Skip to Main Content
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

Spanish teacher Lauren Bernstein promotes SeneGence tinted lotion to potential customers. After this year, Bernstein will be leaving the education field to pursue sales for these cosmetics. “This really provided an opportunity for me,” Bernstein said. “I do [feel empowered], both on the business sense of things and [the personal].”

Hóla oportunidades: Lauren Bernstein pursues her new passion for sales

Maria Newton, FEATURES EDITOR February 22, 2019

After 14 years of educating, Spanish teacher Lauren Bernstein is leaving the field to pursue her new-found passion in SeneGence makeup and skincare sales. She started selling products for the company in...

Meeting her favorite band Waterparks, freshman Grace Eschbach takes full advantage of the VIP tickets her dad snatched up when they went on sale again. Waterparx decided to sell only ten more VIP passes before their concert after they sold out, and Eschbach and her father, as a result of quick thinking and collaboration, were able to buy the tickets. “It’s a surreal [experience] because [the artist is] a real person, and I can see them,” Eschbach said.

Freshman Grace Eschbach feeds passion for music through concert-going experiences

Brinda Ambal, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief February 21, 2019

The lights suddenly turn off. The stadium settles into a bated silence. The countdown pops up on the vast display and freshman Grace Eschbach finds herself caught up in the wave of anticipation riding...

Freshman Mark Starks starts a rap career about a year ago. Before that, he would freestyle and hold rap battles with friends. “I want to be known for being me," Starks said.

Freshman Mark Starks ‘raps’ up the year with a brand new mixtape

Julian Shoykhet and Ross Harter February 20, 2019

Rap is the name of the game, and freshman Mark Starks is an up-and-coming player. With a natural talent for rhyming, he is moving from hallway freestyles to a full length mixtape. “I started rapping...

Sharing his Pakistani culture through the  Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) program, sophomore Muzamil Umar wears a  shalwar kameez and a khapol to school. Umar has enjoyed sharing his culture through clothes and presentations to his classes. "When people think of Pakistan, the common thought is terror or terrorists. I don’t want people to think that is what Pakistan is all about. We don’t want people to be afraid of our country,” Umar said. “I am so grateful to change the misconception of American people because many people had wrong thoughts about the people in Pakistan."

Foreign exchange student Muzamil Umar hopes to change perceptions of Pakistan

Caroline Briscoe, Convergent Media Writer February 14, 2019

Sixteen-year-old Muzamil Umar traveled 7,556 miles across the globe from Pakistan to attend school as a foreign exchange student his sophomore year. When Umar was just a kid, he received information...

Senior four year challenge

Senior four year challenge

Andrew Li, STAFF WRITER February 11, 2019

Zaven Nalbandian                           Freshman Year                                                                   Senior Year What is something...

Revolving a metal sphere around a Barbie doll, physics teacher Ellen Wilke explains the mechanics behind electricity. However, as much as Wilke enjoys explaining electricity, she would much rather explore optics. “I really like [optics],” Wilke said. “Wave optics are a really cool thing and allows you to work with material science, which is what my undergrad was, to work with the crystalline structure of substances. There’s so many cool applications of optics. The basics will start with mirrors and lenses. Then, it’s all about light and the reflection of light, and the different applications with lights and lasers.”

Physics teacher Ellen Wilke says “pharewell” to her physics classroom of 22 years

Andrew Li, STAFF WRITER February 7, 2019

Physics advocate and optics guru, Ellen Wilke is retiring after teaching physics for 22 years. Wilke did not start off as a teacher: she started off as an engineer. However, when her engineering job...

Special Education Teaching Assistant Karen Graycheck poses with her Deadhead apparael and light-up shoes.  Graycheck has been following "Dead and Company" for more than 35 years and has attended more than 100 shows. "I love the band so much because it’s my happy place,” Graycheck said. “The lyrics in the music are all about happy thoughts; it’s a whole different culture.”

Miracle Mama tours with Dead and Company band

Maddie Brueggenjohann, Convergent Media Writer February 6, 2019

Waving her hands in the air like she just don't care, Special Education Teaching Assistant Karen Graycheck dances to the rhythm of her favorite band, "Dead and Company." Working an additional 20...

Leading the race, senior Chloe Hershenow competes in the conference championship. Hershenow plans to continue her running career at the university of Tulsa in the fall. “Being able to run collegiately is a culmination of having coach Cutelli and Coach John because they are both great coaches and who have pushed me and having the team I have had; they have really supported me,” Hershenow said.

Senior Chloe Hershenow commits to run DI cross country

Claire Smout, AWARDS COORDINATOR February 5, 2019

After finishing her final cross country season for the Longhorns with her second all-state finish, placing 21st at the state meet Nov. 3, senior Chloe Hershenow has committed to run DI cross country and...

Seniors Jacob and Kara Swihart laugh with their mother Jenny before she is scheduled to have brain surgery. The school community helped fund the surgery and continue to support the family. “I have received a lot of support from my coaches, peers and people all over the community," Jacob said.

The community gives back to the Swihart family

Drew Boone, Staff Writer January 30, 2019

After their mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor Jan. 2, seniors Kara Swihart and Jacob Swihart set up a Go Fund Me for the surgery, which raised $15,000 in five days, and continue to receive support from...

Taylor Scott embraces her boyfriend Derik Scott at the Rose Bowl on the Tuesday before the premiere of “The Titan Games.” They both agree that their experience with “The Titan Games” has been life-changing. “Being in such a crazy atmosphere with Dwayne Johnson himself and 64 athletically gifted competitors was humbling,” T. Scott said. “The people Derik was surrounded by were such amazing humans. They have so much talent and so many things that could have or even did alter their paths, yet they found how to switch gears and make the most out of their lives through the gym and working out.”

Pursuing nursing while cheering from the sidelines at “The Titan Games”

Sarah Lashly, COPY COACH January 29, 2019

After attending Lindenwood University for two and a half years, alumna Taylor Scott decided to leave behind her plans to attend Goldfarb School of Nursing to pursue a career in personal training in Los...