions in the audience, causing the girls to receive a standing ovation. Afterward, the audience embarked on a journey with middle school students through a black history museum. They described the achieveleaders such as poet and activist Maya Angelou and football player Ernie Davis. Then, middle schoolers performed a contemporary dance to the song “I Was Born by the River” and held signs with messages about the importance of African-American heritage. The event included a speech about the advancements of prominent African-American inventors and scientists in the
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world of STEM by senior Lydia Patterson. Then, Upper School students read the poem “The Undefeated,” a “love letter” to African American life. “We are not defeated and we is right,” said senior and African American Appreciation Club founder and president Nicholas Dillon. Upper School students wore shirts from historically black colleges and universities and performed an ode to the dance tradition known as “stepping,” which has connections to black sororities and fraternities. Upper School students paid homage to historically black colleges and universities by doing the traditional dance of the fraternities and sororities on those campuses. The performance was met with a boisterous applause from the audience. Lastly, guest speaker Chris White read a poem dedicated to Interim Head Dr. Ed Trusty and Head of Middle School Ms. Chelsea Collins, who are leaving Kinkaid. White thanked them for their hard work and dedication to the school and its students and for “teaching others how to grasp their own dreams” by spreading love and wisdom. “It was important that students showcase more modern examples of black excellence and struggle in America,” Dillon said.
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Freshman Portia Robinson dances to the song "I Was Born by the River" by Sam Cooke.
Senior Lydia Patterson gives a speech about African-American women in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (STEM).
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Guest speaker Chris White presents a poem to Dr. Ed Trusty and Ms. Chelsea Collins.
Junior Kyla Henderson dances during the celebration. After her performance, she received a standing ovation along with the other performers.
Ms. Christina Zeigler and Mr. Anthony Suber present a memento to Dr. Trusty, interim head, who will be leaving the school at the end of the 2019-20 academic year.
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4 NEWS | The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
Mr. Wesley Hunt wins congressional Republican primary By Megha Neelapu
RESULTS OF KEY RACES
W
hile much media about Tuesday’s elections has been focused on the presidential primary, those in Texas politics also carefully watched results of Congressional primary races, including that of Texas’ 7th Congressional District. In the Republican primary, Mr. Wesley Hunt soundly won with 61% of the vote while incumbent Congresswoman Fletcher won the Democratic primary unopposed. The race has gained national attention, as it was a tight race between the Democratic now-freshman congresswoman district after it was solidly Republican for around 50 years. Republicans hope to take back the district, so both parties have closely watched the race and have invested in it. Mr. Hunt received the public endorsement of President Donald Trump via a tweet in February: “@ WesleyHuntTX is running for Congress in the Great State of Texas. He will help us accomplish our America First policies. Wesley is strong on Crime, the Border, our 2nd Amendment, Trade, Military and Vets. Wesley has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Senior Camila Vicens, vice president of the Young Republicans Club, interned with Mr. Hunt’s campaign, knocking on doors, recruiting other high school students around Houston, and attending fundraising
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Joe Biden: 34% Bernie Sanders: 30% Michael Bloomberg: 14% Elizabeth Warren: 11% DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRIMARY* MJ Hegar: 22% Royce West: 15% FACE OFF Democrat Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (left) and Republican Mr. Wesley Hunt (right) will run against each other in an election that will be closely watched by the national stage.
events. Mr. Hunt, invited by the Young Republicans Club, visited Kinkaid in October. He spoke to students about his veteran background as well as his experience as a black Republican. Both of these aspects may have helped him appeal to voters and ultimately win the primary. “While block walking we hit a lot of veterans, and as soon as we say Wesley’s a veteran they were open to talking,” Vicens said. Congressman Will Hurd of Texas is currently the only black Republican in Congress, and he announced that he will retire
from his position after the end of his term in 2021, demonstrating the issues that the Republican Party has had with racial diversity. If elected, Mr. Hunt will add a more diverse perspective to the party. “I like to see an African-American conservative,” Vicens said. “I think we don’t see enough minorities within Congress in general, but especially the Republican party. He’s younger, too, which I like because there’s a disconnect there between the Republican Party and the younger generation—I think he’s a refreshing choice for the party.” Moving forward, Mr. Hunt’s campaign has focused on attack-
ing Congresswoman Fletcher for favoring progressive policies that he claims will hurt Houston’ economy, such as the Green New Deal. However, the congresswoman positioned herself Democratic Party, even speaking out against the Green New Deal and favoring more incremental reforms to tackle climate change and protect Houston against extreme weather events Still, the tension between the push for climate reform and the push to protect the city’s economic interests in the oil and gas industry will likely remain a major issue for the general election in November.
REPUBLICAN 7TH DISTRICT PRIMARY Wesley Hunt: 61% Cindy Siegel: 27% DEMOCRATIC HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRIMARY Kim Ogg: 55% Audia Jones: 24% The percentages are the reports of the popular vote. *will advance to a runoff in May
Freshmen debaters repeat history, qualify for state tournament By Nick Bhasin
T
he last time a Kinkaid freshmen policy debate gious Texas Forensic Association State Tournament was in 2018, and the last freshmen speaker to qualify for the event was in 2001. Policy debate partners, freshmen Samantha Fowler and Katherine Zhang have year of competitive debate. Representing Kinkaid at both local and national tournaments, for the state tournament in the year, an achievement only a few debaters have attained. “What they have accomplished is truly outstanding,” said speech and debate coach, Eric Emerson. “They are super talented and really push themselves to succeed.” In fact, despite tough and often older competitors, Zhang and Fowler have won numerous accolades, including placing second place at Stratford High School and third place at Cy Creek High School. They have Memorial, Cy Fair and Lamar High School. The freshmen have even traveled nationally, participating in tournaments at the University of Texas and the University of California, Berkeley. Their success has also come very early in their debate careers. Both Fowler and Zhang policy debate as they both plan
“
She’s a pioneer in what she does. She brings a new level of success that has not been seen in a while. - Mr. Eric Emerson, Speech and Debate Coach to continue debate throughout their high school years. “The main thing that attracts me to debate at Kinkaid is the community,” Fowler said. “The debate team is super friendly and such a tight-knit group that makes it an amazing experience coming into high school.” The pair is following in the footsteps of their older sisters, juniors Olivia Fowler and Alison Zhang, who were the last freshmen policy team to qualify for the state tournament. They plan to attend the event this year also. However, Katherine Zhang and Samantha Fowler are not the state tournament. Allison Yang, a freshmen who competes in both original oratory and foregin extempora-
TOURNANMENT SUCCESS Freshmen Samantha Fowler and Katherine Zhang pose after qualifying for the state debate tournament. Photo courtesy of Mr. Eric Emerson.
state tournament in both events, a feat that has not been accomplished for decades at Kinkaid. “She’s a pioneer in what she does,” said Upper School Speech and Debate coach, Eric Emerson. “She brings a new level of success that has not been seen in a while.” By competing in two separate events, Yang must have a wide range of ability. In oratory, she must present a pre-written speech in front of numerous judges in a persuasive and engaging manner. In extemporaneous speaking, Yang must write and memorize a seven-minute speech over global issues in just
30 minutes. Yang’s success in these events have allowed her to claim many titles. She placed ham Creek High School and Memorial High School while also receiving second place in oratory and extemporaneous speaking at Cypress Lakes High School. She has also reached the Dulles High School, Stratford High School and Katy Taylor High School. Despite these achievements at highly competitive tournaments, she is always looking for ways to improve her skills. “I have a lot of room for im-
provement,” Yang said. “Speaking in front of the judge requires an ability to stay composed under pressure, an ability that can only get better with more practice.” Zhang, Fowler and Yang competed at Franklin High School in El Paso at the Texas state tournament on March 5. Across the 14 different events offered at the tournament, about 1,500 students were invited to compete. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to compete against the best teams in the state,” Zhang said. “We are super excited to learn from the experience.”
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | NEWS 5
In brief By Ayush Krishnamoorti
SENIOR NAMED FINALIST FOR DAR
about snowboarding and how
Senior Jonathan Frumovitz year’s chapter of “Daughters of
but I hope I inspired more than a few ‘KIPPsters’ to continue
read his essay to former winners He was nominated by
“His commitment to KIPP
want the project to continue Frumovitz has participated in a number of other community service activities and was the Cum Laude student speaker this “Daughters of the American Photo by Ayush Krishnamoorti
DISCUSSIONS: After a presentation to the whole school, Mr. Jon Meachem, the 2019-20 J. Barry Moss distinguished speaker, led discussions with smaller groups during each of the periods Thursday.
graders in math on Saturday Frumovitz was given the opportunity to give a speech to
recent encouragement for young men and women nominees
MOSS SPEAKER TALKS ON POLITICS, UNITY
In an evening sympo
nominees made Jonny a prime “Daughters of the American
guished speaker series brought
The speaker series is named
and chose to speak to them
ENCORE TO PERFORM AT ROCKETS GAME
SOLES FOR SOULS COLLECTS SHOES
committee’s required stu “We wanted to try and make
anthem at the Toyota Center ahead of the Houston Rockets’
it through SAAC as an indepen dent project as a way to connect 270 shoes during the week of
In what has become a
by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good
choir has performed in each of
students together to support
“It was a great project for
and watching us is intense but PERFORMING Encore sings at the Toyota Center last March as part of their annual performance. Photo courtesy of Mikaela Lawler Frankie’s Girlfriend.
Junior phenom becomes a TikTok sensation By Sally Buck
S “I come up with my videos and Addison Rae as factors of some have even gained a the app is monotonous and But Watson’s fans seem to “You[‘re] thinking outside
the app over the summer with no intention to produce any
were just some of the comments “What sets me apart is own videos and gained attention from more than just his core grows in the Kinkaid such as Instagram and Twitter in recognition… I just make videos content on Tiktok is what makes
As he continues to put out hopes to be remembered as a just a TikToker who makes He sayid he wants to use
next projects and moving their
6 The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
OPINION
THE FALCON
THE EDITORS’ STANCE
Illustration by sophomore Sofia Liu
U
pper School students heard from two recovering addicts from Freedom from Chemical Dependency, or FCD, throughout the week of Jan. 27. reported in a FCD survey of Upper School students at Kinkaid was that 74 themselves as high-risk drinkers, which more drinks of alcohol on one or more days within the past 30 days. Additionally, the FCD report found that 46% of high-risk drinkers driving after drinking on one or more occasions. FCD speaker George Jones said he believes parents should simply tell their children “no” to drinking. People may agree with him; however, there are possible complications that go
along with this method. Often times, prohibiting alcohol consumption only leads to students making poor decisions to keep their drinking a secret. A nationwide study done by the the School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, consisting of over 6,200 teenagers in 242 communities in the U.S., concluded that teenagers who drank with their parents were less likely to have either consumed alcohol or abused it in recent weeks. In addition, teenagers living in communities with a prevalent family drinking culture, such as many European communities, report having less drinking problems and making less regrettable decisions while drinking. A qualitative study by the National Center for Biotechnology information
reaveled that parents who permit underaged drinking do so for a few different reasons. According to the European Addiction Research Foundation, parents who communicate about drinking with their children in a way that makes them feel comfortable may prevent their teens from drinking alcohol, or at least reduce the probability that they will develop an addiction or frequent over-use. There is no perfect way to address teen drinking, because ultimately they are going to make their own decisions, but establishing parent-child trust is one of the most constructive tactics for everyone’s safety. There are multiple conversations to be had in any given household about the dangers of substances, and these conversations should include an “if you do choose to drink...” statement. Teens need to know that they can call their parents for a ride and receive loving forgiveness, because this is what will foster an honest parent-child relationship -- a relationship in which teens can admit their faults and parents can offer constructive advice. Moreover, honesty and trust are necessary not only for healthy familial bonds, but also for physical safety. In addition, if students do not feel comfortable sharing their personal lives with their families, which many don’t, they should have another adult to turn to for healthy advice. However, students can feel as though more harm than good will come from confessing substance use to an adult. relationships could ultimately decrease unhealthy decisions. Students who need help are encouraged to speak with a parent, teacher, educator or health professional. Or, students can call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to reach the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Letters can be sent to: The Kinkaid School 201 Kinkaid School Dr. Houston, TX 77024 Please direct advertising inquires to frankie.wimbish@ kinkaid.org. The opinions expressed in The Falcon belong solely to the or representation of the opinions of the school or its administrators. Madi Babine DEPUTY EDITOR Megha Neelapu Maggie Johnston & Megan Riley Sally Buck Ayush Krishnamoorti Eliza Griggs
Nicole Fernandez Charles Garrison & Wilson Kelsey
Being your best self
Madi Babine, Editor-in-Chief
Questions or comments? We welcome your voice and feedback in the form of email, letters and guest articles. Please email student. publications@kinkaid.org or call (713) 243-6591 or use the contact form at thefalcon. kinkaid.org.
Mya Franklin
EDITOR’S LETTER
Dear Reader, Being in high school brings about different kinds of pressure: academic, social, parental. We all like to think we’re independent, we’re different, we’re so ourselves and there isn’t even a chance we would fall to something so trivial and childish as “peer pressure.” But inevitably, we do. When I was younger, I thought peer pressure would be how it is in the movies: the bullies forcing other kids to partake in dangerous activities at the risk of “telling everyone they aren’t cool” or some other trivial threat. I would never fall for something as stupid as that, I always thought. But after being in high school for
The Falcon’s mission is to be an accurate and reliable source of information for the Kinkaid School community by informing readers about topics that are interesting, thoughtprovoking, and impactful for the school, Houston area and Texas, as well as other parts of the world.
Frankie Wimbish
almost four years, I’ve realized that’s usually not the way things work. Peer pressure isn’t so bold, usually not intentional either. We may feel
choice actually, but a few.
in with the people around us, even if they assure us we don’t. As a senior, I feel as though I know myself pretty well. I know my limits and I know who I am, and I’m okay with that, regardless of anyone else. But it wasn’t always that way. At some point or another during high school, I’ve found myself searching for the approval of my peers. When this happens, it can be hard to ground ourselves, and sometimes we may feel the need to conform in
Our answers to these questions are what makes us who we are. We all have a choice. We can do our best to align with the ideals of others, but at the end of the day, all we have is ourselves. And that’s got to be enough.
Sincerely, Madi Babine
We all have a choice. Not just one
Corrections The Falcon welcomes comments and suggestions. We seek to publish corrections and clarifications in the subsequent issue. Please email any corrections to student.publications@kinkaid.org.
Nick Bhasin Cooper Buck Trinity Curry Ethan Jett Jaisal Kalapatapu Jack Kloesk Dylan Marcus Sam Pitts William Scott Charlie Solé Chris Stallings Camila Vicens Dr. Kimetris Baltrip The Falcon is published six times a school year. The paper is distributed to 613 Upper School students. There are 750 free print copies made available and 248 copies are mailed to subscribers. The Falcon is a member of CSPA and NSPA.
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | OPINION 7
Photo by Frankie Wimbish
Reconciliation: How we should move forward take the next step through understanding and compassion. By Megha Neelapu
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n February, the senior class learned
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The day after the session, seniors par-
“
-
-
Often when the topic of consent is
faith, and there should be space for those
exhausting for -
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- A senior girl,
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discussion about consent, what I really
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I understand that there is a lot of that false accusations are rare and that
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you care about your friends, I hope that -
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon 8
FEATURES
Cast of “On The Town” performs their final number “New York, New York.”
By Camila Vicens ody pins, hairspray, and makeup line the dressing room. The quick patter of heels
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corridors behind stage. An aura of stress and excitement are almost palpable as the cast of mance. This show represented new beginnings for both the performing arts department as a whole and the students participating in it. This the cast did a true musical theater piece. It also marked an important step in the careers of With grandiose dance and singing pieces, “On The Town” features six main roles. The play follows the day of three sailors who land in New York looking for a good time. While in the city, they each meet a lady. a Kinkaid production. Although there is great range of depth within the program in terms of experience, being a lead brought new challenges and experiences to each individual. For each of the sailors - played by juniors Duncan Lambert, Martín Ibarra, and Michael Hay - the moment they discovered their roles in the play was one of pure happiness. Martín and Michael who I tackled with excitement,” Lambert said. Ibarra described the role he received as “everything I could have hoped for.” Lambert played the role of Gabey, one of For Lambert, a seasoned actor, this play most recent experience in a lead role was this past summer. “On The Town” did however, school years. Regardless of his experience, Lambert found the singing within the musical the most “Singing has never been my strongest ability,” said Lambert, “the music was ridiculously He emphasized that the hardest number in the show for him was “Lonely Town.” Martín Ibarra, playing Chip, expressed the importance of this role to him as it emphasized “enthusiasm, silliness, and comedy all in
Photos by David Shutts
one character,” which he learned to enjoy. Kinkaid, although he has performed within the core cast since his freshman year. Ibarra described his biggest challenge as however, Ibarra described his favorite piece as “New York New York, because I could sing with my friends that got me into theater in the Carlie Sachs, the only senior with a lead role, had a unique experience as she served as a mentor and resource for many of the younger actors due to her extensive experience both within and outside of the Kinkaid theater program. “I consistently tried my best to remain positive and to be a resource for anyone if they had any questions about the process,” she said. Sachs, however, did not take all the credit for her mentorship and described any lead role as a “leader of the cast because they are who the ensemble, supporting, and core casts look to for support.” culty of balancing the rehearsal time load with school work, and other responsibilities. Lambert said he “honestly has no idea” how he managed to overcome it. Ibarra said he stuck to his original schedule as a means of keeping up with the academic aspect of his life. Although many of the actors in “On The
Duncan Lambert, junior
Serena Thompson, junior
Martín Ibarra, junior
Larsen Webber, junior
their duties and responsibilities, Sachs found that being open and honest in communication with teachers really incentivizes them to be The role of a lead is packed with rehearsals, costumes and lines. But this did not faze the six actors who were tasked with the important position. “Being a lead was stressful but so much more fun than anything else,” Lambert said. More than the amount of effort required to succeed in a big position within a production, there is an element of leadership that Sachs, as the only senior lead, emphasized. “Being a lead isn’t really about just having the most lines or songs, it is more about the way you carry yourself and how you take on a leadership position,” she said.
Michael Hay, junior
Carlie Sachs, senior
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES
Senior Sahar Punjwani, who is standing in the black outfit, with women in a village in Dadu, Pakistan, after a menstrual health management session.
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Photo courtesy of Sahar Punjwani
Senior travels to Pakistan, works in public health By Madi Babine
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could not feel it in my “ ... hands and I was so scared
I was going to drop it,” senior Sahar Punjwani said, as she cradled a newborn who was being fed a growth hormone by a nurse with Saving Lives at Birth. SLAB is just one of the projects Punjwani participated in during the three weeks of Interim Term. She used the time to travel to Karachi, Pakistan, where she worked at Aga Khan University in its Center of Excellence for Women’s and Children’s Health. “All of these women were working together in order to empower a community of amazing women in Dadu – including grandmothers, mothers, teenagers and toddlers – while also dealing with biases against themselves.” Her interest in the AKU sparked from “Global Encounters,” a camp she attended in Pakistan in 2017. The camp focused on leadership through
service alongside learning about culture. After completing the camp, she knew she wanted to serve the community there. She later came in contact with Bhutta, whom she eventually asked for in an internship. Participating in four different projects at the Center of Excellence for Women’s and Children’s Health, Punjwani was never sure what the next day held for her. monitoring a zinc study for a pharmaceutical company that wanted to test the palatabilitablet. She said the company was seeking to create a zinc tablet that tasted better so that it would become more popular among children who need it to help treat diarrhea. Not only did Punjwani meet with the children who were part of the study, she also visited outreach sites where the trial was taking place. Her second project called Saving Lives at Birth, or SLAB,
bovine lactoferrin in aiding the growth of preterm babies and [saw] if it prevented them from getting infections, since that is a very common thing for preterm babies,” Punjwani explained. The study had strict provisions: babies had to be under two kilograms at birth, born within 27 to 34 weeks of development, and not have any adverse effects such as diarrhea or respiratory problems. For the center, the research has become solutions to end child mortality. Pakistan has the highest child mortality rate in the world, a staggering 69.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. In collaboration with the University of California in San Francisco, Punjwani then shadowed another project, PRIMES. This study monitored the effects of breastfeeding preterm babies up until 1 month old. She was able to visit families’ homes to check on the babies’ vitals, and record the data. She said her favorite project, which was the main reason she
went to Pakistan, was in Dadu, a city in interior Sindh. Punjwani faced some obstacles before receiving clearance to travel to Dadu. “Since I’m not a Pakistani citizen...I had to organize the transportation and lodging separate from the university, and do all of this with minimal pushback from the university, which took so much,” she said. After successfully gaining clearance, Punjwani served at AKU’s menstrual health awareness and management project, which seeks to educate the women in Dadu about “what periods are, how to best deal with them, and to teach the women in Dadu how to make reusable pads that they can wash and reuse,” Punjwani said. Punjwani explained that during menstruation, the women in Dadu refrain from eating meat or vegetables and isolate themselves from social gatherings out of fear of humiliation, and usually separate themselves to one part of the house.
Karachi to Dadu, she visited the Community Health Committee, comprising local men who deal with local health emergencies. The CHC started its own emergency fund for pregnant women because one of the biggest problems causing child mortality is that half of the babies delivered aren’t delivered in facilities. “It was just extremely impressive to see how the community was taking so much initiative at the local level and how they were able to create so much impact,” Punjwani said. Despite some challenges, Punjwani was inspired by all the female empowerment throughout her internship. The manager of the entire project was a woman, all the Lady Health Workers were women as well as the associate professor she worked under, Dr. Shabina Ariff. “[The internship] gave me desire of pursuing a career that will allow me to empower women and work towards the life of women,” Punjwani said.
Freshman to participate in foreign exchange program By Jaisal Kalapatapu
A
plane ticket, a suitcase and a positive mindset. That’s what freshman Talia Kalmans is taking with her when she embarks on an adventure next fall. Kalmans will be spending her sophomore year in Parana, hours outside of Buenos Aires. There, she will be immersing herself in the Spanish culture and language. She will be attending El Instituto Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. The experience is something Kalmans has been contemplating since her family hosted Laci Kránitz, an exchange student from Hungary. Now, after her sisters have both gone off to college, she felt motivated to look more intently into the experience. “I was thinking that I’m going to be so lonely, so I thought, wouldn’t it be so cool if I did
something like Laci did and go to another country,” Kalmans Her idea to go to Argentina wasn’t an arbitrary one. Spain, but in the north they speak Catalan and I wanted to speak Spanish,” Kalmans said. “Then I looked at the dates to leave and Argentina had the perfect dates, as I could still go to my summer camp and then go to Argentina.” the trip may be the immersion in the Spanish language. “Speaking is the slowest and most frustrating skill to develop in the classroom,” said Mr. Esteban Longoria, an Upper School Spanish teacher who instructs Kalmans. “Living with an Argentinian family and attending school all day with native speakers of the language and for a full year will drastically improve Tali’s language skills: listening, reading, writing, and especially speaking.”
Certain aspects of the Argentinian dialect are different from what is learned in the Spanish classes of Kinkaid, such as some grammatical differences and the accent. “Talia will experience a few challenges, such as getting used to the Argentinian accent,” Mr. Longoria said. “Furthermore, Tali may experience some because she may occasionally miss the gist of a conversation or because she may not be able to fully express herself.” Kalmans’ trip will be sponsored by the American Field Service, or AFS, which is a program that offers international education opportunities in over 45 countries and hosts exchange students from 90 countries. “After I made the decision, I talked to the Houston liaison,” forms and wrote an essay, and with my host family.”
Photo courtesy of Google Maps NEW BEGINNINGS Freshman Talia Kalmans will embark on a nearly 5,000mile journey to Argentina in the fall of 2020.
10 FEATURES | The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
The grim reality of teen drinking Underage drinking can have serious emotional,
By Mya Franklin & Maggie Johnston
Editor’s Note: Minoa Justins is an alias that was used to protect the identity of a student in Kinkaid’s Upper School. The student agreed to share his story under the condition of anonymity.
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t was the driving that gave him away. Minoa Justins started taking his own car every weekend instead of reserving Uber drivers for him and his friends. An outsider might not have noticed his change, but Justins’ parents knew something was different because he went from racking up ghastly Uber bills to using up tanks of gas overnight. His parents knew he had a habit of consuming alcohol.
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ustins said he had never made a conscious decision to start drinking. He drank simply because he believed it was normal for teenagers to do. “My parents did it. Other parents do it,” Justins said. “It is not frowned upon by most people. It is more of a societal norm. It’s Saturday night, what else [would] you do at 10 p.m.?” Justins’ parents knew he had been drinking since his freshman year in high school and he had followed their only rule: “Never drink and drive.” That’s why he had such an impressive number of trips on his Uber account. For almost two years, Justins and his friends faced the same question and made the same decision each Saturday night when they thought there was nothing better to do. But in time, alcohol exacerbated his poor sleep patterns and hindered his academic performance. “I would always wake up not feeling good,” Justins said. “My body did not feel right and I was not feeling healthy.” Justins decided, somewhat randomly one weekend, that he was done drinking and he has been sober ever since. He began taking his own car on nights out with his friends because he could drive without worrying about being drunk.
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lcohol can pose a deleterious effect on teenagers because they are in a particularly vulnerable stage of development. According to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, during the adolescent years -- defined by the World Health Organization as ages 10 to 19 -people are still in the process of building identity and developing a sense of self. Because they are impressionable, teenagers will be more likely to
participate in underage drinking if it is presented as fun. Dr. Laura Lomax-Bream, Upper School counseling psychologist, suggested that the assumption that everyone is doing it is not only inaccurate, but it also leads more students to start drinking because of a false sense of security and comradery. A motivation to impress peers can morph underage drinking into something of a novelty. According to Freedom from Chemical Dependency, an international nonprofit that provides school-based substance abuse prevention services, “young people consistently and dramatically overestimate alcohol and other drug use by their peers. At the same time, they underestimate healthy behaviors practiced by their peers.” “In the short term, it can make you feel like you are connected with the people with whom you consumed the substance. It’s just that you're all actually developing a relationship with the substance,” Dr. Lomax-Bream said. “If your goal is to connect with each other, the alcohol only gets in the way of that.”
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ustins said his parents drink socially, but alcohol never seemed to affect them in the same way it affected him. Many students and parents do not realize the disproportionate effect that drinking has on the still-developing brains of high school students. Dr. Crystal Collier, a Houston-based therapist, researcher and educator who specializes in brain-based prevention programming, offered a glimpse into the neurology behind associating pleasure with high-risk behavior. Dr. Collier said alcohol hinders the brain’s prefrontal cortex for up to three to five days after a drink is consumed. The prefrontal cortex, dubbed the “CEO of the body,” is responsible for executive functions such as impulse control, problem solving, decision making, empathy and frustration tolerance. It’s the area of the brain that forms people’s emotional intelligence. The prefrontal cortex continues to develop until an average age of 25, so drinking impacts teenagers’ brains during critical developmental years in ways that it does not affect a fully developed adult brain. “When people start drinking alcohol at a young age, they grow neurological pathways that associate between fun, coping with stress and pleasure with alcohol,” Dr. Collier said. “[Alcohol] becomes a social lubricant.” Dr. Collier explained that alcohol can impair
“
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academic performance b frontal cortex into a stat drink has the power to a tex for up to five days, s drinks twice a month los 10 days of prefrontal cor
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lcohol is the most stance among Am to the FCD. But alcohol use is not cents throughout the wo Kinkaid community as w reported drinking alcoho As defined by the Nat Abuse and Alcoholism, l having ever, even once, including “a can or bottl or a wine cooler, a shot mixed drink with distille ing a sip or two from a d According to a FCD su October 2019 to Upper S Kinkaid’s 12th-graders re least one drink of alcoho percentage is higher tha 58% of teenagers who re one drink by age 18, acc cited by the National Ins and Alcoholism. “Our overall alcohol co
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t only a reality for adolesorld, it is present in the well. Students here have ol during their lifetime. tional Institute on Alcohol lifetime alcohol use is consumed any alcohol, le of beer, a glass of wine of distilled spirits, or a ed spirits in it, not countdrink.” urvey administered in School students, 69% of eported consuming at ol in their lifetime. That an the national average of eported having at least cording to a 2018 survey stitute on Alcohol Abuse
onsumption rate was too
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 11
high. We were higher than U.S. norms by a lot,” Dr. Lomax-Bream said. The FCD reported that 74 out of 617, or about 12%, of Upper School students could be identified as a “high-risk drinker,” or someone who “consistently reported consuming five or more drinks of alcohol on one or more days within the past 30 days.” In its report, the FCD added that its definition for high-risk drinkers “should not be construed as implying that students who drink less, or less frequently, are not also placing themselves or others at risk.” Dr. Lomax-Bream said teenagers who are heavy, high-risk drinkers are really motivated, almost desperate, to put a lot of energy into creating a social setting where alcohol is involved. And there is a social partition between those who drink and those who do not. “There are kids that aren't drinking at all and there are kids that are drinking at really problematic levels,” Dr. Lomax-Bream said. “It becomes a huge divide.”
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r. Collier said preventing underage drinking starts with a fundamental change in school culture. She said student and administrative-led meetings about the perils of underage drinking can raise awareness and empower parents. Kinkaid’s administration has created a space for students and parents to discuss alcohol use, particularly when representatives from the FCD visit campus to educate students about preventing substance abuse. Mr. George Brown, an educator and prevention specialist with the FCD, has shared his personal experience with Upper school students. “When I realized that I needed to drink, that is when it was a problem. When you are surrounded by people that drink, it is like you are supporting each other in that activity so it is hard to realize if anyone has a problem,” Mr. Brown said. “I did not realize what was happening to my brain... By the time I realized, it was too hard to stop. My brain was already severely damaged.” Mr. Brown said he started drinking in eighth grade, but it was not until 11th grade that he had to pay the price: he was thrown out of high school, lost two scholarships and destroyed his relationship with his Mom. Although alcohol use is rampant among youth, there is a glimmer of hope. At Kinkaid, the FCD’s report showed, the percentage of high-risk drinkers who reported
driving after drinking on one or more occasions decreased from 46% in March 2016 to 23% in October 2019. Additionally, the FCD survey showed that the percentage of high-risk drinkers reporting being a passenger on one or more occasions driven by someone who had been drinking decreased from 41% in March 2016 to 28% in October 2019. While both reductions in the percentages appear to be improvements, there is still a net increase in the absolute number of students reporting that they drink and drive. “This, I think, is important to point out and very concerning,” said Mr. Peter Behr, head of Upper School. “This is because the number of high-risk drinkers has increased to 74 in October 2019 from only 22 students in March 2016.” Justins said he stopped drinking seven to eight months ago. “The first week, I felt really good,” he said. “My parents knew I was drinking before. They were supportive of it honestly. There were a few rules and I followed those.” Mr. Brown of the FCD has been sober for years. He shared that he had started drinking when his best friend asked him to have a beer and he feared that if he said no, he would lose his friend. “Sometimes for people, the desire to be liked, to fit in, to be a part of can be so strong that it can override the sense of safety,” Mr. Brown said. “A strong committed desire causes people to sometimes operate out of a delusional thought pattern because we prioritize our friends over our safety and something is wrong with that.” Justins said he never felt isolated. “I am proud to say that no one at this school is like ‘Here, you have to have a drink to fit in or be cool,’” he said. “Since I stopped drinking, things have not really changed. I have not gotten peer pressured or questioned.” Dr. Lomax-Bream said there are ways to have fun without substances and Justins echoed a similar sentiment. “When I told them I stopped drinking, my parents thought I had an issue and asked why I was quitting now...They were proud of me, obviously,” Justins said. “You do not need to drink to still have fun.” Dr. Collier also agreed. “The best policy is no underage drinking. Kids who engage in underage drinking should lose their car, not be allowed to leave their house and not be allowed to Uber,” she said. “It is absolutely possible to stop underage drinking.”
12 FEATURES | The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
Falchords a capella group building bonds By Charlie Solé
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enior Andrew Linhart recalled his father sharing a capella music with him and telling him about his experience in an a cappella group in high school. With that anecdote, Linhart’s father planted a seed that bloomed to become the Falchords. Linhart traveled to Ireland with Kinkaid’s choir after his sophomore year in 2019 and on that trip, he asked Mr. Chip Colvin, Upper School Choir and Music Director, if he would be willing to sponsor an a capella group. Mr. Colvin’s answer was an enthusiastic yes. “I sent a text out to several tenors and bass upperclassmen in Encore...I received a response from everyone within 10 minutes saying yes,” Linhart said. That’s when Kinkaid’s Falchords a cappella group was born. The Falchord’s founding members were Andrew Linhart, senior Scott Morey, and alumni Spencer Hickman and Ameer Mustafa. Junior Martín Ibarra joined in the spring of last year. The
group selected the name Falchords and elected Linhart as president, a role he has served in for the past two years. mance was a pop-up outside of the Dining and Learning Center. They performed the Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann.” Shortly after, at Kinkaid’s fall choir concert, the group sang “Blue Moon’’ by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers and received a standing ovation. Mustafa talked about breaking stereotypes by playing varsity football, and wrestling and singing in high school when the Falchords were featured on KHOU Channel 11 news. He how he would handle all the stress that would come with the activities. “After wrestling and football practice,
afterward, I’m just beaten up and tired,” Mustafa said during the 2018 broadcast. “Then I come to the choir room and it just kinda melts away.” The songs that the Falchords sing resonate with him in a certain way that, put him in a constant state of joy. Mustafa said. In December 2018, the group showed its versatility by performing at Coffeehouse and at the Margaret Kinkaid Concert. Both performances featured the doo-wop Christmas. Doo-Wop is a style of pop music that uses
close-harmony vocals singing phrases. Doo-wop is recognizable for using the off-beat to keep time. In the spring of 2019, the Falchords created an original way to ask a date to prom by singing short “prom-a-grams.” They would sing a short song and it would with the question “Will you go to prom with me?” The Falchords have been active at Kinkaid, from serenading the Upper School on 2019 Field Day to performing at the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) in Austin. With the graduation of two of the original members, Hickman and Mustafa, junior Michael Hay and sophomore Daniel Miner took their places and joined the Falchords this fall. Additionally, the group Jared Orkin. The new members of the group had their formance
at Kinkaid’s fall concert and sang “Under the Boardwalk’’ by the Drifters. “We rehearsed in a bathroom in a church before going on to sing,” Hay said. “It started as a normal rehearsal but then we started to improvise harmonies and we started to feel in sync with each other. It was one of our best moments singing together as a group.” The new group had its greatest performance yet after that. “Being a member of the Falchords and performing with them has been a great experience,” Miner said. “[It was] got the hang of it, it has been awesome. There’s nothing I have done like it and it’s hard to imagine what can top it.” The group has continued its tradition of pop-up performances. The singers also performed at the fall choir concert and sang an original rendition of “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” by Randy Brooks at the Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Concert. While doo-wop is still its signature style, this year, the group sang Peter Gabriel’s “Book of Love” and is working Girl,” which they plan to debut at ISAS in April.
HANGING OUT From left to right: senior Andrew Linhart, senior Jared Orkin, junior Martín Ibarra (above), senior Scott Morey (below), junior Michael Hay, and sophomore Daniel Miner. Orkin, Hay and Miner take a picture with the other members of the Falchords at their first rehersal at Linhart’s home. Photo courtesy of Mr. Bobby Linhart.
Children’s Theatre begins outreach to encourage youth who face struggles By Charlie Solé
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hildren’s Theatre, where juniors and seniors perform a show for children each semester, has added an outreach program called “The Buddy Program.” Ms. Frances Limoncelli, theatre manager and theatre teacher, has worked alongside Ms. Laura Taylor, Kipp-Sharpstown lower school music teacher and a Kinkaid-alum mom. Together, they have matched an Upper School student with a Kipp-Sharpstown buddy. The Buddy Program pairs a student in Children’s TheKipp-Sharpstown with the goal of creating a special bond between the two. Every Kipp-Sharpstown student has been chosen because he or she is going through challenges at from having an older buddy. Ms. Limoncelli is careful to
make sure that the Children’s Theatre students feel equipped to deal with any issues that their buddies may be dealing with. “Our little 6-year-old buddies are facing a myriad of problems. Some are going through a family separation due to divorce, immigration struggles or parent incarceration. Some are dealing with substance abuse problems or other instability in their families..Many are below the poverty line and are statistically likely to experience food insecurity. As you can imagine, most are experiencing academic struggles as well,” Ms. Limoncelli said. Children’s Theatre students create lesson plans that are full of drama games and craft projects, which allow for fun and one-on-one time each visit so the buddies can get to know each other. After bonding, Kinkaid students are there to
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Being a part of the buddy program has made realize all the things that I take advantage of in my life. - Nicholas Dillon, senior and member of Children’s Theatre
listen to their buddy’s problems with a sympathetic ear. “Many of the buddies struggle with expressing themselves verbally, either due to an unfamiliarity with English, low verbal skills, or crippling shyness,” Ms. Limoncelli said. “Many of our drama games are designed to help them speak up and use their voices and show their personalities.” Kinkaid students meet with their buddies once every two weeks throughout the spring semester. As a result, the relationships between Kinkaid students and buddies grow over time. “We can drive to Kipp-Sharp, have our 45-minute visit, and drive back all within our block period. We meet in their cafeteria, which gives us room for big group games as well as space to spread out and work in pairs,” Ms. Limoncelli said.
Additionally, the buddy program helps students appreciate everything they have. “Being a part of the buddy program has made me realize all the things that I take advantage of in my life and at Kinkaid. Things as simple as having dinner ready when I get home and clean clothes to wear are things that some of the kids in the buddy program aren’t able to experience,” said senior Nicholas Dillon, a member of Children’s Theatre. The culmination of the Buddy Program is a special Children’s Theatre performance at Kipp-Sharpstown in the spring, for their buddies. This show introduces the young buddies to the magical world of theatre and the buddies feel great when they see some of their friends performing on stage.
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | FEATURES 13
Falling Water, Mill Run, Pennsylvania. This house displays themes from Frank Wright’s designs, which feature horizantals, cascades and semi-circles.
Photo by Prescott Lau
Architecture provides foundation for independent study By Trinity Curry hile rushing through sophomore hall to get to class, you might discover a new photo gallery, with pieces that draw you in by their detailed perspectives of unique, historical architecture. This new display was carefully curated by sophomore Prescott Lau, who traveled across the U.S. to photograph the designs of architects Frank Wright and John Staub. He
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and Pennsylvania, and drove through River Oaks in Houston. “Last summer on a road trip through Canada and upstate Frank Lloyd Wright’s design,” Lau said. “John Staub was one of my grandfather’s clients, so my grandfather shared with me a lot of Houston’s architectural history. He has taught me how to take a purposeful
photograph.” Lau’s 2019 summer road trip inspired him to begin his independent study. He began researching Wright’s and Staub’s designs and went to the Houston and the Metropolitan and Guggenheim Museums in discovered how pictures and captions are presented and how also learned how to curate his work and enhance his skill in his photography class taught by Ms. Bess Garison, who was also his independent study advisor. “The best part about being the sponsor for Prescott’s independent study was being able to watch him come up with the concept, work through the of work for the school to enjoy,” Ms. Garison said. Lau recalled that his favorite
photograph, out of the 29 Taliesin West in Scottsdale, photographs combined into one. He said he was fascinated by the design and his ability to combine technology and real-life into one “spectacular” photograph. One challenge he faced was weaving out draft photos with different angles from photos with the best lighting and contrast to catch the viewer’s eye. However, the best part of his artistic journey, he said, was venturing through Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. There, he discovered the historical value of Wright’s designs, which broke away from traditional architecture. Lau said he hopes to do Kinkaid’s support of the arts and creative independent studies.
Prescott Lau, a sophomore, traveled to the Guggenheim for inspiration to Photo by Trinity Curry create his own exhibit.
Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona. This photo is three photos that Lau edited into one. This is Wright’s summer home and where he start his School of Architecture that is still running. Photo by Prescott Lau
14 The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
LIFESTYLES
At the center of it all: BBQ surrounds Kinkaid By William Scott
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short years, they have created one of the best BBQ restaurants in Houston. The brisket and beef ribs both have an outer layer of black pepper and are popular meat items on the menu. It is a little expensive, as a BBQ sandwich will cost anywhere from $8 to $12; however, the
exas is known for its world famous BBQ, and Kinkaid happens to be right in the middle of some of it. Goode Company BBQ, located on I-10, is only a 10- to 12-minute drive from Kinkaid, restaurant in 1977, which since has turned into a Houston restaurant empire. Although Goode Company now has a variety of restaurants, including Goode Company Seafood, Goode Company Kitchen and Cantina, it all originated from Looking at all the BBQ meat and side options as you go through the line makes for an easier decision on what to get. Make sure to order one of their delicious chocolate cinnamon milkshakes, too. Although its known for brisket, ribs, and sausage, Goode Company also has great chicken and BBQ sauces. Pappas Restaurants, like Goode Company, is a Houston restaurant empire that is popular locally and around Texas. Pappas Barbecue, however, is not what Pappas is known for. When many people think of Pappas, they think of Pappas Steak House or Pappas Burgers, which are located next door to each another on Westheimer. Pappas BBQ, also located on Westheimer, is a short drive away; however, it may not be worth the drive. Although Pappas has pretty good BQ, eating there might result in
Texas BBQ. Roegels Barbecue Co, a close by BBQ restaurant, is located at 2223 South Voss Road, not far from campus. Photo courtesy of Texas BBQ Posse.
a long wait before the food is ready. Many do enjoy the brisket and ribs at Pappas BBQ, but it is simply not as convenient as other locations around Kinkaid.
jalapeno cheese bun. If that isn’t enough, there are homemade desserts such banana pudding and brownies. Parking may seem next to impossible during lunch hour; however, there is a parking garage directly behind the building that makes it only a short walk away.
Roegel’s began when Russell and Misty Roegels decided to take Baker’s Ribs at 2223 South Voss
worth it. Kinkaid is within walking distance to Roegel’s. Although each BBQ restaurant has great menus and are especially convenient for Kinkaidians, there are several more BBQ restaurants in Houston that cannot go unnoticed. If you have the time to drive a little longer, try Pinkertons BBQ, Killen’s BBQ, The Pit Room, Gatlin’s BBQ, Jackson Street BBQ and Truth BBQ, to name just a few.
The Brisket House is another great BBQ restaurant near Kinkaid. It is not only an 8-10 minute drive from school, but also guarantees a Roegels Barbeque Co is short wait for your meal. After the best BBQ restaurant in ordering at the register, meals close proximity to Kinkaid. are immediately prepared and It is not only the closest BBQ served just minutes after sitting location, but it also has the best down. One of the most popular BBQ. Roegels owner, Russell items on the menu is Wayne’s Roegels, has over 20 years of PB&J. This BBQ style PB&J experience in the BBQ industry wraps up BBQ in one sandwich. and has owned and operated the It consists of pulled pork, Baker’s Ribs location on Voss brisket, and jalapeno sausage as well. and slaw, all in between a Roegels Barbecue Co. brisket sandwich with their signature charred meats. Photo courtesy of Texas Monthly.
Chance the Rapper among headliners in 89th Houston rodeo 20 of the biggest artists from around the world set to take the stage in front of thousands By Sam Pitts
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he Houston rodeo attracts all types of people from teenagers and children to adults and grandparents. Each year they keep coming back to see their favorite artists perform on a giant stage in front of tens of thousands of people. The Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo has been a local staple for almost 90 years. Last year it recorded one of its highest attendance numbers ever with over 2.5 million people. A volunteer group of over 32,000 people helped set up the rodeo stage and carnival. Beginning in early March, 20 of the
biggest artists from around the world will be representing several differ-
ent genres of music and will be performing to crowds of up to 80,000. This year’s headlining artists will include the great country singer Willie Nelson, new local rap sensation Lizzo, Grammy award winner Chance the Rapper, Khalid, popular DJ Marshmello, country singer Luke Bryan, and many more noticeable artists. “I enjoy going to the carnival… to spend time with my dearest friends,” sophomore Alex Gottsegen said. In 2019 about half of the people who attended the rodeo saw the concerts, and the other half chose to just go to the carnival, according to Chron.com, a Houston demographic news and information website. The rodeo makes revenue in several different ways such as the dozens of rides and games that are set up, the 20 artists playing in front of 70 to 80 thousand people, and the food and snacks sold at the concession stands. “The only thing I don’t like about the rodeo, is how the
prices are so high,” sophomore Clay Cameron said. Many people who attend the rodeo forget that before the artists come on to perform, there is an actual rodeo with cowboys who perform tie down
roping, bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and much more. The rodeo is a staple point for Houston, and will be an attraction for years to come.
Find Your Fix Tuesday, March 3 – Midland Wednesday, March 4 – Willie Nelson Thursday, March 5 – Becky G. Friday, March 6 – Chance The Rapper Saturday March 7 — Maren Morris Sunday, March 8 – Ramon Ayala Monday, March 9 – Chris Young Tuesday, March 10 – NCT 127 Wednesday, March 11 – Kane Brown Thursday, March 12 – Cody Johnson Friday, March 13 – Lizzo Saturday, March 14 – Jon Pardi Sunday, March 15 – Dierks Bentley Monday, March 16 – Keith Urban Tuesday, March 17 – Gwen Stefani Wednesday, March 18 – Khalid Thursday, March 19 – Chris Stapleton Friday, March 20 – Marshmello Saturday, March 21 – Brad Paisley Sunday, March 22 – Luke Bryan
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | LIFESTYLES 15
POP
Inspired style
By Megan Riley
By Nicole Fernandez
CULTURE chart Q: What is your Spring Break Essential?
Junior Zelie Hughes explores fashion industry
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“My bed”
- Kristin Sims, freshman
“A bikini”
- Jackson Bloome, sophomore
“The latest issue of The Kinkaid Falcon” - Josh Davidson, junior
“Pedialyte”
- Ellen Chamblee, senior
Featured above is three of junior Zelie Hughes’ sketched designs.
16 The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
SPORTS SPC Recap
New hires bring fresh skills, experiences By Jack Klosek
D By Cooper Buck
espite the baseball team’s relative youth after the
the varsity baseball team looks
Boys Basketball:
Regular Season: 5-2 Girls Basketball:
Photo by David Shutts
2019 seniors pose with the trophy following their SPC win over Episcopal.
Regular Season: 6-1 Boys Soccer:
former players all played a
Regular Season: 6-1 Girls Soccer: from previous players to
Regular Season: 4-3 Girls Swimming and Diving:
‘Chill and energetic’ coach helps shape athletic culture By Chris Stallings
Boys Swimming and Diving:
Coach Phil Mosley encouraging junior Eliot Gottsegen during his weight lifting session.
Wrestling:
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Photo by David Shutts
He is very compassionate, patient and has a great sense of humor.
- Coach Everett Coleman
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | SPORTS 17
Senior Signings
Athletes commit to next-level institutions, competitive sports By Charles Garrison
ALEXANDRA BLAKE
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lexandra Blake will attend Washington University in St. Louis for her next four years while continuing to pursue her passions in track and cross country. She is excited to attend WashU. “I love that at WashU, academics are a priority,” Blake said. “The team motto for the women and men’s program is ‘two teams, one family’ and I found that to be true.” Blake has participated in track and cross country for all four years. “Kinkaid has taught me how to be a successful student athlete,” she said. “I’ve learned that academics and athletics can actually support each other if I manage my time well and practice discipline and endurance in both areas.”
PEYTON PIVEC
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eyton Pivec signed with Bates College to spend her next four years continuing her academic and swimming career. After years of swimming both with Kinkaid and outside of Kinkaid, she now is taking her next step across the country, from Texas to Maine. Several aspects of Bates College stood out to Pivec, such as “the coaching staff and the superior academics.” Pivec said she is excited for a “very strong sense of team unity” in her academic and athletic endeavors at her future school, Bates College.
EVERETT EASTERBY
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verett Easterby signed to spend the next chapter of his academic and lacrosse career at Middlebury College. After years of perfecting his skills in lacrosse, he is looking forward to the next level of competition, specifically mentioning his excitement for “the chemistry and motivation of the team.” His decision to sign with Middlebury was not only due to the lacrosse program, but also the opportunity to join an academically strong university. “Middlebury’s strong academics were enticing,” Easterby said. Easterby said there was no shortage of situations that his high school experience prepared him for, saying that Kinkaid “put me in situations where I had to be a leader early on.”
ZACK NICOLAOU
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ack Nicolaou signed with Houston Baptist University to continue his soccer and academic career. His decision to sign with HBU was backed by his desire to stay close to home. “When I visited HBU, it had a good campus feel, while being in the middle of the city,” Nicolaou said. After countless hours working on his craft as a lifer at Kinkaid, Nicolaou looks to start strong in his next chapter at HBU. He is looking forward to continuing his soccer career in the city he has made home.
WILSON KELSEY
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ilson Kelsey officially signed with Sewanee: The University of the South to continue his academic and golf career. After contributing to Kinkaid’s golf program for all of high school, he will be taking the next leap in competition next year. Kelsey has spent countless hours on the links, perfecting his crisp drives and clutch putts. Sewanee was a no-brainer. “They [Sewanee] provide a really good education and the golf facilities are exceptional,” Kelsey said. He looks forward to “going to a new part of the country and meeting new people” while continuing to perfect his game. Kelsey is confident about taking his golf career to Sewanee.
CHRIS STALLINGS
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hris Stallings will attend the Air Force Academy to continue his career both academically and athletically. Committed since the summer of sophomore year, Stallings has been more than ready to join his next institution in Colorado Springs. “There is a desirable culture at the Air Force Academy that centers around hard work and perseverance,” Stallings said. “I really wanted to be invested in a baseball program and school that replicated my motives, and I felt like the academy was the perfect fit.”
CC JEFFERS
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C Jeffers will be attending Colorado College for the next four years, where he will continue to play lacrosse. Jeffers looks to flourish at Colorado College. “I chose Colorado College for its prestigious academics, phenomenal lacrosse program, and great location,” Jeffers said. Jeffers also cited Kinkaid’s impact on him. “Kinkaid has truly made an enormous impact on my life. The rigorous class work, outstanding athletic programs, and amazing teachers and coaches have really pushed me to work harder and improve every day,” he said. After years of practice and game experience, he looks forward to taking his talents from Houston to Colorado Springs.
MIKAELA LAWLER
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ikaela Lawler signed to continue her academic and soccer career at the University of Mount Olive. Lawler has played both club and Kinkaid soccer, molding her into the player she is today. “[Mount Olive] had everything I wanted for my life in college,” she said. Lawler said she is “excited to see improvement in competition in college and the dedication from everyone.” With years of preparation leading her to this point, Lawler is looking forward to her next chapter.
18 SPORTS | The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
XFL introduces inaugural season
Newly reinnovated football league features Houston team By Dylan Marcus
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hether the eXtreme Football League, or XFL, has the potential to compete with the NFL by becoming more appealing to professional players and fans is a question for the fans of both leagues to answer. The inaugural season of the new league kicked off on Feb. 8, featuring teams from New York, Houston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Washington D.C., and Seattle. After using eight different Houston venues to host the eight teams’ training camps, including the site of the 2018 SPC championship at Delmar stadium, the newly reinvented football league was ready to commence. Junior Dylan McClanahan attended the Houston RoughLA Wildcats, admitting that the atmosphere in TDECU stadium was something he had never seen before. “Coming home after taking the ACT, there was no better way to spend my afternoon than watching XFL games and cheering on the Roughnecks. The idea of a professional Houston football team winning joy. That’s something that has never happened before,” McClanahan said. After a failed season in 2001, Vince McMahon, the league’s founder, announced the league’s reopening for 2020 with the slogan “For The Love of Football.” Junior Eliot Gottsegen, who long snaps for Kinkaid’s varsity football team, mirrored McClanahan’s excitement after game ever.
READY TO PLAY The league’s 8 teams closest to each city are shown across the country. The league’s 8 team’s closest cities are shown across the country.
“The new set of rules, interactions with the players and coaches during the game via one-on-one interviews on the sidelines, and implementing gambling stakes into the game made the XFL seem like a completely different sport. Being able to witness history like this was exhilarating,” Gottsegen said. Familiar names such as former NFL players Cardale Jones, Aaron Murray, Sammy Coates, and Shawn Oakman were revealed during the opening games. One of the unique provi-
sions of the XFL is its ability to give players a second chance in professional sports, as many of them have been cut from NFL rosters. For the love of football, millions of Americans will be able to watch XFL games until its championship game at TDECU Stadium on April 26, shortening fans’ downtime from watching professional and collegiate football. For Houston fans who have rooted for the Oilers and now the Texans, the fate of the Roughnecks’ season may be
their only hope in avoiding another disappointing end to a season. Gottsegen loves the idea of an expansion league because of the opportunities it grants the players who haven’t been able to remain on an NFL roster for one reason or another, including a lack of talent or behavioral issues. The XFL does not sign anybody with a criminal record. “Although it seems like a shooting star a million miles away, long snapping for an XFL team might be something that I want to keep on my bucket
list. Snapping to someone like Marquette King, PFT Commenter or Chad Ochocinco would be a dream come true,” said Gottsegen, referring to three well-known names in sports. The sport of football could change forever with the implementation of alternate professional leagues such as the XFL, Canadian Football League, and the Arena Football League on top of the NFL, but the question still remains: Will the XFL’s popularity fade?
Houston Overwatch team makes its home debut
By Frankie Wimbish
T
his is our house, this is our house!” Hundreds roared and stamped their feet, as the words: “HOUSTON WINS!” The Toronto team hung its heads low as droves of green and black-clad Houstonians erupted in applause. Overwatch league was founded in 2017, and just recently entered into its third season. The league incorporates a number of global teams based out of Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States; however, the league decided to do something new this season: home games, or as the league calls them, homestands. Overwatch is a team-based game. The game developer Blizzard released the new franchise in May 2016 to outstanding success, reaching 20 million players by the end of the year. As of May 2018, there were more than 40 million players. After the competitive ladder was introduced, millions of gamers fought to move their way up in the rankings for their respective regions, and minor competitive leagues were formed by teams owned by esports organizations. There were
some serious global competitive leagues, but nothing sponsored by Blizzard. The developer’s endorsement would be important for prize pools, advertising, marketing, and most importantly, broadcasting. Blizzard has produced games like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Hearthstone, but what makes Overwatch really unique is its appeal to the competitive esports community. It’s a fast-paced game, with plenty of opportunity for tides to turn, and single players can have an immense effect on the outcome of a match, making it an ideal esport for experienced and novice viewers. So the announcement for the upcoming league, in which games would be broadcast live from the Blizzard arena, and funded by Blizzard, was monumental. Not only was this a big step for the Overwatch community, but for esports as a whole. Never before had a game developer embraced the competitive community quite like Blizzard did. Live crowds were rare for esports events, but the Overwatch League meant that there would be live events attended on a weekly schedule, And with teams attached to
OUTLAWS PREMIERE The crowd celebrates as the Houston Outlaws pick up their first season win against the Toronto Defiant. Photo by Frankie Wimbish.
cities, like the Houston Outlaws, and the Dallas Fuel, esports began to look more and more like typical professional sports. Blizzard advanced their investment in the league even further with consistent live traveling games. This meant that each city could have home games, in which a hometown audience can watch, and cheer, live.For attending students like senior Susan Baird, and freshman Canaan Estes this
meant welcoming The Outlaws three seasons. “To see the players that represent my city was so cool,” Estes said.“When they won electric.” Kinkaid students have been showing their passion for esports for some time, with the and growing at one point to be the largest club besides SOK.
Now, the club will be competing in nationwide competition against other schools in a variety of games. Esports only seems to be growing in and out of the Kinkaid community. Sponsors like Toyota and Coca-Cola, Blizzard’s evident stake in the esports community, and the inclusion of homestands in the Overwatch League’s third season, prove that the league and esports at large, are here to stay.
March 6, 2020 | The Kinkaid Falcon | SPORTS 19
BOYS
SWIM MING By Megan Riley
RECORDS BROKEN: Finishing third in SPC this season, Boys Swimming earned success with over eleven record breaking races.
200yd IM 50yd FREESTYLE 200yd FREESTYLE 400yd FREE RELAY 500yd FREESTYLE 100yd BUTTERFLY 200yd MEDLEY RELAY 100yd BACKSTROKE 200yd FREE RELAY 100yd FREESTYLE 100yd BREASTROKE
Freshman Alexander Farahbod. Photo by David Shutts.
Michael Bell Cade Duncan
Charlie Brennig C Duncan, M Bell, C Brennig, P Pivec Charlie Brennig Michael Bell C Duncan, M Bell, C Brennig, P Pivec Price Pivec C Duncan, M Bell, C Brennig, P Pivec Charlie Brennig Michael Bell
20 BACK PAGE | The Kinkaid Falcon | March 6, 2020
Before You Go By Frankie Wimbish
RADICAL HONESTY Weiner Fellow speaker Kerry Beth Neville shares how being brutally honest about her struggles affected her creative writing. She opened up about past addiction and personal troubles.
VIOLIN VIRTUOSO Vivian Ye performs a classical violin piece at this year’s Coffee House.
CELEBRATING CULTURE A gallery curated and put together by senior Priscilla Mach features realistic paintings of influential figures in American culture. This particular piece was an acrylic portrait of civil rights activist and leader Dorothy Height, who specifically focused on improving conditions for African Americans.
CLEANING UP THE BAY Senior Alex Skidmore carries a number of trampled crab traps to be disposed of. This service project was the first of its kind, giving students the opportunity to travel to Galveston Bay and clean up shores and rid the bay of harmful traps.
DYNAMIC DUO Junior Artemis -Melania Postolos and sophomore Mia Vandemark perform a heart-wrenching rendition of “Flight” by Sutton Foster. The two showed off their range and impressed almost every student in the audience at Coffee House. This year’s Coffee House had over 15 performers, and Postolos and Vandemark were highlighted as some of the best.
UPcoming
Events
March 12
April 9
March 13-23
Choir and Encore Concert
Spring Break (all school holiday)
Varsity Baseball vs. Episcopal at Rice Stadium
April 2-4
ISAS Festival at Casady in Oklahoma
April 14
Golf Episcopal Invitational, John Cooper Tennis Counter, Lacrosse vs. Strake Jesuit
April 10
Good Friday (all school holiday)
April 16 Field Day