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
Manning the check-in table with junior and fellow National Honors Society (NHS) member Rachel Livak, senior and President of NHS Nikita Bhaskar, prepare for more incoming blood donors. This was Bhaskar’s first time donating blood. “When I signed up, I was excited to be able to donate blood. But, the day of, I was getting more nervous as my time slot came. But, all the volunteers and my friends were supportive and keeping everyone distracted, so it was really easy [and] painless,” Bhaskar said.

A Blood Drive Not in Vein

Grace Loethen, Staff Writer • April 13, 2023

With Bad Blood by Taylor Swift playing from English teacher Erin Fluchel’s blood playlist, about 63 students and a few adults lined up to donate blood. Students were patient as they awaited their turn...

2023 National Merit Finalists: Starting from top left, Bennett Christofferson, Jacob Rushing, Alan Song, Ethan DeLuca, Nathan Zhou, Joseph Britt, Katherine Evans, Nikita Bhaskar, Rohan Dagubatti, Noah Schell, Owen Arneson, Mitchell Harms, Allie Byergo, Shiv Sharma, Wilson Gao

Meet the 2023 National Merit Finalists

Raj Jaladi, Newsletter Editor/Data Analyst • April 11, 2023

Fifteen of Parkway's 28 seniors named as finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program are from West.  The National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP) is an academic competition for recognition...

After three months of preparation for the first annual blood drive, National Honor Society (NHS) President and senior Nikita Bhaskar lays in one of the stretchers holding senior Jame Wild’s hand as she donates blood. The blood drive gathered 61 bags of blood to donate to ImpactLife. “I loved seeing the NHS volunteers shine. Katie Jauss, Jame Wild and [senior] Adam Lancia choreographed dances to perform in front of the donors to distract them, and it genuinely brightened the event. They let their personalities shine to help others, and I felt that's what NHS is all about. It was inspiring to see,” Bhaskar said. “Knowing that I could save three lives by donating a pint of my blood made it a no-brainer; donating was an easy choice."

Photo of the Week – March 31

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • March 31, 2023

14 students from Parkway West High School were nominated the Glory of Missouri awards.

Meet the glories of Missouri

Katie Wallace, Triya Gudipati, and Serena Liu • March 15, 2023

In the early 1920s, 14 virtues were engraved on the Missouri House Chamber walls: knowledge, liberty, equality, law, justice, fraternity, education, progress, honor, truth, virtue, temperance, enterprise...

A pile of Advanced Placement (AP) study books sit on a library desk. When taking AP classes, many students sacrifice other areas of their lives to keep their grades up. “It's not the fact that I am taking an AP class. I am spending more time doing the work for school than I would spend time with friends and family,” senior Noah Schell said. “It is a sacrifice I made and realized after signing up for the classes. Over the years, I have devised a system of managing my time, which sometimes means I don’t get all of the work done.”

Balancing brain power: the need to prioritize mental health over AP classes

Pathfinder Editorial Board • January 19, 2023

In 2022, 424 Parkway West students took 801 Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, meaning that most took two or more tests, and over a third of the student population enrolled in an AP class. Because course...

The “if” and “what”s of the Feminist Club

Kristen Skordos, Staff Writer • December 5, 2022

If you had to describe the club in three words what would they be? Luisa DAquino Lazarini: Union, diversity Nikita Bhaskar: Community Lacy Roberts: Safe, cause it’s definitely a safe space for...

Seniors Daniellie McLaurin and Amber Coach work on door decorations after school.

Staff and students celebrate Black History Month

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief • February 28, 2022

As the first week of February took its course, students gathered in groups after school to create the behind-the-scenes magic of the Black History Month door decorations. Careful hands traced intricate...

Parkway families join together at a Black Lives Matter march June 14.

Student activism takes on a new look through COVID-19

Addie Gleason, Managing Editor-in-Chief • September 28, 2020

Student activism has been apparent for many years, however now it takes on a new look with restrictions from COVID-19. Students have had to adapt their ways of protesting to ensure safety while still fighting...

Wearing gloves and a mask, sophomore Nikita Bhaskar prepares sandwiches for the Hindu Temple of St. Louis. This was Bhaskar’s first time volunteering. “I felt really accomplished,” Bhaskar said. “I think it’s important to volunteer because we worry about ourselves 24 hours a day, so volunteering gives us an opportunity to step back and spend our time thinking about someone else instead.”

Students give back to the community

Hannah Choi, Staff Writer • September 25, 2020

After realizing the impact of the pandemic, some students used their time off during the summer to volunteer for organizations supporting people in need.  In order to be safe, sophomore Nikita Bhaskar...