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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

Smiling with Parkway North seniors Sarah Ham and Alison Lam (second and third from right), eight West state qualifiers hold up the iconic DECA symbol. The program has connected over 7,000 high schoolers, giving students the opportunity to network and expand their social circle. “Getting along with people that might be different from you is the most important part of DECA. You learn things about people that you originally wouldn't talk to, and it's nice to know how to work with other people [as well as] make new friends in a different area,” junior Laya Krishnakumar said. Courtesy of Laya Krishnakumar

Entrepreneurial endeavors

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief April 8, 2024

From March 3-5, 13 students traveled to Kansas City, Mo. to compete in the DECA State Conference. Throughout the days, competitors participated in events ranging from Hospitality and Lodging Management...

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 people's lifestyle and learn more about different histories,” senior Suraiya Saroar said.

Tourist adventures: Latin students explore Italy

Keira Lang and Zoya Hasan April 3, 2024

From March 13 to March 23, Latin students from a combination of three Parkway schools —West, South, and Central— went on a 10-day trip to Italy. The group consisted of 40 students ranging from Latin...

On March 2, West High’s Robotics team competed in the state competition, in which the B team placed ninth and the A team qualified for the world championship. Senior Lillian Dwyer is a notebooker and strategist in robotics. “Robotics is one of the many STEM opportunities offered at West High that is an enjoyable experience for anyone looking to go into engineering or science. I highly recommend joining it, because outside of school, it is fun to talk and hang out with people who are also excited about STEM and willing to dedicate time and energy to work on engineering projects,” Dwyer said. (Photos are courtesy of Mikalah Owens)

STEM mayhem

Audrey Ghosh, Opinions Editor March 25, 2024

STEM is a highly popular field, garnering interest from more than 75% of Gen Z students in the United States. Despite this large majority, only about a quarter are exposed to careers in STEM and real-world...

Senior Yena Ahn (back row, ninth from the left) smiles with her fellow recipients and class principal Mario Pupillo after receiving their awards and before visiting the Whispering Gallery. The process of receiving the certificate began with Plocher reading the definition of each virtue, then the student taking the stage and snapping a picture with him. “It was a wholesome moment because we're all seniors, so we all know each other, we've grown up with each other for the past eight years. When each of us got called up, we knew that they deserved that award because the description matched that person,” Ahn said.

Inscribed legacy

Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief March 21, 2024

Members of concert band work to play the soaring melodies of "Crowns of Glory" by Jack Wilds during their winter concert. Because of the piece's difficulty, the band had to work together extra diligently to make it sound concert-ready. "[Band has] helped me [with] teamwork because it's not just an individual thing. The whole group has to be put together to make something amazing," Concert Band member and sophomore Ella Bruner said.

A symphony of sounds

Risa Cidoni, Cindy Phung, and Samir Shaik March 13, 2024

Over Feb. 27-29, gold brass and steel strings captivated audiences day after day as a week of musical talent unfolded. Filling every available seat, family and friends arrived to witness the harmonies...

The 2024 National Merit Finalists: Starting from top left, Michael Emerson, Audrija Ghosh, David Hawiger, Rajeshwar Jaladi, Serena Liu, Aristuto Paul, Norah Rutkowski, Santosh Sahoo.

Eight seniors named 2024 National Merit Finalists

Raj Jaladi, Newsletter Editor/Data Analyst March 12, 2024

Eight seniors advanced as finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program, which was announced last week. The National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) is a nationwide academic competition and...

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.

Clubs collaborate to host first-ever Bollywood Movie Night

Samir Shaik, Multimedia Editor-in-Chief March 11, 2024

On Saturday, March 9, members from four clubs from Parkway West and Parkway South hosted a joint Bollywood Movie Night in the West Theater for the first time. The four clubs — Parkway West Indian Club,...

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.”

What made the Blood Drive

Sakenah Lajkem, Staff Writer March 6, 2024

On Feb. 28,  Key Club and National Honors Society teamed up for the Parkway West blood drive. The two clubs spent months setting up and planning for the event, from making posters, to contacting Impact...

Performing a dance, athletes wave their pompoms in the air as special education teacher Wendy Zieleskiewicz stands behind them. Zielesckiewicz, who has been teaching for 25 years, didn’t know what she wanted to pursue until she remembered her love for children. She now sees her students benefiting from Special Olympics. “It's really fun to see [athletes] grow. [Special Olympics is] incredible — It's high energy, it's a lot of fun. It's cool to see the kids all working together and having a good time. They make connections with other students, [and] it's amazing to see how much fun they have. I hope that they can make and maintain relationships with people that are not in this classroom. I always encourage [my students] to participate [in Special Olympics] because it is a lot of fun and even if they don't make a best friend, you still have an opportunity to grow,” Zieleskiewicz said.

Unleashing smiles

Lia Emry, Staff Writer February 26, 2024

Rising to the occasion, West hosted its 21st Special Olympics on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, Special Olympics was created in response to discriminatory actions and behaviors...

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month as a national timeframe to honor the legacies and accomplishments of African Americans throughout United States history. However, Black history has influenced the world since far before Ford’s announcement, bringing modern society to the place it is today. “[Black excellence] is about the people that meant a lot to the world, [who] succeeded in life and really dedicated themselves to doing this for us. [Door decorating] shows how much we appreciate them and shows the world how we couldn’t do any of this without these people in our lives,” Black Student Union member and sophomore Nemo Moye said.

Opening the door to Black history

Risa Cidoni, Editor-in-Chief February 15, 2024

As the month of February begins, an important aspect of American culture is celebrated by millions across the nation. Black History Month marks an annual commemoration of African American achievement,...