![Smiling in a sea of Longhorns, Fox 2 reporter Ty Hawkins joins junior Darren Young during the morning Oct. 3 pep rally. The last time West was featured in this segment was 2011. “[I hope people see this and think] if you come to [Parkway] West, you will have the time of your life because there are so many fun activities to do that make it feel like you belong here. I was surprised so many people attended, but it was a lot of fun,” Young said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Edited2-1200x798.jpg)
![West High seniors and families listen as a representative of The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, Teresa Steinkamp, leads a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshop. This session, held in the library, provided guidance on financial aid, scholarships and student loan options. “This event is very beneficial for any seniors who are applying to or considering applying to colleges after high school [because] the cost of college is on the rise for seniors and parents,” college and career counselor Chris Lorenz said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_4478-1200x778.jpg)
On Sept. 16, seniors and their families gathered in the library for an informative workshop on the college financial aid process. The event was...
![Senior Kamori Berry walks across the field during halftime at the Homecoming football game on Sept. 12. During the pep assembly earlier that day, she was pronounced Homecoming Queen. “I thought it was nice that the crowd [started] cheering right away. I know [my friends] were really excited for me, and my family was happy because typically non-white people don't win,” Berry said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC7046-Enhanced-NR-1200x798.jpg)
This year, West High celebrated its 2025 Homecoming Court nominees. Students share many experiences leading up to Homecoming, such as spirit...
On Sept. 11, 2025, the junior women challenged the senior women to the annual friendly, but competitive, game of flag football called Powderpuff....
![Gazing across the stage, sophomore Alexis Monteleone performs in the school theater. The Monteleone family’s band “Monte and the Machine” has been releasing music since 2012, but Alexis started her own solo career in 2024 with the release of her first single, Crying Skies. “My whole family is very musical, [and I especially] love writing [songs with them],” Monteleone said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC7463-1200x798.jpg)
Taylor Swift. Olivia Rodrigo. Billie Eilish. Lorde. Each of these musicians has made it big with chart-topping singles, loyal fan bases and worldwide...
![Amid teaching a lesson to her AP Calculus BC class, Kristin Judd jokes alongside her students in their funny remarks. Judd has always enjoyed keeping the mood light in her classroom, along with on the volleyball court. “[I enjoy] that side talk where you see [or] overhear a conversation and chime in, or somebody says something funny,” Judd said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-1200x730.jpg)
Balancing the difficulties of teaching with coaching, Kristin Judd has succeeded at Parkway West. Going into her 16th year of teaching at West...
![Eyeing the ball, junior Ella McNeal poses for her commitment pictures at Clemson University. McNeal’s commitment comes after months of contact with top Division 1 soccer programs. “ It has taken a lot to get to where I am, but I know that [what] I've already been through is just the beginning, and I can't wait for what is to come,” McNeal said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_4926-1200x900.jpeg)
The day before the first day of school marks a busy day for many students. What color notebook should I buy? Which outfit gives the best first...
![“I currently teach Honors Biology and Human Anatomy and Physiology, [and] it’s my 21st year. I feel they are different from the other science classes because biology is the study of life and what makes us, so it’s pretty interesting. At school, there might be kids [who] go to the deep end on the first day, and [they] might fall to the bottom, but they stick with it. [I also coach] girls’ cross country, and [I’ve] learned a lot from [that] along with teaching. [I might get] somebody [who] can't run a lap around the track on day one, but they stick with it for four years, [so] they get faster and they get better. Teaching wise, I’m sure I’ve had impacts on kids [as they] grow into students and athletes. So [despite] all the drama at the end of the day, it’s about the kids, and [when they] come back and appreciate what [I’ve] done for them, it's a good feather in [my] cap.” -Charles Cutelli, Science](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_3981-1200x798.jpg)
![”[Tuba is] the path that I've led down. I remember I wanted to play french horn, but I wasn't really very good at it, so I switched to something with a bigger mouthpiece, and that helped me. I think [the music I listen to has] kept me pretty open as a person, and open to a lot of new perspectives. [Through] listening to a lot of different kinds of music, I can understand a lot of people. Music also calms me down a lot, so I think it's helped me be a better person. My faith has been driven a lot by music. I like listening to gospels as well. Like in church, we sing a lot of songs and listen to a lot of music, and I think it really connects with me. My original dream, when I grew up, was to have my own band, perform gigs and write music, and that still is my dream. I've been doing a lot of college searching, and I'm trying to find which major I'm going to choose. My ultimate goal is to have a band and play. I hope to one day make some gospel music to glorify God. That'd be really cool.” - Zac Card, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/jackcard-1200x800.jpg)
![“I started playing [basketball] because I saw that my brothers were playing, and I found it fun; I started playing at age eight and have continued to play ever since. [Something] I enjoy [is] the back-and-forth competitiveness of basketball that I don't get when I play softball, as well as our team bonding activities because I think it helps with the chemistry throughout our group and in the real world. I also enjoy winning and all of the competitive aspects. [Basketball] has brought great memories and people into my life, and I enjoy spending most of my time with them and cherish the memories my team has created. Getting to go out and play with my very best friends every day is just the best gift a girl can get. A big thing that motivates me is how much time and effort my coaches put in. I just want to work hard because they work hard, while also making my parents proud at the same time. Sometimes, it’s not an easy task being able to balance school and athletics, but with the right mindset and focusing on the goals that I have set for myself, it’s achievable. In high-pressure situations, I just go back to playing my own game [and the basics within the game] rather than focusing on everything around me because I trust my training and my practice. [My advice for upcoming players] is to keep going and continue to practice. Nobody is perfect, there is always going to be something to improve or get better at. There is always going to be someone out there who is doing better than you, and if you want to be the best, you have to keep going and push yourself to be better, but most importantly just have fun in what you’re doing.” - Siena Snyder, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC0571-Enhanced-NR-Ella-McNeal-1-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“Debate makes you more open-minded because you’re forced to think from different [perspectives] and write both sides of every case. I think being open-minded is very important because if you don’t have an open mind, then you can’t progress as a person. I’ve grown [and] become more able to see more aspects of issues and the meanings behind them. Since I started, my speaking skills have [gotten] way better, and it feels like I can talk to people more comfortably. I love feeling like [my voice] has the power to convey my ideas to people and I make them think differently about [opposing viewpoints].” Sahana Solai, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/unnamed-1.png)
![”The cello, I see it as an extension of myself. [When] I'm having a good day, I find it really easy to just sink into the music, [and] feel connected to the piece. If the piece I'm playing is happy, then I feel happy, and if the piece is slow paced or something sad, then I can feel that emotion. [Playing] forces me to be patient, and that has really improved the way I talk with other people, whether it's in an argument, or I'm trying to make a point. [To me], the most rewarding part is perfecting a piece, so that it's unique to you and no one else can replicate it.” - Isaah Kandula, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC_6652-Max-Chung-1200x798.jpeg)
![“[I play] football, basketball and volleyball. For the longest time, I’ve played basketball but I began taking interest in volleyball and football this [past] year. Being in three sports at West is fun and it’s nice to be a part of the school’s [community] but it also can become exhausting because I’m playing year round. Finding a [good] balance between school and extracurriculars is hard, [but] my grandparents are always motivating me to do my best. They all played sports when they were younger, so they definitely give me powerful advice and help me push past the hardships. I want to become a key part of my team and be significant towards winning as well as our success. I would like to perform well and practice not just when I’m with my team, but with myself [too].” - Aiden Faber, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KaminskiL_AidenF1-Leila-Kaminski-1200x800.jpg)
![“[I think being a teacher comes] from a place of experience, where we all enjoyed high school. It had a meaningful impact on us, which was [the case] for me. I had a lot of good mentors in high school, and seeing the opportunity, the impact that they could make, I think [that was] what inspired me. [It] definitely goes back to one teacher in particular [that] I had in eighth grade, he was a huge role model for me, and somebody who I was so appreciative of what he did for me. I figured if I could do even a fraction of what he did I feel like I would be very fulfilled [in] myself, and so there's just that aspect of wanting to do something meaningful every day.” - Kaleb Schumer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9428-1200x800.jpeg)
![“When I first started [Speech and Debate], I struggled with competing, finding time for it [and] managing my time. I focused so much on the competition aspect and trying to win tournaments, that I kept overlooking the parts like building connections with people, [and] making friends. I would stress myself out. I started planning my time for when I could do things. Practicing more helped, because the more I practiced, the better I got in competition. It didn't seem as scary or as hard as it was before. When I first started, the whole thing about debate is that you're not always going to win, and there's a lot of people that wish they were in your position just winning one time. It's best not to focus on that, and to focus on if you're improving from last time.” - Ryan Shabani, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/unnamed-2-1200x800.jpg)
![“People should look forward to taking [the] Poetics of Hip-Hop class. Mr. [Dan] Barnes kind of lets us explore a bunch of rap music and [we] try to justify how it's poetry. Other students like to bring in their own music. For example, we do daily dissections. So, he hands us a paper, and whatever student is presenting, they pick the song. I think it was ‘Yale’ by Ken Carson, and we kind of just did a deep dive into that. It's just a really fun thing [we get to do]. We [have] learned how hip hop came to be, and it's just really fun. We share our music experiences, and Mr. Barnes is definitely the best teacher for that. But there's also different styles in rap. We have seen pop songs be tried to turn into rap, and it just doesn't work. It's not poetry like rap is. I think everyone should take this class, because it's a really fun English class, and it's one of the many options that seniors have here. It offers [an opportunity] to look at music in a new perspective, which has been constantly [downed upon] because of the lyrics and how vulgar they [can be], but it's just poetry. It's about the deeper meaning behind it.” - Evangeline Copeland, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/unnamed-1200x800.jpg)
![“Winning [the Scholastic Gold Key Regional Award for Writing] feels incredibly rewarding. I dedicated a lot of time to putting my feelings into my work, especially ‘Melanin’, which was about my experience with racism and feeling like an outcast because of my skin color [and] primarily due to living in a white/homogenous area. My memoir reflects upon a time in which I lived in a small town that had close to zero people who looked like me and how that affected my mental health, especially how I felt about how I looked. But then I moved to a larger, more diverse city where there were more people similar to me and I had this moment where I realized that my features are unique and beautiful. I feel like a lot of people of color can relate to the feeling of overcoming internalized racism. It's truly validating to see my efforts recognized by the Scholastic Writing Contest especially because it gives me a platform to share my voice. ” - Farrin Rahman, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KadamO_RahmanF3-Opal-Kadam-1-1200x800.jpg)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
![As the Trump administration cracks down on immigration, it scapegoats many immigrants for the United States’ plights, precipitating a possible genocide. Sophomore Annabella Whiteley moved from the United Kingdom when she was eight. “It’s pretty scary because I’m on a visa. When my visa expires next year, I’m not sure what’s going to happen, especially with [immigration] policies up in the air, so it is a concern for my family,” Whiteley said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0077-7copy.jpg)
I spent March 29 watching “Schindler’s List,” a movie directed by Steven Spielberg. It follows entrepreneur Oskar Schindler as he navigates...
![Shifting global trade, President Donald Trump’s tariffs are raising concerns about economic stability for the U.S. and other countries alike. “[The tariffs are] going to pose a distinct challenge to the U.S. economy and a challenge to the global economy on the whole because it's going to greatly upset who trades with who and where resources and products are going to come from,” social studies teacher Melvin Trotier said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MDB_3456-1200x800.jpg)
Check your receipts, the rising prices of groceries and clothes are no accident. Behind every price increase are President Donald Trump’s new...
When an individual watches yet another school shooting recounted on the news, it causes heartache and sympathy. But the repercussions go much...
![Leaning on the podium, superintendent Melissa Schneider speaks to Parkway journalism students during a press conference. Schneider joined Parkway in July after working in the Thompson School District in Colorado. “My plan [to bond with students] is to get things on my calendar as much as possible. For example, being in [classes] is very special to me. I am trying to be opportunistic [meeting] kids [and] being in [the school] buildings. I have all the sports schedules and the fine arts schedules on my calendar, so that when I'm available, I can get to them,” Schneider said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_5425-1200x943.jpeg)
Since its adoption in 1822, the state motto "salus populi suprema lex esto,” has appeared boldly across the Seal of the State of Missouri....
![Red, white and blue, the American flag holds the values of our democracy. The fight that we once endured has returned, as student journalists and senior correspondents across the country are losing their voices due to government control. “[Are] the White House and [the] government limiting free speech [and] freedom of the press? Yes [they are],” chief communications officer of the Parkway School District and former journalist Elisa Tomich said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Untitled-design-14.jpg)
![A board in the Parkway West counseling department displays pennants of selective universities. With a wide range of students interested in attending, it’s important that these schools have clear priorities when deciding who to admit. “[Washington University] had the major that I wanted, psychology, philosophy, neuroscience. That's a holistic study of the brain, and [WashU is] the only college in the world that offers that. That's the main reason I wanted to go; I got into that program,” senior Dima Layth said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Flag-1.png)
![Standing in front of the camera and next to Fox 2 News' Ty Hawkins, senior and varsity football player JaMont Brooks represents the varsity football team. As captain and outside linebacker, Brooks was one of four students selected to be interviewed live for the broadcast. “Overall, it was just a crazy experience being on the news. Even when I get older, I’ll tell my kids or grandkids I was on the news. My mom sent me a picture of me on the news [saying] ‘Oh my gosh, that’s my son.’ The Parkway West community felt amazing this morning. Everybody showed up at 6 [a.m.] and [will] show up 6 [p.m.] tonight too. Any time I go into a game, I go up there with the mentality that we’re going to try our best, and even the times we struggle, [I’ll] keep my head up,” Brooks said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC8122-Enhanced-NR.jpg)
![Blue lights shining brightly, senior Riley Creely beatboxes into the microphone. Creely and the group began the performance in front of the blue lights, sparking interest from the audience. “The pep rally performance was fun. I got to beatbox for the first half of the song, which was hype. I liked to look into the student section [while I performed],” Creely said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_5085-Enhanced-NR.jpg)
![The varsity boys cross country team poses for a photo at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tenn. The Memphis Twilight Classic is the largest event the team attends. “[I enjoyed] hanging out with the team every day at practice,” Patten said. “I wanted to be the best I could for my team; I really wanted to help out.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/XC-PHOTO-1200x822.jpg)
![Celebrating their landmark victory, the Parkway West Boys Hockey team gathers together on the ice. Over the course of the season, the team grew closer together while pursuing their final goal: winning the coveted Wickenheiser Cup. “[Winning the cup] was awesome. [As] a senior, it was super rewarding to end on a high note. It had to be the most memorable part of my career,” varsity hockey player and senior Hunter Beach said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC3974-Enhanced-NR-1200x799.jpg)
On Feb. 28, Parkway West boys hockey became the Wickenheiser Cup champions for the first time in school history. Playing against the Rockwood...
57 years ago, Parkway West opened, but there has been one constant figure in it other than the building: basketball coach Rich Rogers. Coaching...
![There are more than 20 open cardio machines at Crunch Fitness. I enjoyed the spacious environment at Crunch, a sentiment that was shared by sophomore Sanjana Daggubati. “[Going to] Crunch Fitness was the right decision because [it] feels more professional. Crunch’s workers are laid back, but not to the point where they don't care,” Daggubati said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_5242-1-1200x900.jpg)
For many high school students, going to the gym is a part of their daily routines. Whether they play a high school sport or participate in an...
What started as a $900 business in an East Hollywood parking lot is now worth one billion dollars, with over 329 locations across the United...
![Various empty Kit Kat wrappers crowd the desk, surrounded by scoring sheets. While production of Kit Kat flavors in the U.S. is limited, Nestlé, the owner of Kit Kat, manufactures hundreds of unique flavors in Japan, including the flavors ocean salt and passion fruit. “I thought there [were] some interesting flavors, and a lot of them were really unexpected,” senior Elle Levesque said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-2.png)
As kids, many young girls and boys are excited by the recognizable red wrapper, home to a pair of crunchy wafers engulfed in creamy milk chocolate....
![Supported by juniors Aiden Faber and Patrick May, junior Bryce Sanders lifts 315 pounds on a hex bar during strength and conditioning training for the upcoming basketball season. Sanders trained throughout the offseason alongside Faber and May to build their team bond before the winter season. “I lift four times a week to get ready for basketball season. I [need to] get my legs ready to jump high all the time. Plus, I’m an upperclassman now, so I’m [excited for] the season this year,” Sanders said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_0140-Enhanced-NR-1200x798.jpg)
![Hugging senior Ella Wheeler, senior Jamaya Love beams after scoring a touchdown at the Powderpuff football game on Sept. 11, putting the seniors on the scoreboard with a score of 6-2 above the juniors. The seniors went on to capture the victory with a final score of 12-2. “I was actually gassed [at this moment]. I was so tired. But, everyone on the sideline, all my teammates and everybody in the stands were cheering,” Love said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC1735-Enhanced-NR-2-1200x799.jpg)
![Grinning at the lab results, junior Devyn Baichly records the temperature of a liquid after mixing it with aluminum foil. With a passion for forensic science, Baichly enjoyed the copper sulfide lab and looked forward to the hands-on experiments in Honors Chemistry. “Since I was a kid, I’ve seen my dad [working] in labs. He’s one of my biggest supporters, and some of my fondest [childhood] memories are of him bringing home dry ice from work to experiment with me. A part of me is at ease when it comes to doing science labs — I tend to be more relaxed and focused on the moment,” Baichly said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_1421-1200x798.jpg)
![Hands kneading clay, junior principal Nancy Smith crafted a heart-shaped trinket dish while following instructions from sophomore Johnya Farrow. Ceramics “Teach a Teacher Day” took place Aug. 29, allowing students to bring in a faculty member and guide them through the class. “I did [Teach a Teacher Day] last year with some students, and it was fun participating with the kids. [Johnya] was so helpful and patient in teaching me. It made me see another side of a student who is very talented in her craft, and for her to show me how [to create ceramics] was awesome,” Smith said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/DSC_0772-1200x798.jpg)