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Frank Mortimer, a certified beekeeper in New Jersey, stands smiling next to a Cornell University sign where he teaches a beekeeping course. Photo by: Sofie Mortimer 

From Pathfinder to pollinator, alumnus Frank Mortimer publishes new book

Ulaa Kuziez, Staff Writer • May 25, 2021

Spending time in the beehive is a peaceful experience for 1984 alumnus Frank Mortimer. As he holds a frame with nearly 400 bees on it, he can smell the honey, touch the wax and feel the fuzz on the bees’...

Standing on the practice field after an intense scrimmage, new football coach Mario Patton is adjusting to the new playing style at West. Patton energizes the team everyday with his personality. “ I want our kids to think of me as one of the most passionate coaches that they have been around, also someone who truly cares about the best interests of kids,” Patton said. “When it is business time I think the kids know the difference.”

New football coach and alumnus Mario Patton, despite strict COVID-19 rules, still makes connections with athletes

Tre Bell, Staff writer • September 18, 2020

Handing off his knowledge to football athletes, coach Mario Patton is the new running back coach. Patton has coached for 16 years, but this year is more meaningful than others. “I had an opportunity...

Putting his arms up to strike the batter out, alumnus Trevor Dannegger makes the call behind home plate. Dannegger started officiating minor league baseball games in 2016, along with being a substitute teacher in his time off. “I try to stand out in both roles,” Dannegger said. “Whether it be asking a teacher to continue their lesson instead of showing a video or going out of my way to help players on the field.”

Substitute teacher and professional umpire: alumnus Trevor Dannegger’s journey from education to officiating baseball games

Drew Boone, Staff Writer • May 11, 2020

Spending the long hot summer days calling balls and strikes on the baseball field, and working with students in the classroom during the winter, alumnus Trevor Dannegger works to fulfill his dreams on...

Standing at the top of the hill, alumnus James Forsen smiles for the camera. Forsen has not been treating COVID-19 patients, but it is likely that more health professionals will be needed on the front lines. “I think everybody is stepping up to their roles. I cannot say I have been on the front lines, so this week, I may be and probably will be,” Forsen said. “So far, I haven’t spent time in the emergency room, and I have not spent time in the ICUs. That’ll probably change this week [because] I think everybody realizes there is a risk to it.”

Alumnus Dr. James Forsen prepares to battle COVID-19

Ridwan Oyebamiji, Features Editor • May 6, 2020

As the magnitude of COVID-19 increases, alumnus Dr. James Forsen prepares, as many other healthcare professionals have, to battle a global pandemic. From a young age, Forsen knew he wanted to be a doctor....

Beginning his private chef business, alumnus Andrew Peterson decided to create a website to promote. Although the website makes marketing easier, Peterson has noticed that his business has been primarily popularized due to word of mouth. “Just over winter break, I did a dinner for a buddy, and his dad is a photographer, so he took a bunch of pictures for my website,” Peterson said. “It is really just people's word. It is like when you’re going to Amazon, and you see that one of the things has one five star review, but then another one has four hundred 4 star reviews. It is the same deal. [The food] is only as good as the people that are reviewing your food says it is.”

Alumnus Andrew Peterson begins new business as a private chef

Zoe DeYoung, Staff Writer • February 28, 2020

At just six years old, 2016 alumnus Andrew Peterson remembers sitting on his kitchen counter cutting vegetables because he was too small to see over the countertop.  "We all helped cook and enjoyed...

As she looks over a student's shoulder, alumna Alexis Franklin hosts a Meet and Greet event at Tower Grove Park to introduce prospective parents to the Sudbury education model. Franklin opened up the school last August and began enrolling students. “We have a really supportive group of parents who jump at every opportunity to help me out,” Franklin said. “They’re really trying to talk to their friends and try to get new kids involved. [They’re] really supportive and positive.”

No curriculum, no teachers, no tests: Alumna Alexis Franklin paves the path for a unique type of learning

Ridwan Oyebamiji, Features Editor • February 10, 2020

Students enter through the doors of the school ready to start their day, but instead of sitting at their desks to start their morning work or turn in their homework, students socialize until they feel...

Posing for the photo, alumnus Stuart Portman smiles for the camera. Portman has been working at the U.S. Senate for over six years. “It’s a really cool role because there’s only one of me, so I really focus my coursework and my studies on Medicaid and low-income insurance programs so that I could continue learning. It just so happened to have been to this path,” Portman said. “I've been in the Senate for about five years, and I’ve been in this role for two and a half.”

Alumnus Stuart Portman takes an unconventional path to work at the U.S. Senate

Ridwan Oyebamiji, Features Editor • January 30, 2020

Always showing a passion for health and politics, alumna Stuart Portman combined his interests to become an advisor at the U.S. Senate. Portman’s Journey After graduating high school in 2009, Portman...

Alumnus Rasheen Aldridge protests at the West County Mall. Aldridge was elected to represent the 78th State Congressional District in the Missouri House of Representatives last year. “I was out there pretty much every day in Ferguson protesting, getting shot with tear gas,” Aldridge said.

Alumnus Rasheen Aldridge reaches for the stars in Missouri politics

Sophia Johnson, Convergence Journalism Writer • January 28, 2020

2012 alumnus Rasheen Aldridge woke up at 5:30 a.m. to get ready for school when he was in high school. Being bused from the city required him to get up early in order to get to his bus on time.  “I...

Preparing for a band concert, alumna Vicky Hedgecock and her friend Sarah Kellogg get ready together in their senior year of high school in 2012. Hedgecock agreed that band helped a lot with her animation skills. “If you come from some sort of musical background like band, it really helps with timing actions for your animation so they work with the beat of the music and have a better overall impact in trailers or in the movie itself,” Hedgecock said.

Alumna Vicky Hedgecock animates “Call of The Wild”

Ashlyn Gillespie, Convergence Journalism Writer • January 22, 2020

After deciding to become an animator her freshman year of high school, 2012 alumna Vicky Hedgecock worked in high school and college to gain animation skills and experience. She is currently animating...

Standing on The Arch grounds, Kim St. Onge covers the St. Louis Blues rally after winning the Stanley Cup. St. Onge wore a headset to hear the anchors in her ear. “The crowd was so loud that day that even with the headset I could barely hear the show. I was on a stage in the middle of tens of thousands of people–pretty surreal. It was so cool to see the whole city come together to support the Blues. I’ll forever think of that day as one of the coolest things I’ve ever done,” St. Onge said.

10. Behind the scenes: Alumna Kim St. Onge shares her journey to becoming a broadcast journalist

Makinsey Drake, Convergence Journalism Writer • January 9, 2020

Covering stories from the Iowa Caucuses to the Joplin Tornado, 2008 alumna Kim St. Onge can now be seen on  KOMU-TV. St. Onge studied public relations at Mizzou until she found her passion for journalism. “One...

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