The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder
Using a micrometer, senior Nathan Thompson measures a keyguard made out of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a type of durable and elastic plastic. Thompson was able to turn a 3D model for his independent studies class into a tangible object by using a 3D printer. “It’s a slow but rewarding process. Without a 3D printer, it would have been very difficult to complete this project,” Thompson said.

Engineering for accessibility

Opal Kadam, Staff Writer • April 28, 2025

As problem-solvers, engineers often design solutions to help improve people’s quality of life; in fact, the device you are using right now to read this article was designed by an engineer with these...

Phage grown by senior Rio Naghibi Harat sit in petri dishes. Through Webster University, Naghibi Harat was given the opportunity to develop phage as a potential remedy for tuberculosis. “Phage are everywhere. I got mine from a soil sample. I'm not kidding; I picked [it] up from dirt. They're harmless, unless you code them to do something, and they can evolve. Virus antibiotics can't. They're one solid molecule. A strain of this bacteria [can evolve] that is resistant to [a] particular drug, [but] phage will evolve with the bacteria. They can see the changes, and they can be the change,” Naghibi Harat said.

Fighting for our future

Will Gonsior, Opinions/A&E Editor • April 11, 2025

A coming crisis Humanity’s age-old fight against bacterial disease has come with successes and setbacks. The advent of antibiotics, starting with penicillin, struck a vital blow for the forces of sapience,...

Hosting a meeting for Women’s History Month, co-president Bethany Liao converses with club members of Women in Healthcare. The event fostered discussions about women in medicine and included a third year medical student from Bosnia as a guest speaker. “Creating this club has been a net positive experience for everyone. After we present [or a guest speaker], we [also] usually have snacks for everyone and it gives people an opportunity to generally talk or discuss,” Liao said.

For women, by women: West High clubs that support women

Opal Kadam and Yusra Khan • April 4, 2025

Women’s History Month, founded in 1987, occurs every March to celebrate women’s rights, activists and innovation. But before Women’s History Month was founded,, a week-long celebration called Women’s...

With her hands by her side and her posture straight, freshman Sophia Stricker gets into position for her Irish tap dance routine. Stricker has been Irish dancing since she was a child, following her family’s Irish heritage. “Irish dancing originated from Irish folk dancing and over the years has become very competitive. Now it’s seen not just at parades during St. Patrick's Day but there's a whole competitive side to it, where dancers compete at qualifiers to get to the World Championship,” Stricker said.

Shamrock shuffle

Yein Ahn, Editor-In-Chief • March 14, 2025

Originating in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish culture, history and heritage, widely known as a day of green costumes, parades and the iconic leprechaun. Although the holiday has...

Sophomore Trent Young and junior Jamaya Love rise to the stage and welcome the audience after superintendent Keith Marty introduces them. Principals John McCabe and Kate Piffel selected them to be emcees for the 2025 Spirit of Excellence ceremony. “It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you this evening. Each one of the recipients tonight has exceeded all academic expectations and should be celebrated,” Love said.

Living the dream

Sage Kelly, Features/News Editor • March 6, 2025

On the floor of the stadium, a bubbling current floods into rows upon rows of chairs. Teachers and administrators lead their students to their designated seats to await the start of the ceremony. Each...

Scrolling on eBay, sophomore Ryder Williams searches the app for different shoe styles. Williams credits the impact his completion of business and finance courses have had to gain his financial success, as well as his Personal Finance teacher, Andy Croley. “Croley helped me a lot in getting to know more about profit and where to put the money. [He] also [taught me] how to store my money, ways to invest it [and] that I should always have emergency funds,” Williams said.

Managing finance and footwear

Payton Dean, Opinions Editor • February 28, 2025

Math homework? Check. Vocabulary quiz? Done. Make $200? On it. Pulling out his laptop, sophomore Ryder Williams opens eBay and scrolls through the seemingly endless catalog of footwear.  Like many...

Junior Neiyo Hagens sings into his microphone in his home studio. In his most recent album, “authentic words from the heart,” Hagens experimented with multiple different genres. “I’ve made both rap songs and melodic R&B songs in ‘authentic words from the heart,’” Hagens said.

Inside “authentic words from the heart”

Ruthvi Tadakamalla, Editor-In-Chief • February 25, 2025

“These are my authentic words straight from the heart,” sings junior Neiyo Hagens on the title  track of his latest project “authentic words from the heart.” On Jan. 26, Hagens released his third...

Standing in a circle, students share their love by holding out heart shapes for the festive season. From handwritten notes to helping hands, the West High community shows their affection in unique ways this Valentine’s season — celebrating friendship, kindness and connection beyond just romance. Sophomore Trent Young expresses his take on the meaning behind showing affection. “Love isn’t just buying roses and taking someone to dinner, it’s being able to have an emotional connection with someone no matter who they are,” Young said.

Love that comes in every form

Esta Kamau and Ayah Zayed • February 18, 2025

When you first hear the words “love” or “Valentine’s Day,” you probably think about relationships, about the affection you give to the person you care about. Maybe you feel sad because you don’t...

Alongside club sponsors Andrea Horn and Tim Burkard, assistant principal Kate Piffel prompts a discussion at the first Black Student Union (BSU) meeting. She accepted suggestions for BSU from members like BSU Leader and junior Tanatswa Zirengani, who moved from Zimbabwe in 2021. “Moving here and transitioning into a new school [and] lifestyle, [BSU] became [a place] where I could be myself and talk about issues that I felt comfortable talking about back home. BSU [also] gave me the opportunity to venture into the post-high-school experience, telling me [some] things to expect,” Zirengani said.

The voice of change

Sage Kelly, Features/News Editor • December 20, 2024

West High has the smallest black student population of all the Parkway District high schools at 11% of students — 5% lower than the district average, as recorded in Parkway’s Tableau Database. While...

Surrounded by teammates, junior Katie Byergo is coached by Susan Anderson during a team huddle between sets. Anderson told the team that their energy was lacking, and the team needed to start getting excited about every point. "Cheering on my teammates is something I love to do. Celebrating their success over mine- it's my team over myself," Byergo said.

Beyond the net

Maura Lottes, Social Media Manager • November 14, 2024

Jumping to the height of 10 feet and 3 inches, junior Katie Byergo hits the ball into the court, hoping to add to her near 800 career kills in high school volleyball. In third grade, Byergo was seen...

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