Tashaun Ewing, 12
What makes you a desirable man? I’m a really funny guy and I’m down to do adventurous things; I love to stay active to keep me in shape.
When was your last serious relationship? Sophomore year, Jordan Roundtree, I could says she’s the one that got away. Now I have to spread my horizons.
If you could be any famous person who would it be and why? Jimi Hendrix because he is a great guitar player, and if I had that talent I could woo any girl.
What’s your best quality? I can have a conversation with anyone. I try to make everything positive and fun. My motto is “Never say no.”
How do you approach a girl for the first time? I like to approach her while I’m dancing to see if she’s into it. If she’s not, I move on to the next option.
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? I would love to make her a mix CD with all the classic tunes and at the end ask, “would you like to boogy-oogy with me to prom?”
What’s your worst quality? Sometimes I don’t give the ladies as much attention as I should.
Describe your ideal prom date. Someone who doesn’t like to be like everyone else, likes to step out of the box and doesn’t have a problem being the only one on the dance floor.
When’s the last time you cried? The oven was going off because my pizza rolls were done and I was rushing to get them out and I stubbed my toe running full force.
Jalen Burgess, 12
What makes you a desirable man? I have a lot of great features but my best one is my body. I think me being black makes me stand out and the girls come running; they don’t call me “Big Juicy” for nothing.
When was your last serious relationship? Freshman year when I was dating an eighth grader. I go for all ages because I like to see what different girls offer.
If you could be any famous person who would it be and why? Dan Bilzerian because he is a modern day playboy and got rich by only playing poker.
What’s your best quality? I’m really good at cuddling.
How do you approach a girl for the first time? I don’t like to resort to pick up lines like every other guy. I like to make the girl laugh and go from there.
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? I think a quick text is good enough and if they want to go with me then they don’t need a huge proposal.
What song describes your love life? “Trap Queen” because I love to cook pies for my ladies.
Describe your ideal prom date. Green eyes, blonde hair and like to have good time… aka Alison Owen baby 😉
When’s the last time you cried? The last football game of the year because I’m never going to play football with my brothers ever again.
Jack O’Connor, 11
What makes you a desirable man? I have brown hair, but I can grow a great ginger beard.
When was your last serious relationship? I have never had a serious relationship; I like to fly solo because there are too many fish in the sea to pick.
What’s your best quality? I have a good sense of humor that pulls the ladies in.
How do you approach a girl for the first time? I walk…
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? Pop a bag of popcorn and say, “Now that I’ve buttered you up, will you pop over to prom with me?”
When’s the last time you cried? I’ve never cried in my life; I’m as stiff as a board 😉
Kyle Bernstein, 12
When was your last serious relationship? Back in the first grade, Becky Sue kicked me in the shin and told me I had cooties. It was love at first sight.
If you could be any famous person who would it be and why? Ben Affleck because he has a great body and uses it to get all the ladies.
What’s your best quality? My looks, and me being 5’6 really makes the girls’ jaws drop.
How do you approach a girl for the first time? I like to wink from across the room and blow a kiss.
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? I would like to give her beautiful flowers that I picked and flaunt my feelings toward her.
What song describes your love life? “Love is an Open Door” because my arms are always open to new beautiful girls.
What’s your worst quality? I love too much.
What’s your ideal prom date? She has to make me laugh and she has to laugh at all of my jokes because I’m funny.
When’s the last time you cried? Last night, because my brother hit me too hard.
Omar Deiab, 11
What makes you a desirable man? I just try to be a happy person in general; I always try to start the conversation with a girl rather than them coming to me.
When was your last serious relationship? It’s been a while. I like talking to girls, but relationships don’t really interest me.
If you could be any famous person who would it be and why? Jonah Hill, fame isn’t a big thing to me; it’s really just money that makes me happy.
What’s your best quality? I’m a funny guy; I’m goofy in general.
How do you approach a girl for the first time? I go up to them and say, “Hello.” “What’s your name?” “How do you spell it?”
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? Fireworks, something big, it has to be something no one has done before.
What song describes your love life? “Gravity” by John Mayer because the beat really makes me get in touch with all my feelings.
What’s your worst quality? At times I can be selfish, but only to protect the ones I care about.
What’s your ideal prom date? Well, I mean she has to be decent looking and up for anything.
Whens the last time you cried? Three months ago when my grandma died.
Bobby Connor, 11
What makes you a desirable man? My impressive size is a great component; standing at about 6’5, 210 pounds is really attractive for ladies here at Parkway West.
When was your last serious relationship? Last year, I’m a relationship kind of guy. 😉
If you could be any famous person who would it be and why? Myself or Bradley Cooper, because he has great hair. Someday I will try to make my hair look just like his.
What’s your best quality? I’m going to have to go back to my height and superior strength.
How do you approach a girl for the first time? “Hey, how are you doing?” “Hey, are you from around here?” These are my two go-to lines because it breaks the ice.
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? If St. Louis were by the beach, I would sing a melody under the stars.
What’s your worst quality? I don’t have bad qualities, so I’m going to have to skip this question.
What’s your ideal prom date? A girl who is a total babe.
Whens the last time you cried? When I watched “Fast 7.” At the end they did a “remember me” for Paul Walker, and I let a couple tears out. I’m not afraid to say it.
Riley Critchfield, 12
What makes you a desirable man? My distinct beautiful musk and my luscious hair.
When was your last serious relationship? Annemarie Daiker, we fell in love and then fell out of love very quickly.
If you could be any famous person who would it be and why? Ryan Reynolds, because he is a beautiful man dime and has the most beautiful girl in the world, Blake Lively.
What’s your best quality? I am a fantastic dancer; it really gets the ladies going.
How do you approach a girl for the first time? I have a full system: I spot a girl out, and then I go for the kill.
What’s your ideal way to ask a girl to prom? I have always wanted to use fire, but everyone thinks I would burn down her house.
What song describes your love life? “Hot and Cold” by Katy Perry because there are always ups and downs with women.
What’s your worst quality? I care too much about what other people think.
What’s your ideal prom date? She has to be blonde and loves to get funky fresh on the dance floor.
When’s the last time you cried? My last break up; Shout out to Anthony Ruffner for getting me through that one.
![Focused on providing exceptional service, sophomore Darsh Mahapatra carefully cleans the door of a customer’s car. Mahapatra has always believed his customers deserve nothing less than the best. “[If] they’re trusting us with their car and our service, then I am convinced that they deserve our 100 percent effort and beyond,” Mahapatra said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0018-1200x800.jpg)
![Sophomore Aleix Pi de Cabanyes Navarro (left) finishes up a soccer game while junior Ava Muench (right) warms up for cross country practice. The two came to Parkway West High School as exchange students for the 2025-2026 school year. “The goal for the [exchange] program is to provide opportunities for both Parkway students and our international exchange students to learn about other cultures, build connections and become confident, capable, curious and caring — Parkway’s Four C’s — in the process,” Exchange Program Lead Lauren Farrelly said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Feature-Photo-1200x800.png)
![Gazing across the stage, sophomore Alexis Monteleone performs in the school theater. The Monteleone family’s band “Monte and the Machine” has been releasing music since 2012, but Alexis started her own solo career in 2024 with the release of her first single, Crying Skies. “My whole family is very musical, [and I especially] love writing [songs with them],” Monteleone said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC7463-1200x798.jpg)
![Amid teaching a lesson to her AP Calculus BC class, Kristin Judd jokes alongside her students in their funny remarks. Judd has always enjoyed keeping the mood light in her classroom, along with on the volleyball court. “[I enjoy] that side talk where you see [or] overhear a conversation and chime in, or somebody says something funny,” Judd said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-1200x730.jpg)
![Eyeing the ball, junior Ella McNeal poses for her commitment pictures at Clemson University. McNeal’s commitment comes after months of contact with top Division 1 soccer programs. “ It has taken a lot to get to where I am, but I know that [what] I've already been through is just the beginning, and I can't wait for what is to come,” McNeal said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4926-1200x900.jpeg)
![Senior Adam Zerega stands with senior Dexter Brooks by farm equipment. Zerega often worked with friends and family on his farm. “I've been able to go to my family's farm since I was born. I [spend] at least three weekends a month [on the farm], so I'm there all the time,” Zerega said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4872-1200x900.jpg)
![After a thrilling point, senior Katie Byergo and junior Elle Lanferseick high-five each other on Oct. 8. With teamwork and camaraderie, Byergo worked together in the game against Lafayette High School. “[Byergo’s] is really positive with a good spirit,” Lanferseick said. “I set her [the ball] and she hits it [or] gets the kill.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_9349-1-e1761159125735-1200x791.jpg)
![Leaning on the podium, superintendent Melissa Schneider speaks to Parkway journalism students during a press conference. Schneider joined Parkway in July after working in the Thompson School District in Colorado. “My plan [to bond with students] is to get things on my calendar as much as possible. For example, being in [classes] is very special to me. I am trying to be opportunistic [meeting] kids [and] being in [the school] buildings. I have all the sports schedules and the fine arts schedules on my calendar, so that when I'm available, I can get to them,” Schneider said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_5425-1200x943.jpeg)
![Leaping through the air, senior Tyler Watts celebrates his first goal of the season, which put the Longhorns up 1-0 against the Lafayette Lancers. Watts decided to play soccer for West for his last year of high school and secured a spot on the varsity roster. “[Playing soccer for West] is something I had always dreamed of, but hadn’t really had a good opportunity to do until now. It’s [really] fun being out [on the field], and I’m glad I decided to join the team. It’s just all about having fun with the boys and enjoying what time we have left together,” Watts said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_1951-1200x855.jpg)
![Shifting global trade, President Donald Trump’s tariffs are raising concerns about economic stability for the U.S. and other countries alike. “[The tariffs are] going to pose a distinct challenge to the U.S. economy and a challenge to the global economy on the whole because it's going to greatly upset who trades with who and where resources and products are going to come from,” social studies teacher Melvin Trotier said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MDB_3456-1200x800.jpg)
![Pitching the ball on Apr. 14, senior Henry Wild and his team play against Belleville East. Wild was named scholar athlete of the year by St. Louis Post-Dispatch after maintaining a high cumulative GPA and staying involved with athletics for all of high school. “It’s an amazing honor. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to represent my school [and] what [it] stands for,” Wild said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/unnamed-6-1200x714.jpg)
![Red, white and blue, the American flag holds the values of our democracy. The fight that we once endured has returned, as student journalists and senior correspondents across the country are losing their voices due to government control. “[Are] the White House and [the] government limiting free speech [and] freedom of the press? Yes [they are],” chief communications officer of the Parkway School District and former journalist Elisa Tomich said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Untitled-design-14.jpg)
![Freezing in their position, the Addams Family cast hits the “rigor mortis” pose after cast member and senior Jack Mullen, in character as Gomez Addams, calls out the stiff death move. For the past four months, the combined company of cast members, orchestra pit, crew and directors all worked to create the familial chemistry of the show. “I’m excited for [the audience] to see the numbers, the music, the scenes, but I also just love all the technical aspects of it. The whole spectacle, the costumes, makeup and the people that put in the work backstage in order to make the show successful on stage. I’m excited for people to see and appreciate that,” Mullen said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC0116-1200x800.jpg)