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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

Performing at the Fabulous Fox for the 16th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, junior Alisha Yin delivers her Program Oral Interpretation titled “Ways to Find Your Voice.” Yin centered her piece around Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and First Amendment rights. “[Yin] has worked really hard to get here. She is persistent. She doesn’t give up. Even if something seems out of reach, she does a lot better than other people at always trying to [reach her goals]. She always advocates for what she believes, [so it] has always reflected her ideas or priorities,” junior Lillian Chen said.

Speaking for the silenced

Sage Kelly, Features/News Editor February 22, 2026

Thousands of eyes train on thick, blue curtains. People shift in their seats while emcee Ben Nordstrom transitions between acts. Finally, he announces, “Please welcome to the stage 16-year-old Alisha...

Justice. Domestic Tranquility. General welfare. Blessings of liberty. These key phrases have been redacted from this copy of the U.S. Constitution, reflecting the values lacking in the United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE’s behavior suggests that the values instilled in our nation have been stripped. “When you're implementing [immigration enforcement] on a mass scale at the speed it's happening [now], you're bound to see unjust, horrible things. The only way to solve that is to make the crackdowns less severe,” junior Alisha Yin said.

When policy becomes personal

Pathfinder Editorial Board January 31, 2026

"[No state] shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” This is a matter of our...

Facing a large audience, senior Caitlyn Dunn recites poetry passionately. She prepared beforehand for the competition. “I [went] on the poem site and I picked a poem that seemed doable but also interesting to me, and I practiced it a lot, starting a week before the competition,” Dunn said.

Poetry with passion

Ayeza Ahmad and Nimra Ali January 31, 2026

On Jan. 14, 2026, students performed poetry in the library for staff and families. Poetry Out Loud has been an annual West High tradition since 2005. Students participating in this competition memorize...

Handing out candy to excited trunk-or-treaters, President of the United Nations Children’s Fund club and junior Sara Ashok represents that group. Ashok was eager to participate in this event for multiple reasons. “I really wanted to be a part of the event because I get to help create memories for kids and spend time with my friends, spreading the things [I'm passionate about],” Ashok said.

A night of sweet fun

Rishi Pidikiti, Sports Editor November 5, 2025

On Oct. 29, Parkway West High hosted the fourth annual trunk or treat, which started three years ago in 2022 to involve more elementary school kids and give back to the Parkway West community. Initiated...

Posing outside Missouri State University, students take a group photo following the MSHSAA Speech and Debate State Tournament. The competition spanned two days, adding up to nearly 60 rounds between the team. “This was all of our first times at States, and that made this experience unique 一 no one knew what to expect. Getting one last tournament with this specific team and our seniors was sentimental, but I’m excited to get going again next season,” sophomore Aagi Gudipati said.

Voices of the herd

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief May 13, 2025

From April 24-26, 15 students traveled to Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., to compete in the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Speech and Debate State Tournament....

Kicking off dress rehearsal, Mr. Longhorn contestant and senior Carson Hughes goes over the group routine alongside other competitors. With just two days of practice, all participants learned the entirety of their introductory dance, chose an occupation to embody and crafted skits for the show. “The best part of this [whole thing] was learning the dance and just practicing with the guys. We [have to] try not to laugh the whole time, but we're having a lot of fun,” Hughes said.

A tradition almost lost

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief November 20, 2024

On Thursday Nov. 21, nine senior boys will go head to head, competing for the coveted title of Mr. Longhorn. One of the most prominent events integrated into student life, the pageant is organized by Longhorn...

Smiling widely, senior Dana Zafarani embraces English teacher and contest organizer Andria Benmuvhar after being announced as West’s 2024 Poetry Out Loud champion. Zafarani will represent West at the regional competition in February. “I’ve done Poetry Out Loud for the last two years. I’m a senior now, so I want to make it count,” Zafarani said.

Lines and rhymes

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief January 17, 2024

On Wednesday, 12 students performed in the 2024 Poetry Out Loud School Competition in the library. They delivered a wide range of poems, both contemporary and historical, memorized from Poetry Out...