The Vedette | 2021 Upper School | Issue 3

The

Vedette

Issue 3 July 27, 2021

Upper School 2021

Alex Zhong, The Vedette Editor, Naval 1 Los Gatos, California Age: 14 School: Harker Upper School Years At Culver: 1 Maddie Stabile, Deck 1 Brentwood TN, US

Age: 14 School, Brentwood High School Years At Culver: 1 Dylan Cheever Carmel Indiana Age: 15, School: Carmel Highschool, Years at Culver: 3 Laura Crisp, Deck 6 Franklin, TN Age: 17 School, Christ Presbyterian Academy Years at Culver: 1 Andrea Arellano, Deck 4 Mexico City, Mexico Age: 14 years old, School: Instituto Mexicano Regina – Years at Culver: 5

The Vedette Editor Reflection Alex Zhong, The Vedette Editor, Naval 1

In the past six weeks at Culver, I have tried an array of new classes: Some I enjoyed more than others and some I never want to try again. However, the course Journalism (The Vedette) is something I am so glad to have tried, and I have taken it for all three trimesters because I enjoyed it so much. The main reason why I have stuck to this class is because I get the chance to write and edit The Vedette, a student-run newspaper that every Upper School camper gets a chance to read. However, because each issue is written and finalized in two weeks, it is sometimes challenging to get everything ready on time, but it is always so gratifying to see students walking around with something I helped write. All in all, being the editor of The Vedette has been fun but difficult, and I would love for more people to take the course.

Lessons I Learned

Sean Flynn, Naval 5 Earn respect before demanding respect. It’s important to be loved rather than loathed.

Maddie Stabile, Deck 1 You do not need electronics to have a good time.

Benjamín Esquer, Naval 2 You are only allowed to ask from the rest as much as you give them.

Joey Meccia, Naval 5 Take it slow, have fun, and don’t worry.

Milla Hallyn, Deck 7 This year I learned that life constantly changes, and to live to the fullest one must adapt with it.

Beck Chandler, Naval 3 Leadership doesn’t require a position.

Socials I Loved

Berenice Paz, Deck 5 International Dance, Because I'm Mexican and I was missing my music-It reminded me of home.

Katherine De Saram, Deck 7 The Fourth of July Social was my favorite Social this year because it was one that everyone attended, and so I was able to meet a lot of new people.

Moments I’d Like to Forget

Luke Swennumson, Naval 1 I woke up at 12:00 AM and got ready for the day. Showered, made up my room. My roommate, Brett Barnes, did not like it.

Roxie Hudkins, Deck 4 A guy opened the door for me and I said, “Thank you” and accidently went out of the other door.

2021 1st Class Dinner

Winner of The Vedette 2021 Funny Caption Contest

“Didn’t I see this on an old episode of ‘I Love Lucy’?”

- Max Blackwell, Troop

The last days of Summer 2021!

Best 2021 Culver Memories Alex Zhong, Naval 1 “One.” Step, step, step. “One.” Step, step, step. My favorite Culver memory is when my company marched from our first unit meeting back to our barracks. Surrounded by so many unique individuals as we strode beside Lake Max, fireflies twinkling like glistening gems in the fading daylight, it was the first time I felt like I was officially part of Naval One. Loreto Peralta, Deck 3 One of my best memories is watching the colorful sunset on the North side of Lake Maxinkuckee at the top of the Ledbetter. I remember feeling comforted and at home, being with all my friends as we observed the gorgeous colors.

Dylan Cheever, Aviation My best memory of Culver so far is quite possibly a cliché, but for a good reason. When third classmen arrive at Culver, they are immediately ordered to work together as a unit, but unity is rarely achieved. That is until the Mud Run: it is by far one of the most binding events that will happen during one's summer at Culver, only behind the Great Race, Comm Relay, or Pegasus.

Salma Fakhouri, Deck 1 My favorite thing about Summer 2021 at Culver was the diversity it had. I met many people from around the world and built many strong friendships.

Andrea Arellano-Sottil, Deck 4 Free time, pizza, and friends. A great day that I will never forget was the first permit we had here at Upper Camp. Because many of my friends weren't going out on permit, we decided to stay together and have some fun. We talked and then went to the ice rink, where we laughed and had a great time. After that, we went to the Shack and ordered Papa’s Pizza, which was delicious.

Luke Valentino, Naval 4 The best memory I have had is sailing the Ledbetter with the crew on Wednesday nights.

Maddie Stabile, Deck 1 The first time I met my roommate is a moment I will always treasure. When I met her, she ran and gave me a hug before I could even introduce myself. I remember being so relieved that I had a kind, thoughtful roommate.

That was my first memory in my Deck, and I can't wait to make more memories here at Culver.

Laura Crisp, Deck 6 I had never water skied before. I was told to try kneeboarding since I was a beginner. I grabbed my kneeboard, and stepped onto the bobbing boat. As I was riding on the speedboat, the wind blew in my hair and lakehouse after lakehouse passed by. We were pretty far away from campus, but we were supposed to be! That day, I fell off the board twice. I was coughing, and water was trapped in my ears, but it was a successful class because I tried something new.

Andrea Arellano-Sottil, Deck 4 Another favorite of mine was watching the 4th of July fireworks with my friend while we talked and got to know each other.

We hope you had a great summer!