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
Seniors Andrew Son (left), Tommy Eschbach (center) and Kaiden Kelley (right) laugh together while waiting for their robot, OverDriv6, to compete at the 2024 Missouri VEX State Championship. Although the competition was stiff, the trio managed to have a good time, content with their performance and teamwork. “We’re very good at recognizing small victories while in the face of adversity. If one of our subsystems failed or one of the parts of our robot broke, we'd spend half an hour or so fixing that. The next match, even if we lost, we'd still celebrate the fact that that adjustment we made ended up working and succeeding. Being able to celebrate minor victories was very good for our team chemistry and strength,” said Eschbach. (Photo by Mikalah Owens)

Graduating gears

Mikalah Owens, Staff Writer • March 28, 2024

All four robotics teams competed at the 2024 Missouri VEX State Championship in Park Hills, Mo. While each individual team did well in competition — robotics team Blue Brains even earned a spot at the...

On March 2, West High’s Robotics team competed in the state competition, in which the B team placed ninth and the A team qualified for the world championship. Senior Lillian Dwyer is a notebooker and strategist in robotics. “Robotics is one of the many STEM opportunities offered at West High that is an enjoyable experience for anyone looking to go into engineering or science. I highly recommend joining it, because outside of school, it is fun to talk and hang out with people who are also excited about STEM and willing to dedicate time and energy to work on engineering projects,” Dwyer said. (Photos are courtesy of Mikalah Owens)

STEM mayhem

Audrey Ghosh, Opinions Editor • March 25, 2024

STEM is a highly popular field, garnering interest from more than 75% of Gen Z students in the United States. Despite this large majority, only about a quarter are exposed to careers in STEM and real-world...

STEMming the tide: A look into the Women in STEM Club

Emily Early, Editor-in-Chief • March 14, 2024

Examining his code, senior and CyberSecurity club Vice President Kesava Viswanadha works to secure images as preparation for the CyberPatriot competition. Viswanadha has been a member of Cyber Security club for three years. “We get to deal with real life scenarios and troubleshoot and aim to make types of operating systems cyber secure,” Viswanadha said. “It matters and is important because so many people today get scammed or trapped when they’re not cybersecure.”

CyberSecurity Club boots up for international competition

Kathryn McAuliffe, Managing Editor-in-Chief • October 25, 2019

Routers humming, screens aglow and fingers typing, CyberSecurity Club prepares for their upcoming international competition Saturday, Oct. 26. As part of CyberPatriot, an international organization dedicated...

Working on homework for AP Statistics, senior Anjali Shah student aids for science teacher and Beta Chi Pi sponsor Sally Steininger. Shah has had Steininger as a teacher since sophomore year, taking AP Biology last year, and she is also now Beta Chi Pi president. “I enjoy helping out because I took all the material last year, so it’s nice to be able to help them with labs with parts that I know I had trouble with,” Shah said.

Senior Anjali Shah continues her journey of STEM learning

Fatema Rehmani, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • September 18, 2019

Through research papers, internships and pre-engineering projects, senior Anjali Shah decided she wants to pursue a career in engineering. Passionate about her research, Shah never set a plan for a future...

Technology and Engineering teacher Chris Donaldson helps senior Jack Fox during the Day of Code on December 6. Donaldson teaches three courses, all involving technology and engineering. “I am most excited to see students try new things, build skills and develop strengths they may not have previously realized they had," Donaldson said. "[I want] to build positive relationships with students and staff and to positively impact students’ attitudes toward STEM concepts, classes and career choices.”

Getting to know Technology and Engineering teacher Chris Donaldson

Gabby Leon, STAFF WRITER • December 20, 2017

Pathfinder: What got you interested in teaching? Donaldson: "I had a few stand-out teachers in high school and college. What struck me is how they were able to take complex concepts, break them down...

Junior Darrion Ward works on fixing an old projector to use the spare parts in the robotics class

The Engineering Enclave provides autistic students first-hand experience in robotics

Nico Stranquist, Staff Writer • October 24, 2014

Entering its second year, The Engineering Enclave gives autistic students jobs to help run the robotics class, while providing first-hand experience and skills needed in the workforce. Clifford Amen,...