![Latin students pose for a group photo in front of historical ruins in Italy. From March 13 to March 23, the Latin department traversed cities in Italy to immerse students in an educational experience of a lifetime. “I enjoyed being able to learn about the different cultures. [The trip] encouraged me to see other peoples lifestyle and learn more about different histories,” senior Suraiya Saroar said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240318_092633493.jpg)
![From Jan. 22 through Feb. 1, Parkway West High is displaying a wide array of art pieces made by students ranging from elementary to high school. All classes were represented on the displays in both the art wing and the main foyer of the school. “[Art] benefits me because in the middle of a busy day. I can just relax and have some fun doing art and it makes me happy. I think its important that you show art in the art show so that people can get inspired by it and be inspired to create their own pieces; it’s really impactful,” sophomore Dhiya Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image1-1200x800.jpg)
![Moviegoers smile for a picture after watching the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots.” The event ran from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 and was open to students across the Parkway School District. “I decided to come to the movie night because I wanted to introduce my non-Indian friends to the rich culture and entertainment of Bollywood. One of my favorite parts [of the night] was the combination of [the] amazing food and the pure comedic entertainment. [It] was unmatched,” sophomore Aryan Allu said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_5479-e1710180016483-1200x900.jpg)
![Senior Kylie Secrest volunteers at the blood drive signup table.The table provided students aged 16 and up with information about the drive and assisted them in the signup process. “We decorated the stand in the lunchroom with heart related or red decorations from either Dollar Tree or Five Below,” Secrest said. “This year was my first year doing [the blood drive] and it was fun. I got to be able to meet new people and help out the community.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image2-1200x800.jpg)
![Smiling widely, Principal John McCabe congratulates English teacher and English Department head Shannan Cremeens on winning the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year title. Sophomore Cooper Oswald was a witness to the celebration. “We were all pretty excited. We were all clapping and standing up. We even [got to] take a picture with her,” Oswald said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TOYvertical-1200x954.png)
![Standing in front of the American Sign Language program’s mural, junior Brooke Hoenecke signs with freshman Darren Young. Hoenecke began cadet teaching for ASL this year alongside working towards earning her seal of biliteracy. “I was in ASL class when I received the email [that I qualified for the seal]. I was jumping up and down with my teacher and the rest of the class. One of the reasons why I took cadet teaching this year was so that I could prepare for the Seal of Biliteracy and be immersed in ASL,” Hoenecke said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hoenecke.jpeg)
![With a keen eye for detail, senior Natalie Lashly writes her signature onto the senior hand wall. After some encouragement from her friends, Lashly applied to make the hand wall with her Lorax-inspired design. I thought the [bright] colors would be fun. Our quote on the wall is Let us grow,’ based on the Let it grow song [from the movie]. [I was hoping that the design would] make the cafeteria feel more exciting, Lashly said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0099-1200x801.jpg)
![Walking onto the field, freshman Erastus Adewusi wears a pink jersey in remembrance of cancer awareness month. With the number seven on his jersey, Adewusi reflects on his life in Nigeria before moving to America. “I [used to wake up] at 5:30 a.m. and school would end at 5 p.m. [versus] now,” Adewusi said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0029-1200x800.jpg)
![Envisioning a cathedral in his mind, senior Soren Frederick puts pencil to paper and practices a rough sketch in the drawing room. Frederick grew up surrounded by a family of artists who helped him realize his passion for drawing and painting as he matured. “My family [is] very much [an inspiration] for drawing and painting. [Art] didn’t start [in the family] with me; it started with my mom and my older sister, and my older brother is very good at drawing [too],” Frederick said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0017-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Amelia Geistler poses with her aunt, uncle and cousin. Moving through childhood, Geistler learned that having parents with a different appearance from her meant facing awkward, upsetting situations. “Something I faced [after] being adopted was that I was [treated] better when people discovered I had white parents. A childhood memory [is] when I went over to a friends house for the first time and her parents seemed to be very passive-aggressive, but when they learned I was adopted by white parents, they gave me equal treatment and ‘love’ as their white daughter,” Geistler said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-30-7.54.03-AM.png)
![Business and personal finance teacher Evan Stern stands in front of his classroom. After facing hardships growing up, Stern learned how to deal with them with the help of role models like his dad. “We dealt with some trauma when I was in middle school, and my dad had to be responsible for all three of us while he was working full-time. I know he had to sacrifice a lot. Im sure it was really hard for him, but looking back on it, he did a really good job . I didnt appreciate everything that he did at the time because I was so young. Now, Im engaged and probably going to have kids of my own in the next couple of years so I [am starting] to look at things differently,” Stern said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Untitled-7-1200x900.jpg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “Im not going to lie, Im glad I have another night of my life back when Im not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. Im really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
![Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits in her classroom, smiling for a picture. During her time in high school, Mangrich learned several lessons that she now passes on to her son. “The biggest life lesson that I learned is honesty. I wouldnt say I was the best teenager, but I learned very quickly in high school to always be forthcoming and honest with my parents because it always ended up serving me better in the long run. [My parents] might have been upset with me [and the mistake I made], but I wasnt going down the rabbit hole of a lie because that was just going to get me into more trouble,” Mangrich said. “I passed [that lesson] along to my nephew. Honesty is always your best approach; just don’t lie. I say that to my son all the time. Theres no advantage to lying, [and] thats a huge takeaway [from] how my parents raised me.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-26-10.10.12-AM.png)
![Social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian smiles in front of his classroom. Bashirian didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher from early on, but he found the choice to be a good one. “I started [teaching] because there was an opportunity for me to experiment with it. Fortunately, [teaching] was a good choice. In 2012, I became a teacher at Parkway at the Alternative Discipline Center, which is where they send suspended kids to keep being educated if they choose. I spent six years there and then I got drafted to West, [where] Ive been for about six years,” Bashirian said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-35-1200x800.jpg)
![English teacher Angela Frye stands behind her desk in her classroom. Frye went through a lot of personal struggles to get to where she is today, and with each step in her life, she carries her gratitude for those obstacles. “Everything happens for a reason. I believe in [the concept of] good energy, good karma, [from] being a good person. Those are things I dont take lightly. [Struggles] build character. You really appreciate everything you have when you have to work for everything you have,” Frye said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-8-1200x800.jpg)
![English teacher Leslie Lindsey smiles for a photo behind her desk. Growing up, Lindsey participated in many things outdoors, learning life skills that she still uses today. “I loved fishing and was never grossed out by it. I could get my hands dirty and spend time outside; even when it was cold, I didnt care. Fishing takes a lot of patience, and that is [now] a virtue of mine because I have great patience that translates into my classroom,” Lindsey said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6632-1-e1712758336310-1200x983.jpeg)
![Since the Supreme Court’s repeal of the federal law protecting a women’s fundamental right to abortion, many states have begun to restrict access to or even ban abortion. On June 24th, 2022, Missouri was one of many states to move to ban abortion. “Missouri is giving fetuses more rights than humans who’ve been on this world for many years. If someone [wants] to have an abortion because of whatever [reason], it should be their choice. You dont know why theyre in that position and you dont know why they need an abortion,” senior Mars Allendorph said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bang-1.png)
![Company marketing for gifts and cards during Mother’s Day and Father’s Day depicts the differences associated with the holidays. In order to capitalize on profit, large companies often include stereotype-reinforcing marketing behind parental celebration products: Mother’s Day sales typically prioritize jewelry and clothing, complete with heartfelt messages about childcare, while Father’s Day gifts tend to illustrate the father in a less serious, paternal light. “In terms of emails around those holidays, I typically get more Mothers Day [marketing] from florists or from whatever places Ive shopped at online. I tend to see more in terms of advertising and marketing,” English teacher Casey Holland said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-11.png)
![Frequent school shootings across the United States and subsequent lack of action have led to a chronic state of fear for many students. Recent mass shootings in schools created a new risk for students. “I’m constantly anxious about school shootings. The idea that it could happen and the prevalence of [school shootings in America] is scary. Whenever alarms go off in the school, I fear that [a shooting] might happen,” senior Carlee Priem said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Add-a-heading-27.png)
![Like many students, sophomore Medina Nanic experiences pressure to do well in school. Through continuous success and achievements, West has developed a high academic standard for students. “Because we’re seen as one [of] the better schools, we have higher standards than the [schools] who aren’t ranked as high. There’s a lot of pressure on students to do [well] and live up to those standards,” Nanic said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0029-2-1200x800.jpg)
![In the 1950s, the first recorded spikes in global temperatures were recorded, and ever since, Earth has been in the midst of a disastrous climate crisis, as rising temperatures wreak havoc on susceptible regions and destroy animal habitats worldwide. Junior Nidhi Pejathaya helped found West’s Sustainability Council to create a space where students can educate themselves about climate change and do their part to preserve the environment. “When youre going out of your way to recycle [or] reuse your clothes to save water, youre saving people. Youre saving adults, youre saving families, youre saving children. Youre saving a whole generation. Just because we dont see it doesnt mean its not happening,” Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-editorial-feature-1200x800.jpg)
![Rested against a rainbow of colored pencils, a phone plays singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ single “Risk.” Abrams released the song as the lead single to her upcoming album “The Secret of Us.” “We had real, true fun writing this album. There were also the occasional tears. Audrey [Hobert] and I wrote ‘Risk’ on our couch at home,” Abrams wrote on Instagram.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0009-2-1200x800.jpg)
![2023 was defined by female vocalists such as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Paramore’s Hayley Williams as their diversity and talent amongst their respective genres topped the musical charts. Williams took to Instagram to show her gratitude for having owned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 chart. “We know enough by now to know success doesn’t equal value. That being said, to experience the [No. 1] on this album, as this version of Paramore, is such a sweet and surreal moment to celebrate together,” Williams wrote.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-A-Musical-Recap-2.0-1.png)
![In perfect shooting form and with eyes on the rim, junior Tyler Kuehl is about to shoot his next basket in the last game of the season against Marquette High School. Kuehl has been playing basketball since he was 5. “Even though I played basketball all my life, the game-winning shots can be pressure, its confidence. If youre going into that shot and not thinking that youre gonna make it, its obviously not going in. And if you believe, [it will]. Thats the only way you can succeed,” Kuehl said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/unnamed-32-1-1200x1200.png)
![“At the beginning of the year, I didnt really know a lot of [the] kids in my class [so] I tried to fit in [get to] know [them better]. Then, I started having a [friend] group I [now] stay with. [Now,] if I need to ask a question to understand the material better, Ill just ask. [Having more friends and being able to connect with people] makes me feel great. It makes me feel like Im not alone in [my] classes, and if anybody needs help, [we] always have [each other] to turn to. [I’m most proud of] meeting all the people throughout the years, growing and overcoming my injury. I feel like Im usually more kind to others and prefer their opinion over mine. I [am] always [open] trying what the group wants. When Im by myself, I [can] do something for [only] so long, but when Im with other people, I [can] do anything for as long as whoever Im with wants to. [As] I go through life, I want to make sure that everything I do is fun, [but] sometimes I cant help it because [I] need to have hard [moments in life;] moments being sad, mad or upset. Whatever you [choose to] do, always have fun and make sure it’s what you want.” - Ikhana Hildebolt, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IkhanaHildebolt_9-1200x800.jpg)
![“Ive always been into [doodling] with pencils and ink. I used to watch YouTube drawing tutorials and [tried] to copy them. I had so much fun with that, but I felt like I was never [that] good [at art]; it made me lose motivation to draw. If I dont feel motivated to draw, I dont force myself to. I want drawing to be fun for me. I feel like every time I start again Im better than when I left. People can [create] art really fast but Ill sit there for hours and not be [finished] with the smallest [detail.] I learned to have patience [and] take my time. I used to try to get [fancy] materials. I was so stuck in the mindset that I needed [more supplies] to get better. I would get it and then feel discouraged because [my art quality] would be the same. Be patient with yourself. You dont need fancy materials to [make astounding] art. You can just use a wooden pencil and draw an amazing piece. I enjoy making beautiful [pieces] that have a message [behind it.] Its rewarding to see hours of work pay off as the final piece comes together.” - Morgan Summa, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0034-1200x800.jpg)
![“I have been playing football for a long time and have enjoyed it. This year especially, I had so much fun. I was very happy when I made varsity because freshmen dont usually make the team [their first year of high school.] I love being around the guys [on the team] and I am going to miss the senior [mentors] next year. I will never forget the impact the seniors and Coach Duncan had on me. It was not only a team, it was a family. I felt like I belonged.” - Ethan Bain, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_7636-1200x800.jpeg)
![“This is my 10th year [teaching] at West. I started teaching because I struggled a lot in school, [but I decided to teach English because] I really like writing. I had a really hard time in high school and learning did not come easy to me in middle school. I would study for tests and still [did] not do well, or [I would] work really hard to write an essay and it just wouldnt come together. Once I got a grip on how to learn at the end of high school and in college, I really wanted to help students who were struggling to break down the learning process and make it easier because school is not easy for everyone. Math might not be your [specialty,] but maybe youre really good at theater, English or something else. So I’ve been helping students find what they are really good at, and [I have strived to] give them the confidence to continue.” - Diana Uffman, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0266-1200x800.jpg)
![“One thing that motivates me to write is being understood. A lot of my writing is about myself, my experiences, emotions and problems [that] I’ve had to deal with. Writing about it makes it easier for people to understand. [My work] might not [directly] say what the problem is in the story, but I love creating these fears, experiences and weird realities to reflect the issue. [A word I’d use to describe my writing is] probably ‘odd’. My writing style is [definitely] ‘out there’. I write a lot about death and forgetting people. [But] there’s also been a lot about just being alive, and [in the moment]. I struggle a lot with derealization, which is when nothing feels real to me. I write a lot about that, and it helps me feel more [grounded]. [Writing allows me to connect to others so] that people can relate to the characters in a story [which] helps them feel more comfortable with their own emotions. Every writer implements a piece of themselves, one way or another. Just putting [oneself] in a story [allows for both a deeper level of introspection and creativity]. ” – Onyx Coleman, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pasted-image-0-1200x800.png)
All good things must eventually come to an end, and as the 2023-2024 school year finally draws its curtains closed, students reflect on all the memories that they forged this year. Likewise, it’s time for the Pathfinder to reflect on the incredible year that we’ve had. Here are some of our favorite pieces that have been posted to the site. Presenting…the 2023-2024 Pathfinder Wrapped.
“Current events and investigation award” – Story that best showcases an event or issue on campus or in our community
“The price of unequal education” by Elizabeth Franklin
In her time taking journalism at West, alumna Elizabeth Franklin has shown all of us how incredible her writing is and her natural journalism skills. In this article, Franklin sheds light on the disparity between different school districts in St. Louis City versus county in an informative and captivating way. Franklin’s distinct writing style and her ability to cover controversial issues in a unique way have made her an integral facet of the Pathfinder, and one that will be severely missed next school year.
“Vivid visuals award” – Story with the most eye-catching feature image
“Woman, Life, Freedom” feature image by Dana Zafarani, article by Will Gonsior
It’s hard not to take a second to appreciate this article’s feature image — a viscerally emotional depiction of alumna Dana Zafarani painted in the colors of the Iranian flag, with the words “Woman, Life, Freedom” written across her face. The photo is stunning and makes readers click on the story to read the incredible reporting of junior Will Gonsior, author of the article. Zafarani’s feature encapsulates the meaning behind the article in such a beautiful way, tying everything together.
“Up-and-comer award” – Stories written by new staff members who display great potential
“Stay peachy” by Yein Ahn
This article is warm and comforting, like the “Peach Fuzz” color that it celebrates. Full of vibrant, balanced interviews and creative photography, highlighted by an outstanding feature, this piece makes a fun and relaxing read. Winning a Best of SNO for sophomore Yein Ahn’s informative reporting and balanced critiques, “Stay Peachy” truly serves as a pop of color in one’s day.
“A lifelong journey” by Sage Kelly
With considerable care evident in his writing, freshman Sage Kelly quickly established himself as a fantastic new addition to the Pathfinder. As his first published story, Kelly’s accomplishment of earning a Best of SNO for “A lifelong journey” was quite an impressive feat. The story follows junior Dominic Perez’s journey in music. Kelly masterfully incorporates emotional quotes into the article to develop a descriptive foundation of Perez’s character — the greatest feat to accomplish when it comes to writing a feature.
“Dynamic duo award” – Best partnership project
“Get a taste of this!” by Zoya Hasan and Keira Lang
Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, sophomores Zoya Hasan and Keira Lang have proven to be a difficult duo to beat. Their teamwork especially shines in this Best of SNO awarded piece about the anticipated return of Taste of West to the school post-COVID-19. Writing this piece demonstrated their commitment to journalism and covering the events that matter at school, which the Pathfinder is incredibly thankful for.
“Athletes to watch in the 2024-2025 season” by Matthew Thomas and Owen Ulmer
Another duo that works magic when put together consists of sophomores Matthew Thomas and Owen Ulmer, who channeled their mutual love for sports to create this article about up-and-coming athletes at West. With eye-catching photography and a visually-focused story template, “Athletes to watch in the 2024-2025 season” offers a fresh new perspective to the Pathfinder about the athletes that make our school great.
“Masterclass in multimedia award” – Projects that showcase excellence in video production and editing
“Staring into the sun” by Cindy Phung and Samir Shaik
The past year also welcomed a new, fan-favorite member to the Pathfinder team: the drone. In the capturing film of “Staring into the sun,” juniors Cindy Phung and Samir Shaik showcased their excelling multimedia skill, incorporating action-packed clips alongside informative interview footage into a dramatic recounting of the 2024 solar eclipse. Best of all, the video was the Pathfinder’s grand unveiling of the famous drone, where overhead shots captured a field full of a thousand students, and ended with a stunning picture of the total solar eclipse.
“STEMing the tide” by Emily Early
Earning the Pathfinder’s first multimedia Best of SNO of the 2023-2024 school year, “STEMing the tide” offers a peek into West’s Women in STEM club. Using a mixture of both creativity and skill, alumna Emily Early was able to capture emotions and stories in this video that allow the audience to live in the environment that the video creates.
“Funny bone award” – Projects that’ll make you crack a smile
“I have no data, I must scream” by Lauren Holcomb and Serena Liu
When we proposed a satire piece on the infamous AT&T outage of 2024, we were half-joking. Little did we know, alumnae (and comedians) Lauren Holcomb and Serena liu would pick up the story and deliver a hilarious article, filled with sarcastic jokes and a mildly concerning interview from alumnus Will Brown, within the span of that day. This duo got all of us to laugh about an event that was, at the moment, quite frustrating — for that, we applaud them.
“Best of Homecoming Spirit Week” by Esta Kamau and Sakenah Lakjem
Few people exude as much confidence and hype in front of a camera as junior Esta Kamau, who was the face of the Pathfinder’s video coverage of Homecoming Spirit Week. Paired up with talented videographer and alumna Sakenah Lajkem, the duo was able to film, edit and post one video per day for the entire week, an enormous feat. However, it all paid off in the end, as the audience got to look at the insane lengths that some students went to in order to fit the theme. Together, Kamau and Lajkem delivered us a much-needed dose of school spirit.
“Innovation in interactivity award” – Stories with the best incorporation of interactive media
“Worth its weight in blood: The problem with palm oil” by Lauren Holcomb
As always, Holcomb’s writing in this piece is stunning — mixing together balanced critiques with empirical evidence that creates a very distinct mood throughout. However, where this article especially shines is in its use of interactive features — three of them, to be exact. Holcomb’s interactives allow the reader to become more immersed in the topic of the story and directly link with its content.
“The ‘active’ in activism” by Risa Cidoni
Genial.ly user extraordinaire and junior Risa Cidoni certainly made a splash with this piece that discusses the differences between performative activism and legitimate activism. Cidoni expanded our interactive horizons with this piece, creating four different interactives with four different platforms — Genial.ly, Datawrapper, Visme and Flourish. These interactives add a new dimension to the story that allows the reader to learn information in an aesthetically pleasing way and makes the article a sizable amount stronger.
“Excellence in entertainment” – Stories that contain the best reviews of music, TV and popular culture
“Like every other teen drama: “My Life With the Walter Boys” by Ruthvi Tadakamalla
In this review of a popular Netflix teen drama, sophomore Ruthvi Tadakamalla combined her love for journalism with her love for shows. This article highlights Tadakamalla’s writing ability and style like no other, allowing her criticisms to shine and carry more gravity throughout the piece. Tadakamalla digs deeper than just the surface-level plot in this piece, electing instead to take a look at the intricacies of its story, the mark of a true journalist.
“30 years later: The albums of 1994” by Mikalah Owens
Music buff and alumna Mikalah Owens offered up a brand-new column to the Pathfinder this past school year: “Mikalah’s Music Corner.” Throughout the year, she reviewed different punk and rock albums, while also writing about topics that matter to her in them. This story, a charming retrospective on the albums that made the year 1994 so great for music, epitomizes everything that is great about Owens’ writing: descriptive and informative, narrative and engaging.
“Twenty-five years later: ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ is a shining beacon of once-in-a-lifetime talent” by Elizabeth Franklin
Recently named Apple Music’s No. 1 album of all time, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is no stranger to glory, solidified as one of the most influential albums in hip-hop and R&B. To write an analysis of such an extraordinary album requires an extraordinary writer — one like Missouri student journalist of the year Elizabeth Franklin. The review relives the magic touch of the 25-year-old album in intricate song descriptions, emotional inferences and a definitive stance on the permanence of the album. Franklin’s writing reminds us again of the intention of music: to connect and to tell stories.
“Emotional masterpiece award” – Story that’ll make you shed a tear
“The gift of a lifetime” by Lia Emry
All of West was heartbroken after learning about the passing of Jaydon Woodall, then a senior at West. When alumna Eileen Meara planned to honor Woodall’s memory at one of West’s home football games, alumna Lia Emry was quick to report. “The gift of a lifetime” has it all — emotional quotes, great photography and an overall somber yet celebratory tone. Emry’s writing allows us to remember and appreciate Woodall for all that he was and is one of the many ways his legacy will live on at West.
“Opinions that matter award” – Stories that properly balance informed statistics with stirring critiques
“Competitive math: Where the ‘M’ in STEM implies male” by Audrey Ghosh
Alumna Audrey Ghosh has never been afraid to shed light on topics that might normally go unseen. In this article, she does just that, writing about the gender disparity and bias against women in many top math competitions around the country. Using powerful quotes from women here at West as well as statistics from reliable sources, Ghosh creates a spirited article that advocates for positive change to be made in the world.
“We can’t shake off climate change,” by Lauren Holcomb
Nobody is more fearless than Holcomb: targeting establishment politicians and global corporations is standard Pathfinder fare, but going after pop superstar Taylor Swift? That’s something few of us would have the bravery to do in our wildest dreams. Holcomb highlighted Swift’s habit of frequently using or loaning out her private jet, resulting in a high carbon footprint that eclipses those of other celebrities. She urges readers not to pass over a scandal that feels like it lasted a mere fortnight. The signature wit and thorough research that go into every Holcomb article are in full force here, making this a good read for Swifties and environmentalists alike. After all, rooting for an anti-hero is nowhere near as exhausting as Swift says it is.
“Fan Favorite of the Year” — Story we all kept coming back to
“Silent pandemic” by Serena Liu
Former Editor-in-Chief Liu is no stranger to journalism excellence. Time and time again, her pure technique in opinionated writing takes to emotional spaces. However, we’d have to say that “Silent pandemic” is certainly one of Liu’s most outstanding pieces of work. Exploring the intricacies of mental health within Asian American communities, Liu weaves complexity into conversation as she discusses the effects of stigmas in the Asian American world. Her use of a Juxtapose interactive showcases her innovative technology skills, her sense of voice displays argumentative expertise and her use of personal narrative blends fact and purpose. “Silent pandemic” is more than a story — it’s the representation of so many silent voices, and beautifully so.
![With her arms held high, junior Jenna Rickelman throws the ball across the pool during a girls water polo practice. With hours of practice after school and over the summer, Rickelman saw many improvements in her water polo skills. “When I look at [my] stats, Im so much better than I was last year,” Rickelman said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-2-.png)
