One if by land, two if by sea. Swim on over to page 16 for the rundown on these seniors’ exploits on land and in the water!
Vol. 45 No. 1
9502 Providence Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
May 2025
During class, a teacher asks their students a question. After five seconds, the instructor has not been presented with the raising of a hand. Another five seconds pass and none of the students submit to the provision of an answer. The teacher then climbs on top of their desk and faces the class clock with their back towards the students. After five minutes (almost a lifetime when factoring in the sheer awkwardness of the situation), one student finally asks the teacher why they have assumed such an abnormal position.
This story didn’t originate from some fever dream or a creative writer’s desk. It happened at Charlotte Latin School, repeated throughout four periods filled with us— the class of 2025—in our sophomore year.
the desirability of silence. First, in a world with many bent on being the loudest in the room, how can relative silence be a positive trait outside the classroom? Second, if the vocal majority can overwhelm those without the motivation to use their voices, what is the point of coming up with constructive ideas without the ears to hear them? Finally, and perhaps most importantly, when is it the right time to raise our voices, and in what manner should we do so? Thus, our expedition into the worthiness of silence commences. First, how can silence be a positive attribute in a loud world?
President Theodore Roosevelt may have an answer. His foreign policy ideology declared the
Hawks soar high...in airplanes? Check out page 5 for the aerial fly-by!
A rock anthem defined a unique family: gridiron gladiator recalls how a walkout song shaped his career. The self-told tale is on page 8!
Zebras, monkeys and camels, oh my! See page 18 for a tour through a carefully curated (and muchloved) family zoo!
Darn seniors, where ya been? See page 22 for pics of everywhere you’ve thrived this year!
THE HAWK EYE
The Student Newspaper of Charlotte Latin School
THE SENIOR EDITION 2025
By Anish Thota
It’s a Loud World: Letters
While we have “come out of our shell” in our senior year, it’s no secret that our class is known for being quiet. Another undisputed fact about our class is that we are an academic powerhouse. During the presentation of National Merit Scholarship awards during the first semester of our senior year, the memory of Mr. Wall celebrating our high test scores and diverse intellect remains etched in our memory. Accomplishing so much in an academic context, we have both nurtured our futures and paved the way for successive classes to succeed, proving the potential value of a hard work ethic prevalent among our class.
While we’ve let our academic successes do the talking, the prospect of graduation has brought me a few questions regarding
importance of speaking softly and carrying a mighty metaphorical stick, being any skill we have nurtured, ranging from athletic ability to compassion to intellectual prowess. Under this interpretation, silence doesn’t have to be a lack of verbal input. Perhaps it can be a lack of ego, or a sense of humility and understanding that while we strive to improve, life is nothing more than a battle within ourselves. So, to answer the original question, the tool of silence is most beneficial when paired with humility.
Next, what is the importance of silence if nobody hears our ideas?
The previous interpretation of silence repels this argument since it isn’t a question of the projection of ideas. Regardless, this argument doesn’t hold any ground. One doesn’t need to overpower a group discussion with the asset of interpersonal connections. In fact, throughout my three years in the Student Council, I have found that rather than overpowering others in discussions, using peoples’ specialties
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to complete tasks yields greater efficiency. Finally, when is the right time to raise our voices? How do we determine when the time is right for us to explain to oppressors that what they are doing is wrong? The answer lies in conviction through sustained reinforcement of values. In other words,
it may be useful to have a set agenda of “lines” that mustn’t be crossed in any scenario. Thus, who you are will not fade amid social tensions. Silence can be used in this case to meditate on desired values.
Ultimately, while this reflection has served as a defense of silence, I still believe that benefits
can only be achieved when silence is used in moderation. This is my charge to you: Balance being accommodating of others in spaces while protecting those who are being trodded on. In a socially, politically, and economically volatile time like this, it is these characteristics that Latin graduates can assume to create more stable places of debate.
In spaces outside of Charlotte Latin School, it is necessary to project the ideal of “Honor Above All,” that which you have all kept so dearly throughout your time here. I am confident that, with a keen interest in listening to our fellow person, we can enlighten the world.
Seniors David Tian, Anish Thota and Adam Stone celebrate convocation in the fall of 2024. (Photo by Anish Thota)
Anish Thota served as student body president. He will attend Oxford College at Emory University. (Photo by St John Photography)
Members of the 2023-2024 CLS Debate Team at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Anish Thota)
Seniors Anish Thota and Adam Stone and juniors John Puyleart, Richard Shan and Collin Kanofsky at an escape room enjoying a school break. (Photo by Anish Thota)
By Charlie Sidman
Be Like the Turtles:
Class president Sidman recalls how a “quiet class” grew out of their shells
At the start of this year, we all knew it was our last. But what we didn’t know— what we couldn’t have predicted—was just how much would change between August and now. We came into senior year carrying the weight of being known as the “quiet class,” but somewhere along the way, that label stopped fitting. Whether it was because we had finally grown into ourselves or simply because we knew this was our last chance to make the most of it, we let go of whatever had kept us apart and found a sense of connection that had been missing for so long.
Think back to the senior retreat. That was the first time it really felt like we were stepping into our final year together. At first, it was just another school trip, another set of activities we were expected to do. But then, something shifted. Between the hours-long volleyball and basketball games, the empty talent show that somehow became a three-hour karaoke night, and the moments of shared exhaustion and
laughter, we built something real. That night, when I stood on stage, fully prepared to embarrass myself with a painful rendition of “Shallow,” I watched as one by one, people joined in— not just to sing, but to make sure no one was alone up there. That was the moment I realized this year would be different.
We’ve always been a class that let our actions speak louder than our words. Our academic success is proof of that—from the highest AP scores in Latin history to National Merit
recognitions and Scholastic Awards, we’ve set records without ever needing to announce them. But beyond the accolades, we’ve done something even more important: we’ve shown up for each other. We’ve supported each other through late-night study sessions, college application stress, and everything in between. We’ve led by example, not just in what we’ve achieved, but in the way we’ve carried ourselves. Even outside of school, we made the most of our time together. From late-
night Waffle House runs to packed student sections at games, from cramming for tests in the library to celebrating each other’s successes, we created memories that go far beyond these hallways. We turned our final year into something unforgettable, not just through the big moments, but through the everyday ones—the quick conversations in the halls or even the shared looks of panic before a reading quiz no one prepared for.
Think back to freshman year—graduation felt like a lifetime away. Now, it’s here. And looking back, it’s clear that we didn’t just make it to the end. We left our mark. We fought through dress code debates, navigated the rollout of Yondr pouches, and shaped the culture of this school in ways that will last long after we’re gone. We’ve redefined what it means to be the “quiet class”—not by getting louder, but by proving that quiet doesn’t mean disconnected.
From senior nights to Homecoming to the everyday moments between classes, we’ve turned our final year into something unforgettable. And as we
stand on the edge of graduation, ready to take our next steps, one thing is certain: the class of 2025 will not be defined by the labels given to us. We will define ourselves. And wherever we go next, we will leave our mark—not just in quiet
successes, but in ways that will last far beyond this year.
Sidman and friends snap a quick picture before trying the climbing wall. (Photo by Charlie Sidman)
Charlie Sidman served as senior class president. He will attend UNCChapel Hill in the fall.
Sidman, Tyler McAndrews and Andrew Chen smile in their graduation gowns for convocation. (Photo by Charlie Sidman)
Jackson Coble, Nishanth Gaddam and Sidman chat before class starts. (Photo by Charlie Sidman)
Carson Clutter’s entrepreneurial journey began with a broken wakesurfing board at his family’s lake house. With no warranty, he was advised to fix it himself.
After watching YouTube tutorials, he successfully repaired the board, impressing the surf shop and earning a referral for board repairs. This led him to start his own business, offering services for surfboards, wakeboards, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
Since then, he’s completed over 75 projects and learned valuable skills in both board repair and business management. He has gained experience in setting expectations, managing deadlines, and handling customer relations. “I’ve learned how to manage a business, and it’s been really helpful,” he said.
Balancing his business with schoolwork has been manageable, especially by planning around the resin curing time needed for repairs. “It’s not really that challenging,” he explained. “I plan my work around resin curing times.”
By Milo Trogdon
It’s Just Business: Seniors turn hallway hustles into real revenue
While he enjoyed the satisfaction of fixing boards, he sometimes found the safety precautions to be the only annoyance. Because many of the materials used in board repair are carcinogenic, he must to wear a mask and bodysuit while working.
“I don’t like wearing the mask and the body suit,”
he admited. “But I know it’s important because these materials could give me cancer in thirty years, and obviously, I don’t want that to happen.”
Nevertheless, the rewards of running his own business have been clear: “Getting paid is really nice,” he said, adding that it was gratifying to repair a variety
born from a love of food and cooking, has gained popularity through word of mouth, allowing her to gain valuable experience while creating something of her own.
In addition, she nannied for a family passed down from a former Latin senior. This job allowed her to multitask, often completing homework while caring for the children, which helped her stay on top of her stud-
ies.
She also worked parttime at Caribou Coffee, where she learned teambuilding skills and how to manage a fast-paced environment. Although scheduling could be difficult at times, she valued the opportunity to connect with customers and provide excellent service.
Balancing three jobs has taught her important lessons in time management
and reliance on others. “It’s taught me to be thoughtful with my time,” she said. “It’s all about finding a balance between work and school.”
Looking ahead, Harper was excited to continue building her business and applying the skills she’s learned.
With Harper’s combination of hard work, passion, and entrepreneurial drive, she’s set up for success, both now and in the future.
of boards and see the final product.
As he finished his senior year, he reflected on how the experience has shaped him. Whether continuing with his business or exploring new opportunities, he learned valuable lessons in hard work and entrepreneurship.
For Fiona Harper, bal-
ancing multiple jobs while excelling in school were skills she mastered. She not only built her own catering business—serving everything from burgers to lobster tails—but also worked part-time as a nanny and at Caribou Coffee, all while managing her academic responsibilities.
Her catering business,
One of many catering platters Harper has made for her business. (Photo by Fiona Harper)
Harper smiles with Anna Bracket Luther ‘35, the Latin student Fiona babysits, and Zoe Bradley ‘25 at a football game. (Photo by Fiona Harper)
Clutter measures a paddle he is in the process of repairing. (Photo by Carson Clutter)
A completed board. (Photo by Carson Clutter)
By Sophia Smith
Constructing More Than Houses:
A friend shows how Sydney Query spent her time building belonging at Latin & beyond
Asking Sydney Query what her day-to-day schedule looks like will exhaust you by the end of her sentence. Her days are full of intense classes, varsity field hockey or track and field practice, club meetings, lifting weights, as well as church and Young Life planning. On top of all of that, she dedicates every single one of her free minutes to service and helping others. Service has always been something Sydney plans into her days. “Service is just the most important part of my life. It will always be my top priority.”
I met Sydney Query when she was a sophomore and I was a freshman. We were in the same track and field running group, and my first impression of her was her unique music taste. When I asked the group what music to play on the speaker, I expected to hear some Taylor Swift or Rihanna. Instead, from the back, I heard a voice call out, “Play ‘The Distance’ by Cake!”
For the next three years, Sydney badgered me to play heavy metal and rock on our runs. I can’t say I
became accustomed to her music taste, however I learned very quickly that if she was passionate about something, she would work until she got it done.
Sydney applied this same mindset to her dedication of service. It all began with her church. “Honestly, I’ve been doing service with my church for as long as I can remember,” Query said.
Like every freshman, Sydney signed up for every single service club. However, her service path changed when she was approached with a leader position for the Hawks Lead service club. Hawks Lead involves Upper School students with the Lower School, teaching them valuable lessons regarding leadership and our core values as a school. She grew the club, developing relationships with many Lower School students, and teaching them important morals. This led to further opportunities, including serving on the Service Council and attending the service trip to Washington, D.C her junior year. Her dedication to her career of service earned her the Fred-
rick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony award at Charlotte Latin.
For Sydney, the most rewarding part of service is when she realizes her efforts have paid off. “Seeing the difference it makes in people’s lives, whether it’s on a mission site for building a house and seeing the progress, or packing food and seeing how many bags we’ve packed is rewarding. Even with Hawks Lead,
when a kid comes up to me and tells me they’ve applied one of our lessons to their lives—seeing that happen has been really cool.”
Sydney is not the type of person to brag about herself and her accomplishments, so I will gladly take this opportunity to do so. Sydney and I went on an Outward Bound excursion together, where I saw how strong she truly is. She is the type of person who refuses to
give up and will always take the challenging road rather than the easy way out. She deliberately chose the harder hikes, the more difficult rock climbing, and the heavier gear to carry on her back. This is the perfect portrayal of Sydney’s personality: she is not one to quit, and definitely not one to take the easy route in life. She is more than willing to put in the work for the countless things she is passionate about. Sydney Query is not only one of the most dedicated and driven people you will ever meet, but one of the kindest. She will be missed dearly in the Latin community, and I will forever cherish the memories I have with her. If there’s one thing you need to know about Sydney, it’s that she will always go the distance: whether it’s on the track, the field hockey field, on an assignment, or changing people’s lives, she will always go the extra mile. She aspires to study either political science or public policy in the fall.
Andrew Chen & Eleanor Fisher: Baby Bundles Duo
By Sophia Smith Wrapping families
in
care and compassion,
one blanket at a time
Ever wonder how to build an empire from the ground up? Ask Andrew Chen and Eleanor Fisher, the leaders of Baby Bundles at Charlotte Latin.
Chen and Fisher started the club from scratch their sophomore year, forming connections and putting endless hours into their passion for helping others. The result? The 2025 Service Spotlight, long-lasting relationships, one of the highest participation clubs at Latin, and a profound impact on so many mothers’ lives: Baby Bundles.
In a nutshell, Baby Bundles is an organization that packs a “bundle” for underserved mothers full of baby clothes, toys, books and blankets. It has skyrocketed since its beginning. Fisher and Chen did not see this high level of success for such a club when they first started their service journeys. Fisher was partially inspired by her sister, Mayes Fisher (‘23).
Mayes Fisher led Blessings in a Backpack, an organi-
zation that assisted those experiencing food insecurity. Eleanor Fisher found inspiration in watching her sister succeed and knew immediately she wanted to be a part of the service program at Charlotte Latin.
Chen, on the other hand, got involved with Baby Bundles in the eighth grade through a family friend. He volunteered occasionally at the Baby Bundles warehouse and thought it would be a cool idea to integrate the club into the CLS community. Their sophomore year, Chen and Fisher started the club from nothing: no supplies, no members, just their dedication and commitment to making the organization big at Latin. Fisher shared that even though the begnning was slow, as a very goal-oriented person, she was willing to push herself to improve the club. “It was really hard in the beginning, and it was basically just our friend group that would go.”
Chen added that staying focused on their goals
Query participates in a Habitat buld. (Photo by Carrie Query)
Chen and Fisher promote Baby Bundles at the fall Club Fair with Allie Haynie ‘26. (Photo by Eleanor Fisher)
contributed to their success. “Being connected to the people working there and focusing on the mission really helped.”
However, once students learned more about the club they realized how interesting and important it is and became easily invested in its growth. Once Dr. David-Aaron Roth became the Director of Student Leadership Development, he helped them apply for a grant so that they could buy their own fabric instead of relying on the warehouse. “That was a game changer that helped us grow it a lot more,” Chen and Fisher said.
Once they got in the groove of their routine, they worked tirelessly to grow the club.
“Our sophomore year, our goal was 100 blankets, and this year, it’s 600,” Fisher said.
Not only has the club’s growth been rewarding to Chen and Fisher, but so has watching how it has an impacted their community. “The most rewarding part is the human experiences and seeing how happy people were when we got Latin students involved. Knowing that a family will receive your hard work is a great feeling,” Chen said.
The power duo shared that they cannot see the club dying down once they graduate. When planning on passing the club down, Chen shared that reflecting and learning from their past helps them teach others. Fisher agreed, adding that collaboration, compromise and communication were key. “Sharing WHY we make blankets, not just telling people to. Sharing the purpose behind it.”
Additionally, they shared their confidence in the club’s endurance because of the support their administrators have given them.
In the fall, Chen plans to study biology, and Fisher plans to study architecture. For Baby Bundles, the club will benefit from the hard work and dedication Chen and Fisher put into it, as will countless underserved mothers.
Graham Blanton’s journey from Latin Hawk to Air Force pilot
Very few people have the courage to fly a plane, let alone fly for the United States Air Force. Meet Graham Blanton, an aspiring pilot who is heading to the United States Air Force Academy after he graduates from Charlotte Latin. Blanton feels just at home in the skies as he does on
land. “I like the feeling of independence I get in the air,” Blanton said. Blanton’s dreams of becoming a pilot began in Middle School. After taking a discovery flight with his neighbor, a retired Air Force and airline pilot, his dream of making the skies a career was born. Blanton’s
love for flying was obviously rooted in successful flights, but he also recogizes how much he still has to learn. “I enjoy how rewarding it is when I’m successful, but I also like how I’m always learning when I make mistakes.”
The learning never stops for Blanton, and he looks forward to acquiring new knowledge at the Academy. He has loved acquiring every new skill he has worked hard to master over his years of training thus far. Additionally, Blanton
thoroughly enjoyed his time at Charlotte Latin, as his peers have supported him throughout his whole journey. Upon graduation from the Air Force Academy, Blanton hopes to fly for NATO through the EuroNATO Joint Jet Program and fly the F22 Raptor. The F22 raptor defies physics, soaring lightening fast through the sky. Blanton said, “I’m drawn to its airto-air superiority and its ability to dogfight.”
Although Blanton has had many memorable flights, one stands out most: his first solo flight. “It was nerve-racking at first, but I have become more comfortable with every flight,” Blanton said.
Flying solo for the first time is a big accomplishment, and Blanton was very proud of his first flight and excited about his potential future growth as a pilot. His advice to aspiring pilots is be open to all of the different ways in which pilots can use their skills. “My advice is to look into all the differ-
ent career paths there are as a pilot and which you feel you are best suited for, whether it be commercial, corporate, or military.”
Beyond the skill required to fly, Blanton’s story highlights the importance of character and the strength needed to succeed in aviation. His determination to push through challenges and continue learning was a key to success. As he prepares for his future in the Air Force, Blanton is ready to take on the immense responsibility that comes with being a pilot. He knows the journey is just beginning, but his ambition and drive will ensure that he soars to new heights in the aviation industry.
Blanton’s story shows the power of pursuing one’s dream, and it shows that all it takes is one eye-opening experience to find a passion. Although his journey as a career pilot has just begun, his ambition will undoubtedly propel him to great heights in the aviation industry.
Blanton smiles after completing his first solo flight. (Photo by Julie Blanton)
Chen and Fisher volunteer at the Baby Bundles warehouse in Charlotte. (Photo by Carrie Fisher)
By Athena Woodward
Final Cheers & Fierce Years:
Senior cheerleaders take their final bow after four years on squad
Under the shining Friday Night Lights, they are more than just athletes. They contain the heartbeat of the crowd, the spark in every celebration, the light that illuminates the school. I would know—year after year, I see them.
Delicately braided or curled hair whipping in the air during stunts, eyes crinkling with a celebratory smile, arms shivering as they bravely hoist their friends in the air.
For the “lifer” senior girls on the cheer team
who have cheered all four years and seasons, this past season was about more than just winning—it was the final chapter to the stories they have built over the years with a tight-knit sisterhood. If you haven’t seen Elizabeth Farmer
“ Cheer exposed me to so many new people I would have never known about and brought me so many new friendships.
Darby Collins
fearlessly flying through the air on a stunt, Ny Green flipping down the track, or Darby Collins and Jessie Adams leading dance after dance, then you’ve sure missed a lot.
They are the glue that holds the school together.
Frightened freshmen in the back of the crowd suddenly sound the same as fiery seniors, their voices blending together thanks to the chants started from the girls on the track below. Pick a game, any game, and you may see ecstatic five year olds jumping into the arms of the senior cheerleaders, or confident alumni returning to support the team that shaped them. Clearly, this team’s bond runs deep. And this team goes beyond the basketball court or football stadium—their energy is contagious throughout the entire campus.
Whether they sport football jerseys or hair bows on game days or entertain crowds at pep rallies, they represent something bigger than just sports: school spirit.
The roars of the crowd are thunderous every year as they perform before Homecoming or in the spring—electricity permeates the air that excites every student. They are the energetic force that unifies our campus.
Senior cheerleaders pose on the football field for Senior Night. (Photo by Athena Woodward)
Lindsay Baker ‘24, Jessie Adams ‘25, Hannah Hurden ‘25 and Piper Piscitelli ‘26 perform during the 2023 fall cheer season. (Photo by Tracey Adams)
Jessie Adams ‘25 and Elizabeth Farmer ‘25 pose at a Charlotte Latin home game. (Photo by Jessie Adams)
The 2023 fall cheer team take a photo together before warming up. (Photo by Ny Green)
My favorite part is the bond with my coaches and teammates. One reason I came to Latin and stayed was because of the cheer team and how welcoming they were to me.
—Ny Green
“ “
I have made great new friends both in my grade and outside of my grade which is so fun! We all say hi to each other in the hallways.
“
—Jessie Adams
The connection between upper and lowerclassmen has been so strong because of cheer. You literally lift one another into the air and the stunt groups are formed between different grades, and it’s all built on trusting one another.
—Elizabeth Farmer
Zoe Bradley ‘25 and Darby Collins ‘25 on Senior Night. (Photo by Darby Collins)
Ny Green runs out onto the field during a game against the Carolina Bearcats. (Photo by St John Photography)
Ny Green ‘25 and Jessie Adams ‘25 document the 2024 fall cheer season on Senior Night. (Photo by Jessie Adams)
Hannah Hurden ‘25, Holden Hendley ‘25 and Jessie Adams ‘25 take a moment before a basketball game. (Photo by Jessie Adams)
Cheerleaders take a selfie in neon bows during the 2023 fall cheer season. (Photo by Jessie Adams)
Ny Green ‘25 and Maya Belton ‘25 pose together during Senior Night.
(Photo by Ny Green)
By Asher Weiers
The Hawk Walk:
Asher Weiers, the man for whom the bells toll, reflects on years of football brotherhood
There is a tradition at Charlotte Latin on Friday nights in the fall that I have had the privilege of experiencing both first and second hand, that holds a special place in my heart. Anxiousness, confidence, and adrenaline rushes throughout my veins as I listen to the bells on our march down the cement ramp, ready to turn the corner and charge the field. As a freshman and Middle School student, I experienced this walk down from the stands, cheering on the teammates I practiced with. Now, I am able to lead the charge, with a flag in my hands, ready to dominate.
The bells are 20 minutes away.
The lights in the locker room are completely dark, and almost nothing is visible except the nervous faces of my teammates. A constant feeling of anxiety fills the locker room as some people sit completely still while others unconsciously
pace across the cold, hard floor.
For these next fifteen minutes, we will sit in utter silence, prepared like dogs ready to come out of their cages. This short duration of time is the longest I feel I have ever waited in my life, and I am waiting for the
bells to set me free. The bells are getting closer.
It is still dark, but Coach Dayton comes in to shed light upon all of the players awaiting the game. He preaches for roughly five minutes as players tighten their gloves, buckle their
chin straps and say their last prayers. All forty of us are packed tightly and ready to roll. Ending his empowering speech, he yells, “Captains go!”
This is my cue, and I find Carson Clutter, Gavin Provencher and Hudson Shoup, and we gather near
the door, five minutes before the bells will ring, ready to take the field before the rest of the team.
I have played football since I came to Latin in Middle School, and the sport has taught me hard work, success and helped me form new relationships that have lasted my time here. As a sophomore, I remember walking in the back of the line, knowing that in the future I would lead the team, just as I have been led. As a junior, I earned my keep by becoming a starter, and my
spot in line slowly started edging toward the front.
As a rising senior, I was looking forward to carrying those flags in the front of the line, leading my team, but little did I know that I would be experiencing the bells in a different way.
Becoming one of our four captains was a tremendous honor that I am truly grateful for, but it now meant that I would no longer walk down with my entire team; I would walk down with my other captains a few minutes before everyone else did.
Weiers drops into pass protection in a game against Ravenscroft. (Photo by Ernie Cutter)
Weiers and his young teammates celebrate a win in their final seventh grade football game. (Photo by Sara Weiers)
(Left to right) Gavin Provencher, Carson Clutter, Weiers and Hudson Shoup walk onto the field for the coin toss in the first game of the senior season. (Photo by Angel Trimble)
Little did I know then, but hearing the bells from the field while walking out with my captains felt even better.
The bells are now upon us and will ring out at any moment.
The captains and I just shook hands with the
officials for tonight’s game, and we are more than ready to walk on the field together for the coin toss. I take one last shot of water to help me stay hydrated because suddenly, my throat has gone dry. I use Carson’s smelling salts to get my
I am with my brothers, and all the work that we have put in together has brought us closer and to this moment, making it serene.
I was introduced to “Hell’s Bells” in seventh grade while watching Charlotte Latin’s varsity football team exit the locker room and take the “Hawk walk” down to enter the football field on Friday night. At that time, I looked up to those players and hoped to be in the same position one day.
Now, as my football
brain fired up, even though it just makes my nose burn and eyes water. Then I lock arms with my captains and we walk out with the refs to midfield.
“Which one of you is the speaking captain...”
“Heads or ta—”
DONG…DONG… DONG…
The bells wait for no one.
“—ils”, the referee finishes.
From then on out, I
can no longer focus or be contained by the meeting at midfield. All I can hear is the sound of the bells and the cleats clicking on the pavement 300 feet away as the rest of the team walks toward the field. I am jumping around, blood is flowing, and I am ready to sprint toward the 40 feet high inflatable hawk to finish the run out with my team. I shake hands with the enemy, and then I am
off running with the other captains by my side.
In a way, the bells calm me down, even though they tend to fire up all the students and adults in the crowd. I am not sure why this is—maybe it is because they symbolize home and comfort, which is weird because football is probably the most uncomfortable sport you can play.
However, I believe I feel comfortable because I know
journey has unfortunately ended, I have developed an emotional bond with those bells, not because of their sound, but because I was with the people I would go to war for and with, and those bells were our drummer boys leading us into battle.
Weiers runs onto the field for the Touchdown Tailgate game. (Ernie Cutter)
Senior players and their friends huddle up for a photo after a home game against Charlotte Country Day. (Photo by Sara Weiers)
Weiers reps the pink out for a game against Charlotte Country Day School. (Photo by Angel Trimble)
Asher Weiers poses with his parents Ryan and Sara, and sister Maren ‘27, on Senior Night. (Photo by St John Photography)
By Ana Burk
Pulling Back the Curtain:
All the set’s a stage for community with Claire Addison & Grace Finn
tant when you’re trying to find your people,” Addison said.
Not only did she take Stagecraft as a class, but she also participated in tech for the shows that year. She was on run crew for “The Wizard of Oz” and lightboard operator for “Jungle Book.”
the Crew
Claire Addison became involved in theatre at Charlotte Latin almost immediately after she arrived. “On a whim, I decided to sign up for Stagecraft at the end of eighth grade,” Addison said.
Addison was part of the first Stagecraft class taught by Ryan Maloney, Charlotte Latin’s Technical Director. Addison and Maloney’s technical theatre program were freshmen at the same time.
Since this was Addison’s
first year at Charlotte Latin, she entered the school knowing almost no one. But in Stagecraft, she met a lot of upperclassmen and made really good friends. “I was able to find a community,” Addison said. The seniors sat together, ate dinner before the show, took care of everyone, etc., and Addison, the only freshman in the class that year, was dubbed “Freshie.”
“The teasing nickname made me feel that sense of belonging that is so impor-
Grace Finn: Sawdust & Solidarity
Grace Finn came to Charlotte Latin School in eighth grade and she became involved in tech theatre in tenth grade when she took Mr. Maloney’s Stagecraft class. She has worked in set building, backstage, lighting, sound and now stage management. Just a couple months ago, she stage managed
the Middle School play “Wind in the Willows” and going further back, she stage managed the Upper School fall play “Alkestis.” Some of her favorite memories have been working shows at Charlotte Latin. Finn intended to get involved in tech theatre during ninth grade because a lot of her friends were in theatre. At the end of ninth, when registering for classes she realized she never ended up being in any of the shows. She had an extra elective slot, so she signed up for Stagecraft. In the class, she learned set building, carpentry, how to use different tools and more. Finn really
Then the time approached for the Middle School musical, “Frozen.” Lila Rhee ‘23 was stage managing the show, but they still needed an assistant stage manager. Addison, who was friends with Rhee and wanted to learn more from her, said yes when she was asked to assist.
That was the moment when Addison’s stage managing journey began. Her sophomore year, Maloney told Addison that she would stage manage the Upper School fall play, “Our Town.” Despite her youth, Addison did a phenomenal job. But she didn’t stop there; she would then go on to stage manage “Pirates 2,” “The Bald Soprano,” “Mean Girls,” “Elf: The Musical” and more. If you ask anyone in the Latin theatre department, Addi-
enjoyed how practical the skills she learned in Stagecraft were. “It’s just good to know how to use a buzzsaw or a screw gun or how to apply epoxy,” Finn said. The small class was also a great community where everyone became good friends.
“My favorite thing that I’ve done in theatre is set building,” Finn said. Not only is it an extremely transferable skill but Finn also enjoys the social element of it. After a long day or doing academic work, to do tangible physical work is a great experience. Her favorite set she helped build was the giant, bright pink set for the 2024 Upper School spring musical “Mean Girls,” that included a turntable and TV screens.
Finn hopes to continue with woodworking and carpentry after she leaves Charlotte Latin school. She wants to learn to hand carve and wood turn and hopes to take woodshop classes in college as well.
When Finn reflects on what she's learned in tech theatre over the last four years, she thinks that hard work and collaboration are the important things she’s learned. “You can't build a
son is one of the best stage managers the program has ever had. She did this while being an amazing student, a leader of G.S.A., part of J.C.L. and part of theatre programs outside Charlotte Latin School.
At the Three Bone Theater Company, her first show outside of Latin was about finance. “It was a three-hour long show about finance that really touches your soul,” Addison said. She also participated in the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute program the summer after her sophomore year where she called spotlights for the show.
“That was when I switched from this being something I really enjoy to this is what I want to do with my life,” Addison said. It was the most intricate and complicated show she’s ever done, and working with professionals in professional style theatre was an profound experience.
Currently, Addison is the flight intern at the Jewish Community Center and her love for theatre continues to grow. Witnessing the actors’ vulnerability creates a deep connection between the people in the show. Not just with the actors, but for the tech crew as well. There are people you might never have been friends with otherwise but now count as friends. “The community you find is one of my favorite things about theatre,” Addison said.
Addison will attend Pace University where she plans to major in stage management.
set by yourself. You can’t even really build a set piece by yourself.” It’s very important to learn how to work together with other people. As well, Finn emphasized the importance of knowing how to work alone and for long periods of time. The type of work ethic one learns in tech theatre is important for life, especially in college. “Doing work for something you believe in and accomplishing something tangible is an incredible feeling,”
Claire Addison and BT Odoy at the Southeastern Summer Theater Institute in Hilton Head, 2023 working on spotlight cues. (Photo by Claire Addison)
AJ Jefferson ‘26, Finn and Addison outside of Anne’s Blackbox during “Alkestis.” (Photo by Claire Addison)
Addison building the sleigh for the Middle School musical “Elf Jr.” Photo by Claire Addison)
Claire Addison: The Glue Behind
Finn said. Finn will be attending Cornell University and plans to major in biology.
AJ Jefferson ‘26 and Finn pose on a set piece during “Alkestis” tech week. (Photo by Grace Finn)
The technical crew for the Upper School play “The Bald Soprano” pose together for a photo. (Photo by Grace Finn)
By Vincent VanHoose
Having a Senior Moment:
Class of 2025 teachers reflect on favorite memories with their seniors
As the class of 2025 prepares to collect their diplomas on commencement day and depart from Charlotte Latin School, we asked senior teachers to share some thoughts about them as they transitioned from twelfth graders to graduates.
Amy Zinn—AP US Government & Politics
“Though they are by far the overall quietest senior
the work done. There is not a lot of vocalizing or conversation about it, but they do it. They also all seem to be in good moods most of the time; they are polite, they say hi in the halls, and say thank you at the end of each class, and do it all with a smile.
My favorite memory with this senior class in AP US Gov was taking them to early vote in their first
class I have ever taught, and were the quietest when I taught many of them in their sophomore year, for the most part, they all put their heads down and get
election in Oct. 2024. They were so excited to go and even those who were not yet eighteen were there to support their friends and classmates.”
his personality just lifts my day. I played some practical jokes on him early in the year, and now that he is two months out from graduating, he gets me back by hiding my soda in class or doing something to my computer as he knows I’m horrible with the Mac and it will make me panic.
Jackson Coble is another student that I bonded with early, even though he plays baseball. He was just a good student that had good economic instincts and a joy to converse with. Just the other day, he thought he had failed my test. He wrote on the test, ‘If I get 20 or more right of those 24 MC, I’ll get you breakfast.’ He got 21 right, I didn’t. The
following Monday I walk into my office and sitting on my desk is a huge bag from Chick-fil-A and large soda. He said he got me the breakfast he eats every morning. I had taters before 1st period class, 4 Mini’s during 2nd, and the other four Mini’s for lunch and I just wondered, ‘Did I ever eat this much for breakfast?’
Finally, Graham Blanton sometimes goes to the bathroom right as I start to teach new material. When he did that several weeks ago, I walked over and put one of those sticker balls in his pencil/pen container. The next day as I started to teach, I said, ‘Graham, did you find that sticker ball I
Mary Fabian—AP Environmental Science:
“I teach 67 seniors in my AP Environmental Science classes, which is probably close to half the senior class! I also taught
about the senior class, but it happened three years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer and had to take spring semester off for my recovery and chemotherapy treatment. My ninth grade
many of them three years ago in physics. I admire how kind and collegial they are! I do random groupings for every activity and there is NO grumbling or complaining about who they are grouped with, they just get to work and everyone, for the most part, pitches in and works together. I love that! This memory IS
put in your pencil bag?’ ‘No you didn’t,’ he said, ‘Nothing was in there.’ While he’s looking, I start graphing on the board. He finds it and throws it at my back. I thought it was great and laughed hard, but I did tell him this: ‘I’ve known a lot of teachers over my years, and I wouldn’t try that with anyone else but me.’”
Chris Downing—AP Comparative Government & Politics
“What I admire most about the class of 2025 is their ability to have fun at a moment’s notice.
My favorite memory of the class of 2025 is when we made hand-turkeys the day before Thanksgiving break.”
Carol Webb-Gargagliano—AP Calculus AB
classes made me handwritten cards wishing me to get well and feel better. I still have them.”
David Hall—AP Macroeconomics & AP Microeconomics
“I often draw a picture or make a funny comment (I hope) on a student’s test when they perform really well. One day, Bridget Yu
got another 100% on her test and I wrote a comment that I ‘hoped’ she would find funny. While handing out the test and waiting for some kinda reaction and not immediately hearing it, I began to worry. Then she showed it to the two students to her left and right and they all laughed out loud. That made my day and it was only 8:42 a.m. Reese Morgan adopted a cat this year and I love animals period, but I really loves cats (they are easier). One day Reese started her test early, like the great student she is. She handed it in and before her class started, I drew a pretty good picture (for me) of a cat on her test asking for tuna. She finished the test during 6th period and handed it in. When I went to grade it that night, the cat was now asking for bonus points! She didn’t need it as she got a 98%.
I imagine Carson Clutter was the first student that I bonded with this year. He plays my old football running back position and he is a great student so my heart was already open, but
“I love that the seniors I’ve taught this year are such kind people and such earnest students. They are quieter than most groups I’ve had, but they are committed to doing good work and are willing to take on challenges.
One of my most memorable moments with these seniors is the way they embraced our Calculus caroling. It is a completely voluntary activity
and they were all on board! They even took things a step further by asking to perform at the community meeting! I won’t ever forget that moment!”
Jessie Sellner—AP Chemistry “I admire that these seniors work hard, and they support each other. They recognize the value of their community. When one of them needs notes or help with a problem, multiple folks will volunteer to help. When someone needs a laugh to brighten their day, there’s always one or more to be found. On the whole, they prefer to share the attention rather than be the center of it.
I love their big joy in little things going outside to catch snowflakes on the rare Charlotte snow event, getting excited to pick out a science sticker, getting the perfect pink endpoint in their first titration lab.”
Zinn’s AP Gov students get ready to vote in their first elections. (Photo by Amy Zinn)
Webb-Gargaglian’s AP Calc students work hard to prepare for their AP exam. (Photo by Lori Davis)
Hall’s AP Micro Econ students prep for their upcoming AP exam. (Photo by Lori Davis)
Downing’s AP Comp Gov students engage in review for their AP exam. (Photo by Lori Davis)
Seller’s AP Chem class lightens the stress of their pre-AP exam weeks with a selfie. (Photo by Jessie Sellner)
*As of May 14, 2025
Jessie Adams Clemson University
Claire Addison Pace University (New York City)
Taylor Aljian East Carolina University
Alison Archibald Wake Forest University
William Austin McGill University
Chanakya Ayinala University of Maryland
Graham Babcock Wake Forest University
Merritt Backerman Colorado School of Mines
Cade Baldecchi Tulane University
Jack Bancroft Virginia Tech
James Bange The University of Tennessee
Alex Bean
Auburn University
Camille Becker
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Rossi Bellavia
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Maya Belton College of Charleston
Graham Blanton United States Air Force Academy
Avery Booker Queens University of Charlotte
Julian Borkowski University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Zoe Bradley Tulane University
William Brawley East Carolina University
Keith Brunnemer University of Miami (FL)
Ashley Burbank Miamu University (OH)
Ana Burk Syracuse University
Stella Burke University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Will Calloway Clemson University
Austin Chapman University of Colorado Boulder
Andrew Chen Duke University
Stuart Christhilf Northeastern University
Grant Clark University of Miami (FL)
Norvy Clontz University of California: Berkeley
Carson Clutter The University of Tennessee
Jackson Coble Auburn University
Emma Grace Coble Fordham University
Darby Collins North Carolina State University
Lila Connor Georgetown University
Margaret Cotchett Auburn University
Casey Cupps-O’Sullivan Clemson University
Evan Curb University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Austin Degenhardt University of Georgia
Burke Denny University of Kentucky
Alana Duffy University of Colorado Boulder
Chuck Edwards Wofford College
Will Edwards Auburn University
Caroline Fahrney Texas Christian University
Elizabeth Farmer University of Alabama
Dylan Ferro Clemson University
Grace Finn Cornell University
Eleanor Fisher University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Claire Fleischer Miami University (OH)
Paige Fletcher Belmont University
Ginny Foster Northeastern University
Holden Freno Texas Christian University
Nishanth Gaddam Washington University in St. Louis
Natalie Gaslin Duke University
Natalia Gomez Syracuse University
Ny Green University of Kansas
Kate Griesser University of Miami (FL)
Syan Gulati University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lukas Haase Rutgers University (Camden)
Charlotte Latin
Jack Hall The University of Tennessee
Brayden Hampton Fairmont State University
Grayson Hanson Appalachian State University
Haddie Hanson North Carolina State University
Fiona Harper University of Colorado Boulder
Talia Hawa Roanoke College
Holdyn Hendley
Clemson University
Jenna Heustess Appalachian State University
Sloane Hobart University of Kentucky
Addie Hull University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Phillip Hullinger University of Georgia
Hannah Hurden
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Maggie Hyder Trinity College
Titus Ivory Wingate University
Latin School 2025
Lillian Jarmosevich Swarthmore College
Jackson Jarrell George Mason University
James Jones DePauw University
Ethan Khouri Washington and Lee University
Cordelia Kim Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
Jesse Kim East Carolina University
Ryan Kim University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Maggie Klingman University of Colorado Boulder
Maddie Larsh Auburn University
Will Larsh The University of Tennessee
Evy Linker Villanova University
Kate Livingston
Wake Forest University
Aidan Long University of Kentucky
Derin Lowe Dartmouth College
Alessandra Martin Northwestern University
Tyler McAndrews New York University
Jay McCracken The University of Tennessee
Andrew McDonald Boston College
Ryan McDonald University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Joe McGirt University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Brendan Miles U.S. Naval Academy
Madeline Miles University of Georgia
Riley Milligan St. Bonaventure University
Mallory Morgan Virginia Tech
Reese Morgan Temple University
Madison Nabors Auburn University
Laura Neligan Colgate University
Nathan Niles Appalachian State University
Nathan Obeng University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Rheaa Oberoi University of Toronto
Kenny Ogbata
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Griffin Orsinger University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign
Leslie Osorio
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dorothy Patterson Wake Forest University
Gavin Provencher The University of Tennessee
Ryan Purdom University of Richmond
Sydney Query Wake Forest University
Nicole Reed University of Georgia
William Reynolds Miami University (OH)
Will Robelen Clemson University
Wallace Roberts Virginia Tech
Catherine Roberts Elon University
Parker Rubinacci Emory University
Tucker Ruzicka Appalachian State University
Kavya Sagunarthy Lehigh University
Molly Schnyder Texas Christian University
Timothy Schwindt Appalachian State University
Charlie Shamblin Appalachian State University
Hudson Shoup Calvin University
Mari Sideris Northeastern University
Charlie Sidman University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Charlie Smith Virginia Tech
Jed Smith University of Colorado Boulder
Annie Smith East Carolina University
Bryce Spangler Denison University
HT Stinson Auburn University
Adam Stone Harvard University
Strachan University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Ainsley Sullivan Macalester College
Tyler Swartz Appalachian State University
Cameron Teal
Purdue University
Max Thompson University of Georgia
Anish Thota Oxford College of Emory University
Sydney Thune Emory University
David Tian University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bo Ughetta Purdue University
Asher Weiers Wofford College
Norah White
William & Mary
Athena Woodward University of Florida
Logan Yee
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bridget Yu Tufts University
Dariyah
Photo by St John Photography
In Flight with Hawk Triple Threats:
By Marks Gustafson
Q&A with three-sport athletes who dominate the courts and the fields
1. Out of your three seasonal sports, which one is your favorite to play and why?
For me, this is a very difficult question, but I would have to say volleyball. Volleyball is my favorite because I love the energy
that will hype up the whole team. Normally that means songs that make us dance and have fun with each other because I like to feel happy and free before I play a game. My favorite song is “Afraid to Feel” by LF SYSTEM.
6. What is your favorite sport to watch and why?
My favorite sport to watch would have to be basketball. Ever since I was little my family would always gather to watch UCONN women’s basketball and I have been hooked ever since. I also love watching March Madness and making brackets.
7. If you could travel any-
the sport brings, each point is intense. I love the action and emotions that come with going on runs and celebrating my teammates, because that is what ultimately makes volleyball the best, the team aspect of the sport.
where in the world to play one of your three seasonal sports, where would you go and why this particular place?
I would travel to Turks and Caicos to play beach volleyball on the beautiful sandy beaches of Turks and Caicos.
9. Outside of Charlotte Latin, do you play any clubs for these three seasonal sports?
I don’t play club for any of my sports outside of school, but I have done dance outside of school since I was three years old. It’s a nice contrast to all my athletics, and I love the people I do it with.
10. What skills do you possess that you believe separate you from everyone else in the sports you play?
I believe that my leadership skills, composure, and integrity is what separates me from everyone else in the sports I play. One of my strengths is welcoming underclassmen onto the team, and in the long run I feel that helps the team get closer and have more team chemistry.
11. What position do you play in volleyball and why do you enjoy it?
2. What has been your best experience during your career throughout volleyball in high school?
My best experience during my volleyball career would definitely be the quarterfinal road win against Rabun Gap my sophomore year. We were not favored to win being the lower seed, and having to travel 4 hours all the way to Georgia, but we were ready to win. We played an intense 5 set match in an electric environment that made the win feel even better.
3. How do you manage your time between academics and your three seasonal sports?
Time management has become something I’ve learned to master. For me a typical day means getting my homework done during activity period, free period, and lunch. I do not like the feeling of having a lot of work to do after practice so I sacrifice a lot of my free
I am the libero of the volleyball team. I love being the libero of the team because it is my role to communicate the most throughout the team to help others have success in where they place their hits and know where the ball is coming. Additionally, I love the rush of making a really good dig because it keeps my team in position to win the point.
12. Where do you like to eat before you have a volleyball, basketball or lacrosse game? Do you tend to eat after or before games?
Typically before games I like to eat fruit I bring from home, but on special occasions I love an acai bowl from Spoons or Ricos. I don’t like to eat a lot before games, but after games I like refueling with fruit and protein.
First
and social time at school to do homework so that I am less stressed overall.
4. What are your best achievements throughout high school playing these sports? Please explain how you earned this accomplishment?
Throughout high school sports, my best achievements have been my AllState Honor senior for volleyball, my All-Conference Honors junior and senior year for volleyball, and my All-Conference Honor for lacrosse junior year. Earning these accomplishments have come strictly from hard work, dedication and a strong support system of family and friends.
5. What is one really great tradition you share on one of your teams that you will remember fondly that you believe has bonded your team and made you stronger as a group and as individuals?
walk-off field goal.
One tradition that has bonded the basketball team has been singing the Austin and Ally theme song, “Can’t Do it Without You,” while banging on the locker room doors before every game. The meaning of the song holds true for the basketball team because we depend on each other so much as we are a really tight knit group.
6. What type of music do you like to listen to before playing one of your three seasonal sports? Do you have a favorite artist/song? Before games I typically like to listen to songs
2. Out of the three sports you play, which one would you choose if your life was on the line to win the game or race?
If my life was on the line I would choose football because I would have all my brothers fighting side by side with me.
3. In your opinion, what sport is the most enjoyable to play and why?
The most enjoyable sport to play is basketball because it’s only a handful of guys so I am able to become close with all of them and it makes the games so much more enjoyable.
4. For you, what sport is the most enjoyable to watch and why?
Joe McGirt:
many other people have because I set myself to a standard that can only be achieved through continuous hard work and dedication.
downs, fast breaks and finish lines
1. What is the most exciting memory you have of your football career?
Scoring a 50-yard touchdown vs Country Day and ending that game on a
I love watching March Madness, but my favorite has to be football because of how thrilling each and every play can be.
5. In the sports you play, what skills do you possess that separate you from other players?
I possess a drive that not
6. How do you manage your time between school academics and athletics?
I’m able to dedicate free time during the school day to getting my schoolwork done so that the load is lighter after practice.
7. What motivated you to join the varsity football
Archibald prepares to serve receive.
(Photo by @samhvisuals)
Archibald shoots a free throw against Charlotte Country Day School. (Photo by @melevisuals)
Alison Archibald: Serving up a steaming plate of victory
Archibald and Evie McMahan ‘24 embrace after Archibald scores a goal in the 2024 state championship game. (Photo by Dawn Collier)
McGirt anticipates the handoff in a 4x400 relay during a home meet. (Photo by Angel Trimble)
team junior year?
I was motivated to join the football team junior year because of the legacy and bonds that I saw form on and off the field.
8. What type of track events do you participate in and how do you out-perform the other competitors in order to win in these races?
I run the 100m, 200m, and 400m, and through strict practice schedules I’m able to put myself in a position where I am able to run my best times because of the preparation I put in.
9. Have you par-
ticipated in any fun summer camps for any of these sports?
If so, explain. When I was younger I loved going to summer camps for all sports, and in high school I worked with the varsity programs over the summer whether that be 7on7’s for football or team camps for basketball.
10. How does the basketball team bond compared to
to know your teammates better. Since volleyball is in the fall, I spend most of my summer attending volleyball camps and open gyms, which allows me to prepare for the season.
5. What is your favorite position in soccer and why do you enjoy this position? My favorite position in soccer is outside back because I am able to join the attack when on offense but I can also help the team get the ball out of the back.
6. What is your best
memory from the Charlotte Latin varsity basketball season?
My best memory from this year’s basketball season was beating Country day because they are our biggest rival and we had lost to them earlier in the season.
7. What was your most challenging moment in your volleyball high school career?
The most challenging moment in my high school career was getting our first conference win. My first season on the team was not the most successful, but the next year, once we got one of our first wins in a while, they just kept coming after that.
8. Out of these three seasonal sports, which one do you enjoy the most and why?
I don’t think I have a favorite sport. It depends on the season that I am in. Each team and each sport are very different, so the sport that I am playing at the time is normally my
Profiles
track and football? Are there any traditions the boys engage in that you will remember?
I find basketball and football very similar because I create bonds with the people I’m fighting with and for. However, for track it is more of an individual sport where these bonds aren’t necessary. I’ll always remember going to DB’s Tavern with the whole basketball team.
11. What is the best feeling you have ever had competing in the sports you play?
I love all the buzzer beaters or walk offs I’ve been a part of, but nothing feels better than flying down the track and edging out the opponents with a new PR. 12. Who inspired you the most to play so many sports during your 4 years at high school?
My dad inspired me to push myself to play lots of sports while balancing everything else in my life because he was able to do it when he was in highschool and he is a huge role model in my life.
13. If you were to choose one super power to enhance your ability to win in your three sports, what would you choose and why this power?
I would have to choose
super speed because speed is such a crucial and versatile aspect in all of my sports.
to play sports. Growing up, I was always outside throwing a ball or driving with him from practice to
Wallace Roberts: Throwing in everything but the towel
1. If you could have dinner with one famous person from your three seasonal sports, who would it be, and what would you talk to them about?
I would have dinner with Steph Curry. I would talk to him about how he continuously has fun on the court and was able to be as good as he is now. When I watch him play he always looks like he is having a good time and is confident.
2. What was your favorite experience for playing with the Charlotte Latin varsity soccer team throughout your high school career?
One of my all-time favorite moments would be winning the state championship in my sophomore year. Winning made me feel connected to the team and made us feel very accomplished.
3. Is there anybody in your life that inspired you to play soccer, volleyball, or basketball? If so, explain their inspirations?
My dad has inspired me
practice. He is always very encouraging and wants me to succeed.
4. How do you spend your summers preparing for the next year’s three seasonal sports? Do you do any Charlotte Latin workouts for any particular sport? During the summer, I try to make it to as many open gyms as possible in order to get ready for the upcoming season. If available, I try to make it to the team camps because it is a good way to improve your skills and get
favorite.
9. How do you manage your time between academics and athletics?
Through the years I have gotten better at managing my time between schoolwork in sports. I have learned to be productive in the times that I have for my school work and to communicate with my teachers if it is ever too much.
10. What type of music do you like to listen to before playing one of your three
seasonal sports? Do you have a favorite artist/song that helps motivate you to perform at your best?
Before games we listen to all types of music but mainly songs that will get us hype and focused before we play.
11. If you could travel back in time to watch a sporting event what would it be and why?
If I could rewatch a sporting event that I played in I would rewatch our
quarter final volleyball game against Rabun Gap. It was an intense 5 set match that ended in our upset win.
12. If you were given the option to enhance your physical ability with either strength or speed which one would you choose and why?
I would choose strength because I feel like I am already fast and the addition of more strength would make me a better player.
McGirt looks over to Coach Berger for the next play call. (Photo by griffinz_23)
Roberts warms up before a big rivalry game at Charlotte Country Day School. (Photo by @ melevisuals)
Roberts prepares to throw in the ball at a Latin soccer game. (Photo by @swagnerphotos)
Roberts prepares to serve in a match at Charlotte Country Day School. (Photo by Wallace Roberts)
McGirt makes defenders miss with a sharp jump cut. (Photo by Ernest Cutter)
By Jacob Filpi & Caroline Fahrney
Land & Sea:
Surf & turf across Charlotte Latin
It’s undeniable that Hawk athletes are extremely talented. It’s also true their talents reflect a versatility that is the envy of schools everywhere. Whether on Latin’s own fields or engaging in sports near and far, Latin athletes are leaving their marks and making our community
proud on the land and on the water.
Alana Duffy began her career in horseback riding as a little girl through her mom who also rode horses.
“I first did summer camps and then I got hooked.”
Duffy has been riding horses ever since that first camp. Recently, she com-
peted in horse shows that required traveling hours away to participate. Duffy used to compete in at least two horse shows a month. These shows included three courses with events for the exhibitors to put their horses through. At one of these shows, Alana accomplished one of her most advanced
movements, which was a turn on the foreheads. This requires that the horse’s front two legs stand still while the back legs move around and switch directions.
One of Duffy’s fondest memories of riding comes from a show in which she felt she performed her best. “There was one time at a show when my trainer and I, at the end of the show, had the biggest hug because this was the first time I stayed consistent in everything I was doing. I wasn’t a trainwreck one course and perfect at the next.”
While Alana loves to compete with her horse, she also enjoys simply riding for pleasure and enjoying time on her horse and her surroundings. “Riding in the arena is the sport of horseback riding, and riding around trails is the
hobby of riding,” Duffy said.
Alana’s favorite horse to ride is either a Dutch or a German warmblood due to their good temperament and their athleticism. This includes Duffy’s personal horse, whose name is Dominga. Dominga and Duffy have been partners for the past four years. “She’s super sassy. She’s like a total drama queen,” Duffy said. Dominga and Duffy get along very well outside of the stables when Duffy is riding Dominga. But tensions flare when the two are in the stalls together. “She’s very particular. She has her space and her stall, and she doesn’t like me coming in there.”
To take care of Dominga, Duffy consistently uses preventive hoof treatments. There are some challenges to this sport other than perfecting maneuvers and movements. “The most challenging part is working with a partner that you can’t communicate with by talking. It’s all non verbal,” Duffy said.
Despite this challenge, Duffy overcomes such obstacles by staying calm and remaining patient. Whenever she and Dominga and fail to communicate well, she steps off the horse,
Norvy Clontz takes position to dive during a meet. (Photo by Jack Spitzer)
Yee and teammates win team big after competing in the USA Diving Junior Regional Championships at UNC-Chapel Hill, qualifying for Zones. (Photo by Coach Aaron Hintz)
gathers herself, then gets back on and makes sure her legs, hands and body positions are very clear so she can indicate to Dominga what she is trying to do. Additionally, another challenge and surprise of horseback riding is that the sport is year round, which can present challenges. “Rain or shine, we ride,” Duffy said.
Alana loves to ride because it makes her feel as if the world is standing still. All of her thoughts are released, and it’s simply her and her best friend doing what they love.
Austin Chapman began his climbing career at the end of his sophomore year, Chapman decided he wanted to pursue a new athletic endeavor and thought climbing would be fun, so he signed up and quickly became obsessed. Throughout his time climbing, Chapman has discovered some of the most challenging aspects of climbing. One of the most challenging features of the sports is endurance since climbing for a long time can exhaust the climber’s legs and arms, so continuing on is very challenging.
Chapmans’ climbs have include a few competitions, but he mainly climbs for fun. His competitions consisted of about 300 people at climbing gyms around Charlotte, and judges watch and see who can complete the routes in the least amount of time. During his climbing career, the most challenging run Chapman has completed is a V8. “A V8 is a run made for the more advanced climbing since it’s a higher grade of climbing.”
Chapman dreams of climbing in British Columbia, but for now, his favorite spot to climb outdoors is at Grandfather Mountain. However, Chapman has traveled to engage in this sport—the most challenging place he’s ever climbed was at Yosemite National Park. Chapman also loves it because it can be a very social sport. He
Profiles
has made many friends going to the gyms, and he also enjoys the challenges. “It’s very nice to be able to improve at something everyday,” Chapman said. Gavin Provencher was inspired to ski early on in his life. Provencher’s brother and father are both avid
and close to bodies of water.
The most challenging parts of this sport, in Provencher’s opinion, are the terrain parks due to the tricks. Along with terrain parks, Provencher does not enjoy skiing on moguls. He would much prefer to ski on fresh powder snow, or while it is actively snowing. Provencher loves to ski because it’s relaxing, and it gives him the opportunity to explore new places.
Provencher loves to ski with other people, especially his best friend Jack Hall. Each year the two boys take a trip out west together with one of their families. “It has become a tradition,” Provencher said.
Jack Hall’s snowboarding career began on his family trip to Mammoth, California about eight years ago. Hall’s father used to snowboard and urged him to also give it a try. Hall
explained the only way to get to the mountain was to fly to California, then drive seven hours to the mountain, so it was very rewarding when they finally arrived. To this day, Mammoth is still Hall’s favorite place to snowboard. But his dream location to snowboard is either Jackson Hole, Wyoming or the Swiss Alps.
Hall prefers to snowboard with people, especial-
skiers, and when he was twelve-years-old, they got him to join in. Provencher’s first time skiing was during a family trip to Beech Mountain, North Carolina. “My dad had a backpack on his back that had a leash on it so I wouldn’t ski away.”
However, Provencher’s
ly Gavin Provencher. “The best part of snowboarding is being with people because it builds a community.”
Hall said the most challenging part of snowboarding is not getting frustrated. “If you fall and keep getting frustrated then you will fall more often,” Hall said.
During his time snow-
skiing expanded much farther than North Carolina. His favorite place to ski is Beaver Creek, Colorado, because of its beauty, and it’s somewhere his family spends a lot of time. Provencher’s dream place to ski is Norway because he would be able to ski down
boarding, the most advanced trick Hall has completed is a back flip. Whether they compete or participate for pleasure, these Hawks push the limits of what their bodies can accomplish by land or by sea. They have found joy in athleticism and in sharing the love with others and with our community.
Chapman climbs in the mountains. (Photo by Priscilla Chapman)
Ian Provencher ‘23, Gavin Provencher ‘23 and Jack Hall at Beaver Creek, CO. (Photo by Jennifer Provencher)
By Addie Speece
Life in the Heart of an Animal:
Darby Collins doesn’t horse around when it comes to life with a zoo
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you woke up one day and were living amongst hundreds of animals? Well, for Darby Collins, that's her everyday
and feeding that is needed outside.
Some of Collins’ other chores consist of making sure the animals get the proper enrichment that they would normally receive in the wild. “We try to make sure they have toys and activities to enrich them as they would if they were still in the wild.” Collins said. She also helps to make sure stays healthy. “I help check their health, like their weight and make sure any animals get the medicine or treatments they need to keep them healthy, and of course happy,” Collins said. On some occasions she does tours and
life. Although at first unintentional, Collins resides in a zoo with 430 animals, including a vast variety of 98 species.
Having access to 100
animal encounters that take place at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Although it is hard work, Collins enjoys it.
Maintaining the zoo is a labor of love, and with so many varieties of animals, it is never boring. Collins' zoo includes spider monkeys (Collins’ favorite), zebras, camels, capybaras, armadillos, lemurs and kangaroos. These are only a few of the 98 species the property houses. Housing these animals requires extensive amounts of space, which thankfully, the Collins family has. The property is divided into two areas, the farm and the zoo site. The farm is made of 100 acres of open pastures containing the family's equine animals. Although the farm is the larger of the two properties, Collins and her family live on the safari site. The layout of the property consists of a rectangular-shaped building, alongside an L-shape of multiple buildings, surrounded by all of the safari animals. “Imagine a big Lshape of a ton of buildings with animals on basically every side. That's the safari,” Collins said.
Living with Collins in her home is her favorite
acres of land gave Collins’ mother, Jennifer Collins, the ability to begin this journey by rescuing a few horses, which then led to hundreds of others. Jennifer Collins then expanded her efforts, which required acquiring a USDA license.
“She started with a few animals, and then decided to expand and get her USDA license to keep the zoo growing,” Darby Collins said.
Under the belief that everything should have a pair, the zoo quickly grew as each animal came in and received its companion.
“We believe that every animal needs a pair, so when one comes in, you can expect another to come join,” Darby Collins said. While originally the intent of the zoo was to rescue animals, as it expanded, animals were also brought in for educational purposes.
Running a zoo is no easy feat, but Collins and her family put in the work to make sure the animals are happy, as this is their passion. While many teens her age are focused on their
animal, her spider monkey named April. April is about one-year-old, still young relative to other monkeys. Due to her young age, most monkeys at this time are still reliant on their mothers who, in April's eyes, is Collins. “She sees me as her mother since I’ve been with her since she was so young,” Collins said. Although April is her favorite animal overall, Collins would still consider monkeys her favorite animal on the property. While they can be infuriating at times by swinging from walls and having a mind of their own with limited ability to communicate, Collins said you can never be bored around the monkeys. “I’ll definitely have to make sure I come back to visit her a ton so that she doesn’t lose our bond, because if I’m gone for too long, there's a chance she’ll stop seeing me as her mother,” Collins said.
To support the animals and all of their demanding needs, Collins' mother works two jobs along with conducting tours of the zoo twice a day to bring in some revenue. “No one really realizes how much work goes into it behind the scenes
schoolwork and upcoming college experiences, Collins is working to balance the rigors of schoolwork and the demands of the zoo.
“Every morning I wake up early to finish my morning chores and see the animals and care for them before I leave for school at 6:30,” Collins said.
Since the young babies live in the house with Collins and her family, they are her main focus on a school morning. A typical early morning chore for Collins and her mother is feeding before it's time to head to school. Her focus right now? Giving the sheep their bottles in the morning. “Right now we have sheep in the house, and it’s my responsibility to give them their bottles,” Collins said.
After a long day of school, Collins is happy to return home to spend some quality time with her animals. “After school I come home and go out to feed the animals and spend time with the animals in the house,” Collins said. It’s her responsibility to make sure they get fed. As Col-
and everything. It's actually a lot,” Collins said. Beyond all of this is hard work, their passion makes it worth it. However, even though the zoo is rewarding, the work isn’t the hardest part. For Collins, that is when animals die. Although this is hard for her, she has learned to recognize that death is natural and no matter what, she and her family will do everything they can to help the animals. “It’s definitely hard to watch some of the animals die, but I’ve learned to cope with it over time. I’ve been able to accept that death is natural and no matter what, we will do everything we can to help the animals,” Collins said. As she prepares to leave for NC State, Collins already has her plans laid out. She wants to come back and visit every other weekend to
lins spends most of her day at school, the zoo has zookeepers who are able to do most of the work while she’s away. “We do have zookeepers who are able to get work done while I’m gone and help around the zoo since it is a lot of work,” Collins said.
Although school consumes most of her time, during the summer months, Collins still gets up early to feed all of her animals that take bottles. “I generally spend all day at the zoo, but I don’t really think of it as working though so I don’t mind,” Collins said. After making sure they are fed, she does all of the cleaning
see the animals and make sure they won't forget her. Although it will be a change on the property, she's certain that her parents and the zookeepers will do a great job taking care of everything while she is away. Collins feels confident she will major in animal science and pre-veterinary science. If you want to stay caught up on what's happening on the Collins property, make sure to go follow their Instagram @ darbyacresfarmandsafari.
Darby Collins and her spider monkey April (who was six months old at the time of this photo). All of Collins’ photos were taken at Darby Acres Farm and Safari. (Photos by Darby Acres Farm and Safari)
Two capybaras (the larger one is the mother named Cappuccino and her two babies) in March of 2024.
Collins in 2021 with a baby lamb.
Three kangaroos named Gabbie, Griffin and Rhett enjoy their time at Darby Acres Farm and Safari in early spring of 2023.
By Benjamin Goldman
Not So Little Drummer Boys:
Two seniors detail their journeys through the world of percussion
Latin boasts two exceptionally talented drummers from very different backgrounds walking their halls. Austin Degenhardt and William Austin both started out playing piano but quickly transitioned from the harmonious melodies of the keys to the banging crashes of the drums.
Degenhardt picked up the drums at eight-yearsold. Degenhardt said, “I was like, this sucks, I hate it, I can’t do it, it’s too hard, I want to try drums.”
Despite some initial resistance from his mom, Degenhardt quickly persuaded her. His interest in drums came from his love of rock music, and though his music taste may have changed, his passion for drumming never wavered.
Though many people try the drums, not many throw themselves into the instrument as Degenhardt did. Initially it was just a hobby, but by his freshman year of high school he decided he would start to take drumming seriously. “Instead of just playing songs when I practiced, I started to do
things that would actually make me better. Then I started to see a lot of progress,” Degenhardt said. His drive to be the best catalyzed his shift into treating the drums as an art form.
Degenhardt said, “I don’t like being bad at things, so when I realized I still wasn’t a great drummer after such a long time, I told myself that I needed to fix that. I’m not that athletic, so, if I’m going to have a chance to be good at something, this is it, and I want to be really good.”
Degenhardt had some small performances when he was little, but his first real performance came in his freshman year. Despite some initial stage fright, Degenhardt delivered. “I remember being so nervous before going on. My heart was pounding and I was shaking. It had been so long since I had performed but I sat down and the first song we played was ‘Creeping Death’ by Metallica. I just remember after the first six notes all the stage fright went away. It was definitely one of my more memorable
experiences.”
He constantly improves and tries new things— his favorite part of drumming. “It’s really rewarding seeing progress, for example if you can’t play
you can play, it’s like, okay, I didn’t realize I actually got better that quickly.”
As for William Austin, he didn’t pick up the drums until
he was fifteen years old. He joined band at school and was put on percussion. This decision led him to become curious about the rest of the drums, and he got an electric drum set a little while later. However, his drumming didn’t truly pick up until Henry Anglemyer ‘27 asked if he wanted to start a band. That band is The Boat Dogs, Latin’s legendary local group that
quickly gained massive support from the student body. Austin said, “At that point, I really started to lock in on drumming.” Austin took to drumming quickly. The reason for that? “Wanting to be the one to not mess up is very motivating.” Nothing demonstrates this more effectively than the Boat Dogs’ first performance. “It was a small house party, and our
something you know one day and then you try to play it again six months later and
singer couldn’t make it. So, I actually ended up singing our first song, which was ‘House of the Rising Sun,’ and it wasn’t great, but we had a lot of fun and no one really seemed to care.”
After that performance, his stage fright was gone. Austin said, “I realized that if I can sing in front of people I shouldn’t be nervous just playing my instrument.”
Through drumming, both have created a whole new community of friends. Degenhardt said, “Some of my best friends are people I’ve played in bands with. There are some people I’ve known since I was young, but I didn’t actually become super close with them until I got in a band with them.” Austin, meanwhile, has become super-tight with all the members of The Boat Dogs. Austin said, “We rehearse every week at least, sometimes more, and always hang out after performances. It would’ve been hard not to become close friends with everyone.”
In the loud banging of the magical instrument that is the drums, these seniors have found their happy place.
The Boat Dogs (left to right: Henry Anglemyer ‘27, Graham Davis ‘27, Kate Griesser ‘25, Erik Anglemyer ‘27 and William Austin) jam out at The House That Rocks in front of all their biggest fans. (Photo by Wayne St John)
Degenhardt smiles while getting ready for a show at the Double Door Inn. Degenhardt excitedly plays his first drum kit he just opened for his birthday. (Photos by Austin Degenhardt)
In the top photo, Degenhardt adjusts IEM’s during a show at Amos’ Southend, then in the bottom photo looks out to the crowd. (Photos by Austin Degenhardt)
Austin locks in on his drumming during a Boat Dogs gig at The House That Rocks. (Photo by Wayne St John)
Profiles 20
By Ana Burk
Inspiring Service & Allyship:
How the class of 2025 DEI club leaders hope to leave their marks on Latin
wide range of identities and experiences. For these class of 2025 diversity group leaders, their participation in those groups has not only helped to shape their years at Latin but also has encouraged others to get involved in these important initiatives, as well.
The mission of Charlotte Latin’s Diversity and Alliance Groups is to foster individual growth and civility by inspiring students to learn, encouraging them to serve, and providing meaningful opportunities for personal development. The student-led Diversity Club and Alliance Groups embody this mission by promoting awareness, inclusion, and respect for all individuals, across a
provide support to students so they don’t feel alone in their identity. “The most important thing right now is community and supporting each other,” Hasse said. Hasse’s passion for helping others is evident in all aspects of his life. He’s interested in medicine, specifically in the field of psychiatry and science, and plans to major in veterinary medicine, biology or psychology in college.
Alessandra Martin started at Charlotte Latin School in fourth grade, moved back to New York
Maya Belton came to Charlotte Latin in sixth grade. She found an incredible community by attending Girl Up meetings and said how that inspired her to apply to become a leader. Belton was chosen to become a leader in her senior year. Belton was also a part of the Bloom Bag Project and this year, she and the other leaders worked together to create an interconnected community with Girl Up. They had a collaboration with Black Student Alliance (BSA) for Black History Month where they discussed Black women through history and the intersectionality between being a woman and also Black identity. They held a meeting for National Women’s Friendship Day,
for Middle School and then returned freshman year. Martin’s first language is Spanish and she grew up speaking it. She said when she started elementary school, she found herself hiding that part of her identity. But in high school as she started attending H.L.S.A meetings, she found a community and started being proud of her heritage and background. “H.L.S.A. gave me a place to come into my heritage,” Martin said.
Martin started to understand different aspects of her culture and at the end of her sophomore year, she applied to be a H.L.S.A. leader. She started as a junior leader with a smaller (but no less impactful) role in the club. She and past leaders Sofia Cartafalsa ‘24 and Emy Pacheco Ramirez ‘24 led a community where they talked about Hispanic Heritage Month. Being able to talk about her heritage in front of so many students was truly meaningful to Martin, not only because she had spent so much time hiding her identity and now was proudly showcasing it but also because she was able to help other students
had meetings to talk about influential women and role models and everything in between. “Being able to have these conversations in a room full of women is incredibly powerful,” Belton said. Belton went above and beyond to empower the women of Charlotte Latin School. “There is a community for Latin girls and if you’re trying to find your place, Girl Up is an amazing place to start,” Belton said. Belton will attend the College of Charleston where she plans to major in biology on the pre-med track.
Logan Yee came to Charlotte Latin School in fifth grade. She started attending Girl Up meetings in her sophomore year, where she met new people and built close relationships with people she wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to know without Girl Up connecting them. Yee was chosen to be a leader in her junior year. During that year, she and the other leaders started the Bloom Bag Project. They wrote a project proposal and submitted it to
find a community. This year, she became the only senior leader. She and her co-leader, Luca Bravo ‘26, have done a tremendous job of creating community at Charlotte Latin. They started the year with a record-high number of attendees at their first meeting and shared Spanish cuisine with so many people. “I really wanted to create a space where everyone could come and explore Hispanic culture so they wouldn’t feel alone like I was,” Martin said. Martin has worked incredibly hard to continue the legacy of H.L.S.A. and make a space where no one has to hide any part of themselves. Martin will attend Northwestern University and plans to major in biology on the pre-med track.
Chanakya Ayinala came to Charlotte Latin School in ninth grade. As a member of Indian Student Alliance (I.S.A) he was involved in helping with their annual presentation on Diwali. During the summer before senior year, Nidhie Dhiman, Leadership Assistant, invited him to become a leader of I.S.A . His culture is a big part of who Ayinala
the school for a grant and worked with other teachers and the nurses to make this possible. They made cards and put together period packs to support the Middle School students. Yee and the other leaders have worked incredibly hard to foster a sense of community in grades K-12. “Girl Up truly emphasizes the community that’s there,” Yee said. A lot of individuals who attended Girl Up meetings are freshmen trying to find a community, so Yee’s work with Girl Up gives them the opportunity to get to know older girls and find a safe space to open up and learn. Yee will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Lukas Haase has attended Charlotte Latin School since third grade. Haase said growing up he often found it extremely difficult to find anyone that he could relate to as a transgender student. Therefore, he felt isolated for almost six years until he reached high school. But in high school, he met friends who shared aspects of his identity and made some of his favorite memories at Charlotte Latin School with them. Haase became a leader of Latin’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (G.S.A.) as a senior. “I want to be a good role model for other transgender students because if I had a G.S.A. growing up and had met a student as open in the way that I want to be, it would have meant a lot,” Haase said. With the other G.S.A leaders (Claire Addison ‘25, Ramona Cigler ‘26, Michaela Maldfeld ‘27), Haase has been working to help other students feel seen and less alone. The G.S.A leaders have been working to launch a G.S.A. in the Middle School to
is, and he truly enjoys sharing it with the Charlotte Latin community. “I hope people see their culture as something not to push away, but rather something to embrace because it helps build a sense of identity for people.” Ayinala has worked hard to highlight Indian culture and identity in the Charlotte Latin community and by doing this, he has brought the community closer together.
Nathan Obeng came to Charlotte Latin School in seventh grade. Some of his favorite memories from his time at Latin are Middle School field trips, football games and spending time with his friends. One of the things Obeng has done that he is most proud of during his time as a Black Student Alliance (B.S.A.) leader is their most recent M.L.K. Day
community meeting. To prepare for that meeting Obeng and the other leaders went through all the yearbooks since 1970 to find the first Black teacher and share the history of Black students and faculty at Charlotte Latin School. Obeng became a B.S.A. leader to help represent the Black community at Charlotte Latin, to speak out and help others in his community. “I hope to help others manage America as a Black person, even if it’s just one or two people,” Obeng said. Obeng has done so much during his time at Charlotte Latin to make the experience for other Black students better and he plans to continue with this in college. Obeng will be attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the fall and plans to major in biology, on the pre-med track.
Luca Bravo ‘26 and Alessandra Martin ‘25, taking a picture after preparation for their first meeting of the school year. (Photo by Vernette Rucker)
Ethan Worrell ‘26, Myles Gathers ‘26, Lewawit Alemu ‘26 and Nathan Obeng ‘25 at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King assembly (Photo by Charlotte Latin Marketing and Communications).
Lukas Haase and Dr. Topher Gee hold Haase’s frogs at a G.S.A. meeting. (Photo by Lukas Haase)
Maya Belton, Logan Yee and Kate Warner at the Girl Up Meeting for National Women’s Friendhsip Day.
(Photo by @CLSGirlUp
By Andrew Stravino
The Prescription for Success: These seniors put in the hours—now they’re off to heal the world
Nishanth Gaddam and Adam Stone have both received significant recognition in the field of medicine, making all Hawks proud. Neither Gaddam nor Stone have decided on what college they will attend, however Nishanth is leaning toward Economics or neuroscience, with a minor in philosophy, and Stone is planning on going into engineering and computer science. Both Gaddam and Stone have spent their high school years working hard to help others, embodying the core values of Charlotte Latin School.
Gaddam competed in the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) epidemiology event, which focused on studying disease patterns, outbreak investigations and public health trends. Through lots of hard work and an unrelenting drive to help people, Gaddam was rewarded for his remarkable results, which focused on studying disease patterns, outbreak investigations, and public health trends. It involved
using statistics, analyzing risk factors and planning outbreak responses. This year marks his third year in the club, which he worked hard to create. This is not the only work that Gaddam does in the field of medicine; he also spends copious amounts of time outside of school. Inspired by his mother who works as a pediatrician, he really enjoys working with children. “Any help they get can have a huge impact on their future,” Gaddam said.
Gaddam’s mother, who works with children in a rural area in South Carolina, definitely instills in him a desire to give back. In much of Gaddam’s work, he tries to emulate her actions and be just like her.
After Gaddam graduates Latin, he hopes to follow her footsteps into medicine. Gaddam is most interested in drug development and figuring out chemical structures with high potential to improve patient health and how those drugs can be made more accessible through economic policy. The biggest piece of advice Gaddam has for younger people who are interested in going into medicine is
to start off in fields that are less common and lacking in personnel. “There are many ways to help people. Maybe it is just local or global. There are always ways that you can help people, whether it be helping your cousin with a small injury, or doing something that changes the world.”
Stone, who hopes to venture into the world of engineering, also plans to help people with his work. Stone created the Disability Forewarning System, an assistive technology that helps de-escalate interactions between drivers with severe Tourette Syndrome and police officers at a traffic stop. This project won Fab Academy’s “Best Assistive Technology Award.” The device consists of a display that suction-cups to the rearwindow of a car and a button in the driver-side cup holder. When the driver presses the button, the display moves down a screen that flashes the message “Driver Has Tourette Syndrome.” Stone is working hard to try and distribute this device to drivers with Tourette Syndrome at an affordable cost. Stone found that his love for engineering
has left him with a strong desire to solve problems in his everyday life, which is one of the main reasons he persevered so hard to solve the issue of Tourette drivers conflicting with police officers. Another reason for his motivation is Heather Ramsey, the Tourette Association of America’s Director of Education, Support & Public Policy and leader of the North and South Carolina Chapters of the Tourette Association of America. Stone said, “I was inspired by her incredible commitment to supporting others in the Tourette community in creative ways.”
Stone is thankful for having great mentors who have been able to help him throughout creating this project. He believes that connecting with a network of mentors who share your vision and have the tools to help you bring it to life can provide an amazing opportunity to anyone wanting to enter
the research field. Stone is interested in learning more about creating assistive technologies to help people, especially those who are neurodivergent, embodying what it truly means to be a Latin Hawk; working hard to help others.
Stone cites his career in engineering coming from his curiosity and a desire to understand how and
why things work, whether it is a mechanical system or a social interaction that can lead to a dangerous situation. Stone said his advice for others entering the fields of science and research is to try and create connections, find caring mentors, stay curious and seek out problems and iss and look for ways to solve them.
Adam Stone pictured with his award-winning disability forewarning system. (Photo by Adam Stone)
Jordan Ramesh ‘27, Sia Gullapalli ‘27 and Nishanth Gaddam ‘25 shown at the HOSA’s Epidemiology event. (Photo by Nishanth Gaddam)
Profiles 22
By: Sophia Smith
Seniors Get Social:
Stories, smiles & sweet memories of the class of 2025
Senior girls show off their matching Converse sneakers and playful backpacks at the beginning of the school year. (Photo by Athena Woodward)
Jackson Coble, Brayden Hampton and Avery Booker document their last Sadie’s. (Photo by Brayden Hampton)
Ny Green, Margaret Cotchett and Hannah Hurden celebrate senior night for their cheer team.
(Photo by Margaret Cotchett)
Cordelia Kim, Claire Fleischer, Maya Belton and Ashley Burbank get ready for their final Sadie Hawkins Dance. (Photo by Ashley Burbank)
Madison Nabors and Sydney Query celebrate the senior girls’ win for the Powderpuff game. (Photo by Sydney Query)
Senior boys line up, boutonniere pinned in place, for their last homecoming. (Photo by Asher Weiers)
Profiles
Tyler McAndrews, Charlie Sidman, Syan Gulati, and Jay McCracken posing for their senior Sadies. (Photo by Charlie Sidman)
Caroline Fahrney, Eleanor Fisher, and Casey Cupps O’Sullivan go all-in with school spirit before a Hawk football game.
(Photo by Caroline Fahrney)
Showing off their tiaras, pink boas and spirit posters, senior girls commemorate their field hockey senior night. (Photo by Sydney Query)
Sharp-dressed men Will Larsh, Carson Clutter, James Bange mark their 2025 prom night with a group photo. (Photo by Will Larsh)
Enjoying a colorful moment before the Sadie Hawkins Dance, senior girls display a rainbow of beautiful dresses. (Photo by Sydney Query)
Chanakya Ayinala, HT Stinson, Jackson Coble and Charlie Sidman proudly gown up for the first time as official seniors during convocation 2025.
(Photo by Chanakya Ayinala)
Letter from the Editors 24
From Our Multi-Grade Pages to Your College Chapters:
By Ana Burk, Benjamin Goldman & Sophia Smith
To the Class of 2025:
When we all first signed up for journalism, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.
We experienced a lot of changes: moving classrooms and buildings, going from one to two different sections, then growing into a single, twenty-two person class. Thanks to the Parents’ Council, we found ourselves the recipients of amazing new chairs that actually went up-and-down (but then then lost our precious—although admittedly mittedly vintage—carpet, much to Mrs. Davis’ excitement).
Over the course of three and four years, we’ve acquired quite a bit of knowledge from Mrs. Davis’ wise words, including, but not limited to the following:
“Jacob did the impossible: he broke InDesign.”
“Katherine, stop screaming.”
“Ben, lead with kindness.”
“Ana, check your email.”
“Sophia, you have to write about something other than Taylor Swift.”
“I do love Anderson
Cooper.”
Seniors, make community your legacy
And finally, “ZESTY TITLES, FOLKS!”
Thinking back to our freshman years, we’ve come a long way. There was a lot of trial and error before we found our perfect balance. Ben and Sophia’s freshman year and Ana’s sophomore year, journalism was a twosection year. As a new student, Sophia thought that it was a nice, quiet transition and an easy way to get to know upperclassmen. The next year, however, all bets were off—the rising seniors had requested merging the two sections so the “journalism fam” could be together, and it was a bit of a culture shock for the kids coming from the smaller, younger section. We also did have a really big group of bonded seniors that year, and when they graduated, we missed so much of their personalities and fun contributions to our class. Most of them had been in the class since freshman year, and they added so much to our community. This was a rebuilding year for our group, and our class was smaller, but we made up
leadership, that’s how this journalism class has continued to feel: homelike. That created a precedent for him to try and continue their guidance, albeit through different methods, such as insults, metaphorical swirlies, and stealing lunch money (at least in his mind).
In journalism, everyone shares this unique experience where we get to connect with and learn alongside our peers in all four grades. Every year we say goodbye to our seniors in May and then, when we return in August, we get to welcome new students into our own mini-community that we’ve built here in room 720. That’s what is so
special about Latin—we’re given the opportunity to form lasting relationships and create memories within each class that we know we’ll always remember. By the time we graduate, we will have taken this class for four years. While the experience of being part of an activity for the entirety of your high school experience is usually limited to sports or extracurricular activities, being in journalism is an exception to that rule. We started our journey being welcomed into the class by that year's seniors, and now we are weeks away from either being seniors or graduating and becoming a college freshman.
for it with some potentially loud conversations across the room that we’re sure Mrs. Davis appreciated. We had so many new faces this year, and was wonderful. When Ana reflected on going to college, she obviously thought about starting over again. She’ll leave behind a community she had been a part of for four years. Not just journalism, but Charlotte Latin, as well. So will the entire senior class. Some of you have even been attending Latin since TK. As graduation approaches, we know you
will all reflect on more and more on your experiences. There's a lot that seniors leave behind as you go off to college in the fall, but there's also plenty to look forward to.
Coming into journalism freshman year, Ben didn’t really know anyone since most of the other students were older than he was. Of course, as a young, naive freshman, this caused him some anxiety, thinking he wouldn’t have friends or would be the odd man out—a silly idea, given how he is universally loved for
Having three editors this year has been nice because we have all learned together along the way. For Sophia, it is really weird to think that she and Ben will be the senior editors next year, because she remembers being the scared new freshman like it was yesterday. She was so excited to become an editor and can't wait to welcome the new freshmen next year to our journalism community. Journalism has given all of us editors so much; we hope that we can at least begin to give back to the community that impacted us so positively over the years.
Class time at Latin is an opportunity for community. We often put up barriers between grade levels, but all you need to break them down is a few leaders who are willing to reach out, Anderson Cooper (sorry, that was Mrs. Davis) and a little bit of craziness.
Seniors, as you spread your wings and fly off to college, we know you’ll carry with you the lessons and experiences you've gathered here in the nest. The skills you've honed in building close-knit, multigrade level communities
his genius and quick wit. His expectation couldn’t have been further from the truth, as the seniors immediately made sure everyone felt at home in journalism. Because of their strong
will help you build your own flocks at college, creating and contributing to the same supportive and inclusive environments you've
embraced here. So, go ahead—soar to new heights and show the world what it means to be a Hawk.
STAFF:
Co-Editors in Chief: Ana Burk, Ben Goldman, Sophia Smith,
Associate Editor: Jacob Filpi
Staff Reporters: Caroline Fahrney, Marks Gustafson, Addie Speece, Andrew Stravino, Milo Trogdon, Vincent VanHoose, Athena Woodward, Samuel Yin
Contributors: Charlie Sidman, Anish Thota, Asher Weiers
Faculty Adviser: Lori Davis
Co-editors in chief Smith, Goldman and Burk say a final farewell to the class of 2025 with co-editor in chief Jacob Filpi ‘26.
Ben Goldman served as co-editor in chief of “The Hawk Eye” newspaper. He has been on the journalism staff for three years.
Sophia Smith served as co-editor in chief of “The Hawk Eye” newspaper. She has been on the journalism staff for four years.
Ana Burk served as co-editor in chief of “The Hawk Eye” newspaper. She has been on the journalism staff for four years. She will attend Syracuse University.
