The Blade, Senior Issue Volume 115, Issue 3

EDITORS’ WORD

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20 school days, 5,760 hours, and 345,600 minutes compose our high school careers. While these numbers may seem like meaningless figures on a page, they define the four years we spent in high school exploring ourselves, meeting new people, and discovering our passions.

On the first day of school, graduation day seemed like an eternity away. All of us beared the grueling college application process and the never ending tests and papers with one day in mind: May 12th.

We’ve finally arrived at this sacred date and proved that the blood, sweat and tears shed over the past four years have been worth it. With this final issue of the Blade, we hope to celebrate our class and the amazing accomplishments we’ve achieved over these 720 days.

Historically, this special edition senior issue has been dedicated to covering stories that tend to go unnoticed.

Everyone knows the name of the starting quarterback and the valedictorian (or in our case, the three valedictorians), but far less people realize the grueling hours of practice put in by senior thespians. Most don’t think about the quiet struggle of a bright student living with a serious disease.

With this issue, we want to highlight the unsung heroes from the class of 2018.

As a whole, our class accomplished a lot throughout our four years – we started and continued many conversations, creating the Black Student Union, 30/30 Vision club, My Mind Matters and the first student led walkout in our school’s history. We watched our political climate shift and were vocal about the feelings that nationwide controversies evoked, voicing our opinions on social media platforms. The members of this senior class have been changemakers, and while we don’t always agree on divisive

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topics, we somehow manage to maintain the familiar bond that has grown and developed over the past four years.

We saw our school, which several of us have been attending for the majority of our lives, undergo massive changes.

During our time in high school, we experienced three different schedules, the implementation of hair drug testing, being breathalyzed and drug tested at prom, and a host of other developments that we definitely didn’t see coming as freshmen. While we didn’t agree with all of them, these changes certainly made our high school experience interesting.

As we say our final goodbye to this school and our fellow classmates, we also say goodbye to the Blade. Candy Crush, late deadlines, and sloths defined our first year on staff. We felt like a small family, but we were still figuring out our goals and mission. While hard-work and focus were sometimes absent from the classroom, our drive and passion was evident. Over the years, we bonded over long nights at Woodward, awkward dance parties, and jalapeño peanut brittle. Simultaneously, we witnessed our magazine evolve and grow into a publication we were truly proud of. Saying goodbye is always bittersweet, but the current staff leaves us feeling incredibly confident in the Blade’s future.

Thank you and goodbye, Maddie Ledet and Nija Packer

Julia D u

Photos by Kyndall Dunn ‘19.

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f you are a Jewish student, you could join Yad B’Yad. As a Muslim student, you could attend Muslim Awareness Club meetings. However, until the spring of 2017, if you were a black student, there was no affinity group to belong to. Despite numerous unsuccessful attempts, Black Student Union (BSU) co-presidents Nija Packer ‘18 and Sydney Greenfield ‘18 and other students fought for an organization in which they believed.

Mr. Brian Jackson, a social studies teacher, supported his students’ efforts to persuade the administration to recognize a black affinity group since his arrival in 2003.

“Every academic institution I’ve ever been in had a forum for black students to voice concerns that they feel more comfortable discussing in an affinity group,” said Jackson. “It was also brought to my attention by the various students who would come to me seeking guidance as to how to relate with the white power structure. I felt it more appropriate for them to do so in a more formal environment.”

English teacher and BSU club sponsor Ms. Lorri Hewett said she believes the importance of black affinity groups stems from racism.

“The point of an affinity group is to have a space [for] people who have similar backgrounds and similar experiences,” said Hewett. “Especially African-Americans, we have a history of oppression and prejudice.We experience microaggressions from people who

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Black Student Union With perserverance and dedication, the students of the Black Student Union created an affinity group that impacted the entire community.

By Kyndall Dunn

don’t know that they are doing it, and those things can tear [us] down.”

For years, the administration had objections to and fears about the club.

The BSU board members, comprised of seniors who stepped up to leadership positions, tried to dispel their doubts. “[The administration] thought there might be backlash from parents,” said board member Trinity Foley ‘18. “They didn’t want us to self-segregate. They did not use that exact term, but they did not want us to ostracize ourselves.”

Dr. Chris Freer, former principal and current vice president for advancement, worked with the student leaders to create the BSU. “We didn’t want anything to divide us as a community,” said Freer. “We want things to bring us together. When we start to divide a student body by race, religion, political beliefs [and] learning styles, that’s not the inclusive community that we want.”

Despite the roadblocks, Hewett fought alongside her students to eliminate the stigma surrounding the BSU. “It’s not about being divisive. It’s about developing stronger bonds with people who are similar to [us],” said Hewett.

“Therefore, [we] can educate, and [we] can also make some connections with people who are not similar to [us].”

As the former principal, Freer met with students who wanted to create a black affinity group for years. Former student Alex Roman ‘07 started an initiative for a BSU that resulted in Five Points.

“What might have worked ten years ago may not being working today,” said Freer.

“That’s what happened with Five Points.

Five Points worked ten years ago, [but] if it’s not working now, then we need to work with our student leaders to figure out what would work.”

Administration and BSU leaders agreed that some clubs, including the Five Points Diversity Club (Five Points), no longer met the needs of some students because it was not tailored enough. Hewett believed that students could benefit from a specialized group.

“We have a Muslim affinity group, Yad B’Yad and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes,” said Hewett. “We would just be adding to something Woodward already had.”

At times, students felt discouraged.

Although students and administrators all wanted to celebrate diversity, their failure to see eye-to-eye disheartened the students.

“It made me feel that the school did not appreciate diversity like they said they [did],” said BSU board member Cameron Bothwell ‘18.

Freer spent time researching a black affinity group to ensure it aligned with the school’s values about diversity and inclusivity.

“If it ever feels like we’re pushing back, it’s because we want to question: is this the best thing to make Woodward the best place it can be,” said Freer.

The lack of a black affinity group did not stop students from celebrating black

culture. Packer and Greenfield were originally inspired to create a BSU after they ran a social media account dedicated to uplifting black students around campus called Melanin Power.

“Melanin Power was a social media [platform] where [Sydney and I] took pictures of black people to empower them and show them that they’re beautiful in the face of societal beauty standards,” said Packer. “We wanted to take that

“It’s not like black students only had issues that were more appropriately addressed in a Black Student Union starting last year.”

- Brian Jackson to Woodward and approach BSU in a different way.”

For students similar to Greenfield, celebrating blackness is important because of the community where they grew up.

“Growing up in Buckhead, which is a predominantly white community, I felt lost in my culture,” said Greenfield. “Being around people that don’t identify as [me], [I could] start identifying as them and losing [my] own identity. Having [the BSU] at my school really helped me come back to my

lineage and culture. [The BSU] is needed because a lot of people that go to private school go through that same thing.”

The BSU board members’ personal experiences fueled their desires to start the group. Interested students privately met in Hewett’s room to discuss issues facing the black community.

“It was hard when we were doing our secret meetings,” said Packer. “It was hard to get people to stay quiet about it and not talk about it. We didn’t want it to be a public [meeting] because it wasn’t allowed.”

Although not officially endorsed, the meetings proved that student efforts to create the affinity group were not fading.

Administration eventually caught wind of the meetings, and the response was positive because there was no controversy amongst students.

Once the club had approval, the board needed to select a name. The group was not always called the Black Student Union.

According to Hewett, former names, like Unity Club did not accurately represent what the club actually was.

“We started calling ourselves the Unity [Club],” said Hewett. “The goal was to show the point of the group was about unifying, and not dividing. Now, let’s call us what we are. We looked at a lot of different names, and we came down the Black Student Union because it’s simple.”

While there were presumably many factors in the administration’s decision to support the club now, Jackson believes they approved the club for reasons beyond

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the campus walls. Within the past year, the nation’s racial tension heightened and trickled down to high school campuses.

“What changed is the tenor of the entire nation in the sense of Colin Kaepernick, Black Lives Matter and the Trump presidential campaign,” said Jackson. “[All three of these], which I’ve got nothing to do with, changed the minds of the people who make decisions.”

New assistant principal Ms. Ronda Zents worked closely with the student leadership to form a connection between the student body and the administration.

“The students who came to me who were interested in [the BSU] had both the passion for it as well as the foundational understanding of why a black affinity group would be an important part of a healthy school culture,” said Zents. “I had that same understanding.”

BSU board member Jazmyn Finney ‘18 similarly believed that a healthy school culture included an black affinity group because of the school’s racial diversity.

“Woodward is diverse, but there’s still a very large white population,” said Finney.

“It’s good for the black population to come together and talk about things that are important to us or sometimes things that only we can understand about each other.”

Starting the BSU was no small feat, and for many of the students, it is an accomplishment they wear proudly. While they are proud of the progress the school has made, they understand the creation of 4

“Having [the BSU] at my school really helped me come back to my lineage and culture. It is needed because a lot of people that go to private school go through that same thing.”

-Sydney Greenfield ‘18

the club is about more than bragging rights.

“It makes me more proud to be black, [and] it makes me more proud of my peers,” said board member Ahmauri Anderson ‘18. “It’s very reassuring to know that we [made] a safe place for us to be ourselves.”

Jackson, who had previously stopped fighting for the creation of a black affinity group after years of stalled efforts, is grateful for the group’s approval.

“It is about time,” said Jackson. “It’s overdue. It should’ve happened decades ago. It’s not like black students only had issues that were more appropriately addressed in a Black Student Union starting last year.”

Moving forward, BSU leaders hope that the club continues to positively impact not just the black community, but its allies as well.

“I want people of all different backgrounds and colors to come and have greater discussions about issues that affect black people [and] that affect other people,” said Packer.

BSU board member Alexandre Hurley ‘18 believes that their accomplishment will benefit both black students and allies in the future by founding a club that will leave a footprint on the school culture.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to create something that everyone can take advantage of, and to have been a part of something that graduating classes down the line will be able to be a part of,” said Hurley.

Pictured is Yujin Choi ‘18, an aspiring physician who moved to the U.S. three years ago after having previously lived in China, South Korea, and Switzerland.

Photo by Jayden Khatib ‘19.

Q: How would you describe your experience at the Upper School?

A: “I would describe my experience at the Upper School as different because it was my first school experience in America to begin with. Sometimes I would not know a lot of stuff, so it was kinda like finding my way through high school just through living in a new country. It was fun because I got to meet new people. [There were] new dynamics of people, even though I went to an international school in China. I think there were more opportunities that I took advantage of, so I think it was pretty good three years.”

Q: What were your most interesting experiences at the Upper School?

A: “I took a class called Independent Scientific Research (ISR), which was a research class. I did research over the summer and extended it over the school year as well. We wrote a paper and submitted it to [the] Regeneron Science Talent Search, and we made a poster. I also did a presentation about my project with my poster, which was really cool because I’m presenting what I did, like my own work to other people.”

Editors

Maddie Ledet ‘18 - Editor in Chief Nija Packer ‘18 - Editor in Chief Lizzy Levine ‘18 - Butterknife Editor Tanvi Reddy ‘18 - Social Media Editor Kyndall Dunn ‘19 - Culture Editor Linda Shi ‘19 - The Cut Editor Jayden Khatib ‘19 - The Cut Editor

Staff Writers

Will Dunkel ‘18 John Scott ‘18 Deven Smith ‘18 Pete Weil ‘18 Kira Green ‘19 Sarah Olatidoye ‘19 Aspen Anrews ‘20 Naomi Censullo ‘20 Anna Landgraff ‘20 All Calligraphy by Olivia Silva ‘18.

The Blade is the student news publication of Woodward Academy.

Volume 117 Issue 3 Woodward Academy 1662 Rugby Ave College Park, GA 30337

Black Student Union Black Student Union leaders molded the school community to fit the needs of black student and allies.

Mia Green

Enthusiatic singer Mia Green makes her mark on the world through music.

Cameron Bothwell Cheerleader and makeup enthusiast Cameron Bothwell breaks down barriers.

Hannah Watkoske

Aspiring medical researcher Hannah Watkoske uses her rare skin condition to improve the life of others.

Grayson Prince

Young businessman Grayson Prince is on to big things.

Sonny Nguyen

Sonny Nguyen balances two dynamic identites within him.

Hannah Benjamin Hannah Benjamin leads the life of a student and a young model developing her budding career.

Sam Kukler

Sam Kukler is an athelete who doesn’t let a diagnosis dictate his life.

Theatre Seniors

Senior thespians divuldge their most dramatic moments as they make their final exit on the Academy’s stage.

Last Wills and Testaments

Seniors leave thoughts and belongings to the underclassmen.

Silly Superlatives

The results from the annual SGA survey.

Words of Wisdom Parents and loved ones leave messages for the class of 2018.

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On Saturday, May 12th Green will be performing for her second time at Eddie’s Attic. Photo by Aspen Andrews ‘20.

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rom singing to songwriting, Mia Green ‘18 has always had a wide variety of talents, singing all her life, both inside and outside of school. Music changed Green’s

life.

Singing has not always been smooth sailing for Green. As a young girl, Green had vocal cord nodules which deprived her voice of its real tone.

“I was born with a speech issue, so I would sound really grainy and gritty. I took speech therapy for four years in elementary school, and that helped clear up the grittiness in my voice,” said Green. ”That [condition] ended in kindergarten for me. After speech therapy, I went to my friend’s house, and she had a karaoke machine. I was singing, and my friend said, ‘Oh my gosh, you don’t sound that bad.’I started [singing for fun] in first grade.”

After Green first realized her talent, she became more passionate about singing. Green’s mom, Karen Green, and dad, Kevin Green, became aware of her passion when she stepped up for her first show.

“She signed up for the Mary Lin Elementary talent show in first grade,” said Karen Green. “On the evening of the performance, she walked out on stage, straight-backed and focused, and took her place at the microphone.”

From then on, Green aspired to sing and perform music, and as she grew up, her passion grew with her, especially

“I feel like [music is] such a big part of me that, I am hoping it becomes something bigger than it is now.”

- Mia Green ‘18 when creating her new album “Sun & Moon.” As she began performing in front of larger crowds, she dealt with a lot of stage fright. Her fear took lots of courage to pass, but she overcame stage fright with the help of her family.

“I started getting really nervous, and I wanted to quit and not do it anymore,” said Green. “I felt like I was so nervous that it wasn’t worth it, but my dad was always with me.e told me, ‘You like doing this, you’re good at it and you really want to.’ That pushed me.”

Juggling school along with her musical career has not been easy. When Green is not in school, she works constantly on her music, practicing and playing guitar.

“There have been times I have had to miss school, especially when we were producing the album, because it’s a whole long process,” said Green. “First, you have to record over the summer, which I’m glad we did, but then you have to master , and then, sometimes, you have to go back and redo something. When it’s out, you have to play around town, so I had to make sure that I was on top of my work.”

At first, she began performing at music festivals such as Candler Park Fall Fest, Grant Park Summer Shade, SweetWater Brewery Festival, Oakhurst Porch Festival and Spring Festival on Ponce.

After conquering the music festival scene, Green began

Mia Green Singer, guitarist and songwriter, Mia Green steps into the spotlight.

By Aspen Andrews

performing at real music venues.

“It is different because before [performing at venues] I was doing the festival thing. People were walking around getting food, half listening [and] talking, and I was fine with that,” said Green.

After she began performing at venues like Eddie’s Attic, her music became even more serious and personal to her. At this point, it was clear through her singing and songwriting that her music was taking off.

“It’s a lot of pressure [performing at venues] because everyone’s watching you. If you mess up a cover, people are probably going to know, but it’s fine because all the focus is on you.”

Many people have helped Green along the way. Her mentor, Matt Chenoweth, has watched her grow and succeed throughout the years.

From Green’s first song to her first album, “Sun & Moon.”

“Green started her music lessons with me at age 11, and I’ve had the great honor to see her grow musically and be part of that growth as her teacher, and now mentor,” said Chenoweth.

From teaching Green how to play guitar to helping her produce her first album, Chenoweth has stayed by her side. Instead of only meeting for lessons, their relationship has become much more. Chenoweth has been a huge part of her life and even joined Green’s band.

“I love “Sun & Moon”. We worked very hard on it. We actually recorded the entire album, virtually note for note, at my store as preproduction before we booked time with Tom [Tapley] at the studio,” said Chenoweth. “Her professionalism in learning to record was fantastic, and as a result we ended up tracking all the instruments and vocals and finished in four days.”

Green plans to attend the University of South Carolina where she can discover other fields of interest. USC offers a wide variety of musical studies, so that she can still expand her knowledge and production of music while exploring other options and aspirations.

“Since the age of 11 Green has grown from an enthusiastic girl with a small blue guitar that had pictures of Disney characters on it into a stunning young woman with an amazing talent for songwriting, performing, guitar playing, singing and recording.” said Chenoweth.

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Cameron Bothwell With laughter and energy, Bothwell breaks barriers.

By Anna Landgraff and Nija Packer

Photos by Anna Landgraff ‘20.

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nown around campus for his abundance of energy and bubbly, outspoken personality, Cameron Bothwell ‘18 may be one of the most memorable members of his class.

Being the first male cheerleader in the Upper School is hardly an easy undertaking, but Bothwell didn’t let fear deter him. From his bold makeup looks to his hyper-extended toe touches, Bothwell makes a statement both in the hallways and on the court.

Bothwell’s childhood played an important role in shaping the personality he’s so well recognized for. His mother, Kia Smith, is one of the biggest influencers in his life.

“I’d say my home life has had a big impact on me because I come from a single parent household, and it is really impactful to see someone work hard to provide for [me],” Bothwell. “It makes [me] want to take advantage of all the opportunities that [I] have.”

Though Smith is staunchly supportive of Bothwell in all of his endeavors, she realizes that he faces a distinct type of adversity because he is an openly gay male. She worries about the prejudice and bullying that her son may face.

“When he came out, I knew being gay would add another layer of discrimination that he would encounter throughout his life,” said Smith. “As a parent, I want my child to be safe and respected at all times. I was concerned [about how the world would treat

him], but my concern has always been with this trash world and the people who live in it.”

Regardless of the stereotypes and taunts that have been thrown Bothwell’s way, Smith remains proud of her son’s boldness.

She makes sure to give Bothwell plenty of room to develop as a cheerleader, student and leader.

“As a parent, I’ve tried to give Cameron a safe space to find himself and grow into who he wants to be,” said Smith. “I’ve tried to provide him with the best opportunities and surround him with experiences to grow, learn and make connections. It’s a pleasure watching the seeds I’ve planted blossom in him.”

His mother’s influence also steered him toward the decision to try out for the cheerleading team.

“I got into cheer because my mom used to be a cheer coach when I was little,” said Bothwell. “Since I was young, I always enjoyed cheer. When I came to [the] middle school, I really wanted to do cheer, but I was scared of what people would think and say.”

With full support from his mom, Bothwell secured a spot on the varsity basketball cheer squad. Both his teammates and coaches noticed his drive and desire to work hard, making him a force on the court.

“Words can’t explain how amazing Cameron is as an individual

“When he came out, I knew being gay would add another layer of discrimination that he would encounter throughout his life.”

- Kia Smith

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and cheerleader,” said basketball cheer coach Ms. Linsey Troutman. “As a leader, Cameron would offer assistance with cheers, dances and jump techniques. He always had a positive attitude every time he stepped into practice, pep rallies and during the games.”

Despite finding success once he joined the team, Bothwell had to come to terms with certain barriers before he even tried out. For example, being a varsity football cheerleader was simply out of the question for Bothwell, as the administration does not allow males on the squad no matter how qualified they are.

“It upset me a lot,” said Bothwell. “Just knowing there was a barrier [that did not allow] me to do it simply because of my gender was insulting. It should be equal for everyone.”

The varsity basketball cheer team does not use any gender criteria for hopeful cheerleaders. Admittance to the squad is based solely on how well the candidates perform the tasks given at tryouts, which include jumps, a choreographed dance and cheers.

“Gender was not a factor regarding the decision-making process for making the cheer team,” said Troutman. “Cameron stood out on his own merit and wowed the

judges with his skills.”

Along with cheering, Bothwell stepped further outside his comfort zone during

“I feel like I have really come out of my shell this year, and I can be [the person that] I genuinely am and be accepted for it.”

- Cameron Bothwell ‘18 his senior year. He started experimenting with wearing makeup, which naturally presented challenges because of its feminine implications.

“It was pretty difficult for me because I just started this year. It was a bit awkward at first,” said Bothwell. “I didn’t know how people would react, but being at a place like Woodward, I know nobody is going to be outwardly offensive towards me.”

Simply by being himself, Bothwell made

a noticeable impact on the lives of those around him.

“Being friends with Cameron is definitely a fun experience,” said Jazmyn Finney ‘18.

“He always keeps everyone laughing and always has something to say about every situation, whether it is good or bad, but we love him.”

Several of his friends share Finney’s sentiment and often defend Bothwell in the face of bullying. Having support from his friends played a large part in pushing Bothwell to embrace his identity.

“My senior year as a whole was the most memorable thing to me because I feel like I have really come out of my shell this year, and I can be [the person that] I genuinely am and be accepted for it,” said Bothwell.

“I am really happy that all my friends, faculty and administration accept me for me.”

Though Bothwell will inevitably face additional challenges, obstacles and barriers in his life, his accomplishments thus far cast a shining light on his character.

“My child is amazing. He’s smart, creative, talented, loving and empathetic,” said Smith. “He’s a gift to this world. My prayer is that this world one day becomes the gift he deserves as well.”

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Hannah Watkoske Hannah Watkoske doesn’t need the sun to make her future bright.

By Sarah Olatidoye Photos by Sarah Olatidoye ‘19.

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or most students, the familiar feeling of stepping into the warmth of sunshine as it bathes one’s skin is very comforting, especially in the midst of academic and extracurricular commitments. For Hannah Watkoske ‘18, however, the sun’s warmth translates into a feeling quite different from comforting.

She was born with a rare skin condition – so rare that she is one in only 75,000 individuals with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP).

Because of this condition, the sun can pose the greatest threat to her health.

Like most babies, Watkoske appeared to be a healthy infant.

However, her mother, Kimberly Watkoske, noticed her distinct sensitivity to light around the age of three. After seeing a number of different doctors, the Watkoskes were both relieved and dismayed by their daughter’s diagnosis.

“The good news is we know what it is, and the bad news is what it is,” said Watkoske’s mom.

The Watkoskes quickly learned to adjust to the effects of this new diagnosis on their daughter’s life.

“You go through that learning curve where you want to push the limits because you want to be normal. You want to fit in, and once the pain kicks in, you’re reminded of why you do that,” said Mrs. Watkoske.

While there is no cure or treatment for EPP, Watkoske manages her exposure to the sun to counteract its debilitating effects.

“When I’m in the sun a lot, it makes me feel like I’m on fire,” said Watkoske. “I have an enzyme that has a deficiency, so there’s a lot of little subunits just floating around in my body which make [the enzyme] toxic.”

This toxicity makes the enzyme do the opposite of what it intended purpose, making Wakoske’s skin severely sensitive to sunlight, thereby resulting in extreme pain after being outside , even causing skin cancer over time. To avoid these harmful effects,

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Watkoske must take necessary precautions that often hinder her ability to live as a normal teenager.

“I always wanted to play soccer or softball, but I was never allowed to play outdoor sports,” said Watkoske. “I can’t go to Six Flags with my friends during the day. I can’t go to the beach and couldn’t go on senior spring break because it would get too sunny.”

Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t do, upon entering Woodward after a move from Cincinnati, Ohio, she immersed herself in the various activities she could join, such as Service Leadership.

“She has been a powerhouse for service,” said Assistant Principal and Coordinator of Service Learning Ms. Ronda Zents. “I first heard her name from my brother-in-law [Hannah’s old band director] who called me one day and said, ‘I would rarely do this, but I’ve got a really special student, and I want to make sure she’s taken care of in Atlanta.’”

Watkoske fully immersed herself in Service Leadership programs, proving herself to be an integral part of club projects.

“If you want a project that is designed well, organized and executed with someone who isn’t afraid to do the brain work on the front end, but also the physical labor, that’s Watkoske,” said Zents.

During her two year stint as a service leader, Watkoske participated in several different service initiatives such as carnation sales for Terranova Education, the canned food drive and work benefiting the Boys and Girls club.

Hannah’s overall impact on Service Leadership is palpable, especially the lasting impression she has made on the faculty who have worked alongside her.

“Hannah will be leaving a huge hole, not only in the service program but in my life,” said Service Leadership team member and English teacher Mr. David Roth. “Hannah has consistently proven herself to be a sidekick in my life.”

When school is not in session, Watkoske goes to her favorite place on earth, Camp Sundown. While traditional summer camps fill their campers’ days with outdoor activities, Camp Sundown adapts to the needs of its campers, all kids with skin conditions similar to Watkoske’s.

“It was originally started for kids who can’t be in the sun at all, or it turns into skin cancer. They live a more debilitating life than I do. They created this camp so that anyone who has sun issues and can’t be outside all day can relate and have friends,” said Watkoske.

Camp Sundown protects its campers from increased sun exposure by switching the night and day cycle of a regular summer camp agenda. Due to its unique schedule, Watkoske’s job as a counselor presents the daunting task of keeping her campers entertained all day while preparing for the day’s main events that happen at night.

Camp activities vary from night kayaking and swimming to Harry Potter movie marathons until five in the morning.

“What’s really special about Camp Sundown is the fact that we do everything kids do in the day at night,” said Watkoske.

“We’ve gone go-karting before, we go on field trips and we do a midnight swim at 12 o’clock.”

When the sun finally set on Camp Sundown in preparation for the upcoming school year, Watkoske didn’t leave her EPP advocacy at the camp. Instead, Watkoske opted to do more to help others with similar skin conditions, and it all started when she learned about an experimental European drug.

“It’s this little grain of rice-sized implant that they put right under your skin.It has melanin in it, so it’s an afamelanotide that literally turns you tan like a sunscreen,” said Watkoske.

While this skin protectant is not FDAapproved, it’s existence encouraged her to reach out to chemistry teacher Dr. Drew Kise in order to participate the Independent Research Program, or ISR, and study severe skin conditions. Kise found a Georgia Tech professor who worked with the deficient enzyme in Watkoske’s body that causes her skin condition. Since Hannah’s induction into the lab, she’s researched solutions to skin conditions more extreme than hers such as Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP).

“The oldest person who’s ever lived with XP was 30. I really want to make strides with [research] because no one does a lot of research with it since it doesn’t have enough funding,” said Watkoske.

In addition to understanding more about

the XP disorder, Hannah has conducted indepth research on heme, an iron-containing compound that forms hemoglobin, and its negative effects on her own body.

While scientists know where it goes in the cell and why bodies need it, heme, by itself, is detrimental to one’s health and poses several health threats when it is not functioning properly.

Watkoske’s research tackles how heme travels throughout our bodies and what protein is responsible for its transportation into negative areas. There remains the unsolved mystery of why people like Hannah are more prone to the negative effects of heme.

“What I’ve been doing is trying to figure what genes are responsible for that,” said Watkoske.

As Watkoske’s ISR research comes to a close, she is left with a greater understanding of skin disorders similar to her own and a passion to learn even more in her future.

“I want to help with rare diseases and things that people don’t really see, not necessarily just my own,” said Watkoske.

“Because [of EPP] I can relate to people with disabilities and health issues, and [I] really do see a completely different side [of the issue].”

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Grayson Prince Grayson Prince puts his business acumen to work reselling sneakers.

By Jayden Khatib

Photos by Jayden Khatib ‘19.

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ou have been searching high and low for a pair of sneakers from that new Golf Le Fleur Converse collection, but the stores are all out. A friend advises you to check on Ebay, where you find the shoes, but there is a catch: They now cost three times the original price. You wonder who is profiting from this crazy up-charging. It might be savvy sneaker reseller, Grayson Prince ‘18.

Prince fell in love with basketball shoes as a young fan of the sport. While other kids collected shells and coins, Prince began a sneaker collection. He soon realized that he could turn his interest into a profitable business.

“He’s up to date on everything he needs to know about,” said Pooya Nayebi ‘18, one of the leaders of the Business Club. “He keeps up with the trends. He’s into shoes. He knows what he’s talking about.”

Before Prince began to resell sneakers, he gained valuable business experience in an area he was equally passionate about: socks. In middle school, Prince began a business called Sock Society, selling socks that he dyed and designed himself.

Prince’s early interest in business came from his desires to 8

control his own spending and to be in charge of himself.

“He’s a leader,” said Prince’s mom, Michelle Prince. “He has the desire to make [things] the way that he wants [them].

He learned quickly that when you own your own business you can make your own decisions about what you want to do. He was very passionate about socks and sneakers, so he took that passion and made it into a business.”

After middle school, Prince realized that he could make more money buying and reselling limited edition sneakers than he could selling socks, so he made sneaker reselling his new business.

“Typically, I’ll put [the shoes] up on Ebay, and they’ll be up for one or two days,” said Prince. “When they sell, I pack them up and ship them that day. After school, I’ll go to the post office down the street. I’ll have to update my Ebay account and let them know that I shipped it and provide the tracking number and the insurance. It’s not that hard.”

Reselling sneakers may not be a particularly taxing business, but the demand for rare sneakers allows Prince to make a good profit. The shoes that Prince sell are usually scarce and hyped,

which makes people more willing to pay a high price for them. “[The highest price I have ever gotten for a price of shoes is] $1,800,” said Prince.“They’re the Jordans KAWS 4 [originally $350]. They’re a collaboration between Jordans and KAWS, which is an

Nayebi. “He makes a lot of money off of it. He doesn’t have any risk or anything. He buys the shoes, and he can resell them no matter what, usually.”

Despite his success, Prince encounters people who do not understand his business.

“I think it’s more because what I do

ship the shoe overnight and then PayPal [the money] to you. On PayPal, you can use checks. If you shipped it overnight and they send you a check, they can cancel that check, and the shoe is gone.There’s nothing you can do about it. I’ve had that happen numerous times.”

“It’s genius. He makes a lot of money off of it.

He doesn’t have any risk or anything” -Pooya Nayebi ‘18 artist and brand.There are only 5,000 or 6,000 pairs, so that’s why it was a really high price.”

The general culture surrounding sneakers and streetwear makes reselling sneakers a rewarding business. Modern sneaker culture gained steam in the 1970s and 1980s, when brands like Converse and Nike began getting major endorsement deals with celebrities and athletes. Early hip-hop acts even dedicated entire songs to their love of sneakers. The sneaker business continued to boom in the internet age with the rise of Ebay and sites like Highsnobiety and HypeBeast dedicated to streetwear and sneakers. The U.S. sneaker market alone raked in 17.2 billion dollars in sales in 2016. Some collectors have even been able to use their sneaker collections to finance property purchases.

“I think [Prince’s business is] genius,” said

doesn’t really sound like a actual business, but it’s very profitable. I do well for myself,” said Prince. “Sometimes, people don’t see it as a business. I see it as a hobby that lets me make money.”

Even if his business is profitable, Prince still encounters issues due to the nature of internet transactions. His work on Ebay forced him to learn more about the internet and online marketing, but some bad experiences with buyers trying to avoid the website’s high transaction fees taught him to avoid trying to skirt rules.

“On Ebay, you can get offered different prices for what you’re selling,” said Prince.

“You’re allowed to choose the best offer that you have, or people can bid on it.

Sometimes, [buyers will] try to get you to

Reselling sneakers has also taught Prince to be more responsible. Because he makes a profit from his business, his parents have put him in charge of paying for his car insurance, gas, food and savings.

“It teaches him about life. When you make money, you have bills to pay,” said Michelle Prince.

Prince ultimately sees his sneaker reselling and everything it has taught him as stepping stones for his future.

“I don’t think I see myself [selling sneakers] past [college],” said Prince.“Really, right now it’s a way to have some spending money, so I don’t have to rely too much on my parents. I think as I move on, I want to pursue business in college. I want to do something more sophisticated and more meaningful.”

9

Sonny Nguyen Sonny Nguyen: the renisssance man.

By Linda Shi

Photos by Linda Shi ‘19.

M

ost kids don’t fill out their parents’ tax forms after they finish their homework. At an age where most students are unsure of their looming futures, Sonny Nguyen ‘18 stands out with his intense self-sufficiency and determination.

Proud of his heritage as a first-generation VietnameseAmerican, Nguyen cites his family’s background as an inspiration for his hard-working attitude. Nguyen’s parents are both immigrants, but his father faced a particularly tumultuous journey to the United States. In an attempt to escape the military draft, Nguyen’s great-grandmother saved up money for his father and his grandfather to leave the country.

“He left [during] the middle of the night, got on a boat, and left Vietnam [at] 15 years old,” said Nguyen. “They’re all sailing, and Malaysian pirates come out. They usually take people, like human trafficking. What my dad and his dad did [was] they escaped together. They tied their arms together with a shirt and just jumped in the ocean and waited. They got picked up eight hours later by fishermen, and then they got put in a Malaysian refugee camp.”

When he was 18, Nguyen’s father arrived in Atlanta with the

10

help of a sponsor and worked at the airport. His parents met and married in America. By saving money and working hard, Nguyen’s parents were able to sponsor most of his extended family’s immigration to America.

Nguyen’s first language was Vietnamese. His parents worked hard to retain his mother tongue, only allowing him to speak Vietnamese at home. He admitted that English felt foreign during his childhood although he was surrounded by it.

“I only spoke Vietnamese. I’d watch TV shows at home like ‘Barney’ and ‘Caillou,’ and I wouldn’t understand it,” said Nguyen. “The funniest story has always been [this]: I would come out and [say], ‘Grandma, I can speak English!’” said Nguyen, making indistinguishable noises. “I would literally make weird noises. I didn’t know English.”

Upon entering school, Nguyen encountered no difficulties learning English, but his parents face more troubles with language. Though their nail salon pushes them to learn the language, Nguyen has to take on most of the duties associated with his family’s business since his parents are not fluent and speak with an accent.

“I did the reading in the family. We bought a new car.

We bought a house. If there [are] contracts, if there’s a lot of English, I read it,” said Nguyen. “And I translated it. When my dad does business emails, he tells me in Vietnamese, and I take my time and rewrite it in English.

Some of the responsibilities I do are working at the shop, reading contracts, doing payroll and business emails. When [there is] a lot of English, that’s when I come in.”

Nguyen’s application to the Upper School is another example of his independence.

Rather than going through the papers, Nguyen’s father, who used to pass by the campus while delivering food to the airport, simply pointed to the school and asked his son to apply.

“When I decided to come to Woodward, I applied myself,” said Nguyen. “My parents didn’t care. I did all the stuff. I applied for financial aid myself. It was basically like tryouts for applying to college now that I look back at it.”

Nguyen was on the introverted side when he arrived as a new freshman. His best friend, Caroline Yarborough ‘18, recounts the changes in his personality since they first met.

“Up until this year, Sonny was a little bit on the shyer side,” said Yarborough. “I don’t think a lot of people that didn’t have a class with him or didn’t sit with him at lunch [knew] him very well.”

Due to his parents’ wishes and duties at home, Nguyen does not spend as much time with friends as he would like.

“My parents are really strict. A few months ago, I was talking to them about it, and they [said], ‘It wasn’t that we didn’t trust you; it was that we didn’t trust the world,’” said Nguyen. “That’s why they didn’t want me going out all the time. I didn’t really go out with friends. I love school because I get to see people and be with friends.”

His appreciation for the time spent with peers and friends led to the deep compassion Nguyen holds for those around him. His friends agree that Nguyen is always been the most caring friend, even though he might not always be physically present.

“Knowing that he does all those things for his family at home and… is so involved in our lives is really great,” said Yarborough.

“I’m really into going to my friends’ sporting events. I’m always making fun of him because [even though] it’s really hard for him to come to the tennis matches, Sonny’s always the one [who says], ‘Let’s go!’”

English department chair Ms. Jane Graham, Nguyen’s senior English teacher,

Nguyen’s Honor Guard rifle is a symbol of both his present and future. Not only did the rifle bring him closer to a military experience, he will also be using the manual arms and and military movement skills that he learnt from Honor Guard at the Naval Academy.

said she deeply appreciates his level of compassion to his fellow classmates.

“I think he knows how to walk in everybody else’s skin,” said Graham.

“As Atticus Finch would say, walking in somebody else’s shoes.”

Besides establishing an unforgettable presence in school, Nguyen took advantage of the opportunities provided, dabbling and exploring all sides of his diverse interests.

“He really enjoyed ‘Phantom of the Opera,’” said Graham. “In fact, one of his classmates gave him a copy of the sequel of “Phantom of the Opera - Love Never Dies.” He even offered to share it with me. I think I’ve ruined him by introducing him to musicals. I think he knew musicals before he got here, but I think our study of musicals has also helped him appreciate them more.”

Nguyen confessed that he thought he was the smartest at his old middle school because he was the top student in his eighth grade class. Nguyen said he appreciated that Woodward humbled his ego and showed him what it takes to be successful.

“I’m more open now than I would

have ever have been – all the opportunities I’m able to do peer, SGA, honor guard, swimming – everything I’ve done here has opened me up and changed me,” said Nguyen. “I don’t know how else to say it. I really think it was destiny for me to come here. In no other way could I have become who I am now without Woodward.”

One of the most dynamic aspects of Nguyen’s life is the two identities that he takes on. On one hand, he understands that his family relies on him for navigation in a world whose language and culture are often times unfamiliar.

“Asian culture. I’m the only boy in the family, so I kind of took on everything,” said Nguyen. “A lot of my college essays start out with: fourth grade I learned to cut grass, by sixth and seventh grade, it was my responsibility to take care of the lawn. Once I learned it, it became my responsibility. Elementary school, I learned how to cook. Now, some nights, when my parents come home late, I’m cooking dinner. I’m studying math on one side, I’m frying eggs on the other.”

It is the trust from his parents for him 11

to take on certain responsibilities that led to the drive that Nguyen puts forth into everything.

“Everything he does, he doesn’t ever rely on anyone else,” said Yarborough. “He always gets it done, even if he’s supposed to be working with other people. Working with him on SGA, he’s always the one that’s trying to keep us on track and make sure we make the deadlines.”

His girlfriend, Leah Marcus ‘18, reasoned that Nguyen’s homelife made it rare for him to ask for any outside help. If something wrong happens to him at school, Nguyen prefers to take action himself instead of complaining to his parents or to his friends.

Nguyen isn’t much different from his fellow peers in the sense that he is at heart a teenager wanting to make the most of his weekends and his time with friends.

“At this point, I haven’t even been to a birthday party before,” said Nguyen. “My parents are really strict.”

Nguyen officially joined SGA this year as the senior class president, a position that gave him good excuse to attend football games and school dance.

“He’s worked really hard to get out of the house, which is why

SGA was a really good thing and really pushed him to be able to be more involved,” said Marcus.

The transformation that SGA had on Nguyen’s personal life is apparent to all of his friends, who are equally ecstatic that Nguyen’s social circle grew.

“Other people understand him better, if that makes sense,” said Yarborough.

“It’s like more people know him now.

[SGA]gave him a little bit of confidence, and now Sonny and I both are the same. We walk from the cafeteria to the Woodruff, and it takes us fifteen minutes because we’re always stopping to say hi to people.”

Even though he is more comfortable balancing his two identities, Nguyen struggles with teenagers his age are not usually paying their parents’ taxes or scheduling their own physicals when Nurse Minor sends a reminder to their parents.

“Sometimes I get mad. I [think]: ‘Man, why do I know my dad’s social security number?’” said Nguyen. “That’s not something I should know. His credit card, his bank stuff. Kids don’t know this stuff. My dad trusted me, taught me and handed it over. I hate it

“I don’t know how else to say it. I really think it was destiny for me to come here. In no other way could I have become who I am now without Woodward.”

- Sonny Nguyen ‘18

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now, but it’s actually helped me a lot. I’m more confident going out to the future because I know how to do this stuff.”

After graduation, Nguyen is attending the United States Naval Academy to join the Marines. He first discovered his passion when his eldest sister, who is currently stationed in Japan, attended and graduated in May of 2017.

“I had never known about it before, and then my sister went. I fell in love,” said Nguyen. “It’s a prestigious school, and a huge, huge honor to go. But the main reason I decided, I want to serve, it’s [because] I’ve always had passion to serve.

My dad would tell stories about being in Vietnam, literally living in a house this big [motioning to the conference room in the counseling office], sleeping on the ground. Poor. If they were in another country, I probably wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be this well-off. I just feel like I owe it to America to serve in some way because of what it has provided for my family.”

One of the things that attracted Nguyen to the Naval Academy was the tremendous camaraderie.

“We’re all together, one team one fight,” said Nguyen. “It’s all about teamwork.

I can’t choose a roommate. I don’t have any of that. The whole school is divided up into squads, patroons, companies and brigades. It’s all about being on a team.

That’s what I fell in love with. My sister was saying how everyone’s got your back, basically. Even if you don’t know them.”

Nguyen was never shy in telling his aspirations to those around him.

“One of the first times he met me [he mentioned the Naval Academy],” said Marcus. “Whenever he told me about his older sister, he mentioned ‘Oh, she’s in the Navy, and that’s what I want to do.’ It was his childhood dream.”

Before his initial acceptance at the Naval Academy, Nguyen was hindered by his poor eyesight, so he was unable to be officially accepted until February.

“He has negative eight vision. It’s really bad,” said Marcus. “First, he got medically disqualified, and he was broken about it. He literally got a fake acceptance letter four times because first they had to make sure they could do LASIK on his eyes. He had to go through this whole

process of getting a doctor to look at it and then waiting to get it approved.”

“Fourth grade I learned to cut grass, by sixth and seventh grade, it was my responsibility to take care of the lawn.

Once I learned it, it became my responsibility.”

- Sonny Nguyen ‘18

Nguyen was not deterred by the roadblocks. Instead, he maintained the mentality that he would work hard to achieve whatever he set his eye on.

During his waiting period, Nguyen made connections with the admission representative and remained hopeful.

Seen in his clear determination to work for whatever he wants, it is clear that Ngyuen is determined to remain the master of his own ship.

“He’s the boy-next-door, but he’s a renaissance man,” said Graham. “His interests are so varied. He’s going into the Navy air force Academy, yet he’s interested in so many other things. I wonder where his path of life will take him because he has so many opportunities he can pursue with his skills and knowledge.”

13

Hannah Benjamin Not just a pretty face, Hannah Benjamin recounts the winding backstory of her modeling career.

By Naomi Censullo

Photos by Naomi Censullo ‘20.

B

eneath Hannah Benjamin’s ‘18 comforting smile, deep brown eyes and humorous personality, the dedicated senior leads a life that few know about but have already formed pre-decided judgements.

Hannah Benjamin models for Salt Models. She unintentionally began her modeling career two years ago, at the end of her sophomore year.

“I was scouted in my neighborhood by the lady who runs Salt Models,” said Benjamin. “She told me to come to an open call. I went, and from there, they gave me a contract.”

An average day on set for Benjamin begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Her day may seem extremely long to take photos, but the shoot itself is not what makes the work day so long. Completing hair, makeup and wardrobe can take two or three hours, and everything needs to be completed before the photographer can begin.

“When I started, [the job] was pretty serious...” said Benjamin. “It’s an on and off thing. At the very beginning, it was a lot of work right away, and then it slowed down.Then it was a lot of work again.”

Modeling has not always been a part of Benjamin’s life that was easy to share. When she first started, she waited six months to tell her close friends.

“I was worried that people would think I’m narcissistic, or

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that I think I’m prettier than I am,” said Benjamin. “I did it because I liked it, and I thought it was something fun to do.

It was nerve-wracking telling everyone.”

She broke the news to the rest of her peers through her social media accounts. Benjamin posted a photo to her Instagram page from one of her jobs. Since she began telling people, Benjamin has received a lot of support. One of her close friends, fellow senior Rebecca Hart ‘18, has watched Hannah’s career from her start during their sophomore year to now.

“I’m so proud of her because she’s really come out of her shell. It’s really helped her get out there, and it’s what she’s meant to do. She loves it. She has a passion for it. I don’t think she shares that passion enough,” said Hart ‘18. “You know how you see some people on Instagram where they throw [their modeling] in your face? She doesn’t do that. It’s very, very personal to her, which I’ve always admired. It’s more than just standing and taking pictures for hours. It’s how she expresses herself and how other people get to see her.”

Benjamin’s smile brightens as she explains the effect of modeling in her life and the role she sees it currently playing.

“I definitely think modeling has helped my confidence,” said Benjamin. “I consider it more of something I love to do.

It’s almost like an escape for me, kind of how painting is in

some senses.”

Constantly being around new photographers and other models, Hannah pushed herself to become more outgoing than she used to be. She has develop relationships with the photographers and companies she works for to keep a good reputation.

“Hannah has a very large personality, and modeling has made it bigger in a very positive way. She’s always been outgoing and loud, but when she signed with Salt, a whole new aura came around her,” said Hart. “She grew so fast into such a beautiful human being, and she’s just not afraid to go talk to anybody now. She’s passionate, and she’s dope.”

While other models are passionate about their profession, some use their social media platform to display this passion in a negative way. These models constantly post photos on social media, garnering thousands or even millions of followers, about their impressive modeling careers. However, these “instagram famous” models expose teens to the idea that in order to be a model, they have to be extremely skinny.

“A lot of people just assume that when you are in the modeling industry, your agent requires you to lose weight and [that] they require you to have some sort of diet and exercise. It’s really not like that at all,” said Benjamin. “They’re mostly looking for people who are unique looking or who have the personality and are able to portray that.”

Modeling takes Benjamin anywhere from Atlanta to Athens for shoots. One day, she hopes to land a job that will take her out of the state or even the country. One of her proudest accomplishments is being pictured in “Estela” magazine and working for Van Michael, the Buckhead salon.

The real balancing act comes in when Benjamin has modeling gigs during the school week. Her parents have instilled the importance of maintaining high grades while modeling and make sure that Benjamin knows school comes first. “[My dad] doesn’t want me missing a lot of school. It’s hard when I’m offered certain jobs during school, and [I have] a big test,” said Benjamin.

Her parents have helped her along the way, being extremely supportive throughout the process of her career development. Her parents accompany her to every job she has, ensuring her safety.

“It depends on the modeling job and location. When it is a casting, it can be as short as ten minutes. When it is a photo

shoot, it can last up to eight hours,” said Tammy Benjamin, Benjamin’s mom. “We are all supportive of Hannah and make sure we are available for whatever the job

into doing things [I am] not comfortable with,” said Benjamin. “My sister, Ava Benjamin ‘22, is so supportive of me, and I’m grateful for that. We are also trying

“It can be somewhat nerve wracking going into a shoot because there is a lot of pressure being put on you to make sure the pictures that are taken are exactly how the client wants them. On the other hand, it is also extremely fun getting to work with so many great people. “ - Hannah Benjamin ‘18 may entail whether it be driving a short or long distance and staying with her all day.”

With all of the rumors surrounding the ugly side of the modeling industry, Benjamin’s parents were initially weary to let her model, but her experiences at Salt Model have shown her entire family the positive aspects of modeling.

“My parents have always been very supportive of me and my modeling career; however, like any other parents, they were worried about the dangers that are sometimes associated with modeling such as sexual harassment and pressuring [me]

to get her involved in modeling once she starts high school.”

Whether in the school hallways or at a shoot, Benjamin’s smile is always visible.

Next time you open a fashion magazine, you might see Benjamin’s friendly face within its pages.

“I hope to become successful in modeling, and, eventually, turn it from an extracurricular activity to an actual career that I could live off of,” said Benjamin. “I’m also very interested in the management of other models as well as other jobs offered in the modeling industry.”

15

Sam Kukler A unexpected illness took Sam Kukler’s life on a new course.

By Kira Green

Photos by Kira Green ‘19.

S

tarting high school can be a big turning point in a teenager’s life. They are given much more responsibility and freedom as they move up in grade levels and begin to prepare for college.

The transition from middle to high school serves as one of the first of many stepping stones toward becoming an independent adult.

Senior Sam Kukler ‘18 had a slow start in school due to being lazy, slacking off with his work and making unhealthy choices. That all changed when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 14.

“It was a wake-up call,” said Kukler. “It made me take a step back and get a better perspective on life.”

Managing Type 1 diabetes requires a lot of attention, meaning Kukler had to make some changes in his life for the sake of his health. At the time of his diagnosis, Kukler played football which he decided to stop playing in order to take care of his health.

“In hindsight, I didn’t have to stop [playing football], but I thought I did to focus on my diagnosis,” said Kukler. “A few months down the road, I realized I needed to be doing something [physical].”

Kukler realized that the lack of regular exercise was going to hurt him rather than help him. In light of this realization, Kukler started to make the transition into rowing.

“I was getting a haircut, and a [rowing coach from the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association (AJRA)] was there,” said Kukler. “I was talking about how I needed a new sport to play, and he said, ‘You

16

should come try [rowing].’ I didn’t really want to, but my mom made me.”

Throwing himself into a new environment and participating in a sport he had never heard of was challenging for Kukler, but eventually rowing became a lifestyle for him.

“Rowing is Sam’s priority, and he makes sure he gets to every practice,” said Kukler’s friend Alex Rand ‘18. “From what his rowing teammates tell me, Sam is one of their most admirable and vocal leaders on the water.”

Kukler’s genuine enjoyment of the sport helped him become a novice team member of the AJRA. He has been rowing with this team ever since.

“I liked [rowing] right from the beginning, which had to do with to the people there,” said Kukler. “It’s a good community.”

According to his friends, Kukler’s personality and character developed considerably since his novice year on the team. Many of his leadership skills and sociable traits evolved from being a member of such a large team.

“Since I’ve met him, he’s really come out of his shell as a person,” said Kukler’s girlfriend Molly Ross ‘18. “He used to be less outgoing, but he has really grown as a person and discovered who he is [because of rowing].”

Along with his personal growth, Kukler has also progressed as a rower.

“Ever since Sam started rowing, he has become more confident and passionate about everything else in his day-to-day life,” said Rand.

Kukler commitments to his sport include three hour team practices five days a week and personal training on Sundays. His hard work, dedication and leadership during past rowing seasons earned Kukler a spot as team captain.

“I’ve always liked being on top of [my responsibilities], so I guess that helped,” said Kukler. “[Being captain is] not a huge deal because most everybody on the team is usually on top of things to begin with, but it’s a nice title to have.”

AJRA teams travel out of town for races in locations which have large rivers like Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey and California. Because of this big task, Kukler said he is grateful to have teammates who respect one other and their sport. Kukler’s growth as an athlete shines through his ability to lead his team. But his journey to become a successful rower and team captain included some challenges, many of which stem from dealing with his diabetes.

The combination of managing diabetes and starting a rowing career used to be a lot to handle, but Kukler mastered the art of juggling these two responsibilities.

Kukler takes about five to six shots of insulin a day, usually one shot after every meal. With Type 1 it is important to maintain a restricted diet, which typically means a keeping a low carb diet because the more carbs Kukler eats, the more insulin he has to take.

“Sam does such a good job handling his diabetes and maintaining a safe blood glucose level that sometimes it’s hard to even notice that he has diabetes,” said Rand ‘18.

“For example, at sleepaway camp a couple years ago, Sam didn’t tell any of our cabin mates that he had diabetes. No one realized that he was diabetic until someone noticed him subtly doing his injections on the fourth day of camp.”

Kukler approaches his diabetes with an upbeat attitude, even taking the time to acknowledge his ‘dia-birthday’ annually.

“It’s more fun and more unique,” said Kukler. “Everybody has a birthday, but not everybody has a dia-birthday.”

Since his diagnosis during his eighth grade year, Kukler has become an expert on knowing what his body needs and when. He embraces diabetes as a part of what makes him who he is.

“During freshman and sophomore year

it was more of a noticeable challenge, and now it’s just what I’m doing,” said Kukler.

“It’s a lot easier once I’ve gotten into a routine.”

There has been a rare instances where Kukler’s blood sugar got low during practices or competitions where he needed to take insulin or receive medical assistance.

“Ever since Sam started rowing, he has become more confident and passionate about everything else in his day-to-day life.

- Alex Rand ‘18 “Every once in awhile my blood sugar goes low during a piece, and I’ll have to stop,” said Kukler. “For example, last fall the paramedics had to come during a race because something went wrong with my blood sugar.”

Fortunately for Kukler, nothing life threatening has ever happened during a race.

“It’s kind of hard to juggle the two of them sometimes. Every once in a while it’s a problem, but once it becomes routine, it’s not that big of a deal.”

Between travel, practices and personal workouts, a majority of Kukler’s time is dedicated to rowing, and he wouldn’t have it any other way, even if it means missing out on fun activities after school or on the weekends. Kukler missed last spring’s prom and will not be able to walk at his graduation ceremony because of rowing conflicts.

“I have regionals in Sarasota, Florida, which is the qualifying race for nationals, so I can’t miss it,” said Kukler. “I’ve known about [this competition] for a while, so I’m not worried about missing [graduation].”

Although he will not be able to walk at graduation with his classmates, he will be able to lead his teammates in competition in a big race.

“Rowing is something that’s really important to Sam, so being a part of a team, it’s important that he encourages his teammates. That’s something that he does really well,” said Ross.

Following his upcoming race in Sarasota, Kukler has many opportunities for success ahead of him. If his team places well, they will move onto the finals, finishing his final season with AJRA strong before he ventures to Northeastern University in the fall where Kukler plans to continue his rowing career.

“Rowing is very important to me. It takes up the majority of my time, and my good friends are there. It’s definitely had a big impact on me personally, and I’m very glad I’m involved in it,” said Kukler. “I hope I never stop rowing and continue to do it for as long as possible.”

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The People Behind the Characters

by Lizzy Levine Drawings by Sydney Partin ‘20

Senior thespians divulge their most dramatic moments as they make their final exit from the Academy’s stage.

Photos by Lizzy Levine ‘18.

Q: How long have you been acting?

Kayla Williamson: Since 7th grade.

Addie Driggers: Since I was eight.

Peyton Strong: Since 7th grade.

Ben Petree: Four years.

Ross Milstead: Six years.

Will Dunkel: Four years.

Miranda Levin: I’ve been doing theatre camp since I was a really little kid. My mom and dad both liked musical theatre, so they put me in camps when I was three.

Jaylen Taylor: When I was little, I was super shy and wouldn’t talk. My mom was like, “Not anymore,” so she forced me to do the show choir camp.

Sam Etheridge: My sister drove me to our church, which does shows with the youth group there. She was like, “I need to audition, and you’re already in my car so you’re coming.” She wanted to be the unicorn from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” I was a little white boy with a dark head of hair and a British accent, and they said, “Alright, you’re Edmond.” That was the first show I ever did.

Jack Kostyshen: I was in Woodward theatre at Woodward North. When I started, I got yelled at because I was the understudy as Cogsworth, and I didn’t know any of my lines. The kid got sick. It was two days before the show, and I was in fourth grade.

A sixth grade girl yelled at me because I 2

“It’s all about your kinesphere. Every single thing that you do is part of your art. Your muscles, the tensions in your face, the wavering of your voice – it’s all your own orchestra. It’s a symphony you have to create with every fiber of how you control it.”

- Sam Etheridge ‘18

didn’t know any of my lines, and she was really scary. But I somehow still did theatre.

Q: What inspired you to start?

PS: I tried out for the middle school volleyball team and didn’t make it, so I was like, “I’ll do theatre.” It was really fun, so I kept going.

WD: I always wanted to do it in middle school, but I played lacrosse. I ended up doing it in high school and really liking it.

Q: What inspires you to continue doing it?

AD: It’s just really fun. It’s the only creative outlet that I have.

PS: I like the technical side of it. I like that we’re always learning new things. It’s a big family, and we all treat each other like family.

BP: I’ve kind of gotten out of the acting part of it. I’m starting to think about doing stage management. I’m going to major in theatre, but I’m going to focus on stage management and the business and management side of theatre. Acting was just a leeway into the theatre world, and I discovered stage management stuff late, but I’m glad I discovered it at all.

RM: I’m still doing acting, but I’m also doing dramaturgy. I provide historical context, literary context, everything context and I make connections between that and the script. I’m the third eye to the director

in that I help drive the production forward in new directions. I’m doing that because I found that I have more say in production.

SE: Acting is the most hands-on art. It’s all about your kinesphere. Every single thing that you do is part of your art. Your muscles, the tensions in your face, the wavering of your voice – it’s all your own orchestra. It’s a symphony you have to create with every fiber of how you control it. It’s not a “You can work on this painting and have it done perfectly.” It’s “You have that moment. You have two minutes to deliver this monologue just the perfect way that you know you have to do it.” You have to feel it, and you have to understand the truth behind it, and I just find that so compelling and interesting. I get enveloped in that passion.

ML: I really like performing, and it’s fun when people clap or laugh. It feels amazing.

I like doing the comedic roles when people are laughing at what you’re doing. It’s a really cool feeling. It’s like, “Oh, it’s working, I’m funny yay.”

Q: What actor or actress do you look up to?

PS: Brie Larson.

AD: Probably, just Kaplan honestly. On Broadway: Jeremy Jordan and Christy Altomare. Everyone on Broadway basically.

The only people I actually look up to in life are people on Broadway. I like Broadway people better [than movie actors], but only

because I’m such a theatre nerd.

BP: I’ve always loved Gene Wilder.

RM: Andrew Lincoln.

WD: I look up to Samuel L. Jackson because he theoretically wasn’t supposed to be an actor. That was not in his plan, but he ultimately ended up being one. [It’s] almost the same with me. That wasn’t necessarily in my plans to be an actor in high school, but it just so turned out to be that I was.

JK: Three words: Addie Elizabeth Driggers.

SE: Sort of three words, really two words: Leonardo Dicaprio or Daniel Day-Lewis.

JT: Bill Murray. Anne Hathaway.

ML: Amy Pohler.

Q: What is your favorite theatre memory?

AD: Mine is the very, very last show for “Les Miserables.” It was Saturday night, and I played Cosette, and Jaylen played Valjean.

In the end when she dies, I run over to her and sing to her. Jaylen just started crying, and I started crying. Then we walked up, and Cici was crying. Peyton was crying. We all sounded awful, but we were just bawling.

PS: In “Waiting for Godot” this year, Addie and I [had] the biggest roles. We taped outlines of our show on the backs of walls on set in the atrium. At the beginning, [Kaplan] told us to improvise while people were getting in their seats, like walk around the stage. I really liked the few minutes before the show started just walking around

stage with Addie in character and looking at our outlines. It was really sweet.

WD: During “Playing for Time” last year, we had these large pieces of scaffolding. We had to move them around and pick them up. One day, we tried to pick it up, and we didn’t have a sturdy thing on it. It fell over and ripped the [cyclorama,] and everybody scattered and yelled. Rehearsal didn’t start for 30 minutes after that.

RM: We taped it for that show because we were like, “We’ll pretend that it’s intentional and people will be like, ‘Wow, I wonder what it means.’”

ML: Being backstage during the shows.

Whether it was eating Cheez-Its during “Les Miserables” like the entire time or weirdly dancing to random pieces of music.

JK: During the last show of “Les Miserables,” Addie was having this super emotional moment where everything in the show is just boiling up, and she was literally crying. We’re all sitting there backstage crying, singing it, hugging each other.

JT: I was a mess. I have to walk across the stage and look up at Cici who’s in heaven, and I just completely lost it. I couldn’t even sing. I had to just speak my lyrics.

ML: I walk on stage, and I was trying to sing the group song through tears. It hit really hard when it was over. JK: Something about the show coming together so quickly, it’s amazing. “Les Miserables” just came Ross Milstead sits during a scene of “Les Miserables” where he plays Marius. Photo by Megha Gupta ‘19.

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together and became a really good show.

It’s an amazing experience when you can feel everyone coming together as a community and putting on this amazing feat that requires so many people working together in such an amazing way to produce something that’s powerful.

Q: Do you ever get stage fright?

PS: I usually don’t get it in plays because if you forget your lines in a play, you can kind of make it up because you know the story. If you forget what you’re going to say, you can start improvising, and people usually go along with it. But in musicals, everything needs to rhyme, and you need to remember your lyrics. I’m really bad at remembering lyrics, so I get really, really nervous before musicals.

SE: I get stage regret. Once you’re already in a scene, if you start to mess up a little bit, you have to commit. You can’t be like, “Okay, I could do this better by switching now.” You can’t. You have to be straightforward with the path that you’re going, and that takes a lot of reacting really quickly.

Q: Do you think about your lines before you perform?

BP: If you get to the point that you know it by heart and instead of the lines you think about your character and what you want to do to the other actor on stage, then the lines are just buried in your head somewhere.

WD: There’s so much repetition in rehearsals to where you will know what you’re doing and you’ve had time and chances to interpret your character and try something new to a point where you [have] it. The past two years, I had to do a stage kiss, and we practiced it so many times. When I got on stage, it was like whatever. It didn’t matter that my girlfriend was in the audience.

RM: We were laughing about that like, “Oh, she’s going to kill him.”

Q: Do you get nervous in front of an audience?

WD: When there’s a big crowd and you’re doing a comedy, they’ll bring out energy and start laughing, which will reflect off of you. It will bounce back, and the play will get better if there are more people actually laughing and paying attention.

BP: Sometimes, you can really feel an energy coming off of them. Sometimes, you can’t, and then you get really tired.

It’s hard to act because it’s like, “Well, they don’t care, so I’m not going to care.”

But there are some performances, even 4

when they’re not laughing, you can really feel it emanating off of them onto you, and you’re like, “I want to give them a show.”

Q: How do you get into character?

BP: Doing a character like the wolf for “Into the Woods” was like, “I’m the wolf. I’m this big, bad guy.” But doing something like when I played Jack’s character in “Playing for Time,” is a lot

“It’s theatre first.

With sports, you have games often, so if you do poorly in one game, [you’ll] have another game. But with theatre, it’s all building up to one week, so it’s a lot of stress to get it right.”

-Peyton Strong ‘18

different because it’s serious, and you’re thinking about this life that you live. You create what this character would be, what emotions he would feel, what kind of world he would live in, what he would do for his routine during his day. That helps create it and make it real to you, and then you eventually

become what you’re thinking.

RM: You want to focus on what you want overall. You need to figure that out, and you need to figure out your intentions. You have to do what you feel and not try to force things.

Q: Is there a technique you have to memorize your lines?

AD: Memorizing lines is the only downside of theatre. Literally. I will memorize the top line and get that in my head, then add one and memorize those two, then add another line and then add another one for monologues.

Q: What do you do to get into character?

PS: Kaplan talks a lot about physical traits of a character. Even if you’re saying the right lines and it’s in the right tone, you need to walk like the character and get into that mindset. Especially with playing Javert, I was very tough. It was supposed to be a manly character, so I clenched my fists backstage and tried to stand up really tall. I played a little girl sophomore year in “Brighton Beach,” and I would be very small backstage and sit and be scared because that’s the character.

AD: I don’t know why I think about it like this, but you know how you have left brain right brain? I have this vision in my head of a straight line, and whenever I start getting unfocused when I’m acting, I just focus on this straight line of my character.

Q: How do you balance practicing for theater/acting with school work and other responsibilities?

PS: It’s theatre first. With sports, you have games often, so if you do poorly in one game, [you’ll] have another game. But with theatre, it’s all building up to one week, so it’s a lot of stress to get it right. So I usually put that above schoolwork for at least the last few weeks of the show.

AD: It’s so emotionally and physically draining too.

BP: In the case of stage management, I just review and look over things between subjects, or I just treat it as a subject.

RM: I just don’t sleep.

WD: You can always find cracks of time to do [theatre]. Sometimes I’ll be in the car and hand the script to my sister who sits next to me when I drive to school everyday. [I] say, “Hey, give me the line before this, and I’ll say the line after.”

JT: You don’t really.

Photos by Megha Gupta ‘19 and Darby Cornelius ‘20.

ML: When you’re doing a show, things take a back seat for a hot second. Show comes first because there are people counting on you to know your lines.

JT: You’ll have some all nighters during rehearsal, especially during tech week and the week of the show when everything is really down to the wire.

Q: How has theatre shaped you as a person?

AD: I was a major introvert when I was little, and I was so shy. I did not want to sing in front of people, and theatre has made me a lot more confident and outgoing. I definitely wouldn’t be as outgoing or fun as I am now if I didn’t do theatre. Now I could stand in front of the whole school and talk and not be nervous or talk crazy because I’ve performed in front of people.

RM: It’s made me more socially aware and aware of the use art can have in society. I realize that I want to do something with that. It’s made me more conscious of how people react to each other.

JT: Theatre prepares you for acting, but then also trusting in yourself.

SE: There is a dedication and a commitment that comes with doing these roles. When you’re out on stage, you have to commit.

[Theatre] gives you a lot of tools you may not have even known you had, but it shows you how to use them more properly.

Q: What is the craziest thing you’ve done for a role?

PS: On “Brighton Beach,” we had a full house onstage. We had a downstairs and an

upstairs, and I never left [the stage]. I was the only character that would go and fullon take naps for half of the show in a bed upstairs on stage. I’d be up there brushing my hair, brushing my teeth and going to bed. That was really weird for me to do that in front of an audience.

BP: The wolf costume was the sweatiest thing I’ve ever worn in my life. It was having to sing and dance in 100 degree weather.

There was fur all over it.

Q: Has anything really unexpected/ crazy happened in the middle of a performance?

KW: During our performance of “As You Like It,” the tree fell on a crew member’s head. That was pretty serious. She got a concussion.

JK: Theatre hurts too guys.

AD: [In “Little Shop of Horrors,”] the plant takes over the world, and we had vines fall from the catwalk. My grandma and sister were sitting next to each other, and one of the vines fell on my grandma.

PS: That was my vine. I threw it too hard, and it fell all the way to the ground instead of stopping. It fell on the audience.

AD: She was fine. It was just hilarious looking up and seeing my grandma get smashed with the vine.

PS: Moral of the story: I’m never doing tech theatre again. It’s not my calling.

Q: What lasting legacies do you want to leave on WA Theatre?

PS: I’d like to think that we gave some of the underclassmen confidence in theatre.

Some of the ones we saw during “Playing for Time” have come back this year in “Waiting for Godot” and “Les Miserables,” and they seem so much more confident, and they walk taller. I love all of them.

KW: Just be you. Have fun. No one’s judging you in theatre.

JK: When you’re a senior, it’s kind of your job to shape the theatre community, which is a very important part of theatre to me.

It really helped me in life a lot. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through my freshman and sophomore years without the theatre community to pull me out of a bad place. As a senior, I want to leave a legacy of community.

Q: How does being on stage performing make you feel?

BP: It’s like an excitement and rush.

WD: It’s almost like an out-of-body feeling because you’re not yourself onstage. You’re being presented to your friends as someone else.

RM: There’s a bit of power in it. It’s a rush.

It’s an energy.

JK: It’s literally like a high. You get so in that headspace, and it’s fantastic.

SE: I don’t want to seem super narcissistic, but you have that attention.

ML: Especially when the audience is really good and they’re feeding into you and they’re working with you, it feeds your performance. The best performances you have are when there’s a good crowd because you’re more lurch forward to just go for it.

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wills

last

and

testaments

The Class of 2018 leaves things and thoughts behind for the underclassmen.

Maddie Ledet / I do hereby bequeath The Blade to Jayden, Linda, and Kyndall, math questions to Lily, and our peer kids to Henry.

Shaylan Patel / I do hereby bequeath the ultimate frisbee team to Jacob leader.

Hayden Reeves / I do hereby bequeath the duty of providing game day bagels to Brooke Sard, Hayden Twiss, and Sierra Bagwell.

Alex Slaughter / I do hereby bequeath Breakfast Club in Coach Hamling’s room to Jack Jewell.

Bradley Snipe / I do hereby bequeath this frisbee to Seth Blanke.

Katya Hernandez-Pol / I do hereby bequeath Garden Club to Emma Carmical.

Anna Catherine Farley / I do hereby bequeath my fan section during WAGS games to Lily Chahine and Anna Gianneschi. I do hereby bequeath my intensity and stress at all football games to Jenna Codner. I do hereby bequeath my dedicated bench warming for WAGS to Lily Chahine. I do hereby bequeath the number #7 to Hayden Twiss and Brooke Sard. I do hereby bequeath my consistent annoyance of Sara Elliott to Hayden Twiss. I do hereby bequeath cleaning the WAGS team room to Anna Gianneschi.

I do hereby bequeath my sporadic yelling in the hallway to Brooke Sard. I do hereby bequeath the phrase “Good Morning” at all times of the day to Lily Chahine.

Andrew Spicher / I do hereby bequeath eat your vegetables to Nicholas and Christian Spicher.

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Chloe Adams/ I do hereby bequeath my old tests and quizzes and outstanding reputation to Ozie Adams.

Anum Ali / I do hereby bequeath do hereby bequeath the music in the paint studio to Charley Molder and Hannah Lovett.

Jaylen Taylor / I do hereby bequeath “peel banana” duty to McGarrah Walker.

Bridget Idzik / I do hereby bequeath the Catholic Club to Evonne Iau and our R period table to Mary Clayton.

CLASS OF 2018 STATS University of Georgia

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Tanvi Reddy / I do hereby bequeath @wastpress to Kira Green.

Lizzy Levine / I do hereby bequeath The Butterknife to Jayden Khatib, Linda Shi and Kyndall Dunn.

Georgia Tech

most applications for 2018

Auburn

45

64

Sam Drucker / I do hereby bequeath my car keys to Max Drucker.

Joseph Makilya, George Kimbrough, and Will Dunkel / We do hereby bequeath the Drain of Lane 7 to Nick Benson.

Kaya Roland / I do hereby bequeath Taqueria Del Sol to Riley Thomson.

Marshall Simon / I do hereby bequeath the the long senior lounge table to Roarke Humphrey and Griffin Williams.

Miranda Levin / I do hereby bequeath the C-Section to Alexa and Anthony. Gotta Blast!

The Class of 2018 / We do hereby bequeath the candy in the college counseling room to the Class of 2019.

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SPORTS commits

S I L LY

Superlatives

The results from the annual SGA Silly Superlative election.

Most likely to be late to graduation...

Tanvi Reddy

&

Zander Bortnick

Most Likely to Date a Freshman...

Jackson Baker

&

Kinzer Trettel

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Drawings by Darby Cornelius ‘20 and Julia Du.

Most Likely to be ID’d When They are 30...

Lindsay Malkin & Stuart Gordon

Best Gal Pals...

Best Bromance...

Cali Campbell & Kate Pounders

Sam Kukler

&Alex Rand

Most Likely to Crash a Wedding...

Megan Singleton

&

John Scott

8

Next Coach Myers...

Brian Smith

& Caroline Yarbrough

Most Likely to Start a Cult...

Maddie Ledet &

Sam Hickey

9

Worst Driver...

Drew Dunson & Cece Wells

Most likely to talk themselves out of a ticket...

Noah Rogers & Emily Blank

Biggest Kiss Up...

Brian Smith & Kathryn Cahoon

Cutest Couple That Never Was...

Stuart Gordon& Katie Dorton

Best Person to Bring Home to Parents...

Taylor Leibold

& Jack Cenatempo 10

W

ords of isdom

Parents and Loved Ones Leave Messages for the Class of 2018 Drawings by Julia Du

Kaya Jean Roland - Follow your heart, it is the greatest guide you will ever have. We are so proud of you, love Mom & Dad. Deven Smith - “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom”--George Washington Carver. Deven you have made us so proud. Continue your educational pursuits. Knowledge is power. We love you!!

Mom, Dad Brandon and Elyse

Your loving family - Mom, Dad, Zoe, Ozie III and Cory Ronald J Freeman Jr. - As you take life’s journey, sometimes you will stumble, sometimes fail, sometimes win, sometimes feel pain as well as joy. Just know that this is all part of growing and that God has you in His hands...always. Love, Sybil

Joshua Armstrong - “It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly...” T. Roosevelt. Dare greatly Josh!

Love, Mom, Jeff and family

No matter where your dreams take you, we love you and will always be here to support and provide guidance to you. We pray that you continue to hear from God and allow Him to guide your footsteps as He lights your path to accomplish His full will for your life. Be fearless as you aim high and know that whatever your hand touch will surely prosper!

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Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, remember how far you have come. Remember everything that you have faced, all the battles you have won, and all the fears you have overcome. There are four voices you hear when you perform. Fear and doubt, Blame and Complain, the evaluator, centered is where you want to be. I am so proud of you. Love, Mom and Dad May God’s blessings continue to follow you through this next phase of your life. Let perseverance, endurance, hardwork, and prayer pave the way to a fulfilling future.

Congratulations Lil Rock, Uncle Eston & Aunt Shirley

Austin Blase - “Make good choices, and don’t pee in your pants” Chloe Adams - Chloe we are so proud of you and your accomplishments. You’ve grown to become a charming and intelligent young lady that’s more than capable with strong morals and high integrity.

expected...continue to give to humankind more than what you receive. Be reminded success is measured by what we do for humankind.Love, your greatest cheerleaders, Mom & Dad

I knew you could do it and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. Keep being you! Love Stephanie.

In life there will always be many paths. I hope and pray that you will always choose the one less traveled and make your own personal mark. I am so very proud of you sweetie. Love, Mom

Ronnie, I am so incredibly proud of you.

You have exceeded any and all expectation.

You deserve all things wonderful.

Congratulations my love! Well done. Love, Sissy

Little Ron, I pray that God will continue to lead and protect you throughout life’s journey. I am so proud of all of your accomplishments. I love you very much, Mama Dot

Ronnie, to he that much is given.... much is

Little Ronnie, I am just so thankful that God

has allowed me to be here to celebrate such an remarkable accomplishment with you.

Love always and forever, Granny Ronnie, I am so very proud of you. I hope all of your dreams come true. Love, Kayla Congratulations and Best Wishes. We love you very much, Uncle Ballie and Aunt Brenda.

You put in a lot of hard work to get here, don’t stop now - go for your goals!

You are about the experience some of the best years of your life. Make the most of all of these special moments. They will shape you for the remainder of your life.

Congratulations on graduating High School.

This is a big accomplishment but only minor in comparison to the victories that lie ahead.

If you can dream it you can achieve it!

Hey Kid, Your life is the sum total of what you do and don’t do on daily basis. When you put up the cleats and put the ball away will you pursue life like you did soccer. Will the 5am workouts persist, not physically but mentally.

You are dedicated and you can be all that you want. all love.

We are so proud of you!!! Congratulations and much success in college. Mason & Marleigh

Job well done. I am really proud of you. I can’t believe graduation time is here, I wish you continued success in the future. Zenobia Lankford

Ronnie we are so proud of you. Work VERY HARD your Freshman year and the rest will get easier and easier. Love, Uncle John and Auntie Gail

Remain focused, always listen, and make your decisions without second guessing what is already in you. do your best ALWAYS!!!! remember without God you can do nothing.

Always keep God first in all things you do.

Congratulations, Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Yergan

Congratulations bro! So proud of you. You will go on to do big things!

In the immortal words of Ethel Levison ( Uncle Harry’s Mom as told to him on Graduation day 1973)“ You have crossed the sea, but now the ocean lies before you.” Get ready Dude! We truly LOVE you! Lemonia & Harry.

Congratulations!!! Soar for your Dreams, Keep God #1

???? That what he said too! However, that’s not what he says now!

Ronnie, it’s hard to believe that I watched you grow from an infant to the young man that you have become. In all that you do, trust God. Look to him always for guidance as you embark upon the next chapter of your life. Congratulations, and be blessed! Love Ms. Carla 1) Keep God first in all that you do 2)Be a leader not a follower 3) Study hard and sacrifice now and you will see the fruits of your labor

Ronnie, as you begin this exciting new phase in your life, always trust, believe and be led by your core values. Love you dearly, Helen Louis & Family

Graduation is an exciting time. It marks both an ending and a beginning; it’s warm memories of the past and big dreams for the future. God has a purpose and plan for each of us. Congratulations and pursue your purpose!

Phil.4-13 you can do all thing through Christ who give you strength IN JESUS NAME We have watched you grow! We have always admired your spirit and your energy! Please continue to “Strive For The Top... And Never Stop” We Love You! Silas, Sandra & Lex Alexander Evan Berger - It is what you learn after you know it all that counts!

Benjamin L. Goodly - We are very proud

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of who you are and all that you have done.

Your future success is in the palm of your hands - you have the talent, wisdom and warmth to make your hopes and dreams a reality. We can’t wait to see you thrive at Peabody and beyond! Your Family Benjamin, I’m so proud of you. I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!

“Who you are is God’s gift to you, Who you become is your gift to God.” Love, Mom Benjamin,We are so proud of the wonderful man you are becoming! You have worked so hard to achieve your goals! Thank you for being such a great grandson to us!

Love, Granny & Pawpaw Benjamin, I can’t wait to hear more stories about you from your grandmother. I know you are going to do many more great things in your life! Everyone from great grandma down prays for you regularly. We love You!!!

Aunt Jennifer Benjamin, Congratulations! I am very proud of the person you are becoming. Keep up the good work! Pyran Stacy What an exciting time & the best is yet to come for you Benjamin! Have fun, be authentic, and make a difference! You got this! - Nicole & the crew You are becoming the man that your family knows you can be. Now become the man that you want to be. Make yourself proud!

Love, Uncle Paul & family I love you and am so excited for you to explore this new chapter of your life. No matter what I will always be in your corner.

Love, Chelsea Virginia Knoer - You have grown to be a beautiful and amazing young woman. Your success will be measured in happiness. We are so proud of you and look forward to

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watching you continue to flourish. Love, Mom and Dad.

proud of you and wish you the best in your future :) ily

Annalyn Smith - We couldn’t be prouder of you, Annalyn! Always remember who you are and Whose you are, and everything else will fall into place! Love, Mom and Dad.

You have become like the photos you take...a beautiful masterpiece. So proud we are family. With all my love - Aunt Shay!

Rebecca Hart - Life doesn’t always follow the plans you have made out for yourself. Be prepared for highs and lows. Celebrate the highs and ask for help during the lows. Your wings are ready to fly, and we can’t wait to see where they will take you. We Love you Mom and Dad Bradley Jones Snipe - Bradley, we are so very proud of the young man of integrity, compassion, and fortitude you have become.

Continue to know you are loved by God and your family. And as always, Plan your Work and Work Your Plan. Love Your Mom and Dad. Sahiti Namburar - Be the author, not the reader, of your own life. Continue to write meaningful chapters. Love you! Dad, Mom and Sathvik Bridget Idzik - You have everything inside you to lead you where you want to go. Love Dad Malik Poindexter - We will love and support you....always!! Vibrant love...Bigs, Nana, Mom, Uncle Derek and Mykal So proud of you bro! Thanks....for everything! Continued blessings to you!

Mykal Follow your dreams and keep reaching for the stars. Know that with God’s help all things are possible. Love, Grandma and Grandpa Griffith Congratulations baby God Brother, I’m so

Only aunties, can Love you like a Mom, Keep secrets like a sister, Act like a true friend and Kick your butt when needed, I am Proud to be your Auntie Darlene!

We love you and are so proud of you!! Your Dad, Granddad, Mama, Auntie, Uncle Robert and Jayden Destiny Dewitt - Destiny, We have watched you study hard over the past several years and we are very proud of your accomplishments. Continue to pray and keep God first in everything you do. Love Endlessly, Mom, Dad and Justin DeWitt Kennedy Elise Crittenden - Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.

Sam Drucker - We are so incredibly proud of you Sam! We admire your work ethic, compassion for others, and commitment to doing what is right. We are excited to watch you continue to mature in college and have a positive impact on everyone you meet and everything you do. We love you very much!!

Sara Akbik - Our Lovely Sara, we will always be proud of you and your achievements, may all your dreams come true. Love, Mom and Dad. Rebecca Malever - Rebecca, We are very proud of the woman you have become.

Continue the way you engage with family and friends; people you know and don’t know. Your future is so bright! We love you!

Love, Mom, Dad and Eric (Kobe and Blue)

Jackson Verheyden - As Grampa says, a college education opens the ‘doors and windows of opportunity’. Embrace those opportunities and you can do anything. So proud of you! Mum, Dad, Lauren, Georgia, Titus and Grampa & Grama Tayyib Malik - We are so proud of you.

Work hard and you will succeed. We love you!

Molly Ross - May the good Lord be with you, down every road you roam And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you’re far from home And may you grow to be proud, dignified and true And do unto others as you’d have done to you Be courageous and be brave and in my heart you’ll always stay Forever young May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond And may you never love in vain and in my heart you will always remain Forever young And when you finally fly away, I’ll be hoping that I served you well For all the wisdom of a lifetime no one can ever tell But whatever road you choose, I’m right behind you, win or lose Forever young ~ Rod Stewart Teddy Wofford - Remember these words from another fine Teddy: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Teddy Roosevelt. We love you, sweet Teddy. xo, Mom and Dad Srinidhi Panchapakesan - The strength and eloquence of your words inspire me and make me proud of the free thinking, independent minded and fearless young

woman that you have become. Amma Katie Richardson - It has been wonderful having a front row seat watching your journey to adulthood. When one journey ends, another begins, and as you start your next adventure in life remember to sometimes take the road less traveled, as that will make all the difference. “The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands. In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.” ~Anne Frank. Follow your dreams and always know that our love follows you. We are so incredibly proud of you! Love, Mom, (Daddy) and Kelsey

step in your journey. Best Effort! Much love, Mom, Dad, Lexi (and all the rest!)

Collin Roberts - Your journey continues.

To make it a great one, always surround yourself with people who bring you joy. We love you and couldn’t be more proud.

Hannah Watkoske - We are so incredibly proud of you! We can’t wait to see what amazing things God has planned for your future. We love you, Mom and Dad Isaac Zelcer - We are filled with pride and excitement for you, Isaac. You have become such a incredible person who is kind, compassionate and highly intelligent. Enjoy the next adventure at Georgia Tech! Go Jackets! Love you always, Mom and Dad. Daisy Dow - “Remember Danny - two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights make a left.” - Ty Webb.

Lots of love Mum, Dad, Oscar, WSDL, Moonshine and Rumble xxx

Pooya Nayebi - We are so proud of your achievements. Don’t limit your education to high school and university. Explore the world and become a genuine man.

Love Mom and Dad Samuel Lee Etheredge - Congratulations Sam. We are so very proud of you Love Mom, Dad, Rachel & Jake Lowell Olmstead - Life is better when you are laughing Zander Bortnick - Congratulations, Buddy! We love you and are so proud of you! Remember, your family always has your back. We are excited for you and the next

Cara & Jack Cenatempo Congratulations on successfully graduating from Woodward Academy! We look forward to watching you both have more fun and success in college and beyond! Love, Mom & Dad Katie Dorton - We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments! You are smart and a hard worker, but more importantly a kind and thoughtful person.

We love you!

Love, Mom and Dad Morgan Lindelow - Watching you grow from a precocious toddler to a strong young woman has been one our greatest accomplishments. We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what else you achieve.

Love, Mom & Dad Mia Nicole Green - Keep yourself open to

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opportunities and slay those dragons!

Sam Collins - “It’s time for you to leave your dump and experience the other garbage out there,” “Ogres are like onions,” “measure twice cut once,” “ the truth bro, life’s about greasing the do back, buddy and wheezing on the buff-fest, man,” ” soar with the eagles, play like the squirrels, stay grounded like the chicken,” and wrap! Love Mom, Dad, Don, Brad, Joe, Mac Laine Hartman - Keep your love of life, friendship, faith, and family with you always and remember “stay-in-yo-laine.” Love, Mom and Dad Jazmyn Finney - Extreme jubilation is in our hearts’ sentiments as you embrace this monumental milestone. Without question, you have made us very proud. Stay focused and always keep God first. Then you will realize that not even the sky is the limit for you. Love, Your Family Jazymn, always remember you are braver than you believe. Stronger than you seem.

Smarter than you think. Twice as beautiful as you imagine. AND MORE LOVED than you’ll ever know. Aunt Su Su Jazmyn, Your smile is luminous and your heart is indispensable. No matter how big the world seems, there is only 1 AMAZING Jazmyn. I love you more than all the words in all the books in all the world.

Byanka I’m so proud of you. I’ll miss you lil shawty.

Go live your best life!

Love, Nook Jazmyn, We are so happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day, and so VERY proud of you, too! Remember: ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST! Love, Pa-Pa and Gran-Gran

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Congratulations with Love Niece! You were born to be a winner! It is a perfect time to celebrate the heart, the soul, and dream of a beautiful Christian girl! God Bless You, Aunt Ernie Ross Milstead - Pursue your passion with joy and determination and know that your faith, family and friends are ALWAYS there for you. Love, Mom, Dad and Elizabeth Olivia Silva - Olivia Silva – You have always exceeded our expectations. Your Woodward Academy journey has ended, and a new and exciting chapter of your life begins. May God bless you each and every day. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Remember where you came from. Remember the family name, and remember that we love you. Te queremos, mucho, mucho, bastante, demasiado, siempre, always and forever.

“Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.” - Michael Josephson Shaylan Patel - Congratulations, we are so very proud of the young man you have become. As you start your next journey please remember to serve all in the most humble, honest and heartful way for this will be your great reward to success and happiness.

Love Mom, Dad & Shayna.

Nejra Arslanagic - Dear Nejra, We are so blessed to you have you as our daughter all these years. You made us proud every day for the past 18 years and today especially because you accomplish one more task in your life and that task is Graduating from the High School. We wish you all the best at University of Augusta and keep making us proud. Always follow your dreams. Volimo te najvise na svijetu. Tvoji Hana, Mama I Tata.

Sam Hickey - We are so proud of you.

Dont look back at your past but look ahead to your future! We love you very much.

Ben Boxer - Congrats to Ben and the WA Class of 2018! Best of luck in all of your adventures... Fondly, the Boxers Hallie Hunt - We are so proud of you, your accomplishments and the young lady you have become. You never cease to impress and amaze us. Stay true to yourself and you always be successful. Roll Tide!! Love, Mom, Dad, Henry & Gumbo Sam Kukler - Sam - you did it! The next adventure is beckoning...go confidently wherever it takes you. Remember, If you can’t stop thinking about it, never stop working for it - words to live by. Our love, Mom, Dad and Will Austin Bryan - Austin, congratulations on your success! Now you have to start afresh.

As you do, try to work hard at everything you do, be honest, follow your dreams, believe in yourself but be willing to prove yourself to others, and most of all, have fun and laugh a lot. Also, call home and stay away from drugs. Love you more than you will ever know, Mom. Lauren Harrison - “Your mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some compassion, some humor and some style.” (Maya Angelou). Live life!

Love mom and dad Jaila Gladmon - Success is no accident. It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all Love for what you are doing or learning to do.

Kendall Heggie - We have watched with amazement as you have matured and grown into a stellar young man. Congratulations on your graduation!!!

We will now watch with anticipation as you set out to fulfill your dreams...the sky is the

limit.

Love Mom and Dad! Hayden Reeves - Always be kind and believe in yourself !

Serananda Maiki - Go for it! Believe in yourself ! You have everything you need to achieve the best in this world. Grab it and run! “Do not go to a great school. Go to a school that will make you great.” ( Quote from Ryan Gray, MD.) We will always support and love you, Mom and Dad. Tori Truesdell - Remember to Seek First the Kingdom of GOD. True wealth is of the heart and not of the purse! - Love Mom, Dad and Errington

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

(Dr. Kent Keith – The Paradoxical Commandments, 1968). With Love Always, MOM, DAD, Caroline, Camille, & Oliver Caitlin Reed - We are so proud of your 14

Marc Hammond - Congratulations Marc!

We are very proud of you and all you have accomplished. Make the best of every day in College. We love you, Mom, Dad and Claire Alex Henderson - We are incredibly lucky parents to have a daughter with such wit, wisdom and confidence. Keep being bold!

With love always, Mom & Dad Abby Henderson - Your humor, heart and smile make us happy and make our lives better. Stay true to you! With love always, Mom & Dad

Samuel Berman - Congratulations, Sam! We are very proud of you -- always follow your own path. Love, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Bubbe and Zayde Maxwell Marinac - Max - People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Michael Hehir - Penguins, why penguins?

Congratulations! Love Mom, Dad and Olivia

years at Woodward and of the person you have become. Never lose track of who you are and the goals you have set for yourself.

Remember to call home and not just when you need money! We love you! Mom and Dad Brian Smith - Congratulations! You made it! We are so proud of how far you have come, and we have faith in how far you will go. Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring that “Brian Sunshine”! Love, Mom and Dad Trinity S. Foley - Trinity you have achieved so much. We are so very proud of you. The next chapter will not be easier but I wish you the strength to face challenges with confidence along with wisdom to choose your battles carefully. Listen to your heart and don’t forget the inner voice is right.

Taylor Leibold - Congratulations, Taylor!

We are so very proud of you for your academic success but, more importantly, for the kind and compassionate woman that you have become. Your limitless potential and infectious enthusiasm will take you far in life and we will always be here to support you... so be grateful for your God given gifts and fearless in your ambition. We love you! Love, Mom and Dad Alanna Pearson - We are so very proud of what you have accomplished and who you have become! Love always, Mom and Dad Carter Franco - We are so proud of you for all of your accomplishments in school and your commitment to earning the rank of Eagle Scout Trust your instinct, maintain your quick wit, set your goals high during your college years, and you will be rewarded with success in your life. Mom, Dad, Caroline and Lizzie Ben Shipp - Ben, whatever challenge life brings, we know you are strong enough to steer through. We deeply love you and are proud of you. Ecce Quam Bonum. Dad and

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Mom Kendall Wade - Our dear Kendall, we want to congratulate you on a job well done! We know that you will have continued success in the next phase of your life. We are proud to have you as our son and we love you immensely. Mom & Dad Chandler Fulton - The day has finally come, and we could not be more proud of you. Continue to work hard, be your best, and find your passion. Believe in yourself and know that you are great. Love Mom and Dad Nija Packer - Nija, you are indeed a gift from God. Your love, light, warmth, creativity, and self-determined focus are an inspiration to us all. We look forward with great anticipation to your work impacting the culture in the most profound ways.

Remained anchored in love. Dwell in your truth. Trust God for everything. Mommy and Daddy Robert DuPre - In all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6 Donald Landon Wilson - Landon! We are beyond proud and grateful for everything that you are. You are such a wonderful, kind and loving soul. Never underestimate the spirit that lies within you. Trust me, you are more powerful than you think. We love you so much...Dad, Mom and Lauren. Forever....

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Arjun Srinivasan - We are proud of all your achievements! Good luck at Dartmouth! Love Anand, Karthik, Amma and Appa George Kimbrough - Georgie: We are so thankful that we were blessed with such a wonderful and interesting son. Be happy!

Love, Mom and Dad Louisa von Steinau-Steinrück - To our Dearest Louisa, we couldn’t be more proud of you and all you have accomplished. You are a wonderful daughter, a loyal friend, an amazing big sister, best granddaughter and exceptional person. We are so excited for your new journey in Chicago! We wish you all the best this wonderful world can bring and may all your dreams come true!

We love you, Mom, Mitchell, Joshua, Grandmom and Papa.

Marshall Simon - This is the part where you find out who you are. Congratulations!

Mom & Dad Kevin Antoine Phillips II - Kevin, we love you and we are SO proud of the man that you are. Go, set the standards! Eeewww WHEW!!!! BLOOD THIRSTY!!!!!!!!!! God gives his hardest battles to His strongest soldiers. Congratulations soldier, this is just the beginning! With love from Team KJ: Dad, Mom, Jadyn, Nana, Auntie Lynn and all of us!

Jacob Ramirez - This is not an end, but a beginning. You’ve achieved much, and will do greater still. We love you, and will always be there to cheer you on. - Mom and “the Village” Mary E. Lecesne - You have done an awesome job! I will miss you, but wherever you go, whatever you do, I will always be here for you, cheering you on. Love you dearly!

Megan Singleton - My precious Megan, you made it! We couldn’t be prouder. Your graduation is the beginning of a life time of learning. Never give up on your dreams and always remember that with God, nothing is impossible. We love you always and forever; Mom, Dad, Matthew and family.

Yusra Amercani - You’re no small potato.