Volume 30 Issue 6 by The Sidekick

COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

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C O P P E L L H I G H S C H O O L 1 8 5 W. PA R K W AY B LV D . C O P P E L L , T X 7 5 0 1 9

COMING HOME Middle school principal steps into top Coppell High School position

VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 6

BY CHRISTINE ZACUAI PAGE 3

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

TWO WORLDS

PG. 5

O P I N I O N S Executive news editor Christine Zacuai on what her Chin heritage means to her and those in her community.

FINAL GOODBYE

PG. 7-18

P U L L O U T The graduating class of 2019 bids farewell to the bittersweet memories made in the four years on campus.

IN THE GAME

PG. 16-17

S P O R T S See the greatest highlights of the 2018-2019 year through the eyes of Coppell High School athletes.

NEWS MAY

THE SIDEKICK

C E LEBR ATIN G TEN YEAR S

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

aying in bed the night before my middle school graduation, I just remember being glad it was finally over. I was certain there wasn’t a single thing I’d miss at Coppell Middle School East. After all, nobody was going to miss me. (Dramatic, I know.) For three years, I’d felt invisible. It wasn’t anyone’s fault - I had caring friends, attentive teachers and the best family I could ask for. The unfortunate thing about having low self-esteem is that no matter how wonderful your life might be, you just can’t see it. Hating myself made me feel certain the love presented to me was fake, the compliments backhanded, the concern falsified. Laura Springer was principal of CMSE at the time. She was, and still is, the single best person I know - and I can attest to the mark she left on the hearts of all my classmates by the smiles I am met with at any mention of her name, followed by an outpouring of stories and experiences. She gave me a high-five everyday. She still remembers my name. She always listened to me. Me? I liked her, sure. But I also never really believed her. Could someone truly be so kind? Was it possible to have enough room in your heart for hundreds of students and survive that magnitude of vulnerability? Nah. Fake love. Nice lady, but I didn’t buy it. Following the graduation ceremony, she gave each of her eighth graders a hug on their way out. When it was my turn, I accepted her embrace stiffly and half-heartedly. She pulled me close and whispered, “You’re so beautiful, inside and out. Don’t let anyone else tell you different.” I mumbled a thanks, then stumbled out of that hug and right out the door, vaguely panicked. Something in me was affected by her words, but I couldn’t stomach the idea of falling for lies. So I brushed it off. I continued to brush it off for four years - and during those four years, I let Ms. Springer down over and over. I sank deeper into insecurity and sadness, let people get to me, relinquished every positive word from my dictionary, the first to go being beautiful. Teen angst jokes aside, I really was having a bad time. Bad enough to warrant therapy, then a diagnosis, then meds. I’m relieved to say I finally dug myself out this past year, just in time for my high school graduation. Earlier this month, I attended the Academic Banquet, where the top five percent of our graduating class celebrated teachers who made an impact in our journeys, academic or otherwise. After I’d given a speech, I stepped off the stage and, to my shock, straight into Ms. Springer’s arms. She pulled me close. Said my name. Whispered, “I’m so proud of you. You’re so beautiful. I hope you always knew that. Congratulations...”

First Coppell Student Media editor on birth of news website, new era of digital media

In celebration of Coppell Student Media’s 10 year anniversary as an awardwinning news website, The Sidekick editor-in-chief Kelly Wei spotlights a past editor of the program in each 20182019 issue. The May Issue features 200910 co-editor-in-chief DAPHNE CHEN.

KELLY: What was your experience like on Sidekick?

DAPHNE: Well, I think it’s to a point where it’s irreversible. Print won’t survive, most likely, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A lot of national papers have dealt with it a lot better in terms of converting into a digital news mindset, serving news to our readers in a format that they want and makes sense. It’s inevitable, and sad, but it isn’t a bad thing. I love the newspaper more than anybody, but it’s clunky and messy and it gets thrown away everyday. The web allows us to be more creative and innovative.

DAPHNE: I had an incredible time working in Mr. Wofford’s class and on Sidekick. It’s funny because I remember thinking at the time that it was important to have a website, but print will never die. Now, a decade later, so much has changed. KELLY: Why did you and your staff feel the need to create Coppell Student Media? And how did you do it? DAPHNE: I remember I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, being there late at night and during lunch, clicking around on WordPress, downloading random programs and watching tutorials on YouTube. But I remember that at the time, some of the changes were already taking place in terms of the limitations of print and the emergence of new digital platforms. KELLY: You’re still journalism today, right?

working

DAPHNE: Yes.

KELLY: As a professional in the media industry, to what extent would you say online media has overtaken print?

TO READ THE FULL STORY, VISIT COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Photo courtesy DAPHNE CHEN Daphne Chen, 2009-10 co-editor-in-chief

Kelly Wei EDITOR- IN-CHIEF

UPC O MIN G E V E NT S

SENIOR AWARDS May 20

SEMESTER EXAMS May 17, 21, 22-23

Seniors, it’s your time to shine. Recognition for scholarships, academics and services is expected before a fun-filled day at Six Flags.

The final countdown: The last exams, the last essays, the last projects and the last stresses of the school year.

TWITTER @CHSCAMPUSNEWS

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL May 23

Flat pencil stubs, empty backpacks and homework in the air. Goodbye to the 201819 school year, a new summer awaits.

INSTAGRAM @THESIDEKICKCOPPELL

GRADUATION May 28

Con-grad-ulations! As the class of 2019 ends its last CHS chapter, seniors now open the pages in their new book: posthigh school life.

SUMMER SPLASH BASH May 31

Slip and slides, swimsuits and splashes under the sun only at Andy Brown Park East’s annual summer event open for all Coppell residents.

FACEBOOK /SIDEKICKONLINE

MAY NEWS

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

News

“I have never drank alcohol, and I have never tried drugs after seeing the devastation they can cause.” P. 4

COMING HOME

Springer returns as principal

Renovations to come this summer CHRISTINE ZACUAI EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR @chriszacuai

Photo by BAILEY LAI F A M I L I A R F E E L Former Coppell Middle School East principal Laura Springer hugs Coppell High School outdoor adventures teacher Bill Parker on the cafeteria stage on May 9. Springer is the newly announced 2019-20 CHS principal. CHRISTINE ZACUAI EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR @chriszacuai

t is not uncommon for students to feel Coppell Middle School East Principal Laura Springer’s warm and upbeat energy, see her grin ear-to-ear while recalling each and every one of her students’ names as they reach in for a hug in the hallways. Next year, it will be a norm. Springer is Coppell High School’s new 2019-20 principal. Her arrival addressed in a district-wide announcement by Coppell ISD Superintendent Brad Hunt on April 22, Springer has already made herself feel at home after spending more than two decades at the high school as a head coach, teacher and administrator. “It’s just like coming back to something I’m familiar with, but also something I just want to invest so much of myself in to make sure this place is just the greatest place it can be,” Springer said. Springer, who has spent 12 years away from CHS at CMS East, is excited to return on campus. Despite the time away, Springer plans to implement what she is best known for. “Number one is, for me is relationships. It’s making sure I have great relationships with our students, with our teachers, with our parents in the community. And making sure CHS is a place where we make people feel welcome and cared about,” Springer said. Springer’s new role is followed after the departure of now CISD assistant athletic director Nicole Jund as principal for two years. “I know that taking on this new position, I can feel confident I’m leaving the campus in a good position, and I’m excited about where they are headed in the future,”

15 AUGUST

Jund said. “You knew in the end, we were headed in the right direction. We’ve changed the schedule twice. We worked through that. There’s some really good work has been done. I feel like the campus as a whole is on its feet and headed in the right direction.” While hiring Springer and Jund, CISD administration considered their expressed interest in the school, extensive background and personal experience, among other things. “As we were making the move with Dr. Jund, we were thinking about who would be great in the role of the high school, [and] Laura Springer’s name came to mind again, because she loves Coppell, she knows the community,” CISD assistant superintendent for administrative services Kristen Streeter said. “She’ll have more than 3,000 kids and families who she’ll get to work with and impact, so we just saw that both of those moves is very positive for everybody.” Though Springer’s role as principal came as a joy to many at the high school, members of CMS East are sad to see her departure after 11 years. Despite this sadness, Springer is confident in the leadership she is leaving behind, specifically CMS East assistant principal Steve Glover, who will take over as principal of the middle school. “I’m sure there’s a lot of crying going on and some of our parents were not quite happy with me,” Springer said. “They were like, ‘Why are you leaving? Why are you going’ But we need to realize it. A school is not just a principal, a school is the team you put together. It is the support staff you have. It is all the way from your custodians to cafeteria workers to everybody; [those are] the things that make a school what it is and what’s great. You can’t focus on one person.”

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Among the many changes introduced to the upcoming 2019-20 school year is a much more physical one that students will notice. As part of a voter-approved bond created in 2016 by the Coppell ISD bond committee, district renovations for campuses are seeing with construction work in a three phase process: it begins this summer, continues in the 2019-20 school year and completes in 2020 summer. “There’s certain things we’ll do that will probably take certain sections of classrooms,” Associate Superintendent for CISD Sid Grant said. “Teachers will move around a little bit while we will do those classrooms. Teachers will move back in, and then we’ll move to another set of classrooms. This summer, we’re hoping to get a large part of [the] main corridor renovated.” The bond included construction of Coppell Middle School West, CHS9 and Canyon Ranch Elementary School, which is set to open fall 2019. Several campuses, such as CMS East and CMS North, have upscale renovations that will be complete by the fall. “Given how some of [Coppell High School] goes back to 1985, it’s time, [considering] this flooring that we’re standing on for example, to change it up,” Grant said. “Just like the bathrooms, they really needed upgrading. It’s better off to try to make the entire building and give it a new, fresh look.” On April 29, CISD board members recently voted to allow renovations to continue with the contracting company North Star Builders Group, which has been used for previous CISD construction plans including LED light installation and paint improvements to classrooms, corridor updates, refurbished carpets as well as renovated staff bathrooms that are expected in the next wave of renovations. This follows student bathroom renovations, which included updated equipment such as motion sensor sinks and hand dryers, as a part of the bond package in 2017 and safety renovations such as the introduction of the security vestibule this school year. “I want to make sure as we go through this process, we clean up our school and make it look wonderful,” said CHS Principal Laura Springer, who assumes the position at the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year. “When you walk in, we also teach pride in taking care of our property. Being so proud of it, that we don’t deface it, that we don’t do things to this property that would take away from that pride that we have as Cowboys and Cowgirls in this building.” CHRISTINE ‘19 can be reached at cnz6920@g.coppellisd.com.

WANT MORE? Read more about the CISD renovations on Coppell Student Media.

CHRISTINE ‘19 can be reached at cnz6920@g.coppellisd.com.

28 AUGUST

OPEN HOUSE

NEWS MAY

THE SIDEKICK

THE LATEST FROM CHS9

Khaushik, Sharma beat one in million odds CLAIRE CLEMENTS EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR @cclements825

“The probability that a random person in the population could look at your iPhone or iPad Pro and unlock it using Face ID is approximately 1 in 1,000,000 with a single enrolled appearance.” In an article about Face ID, Apple made this claim. Despite this, CHS9 freshmen Umang Kaushik and Svayam Sharma were able to unlock the same phone, using their face. “When I got my new phone, the one with the Face ID, [Kaushik] was just trying it and tried to open my phone, and then it actually worked with his face,” Sharma said. At first, they met with disbelief. “[Others] acted like ‘Wait…’. A lot of them thought we were [faking it],” S h a r m a said. While they find it interesting, they are also concerned about the actual safety of it, as Sharma has important information, such as his bank ac-

count, on his phone. “Anything that requires his password or FaceID, I can get into now,” Kaushik said. Some may claim it’s because the two look alike, but they do not believe that’s the case. “We have another friend that looks more like [Kaushik], and his face doesn’t work on [my phone].” Sharma said. While the pair thought their problem was interesting, they never expected the attention they received. “It’s just really unexpected and weird,” Sharma said. “We had this friend who we sent the video, and he was like ‘Whoa, what?’ and then sent it out to J.D. Miles, the CBS [staff] reporter, and he wanted to do a story on it.” Despite numerous attempts to solve the problem the pair have yet to find the solution. “We sent our Face logs to Apple, so

they could figure out what’s the problem with our faces,” Kaushik said. CLAIRE ‘20 can be reached at cec4824@g.coppellisd.com.

WANT MORE? Visit Coppell Student Media for a video.

Photo by BAILEY LAI

D O U B L E D U P E Earlier this year, CHS9 students Umang Kaushik and Svayam Sharma discovered that they could both unlock one phone using Face ID. This highly improbable occurrence raised concerns about the security of their apps, including banking and personal information, on their Apple phones.

Family history of addiction urges Behlen to speak up NICO REYES STAFF WRITER @nico_reyes19

An uncle, two brothers and others in his extended family were jailed or died because of drug addiction. Heroin and cocaine had been killers of his kin. He watched as family members drifted in and out of jail. With struggles breathing down his neck, CHS9 teacher James Behlen made a choice to make a change. He decided to never allow addiction, both alcohol and drug-related, to contaminate his life like his family members. “I never drank alcohol, and I have never tried drugs after seeing the devastation they can cause,” Behlen said. After making this life-changing decision, Behlen was inspired to make sure his students never took the path some of his family members had. “That’s my number one goal [to have a positive impact on students outside of the academic environment],” Behlen said. “I teach them content, but I also want my students to come out feeling empowered to make better choices.” One of the lessons Behlen attempts to instill in his students is people must solidify their principles before being put into situations of temptation. “Being a teenager is extremely hard; if you don’t want to be someone who

gets drunk or uses drugs, that’s a decision you have to make before you go to a party,” Behlen said. “Once you’re in front of all your friends and being pressured to drink or smoke marijuana, you’re much more likely to do it if you haven’t already decided ‘that’s not who I am’.” Behlen normally gives his talks before school breaks and throughout Red Ribbon Week, where students are

informed of the dangers of addiction. Though Behlen has not yet spoken publicly or addressed the school, his students are well aware of his warnings against drug abuse. Many former students have said these talks made a big impact on their lives. “Mr. Behlen’s talks made me realize how big of a problem addiction can be,” said CHS junior Rayne Whitney, a former student. “It made me not want to

Photo by RISHIKA RAKWAL

M O R E T H A N M A T H On May 10, CHS9 geometry teacher James Behlen engages with CHS9 freshman Dylan Song in class. Behlen previously taught geometry at Coppell High School before transferring to CHS9 for the 2018-2019 school year.

FIELD GOAL BEATS SACHSE

feel the temptation of trying anything.” Through anecdotes, Behlen makes clear that addiction can plague anyone. “Whenever you hear about drug abuse, it seems distant,” CHS sophomore Ella Jenkins said. “It doesn’t normally sound like it could happen to you, but all the stories he would tell us made [us] realize how big and close of a problem addiction is.” Though many of the talks Behlen gives his geometry classes consist of warnings against addiction, Behlen also tries to teach his students other important life lessons about how happiness is a choice. “My brother-in-law was killed in an accident last year and that was really hard on me,” Behlen said. “That gave me a chance to talk to my students about happiness and about how I could continue to cry about it in a corner all day. But at some point, you do have to find a way to overcome these things.” Behlen emphasizes that the outcome of a day can be defined by the perspective one chooses to have in the morning. “You have to decide ‘am I going to make today a good day with good choices, or am I going to feel sorry about myself and make others feel bad for me,’” Behlen said. NICO ‘20 can be reached at nxr7863@g.coppellisd.com.

CISD COLLEGE NIGHT

SEPTEMBER

AUGUST

TWITTER @CHSCAMPUSNEWS

INSTAGRAM @THESIDEKICKCOPPELL

FACEBOOK /SIDEKICKONLINE

MAY OPINIONS

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

“You have the option to make your future the most successful it can be.” P. 6

Opinions W H AT B E I N G C H I N M E A N S T O M E

Revealing the duality of struggle being Chin CHRISTINE ZACUAI EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR @chriszacuai

he December drive back from College Station after a night out caroling with my youth group is an unforgettable one. Little to nothing is seen on the road, but it isn’t difficult to hear the lively chatter and guitar riffs in the van that didn’t mind the emptiness of the night. Riddles and ghost stories comprise the conversation until one of us recalls their journey to America as a refugee. It isn’t long until everyone chimes in; one recalls the shakiness of the tiny boat she was hidden in at six-yearsold, as another interjects with the pain of his feet running through the forest; another sharing how much she cried for relatives their first day here. Camaraderie and laughter ensued their tales of life or death, while I sat quietly reflecting, on my experiences, or lack thereof. I immigrated to Texas at just twoyears-old from Hakha, the capital of the Chin State in Myanmar (Burma). It was impossible to understand what those encounters were because, despite the gravity of their situations, they were just different narrations of the same story to me. Knowing my origin and birthplace was not even a distant memory, but a simple regurgitation of what my parents had told.

“I heard the unimaginable journey to arrive here was much more than a mere plane flight.” CHRISTINE ZACUAI EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR

SEPTEMBER

Myanmar houses hundreds of ethnic groups, one primarily Buddhist, dominating Burmese politics and religion. Its refugees are one of the largest groups to flee to the U.S., with 1.2 million migrants in 2017, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Religious persecution or ethnic cleansing from Burmese military rule and lack of legal representation cause inhabitants to flee in neighboring countries with United Nations offices. I heard the unimaginable journey to arrive here was much more than a mere plane flight. I discovered the people paid to guide families through unfamiliar terrain and the extensive legal processing for visas and identification cards, which can take a year or more. “We stayed in Malaysia for about eight months,” Lewisville High School senior Par Hniang, who arrived in Lewisville in 2008, said. “The fact that my dad stayed there for a long time helped us. Other people would just go all together as a family and wait like, five years in Malaysia waiting to be sent to a different country.” Having what seemed like the best of both worlds, I experienced a different kind of “fitting in”. My bilingualism soon become what we coin as “Chin-glish”; it was not unusual for those raised in the U.S. to get scolded for speaking English in church programs or struggle to carry conversation with relatives back home. “Whenever there’s a social event going on, someone makes jokes while everyone else is listening,” Coppell High School senior Paul Nung said. “So a lot of times, if you don’t understand the language, you don’t really understand the jokes.” While the experiences growing up Chin-American were very real, I soon realized these did not equate nearly as much the immense caution and sacrifice faced by others around me. “One time we had to get inside a truck, there was about 10 to 15 of us,” Hniang said, recalling her route to Thailand. “Some people had to get behind the truck and be covered in fishing nets. I was one of the first people and they put me in the back. People piled in on me and I was seven-yearsold, I was tiny. Men and women - they just sat on top of me and I could barely breathe. One of the worst things I ever experienced. I thought I was gonna die, honestly.” It wasn’t until I forged friendships with those who had everyday inconveniences become their life that I took in the message of assimilation. “Family work like paying bills, I have

to call and be the one who is like, ‘Hey, we need to pay this. We need to pay this much. This is due today,” Coppell High School senior Dawt Sung said. Culture is one of the most integral pieces of my identity, but I never once looked into the peril of the journey taken by those surrounding me, because ultimately I knew their destination, and that was enough. It is a lesson learned: despite coming from a community stemming from restlessness and

displacement, I’ve found togetherness. CHRISTINE ‘19 can be reached at cnz6920@g.coppellisd.com.

WANT MORE? Visit Coppell Student Media for Penny Podcast #14 featuring Zacuai.

Photo by BREN FLECHTNER

C U L T U R A L LY C O N S C I O U S The Sidekick executive news editor and Coppell High School senior Christine Zacuai wears a traditional and formal Chin outfit, which is usually woven by a loom. Zacuai immigrated to Texas at two-years-old from Hakha, Myanmar.

VOLLEYBALL RALLIES VS. MACARTHUR

SEPTEMBER

HOMECOMING DANCE

EDITORIAL MAY

THE SIDEKICK

2018-2019

THE SIDEKICK VIEW

Staff EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

CHASE WOFFORD Staff Adviser KELLY WEI Editor-in-Chief CHRISTINE ZACUAI Executive News Editor NICHOLAS PRANSKE Executive Sports Editor EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP CLAIRE CLEMENTS Editorial Page Editor ANTHONY CESARIO Entertainment Editor SOFIA GUERRERO Co-Student Life Editor SALLY PARAMPOTTIL Co-Student Life Editor BREN FLECHTNER Photography Editor PRAMIKA KADARI Copy Editor BELLA MORA Graphics Editor NEWSROOM MANAGEMENT NISHANT MEDICHARLA Production Manager DISHA KOHLI Business Manager ANDRÉS BEAR CSM Web Producer WRITERS Akif Abidi Laasya Achanta Anika Arutla Shreya Beldona Neha Desaraju Ryan Dyke Christie Hernandez Karen Lu Shravya Mahesh Emma Meehan Arman Merchant

Nicolas Reyes Sydney Rowe Nolan Sanders Shivi Sharma Akansha Singh Umama Suriya Charlotte Vanyo Camila Villarreal Sarah Woo

PHOTOGRAPHERS Stephanie Alvarez Camila Flores Laura Amador-Toro Lilly Gorman Neveah Jones Gabby Nelson

Anthony Onalaja Rishitha Penmetsa Aubrey Phillips Mari Pletta Rishika Rakwal

DESIGNERS Kaylee Aguilar Carson Allen Gwynevere Bonacci Natalie Gilliam Ryan Kim

Bailey Lai Jacob Nelson Sujeong Oh Olivia Palmer Shriya Vanparia

THE SIDEKICK is the official student newspaper for Coppell High School. Its purpose is to inform, entertain and provide an educational resource for its readers. This newspaper is a public forum for student expression, with staff members (with assistance from their adviser) making content decisions. The editorials and columns in this paper reflect the view of their writers. The Sidekick is a member of Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA). The Sidekick welcomes all letters to the editor, but letters must be signed before consideration for publication. Send letters to cwofford@coppellisd. com or bring them by D115. Advertisements are sold as full, 1/2 page, 1/4 page and 1/8 page sizes in black and white or color. C O N TA C T U S

Letter in mail does not determine your future “Hey, did you get into the college you wanted?”

veryone gets asked this question from the moment the letters come in. Some may answer with a prideful smile, recounting the exact moment they realized they were accepted into such-and-such university. Others’ smiles may falter, as they remember staring at the rejection letter, hoping it would change. We all have reach schools we

dream of as we click the button to submit the application. Unfortunately, we do not always receive the same acceptance letter. For those who didn’t get into their dream school, it’s OK. The person you become when you earn your degree does not depend on where you spend your four years. The opportunities are endless when you have a positive mindset and focus on what you can do instead of where you go. This can be especially hard when it’s more than just your own expectations on your back; often, we have our families expectations to balance, as they hope we go to the college everyone in your family has gone to or a very prestigious university. We’re not saying it doesn’t matter if you got in your perfect Ivy League school. But going to that college doesn’t create a successful life for you. If you don’t do an ounce of work, and you get kicked out, neither you or anyone else will remember the fact you worked so hard that you were able to get into your perfect college. They’ll just remember you slacking off.

If you only got into the school you weren’t super excited about, it doesn’t mean you can’t obtain success. You applied to that college for a reason: it has a potential of being a perfect fit for you, whether it’s the academics, environment, cost or more. If you got in, then that college is what potentially works for you. You might end up thriving: Maybe you become class valedictorian, receive amazing internships, learn more than you thought you possibly could or even just make friends you will have for life. Did the school you were going to really determine that, or did you? The words on the letter you get aren’t what determines your future. It’s you. You have the option to make your future the most successful it can be, whatever that means to you. H AV E A N O P I N I O N ? We are always happy to consider tips and guest columns from all community members. Email cwofford@coppellisd.com with your suggestions, feedback, stories or letters to our editors.

(214) 496 6239 / cwofford@coppellisd.com 185 W. Parkway Blvd. Coppell, TX 75019

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MEDIA MAY

THE SIDEKICK

SENIOR QUOTES

Sidekick staffers find solace in D115

Photo by LILLY GORMAN S A Y I N G G O O D B Y E The Sidekick senior staffers celebrate their last banquet at Las Colinas Country Club on May 9. This year, Coppell Student Media was named Best Website by The Dallas Morning News on its 10th anniversary.

Christine Zacuai

Bailey Lai

Sofia Guerrero

“I honestly love the rush of doing quickpaced or breaking news kind of stories, which I know is a very ‘news-editor’ response. My first year on staff, I wrote them alot. It was a matter of convenience, but I ended up loving that and it ended up bolstering my position in a way, as I was used to chasing those fast-paced stories that had a deadline at the end of the day.”

“[My favorite memory was] anytime we interact as a whole class with [Chase Wofford, Sidekick advisor], those moments are very personal to me. I’m glad I became a teacher aide for third period. I’m always in this room because of how much time I have, and we do work but we also have fun, and I’ve had so many interesting conversations with [Mr.] Wofford.”

“What I love about my job is telling other people’s stories, I know I might say that a lot, but it definitely is true and I love writing about people and seeing the response to that and seeing their faces as I tell them I’m writing about them and that their story is published and I just love making other people feel like they have a story because everyone does.”

Executive News Editor

CHOIR FALL CONCERT

Staff Designer

Co-Student Life Editor

KALEIDOSCOPE FESTIVAL

OCTOBER

TWITTER @CHSCAMPUSNEWS

INSTAGRAM @THESIDEKICKCOPPELL

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MAY MEDIA

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

Family, values formed in broadcast studio Vinny Vincenzo

Avery Schultz

“[KCBY] is a really fun experience, even if film isn’t necessarily what you want to do in life, you’ll still learn so many valuable lessons. We treat KCBY like a business, so you get real world experience working with other companies, making money, we just do all of these sorts of things and the environment is a lot of fun. Everyone here has known each other for three years, we’ve all been in class with each other so it’s kind of just a big old family.”

“You build a family here, everyone that I’m met in KCBY, either past friends or new friends, I have built those relationships and that has truly been one of the best things here. Not only are you joining an awesome program, but you’re joining a family.”

Program Director

Special Features Director

Photo courtesy SHANIA KHAN S I G N I N G O F F KCBY senior staffers gather outside of Coppell High School on Oct. 14. This year, KCBY was named Best Student Newscast in the nation by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Yearbook captures spectrum of experiences Manasi Kunte

Round-Up Editor-in-Chief “[Yearbook] is an environment where you can explore multiple different things like photography, writing and design at the same time which is helpful because after working on everything, you can better identify what you’re interested in.”

Melissa Lucena Staff Member

Photo courtesy SALLYANNE HARRIS E N D I N G C H A P T E R Yearbook senior staffers round up outside of Coppell High School. This year, Round-Up was named a Crown Finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

26 OCTOBER

“ALL SHOOK UP” FALL MUSICAL

02 NOVEMBER

“Writing the stories was my favorite even though I joined yearbook for photography. Interviewing people and getting to know about them even if I have never seen them before.”

SENIOR PEP RALLY

ACADEMICS MAY

Path to

Success C

oppell High School offers a multitude of classes geared towards career clusters. From health science to education, students can find the paths they wish to take after graduating from college. These paths, both academic and nonacademic, can be pursued through multiple colleges throughout the nation.

Photos by D I S H A K O H L I

Shivani Goyal

THE SIDEKICK

Saket Ashar

Gavin Spicer

UT Austin - neuroscience

ASU, North Lake, Marine Corps

What interests you the most about Neuroscience? The most interesting thing to me about Neuroscience is the fact that the brain is honestly the final frontier of our body. So, for us, we’ve always said that space is the final frontier of mankind. The thing is, if you think of our bodies, we have learned so much about every organ system and how we function as a total unit, right? But the brain is something that is yet to be fully discovered. There’s so much going on in there, so much as to how your brain controls the nerve impulses, controls hormones and regulates them - all of these different aspects of your body’s functions. We still don’t know fully understand why, how and what’s going on in it.

Spicer has liked history from a young age. He became interested in the U.S. Marine Corps after his father told him about when he was in the Marine Corps. Spicer will attend Angelo State University after a semester at North Lake College and afterward will go into the Marine Corps.

Manisha Reddy

Katherine Roy

How will college prepare you to enlist? I’m going to go to college, and while I’m in college, I’m going to decide if I want to go in as an officer, or just enlist. If you get a bachelor’s degree, you can go in as a [noncommissioned officer.] College will also help me get to where I want to go, which is into either the [Force Reconnaissance] or the [Marine Corps Special Operations Command].

University of Illinois - computer science

Texas A&M - political science

Texas Women’s University - nursing

What are you career plans after college? I want to get my MBA and after two years of working, I want to start my own business in AI. I am really interested in artificial intelligence, I think artificial intelligence will take over the world just as computer science did ten years ago.

What career do you plan to pursue? After I graduate, I want to become a lawyer and hopefully work with one of the many programs available. My family has been very interested in politics but was never involved. However, my uncle has been very interested in the field, and his knowledge has really rubbed off on me.

What past classes or experiences have you encountered regarding your major? In high school, I took a health science class. Outside of school, I have shadowed as a nurse in multiple hospitals to get experience and a clearer idea of what I was getting myself into. I’ve really enjoyed my past experiences in the medical field which has encouraged me to learn more about my future every day.

How did Computer Science affect your college application? I had to talk a lot more about things that are related to computer science. I started developing this app for people that have allergies. It is like a weather prediction app but for allergies, so I wrote a lot about that. I think [the app] is what helped me get into my college.

What goals do you have for A&M? I hope to receive an internship in the first full year of college in a large city, where I can get some experience to further my knowledge. It is definitely a big deal, especially so I can learn about the job people in this field do every day and see if works with what I want to do.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY WINS STATE

Why have you chosen this career path? I’ve always loved helping people, and my mom’s also a nurse. I’ve kind of grown up watching her do her work as well as shadowed multiple nurses. I really like the work environment and getting the opportunity to help people as well.

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COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

Grace Hao

University of Pennsylvania - finance In addition to finance, Hao will continue fencing in college, as she has been part of the Fencing Institute of Texas in Carrollton for eight years.

Carter Kryzak

Reece Gardner

Texas A&M - mathematics

Abilene Christian - Biblical studies

What is your favorite type of math? I like linear algebra a lot. Working with matrices is fun stuff, and it has a lot of applications, so that’s probably my favorite.

What are your goals? Do whatever he puts in front of me, as in God. I want to pastor a church, but it’s really just “lead as many people to Jesus as I can,” whether it’s pastoring a small church, whether it’s creating a missions program, whether it turns out to be something huge.

When did you choose to major in finance? When I was looking through the different concentrations they had at Penn for the business school ... there was this video that was talking about the finance program, and they had so many resources, and I’d heard so many good things about the professors.

What do say to people who do not like math? People generally are bored by things they see as having a lack of creativity ... but as you explore more different problems and unconventional solutions, math can get more creative and interesting.

Do you have experience with finance? I actually haven’t done anything, but that’s what makes me so excited for it, because it’s something new and I like to learn new things and acquire new skills.

Which courses are you most looking forward to? I look forward to taking analysis courses ... I really think a course designed around that would teach me a lot.

How have you prepared for this career path? It’s really simple, but just staying in the Bible. At the end of the day, it’s Jesus who does all the work through us. All you have to do is have an open heart and be able to steward what he wants to do. It doesn’t really matter what I do, it’s what he does, so it’s just giving him room in my life for him to work.

Isha Thakkar

Jasmine Smith

Joanne Chen

UTD - healthcare studies

UNT - history and education

UT Austin - chemical engineering

When did you realize you wanted to pursue healthcare studies? This year, I am in an emergency medical technician (EMT) class. We started using tools [such as splint boards and bandages] and would use those in our [physical therapy]. I really enjoyed doing that.

Why are you majoring in education? With teaching, you’re able to make an impact on people and help them find something they’re passionate about through your passion. I really love history; I really love showing people about it, telling people about it. As I’ve gone through school, I’ve met so many teachers and they’ve made such a profound impact on me. They’ve helped me through a lot, and I want to be that person for other kids.

What are your plans after college/other higher education? I originally wanted to be an orthodontist, which isn’t really related to chemical engineering, but I figured with that chemistry background, getting into medical school could be a viable choice. So, I figured that if I didn’t want to pursue being an orthodontist, I could go into something more engineering-minded. As of now, I still want to be an orthodontist.

What are your plans after college or other higher education? In order to teach, you have to pay for the certification exam, so I would take the certification for social studies and history.

When did you realize you want to pursue chemical engineering? I really like math, so I didn’t want to do just a science-focused major, but instead have a little bit [of] engineering aspects in it as well.

What past experiences have prepared you for healthcare studies? [Along with my health science endorsement and HOSA officer position], I’ve completed volunteer work with my clinical rotations at the Coppell fire department. I get to work with paramedics and firefighters. In my sophomore year, I was a volunteer at the Children’s Medical Hospital, and I worked in the [emergency room].

NOVEMBER

KOREAN FESTIVAL

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ARTS CENTER GROUNDBREAKING

CENTERSPREAD MAY

THE SIDEKICK

Q: So, what’s your secret to success? What exactly does it take to graduate at the top of your class?

Pratik Koppikar

Jerry Gao

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

MAJORING IN Pre-Med

MAJORING IN

“One big thing is having a balance. Put aside some time obviously to do your work, but also taking that time to relax and unwind. And I think that’s key because burning out is a big thing, so keep that balance.”

MAJORING IN Biology

“The way I see my secret to success is trying to value the things that you learn, even though some stuff might end up being really, really boring. Another really important thing is trying to focus on what’s important to you, whether that’s going to be your schoolwork or athletics, or whatever you’re interests are. Do whatever you think is most interesting and you think you can excel at. Don’t let other people try and hold you back, whether it’s just through drama or anything like that.”

Kevin Patel

Mrityunjay Mishra

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

James Cook

MAJORING IN Computer

MAJORING IN Theological

Science

“My secret to success would be the support of my parents and my friends at all steps, encouragement whenever and however it occurred. Whenever I was down it helped me back up and I took all of that positivity and I kept going. I never looked back. I learned from my mistakes. I never got bogged down. I focused on my studies and what I had to do, which is why I’m here today.”

10 9

WHEATON COLLEGE

Studies, Math

“I would say the secret to my success would be working hard at school and to also not spend too much time stressing about it. I do a lot of other activities such as church that take my mind off of it and help me to relax that way. When I focus on schoolwork, it can be effective.”

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Actuary Sciences

We asked the top 10 students of the Class of 2019 for their thoughts.

TWITTER @CHSCAMPUSNEWS

Tanmay Karandikar

“I never really had a secret to success, rather I chose to work hard and really focus on my craft throughout high school. Staying grounded in the present is the most important thing. Being meticulous and not always thinking about the future is what keeps you grounded in your work and leads you to academic success.”

PHOTOS Laura Amador-Toro Photographer Bailey Lai Designer

Bhaash Pathak

MAJORING IN Finance

CENTERSPREAD BY Kelly Wei Editor-in-Chief Christine Zacuai Executive News Editor Nishant Medicharla Export & Production Manager Pramika Kadari Copy Editor

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Kyle Kass

U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY WEST POINT

MAJORING IN Mechanical

Engineering, Defense Strategic Studies

“My secret to success has just been to remain relaxed and to not hype it up like a lot of people do. Everybody gets super worried about tests and they will spend hours the night before and will stay up super late, cramming to try to memorize everything. That stresses you out and causes you to end up forgetting stuff the day of the test, so just study a couple days before and then relax and go with the flow. As long as you have studied and done your work then there is no point in getting stressed out.”

“Waking up and a little bit of luck; a lot of people stay up all night and they try to grind out assignments at the last minute. I am also a very disorganized person, but I make use of that by knowing my weakness, not being able to stay up at night. I make use of that by waking up in the morning and doing my work then because I am more focused and that is something I recommend to everyone. Also I don’t believe everyone gets to success without luck, it doesn’t come by itself, the more work you put in the more lucky you will be.”

MAJORING IN Biomedical

Engineering

“Just have fun and just enjoy the people around you, because there are so many things we take for granted such as the people around us and the teachers. All things come together because there are always people who are there to help you and pick you up. There are so many nights and countless hours when I am texting friends, hanging out or going to dinner with my buddies. All those things really helped me get through high school and being able to build relationships with those people helped me build my success.”

8 Kevin Li

Ryan Brown

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

MAJORING IN Computer

Science

“You should always focus on the goals you have for the future. By focusing on these goals, you are more motivated and interested in them, so you’ll do whatever you need to work towards them. Always keep these goals in mind for anything you want in life and keep your priorities straight. Making sure you are always following these steps to success, so if you don’t procrastinate and you get your priorities straight, you won’t be stressed out over school and you will be able to do your work more efficiently and effectively. Find something you are interested in and pursue that because you will be more motivated, and it is just better for both society and yourself.”

One big thing is having a balance. BHAASH PATHAK VALEDICTORIAN

MAJORING IN Business

“My secret to success is just working hard, never procrastinate, do everything you can for the class and work as hard as you can to achieve the goals you have.”

10 Mahita Maddukuri BAYLOR UNIVERSITY MAJORING IN Bachelor

of Science MD

“You have to know how to study. People always say you need to pace yourself or study weeks in advance, but for me, that actually doesn’t help. For a lot of tests, the last two days is when I study the most, and I always end up doing better when I do that. Same thing for projects, doing it at the last minute or towards the later stages works, because that is when your brain is the most alert and when you are the most productive. Generally prioritize tests and major grades. I would say just always be prepared for tests and projects and know how to prioritize, and then take care of your mental health and get sleep.”

FINE ARTS MAY

THE SIDEKICK

Tapler breaks to nationals with 10-minute marvel S A L LY P A R A M P O T T I L CO-STUDENT LIFE EDITOR @sparampottil

nly minutes after Coppell High School senior Austin Tapler was awarded third place at the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) district qualifying tournament for Dramatic Interpretation, it was announced the first place entry was dropping out. The NSDA tournament allows for the top two ranked competitors to advance to the national competition, held June 16-21 in Dallas. However, Tapler had thought only the top competitor would advance to nationals and did not think his new second place rank would qualify to compete. “I was confused,” Tapler said. “I took [the plaque], and I thought I was an alternate. I asked, ‘What does this mean?’ The woman who gave me the plaque said, ‘You’re going to nationals, buddy,’ and I was like, ‘Sweet’.” Dramatic Interpretation is a section of Oral Interpretation, in which interpers memorize a 10-minute dramatic monologue to perform and compete with at competitions

and tournaments. His competition piece, a monologue titled “Ecstasy” by DonnaMarie Vaughan, follows a high school junior who falls into drug addiction. “The writing in it isn’t the best, but it’s relevant, and it hits home,” Tapler said. “I’ve had friends, I think a lot of people in high school have had friends, who use drugs. I personally had a friend who’s gone really close to getting into bad stuff. He’d done some bad drugs, had to go to rehab. It just really connected to me, so I wanted to represent that.” Years of theater experience helped prepare Tapler for this monologue. This year, Tapler was in the school musical, “All Shook Up”, and the winter show, “The Diary of Anne Frank”. While the former, in which Tapler played Sheriff Earl, offered an opportunity to work on physicality, which is all of the physical aspects of acting, the latter, featuring Tapler as Hermann van Daan, offered an opportunity to work on a more serious internal character. CHS senior Barrett Engler has worked with Tapler for six years in theater and also competes alongside him

in Dramatic Interp, having placed sixth at the TFA State Tournament and fifth at the NSDA district qualifying tournament this year. “[Tapler] does really well with his piece,” Engler said. “It’s very different, it definitely isn’t something a lot of people have at the competitions we go to. He’s really good at getting into the tragedy of his piece and whatnot. He just does a really good job with it, fitting the character and the person he is supposed to be.” In the future, Tapler is open to continuing Dramatic Interp in college, where he plans to study law. Theater-wise, he is not interested in major productions but is also open to community theater. As for now, to prepare for nationals, Tapler intends on practicing, revising and practicing again. After extended analyses of the script, as well as an application of acquired theatrical skill, Tapler can dive into the depths of his character and put on a performance worthy of national merit. S A L LY ‘21 can be reached at scp7918@g.coppellisd.com.

Photos by M A R I P L E T T A

S E N S AT I O N A L S H O W Coppell High School senior Austin Tapler performs a monologue in the black box on March 22. Tapler is going to nationals for dramatic interpretation in Dallas later this June and is the only CHS dramatic interper to advance to nationals after he and senior Barrett Engler competed in the district tournament earlier in March.

Teruya’s growth in art paints picture of identity S H R AV YA M A H E S H STAFF WRITER @shravyamahesh

From the moment she first saw her architect parents sketching at the table, Coppell High School senior Karina Teruya knew she wanted to create art forever. The journey that began as a child continues today, a vivid portrait of the girl she imagined herself to be in the distant future. Yet Teruya has grown into a storyteller with varying interests she incorporates into her artwork. As early as elementary, Karina put special time and effort into art homework. Years later, her focus in art allows her to succeed in AP 2D Art. “When she’s in here and we’re working in class, she is just very much about getting things done,” CHS AP 2D Art teacher Cameron Tiede said. Teruya’s dedication came to fruition last year, when her art was selected among other AP students who entered to be displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art as part of the Young Masters competition. It provided an opportunity for her work to get recognition and gave Teruya inspiration from fellow aspiring art students. “Being a high schooler and presenting your artwork in such a famous museum was really exciting for me,” Teruya said. “Seeing everybody else’s artwork and seeing how they thought of these concepts is really awe-inspiring.” Rather than remaining with what she is confident in, she experiments with various mediums and styles, allowing her to expand her skill set and mature as an artist. “The first stretch of my growth in art was trying to understand how to accurately portray the world around me,” Teruya said. “As I’ve gotten better with that, I’ve come to learn that’s not the artwork I want to make. I’ve started to experiment more with styles of being more expressive

MADRIGALS FEAST

with the artwork I create.” While art is unquestionably important to her, Teruya has grown to find interests in a wide variety of subjects. These influence her art immensely. In this way, her art is a testament to the multiple aspects of her personality. “When she was growing up, she only wanted to be an artist,” Mr. Teruya said. “Now she’s discovered different things, and that maybe she can incorporate other things into her artwork or vice versa.” Recently, Teruya was accepted into the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), one of the most prestigious places to study art in the nation. She is currently deciding between RISD and other schools, wishing not to leave behind her other studies and interests to pursue art. “I feel like RISD has always been a dream of mine ever since I first found out about the college,” Teruya said. “Just the fact that I was considered by such a prestigious university was really touching.” No matter the decision she takes, her family puts utmost support behind her for any endeavor she takes on. “Whatever she chooses for her career path, we know and she knows that we’ll always be with her no matter what she does,” Mr. Teruya said. “ It’s going to be an interesting path for her.” S H R A V Y A ‘20 can be reached at smm8670@g.coppellisd.com.

Photo by S T E P H A N I E A L V A R E Z

P E R S O N A L V O I C E Coppell High School senior Karina Teruya holds up her artwork titled “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”. Teruya’s artwork has developed throughout elementary and high school, opening various paths for her future.

COMEBACK WIN OVER LAKE HIGHLANDS

DECEMBER

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MAY FINE ARTS

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

Barnes makes musical aspirations into reality U M A M A S U R I YA STAFF WRITER @umisuriya

With music as his passion, Coppell High School senior Evan Barnes had an ear for making music since he first learned how to read. Barnes cares a lot about his music. His guitar, his voice and his passion for music go way beyond just being in A Capella and Madrigals choir. “I put in probably more effort into my music than I do with anything; that’s really all I care about, to be honest,” Barnes said. “I’ll pull all-nighters to work on music, or I’ll be working on lyrics in class. I used to practice guitar for four hours a day, and I still try and get some practice time every day, so it takes up a lot of my time.” Though he has been in choir, Barnes also makes music on SoundCloud (officialrecoil) with some of his friends, including CHS senior Jacob Barnes, who is also in choir with him. They connected when they first met, partly because they had the same last name but are not related.

“The music industry is all about getting rejected and discouraged so you just gotta bring yourself back up.” E VA N B A R N E S SENIOR

Photo by C A M I L A F L O R E S R E A D Y T O S I N G Coppell High School senior Evan Barnes prepares to compete at UIL with his choir. Barnes is a tenor in the CHS Madrigals and A Capella choir.

“I’ve known Evan since my freshman year, but I consider him family,” Jacob said. “We’ve made quite a few projects together, probably hundreds of hours of work if we counted all of it up.” The hours of work Evan puts in his music is shown whenever he releases a new song. Nonetheless, Evan says the songs he makes are for fun, usually with funny lyrics. “The beat usually takes up a week or two to write, depending on how complicated it is or how satisfied I am with it,” Evan said. “Then recording the vocals is about two hours, and then mixing and editing takes about three hours or so.” Evan’s ear for music was noticed by his parents at a very young age, which led to music lessons to develop his natural talent. “I heard he had an ear for music very early on,” Evan’s mother, Becky Barnes, said. “So it’s been kind of neat to see it come into fruition after seeing it as a toddler and now as a graduating senior that he’s going to go into a career in music.” Evan is planning to go to Texas State University with the major of Sound Recording Technology. “In the future, I plan to be working as the engineer at a studio, hopefully working for a record company,” Evan said. “I want to be producing and performing as well; it would be great to be the frontman of a band.” U M A M A ‘20 can be reached at uis2386@g.coppellisd.com.

Dharmapuram discovers purpose in song, dance AKANSHA SINGH STAFF WRITER @akanshas120

At age 14, Coppell High School senior Neha Dharmapuram traveled the country, singing in front of vast audiences and earning not only the semifinalist position in India’s televised Padutha Theeyaga contest, but a greater exposure to the world of entertainment. Today, Dharmapuram continues her endeavors in the fine arts, aspiring to become an actress in the booming Indian film industry, Bollywood — or Tollywood for the Telugu film industry. Dharmapuram has been a singer since she was 3. 2013 was a turning point for Dharmapuram. Her mother convinced her to audition for Padutha Theeyaga, a televised singing competition in Telugu which broadcasts in India. Her selection as a participant would change her outlook on the arts. The summer the show was filmed, Dharmapuram would perform a song for six episodes of the show every weekend. She would spend weeks rehearsing in order to perform and travel on the weekends. In total, she learned 22 songs and sang 16 of them. “I went in loving music, but surprisingly, for a year or two after I finished [competing], I felt it ruined singing for me. The whole competitive scene changed my perspective on singing itself,” Dharmapuram said. “However, I learned a lot about working under pressure and being independent. The whole experience was very stressful, but it was something I wouldn’t return for anything.” Dharmapuram’s father, Mahesh Dharmapuram, also has a positive recollection of the event. “I never expected this,” Mr. Dharmapuram said. “When the show was telecasted in India, many people who we lost touch with got in contact again to tell us how good Neha was singing - that made me really, really proud of her. I became ‘Neha’s dad’ instead of her being my daughter.” Neha feels singing and her participation in Padutha Theeyaga paved the way for future art endeavors by providing her a platform and exposure to performance. After Padutha Theeyaga, Neha decided to focus her energy in a closely related realm of the fine arts: dance

07 JANUARY

and acting. “In one year, we could see drastic changes in the way she danced,” Mr. Dharmapuram said. “We started seeing she was putting her soul into dance and becoming more graceful.” Neha plans to travel to India every summer while pursuing a BachNEHA DHARMAPURAM elor of Science in Marketing degree SENIOR in America to position herself closer to Bollywood or Tollywood. Being in India, as she puts it, is a matter of being in the right place at the right time, a philosophy central to the film industry. “I feel the roles [Indian people] get in Hollywood are to fulfill a certain stereotype - the smart kid with no social life,” Neha said. “If I went to India, to Bollywood or Tollywood, I would get strong female characters.” Indian cinema is often ripe with ostentatious musical numbers, offering Neha a marriage of two perfect worlds for her passions. “Singing introduced me to the media world - the recognition I got from that has driven me to want to do more in that field. I want to be known,” Neha said. Ultimately, it is Neha’s intrinsic love for the fine arts that stimulates her desire to pursue an acting career, as opposed to a field such as medicine. “Passion is my driving force,” Photo by B R E N F L E C H T N E R Neha said. “I could do medicine for 16 years - I have the capacity to do it - but if my passion doesn’t lie there, A D E P T A R T I S T Coppell High School senior Neha Dharmapuram if that’s not what I love, why do it?” sang “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” by Monali Thakur at the Shots by Bhavya

“Passion is my driving force”

A K A N S H A ‘20 can be reached at axs8044@g.coppellisd.com.

FIRST DAY OF SECOND SEMESTER

1st Annual Fashion show on Feb. 9. Dharmapuram has traveled the country and earned the semifinalist position in India’s televised Padutha Theeyaga singing competition.

09 FEBRUARY

SHOTS BY BHAVYA FASHION SHOW

SPORTS MAY

THE SIDEKICK

A year to remember “I was excited, I was nervous. Sachse is a good team, but I had a lot of faith in my teammates and we ended up pulling out the win.” -Ryan Hirt

NICHOLAS PRANSKE EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR @Nick_Pranske8

winning touchdown, a buzzer-beater three, a monstrous spike — there are plenty of picture-perfect moments in sports. Throughout the year, Coppell High School has seen its fair share of those instances. In the 2018-2019 school year alone, CHS saw senior volleyball player Pierce Woodall’s best statistical game so far, senior Caden Davis’s game-winning field goal against Sachse, a girls cross country state championship, four boys basketball comeback-wins, four all-district girls basketball players, a penalty-kick win for boys soccer, an overtime win for girls soccer, a track and field district championship and a dozen other picturesque moments. As each player lives through these moments, emotions rush through their heads. Adrenaline pumping through their veins, they often rush to their team in excitement — moments the audience rarely gets to experience. Whether it be a heart-wrenching loss or a last-second victory, players are able to express how they were feeling in those momentous occasions and put it into words. NICHOLAS ‘20 can be reached at nep4594@g.coppellisd.com

C L U T C H K I C K Coppell senior running back Ryan Hirt celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter on Aug. 31 at Buddy Echols Field. The Cowboys defeated Sachse Mustangs, 30–28, on a 57-yard field goal by senior kicker Caden Davis as time expired.

Photo by BREN FLECHTNER

“It was a lot of emotions. It was an overall really good game and there was a lot of passion in it.” - Pierce Woodall Photo by BREN FLECHTNER B E A T I N G T H E B E S T Coppell senior Pierce Woodall screams with excitement after spiking the ball during the match against Hebron on Sept. 11. The Cowgirls beat the beat the Hawks, 3-1, in at Coppell High Schoo arena. Hebron was the 2017-18 6A state champions, so the Cowgirls saw it as a big success to beat the Hawks the following season.

SWIMMING STATE MEET

BASKETBALL BEATS KELLER

FEBRUARY

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MAY SPORTS

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

“I was going crazy. I was sprinting around. I wasn’t really think what I was doing, I was just celebrating with my team.”

-Austin Simigian Photo by BREN FLECHTNER P E N A L T Y E C S T A S Y The Coppell boys soccer team celebrates after senior goalie Austin Simigian blocks Denton Guyer’s penalty kick to steal the victory for the Cowboys at Falcon Stadium in Lake Dallas. After a scoreless regulation and two overtime periods, Coppell won, 0-0 (4-3), in the Class 6A Region I bi-district match.

“I just wanted to come in and make my mark. Let them know that they weren’t going to push us around, and that’s what we did.”

-Tariq Aman

Photo by STEPHANIE ALVAREZ SWIMMING SHOWDOWN Coppell senior captain Matthew Rodman races against CHS sophomore Ivan Lau in the 500-yard freestyle at the Vaquero Battle intrasquad meet on Nov. 9 at the Coppell YMCA. The one-on-one duel was the only long-distance event that night and while Rodman lost to Lau, he swam personal best time of 5:23.

“I was feeling good and I was trying to beat [Lau]. I had a good race, I was happy with it. He beat me by two seconds, but I still had a good race because I had a personal best time.” - Matthew Rodman

25 MARCH

PEHL NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Photo by AUBREY PHILLIPS D I S T R I C T R I V A L S Coppell senior Tariq Aman drives in for a layup against Lewisville on Jan. 23 in the CHS arena. The Cowboys lost to the Farmers, 71-57, in their District 6-6A matchup. The rivalry between the two began in a previous game, in which Coppell won on a buzzer-beater.

28 MARCH

BOYS SOCCER PK WIN

2019 A CLASS TO REMEMBER

From your Friday Night Lights at Buddy Echols Field to your unforgettable campus experiences, you will be missed. From hallway to hallway, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen us grow and reach the final chapter of our high school career. We say goodbye and turn our pages to continue onto the next, continuing to write our own lessons, our own history, our own book. As freshmen, we yearned for the day we could finally throw our caps in the air, yet we now feel the weight of the moment drawing nearer and nearer until graduation day. From the class of 2019, we give our gratitude and our sweetest goodbyes. Thank you, Coppell High School.

MAY STUDENT LIFE

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

On Job

TEACHER OF THE ISSUE

the

STUDENT PROFILES

ruedi STORY SOFIA GUERRERO

PHOTO LAURA AMADOR-TORO

D AY C A R E W O R K E R I love my job because you learn new things. You learn how to be a parent while you’re a teenager, even though you don’t have a kid. It teaches you leadership, it teaches you responsibility, and it teaches you all these new things you don’t know, and new tricks and techniques you wouldn’t find at another job. Steven Luenser JUNIOR

Q: What do you do as an administrative assistant? The work I do here is work with the lead counselor and a few other counselors, and I support them in their role. I work with college transcripts, I work with the students needing them. I work with some of the data, uploading the data and getting that into Naviance. I work for the associate principal, Melissa Arnold, in discipline and attendance. I also do the same for Joseph Smith, the assistant principal. Q: What interests you about your role? I like to do projects. I enjoy learning new processes. I enjoy supporting the counselors and people I work for because it makes them more efficient. I enjoy the different learning abilities and learning lots of different things about the jobs. I enjoy working with the students who come here and are in need every day to come back into school with attendance, or need a transcript, or need to get to college, or need something specific. In that role, we’re always giving something to them and giving them the next step. I just enjoy supporting them and knowing they’re getting what they need. Q: How do you balance work with being a mother? I balance it by preparing and getting myself ready the day before I come to work. When I get home, I prepare for the next day. I prepare food for the next day, I do my grocery shopping after work or on the weekends and always meal prep. I try to get some of my at-home chores done. I always found administratively, it’s very helpful to have a list of things I actually do every single day. I might clean up a closet or bathroom or do laundry and all that so when I get home, I’m not overwhelmed, or my whole weekend is not spent doing that. What do you think the future holds for Joe? The future for Joe is going to be amazing. Joe is so ready for [Harding University], even though I’m sad to see him go. It’s going to be the next chapter that’s really going to help him come alive even more. He’s going to do some amazing things with his innate skills; he’s got a good common sense to him where he sees things, he’s very intuitive. That’s going to lend itself for him in being creative and marketing and his music. Joe works out every single day and trains himself so he can be the strongest and the best he can for what he’s doing. That’s why Joe can handle the running the way he does, because he trains himself, but he likes it, and he’s challenged by it.

MODEL The funny thing is I have always been an introvert. Modeling allowed me to crack open my shell and become more social. I gained more friends and learned how to be natural with talking to the photographer and being on camera. Hailey WIlkins SOPHOMORE

LIFEGUARD [Lifeguarding is] a great way to stay outside, which is something I really like to do. Being out in the community and interacting with all the kids and even my classmates is really fun. I used to go to The CORE in the summer when I was younger, so it’s really cool being on the other side of these interactions. Hannah Sigler JUNIOR

JC’S LEAD With JC’s being in Coppell, people I know are always coming in - kids from school, parents. I also really like talking with customers. That’s one of the parts I really enjoy because when customers are nice back to me, it makes me feel like I can put smiles on people’s faces. London Hurt SOPHOMORE

ENTERTAINMENT MAY

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“When I wear something stylish, I look forward to my day.” P. 21

Entertainment

SENIOR Bucket List Exploring food, culture, arts in North Texas TRINITY GROVES

PEROT MUSEUM

MAPLE & MOTOR ILA FLORES Ph ot o by C A M

Ph o to b y B R EN FLECH TNE

Trinity Groves [in to g in go t es gg “I su k and ng around the wal Dallas] and walki CHS nice restaurants,” eating at all of the ngeti said. senior Mahitha Ja Photo by L I L LY G O R M A N

KOREATOWN

EY LAI Ph ot o by B A I L

“You need to go to Maple & Motor Burger in Dallas,” CHS senior Barrett Engler said. “They have the best American food of all time. Burgers, fries, brisket sandwiches - they [have] the best food. I personally know the owner of Maple & Motor [Jack Perkins]. He’s a good friend of my dad’s and a good friend of me. After I had my first brain surgery when I was [8], he brought me two burgers and a bunch of fries and a vanilla milkshake. That always stuck with me. It’s great food, and he’s a great guy and runs his restaurant really well.”

d a nds, we compile ie fr y m d an e “M aces s and different pl list of restaurant tend to, which will ex we’re going to go ng,” lo because it’s so into the summer ring Uppal said. “Explo CHS senior Anu and age [Dessert Cafe] ill V y ow Sn s, la al D rally arrollton] is gene Koreatown [in C really good.”

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“Go to Downto wn Dallas and take pictures at Deep Ellu m,” CHS sen ior Veena Praveen said. “You should al so enjoy the day eating som e good food th ere. They have a bunch of options.”

PROM AT AT&T STADIUM

APRIL

“Everyone sh ould visit th e Perot Museum, becau se it is a very in teractive science museu m, and you ca n learn a lot from it and do a lot of cool things not offered in other states or cities, [which] makes it unique to Dallas,” CHS senior N ithya Thiru sa id.

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MAY ENTERTAINMENT

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

JC’s Burger Bar fry-nally opens

RECIPE OF THE ISSUE: KEY LIME DESSERT CUPS ANTHONY CESARIO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR @anthonycesario_

INGREDIENTS (servings: 8) 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 14 oz. can condensed milk, sweetened ⅔ cup key lime juice 8 graham cracker tart shells, individual Graham cracker crumbs (optional), for garnish Whipped cream (optional), for garnish 2 key limes – 1 zested, 1 sliced for garnish

DIRECTIONS

CHRISTIE HERNANDEZ STAFF WRITER @christie2344

Beat softened cream cheese and milk together with a mixer until the consistency is smooth. 2. Add the lime juice and zest; then combine until the mixture is uniform. 3. Pour into small baked tart shells or small serving glasses. Refrigerate until set (about 1 hour or less). 4. Pipe or spoon a teaspoon of whipped cream on top. Garnish with a quarter of a key lime slice.

Graphic by S U J E O N G O H

COPPELL THROUGH FASHION CLAIRE CLEMENTS EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR @cclements825

Photos by LAURA AMADORTORO

The hallways of Coppell High School during a passing period, filled with colors ranging from the muted comfort colors of a supporter shirt to bright neons, quickly catch the eye. CHS is a school with no uniform, allowing for its students to express their personalities through the clothes on their back. While some just go for comfort, others see their clothing as an art form.

S E N I O R FA R I H A I S L A M

“

I like cute things, but recently I’ve been starting to like more cool, street-style stuff so I’m trying to mix it together. First thing I do is that I find the colors I want to get, and it’s usually something light, so I have to balance it with something darker, so like ‘light clothes, dark jacket’. I’ll find clothes I don’t wear that often and use that as my centerpiece and build my outfit around that. When I wear something stylish I look forward to my day. I feel like my personality is there as I walk by, and some random person might think, ‘Wow, [she] must be a nice person!’

12 APRIL

”

“

R TNE H EC FL

Photo by

BR EN

Key lime dessert cups provide a refreshing conclusion to a summer cookout. The graham cracker crust is the perfect consistency and tastes delicious with the smooth cream cheese filling. This recipe will definitely make you pucker.

• • • • • • •

J U N I O R PAT R I C K PA R K E R

[My style is] a lot of black. Everything I buy is second hand, whether it be from thrift stores or from online clothing retailers that repurpose materials. [I draw inspiration from] different musicians. I’m an aspiring musician myself, and so I take inspiration not only with my style and music but also in my personality from a lot of different musicians such as Brendon Urie, who is the lead singer of a band called Panic! at the Disco. You can see in my appearance I am kind of subdued and serious, but at the same time, I have sparkles on my collar, so I am slightly flamboyant and fantastical.

”

TO READ THE FULL STORY, VISIT COPPELLSTUDENTMEDIA.COM

CISD NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK

12 APRIL

As I parked my car and walked towards the entrance, I approached green and white welcome balloons reading “JC’s Burger Bar”. The outside patio was nicely shaded and seemed like a warm and comfy place to enjoy a meal. The restaurant opened in Coppell on April 2. With of a wide variety of family-friendly menu options, JC’s Burger Bar welcomes customers from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. As I headed inside, I was greeted with two simultaneous, “Welcome to JC’s” from the cashiers, making the atmosphere warm and welcoming. While waiting to order I observed the scenery around me, noticing the bright colors that lit the restaurant up like a Christmas tree. It is much bigger than I expected and every space was pretty busy, but in a good way. “It has a really positive and kid-friendly vibe,” Coppell High School junior Reuben Mammen said. Glancing at the extensive menu to my left, I was overwhelmed by its variety of options, ranging from burgers to chicken tenders to salads. I decided to explore outside of my comfort zone and ordered “The Nooner”, which consists of one fried egg, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and cilantro aioli sauce. As I took a bite, a world of fresh richness filled my tastebuds. The burger was exactly how I hoped it would be: juicy, filling and grilled to perfection. “The food was amazing and definitely exceeded my expectations,” CHS junior Trinity Page said. “They had so many more choices than I thought, which was really surprising.” The burger did not come with any sides, so my mom and I shared a large order of fries. The portion was not as large as we expected, and was a bit pricey. My mom went with the classic “Mushroom Swiss” burger and was quite pleased with the taste. I gave her burger a quick try, and it was much better than most Swiss burgers. Not only is the food amazing, but the customer service is excellent. Every five to 10 minutes a manager or worker would ask how we were doing and if we were enjoying our meals. That high level of service showed how much of an impact the workers at JC’s wanted to have on their customers, making me more excited to return in the future. “I’m most looking forward to serving community,” JC’s Owner Operator Wyatt Hurt said. “We have put something good together that serves all generations – something for the parents and something for the kids.” Next time you find yourself in search for a new and exciting restaurant, head to the Coppell location of JC’s Burger Bar to enjoy some delicious food, complimentary ice cream and a fulfilling experience like no other. C H R I S T I E ‘20 can be reached at cmh6705@g.coppellisd.com.

TRACK DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

SPORTS MAY

THE SIDEKICK

Sports

“I knew they weren’t going to take us down easily. We were going to fight back.” P. 17

HOME TEAM

Polk brothers catch opportunity on diamond SOFIA GUERRERO CO-STUDENT LIFE EDITOR @sofia_i_g

laying catch with their dad, Chad Polk, as children turned into a lifelong love for brothers CHS9 freshman Walker Polk and Coppell High School junior Hudson Polk. Both made the varsity baseball team as freshmen and feel they have become closer because of it. This news meant the boys’ work is paying off, and their family could not be prouder. “I was very excited and thrilled for them,” mother Jennifer Polk said. “Mainly excitement that the coaches gave them the opportunity as freshmen, because I knew they had the talent. I just wasn’t sure if the coaches would allow a freshman to be on varsity, so when I found out they were giving them a chance, I was really excited and happy they had the opportunity.” Being on varsity gives the brothers a chance to play on the same team, something they feel is a contrast from playing together for fun. “It’s awesome,” Walker said. “I’ve been around [Hudson] since I was born. I’ve played with him a couple times, but it’s just different having your brother on your team.” They have also grown closer and have been able to support each other at practice and games. “It’s super fun to watch him compete,” Hudson said. “Most of the time when I watch him, I’m off the field, but being on the field with him and watching him compete and being able to work with him is really fun. We can talk to each other a lot. And we know what we mean by what we say. We just have a lot of chemistry.” Moreover, they understand the game thoroughly and work to become better baseball players. “They understand the ins and outs of the game, so they’re pretty intelligent when it comes to it,” Coppell assistant Clint Rushing said. “They’re good athletes, but they also know all the little things and the situational stuff and what’s going on outside of the actual play that’s happening.” Although they have played together for less than one year, teammates have been able to witness interactions between the brothers. “Hudson knows when his little brother’s struggling,” Coppell senior left fielder De Heath said. “Sometimes when we’re in the batting cages, and Walker’s doing something Hud-

son sees is a problem, you’ll hear him say, ‘oh, fix this little thing, or do this.’ If he doesn’t do it, he’s like, ‘I told you to do that.’ It’s professional, and it’s not joking around, but you can really see them fit into their big brother, little brother roles when they’re playing baseball together.” Baseball has been prevalent throughout the brothers’ lives, thus propelling them to play the sport. “Baseball has been in my family since forever, since I was born,” Hudson said. “My family talks a lot about baseball, we watch a lot of baseball. It’s a big part of our lives. But it’s also really hard sometimes because me and my brother have played it our whole lives. It’s a frustrating sport, and sometimes it’s really frustrating mentally but it ends up being really fun.” In addition to support from their parents, Walker and Hudson encourage each other. “It’s been fun to watch them through the years, from when they were little, and they would wrestle each other, to this point of them playing together on the same team,” Mrs. Polk said. “It’s been every mother’s dream because they’re really close and they support each other and they cheer each other on; they want each other to do well. They’re real protective of each other too, and that’s fun to watch as a mother: their love for each other and their bond.” Baseball is not the only sport in the Polk home, however. Walker also made the varsity football team as a freshman and has received 2018 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, 2022 All-American and All-State for his achievements. “It didn’t surprise me,” Rushing said. “I mean, he’s 6’2 and 225 pounds. You don’t see many freshmen like that, so physically, he can handle the load. The biggest thing is when you’re playing against guys that are two, three years older than you are, they’ve been doing things a lot longer, so the game for them is a lot slower. He’s going to have his choice down the road if he wants to [play] football or baseball, and honestly, he’ll be good enough to do both at an extremely high level.” On the other hand, Hudson plays solely baseball, and received first team all district catcher his freshman year and district MVP the following year. He is committed to play baseball at the University of Oklahoma. Walker is still unsure but hopes to continue baseball and football in high school and college.

EDUCATION FOUNDATION BANQUET

“I support [Walker] in anything he does,” Hudson said. “I hope he does great in every sport he plays, and I hope he’s the best he can be.” SOFIA ‘19 can be reached at sig2222@g.coppellisd.com.

Photo courtesy HUDSON POLK

WALKER

HUDSON Photos by BREN FLECHTNER

B O N D I N G B R O T H E R S Brothers CHS9 student Walker Polk and Coppell High School junior Hudson Polk have both played baseball since a young age. The Polk brothers made the varsity baseball team as freshmen and can see the benefits of playing together.

COPPELL RUN TO FUND

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MAY SPORTS

COPPELL HIGH SCHOOL

Defying all odds, Walker leaving mark on record books ARMAN MERCHANT STAFF WRITER @arman_merch

Photo by AUBREY PHILLIPS R E C O R D R U N Coppell High School junior Jackson Walker practices before school on May 7 at Buddy Echols Field. Walker is the No. 1 800-meter runner in Texas and placed 10th in the nation.

20 MAY

SENIOR AWARDS

If one were to ask Coppell High School junior Jackson Walker about his achievements, he would only shy away from the topic. Despite his humility, Walker is the number one 800-meter runner in Texas and placed 10th in the nation. Setting one school record can be difficult in itself, but Walker has managed to set two, both in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter. With two school records under his belt and the never losing an 800-meter race while competing with the very best. However, the record is just a reward for the hard work and dedication he puts out on the track. “Breaking both the records is a big deal to me but is a baseline at my true potential,” Walker said. “I use it as a way for me to work harder and keep grinding because I know I can dig deeper and push myself even harder.” Since seventh grade, Walker has enjoyed the intensity of running with the best in the state. His experiences from playing soccer have helped not only his endurance but his ability to be a part of a team. “Playing soccer ever since I was in kindergarten and whenever it came to the running drills, I was really quick on my feet,” Walker said. “When I came to the high school, I was not very good at soccer, but all the endurance I built up opened a new gate, and I started running both track and cross country.” Running, like many other sports, can be very difficult - not only to the body but the mind, as pushing past the pain can be daunting for many. “Being able to workout by myself with nothing but the ground can be really hard sometimes,” Walker said. “Getting myself mentally locked in and focused on nothing but pushing myself to the best of my ability.” Whether in class or on the track, Walker makes sure he gives all he can. His work ethic does not go unnoticed by Coppell track and field

28 MAY

coach Karl Pointer, who has helped him throughout his time as a Cowboy. “He is gifted with his running ability, is a very high academic kid in the classroom, and a kid who is built on character,” Pointer said. “We want students like him to help build the program and truly embrace the school.” His running ability is not the only reason Walker has been able to set two school records, as he credits his coaches and team for his success. “The coaches set the standard on both the training aspect and the mental toughness throughout the season,” Walker said. “Everyone part of the team wants to succeed, and that is where the leadership and experience I build from everyone around me.” Furthermore, Walker left a lasting impact on the track and field team but has inspired his teammates with the work ethic and high mentality. “He always finds a way to get us motivated, even on the days we want to quit,” CHS sophomore Rith Bhattacharyya said. With a large group of seniors leaving the team, Walker understands the importance of stepping up and leading younger athletes towards success. As Walker’s last season approaching, the coaches are bittersweet about the outcome. “Watching him grow for the past three years has been quite the journey,” Pointer said. “We are very excited about his future because we have some major colleges acquiring about him, and he has a lot of doors opened for him.” With the feeling of getting lined up on the track, Walker is always ready to go out and enjoy what he loves. “It is always nerve-racking, and I can always feel the pressure,” Walker said. “However, it is my favorite thing to do during the week and even better when I have my team around me.” ARMAN ‘20 can be reached at axm6226@g.coppellisd.com.

GRADUATION

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