Tiger Newspaper Vol. XCVII, No. IX

Aprato to retire Extra credit policy change in early after 39 years stages of discussion of service

Edmond Mandin-Lee

The 2011 Weldon Award recipients Camille Endacott, Blake Parson, Lana Ho, Luka Douridas, Kevin Yin, and Marian Slocum are presented with the highest honor by Ms Anderson at Senior Awards Night on June 8.

Senior Awards Night honors wide array of students

By Devin Mitchell Opinion Editor Over fifty scholarships were awarded on Wednesday at Senior Awards Night. Seniors and parents gathered in the auditorium to honor the winners. The Weldon Fair Play Award, which was established in 1929 and described by Mrs. Anderson as the “most prestigious and meaningful award presented

to a South Pasadena High School senior,” was awarded to Luka Douridas, Kevin Yin, Lana Ho, Blake Parson, Camille Endacott, and Marian Slocum.

Yin was granted several scholarships earlier in the evening, including the Aydin Salek Leadership Scholarship, which established last year to honor a member of the graduating class that the Saleks felt most exemplified Aydin’s leader-

Water balloon fight erupts on campus; students are reprimanded

By Libby Rainey News Editor Over twenty students will serve Saturday School the next two weekends for participating in an unauthorized campus water balloon fight, planned and executed by South Pasadena High School students on Thursday June 2 at lunch.

The water balloon fight, an emerging SPHS tradition since the graduating class of 2009 planned a similar event as seniors, was met by administrative action, and rumors of suspension circulated for the group called to Assistant Principal Mr. Terrance Dunn’s office after the fight.

“This was quite possibly the most exciting lunch all year,” said junior Dylan Trimarchi, who estimated that 500 balloons were prepared for the fight.

Trimarchi and others involved carried pre-filled balloons in backpacks on to campus for the surprise lunch time event.

The water fight interrupted a live music performance by senior Marla Burke.

Burke said of the interruption, “I was confused and a little thrown off but it was still pretty awesome. There’s mud all over my guitar case now. Battle

wounds?”

Not all students were thrilled with the watery battle.

Many uninvolved were caught in the crossfire, among them sophomore Dominique Amaya, who complained that those with water balloons should have only used them on others involved in the activity. After examining her dampened shirt, she said, “This is ridiculous!”

The administration’s chief concern with the water balloon fight was safety. “It started off innocent and fun three years ago until last year people got hurt and See “Water Fight” on pg. 2

ship qualities. He also was awarded the Kiwanis Club scholarship and was a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. Finally, he was given the Karen Offenheimer Memorial Award, voted for by the senior class to determine which outgoing student best embodied the leadership abilities that Offenheimer, a member of the 1981 graduating class, was known for.

“I’m very happy and grateful for this. I didn’t think my classmates thought so highly of me,” said Yin, who is planning to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Valedictorians and Salutatorians for the Class of 2011 were also announced. Nicholas Leung, Sean Wang, and Catalina Lee are the Valedictorians and Sean Nang is the Salutatorian. All four hold unweighted 4.0 grade-point averages.

The Oneonta Club awarded the largest scholarships of the night to Anthony D’Oro, Coleman Rainey, and Sean Wang, who each received $10,000. The ceremony, which lasted three hours, began with the Kathryn Larkin Crary Sportsmanship Award, which was awarded to Tyler Brown and Sam Pons. Each got $5,000 for their maintaining their commitment to academics while having success on the athletic field.

Edmond Mandin-Lee

Junior Dylan Trimarchi takes aim to throw a water balloon.

By Clair Fuller Staff Writer

By Sofi Goode Staff Writer

Math teacher Mr. James Aprato will retire this year after 39 years of teaching, all served in the South Pasadena Unified School district.

Aprato taught for 12 years at SPMS before his current 27 at SPHS teaching Advanced Algebra and Math Analysis.

He and his wife will be moving into a house in Cayucas, California that was built from the ground up, a process that took more than six years.

Despite retiring to a small beach town (population 2,900), he says he’s “not going to just do nothing.”

Aprato will be taking classes about wine and winemaking at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, See “Aprato” on pg. 2

A new state law is expected to pass that states there cannot be a required cost for an event that will impact a student’s grade. This may affect participation fees, required reading list purchases and extra credit. Anticipation of the law has led to discussion about South Pasadena High School’s extra credit policy.

“The topic came up when teachers were asking how to get students to participate in Open House,” said principal Ms Janet Anderson.

“It’s something that we’ll be discussing at the beginning of next year.”

As of last week, SPUSD Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Dr. Scott Price was still exploring the details of new law.

If the school policy does change, it will have to follow both current board policy and state law.

Board Policy 5121 states “grades should be based on… classroom participation, homework, tests, and portfolios.” Extra credit not related to the curriculum is not mentioned in the policy.

A change in school policy would not eliminate extra credit altogether.

“I’ve never been a great proponent of extra credit,” said Ms Anderson. “But I can see that it would be valuable for borderline grades if it is related to course curriculum.”

No official change in policy has been made yet, and discussions are still in a very early stage.

“It’s going to be a conversation next year, and we do need to make sure that [the staff] is all on the same page,” Ms Anderson said.

Jennifer Kim

Mr. Aprato is looking forward to retiring to Cayucas, California and studying winemaking.

Student petition changes senior song

By Brendan Perry Staff Writer A student petition led to the disqualification of the first place 2011 senior song. ASB reevaluated the lyrics of “The Show Goes On” by hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco and determined the language was inappropriate for graduation. Seniors will now celebrate their farewell festivities to “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader, the runnerup in the original voting.

ASB apologetically announced the change last Friday via written statements in senior English classes.

A petition created by senior Tara Aalem brought the issue of inappropriate lyrics to the attention of Principal Janet Anderson, senior class advisor Mrs. Margaret Fullinwider, and the senior class officers.

Aalem’s petition, consisting of 200 senior signatures, was initially aimed for a re-vote. However, once Anderson and Fullinwider learned of the

song’s inappropriate lyrics that include profanity and racial slurs, they met with the senior officers to discuss whether a re-vote was even necessary.

“The song went on the ballot without being fully vetted,” said Principal Anderson. “Even the sanitized version would be inappropriate.”

The class officers reevaluated the song for this reason and deemed it unsuitable, disqualifying the song from consideration. ASB proceeded to make the executive decision of naming “Dancing in the Moonlight” the new senior song without a re-vote due to time constraints and the large margin of votes between “Dancing in the Moonlight” and the third place song.

“The original process was not followed,” said Fullinwider. “The procedure is nomination, evaluation, and then voting. An error occurred in the evaluation of ‘The Show Goes On,’ resulting in the song’s disqualification.”

The senior song will be played at both Farewell Assembly and at the graduation ceremony.

News 2

Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

News

Around Campus

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) recently announced that SPHS has been granted a six-year term of accreditation with a three-year revisit. This is the highest level of accreditation that a school can achieve./Mike Hogan

Skull found in backyard of South Pas home

Class Elections: Final results

___________________________ Senior Officers: President: Alex Park Vice President: Janelle Li Secretary: Christine Ching Treasurer: Phillip Kim _________________________________

By Marcus Kahn Managing Editor

Junior Officers: President: Ashim Shrestha Vice President: Peter Seo Secretary: Shannon Zheng Treasurer: Nathaniel Joseph _________________________________

Sophomore Officers: President: Jason Wang Vice President: Michael Chang Secretary: Ted Kim Treasurer: Julius Lam _________________________________

Freshmen Officers: President: Chris Koo Vice President: Samuel Anuakpado Secretary: Brian Faung Treasurer: Alex Kim

Edmond Mandin-Lee

Commissioners Tim Lee and Luka Douridas present Mr. Whitney with his award.

Whitney receives 2011 Hartsough Award

By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer Spanish teacher Mr. Josh Whitney was awarded the Hartsough Award and honored at a school-wide assembly on June 3.

Three other teachers were presented with awards at the Hartsough Assembly.

Mrs. Angelique Burzynski, who teaches English, Math, History and Career Development, was named the year’s Most Inspirational Teacher. Color Guard and Concert Band instructor Mr. Albert Chung was presented with the Rookie of the Year award. Algebra B and Calculus teacher Mrs. Ruth Moonesinghe was Most Dedicated Teacher of the year.

Harold Hartsough was a dedicated SPHS administrator, and ASB created an award of acknowledgement for his hard work when he retired in 1981. Since then, the South Pasadena High School student body nominates teachers

every year whose dedication to the school goes above and beyond expectations. Commissioners cast the final vote that decides the award recipient.

“This educator has not only graced SPHS with intellectuality and compassion, but has also shown genuine interest in the emotional and scholarly well-being of students.” said Commissioner of Internal Affairs Luka Douridas before announcing the winner.

Whitney has been an SPHS educator for over ten years, and is well respected

amongst the student and faculty community.

“His class a really interesting and engaging experience, and he really deserves it,” said sophomore Madeline Chin.

“It is humbling to be acknowledged and appreciated by students,” said Whitney.

“The teacher-student relationship is rooted in mutual respect for one another as growing minds and persons.

The Hartsough Award feels to me like the closing of a circle-- it tells me that many students have as high a regard for me as I do for them.”

From “Aprato” on Page 1 and hopes to eventually work in a winery.

He will also be traveling, gardening and landscaping, and enjoying his proximity to the ocean.

Aprato plans to kayak frequently, joking that “when the faculty is meeting on the first day of school, I’ll be out there looking for buried treasure in my kayak.”

In his long teaching career, Aprato has made an impact both on his students and his teachers.

Casey Shotwell In fact, his retirement was anWhitney poses with faculty members on the Tiger Patio. nounced by his friends and coworkers Mr. Sean Regan and Mr. Richard Martin via powerpoint.

Their friendship began over a running bet on college football, and the three have since had many memorable exploits.

Regan and Martin recall fondly By Michael Abelev students gave blood at the even then its not that bad. faculty basketball games in which Apra- Staff Writer A bunch of my friends were Red Cross sponsored event. to was “a very good basketball player Every blood donation doing it so I wanted to join and an even better trash talker,” as A Red Cross spon- can help three different peo- in,” said sophomore Nick well as in-service days spent a Dodgers sored blood drive on June 7 ple in need.

Fong. games instead of school.

People donated “It went pretty well. drew the largest number of Despite much joking and depreca- students to the SPHS prac- It wasn’t as bad as I thought throughout the school day. tion on both parts, both teachers hold tice gym of the three on- it would be. The only pain After donating, students had great respect for Mr. Aprato. campus drives this year. 135 was getting the needle but time to enjoy free food and Regan says that as a young restore their energy before teacher he gravitated to Aprato as heading back to class. a role model, and that “he is one of Students who particithose teachers that embodies a love of pated received a t-shirt for what he teaches.” donating.

Martin and Regan agree that “Free food, saving they’ll miss their camaraderie with three lives, and going some“Old Man Aprato.” thing good for the day” “This school will deeply miss is what sophomore Nick him,” says Regan. “I know I will.”

Klinger said motivated him Aprato will miss the school as to donate blood. much as it will miss him.

Whatever the motive, “It makes me sad that I’m not SPHS students will help going to see these great kids,” said around 400 individuals with Katie Whitworth Aprato. “It is bittersweet… but it’s the blood donated on TuesSenior Jasper Wang was one of 135 students who donated. more sweet than bitter.” day.

Final blood drive draws largest number of student donors this year

A skull was unearthed in the backyard of a South Pasadena residence on May 25.

The South Pasadena Police, Sheriff ’s Department, Coroner’s Office, and Forensic Unit showed up on the scene.

Afterwards, the skull was determined to be between 100 and 800 years old, and belonging to a Native American, though the tribe reamins undetermined.

The skull was described as “pretty much intact” and some other fragments were found. Sex and cause of death were also not determined. A cadaver dog named “Indiana Bones” did a search of the premises, but no other bodies were found.

A resident of the household, who requested that their address and names remain anonymous, said that the coroner took the skull, and that afterwards it would be released to Sacramento’s Native American Heritage Commission.

There is the possibility of an excavation at the house, and the organization may even decide to bless the site. According to coroner investigator Elissa Fleak, a representative from a local tribe, probably the Gabrielinos, will pick up the remains, and re-bury them in what is called “repatriation.”

According to Fleak there are 8-10 people per tribe who are designated “Most Likely Descendants”. They are allowed to pick up the remains from the Coroner’s Office, and re-patriate them.

An article has been released in the South Pasadena Review, and a Channel 11 News crew showed up at the house, but was denied an interview.

Mandatory vaccine for grades 7-12

By Alex Tranquada Staff Writer Students with a fear of needles are in for a less-than-joyous summer.

All students entering grades 7 through 12 for the 2011-2012 school year will be required to show proof of a TDAP vaccination.

The booster shot combats diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more cases of pertussis were reported in California in 2010 than in any year since 1945.

The outbreak prompted the California State Assembly to pass a new bill requiring proof of a pertussis vaccination for the upcoming school year.

However, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, only incoming seventh graders will be required to get the shot.

The shot can be obtained at Ralph’s for $55 or at Walmart for $64.

Uninsured students can be vaccinated for free at the nearby Monrovia Health Center.

News

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

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End of the year performances showcase SPHS performing arts

By Sofi Goode and Ande Withers Tiger Staff The SPHS choir, band and orchestra have all had opportunities to showcase their talents for the last time this year in the past month.

The annual spring band and orchestra concert was held in early June.

The concert band, jazz band, symphonic band and orchestra performed

a Michael Jackson and Beatles themed show.

The concert, symphonic and jazz bands performed several pieces, including works that the bands performed in the Heritage Festival over spring break.

For the second year in a row, a fuse blew in the auditorium during the performance. The musicians continued playing in the dark.

Sam Gurley

Mr. Michael Gray conducts the Arroyo Seco Ensemble in concert.

“The symphonic band and orchestra had the ability to keep playing,” senior Jonathan Naritoku, a clarinet player in symphonic band, said. “It really pumped us up, even though we could barely see the music.”

The SPHS Oneonta Choir and Arroyo Seco Ensemble, performed in their final concert of the school year this Tuesday.

Each choir performed in its entirety at least once, but the individual projects, comprised of only a few singers, were considered the highlight of the show.

However, due to their involvement in the Spring musical, The Sound of Music, some members of the choir felt that they could have been better prepared.

“It went well for the amount of time we had to prepare,” said junior Claire West. “We had to focus on the play, so we didn’t have much time to practice.”

Chi to be defensive coordinator at Cathedral High

By Michael Abelev Staff Writer South Pasadena High School math teacher Mr. Jeff Chi has accepted an offer to coach football at Cathedral High School. Come kickoff for the 2011 season, Chi will be on Cathedral’s sideline as their new defensive coordinator.

“I was flattered that [Cathedral head coach Kevin Pearson] offered me the job and I know that I can get the job done,” said Chi

of the offer. “It will require a lot of time and that’s something that I was kind of hesitant about, because I thought I was going to take a smaller role at the school.”

He will continue to teach Math Analysis and Advanced Algebra Honors at SPHS. Chi started speaking to the Cathedral coaching staff during the 2010 football season.

The school remained in touch with him throughout the year. Chi said that Cathedral liked his coach-

ing style and defensive technique.

When South Pasadena head football coach Mr. Ed Smith retired this year and Chi was not selected as the new head coach, he felt it would be a good idea to look into other options.

The paperwork for new South Pasadena football coaches has been finalized. Coaches Fonseca, Martinez, Morant, Barnes, Fisher, and Richardson are all a part of the 2011-2012 staff.

Jennifer Kim

Open House: Math teacher Mrs. Margaret Fullinwider talks to sophomore Natalie McClain and her mother.

Teachers use Open House to showcase students’ work.

From “Water Fight” on Page 1 their belongings were ruined,” said campus supervisor Mr. John Fonseca.

Head custodian Mr. Bruce Underwood mentioned the additional safety risk of slipping, pointing out the wet concrete outside the cafeteria and around the Tiger Patio and senior lawn, the main areas where the activity took place.

Principal Ms Janet Anderson acknowledged the fun of Thursday’s activity, but said, “Without it being organized, it can become chaos. I understand that planning takes the fun out of it.”

Similarly, Assistant Principal Mr. Jack Smith said he would have no problem if the event were planned through ASB.

Disciplinary action was taken using video recorded by campus supervisor Mr. G and names taken by Fonseca. Between 20 and 30 students were punished.

For those seniors involved, graduation privileges were not affected.

Edmond Mandin-Lee

Seniors scramble as balloons fly across the Tiger Patio.

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Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

College bound athletes From left to right:

Evan MacCarthy has committed to playing water polo at UC Davis next year. While in high school, MacCarthy was a four year varsity starter for the water polo team. He was named First Team All-Rio Hondo League his sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Michael Lind will compete in football at Whittier College. Lind was a three year varsity starter at SPHS.

Sara Charney

will play tennis for Occidental College. She was a four year varsity starter and named “Most Valuable Player” of the tennis team her senior year.

Mercedes Binns

will compete for Arizona State University’s volleyball team. Binns is a three year varsity member and was voted First Team All-League in 2010.

From left to right:

Tyler Brown

will compete in water polo at UC Davis. Brown is captain of the SPHS water polo squad. She was also voted All-CIF First Team her junior and senior year.

Chris Nuñez will compete in wrestling at Cuesta College. Throughout his four years, Nuñez has been on the varsity squad and was named All-Area First Team.

Marian Slocum will play soccer at Bryn Mawr College in the fall. She served as captain for the soccer team and awarded “Defensive Player of the Year” as a sophomore.

Anna-Lena Hathaway

will compete in water polo in Marist College. She also was named First Team All-Rio Hondo League.

From left to right:

Blake Parson plans to run for Boston University next year. He has competed at the varsity

level for the past two seasons. Parson is the back-to-back Rio Hondo League champion in the 300 meter hurdles.

Ben Charney will play soccer and tennis at Grinnell College. Charney has participated on the varsity squads for his entire high school career in both soccer and tennis.

Matt Nelson plans to run track at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Nelson is also thinking about trying out for the football team. While in high school, he was named First Team All-Area receiver.

The Class of 2011 has exceeded expectations in the sports arena. In all seasons and in all sports, there are athletes whose spirit drives the team forward, and skill defeats both Rio Hondo opponents and competitors from across the state. From Sam Pons in the fall, to Sam Pons in the spring, and everywhere in between, athleticism has flourished for the senior class. And some of those students will be taking their talents beyond the high school sphere, and will face up against the stiffer college competition.

Senior Farewells

So I made friends, whatever, big deal

By Kristin Gunther Copy Editor The fact is, senior year is ending. I look toward the next phase of my life and pretend not to be worried, reassuring myself that everything will be fine. But then I remember the last time a new “phase of my life” began.

I was new to South Pas schools freshman year. On the first day of high school, wearing a non-confrontational red American Eagle shirt and jeans, I knew only a handful of people. In my first and only P.E. class, my new acquaintance Glenna revealed she had been a new kid too and reassured me that it would get better. By the time Color Day rolled around, I had a group to take pictures with and was easing into life at SPHS. Over the years, that picture group has morphed and shrunk into the Inner Circle (suspiciously consisting of duplicates and munchkins).

Freshman year: I thought I would never find friends like the ones I had in middle school. Senior year: It’s impossible to conceive a worthwhile

existence without my beloved group of bestest friends. From coveted Bob Loblaw t-shirts to swearing rants to “fruit boy,” I don’t know what these four years would have been without my group of smart, snarky girls. I can’t imagine a life where I’m not sitting in class with at least one comrade, constantly whispering vaguely passive aggressive comments. When I think of college, I’m sad to feel the same fear at leaving my friend-sanctuary as I did in 8th grade. However I’m also glad because it means I accomplished my freshman goal of finding and cherishing my niche.

Before ninth grade started, my brother, a wise and respected SPHS senior at the time, told me to join girls water polo because “those girls are all really good friends.” He was right.

It may have taken until Budapest the summer before senior year for the entire team, freshmen to seniors, to bond into a cohesive unit, but it happened nonetheless and we are all so much better for it. Four winters in a row, I’ve jumped into a pool only slightly warmer than the rain outside and egg

beatered my way to warmth. But I wouldn’t trade any of those days or even my swimsuit tan (especially the all-day-tournament tan for my strapless 2011 Winter Formal dress) for anything. The memories created in girls water polo, from ironic Secret Santa gifts to Ninja wars to Saturday bingo set-ups, have been many. Few words describe the seasons we’ve shared; luckily, Devin Grab is within those few.

By junior year, I was a copy editor and staff writer for Tiger and cotreasurer of Invisible Children United Club. I got a nickname on Tiger, money handling experience in ICU, and friends in both. Without Ande, I’d probably spend every 5th period Tiger lying on the ground without a purpose, just like she did while I was in Yosemite. And although no one ever took my ICU t-shirt ideas seriously, I’ve dug each club meeting because of the people in them.

And let’s not forget the senior Yosemite trip (Quaking Aspens forevaaa), JV softball with Katy freshman and sophomore years, and that one day I attended the Science Club.

In Mr. Wielenga’s words, I am completely unphotogenic, which is unreflective of what I am like in person.

Actually, if you really think about it, no one is really like the pictures they take.

Pictures are a snap shot of a moment.

Pictures in no way capture the grueling struggle or the joyous triumphs of everyday life.

Coming from Florida in eighth grade, I didn’t really understand the value of the South Pasadena community until junior year, when I got to the point where I could actually remember everyone’s names, and had a place to sit at lunch.

I can honestly say that I have loved my time here. While at the beginning it was certainly a challenge, the rewards of taking risks and putting myself out there were absolutely worth it. So, I am going to tell you the things I wish someone would have told me when I was a freshman.

First of all, don’t make high school your everything. Exposure to the rest of the world is what helps you gain perspective and real life skills.

Make time for conversation.

The memories I value most are those talks I had with those around me.

Everything and everyone is valuable and important. So respect it all equally. Being open and kind to all people allowed me to find value in my life as well as help others along their journey.

Finally, learn how to be on your own. This makes it easier to avoid peer pressures and to find those like you rather than conforming. I was able to find real friendships and discover who I am as a person. Even if that meant staying home on a Saturday night to watch Love Actually with my parents.

Overall, my high school life is one made up of snapshot of happiness, friendship, and lessons. While my time here was absolutely incredible, I am ready to move on to where real life begins and high school is just another picture in a photo album.

By Jake Folsom Senior Staff Writer When I was a freshman I dreamed of one day writing for the school newspaper and having my ideas and opinions available for the entire school to read and appreciate. When I was applied and was let on staff I was ecstatic, not only was I on staff but so were two of my best friends, Cole Rainey and Marcus Kahn. Lana Ho was there too.

Throughout my years on this staff I came to realize that I was not the smartest person on staff, or the best writer, nor did I have the coolest ideas for stories.

Despite my shortcomings I loved every minute that I spent in the Tiger room, and every article I wrote was something to be proud of; a shining monument of my achievements, the pinnacle of my writing career. Every time an issue would go out I would know that I achieved my goal and that dream I had was being accomplished.

Unfortunately my friends are some of the smartest and most innovative members of, not only the staff, but of the entire school and so naturally they ended up in the highest positions on staff. Here are the current positions of the four oldest members of the staff. Cole Rainey – EditorIn-Chief, Marcus Kahn – Managing Editor, Lana Ho – Feature Editor, and me, Jake Folsom – Senior Staff Writer. Needless to say my Tiger experience has not lived up to my original expectations. When I first entered staff, I was filled with hope that I would be an editor by the time I was a senior and clearly I fell short of my goal.

Despite this, being a member of this staff has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, I met amazing people and learned more there than I did in any of my other classes put together. And while I may have been a staff writer for three years, I wouldn’t trade that experiences and memories for anything.

An ode to clichés

Another picture in the photo album

By Chloe Lloyd Staff Writer

5 An experience to remember Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

By Lana Ho Feature Editor I’ve spent a lot of time with my laptop lately, trying to write this farewell. So much time, in fact, that if I were a man between the ages of 21 and 35, I’d be severely threatening the health of my gametes. (According to urologist Yefim Sheynkin of Stony Brook University in New York.)

I didn’t want this farewell to be trite or clichéd, and even though a certain opinion editor doesn’t think I’ve been working on this article, I have put more effort brainstorming how to avoid corniness than I have spent writing on all of my articles combined.

Will I do that thing where I address Special People in My Life and recount all of our lamest inside jokes?

Will I give life lessons

and bumper-sticker wisdom to the ten people who read this article, things like “Live life to the fullest!” and “Every second counts!”?

Will I structure this article in such a way so that the first letter of each column spells out a secret message?

(No … maybe.)

And then I realized that I forgot the biggest lesson I’ve learned in high school: clichés exist for a reason. They’re repeated because they’re true.

The harsh evolution of human speech would not have kept them around if they weren’t.

A lot of the teenage experience depends on skillfully avoiding the mainstream, advocating independence from your parents, the system, and every authority figure you encounter.

But so much of the time spent eye-rolling and scanning the racks at the mall for Totally and

Completely Unique pieces of clothing can be spent doing other things, like breathing easy and succumbing to clichés.

So here goes.

I would like to thank everyone I’ve ever met in my entire life. You’re the greatest and only people I’ve ever known. I mean this. My experiences at SPHS have surrounded me with such a large concentration of amazing people, and I am so grateful for this.

To put it mathematically, the proportion of absolutely amazing people here at school is so high that when applied to the six billion other humans on earth, the ratio yields a really, really large number. To think that I’ll be continuing my journey in meeting these people, I can say only this: I am so, so excited for the rest of my life.

And I have everyone I have ever met to thank for this.

Two girls, one heart

By Tai Carter and Kennedy Diaz Staff Photographer and Ads Manager From troll dolls to one pieces, best friends till the end. It’s been a wild ride.

Thank you, girl scouts for letting two little girls roam the streets and Christmas carol on Friday nights. From chubby fifth graders to BFF seniors; we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’ve even had sleepovers. It’s senior year, and it’s time to say goodbye, so here are some friendly reminders from two precious Mexicans:

Join Tiger, and fall in love.

Do your homework only when you really feel like it (but get good grades).

Have fun every single day of your life.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Be inspired by Taylor Swift.

Amber Laird

Always say please and thank you.

Live every year like it’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

Spend a lot of money on Mexican candy.

Be a free spirit - sing loud and clear everyday.

Participate in as many talent shows as possible.

Keep friends close, and enemies closer.

Fight for your right to party in the USA. Make lots of snacks and eat even more.

Swim when you want, where you want and don’t forget to eggbeat.

Don’t send too many pic messages, those can go viral.

We’ve grown up in the South Pasadena school district with June 17th in mind.

Through the countless SPHS assemblies, middle school plays, Thursdays at the farmers market, Color Days, soda sales, and Fourth of July parades, we have always stayed loyal to our hometown of South Pasadena. Looking back the most memorable times weren’t made in the classroom. In fact,

the most important things we learned were learned from Lucy, our families, and each other. Our families have never fallen short of supportive, with siblings like Rebecca and Laney it’s hard to have a dull day. Without the love from our devoted parents we would not have made it to this next chapter in our lives. To our best friends: Zoe, Abby, Madeline, Marla, Schuyler, Ethan, Mallory, and Camille, you all have made the last four years exciting and unforgettable. Peace out SPHS… it’s been rich.

6 Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Senior Farewells

An elegy on life and human suffering

By Luka Douridas Assoc. Opinion Editor The duality of life is a concept that will stay within my philosophy as long as I live. On one hand, I can see myself basking in the glory of graduation, gleefully spewing pearls of wisdom upon my beloved Tiger readers. Yet on the other, I feel that I would be a little more comfortable if I could stay at SPHS for just a tiny bit longer.

I’ve never said that I wish I could leave high school—but I still feel that I haven’t appreciated my time here enough. My advice? Don’t spend your time wishing for something to end; you will miss out on so many things. Knowing how to appreciate what you can is one of the most important lessons you will ever learn.

I consider myself somewhat of a philosopher. Ever since I was a little tyke, I’ve always been the one to stray away from

the group, completely drenched in thought.

Yet I want to stress that some thought is unnecessary: for centuries, philosophers have sought to answer life’s most pressing and all-encompassing questions, but to what end? What do we, the unknowing citizens of this, this terra, this green Earth… really need to know about our existence? In all sincerity, life isn’t all about finding answers—especially answers to unanswerable questions. Of course it’s okay to wonder, but devotion to the pursuit of reason is a complete waste of time.

I believe with all my heart that my time at SPHS has changed my life. My duality in ASB and Tiger has given me the chance to view things in perspective. I can only chuckle at the times when the two roles clashed, such as asking the superintendent for quotes after participating in a Board meeting, or publishing a “Boo” directed at school elections, a process I am

in charge of, in my own section. Instead of feeling torn between responsibilities, I was able to cherish the unique situation I was in. I had more opportunities, made a fantastic assortment of dear friends, and learned Atticus Finch-like lessons about understanding and human interaction. See? More of that appreciation stuff. It really improves the way I live.

If I could give one more piece of advice to my readers, it would be to go out and try as many things as you can. A day spent at home on the computer may feel like heaven in the short run, but chances are that you will never remember such a day. A day spent going on an adventure can lead you discover passions, find a new secret hideout, or meet the love of your life.

I know doing so has led me to meet mine.

Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys— make your lives extraordinary. Nothing matters more.

Daniel Willardson

Senior Goodbye 2.0

By Sam Gurley Photography Editor

Daniel Willardson

Life’s too good

By Brendan Perry Staff Writer

You hear people say it all the time: “I can’t wait until college.” I know I have said it at least 100 times over my four years here, and now, yeah, I guess I’m excited. Living on your own, choosing your own classes, rooming no more than a couple doors down from all your friends, “discovering who you are,” it all sounds great. But now that college is finally approaching, I can wait until college.

For the first time in my high school career I have no stress, no worries, and no goals. I am completely content. I have a great girlfriend, a loving family, my 8 best friends, and my hard work in and out of the classroom has earned me a spot at a college that I am more than happy to attend. Life is good.

While in this rare euphoric state, I would like to pass down some wisdom I have gained over the years.

I’ll try not to be too cliché.

One: take advantage of your time in high school.

This is the only time in your life where knowledge is going to be served to you on a silver platter. You have to go to class for 100 minutes no matter what, so you might as well pay attention and learn something for the sake of learning. Who knows, you might actually get interested.

Two: create your own definition of success.

What makes you happy? Your only goal in life shouldn’t be to get into good college because, really, what does going to a good college mean? If you go to Harvard there is no guarantee you will be happier than if you go to PCC. Your happiness and success depend on you, your personality, your work ethic, and your will to better yourself and others. Be a philosopher; think beyond the black-and-white system we are all a part of.

Three: procrastinate as much as possible. If you’re anything like me this will create a sense of urgency in your mind and result in some of the best and fastest work you will ever do.

Overall, high school has been hard. And to be honest, I have sometimes hated school. It has been stressful. It has made me lose countless hours of sleep.

And it has made me beg for college at least 100 times.

But, high school has made me the person I am today, and I am proud and grateful. Thanks, SPHS.

Keep in mind I am a photographer, not a writer.

New paragraph.

High school sucked, but actually I kind of liked it, I guess. Whatever.

New paragraph.

A fellow classmate recently called me out for insinuating that people that I don’t interact with might as well be robots, hiding in the myriad closets after school where they can recharge their batteries for the next day.

In the time I would take to wake up and get ready for the day, Ted the janitor goes from room to room, booting

up my cyber schoolmates for a brand new day at SPHS. To bad this makes me sound narcissistic.

New paragraph.

For the class of ‘12, ‘13 and ‘14, here is some advice. Do productive things with your free time and your friends. Watch every episode of the 90’s hit serial drama Twin Peaks instead of having a sixth period. But remember, don’t get so caught up that you forget to brush your teeth once in a while.

New paragraph.

SLAAGLAA was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.

The parts we didn’t write about make up some of my best memories. Ditch-

ing first period (sorry, Ms. Nielsen) to go hiking up in the mountains, waking up at five in the morning, and sneaking in front of Luca’s (not a spelling error) house to wake him up for the adventure. The time we went to Long Beach, where we were too cheap to pay the admission, so we managed to sneak through a construction site to gain entry for free. Constant fun.

New paragraph.

I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attacked ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain. Time to die.

This may appear oddly sincere

By Marcus Kahn Managing Editor Before I start, I will warn you that this farewell comes in two parts. It is both a eulogy for innocence lost, and some relatively obvious but important advice, coming from someone you’ve probably never met.

of a need to have my latest BS opinions validated on a school-wide scale? And have I consistently used the word BS in articles to tinge my faux-intellectuality with a little faux-rebellion? Are rhetorical questions, and their acknowledgement in mid-usage, my clichéd method of avoiding direct confrontation with reality while

Part I A b o u t f ive months ago, I was cleaning out my desk and I stumbled across a paper from freshman year. I talked about how much I loved God, and how high school was a drain that funneled away my spirituality. I said I hoped that my faith would survive.

So I stepped back and looked at myself. How has high school changed me? I have the same amazing group of friends. I have an incredible girlfriend. I am going somewhere I love. But now I am agnostic at best, and cynical to a fault.

Is the person I have become the result of debilitative high school liberalism?

Am I sophomoric or just moric? Have I always insisted on writing long-winded and pretentious opinion articles because

simultaneously sprinkling some lowbrow humor on top?

I know the answers to some of these questions. But the solution to the original problem remains elusive. Faith may be the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to my high school career. And faithful people like Brendan, my best friend, may be the most admirable for having preserved a little mystery in their worldview.

Part II I will give you advice because I am older or the same age as you, and for some reason that means something.

Hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure, is nothing to be ashamed of. Find good company, eat good food, talk to beautiful men/women, and when you go to a dance, cut some rug.

Don’t slave away because you want to go to a good college. Find what interests you. Aric Attebery is an incredible cook. Anthony Harmer paints worlds. Sam Pons is bordering upon Greek God. I hardly ever talk to these people, but I know they are the best product four years of high school can Daniel Willardson create. If you want to be an academic, or you are unsure of your future, then by all means study. But when you find a passion, don’t shy away from it. I wish every day I had written creatively on a daily basis. And I still read the comics. Every day. Maybe I’ll be a political cartoonist. I am getting a B in Painting and Drawing 1/2, but who knows? And you: What do you do when no one is watching?

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

Opinion

7

Opinion B B

A thank you letter, of sorts

ravo to Mia, the “drug dog.” She’s so cute, we kind of want to be sniffed.

to the last hour of the homecoming picnic. It felt like a prison that was surprisingly hard to escape.

B

oo

By Coleman Westfall Rainey Editor-in-Chief

to the canned food drive for helping us realize the true meaning of the holiday season. We wanted to contribute, but got the munchies before ASB got to our classroom. Sorry, Mia. ravo

B

oo to Sam Pons for not wearing his running shoes to Winter Formal...but he was still speedy. And we have photos to prove it.

B

to Dodger Stadium for making their field a monster truck course. The one person at the dance who actually cared about baseball was super angry. oo

B

to ASB and Ms Anderson for spending $700 on a T-shirt cannon. It’s great that we finally came up with a way to get rid of James Jontz’ old T-shirts.

B B

ravo

oo to Mya for not showing up on campus on 4/20. Oh, wait, neither did we.

to our capitalist democratic student elections. ¡VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

oo

The Tiger Established 1913

CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 Editor-in-Chief Coleman Westfall Rainey Managing Editor Marcus Kahn News Libby Rainey, Editor Jackson Atwater, Associate Opinion Devin Mitchell, Editor Luka Douridas, Associate Feature Lana Ho, Editor Jessica Moog, Associate Sports Carlton Lew, Editor Christian Miyamae, Associate Copy Editors Christine Chen and Kristin Gunther Photography Sam Gurley, Editor Edmund Mandin-Lee, Associate Photographers Tai Carter, Jennifer Kim, Kathryn Whitworth Staff Writers Michael Abelev, Wyatt Bukowski, Jake Folsom, Clair Fuller, Sofi Goode, Kristin Gunther, Kelsey Hess, Amber Laird, Chloe Lloyd, Brendan Perry, Meghan Roche, Joshua Roquemore, Alex Tranquada, Max White, Ande Withers Harry Yadav Staff Illustrators Samuel Shin, Daniel Willardson Managers Kennedy Diaz, Ads Angela Jang, Business Webmaster Makenna Sidle Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan

Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Layout and photo imaging are completed on-site. Printed

by American/Foothill Publishing Co., Inc., Tujunga, CA. Signed articles appearing in Tiger represent the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, student body, faculty or administration of SPHS. Contact the publications office at (626) 441-5820 ext. 2615 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for advertising rates and subscriptions. Tiger welcomes articles, letters or rebuttals. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be witheld upon request.

Sam Shin

What’s left of our summer vacation Staff Editorial South Pasadena High School significantly more entertaining—you students spend around 39 full weeks won’t find “Seriously Silly Science” in i n school du r i ng t he yea r. A f te r the SPHS catalogue. These summer graduation on June 17th, however, school classes are not the only sources they’ll enjoy just ten weeks of time off of s u m me r home work , howe ve r. before returning to the grind of the Preparatory packets are given out school year. This is all assuming, of at the end of the year in each math course, that those ten weeks of summer class, and most AP classes expect break can rightfully be considered students to have work complete and “time off”. Between summer school, ready to turn in on the first day of summer homework, and the unspoken school. AP Chemistry tests students expectation that the months off should on the first five units on day one, those be spent doing something conducive to taking AP Lang are expected to have a strong college application, students defined a myriad of rhetorical terms, may find that their vacation is no annotated five essays, and to have longer the leisurely affair it used to be. read, analyzed, and written about Summer school starts just five three novels. APUSH students are days after the last day of school, and given an entire textbook to read over continues for five weeks, stretching the summer, which is no exactly your well into July, a solid half of the typical beach reading.

To be fair, desite all of this entire two and a half month break. schoolwork , there S P E F ’s ve r s i o n is still time for a bit of s u m me r school of a break. Summer is quite dif ferent Students may find s c h o o l le ave s t h e f rom t he “summer that their vacation entire month of school as a terrible is no longer the August free, and AP punishment” trope. leisurely affair it work is formidable While some remedial used to be. but not inordinate. classes are offered Perhaps most over the summer, the majority of classes are designed to concerning is the unofficial pressure appeal not to those who failed a class to spend one’s summer break doing during the year, but instead those who anything that might look good on a want to get ahead. There are five-hour college application, be it a summer long classes meant to free up room in job, internship, or whatever else that a student’s schedule (Geometry, US might make a student more attractive History), classes that exist to allow to a selective college.

As junior Joyce Alexander says, all necessary material to be covered (Pre-AP Chemistry), classes meant to “There’s so much pressure to keep lay a foundation for the school year pushing, even through the summer.

(Advanced Algebra Readiness), and R at her t ha n ta ke t i me to do f u n many others that students find they things you didn’t have time for during simply don’t have time for in their eight the year, you’re expected to get an internship or job or do a summer semesters in high school.

In short, there is a class for almost program.” The drudge of competition ever y over-achieving high school and academic pressures has seeped student. Over 2,000 students district- into what was previously considered wide enroll each summer, although three months of freedom—months it worth noting that classes for the that now consist more of schoolwork elementary and middle schoolers are than summer.

Thank you.

Thank you Ms. Anderson, for defending me from a grieving mother. Thank you Mr. Wielenga and Ms. Muntz for tolerating my seasonal lack of motivation and recognizing (in some way) that I sincerely respect your intellectuality, your insight and your knowledge. I wish we had more time for debate and reflection. Thank you Mr. G for understanding.

Thank you Mrs. Moonesinghe for the debates, the heartache, and the affair. It wasn’t a Star Studded Affair, but you took me to the moon. You kicked my butt. I needed it.

Thank you Henry for our trip to LMU and back, and a brush up with Tyler. Let’s do it again in New York. Thank you Sam for your dark humor.

I hate Jesus too. Thank you Ivo for the laughs, the vaulting, and the deafening head slaps. Thank you for your cripplingly realist outlook. It’s refreshing.

Thank you Luka for the tight hugs. Those are really tight.

Thank you Lana for understanding why I would want to cut a hole in the Earth in the middle of calculus. Thank you for the faux hatred. I hate you.

Thank you Kevin for your wonder. It will take you far. Thank you Devin for the dry, reserved, biting, and painfully true insights that you provide.

You should offer them more than you do. Thank you Harry for being such a Slum Dawg. You are unapologetic. I also know more about you than you do.

Thank you Kristin. More than knowing looks and botched Tiger articles (yes, I still blame you) I would love to spend some actual time with you.

Ande, for keeping me honest, and for reducing me to a bumbling, blubbering idiot.

Nathan, Jason, Ben, Nick, Robert, Thomas, Barker. You boys are absolutely helpless. It’s adorable.

On those bus rides, I learned just as much as you did.

It’s an ancient Chinese proverb. Larrimore, you can ride on the back of a bald eagle into the heart of a volcano if you want. If you really want. Nick, you’re too smart for your own good. You challenge me.

Thank you Mr. Regan for your stoic and understanding reception of my unorthodox behavior and unorthodox learning style. You leveled me then, and you level me now.

Thank you Mr. Hogan for turning a classroom into a home. The memories wrapped up in 615 are untouchable. You are more than a mentor. You are a friend. Text me.

Thank you Tai for your attitude. I will always laugh at you. Always. Thank you Zoe for caring, more than you have to, and more than you should.

Thank you Jake for your cheeks. Thank you Zane for homemade chicken and waffles and complete lack of body control. Thank you Marcus for your brain. It’s too much like mine. Thank you Anthony for your white board. Thank you Sasha for your walk.

Toe to heel. Classic. Thank you Brendan for your nice buttocks. Thank you Jessica for finally getting on that train. Thank you Gabe for the brotherly bickering and the banter. Thanks for knowing me better than I know myself.

Thank you Libby, for doing everything I do ten times better. Thank you Hank for beating me in ping-pong. Really? You’re eleven.

Thank you Madeline for teaching me how to love.

Thank you Mom and Dad for reminding me of what is truly important.

Thank you for the laughs, the tears, and the memories. This is a thank you, but it is also a please.

Please continue the laughs, the tears. Please stay in my life. Please, always remember.

8 Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Opinion

It’s my party, I’ll wear what I want to

By Kristin Gunther Copy Editor

Avoiding bias in the classroom

By Meghan Roche Staff Writer As we go through the phases of upper-level public education, we quickly learn that there are some boundaries that some people wish teachers would make while teaching controversial subject matter. Lack of boundaries often creates such a mess that those people attempt to have the topics completely eradicated from the syllabus, but, as all good teachers know, some things simply must be taught.

Unfortunately for those teachers, however, educating students on these topics often proves to be a near-impossible feat when you have criticism and anger coming in from all sides.

“I have received angry emails accusing me of bias,” said one of my teachers last week. “The funny thing is, though, that they weren’t all accusing me of the same bias. Some said I was tilting the issue one way, some said I was tilting it the other.”

This exposes a key facet of the issue: when teachers face a class, readying themselves to teach possibly controversial facts, some students may already have their own biases. They will hear what they want—or don’t want—to hear. No matter where that bias comes from, it will act as a roadblock to a thorough education.

Everything we are taught is filtered through previous impressions and learnings, and this makes a teacher’s task that much harder. Teachers are supposed to give you the facts—not

Sam Shin

try and change your mind—but when students take a lesson personally, it turns into a petty argument that nobody will truly win.

Even so, students don’t always stand as the only obstacles during controversial lessons. The person delivering the lesson holds an immense responsibility, and it cannot be an easy task to take on.

Try as they may to be as unbiased as possible, the fact is—like some of the kids they are teaching—teachers are adults. Adults who vote, have their own belief systems, and (generally speaking) have their own minds. The subjects they have to present in a fully factual manner may even be subjects they are personally invested in. Many parents fear that unwanted views may be leaking into the information their children are being fed, and it causes them concern.

What all of these naysayers neglect to realize is that teachers are here to do a job, and in most cases, they are well-equipped to do it. Why would someone being paid to educate children put that in jeopardy by trying to push their own beliefs on kids who, in many cases, barely even manage to stay awake through a lesson? It would be idiotic, and (contrary to popular belief) most teachers aren’t idiots.

Teachers need a break and a little empathy. They’re doing their best to teach the facts, and when we treat them with contempt when they try to do so, we just sabotage ourselves. Both students and teachers need to try to put their biases aside but understand that the opposite party is not perfect.

Graduation is looming ahead and seniors planning on walking in the graduation ceremony are faced with yet another issue, aside from the ones they already face, like finding time to study for finals and filling out college forms. Seniors must now make time to find regulation graduation ceremony clothing. South Pasadena High School should be focusing on flaws like teaching styles and requiring students to pay for in-class reading books, but is instead spending time clarifying exactly what clothing is allowed under graduation robes.

Most senior girls wear white graduation robes which are somewhat transparent. Requiring girls to wear light, non-print dresses (all girls must wear dresses, by the way) though, rather than a dress they already own or prefer to wear is obsessive. If a girl is misguided in her dress choice and has an outrageous print showing through her gown, that’s her own issue.

In addition, all girls are required to wear white sandals or wedges. Many shopping savvy women know that white sandals or wedges that don’t limit themselves to the closet’s “one-time wear” pile are really difficult to find. Working within the “white” constraint (because the administration finds light gold, neutral, and cream terribly offen-

sive) proves even harder. All the time spent trying on light-colored dresses and searching for nonorthopedic style white shoes might actually be better spent studying for finals or finishing senior projects.

Not only the girls are restricted to dress regulations. For graduation, boys are required to wear a black tie with no print, dark slacks, and a dress shirt. Many boys don’t own plain black ties, and for those who don’t own a suit or appropriate dark shoes, it can be burdensome and expensive to track down all the required articles of clothing.

And on the football field under the 5:00pm sun, an all black ensemble covering from neck to toe is an invitation for heat stroke.

SPHS threatens to not let students walk in the graduation ceremony if they are not dressed according to these codes. If the administration is going to give seniors meticulous fashion rules to follow and invest so much time in ensuring that soon-to-be graduates follow these regulations, then it should just provide everything for the seniors, from a uniform black tie to uniform white flats.

“Borrowing from a relative” or “bargain hunting” are suggested ways to combat expensive shopping trips, but the times are few when borrowed or cheap clothing fits in both size and event appropriateness.

Seniors are already stressed. Spending time and money finding the required graduation styles only adds to their end-of-an-era anxiety.

The future of the Rialto and dreams lost

By Michael Abelev Staff Writer With the end of school literally days away, students have begun to set up their plans for what they want to do over summer. Aside from summer school for those who enroll, the days usually involve sleeping in late, hanging out with friends, going for a dip in the pool, going to Old Pas, visiting the beach, relaxing, and just having a good time.

With nothing good on daytime television, many teens flock to the cinema. With the release of big summer blockbusters around the corner, the theaters in Pasadena, Alhambra, and Arcadia will definitely be packed with young adults on a daily basis. But for the residents of South Pasadena High School, the lack of a functioning cinema theater in town is very unfortunate.

But some can reminisce to their childhood of when the Rialto Theater was open and still played films on a daily basis.

Participating in a battle of the bands at a young age, going to movie showings, seeing friends perform, and even going to see the

final movie showing with my best friend are just some of the reasons why I hold the Rialto Theater very close to my heart. Seeing it close on August 19, 2007 right after watching The Simpsons Movie, was a very bitter ending. The fact that I would never see another movie there again was hard to take. The Rialto, was a part of my childhood.

I still dream of the Rialto reopening someday and being able to go to there with my friends to catch the latest movie. However, the non-existent progress restoring the theater indicates that a sparkling re-opening doesn’t seem to be in the near future.

The theater is privately owned, and the owners are not planning on throwing money at the Rialto. Basically, the only hopes for restoring the theater is if someone steps out with a wad of cash screaming they’ll save the Rialto.

My dreams of going to the theater soon are all gone, but I still to this day hope that maybe in a couple years, I will come back to South Pas on break from college, meet up with friends, and go to the Rialto to watch a movie for old times’ sake.

Extra credit: devaluing student performances

By Libby Rainey News Editor Student performers put months of hard work toward a show, and the opening night finally arrives. Actors or dancers prepare backstage as the audience members take their seats, and then the performance begins.

At intermission, nearly half the audience lines up for extra credit. Some don’t even bother to stay for Act II. Extra credit can be an integral part of a student’s academic success. A buffer in the case of an unsatisfactory test grade, a needed boost from an 89 to a 90 percent; the benefit of extra credit to students is undeniable.

This isn’t true of all students, however.

Student performers gain little from the extra credit throng that forms outside each South Pasadena High School show. Not only is the scene unprofessional, the motivation of extra credit is not what should draw students to the auditorium to watch their peers sing, act,

and dance in the first place. The process may offer needed points, but it does not encourage an attitude of respect towards those involved in performances.

Performers rehearse to present a product that makes them proud to an eager audience.

It is an expectation of the performer that those who pay to see a show are there because they genuinely want to be.

Simply put, when the bulk of an audience is in the auditorium because they feel they have to be for a grade, the performance is devalued.

The value of a performance is not the lone problem with offering extra credit. A new state law is under discussion that will state that mandatory costs cannot affect student grades.

This would most definitely change the school policy on school play and recital extra credit, perhaps allowing more curriculum-based extra credit to be introduced.

This is not to say that all teachers simply hand out extra credit for supporting the arts.

English teacher Mrs. Kim Kadletz requires a

write-up and analysis of the school play in order for her students to receive extra-credit. There are surely others who incorporate the performing arts into their curriculum, instead of simply offering points for a stamped ticket. But this is a policy that needs to be adopted by all teachers at SPHS. Beyond the issue of the validity of paying for extra credit, or the issue of how extra credit is assigned at all, offering credit for attending a performance is only necessary for arts programs that cannot draw an audience by talent alone.

South Pasadena drama and dance companies are not these sorts of groups.

Students should be more than eager to see their peers display their talents and hard work through performances whether offered the incentive of extra credit or not. And if an evening in the auditorium isn’t worth it without the few extra points, it’s not a problem. No matter the number of people in seats, performers will always be grateful for an audience that is there for one reason: to appreciate the arts and those who put work in to create them.

Sam Shin

Opinion

Following your dreams at an early age

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

9

Monthly Doodle

to freely pursue classes that reflect their interests, high schools across the nation force them to enroll in numerous required What do you want to be when you courses. This crams classrooms and schedules so full of mandatory classes that it grow up?

If you are among the forty percent becomes a virtual impossibility for schools of students who will enter college with an to offer the more specialized classes that undeclared major, then you probably have teenagers wish they could take. In an efyet to decide. Even those with an answer to fort to produce well-rounded and balanced this life-altering question may find them- students, the American public education selves in a much different occupation than system prevents them from pursuing their they anticipate – roughly half of students real interests.

The fault is not with will change majors at schools or students. In fact, least once during their Students should be school districts like SPUSD college career. as free in high school should be applauded for And while in the to pursue the classes providing teenagers with past, college was an the opportunity to enroll acceptable place for stuthat interest them as in a large selection of ROP dents to find themselves they are in college. classes. The blame falls and to determine what instead on the prevailing they will do with the rest of their lives, this approach has become attitude that students must experience an increasingly impractical. The price of higher overwhelmingly uniform education.

Students should be as free in high education has skyrocketed in the past few years, and is only expected to increase. Stu- school to pursue the classes that interest dents no longer have the funds or the time them as they are in college. A core set of to dally in every subject that catches their graduation requirements should remain, fancy when every extra year at college light- but the emphasis should be on discovering where each student’s interest lies. Schools ens their wallet by forty thousand dollars.

For this reason, it is becoming more would be able to offer a much more diverse and more important for teenagers to know spectrum of classes if the inflexible list of what field they want to major in before required courses was streamlined. Students could then take classes on psychology, heading off to college.

But how can students make informed computer programming, creative writing, decisions about their college majors when genetics, philosophy, or anything else that their high school education is, in one crucial might give them a better sense of how they way, limited? Rather than allowing students want to spend their future.

By Max White Staff Writer

Daniel Willardson

Fixing a broken academic assessment system

By Devin Mitchell Opinion Editor With Final Exams next week, and the second semester quickly wrapping up, students will be desperately calculating their grades and peppering teachers with questions about how much significance the final will have and what last minute extra credit opportunities exist to help them achieve the grade they desire.

During this frenzied period, however, we rarely stop to question the established academic marking system of assigning a letter grade that corresponds to the ten-point percent percentage block each student falls under.

The basic problem with the current set-up is that two different students can

earn grades that differ by nine percentage each student’s percentage in all of their points, such as an 80% and an 89%, and still classes. Instead of assigning four points for both end up with a B on their transcript. an A, three for a B, and on down the line, One student clearly had a better academic students will have that percentage on their semester than the other, but colleges that transcript and use the average percentage look at each student’s transcript will not in all of their classes instead of their cumulative four-point-scale see that nuance. By the GPA when determining same token, the difference the valedictorians and between an 85% and an SPHS and high salutatorians and apply86% is purely trivial while schools across the ing for college. the one between an 89% country should This change would and a 90% makes a world throw out the letter force classes that give out of difference. Every point grade system. automatic A’s, or have only counts students are non-transparent methods on the border between two of determining grades grades.

SPHS and high schools across the to have specific assignments, and apply country should throw out the letter grade a more uniform method to this process. system and replace it with one that takes Furthermore, it will help to differentiate

students from each other when applying for college. With elite colleges having too many 4.0/2400 students to choose from, a system that would recognize differences between different levels of A’s would be valuable.

This is not an attack on students who take advantage of current practices to push for borderline grades and settle for lesser ones when they realize that a higher mark is impossible, and thus pointless. Figuring out how much effort we need to expend to succeed is only logical in a world of endless assignments that no one could possibly expected to give 100% effort on.

But if a more logical system was in place, everyone would be motivated to do their best on every assignment, and the number of assignments would be more manageable.

A harmless tradition

By Harry Yadav Staff Writer

Sam Shin

There are two primary aspects to the senior prank. One, of course, is that it is a prank, meaning that by nature it violates school rules. The other, more importantly, explains its lasting significance. The senior prank is a tradition that has come in the form of a water balloon fight each of the last three years.

Administration is determined to terminate the convention, but in doing so they would fail to quench a yearning so innocuous it is almost laughable.

And the void that would be left would be detrimental to any high schooler’s experience at SPHS. There is a logical reason for why the senior prank commences at the

same time every year. The blend of summer approaching, AP classes winding down, and most high school brains being thoroughly fried culminates in a desire for excitement and rebellion.

Instead of being angry, the administration should be thankful that this built up energy is being released in the form of a harmless prank.

Moreover, a year passing without the notorious act taking place would feel wrong. Not having a senior prank would be almost as ludicrous as not having color day. It truly is as much a ritual as any of our school administration’s most valued institutions.

Yet school authorities dread it before it happens, despise when it occurs, and punish those involved in its aftermath. This year school authorities assigned two Saturday schools to each

kid who threw more than three balloons. But, needless to say, the thirty kids who suffered the consequences were only a fraction of the people involved. The kids who threw water balloons are not criminals nor did they break any laws. In fact, their ability to organize themselves and execute their plans shows maturity and dedication.

I’m not going to defend breaking school rules. But in the name of tradition, from now on, administration should make make the senior prank an annual exception. Punishing the students who partake in the senior prank is unnecessary and excessive. The idea that a brief water balloon fight should be considered tantamount to a violent fight is ridiculous. It would be best for all parties involved if the administration let the seniors have their fun.

10 Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Yosemite

Yosemite

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger Page layout by Edmond Mandin-Lee Photos courtesy Nick Benzoni, Kristen Gunther, Lana Ho, Sebastian Latting

"The only thing on our minds was food, water, and where we were sleeping. That just made me realize how the simplest things could be the most important."

-Marian Slocum "It was hands down the best part of high school. I was able to connect with people I had known since kindergarten, but hadn't actually talked to."

- Nick Benzoni

3

YOSEMITE 2 0 1 1 "Yosemite is a place of wonder, both in size and by what is seen.

But the most wonderful thing is getting to know each other."

-Morgan Daley

5 "It was great to sleep under the stars and just talk."

- Sean Nang

z

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Feature

Feature

Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Culture Music Art Books Movies Fashion People

Chop Shop

By Josh Roquemore Staff Writer Little known to most citizens here, South Pasadena plays an integral part in both the music and TV industry. On Fremont Avenue, lies a seemingly normal building.

However, upon taking a venture inside, one will discover a place of musical fusion and creativity.

This extraordinary building is home to none other than Chop Shop Records label (one of many labels nation-wide). While many bands attempt to sign with them, only a select few are chosen.

“We have a joint venture with Atlantic Records and sign and release all of our artists in conjunction with them,” said Chop Shop employee Matt Mugford. “We currently have 5 acts on our label: Anya Marina, Scars On 45, Mackintosh Braun, The Republic Tigers, and Marina And The Diamonds.”

Founded and run by Alexandra Patsavas, Chop Shop Records has played an important role in integrating TV with music, and are heavily involved with TV series soundtracks.

“The head of the company, Alexandra, helped change the music industry in that Chop Shop was the first company to put quality music on TV shows,” said musician and SPHS teacher Shane Mills. “They helped make TV the new radio.”

One of their featured artists, Scars On 45, currently has the #4 single on AAA Radio charts with their song “Give Me Something,”, and will be touring with Marc Broussard in the fall.

“We all have diverse tastes here, and our roster reflects that,” said Mugford.

Chop Shop Records has helped handle the soundtracks for several well-known shows and movies. Some of these include the soundtracks for the Twilight series, Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl, The O.C., Chuck, Roswell, and Boston Public. Upon request, they select and submit a song from one of the signed bands to be featured on a soundtrack.

“All of our bands are from different parts of the country and world,” said Mugford. “It doesn’t really matter where [the music] comes from...as long as it’s good!

collider.com

Michael Fassbender, as Erik Lehnsherr or a young Magneto, gives a convincing performance in the X-Men prequel. He and James McAvoy, a young Professor X, must gather a team of mutants in order to alter the course of history.

X Marks the Spot

By Sam Shin Illustrator

4/5

After a disappointing third installment of the original X-Men trilogy and a dreadful origin story about Wolverine, it seemed like the X-Men franchise took their foot off the gas. But along came a nimble prequel that is a potent reminder of how great the first two X-Men films were. X-Men: First Class is the fifth of the series and is directed by the talented Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass).

The story starts out in the 1940’s with young Charles Xavier (McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Fassbender) discovering their mutant abilities. Before they were archenemies, they were the closest of friends, working together with other mutants. Xavier and Lehnsherr lead a team of mutants to prevent a nuclear war, set up by Sebastian Shaw (Bacon) and his Hellfire Club (a mutant society bent on taking over the world with nuclear

weapons) during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Many X-Men comic fanboys know the original first class included Cyclops, Jean Gray, Beast, Angel, and Iceman.

Though the film is very inaccurate, Matthew Vaughn is able to capture the true spirit and energy that made the first two X-Men films so memorable, something the last two installments lacked. Fox can breathe easy again because it’s safe to say that even the extreme fanboys will be putting down their pitchforks after seeing this film. Everything in this film is exceedingly better than what Fox delivered in their last two efforts with this franchise.

In addition to the inspired performances of McAvoy, Fassbender and Bacon, the story is powered by the high-spirited acting of the young cast, particularly Nicholas Hoult (Hank McCoy/ Beast) and Jennifer Lawrence (Raven/Mystique), while Lucas Till (Alex Summers/Havok) and Caleb Landry Jones (Sean Cassidy/Banshee) pro-

vide excellent supporting roles.

The biggest let-downs of this film, character wise, are the villains. Kevin Bacon isn’t the problem, but his Hellfire Club members are very underdeveloped. Sure, there were some exciting moments with Azazel, played by Jason Flemyng, but the man didn’t much dialogue. Even January Jones wasn’t put to much use as Emma Frost. With that in mind, the long and repetitive climactic naval clash between the U.S., Soviets, Hellfire Club, and the X-Men is one of the film’s stumbling points.

Vaughn delivers a fireworks display of visual effects, action, and brains. Combined with a touch of class from the two leads and the villainous Kevin Bacon, this perverse X-Men origin tale keeps you entertained.

The special effects are neat, the characters are believable, and the hardcore fans are rewarded with two cameos from the original trilogy. This X-Men film is first class indeed.

Pers onal i ty Profi l e : Kyle Ferris

By Max White Staff Writer Some people dance to the beat of their own drum. In the case of Kyle Ferris, other people dance to his beat.

Kyle, a senior at SPHS, is the drummer in his band, “Crankpot.” This “sex metal” group was formed about a year ago when he got together with friends from SPHS, Marshall, and La Verna High School.

Since then, Kyle and his bandmates have played in house shows and competed in The Battle of the Bands.

However, “Crankpot” is concerned with making music rather than money, so it has never performed in paid venues.

“We just like playing for fun,” Kyle explains.

Kyle discovered his love of drums in middle school, and he pursued this interest in his freshman year at Marshall High School through drumline and jazz

band.

Although he decided not to continue these activities when he made the switch to South Pas High as a junior, he quickly found a niche in the Tiger community. “Everyone here is super chill,” he says.

While Kyle’s greatest passion is music, this is far from his only interest; he tries to do a little of everything.

A huge sports fan, Kyle has been known to participate in a number of athletic activities, although he prefers to play for fun rather than for competition.

He joined the school soccer team last year after trying out with a couple of friends, but more recently he has been playing pick-up basketball games on the courts outside the gym.

Kyle also enjoys less physically taxing games, like pool and hacky-sack; he can often be seen kicking around a hackysack on the Tiger Patio, and has a wooden billiards table at his home built by the

Sam Gurley

Senior Kyle Ferris is a fun-loving member of the band “Crankpot,” and spreads his zeal to activities like hacky-sack on the senior patio and screen printing. school’s woodshop teacher, Mr. Jessen (who happens to be Kyle’s uncle).

He also greatly enjoys the electives he is taking at SPHS. He helped to design a State Fair winning T-shirt in Mrs. Matson’s graphic design class. In woodshop he and Sean Grab built a coffee table that

also won first prize at the fair.

Kyle will attend UC Santa Cruz in the fall, where he is thinking about majoring in business with a minor in music.

Although he never intends to give up the drums, Ferris has decided he doesn’t want to pursue a career as an artist.

Feature

SlutWalk takes LA

By Clair Fuller Staff Writer “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” said a Toronto Police officer earlier in January when discussing rape prevention. In February, a Canadian judge presiding over a rape case found the defendant guilty, but sentenced him to only two years probation—based on his perception that the woman in question was drunk and dressed provocatively, apparently excusing the rapist’s behavior. On April 3rd, outraged locals responded in the form of SlutWalk Toronto, a march/rally designed to “spread the word that those who experience sexual assault are not the ones at fault, without exception.”

The Toronto event proved to be just the beginning of the movement, however, as over 80 cities around the world (in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe) organized their own rallies. SlutWalk LA took place last Saturday, June 4th, and hundreds of Southern Californians gathered in West Hollywood carrying signs bearing slogans like “Consent is Sexy”.

Heather Jarvis and Sonya Bennett, the original organizers of SlutWalk Toronto, were hardly expecting their movement to become so widespread. SlutWalks appeal to people around the world of all gender identities, sexualities, and walks of life, self-proclaimed sluts or not. “[SlutWalk] isn’t about just one idea or one police officer who practices victim blaming, it’s about changing the system and doing something constructive with anger and frustration,” said Jarvis. The rapid success of the events around the world is a testament to this.

“We started spit-ballin’ ideas around and now, less than two months later, here we are,” said Anastasia Shevchenko, one of the primary organizers of SlutWalk San Diego.

She’s been impressed with the positive response to the movement and issue from the community. “Despite the progression of feminism in the world over the last century, sexual assault is still not taken anywhere near as seriously as it should be,” she says. “But we are going out there and getting our voices heard, and that spreads like a virus.”

OVERheard

Overheard anything interesting or funny recently?

Send us the quote(s) at feature@tigernewspaper.com!

Personality Profile

13

illustrations by Sam Shin

Marla Burke

By Amber Laird & Sofi Goode Staff Writers Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, the Carolinas, New York, Vermont, Illinois, and Missouri. In six weeks, Marla Burke hit all these places on tour as a photographer and videographer for the band Kitten, the lead singer of which is her best friend, Chloe Chaidez.

“I had no sense of time because [I would] sleep all day and stay up all night,” Burke said of the experience. The days were spent driving for hours in a cramped van with eight people in it. The nights were spent rushing into venues and hanging out with fans and the headlining band.

The tour group met a lot of people on the road. Some were just eccentric–– such as the nineteen-year-old Wiccan mother of two that they met in Myrtle Beach––but Burke also met people who were interested in her video and managing skills. Through the videos that she made for the tour and the documentary that she is putting together, Burke got a job with a music video production company as well as a gig at a music management company, The Artist Organization.

“We’ve already started working to-

Music Review: Bon Iver The song “Perth” begins the album with a blaring There is a two minute song on Justin guitar riff that wails Vernon’s For Emma, Forever Ago. “Teams,” by in place of Vernon’s far the shortest on the album, is a cacophony voice, and a militaristic boniver.org of misplaced drumbeats and horns, whistling snare that unwinds into 4/5 and electric guitar. It stands in stark contrast a mostly instrumental to the contemplative and spare spaces of his jam. “Gotta know been lead aloft,” the lyrics read, “So I’m ridding all your stories. What I bonafied break-up album.

This song, however, seems to have been know, what it is, is pouring – wire it up! You’re the jumping point for his new self-titled album, breaking your ground.” Bon Iver has plugged which will be released on June 23 on Jagjagu- in and is breaking all kinds of new ground war. Vernon retains the falsetto. He keeps the with electronic influences and throwback perempty, hollow resonance of the dulcimer and formances.

“Holocene” acoustic guitar. features a standard But after a run Vernon picking patof fame with Kanye tern accompanied by West and odd folka subtle hip-hop beat. tronica side projects, “Towers” is scattered Vernon has found a with horn synth samhearbeat. There is a ples, and tight, pop, surprising prevalence Glee harmonies and of percussion on this kylegolem.com breakdowns. The final studio-heavy project, slide guitars and Justin Vernon offers haunting vocals song, “Best / Rest” sounds like something horns reminiscent of over a smooth acoustic tracklist. straight out of Dirty his charity jam session with his high school jazz band. Each track has Dancing, Peter Gabriel-esque with a huge a distinctive and unique rhythm, punctuated hook and blaring drum machine.

Vernon is the kind of artist who producby heavy synth and syncopated effects.

This was not the solo effort of his previ- es exactly what he wants to, so don’t expect a ous Bon Iver releases. He worked with mem- repeat of Forever. In fact, don’t have any expecbers of Volcano Choir members and a pro- tations. Perhaps that’s because this is ground ducer (Rob Moose), who has worked with the breaking: a combination of new and old, of electronic and acoustic, of winter and spring.

National and Antony and the Johnsons.

By Coleman Rainey Editor-In-Chief

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

Katie Whitworth

Although senior Marla Burke’s focus has shifted from art to music management, she still gets inspiration from her home studio. gether,” Burke said. “During the summer I’m planning on working with [them] a lot.”

Burke received a full scholarship to Chapman University for Studio Art, but she is considering moving to a music management major.

“Touring made me realize that art isn’t what I love to do,” Burke said. “I like it… and I’m good at it, but music is what really keeps me awake at night.”

Burke enjoys managing for bands as well as producing her own music. After the tour, she started writing music with the

keyboard player of Kitten. The project is called Tapioca and the Flea and is already accumulating a Facebook fan base. While she likes singing, she said that “managing is more [her] thing.”

Burke hopes to get into managing with her summer jobs, though it will be difficult for her to work in Los Angeles next year.

“I’ll definitely get some great work experience… and hopefully make some good connections in the industry,” Burke said. “The music industry is all about connections.”

14 Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Feature

Neurotic, Owen Wilson searches for the Golden Age

L.A. Noire

By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer

By Michael Abelev Staff Wrtier

Woody Allen is an expert when it comes to writing about dysfunctional relationships. He has continued to morph his idiosyncratic persona into his wildly successful stream of endearingly awkward, yet amusing films. The same quirky director, actor, and writer from New York who brought us Sleeper, Annie Hall, and Manhattan has made a tremendous comeback. After a several year lull, Woody Allen is back and better than ever with his newest film, Midnight in Paris.

Owen Wilson plays Gil, an accomplished but unsatisfied screenwriter aspiring to write his first novel. Gil’s fiancée is Inez, played by the stunning-as-always Rachel Mcadams. They visit Paris with family and friends for a temporary break from the real world, and Gil discovers a pleasant surprise when he gets much more than he bargained for.

While strolling the enchanting streets of Paris, the booming stroke of midnight presented a life-changing opportunity for the struggling writer. It all started when a vintage car pulled up and invited Gil to join them, and soon after he discovered that this encounter had transported him back to the

For several months prior to its release, L.A. Noire wasn’t receiving the publicity that games like Battlefield 3 or Modern Warfare 3, which aren’t due for release till fall, but once it was released the crowds were in love, and so was I. If you plan on playing L.A. Noire and getting a Grand Theft Auto experience, you’re wrong. Though it is similar at times, the way the game is carried out is very different. The game concentrates on emphasizing on the details that are experienced, said, and done, rather than running around and shooting people at random.

L.A. Noire revolves around LAPD Detective Cole Phelps in 1947 Los Angeles.

A recently discharged soldier World War II vet, Phelps deals with the stress of the life of a detective in Los Angeles and his troubling experiences from the war. As you play through the game as Phelps, you deal with many cases from multiple categories ranging from homicide, to vice, to arson.

The game sets investigating as the main way of progressing further through.

Things such as what is said and how it’s said, tone of voice, facial expression, and body motions all play into the simple three categories of interrogation: their telling the truth, there’s doubt, their lying. Finding the smallest details and being good at it allows you to progress through the story with favorable events happening.

The game plays out like an award winning Hollywood film. Everything from story, to music, to voice acting in the movie is amazing. The games graphics are astounding. There is occasional glitch for a moment, but the view of San Gabriel mountains will distract you momentarily. At times, you will be watching a conversation Phelps will be having with someone and thing you will be watching an actual film. The facial expressions are extremely realistic. Everything from as the eyebrows shifting, to the wrinkles, to the small evil smirk a suspect can make with their mouth, everything is so perfect and comes and definitely comes into play of the progress of the game.

In the midst of all this good, there has to be something wrong. Well there is, there’s no multiplayer. Though there is no worry, the game has multiple downloadable content in shore to be released soon so the game has plenty of new things so players can keep coming back for more.

notjustanothermilla.com

Gil, played by Owen Wilson, travels back in time to early twentieth-century Paris and meets the beautiful Adriana as she lives among the Hemingways and Fitzgeralds. early 1920’s - an era he had always idolized. Gil met and quickly fell for an alluring “art-groupie” from the 20’s, Adriana.

At the time, Adriana was in denial between two lovers, Ernest Hemmingway and Pablo Picasso - but then she met Gil. In the beginning, their undeniable chemistry and similarities appealed to each other. However, their shared love for time traveling to a “Golden Era” eventually threatened to tear apart their complicated relationship because they would never be able to live together in the same era. In the end, Gil learned that every era has their highlights, and time traveling may not be a necessity in order to discover true love.

A confused man in love with a girl from a different era – the simplistic plot sounds intriguing, but Midnight in Paris is so much more. The heart-warming tale of a lost man looking for the right girl at the right time is not only one of Woody Allen’s best films, but will undoubtedly become a classic. This perplexing love story reminds the viewer of the Time Traveler’s Wife and Inception, but with comedic relief. It’s refreshing to see a solid movie unconcerned with incorporating the perfect amount of jokes, love, and drama. The film flowed flawlessly, and Allen goes back to basics with this nonchalant yet charming masterpiece.

CollegeConfidential: the web’s best kept secret

By Brendan Perry Staff Writer The college application season has shifted over the past several years. Choosing where to apply, writing personal statements, asking for letters of recommendation, what used to be the agony of first semester senior year has become the added stress of junior year.

This year SPHS juniors were asked to submit a personal statement, a universal college application, a resume, a student brag sheet, a parent brag sheet, and a list of colleges they were considering to the counselors via an English class assignment.

While this shift has added even more pressure to junior year, it is warranted.

Students are applying to more and more colleges every year and consequently filling out more applications. The applicant pool has become more and more competitive every year for the past five years, and

therefore every essay needs to be as perfect as it can possibly be if a student wants to be accepted to his or her dream college.

Luckily, new resources and forms of support have emerged in the past decade to give all those Harvard hopefuls peace of mind.

College Confidential is a website that contains forums for each university, where thousands of threads are started daily. Every topic from academics to food to parties is discussed to death by applicants, current students, and alumni. I found it to be an online support system, composed of people who are going through the same thing that I was. They are with you every step of the process. They are there for the stress of writing essays, for the anxiety of

submitting, and for the torture of awaiting decisions. Whatever question I had about any school, I could always find the answer on College Confidential.

It’s not perfect. It is full of overly concerned parents asking questions about safety, and pretentious smart kids that post their 4.0 GPA, 2400 SAT scores, and 2000 hours of community service on a “chance me” thread and ask if they have the slightest chance of getting in anywhere. But, CollegeConfidential.com is a great resource and I strongly encourage you to use it.

Not everyone will be able to make a visit to every school and learn first hand what attending that university would be like. This website may just be the next best thing.

Summer Trends Some hideous trends will never go away, and neither will the hype of summer fashion. This year especially, some unexpected styles have emerged. Everything from classic whites to glamorous maxidresses look fabulous in Vogue, but some aren’t practical in the life of a high school student.

So far in the season, we have seen trends that we’ve never seen before. New shoes that are becoming popular are topsiders. Their non-gender specific causality makes them an easy option to match with any outfit, whether it is to school or to the beach.

Another piece you’re bound to buy is a new bathing suit. However, instead of looking for the simple triangle or bandeau bikini top, pick your era. Different eras, especially the 70’s, will be especially iconic this summer. They’re clas-

by Kelsey Hess

sic timelessness keeps it interesting and carefree all summer long. Try not to be afraid to go outside the box with your swimwear, and know that high waisted bottoms are always flattering. Don’t forget to choose suits that accentuate your best features!

A great outfit to throw together may be easier than you think. Neons are big this summer, including bright colors like yellow and cobalt blue. They key to pulling these off are to match with a mute or pastel solid. Lace, crochet, macramé and crop tops are some examples of materials and styles to match other pieces with. Belted high-waisted shorts are a goto with a tucked in blouse and cute sandals. If you’re not in a mood for shorts, dress pants are making a comeback compared to last year’s skirts. Bell-bottoms, wide leg, and Capri

pants will be big for the colder nights.

And finally, the best of them all: Dresses. Maxi dresses, where the dress ends mid-thigh and continues sheer to the ankles, are hitting both the runways and the streets. This creates a casual elegance that can be dressed up or down for each occasion. One-shouldered dresses are more known in formal wear, but their ease and sophistication makes it a fashion staple for this summer. For the more casual wear, uneven dresses that gain length in the back are a new style to look forward to. Lastly, jumpsuits and rompers are trends that are here to stay. Rompers were big last year, but there are different varieties of them to wear all summer long. Different styles will flatter different body shapes, but cinching your one piece with a neutral or braided belt creates an hourglass illusion, whether it is with a jumpsuit, romper, or dress.

Summer is the perfect opportunity to create a new image, starting with a new wardrobe. Hear what fashion enthusiasts at SPHS had to say about their favorite trends this summer:

“ ” “” “ I’m excited for bright color spectrums, especially indigo, orange, yellow, and fuchsia. Anything casual, summery and carefree paired with basic neutrals will be in.

- Anavictoria Pumphrey, 12

5/5

Summer is all about bathing suits, especially in turquoises and other blues.

- Hailey Leach, 9

Zebra prints and metallic are really fun to wear during summer.

- Elizabeth Stellar, 9

Tribal prints always seem to be in style, but they key to looking good over the summer is to be tan, because then everything will contrast well on you.

- Tabitha Genato, 9

Feature

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

15

Things to do Take a break from finals or kick off the summer with these upcoming local events.

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What: Food Truck Chow Down The inaugural Food Truck Chow Down boasts over 50 trucks and live music.

Where: Los Angeles State Historic Park (1245 N Spring St, Los Angeles) More info: foodtruckchowdown.com, $10

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What: THREAD Show Those interested in fashion can meet with designers, learn to make DIY clothes, and reinvent their wardrobes.

Where: The Cooper Design Space (860 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles) More info: threadshow.com, $10 at the door, $5 RSVP

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What: Make Music Pasadena A free musical celebration in the streets of Pasadena featuring indie artists such as Best Coast and Ra Ra Riot.

Where: Various Pasadena locations More info: makemusicpasadena.org, free

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What: Pasadena Chalk Festival A 2-day celebration of chalk drawings in the Pasadena sidewalks.

Where: Paseo Colorado (280 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena) More info: pasadenachalkfestival.com, free

JUNE

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What: SPHS Art Show Reception 21 students will showcase their work at the 4th annual show, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

Where: SoPas Gallery (1121 Mission St., South Pasadena) More info: exhibit runs from June 8 to July 6

5 - 7 p.m.

11 a.m.

- 6 p.m.

JUNE

Sam Gurley

11 a.m. 6 p.m.

Sam Gurley

Top: Luka purchases candy from Aji Ichiban. Bottom: Luka enjoys a vegetarian meal. go—but as a wise man once wisely said, “Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.” The column may be finished, but the adventures will never end. We’ll just have to put some gas in the car and keep driving.

Farewell. Sam and Luka out.

JUNE

Master adventurers Sam and Luka are no strangers to poignancy. Our years of friendship have brought many bittersweet moments. Yet nothing has compared to what we have endured over the past few weeks: the realization that the splurge-tastic funfest that is SLAAGLAA is coming to a close. Instead of weeping over the saga’s conclusion, we decided to make our last adventure one we would truly remember.

Sam and I find it a riot that if you type in “thi” on a Google search, the first suggestion is “things to do in Los Angeles.” While we do often spend a considerable amount of time plotting our adventures, it is no chore to find something fun to do in this great metropolis. Most times, all you need to do is put some gas in the car and start driving. And that’s exactly what we did— causing us to end up lost in a flurry of Asian culture. More specifically, the treasure trove known as the San Gabriel Plaza.

The San Gabriel Plaza is home to an impressive assortment of boutiques and food hailing from a wide variety of

Asian countries. Two white folks such as Sam and I felt as if we had entered another world when we visited the plaza. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more fascinating than browsing among foreign products with innocent, alien eyes.

Many attractions call the San Gabriel Plaza home, but we spent most of our time at the large 99 Ranch supermarket, the candy store Aji Ichiban, and the legendary Gourmet Vegetarian Chinese restaurant, the last of which serves jaw-droppingly amazing Chinese food, all of it vegetarian. We recommend trying the sweet and sour mushroom chicken.

However, while Sam and I didn’t realize it at first, the main purpose of this adventure was to confirm our great friendship. After our sumptuous meal at Gourmet Vegetarian, Sam cracked open a fortune cookie and read the message inside: “You are a true friend.” A tear welled up in his left eye as he looked up at me from across the table. Yes, it was hard for us to avoid the fact that we were experiencing our very last SLAAGLAA adventure, and such acceptance did not welcome any shouts of joy. We are sad to see our column

JUNE

By Luka Douridas Assoc. Opinion Editor

JUNE

Sam & Luka’s Awesome Adventures in the Greater L.A.

11 a.m. 9 p.m.

and

SPACE: out-of-this-world art

By Ande Withers Staff Writer Two years ago, a group of South Pasadena residents came together to establish SPACE, the South Pasadena Arts Center in the heart of downtown South Pas. Led

by Director Hope Perello, SPACE has succeeded in providing the community with an artistic space in which children, teens, and adults alike are able to explore their own creativity.

“We realized there are great creative resources here,” said Perello. “We wanted to bring them together and make the community at large aware of them.”

In addition to hosting gallery shows and openings of Los Angeles based artists (nearly fifteen to date), SPACE sells books and gifts and holds art-making workshops.

The center features a wide variety of these workshops in order to provide an activity for every member of the family. The SPACE staff comprises many passionate artists that serve as teachers for a wide variety of classes. These include typical activities like illustration, printmaking, “clay play”, painting, ceramics, and sculpting, as well art exploration, fiction writing, digital video, and photography. SPACE also frequently welcomes musical guests.

Additionally, SPACE hosts a threeweek Summer Arts Camp during August.

Courtesy of Hope Perello

SPACE provides a creative environment for South Pasadena residents of all ages.

In the past, the workshops have included fashion design, drama, yoga, theater, dance, film and more. SPACE also began AIR, or Artist in Residence, last year, a sixweek program in which local teaching artists provide visual arts programs to all three South Pasadena elementary schools.

Just last year, SPACE began AIR, or Artist in Residence. This six-week program, run through tge three South Pasadena elementary schools, promotes art and art education in the community. Local artists serve as teachers to provide a visual arts-based curriculum.

“The response to the program from the students, parents and staff has been so great, that we will be returning next fall with a slightly expanded curriculum,” said Perello. “We have big hopes and dreams for the future of SPACE.”

Look Alike

Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook CEO

Michael Mendenhall, Freshman

16 Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011 A-C Aalem Tara Sacramento State University Business Abbey Robert Pasadena City College Engineering Ahn Junsoo Pasadena City College Undeclared Akhtab Ciri Pasadena City College Nursing Alvarado Gabriel Pasadena City College

Sound Engineering Alvarez Deziree Pasadena City College Dance Amini Monica Glendale Community College Business Amiri Leyla University of California, Riverside Business Anderson Dakota Santa Monica College Photography Astle Jefferson Brigham Young University - Idaho Kinesiology Attebery Aric Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Hospitality/Restaurant Management Badillo Brenda Pasadena City College Undeclared Bae Kichung Mt. San Antonio College Business Bahmani Kiarash Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Hospitality Management Barba Arielle Pasadena City College Communications Barrett Forrest Pasadena City College Music Bays John California State University, Monterey Bay

Political Science Beck Kelsee Glendale Community College Nursing Bednarski Conor Fullerton College Engineering Benitez Lucas California State University, Los Angeles Undeclared Benzoni Nicholas University of California, Los Angeles

Mechanical, Electrical Engineering Bergmann Kim Academy of Art University

Graphic Design Binns Mercedes Arizona State University Psychology Bonilla-Myers Elise Pasadena City College Art Bonk-Currie Kristian Pasadena City College

Business, Communication Bourgeois Ivo Pasadena City College

Environmental Studies Bourland Ethan Johnson and Wales University

International Hotel and Lodging Management Bowen Brandon Navy

Brown Tyler University of California, Davis Neurobiology Buchen Daniel Wake Forrest University Neuroscience Bukowski Randa Gap Year

Bulgarelli Julianna Fordham University Dance Burke Marla Chapman University

Studio Art Byun Ara Art Center College of Design Illustration Caceres Linda California State University, Northridge

Film Production Cam Norman Pasadena City College Undeclared Camarena Hallein Pasadena City College

Astronomy, Astrology Canares James California State University, Northridge Journalism Cardenas Chelsea Pasadena City College Undeclared Cardenas Michelle Pasadena City College Undeclared Carmona Yaver Alexandra Pasadena City College History Carrillo Patricia Pasadena City College Biology Carter Tai University of Redlands

Liberal Studies Carver Michael Pasadena City College Undeclared Centrone-Castro Tizoc Pasadena City College Physics Chacon Kassandra Pasadena City College Psychology Chan Melissa Northeastern University Accounting Chang Clement Purdue University Pre-Pharmacy Chang Kristy University of California, Los Angeles

Undeclared Physical Science Chang Alex University of California, Riverside Business Chapman Galvin Pasadena City College

Musical Theory, Child Development Charney Benjamin Grinnell College Undeclared Charney Sara Occidental College

Foreign Relations and World Affairs Chau Kenny Pasadena City College, Army Art Chavez Chrisman Cecilia Pasadena City College Undeclared Che Sabrina Art Center College of Design

Photography, Imaging Chen Caleb Pasadena City College Undeclared Chen Christine Columbia University

Biomedical Engineering Chen Christopher University of California, Davis

Computer Science Chen Jun-Ren University of California, Berkeley Undeclared Chenelia Brittany University of Dubuque Business Chi Harrison University of California, Davis Economics Chiu Oi Man Brigham Young University - Idaho Art Cho Brenden Pasadena City College, Marines

Law Enforcement Choi Sung Pasadena City College Engineering Christopher Levi California State University, Los Angeles Business Chung Patrick Santa Monica College/Pasadena City College

Web Development Clark Paige Pasadena City College Undeclared Colerider Krugh Glenna Grinnell College

English, Political Science Colmenares Arlene Pasadena City College Nursing Colmenares Ilse Undisclosed Undisclosed Courtney Sean Citrus College Accounting Crespin Jeremy Pasadena City College Undeclared Cummings Marcus Citrus College Business Cuyegkeng Timothy University of California, Irvine

Biological Science

D-H Daley Morgan

Dave Nikita

Davis Jennifer

De La Torre Cristina

Dean Aria

Denham Blake

DeVita Nora

Diaz Kennedy

Donelan Anna

Donovan Brian

Doolittle Allison

D’Oro Anthony

Douglas Devon

Douridas Luka

Downing Mallory

Dunn Julia

Ehlig Kyle

Eisen Derek

Allegheny College History Loyola Marymount University Business Administration Gonzaga University English Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona Undeclared Oberlin College Undeclared Working, Traveling University of Redlands Psychology Seattle University Environmental Science Pasadena City College Psychology Pasadena City College Environmental Science Santa Monica College Liberal Arts, Education Northwestern University Biological Science, Neurobiology Vangaurd University of Southern California Communications New York University Journalism Palm Beach Atlantic University Education University of California, Santa Cruz Marine Biology, Biology American Musical and Dramatic Academy Musical Theater Santa Barbara City College Biochemistry

After SPHS: Class of 2011

S P H S

Class of 2011

Page by Coleman Rainey

After SPHS

Tiger’s annual senior survey and individual phone calls yielded a response from 375 graduating members of the senior class. Beside each name are listed plans for higher education and intended major, employment, or military enlistment.

Top Five Intended Majors

Public or Private

In State or Out of State

Business 6.9% Psychology 4.5% Biology 4.0% Nursing 2.9% History 2.6%

Private Public

California

Out of State International

University / College

30% 70%

77.1% 18.4% 1.33%

Number Attending

Evergreen State College Seattle University Whitman University Reed University University of Oregon Brigham Young University, Idaho Grinnell College Northwestern University Brigham Young University

2 3 1 1 2 6 1 1 1









 

 



University / College

Number Attending

University of Colorado Boulder 2

Arizona State University 1 University of Arizona 1 University of Notre Dame 1 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 1 Purdue University 1 Southwestern University 1 Elizarraraz Clarissa

Endacott Camille

Endacott Nicole

Eom Joseph

Espinoza Crystal

Fan Tyler

Ferris Kyle

Figueroa Kevin

Fitzpatrick Ian

Flynn Kelly

Folsom Jake

Fournier Justin

French Andrew

Frias Alexis

Gabriel Elise

Galper Hailey

Gao Kevin

Garnitz David

Gecoso Matthew

Genato Jordanne

Giberson Matthew

Glaeser Jennifer

Godawita Prabodha

Godwin Madeline

Gomez Jasmine

Gomez Joshua

Goni Ellie

Gonzalez Melissa

Goode Joseph

Gorshteyn Dennis

Grab Sean

Gunther Kristin

Gurley Samuel

Gutierrez Pamela

Guzowski Carson

Hall Andrew

Hall Harry

Harmer Anthony

Harrison Esme

Hatch McKay

Hathaway Anna-Lena

Hayes Sean

Helgeson Matthew

Herrera Kristen

Hill Stephanie

Hilliard Brandon

Ho Lana

Holguin Marcos

Hondagneu-Messner Sasha



Marymount University OBGYN, Photography Azusa Pacific University Communications Azusa Pacific University Biology Pasadena City College Business Santa Monica College Undeclared University of Michigan Undeclared University of California, Santa Cruz Undeclared Santa Clara University Biomedical Engineering Pasadena City College Undeclared Conchordia University, Portland Oregon Sports Management University of Colorado at Boulder History, Theater University of California, Santa Barbara Biology Pasadena City College Business Administration Santa Monica College Undeclared Southwestern University Foreign Languages Seattle University Anthropology Quest University Pharmacology University of Southern California History, Physics Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona Electrical Engineering Pasadena City College Sociology High Point University Criminal Justice University of Southern California International Relations, Global Business Pasadena City College Art Boston University Undeclared California State University, Los Angeles Undeclared Whittier College Criminal Justice, Philosophy, Political Science Make-Up Designory, Santa Monica College Undeclared Pasadena City College Undeclared Northeastern University Computer Science Cal State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo Electrical Engineering Golden West College Undeclared Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Industrial Engineering Reed University Economics, Nuclear Engineering Mt. San Antonio College History Humboldt State University Environmental Economics Citrus College Criminal Justice Cuesta College Viticulture California College of the Arts Illustration, Art Pasadena City College English, Musical Theater Brigham Young University - Idaho Undeclared Marist College Education & Criminal Justice Pasadena City College Psychology Pasadena City College Mental Development San Diego City College Dance Pasadena City College Pre-Medicine Pepperdine University Physics Stanford University Biology St. John’s University, Staten Island Government and Politics Pitzer College Political Science

Horng Elaine University of California, Berkeley

Environmental Engineering Huang Kay University of California, Riverside Undeclared Huang Norman Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Business Accounting Huang Joanna University of California, Los Angeles Psychology Huang Tim University of Southern California

Computer Science Huh Daniel Work

Hulett Olivia Marymount University Undeclared Hurley Thelonious University of California, Santa Barbara

Physical Sciences Hwang Brandon Gap Year

I-L

Iio Jane Cal State University, Los Angeles Undeclared Im Charles University of California, Riverside Undeclared Ismail Adam University of California, Merced Chemistry Jang Hannah Biola University Nursing Javaheri Kaveh Evergreen State College Undeclared Johnson Jasmine Golden West College Psychology Juergensen Raven Occidental College Undeclared Jun Sam Cal State University, Northridge Financing Kabealo Jacob Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Chemical Engineering Kahn Gabriel University of California, Berkeley

Women Studies Kahn Marcus University of Saint Andrews

Ancient History and Philosophy Kan Hannah University of California, Davis Design Kan Jazmin San Diego State University Kinesiology Kanuma Ikuru University of California, Santa Cruz Engineering Karimloo Ashkan University of California, Santa Barbara Undeclared Kelly Audrey Humboldt State University Undeclared Kennedy Morgan Howard Univeristy Pre-Law Khilnani Shaan Pasadena City College

Computer Science Kim Ed University of Oregon Kinesiology Kim Andrew Cal State University, Long Beach

Environmental Science Kim Daniel Pasadena City College Undeclared Kim Jennifer Westmont College Undeclared Kim JuYoung Chapman University Psychology Kim Tina Cal State University, Long Beach

Graphic Design Kinnoin Oliver Humboldt State University Undeclared Kinsey Symaan Santa Monica College

Performing Arts Kitchens Sarah Gap Year, Travel

Ko Susan Pasadena City College Pre-Pharmacy Kochaon Vitecha John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Kubela Alexandra Pasadena City College Psychology Kwok Alexander Pasadena City College Nanoscience Lai Claudia Cal State University, Long Beach

Interior Design Lai Patrick University of California, Irvine Criminology Lai William Pennsylvania State University

Computer Science Landeros Joseph Cal State University, Los Angeles Physics Larrimore Alexander Cuesta College Business Latiolais Russell

Latting Sebastian Whittier College Undeclared

After SPHS: Class of 2011

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

University/College University/College

Number Attending

Number Attending

Academy of Art University

2

University of California Davis

10

American Musical and Dramatic Academy 1

University of California Berkeley

7

Art Center College of Design

3

6

Azusa Pacific University

4

University of California Santa Cruz

University of California Santa Barbara 6

Biola University 2

University of California Los Angeles 12

California College of the Arts

1

University of California Riverside

7

Cal. Poly. Pomona

7

7

Cal. Poly. San Luis Obispo

5

7

Cal. State University Sacramento

1

Cal. State University Long Beach

6

Cal. State University Los Angeles

8

Cal. State University Monterey Bay

1

Cal. State University Northridge

4

Chapman University

3

Citrus Community College

4

University of California Irvine University of California San Diego

 



Cuesta College 4 





Number Attending

University/College



Northeastern 2 Boston University 2

 

Columbia University 

2

Eugene Lang: New School for Liberal Arts 2 Cornell University 1





Fordham University

1

Syracuse University

2

New York University

2

Parsons the New School for Design

1

University of Pennsylvania

2

Haverford College 1 Bryn Mawr College

1

Virginia Poly Institute and State University 1 Oberlin College 1 University of Michigan

1

Mercer University 1 Lau Nicole

Le Nghiem Alice

Lee Ariel

Lee Catalina

Lee Christine

Lee Diana

Lee Joanne

Lee Jonathan

Lee Jooyeon

Lee June

Lee Kelsey

Lee Jane

Lee Stacy

Lee Timothy

Leelayoova Patarin

Leung Nicholas

Li Davy

Li Jeffery

Li Cindy

Li Perry

Li Stephen

Lin Alan

Lind Michael

Lloyd Chloe

Lopez Danielle

Lujano Ashley

Lustig Abigail

Lyon Ariadne

San Diego State University Nursing Pasadena City College Psychology Glendale Community College Undeclared Cornell University Chemical, Biomolecular Engineering Cal State University, Los Angeles Undeclared University of California, Merced Undeclared Cal State University, Los Angeles Nursing University of California, Irvine Business, Economics School in South Korea Undeclared University of California, Riverside Undeclared University of Redlands Speech Pathology, Communicative Disorders University of the Pacific Pre-Pharmacy University of California, Davis Chemistry University of California, Los Angeles Political Science Art Institute of California, San Francisco Undeclared University of California, Berkeley Bioengineering University of California, Berkeley Undeclared Loyola Marymount University Business University of California, Santa Barbara Economics, Mathematics University of California, Irvine Business, Economics University of California, Santa Cruz Chemistry Pasadena City College Business Whittier College Psychology Chapman University Political Science, Educational Studies East Los Angeles College Undeclared Azusa Pacific University Psychology Santa Barbara City College Communications University of Southern California Psychology

M-P MacCarthy Evan

MacPhee Zane

Mark Megan

Martin Malinna

Martin Patrick

Martinez Rosalinda

May Jessica

McRae Clarke

Mehren Henry

Meier Jenny

Melford James

Memic Loris

Meng Iver

Mitchell Emilia

Moje Kristine

Molina Andrew

Monarrez Lisa

2

Humboldt State University

4

Loyola Marymount University

 



East L.A. Community College

University of California, Davis Fermentation Sciences Whitman College History, Political Science University of California, Riverside Art, Photography Pasadena City College Business Citrus College Undeclared Pasadena City College Veterinary Medicine Pasadena City College Psychology Mira Costa/San Diego City College Dance USC, Thornton School of Music Music University of Southern California Business, Communication Pasadena City College Film, Game Design, Undeclared Santa Barbara City College Psychology University of California, Los Angeles Bioengineering Pasadena City College International Relations Cal State University, Long Beach Nursing University of San Diego Physics Glendale Community College Physical Therapy

2 Marymount College 2 Mt. San Antonio College 3 Occidental College 6 Pasadena City College 79 Pepperdine University 2 Pitzer College 1 Saint Mary’s College of California 1 San Diego State University 3 San Francisco State University 3 Santa Barbara City College 4 Santa Clara University 1 Santa Monica College 8 Southern California Institute of Architecture 1 Stanford University 2 University of Redlands 2 University of San Diego 1 University of San Francisco 1 University of Southern California 8 University of the Pacific 2 Whittier College 4 Vangaurd University of Southern California 1

Moon Jenna

Moon Joseph

Morales Vincent

Moreno Lawrence

Muir Carly

Nakamura Kathryn

Nang Sean

Naritoku Jonathan

Nelson Matthew

Nicholas Austin

Nomura Alexandria

Nuñez Christopher

O’Neil Jennifer

Ong Keren

Owens Peter

Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona Biology Pasadena City College Pre-Medicine Syracuse University Political Science California State University, Northridge Kinesiology Saint Mary’s College of California Psychology Whittier College Kinesiology University of California, Los Angeles Biology Biola University Environmental Sciences, Music Cal State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo Business Administration King’s College London International Business Pasadena City College Business Cuesta College Undeclared Brigham Young University - Idaho Education, Nursing University of California, San Diego Bioengineering University of Arizona

P-S

Pace Shalini

Pacheco Amelia

Paik Jane

Palomino Angelina

Pan Moses

Pan Yi Lin

Parada Laura

Park Andrew

Park Irene

Park Sean

Parson Blake

Paterson Ian

Paz Andres

Perera J Virangika

Perez Matthew

Perez Nicholas

Perry Brendan

Phillips Marissa

Pipitharut Narisa

Pires Destinee

Pons Samuel

Primuth Nicholas

Priver Kyle

Prudhomme Andrew

Pruett Alexandria

Pumphrey Anavictoria

Puu Vincent

Qiao Jenny

Qin Victor

Quon Ryan

Rainey Coleman

Business Occidental College Undeclared Brigham Young University - Idaho Political Science Taking a year off University of California, Davis Human Development Art Center College of Design Photography, Imaging Pasadena City College Art, Urban Planning, Architecture San Francisco State University Cinema University of California, Riverside Undeclared Humanities Parsons the New School for Design Fashion Design Syracuse University Undeclared Boston University Physical Therapy Western Washington University Undeclared Pasadena City College Architecture University of California, Davis Anthropology, English Work Pasadena City College Writing, Journalism University of Notre Dame Undeclared Santa Monica College Film California State University, Long Beach Biological Sciences Pasadena City College Nursing Princeton University Physics Azusa Pacific University Undeclared Haverford College Physics Navy Pasadena City College Business, Law Pasadena City College Architecture University of California, San Diego Biochemistry, Predentistry Santa Monica College/Pasadena City College Elementary Education University of California, Santa Barbara Biology Cal State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo Business Columbia University Environmental Engineering

Ramirez Andrea

Ramirez Christopher

Ramirez Stephanie

Randall Sarah

Ravenelle Luke

Ravenelle Matthew

Ree Somin

Ree Amy

Reyes Johnn Richard

Rietta Kyle

Riley Alexander

Roemer Katherine

Roldan Ingrid

Roman Jade

Roquemore Michael

Ruben Estelle

Rudchenko Alex

Salazar Qylan

San Pedro Anthony

Sasaki Kay

Scherer Abigail

Schexnayder Mayan

Schulz Gretchen

Sedano Jacqueline

Senthilkumar Nirupama

Seo David

Sharma Ruby

Shi Harry

Shin Samuel

Shipley Sebastian

Siegel Zoe

Siew Ken

Sinclair James

Singh Angelique

Skilan Alyssa

Slocum Marian

Stambler Henry

Steele Benjamin

Steur Corey

Stone Michael

Suh Eileen

Sung Carl

Suthar Himal

Sutton Camille

Swanson Brian

17

University of La Verne Movement and Sports Science Pasadena City College Business Pasadena City College Undeclared Army Computer Program Specialist Pasadena City College Entertainment Design, Architecture Pasadena City College Product Design University of California, San Diego Chemistry Ohio State University Business California State University, Los Angeles Mechanical Engineering Pasadena City College Biology Humboldt State University Botany, Music Brighan Young University Biology, Pre-Veterinary Medicine University of San Francisco Pre-Law University of Denver Biology Pasadena City College Spanish, Linguistics Eugene Lang: The New School for Liberal Arts English Language Santa Barbara City College Undeclared Pasadena City College Criminal Justice University of California, Los Angeles Electrical Engineering University of California, Santa Cruz Political Science, International Relations San Diego State University Nursing University of Oregon Sports Marketing San Francisco State University Kinesiology San Francisco State University Business Administration University of California, Los Angeles Chemical Engineering University of California, San Diego Undeclared University of California, Los Angeles Nursing University of Southern California Biochemistry, Pre-Medicine, Biotech Academy of Art University Illustration Cuesta College Psychology Grossmont College Undeclared University of California, Davis Food Science Occidental College Undeclared St. John’s University Child Development Pasadena City College Nursing Bryn Mawr College Undeclared Eugene Lang: The New School for Liberal Arts Ethnomusicology Colorado College Molecular Biology Glendale Community College Undeclared University of California, Los Angeles Biochemistry New York University Hotel Management University of California, San Diego Pharmacology University of Southern California Biomedical Engineering Seattle University Sociology, Art History Pepperdine University Sports Medicine

T-Z Swayze Sam University of California, Santa Cruz History Tahani Bidmeshki Dawn Glendale Community College Biology Tang Brandon Pasadena City College

Criminal Justice Tang Scott California State University, Pomona

Music Production Tripodes Georgia Occidental College History Tripodes Marika Occidental College History Tsai Derek Community Education Center, PCC Business Tsui Constance East Los Angeles College

Hospitality Management, Communication Tumaykina Yuliya Pasadena City College

Interior Architecture Valentine Shane Southern California Institute of Architecture Architecture Veiller Anthony University of Colorado at Boulder

Biochemical Warfare Villeda Rosman Pasadena City College Business Waldo Abigail University of Wisconsin, Madison Undeclared Walton Jessica Brigham Young University - Idaho Business Wang George University of California, Irvine

Computer Science Wang Jasper University of California, Irvine

Civil Engineering Wang Justin Cal State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo

Business Administration, Architecture Wang Sean Stanford University Biology Wayne Maxwell Job/Internship

Weiner Jon University of California, Berkeley Physics Welch Amanda Glendale Community College Communications West Matthew Cal State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo

Electrical Engineering White Jeffrey Pasadena City College Writing Willis Edward Pasadena City College

History, English Winn Amber Pasadena City College Undeclared Withers Andrea University of California, Santa Barbara

English Language Wong Jennifer California State University, Long Beach Undeclared Wong Mandy University of California, Los Angeles

Business, Economics Xing Steven University of Pennsylvania

Economics, Nanotech Yan Stephanie San Diego Mesa College Biology Yang Tony Pasadena City College Undeclared Yang Sam University of California, Los Angeles Bioengineering Yang Andrew University of California, Davis Biology Yang Jamie University of California, San Diego

Computer Engineering Ybarra Sarah Undecided French Yeh Olivia California State University, Fullerton

Business Management Yeow Jessica Gap Year in Taiwan

Yi Chris Mt. San Antonio College

Criminal Justice Yin Kevin University of Pennsylvania Business You Augustin Mercer University

Chemistry, Pre-Pharmacy Youngstrom Benjamin Pasadena City College

Spanish, Sports Medicine Youngstrom Schuyler Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Environmental Science Yu Andrew University of the Pacific

Chemistry, Pre-Pharmacy Zatarain Christopher Pasadena City College Undeclared Zhang Alexander University of California, Berkeley Mathematics Zhang Su Rui Pasadena City College Biology Zheng Anmi University of California, Irvine

Computer Science Zhou Alicia University of California, San Diego

Economics, Mathematics

18

Sports

Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Sam Pons second at CIF State Championships

By Alex Tranquada and Max White Staff Writers

Paul Messana

Senior Sam Pons runs the curve in the 4x400 meter relay at league finals.

Sam Pons paid hundreds of dollars more for his letterman jacket than he will for college.

That’s not saying much, though, considering he’s accepted a full ride to Princeton University.

His college search was far from conventional, however. While most students compete against their peers to earn a spot at a university, Princeton was forced to compete with institutions like Harvard and Duke for Pons’s presence.

And it’s not hard to understand why.

He shatters school records, wins state championships, and runs two miles faster than many people run one.

His talent first made itself apparent when he finished his cross country debut race in a time of 16:11, faster than any varsity runner had run the year before. He started his career with the modest goal of beating his older

Championships Pons has won • 2010 CIF State 3,200 meter champion • CIF Division III Southern Section champion in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters: 2009/2010/2011 • 21st at 2010 Nike Cross Nationals • School records in 800 (1:54), 3200 (8:50), 3 mile (14:18), 5000 (14:16)

• Division III Southern Section Cross Country championship: 2009, 2010 • Division III State Cross Country champion: 2010 • Rio Hondo League cross country champion: 2008, 2009, 2010

brother’s best time; by the end of his freshman season, he was four seconds away from eclipsing that mark, with a PR of 16:03. His times have only improved since then, with his threemile PR dropping to an astonishing 13:47.

Pons’s road to glory has not been free of potholes. This past summer, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture, which prevented him from running for over a month.

“Being injured is incredibly frustrating,” he says. “You do all these strengthening exercises and all this physical therapy, but you can’t see the impact that it’s making. You can’t see yourself getting better.”

After weeks of biking and aqua-jogging, he was able to return to running in spectacular fashion, winning the state championship while setting the Division III course record. He placed 21st at the Nike Cross Nationals meet one week later.

Pons has been just as successful on the track as on the cross country course. He captured the state championship in the 3200 meters in his junior year, and although he placed second at this year’s meet, he ran the fourth fastest time in the nation. Despite his numerous accolades, Pons remains remarkably down-toearth. He is just as well known for his modest demeanor and sense of humor as he is for his athletic prowess. Elected GQ King by his classmates, he is a respected and admired member of the SPHS community. As Coach Patrick McGrail said at the annual track awards banquet, “After Sam Pons has graduated and moved on, we will miss the person more than we will miss the runner.”

Sports - Player Profiles form that separates him from his teammates, but Schexnayder believes he still has a lot of room to improve.

“I can definitely become faster and stronger, so that’s the area I need to work on the most,” he said.

Next year Mayan will walk on at Oregon University, where he has already been assured a spot on the team. Though he knows it is far away, Mayan aspires to eventually become successful in the Pac10.

Mayan is accomplished in academics as well as athletics. He was recognized in May as the “Los Angeles County ROP Student of the Year” for his success as a member of South Pasadena’s small business and virtual business programs.

~ Harry Yadav

Senior Elaine Horng has long gone under the radar as one of SPHS’s top athletes. Although a member of Varsity Girls tennis, and a long jumper for the SPHS Track team, Horng is quick to pick track as her preferred sport. As a dedicated member of the high school team all four years, Horng is truly a talent worth noting.

It is surprising that Horng hasn’t been thrown in the spotlight until now.

Despite being the only senior girl from the track team to make it to CIF Finals this year, she has risen to stardom almost incognito.

“I don’t feel like I’ve been in the [other jumpers’] shadows, but I’ve never considered myself the best,” says the everhumble Horng.

Yet, Horng doesn’t do herself justice, as this year she was named Rio Hondo League champion in both long and triple jump. Her senior year has proved to be her best season ever—she took first in the long jump with a personal record of 16’8”, a

Jrnnifer Kim

goal she has been slowly building towards her whole track career.

These marks, as well as her leadership this season, earned her the Girls Varsity Jumper of The Year Award for SPHS. “This season, I felt good; I think what pushed me was the finality of it. It’s the last chance, you can’t have regrets,” said Horng of her inspired ending to the year.

Horng will be attending the UC Berkeley School of Science and Engineering, and may attempt to be a walk-on to the track and field program. Although her track career may end here in high school, Elaine is more than satisfied with what she has been able to accomplish.

“It came down to hard work. Track taught me that hard work can get you there, even when you don’t expect it of yourself.

Even when I felt like giving up, when I was afraid underclassmen would overtake me, hard work pushed me forward. So, in the end, I got there,” said Horng.

~ Jessica Moog

Sam Gurley

sionate about,” said Larrimore.

He was motivated to play sports at a young age by watching his brother play as a four-year starter on Pasadena Poly High School’s basketball team.

“When I was younger, I wasn’t particularly into sports, but my family eventually got me really into it. My dad was always pushing me to never quit. He told me to work as hard as I could, and my brother would help talk me through my experiences,” said Larrimore.

He attributes much of his success to his coaches and the amount of time and effort that they put in.

“I’ve never had a better coaching experience thean here. I can honestly say I think my coaches are the best coaches at this school, they’ve put in more hours and more passion then anybody I’ve seen here,” he stated.

Larrimore plan s to wrestle for Cuesta College next year at the college level and later plans to transfer to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and continue his wrestling career there.

~Michael Abelev

Edmund Mandin-Lee

Tara Aaelm

Alex Larrimore Some may be aware that South Pasadena High School senior Alex Larrimore was named All-Area for the San Gabriel Valley in wrestling this April. Larrimore competed in his third year as a Tiger wrestler this year and made it to the CIF Masters competition.

After a successful season, Larrimore was confident he would be given the prestigious honor.

“My coach told my dad and my dad told me about it, and I was kind of expecting it,” he said.

Though wrestling is his favorite sport, it is not the only one he has participated in.

At 6’4” and 217 pounds, he also participated in football and volleyball while at SPHS. Larrimore also played basketball at a young age and lacrosse in middle school, which he did not continue in high school.

Larrimore was eager to try another sport, and chose to join the wrestling team.

“My friends were in wrestling and I decided that I wanted to do something other than just football, so I joined and continued it, and it turned into something I’m very pas-

19

Elaine Horng

Mayan Schexnayder

Mayan Schexnayder barely made the track team freshman year. Now, four years later, he is the greatest triple jumper in SPHS history.

“It’s a true success story, because freshman year I almost didn’t make the team. I fell in love with [jumping], and started to really focus my energies on triple jump,” said Shexnayder His outdoor triple jump record of 47 feet, 1 inch, at league prelims, shattered fellow teammate Sean Nang’s record of 46 feet 3 inches. Mayan also set the school record in the indoor triple jump with a jump of 43 feet 7 inches.

Mayan attributes most of his success to having superb form, which he developed by sticking to an extraordinarily demanding regimen. This past summer and the first semester of his senior year, Mayan traveled to the San Fernando Valley to work with his uncle, Crespi coach Rashaad Dixon. The professional helped give Mayan the

Friday, June 10, 2011 - Tiger

Katie Whitworth

An offensive MVP of the Rio Hondo League, senior Tara Aalem does not disappoint on the soccer field. Scoring 57 goals throughout her high school career, she ranks sixth overall in goals scored in the history of the South Pasadena girls soccer program.

Tara Aalem has been a potent force for the Tiger’s offense since she first stepped on the field. Freshman year, she was named First Team All-League.

Since the tender age of four, Aalem has been tearing up the field as a forward.

With inspiration from her father, who played professionally in Iran, Aalem started out with AYSO then moved on to other club teams such as Real So Cal. Having played for many years, Aalem has gained much experience in the game and has proven that her dedication to the game of soccer is at a much higher level than others.

“For the past 5-6 years I’ve played for Real So Cal, and I’ve had to drive for an hour every week to Calabasas,” the senior said.

However, it hasn’t all been easy for Aalem. In her junior year she had to deal with several injuries such as tearing her ACL, and injuring her meniscus shortly after that.

“It took an emotional toll and it changed me completely as a soccer player.

Since I was young I defined myself as a soccer player, but after the injury I learned about interests other than soccer,” Aalem said about the ordeal.

Helping the Tiger’s to the quarterfinals round of CIF this year, Aalem proved to her teammates and coaches, that she had recovered from her injury.

Next fall, Aalem will be attending Sacramento State on scholarship to play soccer. There she will major in business and minor in philosophy.

As far as her future in soccer, Aalem believes she will not continue with soccer after her four years at Sacramento State.

However, she hopes to study hard enough to go to graduate school and earn a PhD in philosophy.

~Christian Miyamae

20 Tiger - Friday, June 10, 2011

Year in Sports

The Year In Athletics

2010-2011

Page by Sam Gurley Photos by Tai Carter, Katy Whitworth, Jennifer Kim, Edmund Mandin-Lee and Sam Gurley