Pronouns: he/him
Grade: 11
Years on staff: 3
What is your favorite candy? Sweet Tarts Ropes or Trolli gummy worms.
Who is your favorite musician? Kendrick Lamar or Musiq Soulchild.
What is your dream job? Author.
![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)
![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)
![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)
![Singing into the microphone, junior Olivia Owens overlooks a crowd of family, friends, peers and teachers. She spent the year preparing for a lively duet, drawing on years of choir experience that began in fifth grade. “I was singing my solo in a song called ‘Boy from New York City’. I had a duet with my friend [that we worked] hard on. [This] song is super upbeat, and I love singing and being in the spotlight,” Owens said. “I liked being with all my friends in [the] jazz choir because they're all very supportive, and making music with them is always a fun experience.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SageKellyChoirDSC_0194-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Marking his final jazz choir appearance, Mullen blends with the ensemble onstage at the Jazz Coffee House concert. Mullen has been involved in choir all four years at West, participating in the concert choir, the chamber choir and the jazz choir throughout his journey. “[The] choir [is] a place of belonging at school. I love singing, and I've always sung, so I'm really grateful to be able to do it at school with people who also like it. This was also my last choir performance ever. It was really emotional, but exciting to get to do it one last time,” Mullen said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SageKellyChoirDSC_0068-1200x800.jpg)
![Sophomore Rowan Ravenscraft raises her instrument and merges into the ensemble’s latest set, showcasing her love for band music. Having been involved in band since sixth grade and the jazz band since freshman year, Ravenscraft sees music as a space to connect with others. “Band means a lot to me because I [found] a community. It's a happy place, a home, [and] somewhere I can always go back to. [My favorite part of playing] an instrument is being able to connect with other people because you have a connection that not everybody has,” Ravenscraft said. “[Jazz Coffee House] was a way to showcase something I love to the people I love. Being able to play and connect with the music myself is what makes me love music in the end.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SageKellyBandDSC_0425-1200x900.jpg)
![While the ensemble plays, junior Cole Kayira lifts his trumpet and delivers his part at the Jazz Coffee House concert. Influenced by his family and years of listening to music, jazz has become a deeply emotional outlet for Kayira’s musical expression.“Band isn't just music that you just play, it's something you have to find. Band is feeling. I've always loved jazz. I play it in the car before I go to school. My dad used to play on the radio. It always held a special place in my heart, since my family plays it too,” Kayira said. “Jazz Coffee House was an opportunity for me to express who I really am and how I'm feeling [in] the moment. I base my trumpet [on] that and sing to the audience.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0370-3-1200x800.jpg)
![Blending harmonies with dynamic control, senior Spencer Rahm takes the stage as part of the jazz choir's spring performance. Jazz Coffee House took place on April 22, marking the culmination of months of preparation by West High’s musicians. “To me, [choir] is an opportunity every day to get to sing with my friends and work on our songs that we have concerts for. [Seeing] the results after working together with people is really rewarding. Jazz Coffee House concert was a reflection and a result of all the hard work we've put in the last three months,” Rahm said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0214-3-1200x800.jpg)
![Rising with his trombone in hand, sophomore Andrew Phung gets recognized at the end-of-year spring band concert. Phung achieved a rating of two on a scale of one to five–with one being the highest–based on his performance at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival on March 1. “It’s humbling to show up for everybody around you and be part of something bigger. [The achievement] shows [my] commitment and growth as we get better throughout the years. I felt accomplished,” Phung said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0081-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing in Lambert Airport, French students smile for a photo before their flight. On March 10, the group of students began their 12-day trip to France, accompanied by French teacher Blair Hopkins and Spanish teacher Dominique Navarro. “The trip went smoothly. I think everybody enjoyed all three parts of it: Paris, Nice and the family home stay. The feedback I’ve gotten from all [of] the students has been positive, including several people already trying to plan a trip back to France,” Hopkins said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_8146-1200x900.jpg)
![Alongside club sponsors Andrea Horn and Tim Burkard, assistant principal Kate Piffel prompts a discussion at the first Black Student Union (BSU) meeting. She accepted suggestions for BSU from members like BSU Leader and junior Tanatswa Zirengani, who moved from Zimbabwe in 2021. “Moving here and transitioning into a new school [and] lifestyle, [BSU] became [a place] where I could be myself and talk about issues that I felt comfortable talking about back home. BSU [also] gave me the opportunity to venture into the post-high-school experience, telling me [some] things to expect,” Zirengani said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0120-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Principal John McCabe announces that Jeffrey Chazen has won Teacher of the Year. Chazen was discussing freedom of speech with his AP Government class when the door opened and administrators rushed in. “[I was] extremely happy and humbled, but mostly shock[ed]. I've been here longer than any other teacher, so I know most of the people on the list of Teachers of the Year, and they are amazing teachers themselves,” Chazen said. “It's just nice to be on the list with them, including [social studies teacher Kristen] Collins, who is the only other social studies teacher who has won Teacher of the Year. It was nice to bring something back to the social studies department.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC_0021-1-2-1200x801.jpg)
![Junior TJ Polack plays his saxophone solo at halftime for the 2024 marching band show, ‘Coloring Book.’ This year, Polack was one of two soloists in the marching band. “[Polack] is very hard on himself. [His saxophone solo] sounds amazing [and] everyone [cheers] for him; [still], somehow, he thinks it’s a bad performance and he's down. What he does is not easy. It takes a lot of confidence as a person [and] a lot of musical skill to be expressive, and he's doing an amazing job,” drum major and senior Dominic Perez said. (Courtesy of Christina Block)](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462488499_2973926416100522_5057718068659607183_n-1200x925.jpg)
![Junior TJ Polack travels between cross country practice and marching band practice. He has been involved in both after-school activities for two years. “[I’m most proud of] staying consistent with extracurriculars and grades. It's really important to have a healthy balance, and if [I] can get that, that's all I need in life. My goal is to keep my consistency over the course of the year and make sure that I'm putting in 110% rather than letting myself give up,” Polack said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_0164-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior TJ Polack travels between cross country practice and marching band practice. He has been involved in both after-school activities for two years. “[I’m most proud of] staying consistent with extracurriculars and grades. It's really important to have a healthy balance, and if [I] can get that, that's all I need in life. My goal is to keep my consistency over the course of the year and make sure that I'm putting in 110% rather than letting myself give up,” Polack said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2Z5A4069-1-1200x801.jpg)
![Arms outstretched, senior drum major Dom Perez stands high above the ground while conducting the marching band during rehearsal. To improve his performance and gain confidence as a leader, Perez attended a specialized camp over the summer with drum majors around the country. “[Being the drum major,] has been the biggest step out of my comfort zone in my entire life. I'm constantly learning from the things I do and trying to be a better person, better leader [and] better musician every day. It's the very end of the season, and I've put so many hours into learning how to be a good leader and conductor, and all that has helped me have the best season I can. I feel like I've given it my absolute best all the way through,” Perez said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DomPerezPOTW-1200x800.jpg)
![Eyes tracing his book, freshman Auggie Prsha works to translate a passage in Latin teacher Tom Herpel's classroom. Prsha decided to take Latin after hearing about the fun classroom activities, but he quickly began to see the effects of learning a foreign language in the world around him too. “Sometimes in English class, I can [recognize] some Latin words, and I notice Latin in other places [as well]. I enjoy the people [and] learning from Herpel,” Prsha said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/prsha.jpg)
![“My family always [put] it in my ear that I really should be a teacher. Two of my sisters are teachers, and I’ve always [enjoyed] explaining [a range of topics]. A place I was working [at] in the health field shut down, and my mom was like, ‘it’s a sign [that] you need to go back to school to get your master’s in education,’ and so I applied at Maryville. I’m proud of my mom. She’s sort of a scrappy person, who is also a good mother and managed to raise us girls while being pretty politically active. My personal value of hard work [is something that matters most to me]. I’m a hard worker [and] I value that in other people. It’s important to me to give it your all, do your best, prepare, and work. I think my students expect to be perfect all the time, but [in reality,] you’re at school to practice and to get better, not to be an expert [from square one]. I feel like [students] sometimes value results rather than respecting themselves for their work. Work hard and be satisfied.” - Sally Steininger, Science](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/KellyS_SteiningerS1-Sage-Kelly-1200x801.jpg)
![“At the beginning of the year, I didn't really know a lot of [the] kids in my class [so] I tried to fit in [get to] know [them better]. Then, I started having a [friend] group I [now] stay with. [Now,] if I need to ask a question to understand the material better, I'll just ask. [Having more friends and being able to connect with people] makes me feel great. It makes me feel like I'm not alone in [my] classes, and if anybody needs help, [we] always have [each other] to turn to. [I’m most proud of] meeting all the people throughout the years, growing and overcoming my injury. I feel like I'm usually more kind to others and prefer their opinion over mine. I [am] always [open] trying what the group wants. When I'm by myself, I [can] do something for [only] so long, but when I'm with other people, I [can] do anything for as long as whoever I'm with wants to. [As] I go through life, I want to make sure that everything I do is fun, [but] sometimes I can't help it because [I] need to have hard [moments in life;] moments being sad, mad or upset. Whatever you [choose to] do, always have fun and make sure it’s what you want.” - Ikhana Hildebolt, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IkhanaHildebolt_9-1200x800.jpg)
![“My [favorite] hobby is running. I have been [a member of the] the cross country and [the] track and field team. [I also enjoy] tinkering [and constructing] random things. Everybody on our team knows about [the complications I had because of my] back. I had [a snag from my regular hobbies after going] through a surgery back in 2022; it took a lot out of me. I couldn't run for four months, and I was really out of shape [when] getting back into cross country. It was really hard for me. I would say a lot of [my inspiration has come from] my dad to be honest. He's the one who has pushed me to improve every day [in] every single [aspect]. He's the one who taught me how to be responsible, manage my time well [and] be consistent. [It’s the] same with running; I'm consistent and I try to work my hardest in order to get better every day. A lot of [my growth] has been tied to running because I have been so involved, but I feel like I’ve become a lot more social with people. I've become more dedicated to the things I like. [During practice], I'm starting to [run] with faster groups now. [I’m] able to keep pace with [people] who [I] didn't used to before. I [am] definitely most proud of my recovery [after] my surgery. It did take me four months to be able to run again, but after that, I really bounced back. I have improved a ton and I'm really proud of that.” - Ragsy Muralidharan, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RagsyMuralidharan_12-1200x800.jpg)
![Captivating the audience with every note, members of symphonic band play during their annual winter concert. The band concert was just one of four distinct performances by a musical ensemble during the week of Feb. 26. "[Band] is a place where everyone can be themselves and express and share what they have to offer. [It's] a class where you have the opportunity to meet other people and be a part of something special," band director Brad Wallace said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/unnamed-1-1-1200x800.jpg)
![“I do cross country; I get a shirt [for running five hundred miles over the summer] and running those miles improves your endurance. I didn't think of the five hundred miles as, ‘I have to run five hundred miles.’ I [have the mindset that], six days a week, I have to run. [I] started [running] about four to five miles a day and was able to build up over the course of the summer. It's just that I had my goal; I wanted to be on varsity. I wanted to get the red legs this season, so I had my goal in mind. Red legs are a new set of warmups made up of a nicer jacket, thin hoodie, and red sweatpants, given to anyone who runs sub-18:15 in the 5k [race]. They have been a goal since I joined [the sport in] sophomore year. They are often a mark of being on varsity as well and can make you feel like you made it. I guess the same thing is true for motivating myself for school; I have my goal of keeping up my grades. Stay involved with something because it's good to have multiple [hobbies] going on. Make sure to decide what you want your focus to be. You can be involved in multiple things, but, if you want to focus on sports and school, make sure to keep it balanced. Enjoy your high school years. Have some passion in what you do.” - Ryan Smith, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/488ACA7C-8DD7-4712-A89E-2DEAE7DACC49-1200x800.jpeg)