Senior Awards Night honors Class of 2012
Water balloon fight captivates campus By Shyam Senthilkumar Business Manager
By Remeny White Assoc. News Editor
Dozens of students spent lunch last Friday throwing water balloons at each other on the west end of the SPHS campus. Rumors of what has become a June tradition at the high school has already spread throughout the school, and many weren’t surprised when the fight broke out. “We were all sort of expecting it to happen at some point,” said junior Krishna Mocherla. “We heard screams coming from the students at the Tiger Patio and saw everyone running away. Then mostly seniors came out with the water balloons and began throwing them at students.” The students involved, primarily male upperclassmen, had stashed water balloons earlier in the day and brought them out near the beginning of lunch in dark black bags. Assistant principal Terrance Dunn was given the difficult task of attempting to prevent the senior See “Water balloons” on page 2
Fedor Kossakovski, Lia Lohr, Kelsey Nakamura, Michelle Ozaki, Josh Roquemore, and Max White received the Weldon Fair Play Award at the annual Senior Awards Night on Wednesday night. Parents and faculty members gathered in the auditorium to honor the graduating seniors with over fifty scholarships and awards. According to Principal Janet Anderson, the Weldon Award is “perhaps the most prestigious award offered to a South Pasadena High School student.” It recognizes responsibility, integrity, and sportsmanship. The names of the recipients were engraved on the Weldon Award Trophy alongside all past winners since 1929. The Oneonta Club of South Pasadena awarded the largest scholarships of the night to Montane Silverman, Libby Rainey, and Sara Patterson. Each received $10,000. Patterson was granted three other scholarships throughout the course of the evening, including the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Award for Art for “making a positive impact on the world with her art.” She also earned the Chapter AX of the PEO Sisterhood and the Kiwanis Arts awards. “I could actually hear people See “Senior Awards” on page 2
Siria Medina
Kelsey Nakamura, Lia Lohr, Michelle Ozaki, Fedor Kossakovski, Max White, and Josh Roquemore received the Weldon Award at Senior Awards Night on Wednesday. See page 3 for more coverage.
Girls track wins CIF Division III By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer The South Pasadena girls track team made history on May 19, winning the CIF Division III title for the first time. Seven members of the SPHS girls team attend-
ed CIF finals at Mt. SAC in Walnut, California. The girls placed first out of 41 teams with a final score of 62 points. “This is such a big deal for us,” said sophomore Kamia Willis, who competed in four events on Saturday. “To reach our goal of being champs was really rewarding.” The 4x400 team, which consists of Willis, sophomore Claire Kieffer-Wright, and juniors Anika Renken and Laura Anuakpado, finished third. The girls ran a 3:53.48, breaking the school record for the second time this season after shattering it at a PCC meet earlier in the season. Freshman Nina Acebo added 24 points to the Tigers’ final score. Acebo placed second in the
100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.25, fifth in the 300-meter hurdles at 45.57, and third in the long jump with an eighteen-foot leap. She also competed in the 4x100-meter relay with Willis, freshman Jazmin Jackmon, and junior Sammy Amido. The girls placed second at 48.34. The 4x100 relay team qualified for the Masters meet as an alternate, and Acebo did the same in the long jump. However, neither got the chance to actually compete. Kieffer-Wright also qualified for Masters; she placed second to move on to state championships, where she took home the first place medal with a 5’10” jump. For more coverage of CIF track, see Sports on Page 18.
Rachael Garner
Commissioner General Ben Lee and Commissioner of Academics Fedor Kossakovski present Mrs. Judy Sammis with the Hartsough Award.
Sammis honored at Hartsough Assembly By Rachel Newhall Staff Writer Not every teacher is reknowned on campus for both quirky catchphrases and successful math and science instruction. Mrs. Judy Sammis is. Sammis, the beloved Math Analysis Honors and AP Physics teacher, was honored with the Hartsough Award during an assembly in the auditorium on Friday. The award recognizes an outstanding teacher each year; students nominate instructors, and the ASB commission makes the final decision. Sammis has been at SPHS for eight years. “It makes me feel wonderful,” said Mrs. Sammis, “The people I respect most here have gotten
this award.” The award is named in memory of former SPHS counselor Harold Hartsough. “Mrs. Sammis really excels in every category described by the Hartsough,” said Commissioner of Academics Fedor Kossakovski. “She truly cares about every student she teaches and spends untold hours planning how the year will go for students.” Social studies teachers Sean Regan and Annalee Pearson were also lauded at the assembly. Regan was named Most Inspirational Teacher and Pearson was given the Heart of Gold award. Science teacher and SPHS alumnus Benjamin Ku was presented with the Rookie of the Year award.
Claims against Zurita deemed false By Carlton Lew Assoc. Opinion Editor An investigation into South Pasadena boys soccer coach Juan Zurita’s alleged violation of CIF steroid use policy proved all allegations were false. Zurita was accused of both promoting steroid use and providing steroids to players. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Karen Reed and an attorney conducted the exclusively internal investigation. “We believe, although it cannot be proven, that this was a malicious attempt by one or more individuals to defame the coach,” said SPUSD Superintendent Joel Shapiro. “If the coach were to know who the individual was who brought these false charges, he would certainly have the right to bring it to a civil lawsuit.” According to Shapiro, the
school district believed the allegations were false from the outset, but had an obligation to investigate. “The district resolved it in a way it needed to be resolved,” Shapiro said. “We suspected it to be false from the beginning and took the necessary steps to complete it. Somebody displayed a lack of respect of confidentiality and brought discomfort to Coach Zurita.” Zurita had previously been unable to comment due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, but he was pleased with its results. “I have received word that the investigation was over and was told that the district didn’t find anything,” said Zurita. “I’m doing better now, but I’m still disturbed about the person who wrote these things about my coaching.” Zurita has the support of the superintendent and Athletic Director Ralph Punaro and will continue
Courtesy of Crown City United
Allegations against Coach Juan Zurita proved to be untrue.
coaching the soccer team next season. “Coach Zurita has been as honest as they come,” said Punaro. “He is dedicated to the program and I was very sorry that this was even brought up.”