- June 5On to the next
- May 22The fun in finance
- May 22Photo of the Week - May 22
- May 22Spring in action: A look into West's 2026 spring sports season
- May 21French en route
- May 19Sarah Johnson
- May 19Crime, class and consequence
- May 18Athletes of West - Alexander Berryhill
- May 15What Happens Next
- May 15An empty table
![Junior Bethany Liao and sophomore Srinidhi Sripada pass out poems at the front entrance on April 29. Sripada volunteered for the event as a member of the National English Honor Society. “I'm surprised by the [number] of people who were always excited about getting a poem,” Sripada said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DSC_0826-1200x798.jpg)
![Reflecting on previous years, junior Bethany Liao looks at plaques in the Speech and Debate room. With her partner, senior Yein Ahn, Liao earned first place in Public Forum debate at the MSHAA Speech and Debate District Tournament on March 6 and 7. “I really want us to do good, and, even if we don't, I want it to be a memorable experience for [Ahn] because this is our last debate together,” Liao said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC_3604-1200x800.jpg)
![West High’s girls’ and boys’ track and field school records are plastered next to the gymnasium entrance. In 2023, the girls’ varsity 4x200-meter relay team set a school record — the most recent track and field school record. “[My] freshman year, we almost made it to state. We made it to sectionals but came up short by 0.79 seconds from advancing,” Love said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC_1232-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Focused in her science class, junior Max Hahn works on her project. Hahn, anticipating her start in the college application process, has mixed emotions. “I'm excited and nervous for college. I think the [process of applying] will be hard to balance with school, because it’s for the next [chapter] of my life, but that’s also what makes it exciting. This summer, I definitely plan to [start] looking into what colleges I’m interested in so I can set [myself up for success],” Hahn said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DSC6123-1200x798.jpg)
![During a student-led walkout on Feb. 10 protesting recent actions by ICE, senior Kamori Berry became emotional at the turnout of students. Berry assisted with the coordination and planning of the walkout in the days leading up to the event. “We didn't think a lot of people were going to [show up], and when we [got there], it just made me emotional [at] how many people [were] supporting what we were doing. I was really proud of the student body and what they were doing,” Berry said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/feature-revised-3-1200x804.jpg)
![Freshman Daphne Stokes looks at a table with Veterans Day flyers and information on Nov. 11. Stokes, along with other West High students, like senior Alexander Lewinski, passed by the table in the cafeteria with army recruitment information and giveaways for students to observe during lunch. “Talking with [the recruiters] has definitely helped me [find] where I wanted to go, more than anything else,” Lewinski said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/DSC_1227-2-1200x800.jpg)
![After a thrilling point, senior Katie Byergo and junior Elle Lanferseick high-five each other on Oct. 8. With teamwork and camaraderie, Byergo worked together in the game against Lafayette High School. “[Byergo’s] is really positive with a good spirit,” Lanferseick said. “I set her [the ball] and she hits it [or] gets the kill.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_9349-1-e1761159125735-1200x791.jpg)
![Senior Dhiya Prasanna examines a bottle of Tylenol. Prasanna has observed data in science labs and in real life. “[I] advise the public not to just look or search for information that supports your argument, but search for information that doesn't support it,” Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_0073-2-1200x800.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)
![Students campaign across the school by putting up colorful and themed posters. Sophomore Adam Thomas campaigned with a pirate theme for his posters. Thomas also created a rubber duck scavenger hunt to entertain and encourage voters. “I like campaign week a lot because of how fun the environment is. It isn't about getting votes. It's about making students happy. With all my campaigns, even my one last year, I try [to] make them as fun for everybody as possible,” Thomas said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_6542-e1748748848409-900x1200.jpeg)
![Senior Adam Zerega stands with senior Dexter Brooks by farm equipment. Zerega often worked with friends and family on his farm. “I've been able to go to my family's farm since I was born. I [spend] at least three weekends a month [on the farm], so I'm there all the time,” Zerega said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_4872-1200x900.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)
![Some of the most deadly instances of gun violence have occurred in schools, communities and other ‘safe spaces’ for students. These uncontrolled settings give way to the need for gun regulation, including background and mental health checks. “Gun control comes about with more laws, but there are a lot of guns out there that people could obtain illegally. What is a solution that would get the illegal guns off the street? We have yet to find [one],” social studies teacher Nancy Sachtlaben said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DSC_5122-1200x800.jpg)
![Reading sheet music in Guitar 1, junior Neiyo Hagens strums along to various chords and melodies, working to become proficient in the instrument. Though he only began learning guitar this year, Hagens’ long standing passion for making music and his friends’ support led him to give it a try. “My friend [junior] Jonah Wool plays guitar, and I loved the sound of [it], and wanted to learn how to play it. I've been making my own music for about three years now, so I would definitely like to learn how to incorporate [guitar] into my music that I make personally,” Hagens said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_7487-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Josie Grunzinger watches the football game intently from the sidelines on Oct. 18. Grunzinger stood out to the crowd as the only girl on the football team, encouraging other girls who want to play football to take a chance and go for a sport outside of their comfort zone. “If you think you could [play football] and you want to do it, just try it, because all it takes is to actually try it out,” Grunzinger said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-1200x675.png)
![Drawing the bow across her violin, senior Yena Ahn plays New World Symphony at the orchestra concert on April 30. The symphonic orchestra combined with the band for the last performance of the school year. “This was our seniors' last concert, so we were able to wear a different attire than the usual black to stand out,” Ahn said. “It's definitely bittersweet because I've done orchestra for four years and most of the people in symphonic [orchestra] are seniors.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0200-1200x829.jpg)
![Senior Thalea Afentoullis backs her car into the senior parking lot. Though Afentoullis has two years of driving experience under her belt, she often feels concerned about her safety in the school zone. “From my experience, whenever I try to get down to the pit, [the junior parking lot], after school, I have to be very conscious. [Students] whip [their cars] out of their spots. The school could do a much better job by separating the timings at which students can leave because most [car crashes] happen after school when everyone’s rushing to get out of the line,” Afentoullis said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/68467-e1712933168328-1200x789.jpg)
![“The first memory that comes to my head is when everyone starts doing the longhorn rumble when we call [out to the audience], they stomp and clap with us along to the beat of the cheer. I [started to appreciate cheer] when I got to high school. [At first], I did it for fun in middle school just to say that I [had a hobby]. When [I got to] high school my coach appreciated me and [listened to] my opinions. It really made me fall in love with the sport again. My favorite thing about cheer is the friendships that I get from it. [I] get to see the people I’m with all the time because [we] have practice [together often]. Especially during football season [is when I get to] hang out with [my teammates] every day. The people I met through cheer and got close with this year make me [want] to continue cheer. [I also got closer with] the people on [the] varsity team and [was able to gain friendships] through that. I am happy [that I get to] cheer with [everyone] next year. It [urges me to] keep going. The cheer community is fun because everyone just understands each other. We're all very similar [and connected] in ways and it's like a tight knit family.” Alyssa Gessner, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0063-1200x800.jpg)
![Gazing at a tube of DNA, sophomores Matthew Barry, Tawqir Farooq and Colby Yates participate in an experiment in Honors Biology. Students were exploring their DNA by analyzing a soy and alcohol mix. “[My favorite part] was getting to do the experiment with my friends. It was just a lot of fun. [I like] getting to explore what life is made of [in biology class],” Barry said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_0075-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Will Gonsior lies down on a pile of money, an opportunity gained by allowing the Pathfinder to use his name, image and likeness. Accusations of corruption and misconduct have revealed just how easily the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) lets money pile up where it doesn’t belong. “[The NCAA] is a business, so they're trying to win games. No matter the sport, they're trying to be the most successful that they can,” varsity football coach and physical education teacher Jeff Duncan said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Foul-Play-Amateurism-or-a-collegiate-cartel-1-1200x900.png)
![Female tennis players thrive regardless of their limitations. While there are many issues within the sport — unequal pay, no maternal care for athlete-mothers, unequal opportunities for different races and more — many activists have been advocating for change within the industry. “I hope there are a lot more milestones set along the way and a lot more improvements in [tennis],” freshman and JV tennis player Sara Ashok said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-24-at-12.37.04-PM.png)
![In recent years, the topic of lowering the national voting age has sparked debates across the United States. Young people have been at the forefront of the discussion, sharing their unique perspectives and opinions on voting ages. “[I want to vote because] I should be able to make decisions about myself, about my education, and about my rights,” sophomore Yein Ahn said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Orange-and-Dark-Blue-Debate-Team-Poster-2-e1697042961161-1200x800.png)
![“My favorite place to be is my lake house because I grew up spending my summers there. I go there every summer with my friends and family. I've made a lot of friends that also have summer [lake] houses there. I have strong relationships with some of the friends I made there. I consider them my family. My favorite memories are going wakeboarding with all my friends there and spending the whole day on the lake,” - Casey Bowman, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image1-6-900x600.jpg)
![“[My biggest challenge] is balancing school work, friends and family in high school. [When] you go to school, you learn a lot, you go home and you have so much homework so you have no time for family or friends. In life, you need a good balance of everything. When you have so much homework, it's really hard. Sometimes I don't get all my homework done and then there's consequences later. I’m still working on that. Usually, I go home and I try to take a break for a while. I'll talk with my family, go on my phone and have a snack. Then, I'll try [to] get some homework done. If I don't get all that done, I tell myself it's fine and I go to sleep because getting a lot of sleep is important.” - Samantha Doolittle, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DSC_0265-900x600.jpg)
![“[Baking] is a stress reliever, and it's something I do in any mood. It’s a way I express my love because I bake cookies for people I care about and always get excited when they try a new recipe. I bake oatmeal cookies for the healthier people in my family or chocolate chip cookies. I even bake brownies sometimes. I love getting different types of chocolates. I usually get the Tonys chocolate from Whole Foods, and I cut them up. I like experimenting with new recipes. I always love trying new recipes. I'm open to anything. It took me over four years of trying to make perfect cookies. [I would tell other people] to never give up, always try new things, experiment and have fun.” - Gracie Mcleod, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/DSC_0010-900x600.jpg)
![“[My biggest challenge is] making friends because I’m not from here [and] I’m not very social. I’m from Portugal. I came here five years ago. I couldn’t understand anything because the language was different. I had to learn English. [My biggest inspiration for soccer] is Christiano Ronaldo. [Because we’re both from Portugal], I feel like I’m sharing an experience with him.” - Miguel Gomes Goncalves, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/unnamed-1.jpeg)
