As we wrap up the 2025-26 school year, we wanted to take a moment to recognize and give thanks to the magic that occurs daily in room 3000 and beyond. Thank you, Parkway West, for giving us another wonderful year of trusting us with your voice on pressing issues and conveying your admirable school spirit. Thank you to all of Pathfinder before us, laying the foundation for an esteemed program and giving us the opportunity to carry on your legacy. Without further ado, a letter from your new editorial board: 

Payton Dean, Editor-in-Chief

What a year! Little did I know that switching into journalism teacher Lindsey Katz’s Convergence Journalism 1 class the second day of freshman year would lead to something so impactful. I struggle putting into words how grateful I am to be a part of such an amazing program, let alone be trusted to carry on the legacy left behind by such talented editors as I step into my new role as editor-in-chief. As cliche as it sounds, my favorite part of journalism is truly the people. Every hour of every day, I am truly starstruck by how much talent, creativity, hard work and pure passion fill the journalism room and nothing makes me happier than seeing it recognized. From individual honors such as Best of SNO awards to whole program honors like Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s (CSPA) Gold Crown, I am truly at a loss for words at how special of a group this is. This year, we have welcomed many new and younger editors to our editorial board. I am excited and cannot wait to watch you all thrive and flourish in your new positions. A special shoutout to Sage Kelly: from being dear friends in elementary school to spearheading Pathfinder this spring, I am so incredibly proud and lucky to get to work with someone as talented and dedicated as you. These traits, along with Sage’s outstanding character, are something I strive to embody, and I thank you all for your support. 

On that note, and I am sure it will be mentioned further, Sage’s piece, “Limbo: the consequences of the word ‘whitewashed,’” left me at a loss for words. I had the pure honor of editing this piece in my previous role as opinions editor, and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Tackling such incredibly difficult history and meaning with this piece, along with seeing firsthand the pure level of determination Sage puts forward into every piece, but especially this one, is admirable, and he could not be more deserving of all the accolades this piece has received. 

With that in mind, another personal favorite piece this year was our February editorial: “First they came for journalists.” In a trying time nationwide, our editorial board tackled the controversial topic of the importance of student journalism and advocacy. Writing an opinion piece about the ability to even write such a piece and the obstruction of the right to free press is something so important and near to my heart. 

My goal since beginning journalism has stayed the same over the years: to voice not only my own opinions, but to ensure everyone throughout West feels their voices are heard, and I hope stepping into the role of editor-in-chief allows me to further achieve this goal and leave a lasting mark on the West High community. Our departing editors have set the bar astronomically high and I can’t thank them enough for all of their hard work. And one more HUGE thank you to our advisor, the one and only Mrs. Katz! We are so lucky to have someone as caring and as passionate about their work as you are, and you constantly inspire all of us in so many ways. Pathfinder would not be half as successful without such a strong and fierce advocate in our corners at all times. I know this year will come with so many changes, obstacles but also rewards and I can’t wait to spend one final year with such an amazing program. 

Sage Kelly, Editor-in-Chief

When Mrs. Katz presented the editorial board for the 2026-27 school year, I could feel tears welling in my eyes. It was surreal. I’d be a leader for one of the best school newspapers in the country. At this point in my high school career, the days seem to blur together, and I confuse the activities of yesterday with those of yesteryear. The path to the present is strewn like spaghetti in my mind, and it’s a struggle to make sense of it all, but there is one thing I know for a fact: when I’m in the journalism room, I am never lost. One can find a constant sense of belonging in the journalism room, and I feel as if I have found my people. I am lucky to have the Pathfinder staff as colleagues and as friends.

There were so many amazing and thought-provoking pieces this year, but I’ve been wanting to shout out this one in particular: “Keeping it physical: Exploring the resurgence of physical media in 2025” by Charlie Brady and Max Chung. The video is beautiful, every shot brimming with intentionality; the premise is thoughtful and unique; the story structuring is smooth; and the narration is introspective. One thing that I have noticed about Max in my time working with him is that he always gives his best effort. He is committed to true journalistic excellence, and, instead of settling for the minimum, Max consistently pushes journalism beyond the status quo to create conscious, calculated works of art. Demonstrating his versatility, Max also earned consecutive Best of SNO awards for his most recent pieces, “Balancing cuts and classrooms” and “Among the few,” both of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. One of Charlie’s best qualities is his utter passion. Charlie is honest, diligent and spirited; these traits appear in his work ethic and in the final product of his industry. Charlie is someone whom I can rely on, and his positive attitude inspires me. I was ecstatic to find that “Keeping it physical” was listed among Quill and Scroll’s 2026 Writing, Visual, and Multimedia Finalists, but that is only a fraction of the recognition Charlie and Max deserve. Thank you both!

I’d also like to say thank you to Yein Ahn, Mrs. Katz and Ruthvi Tadakamalla for their amazing leadership and patience. I owe them the world for the knowledge, advice and time they have given me. Thank you, Payton, for your shared dedication to this program. I value you as a friend, a teammate and a mentor, and there is no one I trust more to uphold Pathfinder’s decades-long legacy. If you haven’t already, I urge you to read “Throw like a girl” and “Another one bites the dust,” which are exemplary pieces of journalism.

Finally, I can’t forget one of the most important pieces to post on Pathfinder this year: “The power of protest.” For context, in 1988, the Supreme Court decided in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier that public schools can censor school-sponsored publications on the grounds of protecting student privacy and preventing potential disruption. For that reason, “The power of protest” was very nearly rendered impossible. This piece was about the student-led protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February. Because of the protest’s inherently polarizing nature, any article we wrote ran the risk of causing significant disruption in the community, so we encountered friction in the writing process that threatened our ability to report. As journalists, we felt we had a duty to cover this event, and so we sailed into uncharted waters, navigating difficult conversations with administrators and assessing the rights of student journalists in Missouri. As an editorial board, facing potential censorship was a new experience, and it had been a few years since the last Pathfinder article covering a protest. The piece tested our resolve and forced us to extensively evaluate our implicit biases to provide the most neutral and accurate writing possible. It was a great learning experience for all involved, and so I believe it deserves recognition here.

As a team, we’ve come so far this year, and I know we will only improve next year. Watching us grow throughout the years — as journalists and as people — has been my favorite part of this program. It’s been a pleasure to know every past and present staff member on Pathfinder, and it is now an honor to lead you all. As editor-in-chief, I seek to collaborate with students around the school and learn from journalism teams around the country. I will continue to give a platform to the underrepresented, track more data about student representation and explore the possibilities of new media for Pathfinder, from literary journals to editorial comics. Around this time next year, I hope I will be looking back on a year full of growth, surrounded by friends old and new. In the meantime, I will protect our rights as a student publication, chart new territory and, most importantly, empower the next generation of student journalists to continue this vital work. 

There is so much more to say and so many more thank-yous to give, but I’ll leave it there for now. I appreciate you all. Excelsior!

Malia McLellan, Opinions Editor

I am a firm believer that it’s not what you achieve, but why you achieve it, that signifies true passion and determination. This school year, Pathfinder earned the CSPA Gold Crown, is a SNO Distinguished Site and features several MIJA All-State winning articles, but the thing that continues to impress me most about this publication is the unwavering commitment of my fellow writers and editors, whom I’d like the time to thank as the year comes to a close.

Maura Lottes, your photography is some of the best I’ve ever seen, and I am so grateful we were able to incorporate and admire your work this year. Max, thank you for your endless patience with us as we all struggled to cut videos in Adobe Premiere Pro and recorded footage with the Osmo camera pointed at the ground. Raaga Golla, thank you for your kindness and constant support of everyone on staff; whether it’s rating Kit Kats or discussing the pros and cons of a new gym, I will miss the unique angle of your articles. Rishi Pidikiti, thank you for taking on so many of my A&E articles without complaint and giving such prompt and thorough feedback even though your focus is on sports editing. Ruthvi and Yein, you are appreciated beyond measure as editors-in-chief of this year’s Pathfinder and we know that without your constant attention, none of our accomplishments would have been possible. 

To Nimra Ali, Sanjana Dagubatti, Noor Hacking and Raahil Majumdar, I am so happy to have you on the editorial board, and I look forward to seeing you bright and early at 7 a.m. every other week next year. To our new leaders, Payton and Sage, we are all blown away by your sheer dedication and efficiency when it comes to journalism. There is no one more deserving of the roles of editors-in-chief than the two of you and I cannot wait to grow together!

Looking forward to my own role next school year, I am so grateful to be serving as your new opinions editor. Editing opinion pieces was not one of the roles I applied for or saw myself filling, but now that I’ve begun my work, I am learning so much about the importance of balancing facts and feelings to create purpose, an element that was not often present in A&E articles. Additionally, many of the articles I’ve edited have an element of lived experience, a moment or shift in understanding that writers integrate into their pieces to create impactful and heartfelt assertions. I am so excited to bring the same energy to the opinions articles I write and edit next year and I already have so many ideas for pieces! 

Overall, I hope that I’ve truly been able to help my teammates grow their writing and feel more confident in their exceptional abilities this school year. I have loved working with everyone on the board and can’t wait to finish out my time in Pathfinder with an amazing senior season!

Sanjana Daggubati, Features and Humans of West Editor

I cannot believe I am wrapping up my second year writing for Pathfinder alongside a fantastic team of staff and editors. From exploring different story categories to navigating the endless options in Adobe Premiere with Malia, the 2025-26 school year has taught me so much about journalism and has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone a lot more than I had imagined at the beginning of the year.  Now, approaching my third year of journalism my junior year, I am nothing but thrilled to take on the role of features and Humans of West (HOW) editor. 

As excited as I am for the future of Pathfinder, I think it would be unfair not to acknowledge all of the accomplishments that poured out of room 3000 this year. First and foremost, 17 Best of SNOs were earned throughout our journalism program and Pathfinder was able to earn all of our badges to be named a SNO Distinguished Site. A huge shout-out to our past editors-in-chief, Ruthvi and Yein, for consistently putting in the effort to keep Pathfinder active and posting quality content. There were many pieces this year that I thought were outstanding, but a few stuck out to me: “Prevent the hangover” by Raaga and “Throw like a girl” by Payton. Raaga, I admire the amount of research you did for this piece, and for talking about a topic not brought up enough. By including student opinions from our school and tying it back into your personal experiences, you made this piece close to home. In addition, Payton did a wonderful job tying in the local news of the expansion of flag football to girls who would be interested around West. Featuring athletes, like our very own Noor, was impactful and really showcased women in sports. Great job, Payton, on all your hard work! 

The past month in journalism has been so bittersweet, and with the seniors all leaving, it has made me realize how close this journalism program is. Whether we’re collaborating with each other to get tasks done or eating all of the treats that yearbook Editor-in-Chief Shea O’Connell brought, we had fun every step of the way. Now, as I think about my role as features and HOW editor next year, I have a few goals in mind. A huge shoutout to Sage for continuing to diversify the features section and pushing for the usage of creative elements such as infographics and interactive polls — those are things I definitely want to continue. I also want to thank Raaga for capturing beautiful stories even through the short word count HOW has to offer. You did amazing! As a features and HOW editor next year, my main goal is to be consistent with posting and to cover as many diverse perspectives as possible.

I look forward to an awesome year alongside the Pathfinder editors and staff. Sage and Payton, you both will be fantastic editors-in-chief next year and I know you will continue to keep Pathfinder in pristine condition. Malia, Nimra, Max, Rishi, Noor and Raahil, I couldn’t ask for a better group of editors and am excited to work with you all. Cheers to all of the accomplishments the future holds for Pathfinder!

Nimra Ali, Arts and Entertainment Editor

I remember when I first took Convergence Journalism 1, my freshman year, I was nervous because it wasn’t like any other class I’d taken before. I’d never gotten interviews or even held a camera, but since then, I’ve been able to learn so much by being a part of Pathfinder. I’m super excited to be on the editorial board next year. This year has taught me so much on how to write pieces, the kind of pieces I’m interested in and the effort it takes to publish something you’re passionate about.

One of my favorite pieces from this year would definitely be Sage’s piece on the word whitewashed. It was something I can relate to, and it does a good job of showing what it feels like to be called whitewashed for the first time. I also love the variety this piece had with different infographics, timelines and viewpoints from students. 

My favorite part of journalism this year was being able to have the creative freedom to choose the types of pieces I wanted to write about, especially opinion pieces and A&E pieces. My goal for my section next year, A&E, is to make sure we continue to have engaging pieces. Whether it’s reviewing a new cafe, discussing fashion trends or commenting on seasonal festivities, I want to help make pieces people enjoy reading. I’ll try to accomplish this by making sure we have engaging photos in pieces and by ensuring A&E gets a variety of coverage. 

I hope that when I look back on my pieces on Pathfinder, I see that the hard work I have done has paid off so that the pieces I have helped write are the best they can be. I’m excited to continue to be a part of Pathfinder and to work with everyone next year!

Max Chung, Multimedia Editor

I am not the first to say this in the article thus far, but it is difficult to understate the incredible amount of work and dedication that has been put into Pathfinder by the entire staff. Ultimately, it has culminated in national recognition through organizations like the CSPA and SNO. The multimedia section this year has been a fantastically diverse section of Pathfinder with great additions to the podcast catalog and new videos on school events, trends, notable students and much more. A piece I am especially proud of in our multimedia section this year is Keeping it physical, a video produced by Charlie and myself that focuses on the revived popularity of physical media in a generation that has grown up with increasingly digital sources of media. This piece was awarded an honorable mention in the Quill and Scroll 2026 Writing, Photo and Multimedia Contest documentary video category. One of my favorite pieces posted to Pathfinder this year was written by Sage. That article is his piece on the word “whitewashed.” The amount of effort and time that Sage put into his work is impossible to miss. From the multimedia elements to the interviews, the entire piece is just inspiring, setting a new standard of quality for pieces on Pathfinder. I hope, as an editor, to guide and inspire writers to incorporate small multimedia pieces within their piece, just as Sage does in his elegantly simple and smooth fashion. Along with that, I want to host information sessions to help writers open their possibilities from just words on a page to working on a video or podcast that helps readers get a whole new perspective on a topic. Overall, I want to leave a lasting impression on the multimedia section and Pathfinder as a whole by fostering the growth of new techniques and knowledge throughout the program.

Rishi Pidikiti, News Editor

Writing this editorial is something I could never have expected when I started journalism as a freshman. However, looking back at this year as a sophomore and the sports editor, I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience or more proud of this group. On that note, each of the individuals on Pathfinder, while young and at times not as experienced as others, always showed a willingness to get better and a commitment to always learn and to keep moving forward despite drawbacks. While I know this group’s commitment, many don’t and might not get the chance to, which is why the recognition and awards we have received this year are a testament to everyone’s hard work and dedication. One of these awards was a Best of SNO for February’s monthly editorial, “First they came for journalists.” This was my favorite story of the school year on Pathfinder for a multitude of reasons. First, it was a true group effort, as editorials are a way for us to express our opinion as a publication through blending our personal views together. Second, the content of the editorial, protecting free press in schools, had a deep connection to what I do in journalism class every day. Finally, the piece was so beautifully written yet still well-organized with a strong message that ran throughout. It’s the type of story that sticks with someone after they read it, and sometimes even prompts them to act upon their thoughts. While that was my favorite story, there is always so much other work happening behind the scenes. My favorite part of journalism this year was honestly training our next sports editor, Raahil. This is due to an interesting reason: it was one of the only times that I slowed down and actually looked at a comprehensive list of pieces that had been posted under my section for the whole year. Suddenly, in that moment, I felt a feeling of pride in my section that I hadn’t experienced while I was hyper-focused on making each piece better. I had forgotten to slow down and just feel. Being able to see the culmination of the staff’s work and to feel that pride and success in that reflection is what made training my favorite part of journalism this year. My goal for my section next year, news, is to continue the excellence that Sage has left behind, along with the absolute dedication to deadlines and commitment to quality. News isn’t a section that always produces the most personal stories, but it must be extremely timely and is expected to keep everyone up to date on events in our community. That’s one thing I want to increase: the number of stories that really connect back to Parkway West and a deeper meaning. I believe I can accomplish this by installing a general message throughout the writers of deeper connections and leading by example when I write news stories. When I look back a year from now, possibly writing a similar piece of reflection, I hope to have built a section that prioritizes balance by keeping deadlines at the forefront and making sure the quality of the pieces remains as high as it possibly can. More than all, I want to leave a legacy that prioritizes hard work, growth and dedication through efficient communication. I’m so grateful to be on the editorial board this year and can’t wait for another opportunity next year. Thank you all!

Noor Hacking, Photo of the Week Editor

My favorite photo I took this year was one of chemistry teacher Joel Anderson during his famous Halloween Show. This photo was my favorite because it was a key element to the yearbook and newspaper portfolio. I’m proud that I captured the shot, as it was practically pitch black in the classroom and I had to have my camera on the perfect settings. One of my favorite overall parts of journalism this year has been having the opportunity to take a variety of photos, whether it is sports like football, hockey or basketball or moments in classrooms. I’ve enjoyed both growing up and growing my skills in the journalism classroom each year and can’t wait for my final year! As Photo of the Week editor and social media manager, my goal is to be as consistent as possible. I want to make sure that every week, no matter what, Photo of the Week is taken care of by Friday at 2:35 p.m. I will accomplish this by staying organized and on top of deadlines, and if there are no suitable photos available, I will go out and take them myself. I am determined to make sure @pwestpub is looking amazing and has a variety of high-quality photos. I want people to remember me as not just a good photographer, but also a leader that younger photographers can look up to and rely on. 

Raahil Majumdar, Sports Editor

For me, this year has felt like a rollercoaster. I really struggled in journalism toward the beginning of this school year. I greatly underestimated the commitment and effort that come with being on a newspaper staff. Toward the end of first semester, I was ready to quit. However, thanks to my piece on the Champions League, I was able to push through the difficult times. Although it wasn’t my most well-written piece, the article gave me the confidence in my journalism skills that I needed to persevere with the publication. When I found out that I would be part of the editorial board, it felt like my perseverance had paid off.

There were so many incredible pieces written this year, and deciding which one of them to mention was unbelievably difficult. In the end, I would like to mention Sage’s piece, “Limbo: the consequence of the word ‘whitewashed.'” This piece has already been mentioned numerous times throughout this piece, which just attests to its supreme quality. For me, I was hooked by the intro. I loved the personal story that Sage provided and the engaging tone that goes along with it. I could almost hear the words coming off the page. I personally believe that this was the best piece written this year on Pathfinder. 

I have one more shoutout to give Sage, this time about his character. I genuinely believe that Sage is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met. He is always prepared to help anyone who asks, even at a moment’s notice. I cannot count the amount of times I have gone to Sage for help with one thing or another. I am forever grateful for the help I have received from him this year.

I honestly can’t wait to start my job as sports editor next year. I have thought of numerous ways to improve the sports section and I’m eager to implement them next school year. One of the major ideas that I want to explore would be more video coverage for the sports section such as live coverage with commentary. In addition, I would like to have more coverage of our school’s various sports teams, especially the ones that don’t get covered as much as they should — sports such as water polo, golf and racquetball.

This year, Ruthvi and Yein ensured that the bar for our school’s newspaper was set incredibly high. This is one of the major reasons the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) awarded Pathfinder a gold crown for the 2025-26 school year. As a member of this year’s editorial board, I hope that we can all keep that bar at the same level or higher for the coming year.

Conclusion

With that being said, thank you to YOU, our readers. Thank you for all your support, engagement and encouragement. Thank you for trusting us to amplify your voices, and we cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for us here at Pathfinder! 

Thank you, 

Payton Dean, Sage Kelly, Malia McLellan, Sanjana Daggubati, Nimra Ali, Max Chung, Rishi Pidikiti, Noor Hacking and Raahil Majumdar