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
Katie Spillman

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR

Grade: 12

Years on staff: 2

Life soundtrack: “Daydreaming” by Paramore

Most passionate about: “Equality in all forms. I think the worst thing a person can do is treat someone as less than equal.”

Favorite dance move: “I’m a terrible dancer! So none.”

All content by Katie Spillman
Huddling up, members of the boys tennis team prepare to practice. “On and off the court, tennis taught me how to persist, find my voice, and forge relationships,” senior and captain Chris Nariskin said.

[Photo] Boys tennis team prepares for districts

Claire Smout, AWARDS COORDINATOR
May 7, 2018
Posing with camp director Rob Darroch, senior Emily Rayfield stands in front of the climbing tower. Rayfield had been going to Sunnyhill Adventures since she was 7. " It's a summer camp for kids and adults with disabilities, but my family and friends like to attend too. The camp provides activities that all disabilities are capable of doing. It's incredible to see people in wheelchairs make it to the top of a 50-foot climbing tower and to see people with MOT skill difficulty shoot a bow and arrow. Camp provides an escape for people with disabilities and allows them to achieve things that seem impossible to people without disabilities," Emily said.

Senior Emily Rayfield spends her summer serving others

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
May 7, 2018

Hamilton: the American phenomenon

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
April 19, 2018
Photo illustration of a student displaying the @longhorn.love Instagram account on their cell phone.

[Photo] Anonymous student-run Instagram account aims to spread positivity

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief
April 4, 2018
This internet meme, dubbed “Dog wearing a mask at dino park” (c. 2017) came as a new exhibit to the Parkway West cafeteria earlier this year. While some find this meme–and most any meme–humorous, some artists become irked with other artists who do not pour effort into their craft. “You get some people who just screenshot instagram posts without cropping them, and that’s just annoying. Then a majority of memes are actually just really bad and not funny,” sophomore Quinn Davies said.

Lunchroom memes: an AirDrop Phenomenon

Justin Cupps and Katie Spillman
March 23, 2018
Standing at the building entrance, school resource officer Scott Scoggins works with local police and Parkway officials to keep the school safe. Scoggins worked with the district and administration to be sure that our school was safe today.

2. Breaking news: we are safe, today

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
March 1, 2018
Trying out the Flowan app, junior Justin Cupps loads the main screen.

Flowan app remains in the pilot stages

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
February 20, 2018
Honing in on the show’s coreographical precision, actors and dance captains rehearse a musical number from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Slated for a debut on Feb. 9, the production’s opening night will take place exactly three months after the third and final day of auditions. “The hardest part about being in a musical for me is learning to think about character, singing, dancing and memorization all at the same time,” freshman Arden Dickson said. “When you’re running a number and focusing on getting the steps correct, you might accidentally step out of character or miss a beat of singing. That balance is something our directors, choreographers and stage managers motivate us to achieve.”

[Photo] Cast and crew of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee prepare for opening night

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief
February 2, 2018
Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Meryl Streep discussing scenes while filming The Post.

The Post: Review

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
January 24, 2018
Helping sophomore Kelsey Long with an assignment, social studies teacher Kristen Collins reads Long’s response on a review packet. Long enrolled in World History because it was a very engaging class. “Collins was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, because she helped organize us and she worked overtime to be sure we were successful,” Long said.

Social studies teacher Kristen Collins wins ‘Teacher of the Year’

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
December 3, 2017
Sophmores Joshua Heisel, Grace Kroner, B Antonenko, Jack Carusa, Nayeon Ryu and Gabrielle Davis participate in Pajama Day.

Preparing for a round with his debate partner Cheryl Ma, senior Ryan O’Connor studies information he has researched. Being partners for only one year, they placed first in districts and went to Nationals in the 2016-2017 school year. “Cheryl is the love of my life. She has made it bearable. Working with her has helped me re-find my passion,” O’Connor said.

Senior Ryan O’Connor reaches 1,000 debate points after three years

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
November 17, 2017
Playing on their phones instead of doing homework, seniors Terrell Jones and Jonathan Dixon relax in the senior lounge. The senior lounge was given to seniors as an alternative to the study hall rooms, but Dixon used it as a place to watch Netflix. “The moment I stepped into West High this year I knew I wanted to get out as soon as possible,” Dixon said.

Senioritis: fact or fiction

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
November 1, 2017
Special School District teacher Therese Meres helps senior Nick Waldrop package a hygiene kit. Over 100 shoe boxes were filled by West students. "[Operation Christmas Child] packs 20,500 shoeboxes with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine," Operation Christmas Child of St. Louis’ media coordinator Julie Northrip said.

[Photo] Special ed students participate in Operation Christmas Child

Sydney Kinzy, PHOTO EDITOR
October 19, 2017
Lining up her putt, senior Kacie Bergh prepares a shot during a varsity match.

Senior Kacie Bergh swings through an unpredictable season

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
October 6, 2017
Rushing towards the ball, senior Leul Mesfin blocks a Westminster player from taking the ball.

Varsity soccer player Leul Mesfin takes his skills out of the country

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
September 29, 2017
Flipping through the staff pages of the 2017 yearbook, only eight percent of faculty members are people of color.

Whitewashed or not: students discuss the lack of teacher diversity

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
September 11, 2017

After Laughter Album Review

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
May 22, 2017
Students exchange money in the hallway.

Drug problems need to be addressed

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
May 5, 2017
Posing for Elizabeth Wiseman, sophomore Will Patton models for images in his portfolio.

Sophomore Will Patton shines on the field and the runway

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
April 21, 2017
Juniors Kim Clyne and Sophie Spaulding check the light board, setting up for a dress rehearsal.

Junior Kim Clyne takes on professional responsibility as lighting designer

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
April 11, 2017
Junior Katie Spillman wears the hijab, a religious symbol of modesty for Islam, on World Hijab Day.

I wore the hijab for a day

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
February 6, 2017
Photo illustration of two students standing side by side.

Parkway West’s dress code is sexist

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
February 3, 2017
Ryan O'Conner is a junior at West High.

What is it like to be me?

Katie Spillman, PHOTO EDITOR
December 22, 2016
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[Photo] Students get creative with King of Hearts proposals

Sydney Kinzy, PHOTO EDITOR
March 7, 2016