The Dart: Vol 74 Senior Issue

the

dar

St. Teresa’s Academy Kansas City, Missouri

waving Goodbye After four years as Stars, the STA class of 2015 is graduating May 17. The girls of this 149th graduating class are attending 22 colleges across the nation.

History of senior pranks ›› pg. 4 | Star spotlight: Sara Jane McQuaid and Caroline Strader ›› pg. 11 | Senior bucket lists ›› pg. 15

CONTENTS

the Dart

vol. 74

senior issue

14 May 2015

6--

friends to roommates| Seniors Bridgie Auckland and Caroline Crockett pose on the quad May 1. The girls are rooming together at the University of Missouri next year. photo by LINDEN O'BRIEN WILLIAMS

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selfie statue | Alumna Natalie Nuessle takes a selfie as a statue in 2014. The seniors posed as statues for 45 minutes in the quad. photo courtesy of THERESA WALLERSTEDT

features

perspectives

4 // History of Senior Pranks

12-13 // Senior Columns

5 // Students taking gap year

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sanem seniors |Seniors Sara Jane McQuaid and Caroline Strader talk in the Sanem advisory. They plan on rooming togerther at the University of Missouri next year after meeting in advisory freshman year. photo by LAUREN ZASTROW

bits and pieces

6-7 // Roomate Selection Process 14 // Senior Social Media

cover story

last look

8-10 // College Destinations

15 // Senior Bucket Lists

star spotlight

in the DNO

11 // From friends to roommates 16 // Senior Prank Photos

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15

a last look | Seniors Anna Bauman and Leigh Campbell enter the paint room May 1. The paint room is one of the spots on many seniors' bucket lists. photo by CLARE KENNEY

From the

Editors

This special issue of the Dart gives us a chance to take a deeper look at the legacy left by the STA Class of 2015.

Whether you laughed at their pep rallies, admired their artwork, cried when they sang, marveled at their athleticism or appreciated their innate leadership, it’s easy to see that these seniors deserve a round of applause. We hope to showcase them throughout this last issue of volume 74 of the Dart. In this issue, learn about the history of senior pranks, a student taking a gap year, the process of choosing a roommate and, of course, where our seniors are attending college.

Speaking of seniors, more specifically, we’d like to thank this year’s Dart editorsin-chief, Libby, Emma and Siobhan. We had our fair share of stressful publication nights, adventures in Washington, D.C. and food-themed jokes along the way. Thanks for an awesome year on staff--and we’ll be lucky if we can lead the Dart next year with the same poise you guys did.

And to all you juniors, sophomores and freshmen, hang in there. We’ll be seniors before we know it, enjoying the

perk of dressing down on Fridays, being the first in line for food at advisory parties, wearing the infamous kilt, passing the legacy to freshmen and celebrating our sisterhood.

Seniors, thank you for the example you have set for all of us underclassmen.

We hope to carry out your legacy, and we wish you the best of luck in all of

your future endeavors!

Your new editors-in-chief, Mary Hilliard, Maggie Knox and Torie Richardson

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Staff List

Editors-in-Chief Mary Hilliard, Maggie Knox and Torie Richardson Adviser Brad Lewis

Copy

Print

Opinion Editor Torie Richardson Sports Editor Leigh Campbell Features Editor Mary Hilliard News Editor Anna Bauman

Projects Coordinator MaryMichael Hough Cultural Correspondent Emma Willibey Breaking Local News Editor Meredith Mulhern Graphics Illustrator Mackenzie O’Guin Page Designers Mary Hilliard, Clare Kenney, Maddy Medina, Alexandra Frisch, Mackenzie O'Guin, Maggie Knox, Helen Wheatley, Bridget Jones, Linden O'BrienWilliams, Meg Thompson, Anna Hafner Staff Writers Linden O’Brien-Williams, Alexandria Davis, Alexandra Frisch, Elsa Feigenbaum, Molly Bird, Helen Wheatley, Clare Kenney, Anna Hafner, Libby Hyde, Emma Willibey, Gloria Cowdin, Christina Elias, Anna Bauman

Photography Web Editor Hannah Bredar Print Editor Jessie Culver Journalism Projects Editor Arinna Hoffine Staff Photographers Lauren Zastrow, Meg Thompson, Maddy Medina, Katherine Mediavilla, Amy O'Leary, Siobhan Miller, Maria Donnelly

Web

Copy Editors Audrey Carroll, Madi Winfield Social Media Manager Katherine Green

Monthly

Question compliled by CLARE KENNEY ckenney16@stastars.org

What are you most nervous for in college?

“Being away from my family that long. The longest I have been away from my whole family is when the choir went to LA this year. I didn't even go the whole time without facetiming them."

Senior Maggie Hutchison "Making friends for sure and making it through rush would probably be my biggest nerves right now."

Senior Gretchen Schloegel

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Clare Kenney, cover design by Mary Hilliard

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features

Editorial Policies

Ownership and Sponsorship

DartNewsOnline and the Dart are created by the student newspaper staff and are maintained and published by general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic church, whether on a diocesan or world-wide level.

Editorial Policy

The staff of DartNewsOnline and the Dart are subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern Catholic doctrine, student safety or illegal behavior.

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish reviews of student work or performances. Personal columns reflect the opinions of the writer, not necessarily the staff or school.

Letters & Reader Interaction Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage the community to post comments on the website. Letters to the editors can be sent in the following ways: in person to Brad Lewis in Donnelly room 204; by mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, Attn: Brad Lewis, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; by email to blewis@stteresasacademy.org or to dartpaper@gmail.com. DartNewsOnline and the Dart staff reserve the right to edit or shorten letters for publication.

Comment Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage readers to comment on all posts. However, DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to monitor and edit all comments on DartNewsOnline. Comments that disagree with the editorial policy will not be published.

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Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine drawing and photography. All photos on the website are free for public use. If a reader is interested in high-quality copies of photos, please email DartNewsOnline at dartpaper@ gmail.com.

Corrections Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will publish corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

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so long, farewell | A banner hangs above the entrance to the Music and Arts Building. For their last day of school, the 2015 senior class rode their bikes and scooters to school. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

Academy Antics Seniors have celebrated prank days with everything from flamingos to bikes.

by MEREDITH MULHERN and VICTORIA RICHARDSON mmulhern16@stastars.org vrichardson16@stastars.org

In 2006, art teacher Theresa Wallerstedt drove to school like she did every day. However, today was different.

“I was driving down Main Street, and I just saw little pink things sticking up everywhere,” Wallerstedt said.

These “pink things” turned out to be 5,000 stuffed pink flamingos. “[The flamingos] were everywhere,” Wallerstedt said. “They were on the marquee sign, on the sign at the corner, they were everywhere. [Seniors] had thrown them above the doors in the ledges, they were in the trees.”

All of this was thanks to alumna Frannie McShane.

McShane had done her service week at local charity Operation Breakthrough. The company that produced the flamingos donated 10,000 of them to the charity. The sisters at Operation Breakthrough gave many away, but still had 5,000 flamingos left.

“The sisters [at Operation Breakthrough] said, ‘We have all these flamingos and we’ve given a lot out but we still have 5,000 left. Do you want them?’ And Frannie went ‘Yes I do,’” Wallerstedt said.

Although Wallerstedt loved the prank and “wanted Channel 9 News to come and fly a helicopter over the school,” administration wasn’t as pleased.

“Administration whacked out and started grabbing [the flamingos],”

Wallerstedt said. “Then the girls started grabbing them too, so everyone was carrying around their little flamingos all day.”

In 2015, senior Rachel Scheffler arrived at senior Anne Nulton’s house at 6:30 a.m. and gave Nulton’s mom her backpack so she could retrieve it from her before going to class. She and other members of her senior class then “congregated in the street and started riding through Ward Parkway,” according to Scheffler. Once at school, seniors who had driven to school parked in the sophomore lot or blocked the junior/senior lot from underclassmen.

According to Scheffler, seniors Lily O’Neill and Anne Nulton coordinated and planned the event and hung a sign above the Music and Arts Building that proclaimed “it’s been a fun ride, STA!” According to Scheffler, students did not get in trouble with administration, unlike some prank coordinators in past years. Seniors only received an email that asked students to “stop rollerblading around the school.”

Before the prank’s execution, Sheffler wasn’t sure how it would turn out.

“At first I wasn’t really sure what I thought of it, but it was really fun,” Scheffler said. H

Past Pranks

compiled by CHRISTINA ELIAS celias15@stastars.org

2010: Plastic silhouettes 2011: Caution tape 2012: Chapel fliers and scattered shoes 2013: Water guns 2014: Living statues

Planning for a gap year

Senior Quinn Kernell will be waiting a year for college and will possibly go abroad.

by ALEX DAVIS adavis17@stastars.org

gap girl | Senior Quinn Kernell plans on taking a gap year abroad before starting college. photo by MADDY MEDINA

her decision and are not too worried.

Kernell has some other plans in Kernell believes that if someone "plans mind as well. out [their] year," then taking an actual "If I don't do that then I'm thinkgap year will be much smoother and ing about teaching English in South less worrisome.

America, Cambodia or Thailand. I've "I'm really open to what I'm going to also been looking at some internships get out of [the gap year]," Kernell said. in Dublin or London for journalism or "I think we go through [years of] school at a publishing company or for law." ... and we don’t get a break. I think we And if she doesn't go abroad, Kerneed to take time for ourselves." nell would like to work on a national Kernell stressed campaign. But no that the gap year matter what she We don’t get a break. not only should be decides to do, I think we need to take about taking time Kernell is glad to be time for ourselves. for ourselves, but taking a gap year.

— Quinn Kernell also about getting "I'm really, really a chance to better excited. I mean, I'm the lives of other a little anxious people and make a difference somebecause I don't know what I'm doing where else. yet and I don't know what I'm going to So what is Kernell doing during her do after my gap year either," Kernell gap year? said. "But I think that it'll all work out, so "I'm [hoping] to be an au pair for a I'm not too worried. I definitely think I'm family in Europe with a kid with special going to get a lot out of [taking a gap needs," Kernell said. "There aren't a year]." lot of people who are open to helping After her gap year is over, Kernell families with a child who has special plans to reapply to her top colleges and needs and that is something I'm really major in English Literature and Classical passionate about."

Language. H

“

“

High school graduation is usually the time of year where family and friends come together and say their final goodbyes as the seniors head off to college.

At STA, the senior class is attending more than 50 different colleges across the United States. But this is not the case for all of them. Senior Quinn Kernell has decided to take a gap year, the only senior to do this from her class, before taking the trip to college.

“I’ve wanted to take a gap year since middle school,” Kernell said. “I decided junior year that it wouldn’t be really reasonable [or] realistic to take one so I dropped the idea.”

In 2013, a study done by the Higher Education Research Institute showed that only 1.2% of college freshmen declined admission to college in order to take a gap year, which roughly amounts to about 35,000 students. However, the interest of taking a gap year has grown in recent years.

Kernell decided to officially take a gap year after her dad suggested it to her again, placing her in the small percentage of students who take one.

"From everyone who has taken a gap year, I've only heard positive things," Kernell said. "They would recommend [taking a gap year] to everyone. They've said that it was the best year of their life and that they feel so much more independent and have gained a better understanding of themselves."

However, Kernell has heard some negative feedback about the decision to take a gap year.

"People in passing have expressed their distaste for gap years," Kernell said. "They think you won't go back to school or that you're going to waste a year and then be behind all of your classmates" But thankfully, Kernell's family and friends have been very supportive of

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Maddy Medina and Alex Frisch

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profiles

THE SEARCH FOR THE

PERFECT ROOMMATE

Various STA students describe how and why they chose their college roommate.

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or seniors leaving STA, there are many different options when it comes to finding a roommate in college.

Many students attending the University of Missouri Columbia are rooming with other students from STA. MU offers students the ability to choose their own roommate or "go potluck,” which means being paired with a random roommate.

According to senior Caroline Crockett, she and senior Bridgie Auckland decided to room together a while ago. They were not in the same "friend groups" but still knew each other and felt comfortable enough to live together, according to Crockett.

“As of last year when we went to the college meeting, we said it in passing and joked about ‘let’s room together,’” Auckland said. “When it came down to it, we actually decided to room together.”

When it comes to rooming with a friend, Crockett is not concerned about damaging her and Auckland’s friendship.

“I think it’ll work out well because we are going into different majors and will have different schedules,”Crockett said, “so we’ll have personal space but also when we’re with each other I think we will have a lot of fun together.”

Other students used different methods to find a roommate. According to Crockett, some girls posted in the Facebook class page to find roommate matches or go through others' mutual friends to find someone to live with.

Students attending other colleges also chose to room with a friend who did not attend STA to find new experiences, according to Amy O’Leary, who is attending

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by KATHERINE GREEN and MARYMICHAEL HOUGH kgreen16@stastars.org mhough16@stastars.org

the University of Kansas in the fall.

“I didn’t necessarily choose to avoid a STA person,” O’Leary said. “But I’m rooming with a grade school friend that goes to Sion that I used to be really close with and I chose someone [else to room with] from Austin, TX, because I think it would be fun to have a friend from out of town.”

Although O’Leary, Crockett and Auckland are rooming with people they are familiar with, some STA students are rooming with complete strangers.

Senior MaryKat Hoeser, who is attending the University of South Carolina, decided to avoid going potluck and searched for a roommate on Facebook pages and other websites.

“I was looking for someone who shared the same interests as me and who I thought I could be most comfortable with,” Hoeser said. “I didn't want to be picky but I felt a lot of the time that's what I was doing because I was so worried about having someone similar to me to room with. Going to a college where no one else is going to is terrifying to me, but it’s pretty much impossible to find someone just like you because no one its going to be just like you. I just told myself I have to stop being so comparative and just be social and find someone I'd like to be friends and live with.”

Similarly, senior Lauren Zastrow will attend University of San Diego in the fall, where students do not choose their own roommates. Students at USD have the ability to choose what kind of room they want to live in and take a compatibility test, but then are assigned a roommate by the university.

“I like [this process] because I was

deciding so late that if I had ended up going to one of my other choices I would’ve been finding someone last minute and finding someone I liked last minute would’ve been really tough,” Zastrow said.

Zastrow believes this process eliminates drama that can occur when finding a roommate on your own. Hoeser experienced a bit of this drama when a last minute switch left her searching for a new roommate. Although Hoeser is relieved to have found someone with the same interests as her, she would not have minded going potluck.

“I personally was really terrified of the fact that I might have to go potluck but all my cousins did it and they told me it actually was a really good experience,” Hoeser said. “I guess I was just really worried I'd be so on my own not even knowing who my roommates were going to be. If I did end up going potluck, I would not be that upset anymore just because its very common to do and those horror stories are pretty rare.”

According to Hoeser, although her experience has been stressful, she now feels comfortable being the only girl from STA at USC. “I definitely regret putting off finding a roommate but I ended up meeting a lot of girls via facebook messaging and roomsurf because of it all which will be nice to have when college starts up,” Hoeser said. “It really isn't as bad as you'd think, finding a roommate and all. I've just learned you've gotta be open to everything and something good with come out of a total mess of a situation.” H

ROOMMATE ROULETTE There are many methods and strategies to pick a college roommate, all reaping mixed results for different students.

by ELSA FEIGENBAUM efeigenbaum17@stastars.org

will you hate your roommate?

A study compiled by the Brown Herald analyzes how satisfied 6000 undergrads were with their roommates.

H very satisfied H somewhat satisfied H somewhat dissatisfied H very dissatified H don't know/no answer

47.9% 21.7% 14.3% 11.6% 4.5%

STA students pose with their roommates

1 1. Senior MaryKat Hoeser displays a photo of her roommate on Instagram. Hoeser found her roommate through the University of South Carolina Facebook page.

2. Seniors Caroline Crockett, bottom, and Bridgie Aukland, top, pose together. Crockett and Aukland will be roommates at the University of Missouri this fall. photos by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS

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the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Mackenzie O'Guin

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centerspread

making STATEments The STA class of 2015 will be attending college in 22 different states.

OHIO

compiled by BRIDGET JONES bjones16@stastars.org graphics by MAGGIE KNOX and MACKENZIE O'GUIN mknox16@stastars.org moguin17@stastars.org

OHIO UNIVERSITY Siobhan Miller

BAKER UNIVERSITY Carolyn Hornbeck BENEDICTINE COLLEGE Mackenzie Roach JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Allie Dodd KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Katie Grasse

Anna Meagher Kathleen Nicely UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Caroline Angles Megan Bloskey Hayle Brown Sydney Edmonds Anna Marie Fiorella Suzie Fiss Rachel Fosselman Gigi Gray

Abby Haake Libby Hyde Elaine Kerr Whitney Klump Madeline Mullen Anne Nulton Amy O’Leary Grace Reda Kathleen Schrader Greta Smithmier Averie Stapp Jenny Tilson

Check out the infographic "Oh the places we go..." on DartNewsOnline!

BARNARD COLLEGE Emma Willibey PACE UNIVERSITY Sophia Hall

SC

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Mary Kat Hoeser

SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE Gloria Cowdin ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE Mireya Ramirez

NORTH NEW YORK CAROLINA ELON UNIVERSITY Christina Elias THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL Dorian Bailey

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PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN Kaitlin O’Brien

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY Anna Huber UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN Kylie Ceriotti Lauren Dufresne Victoria Miller

NEBRASKA

DC

AVILA UNIVERSITY Mary Sommerhauser KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE Ellen Weitkamp MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Jessica Favrow Marita Hutinett Lizzie Sanders MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Daisy Calderon ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY Emily Coble Sydney Hunter Rachel Scheffler Abby Tarwater SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY Abbey Curran Gretchen Dudley Viridiana Hernandez Ceci Ismert Marie Sarson Grace Wilmot

BOSTON CONSERVATORY Micah Welch

MASS.

MISSOURI

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Grace Sly

HENDRIX COLLEGE Journey Eubank

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Brogan Caffarelli Megan Ehrnman Maria Flores Emily Godfrey

TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY Abigail Ellias Haley Sirokman UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA Bridgie Auckland Hannah Bredar Allison Bresette Mary Burke Caroline Crockett Meghan Daniels Courtney Didier Lindsay Fiola Katie Hanson Lizzy Keller Willa Knight Hayden Lee Amelia Lester Anya Mateski Maggie McClain Sinead McGonagle Sara Jane McQuaid Molly C Mullen Sumin Nam

Maddie Niemuth Lily O’Neill Shannon O’Rourke Fee Pauwels Gine Ptacek Claire Reboulet Madi Sage Marley Schmidtlein Jacqueline Smith Caroline Strader Catherine Whitmer UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY Ally Drummond Anne Gravino Zoe Royer WEBSTER UNIVERSITY Marie Green Monica Stanley WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE Shay Cummings Sabrina Saleh

CALIFORNIA PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY Natalie Behnen

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO Lauren Zastrow

Sara McKnight Molly A Mullen Gretchen Schloegel Taran Smith

ARKANSAS INDIANA UNIVERSITY AT BLOOMINGTON Cecilia Zanone

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME Leigh Campbell Evelyn Heck Molly Heck Madalyn Schulte

INDIANA

UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND Claire Zahner

OREGON the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Maggie Knox

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centerspread / star spotlight DEPAUL UNIVERSITY Gracie Fleming

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES Eden Kreighbaum REGIS UNIVERSITY Alex Amey UNIVERSITY OF DENVER Carson Beineman Arinna Hoffine

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO Alexia Arrieta

COLORADO

ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Monica McGraw Briana Wells

UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO Jessie Culver

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY Sydney Wimes

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA Anna Bauman Turner Conwell Olivia Migliazzo

ALABAMA Olivia Bellatin Ellie Shorter

PENN

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Ann Campbell

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA Maria Donnelly Sam Smith

TEXAS TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Maddie Thompson

MINNEAPOLIS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN Betsy Lehr

MINNESOTA 10

GAP YEAR Quinn Kernell

UNDECIDED Kennedy Bright Meghan McCalla

BELMONT UNIVERSITY Basil Burnette Megan Faber Maggie Hutchison Hillary Talken

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY Madeline Meloy

TENNESSEE

Sara Jane

and Caroline

by MOLLY BIRD, photo by LAUREN ZASTROW mbird17@stastars.org, lzastrow15@stastars.org

Seniors Caroline Strader and Sara Jane McQuaid met during their freshman year at STA and will be roomates this fall.

How did you two meet?

Caroline: Well we are in the same advisory, so we met at Star Night our 8th grade year.

Sara Jane: So yes as Carol said, we met in 8th grade when we both came to Star Night.

What made you want to room together next year?

Caroline: We decided to room together because our personalities work very well together and although we are pretty close friends, we are in separate "friend groups" so we are not constantly with each other now which will be good for us next year.

Sara Jane: We are two completely different people but somehow, our personalities just work together. I knew I didn't want to room with someone from my friend group and since Caroline and I are in different [friend groups], she was the perfect option. I never thought I would be rooming with one of my best friends but she is the exception because I really wouldn't want to room with anyone else. I’m already scared enough for college as it is so it will be comforting to have her with me all the time, just like she has been for the past 4 years.

How do you think your high school experience would have been different if you hadn't met?

Caroline: If I hadn't met Sara Jane I would not be as close with a few other people, because I became closer friends with them through Sara Jane. Also I would have less memories without meeting her, because we have a lot of memories together.

Advisory would be very different without her and overall my high school experience would have still been great but knowing her has been part of the reason why my years here at STA have been not just great but unforgettable.

Sara Jane: If it wasn't for being in the same advisory, I doubt Carol and I would be as close as we are. We have so so many memories together so it's really hard to imagine high school without her right next to my side the entire time. She is usually the first person to say hi to me in the mornings and the last person to say goodbye to me when I leave school so she impacts my day more than she knows. H

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Maggie Knox and Helen Wheatley

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perspectives

A sisterhood of love

by ANNA BAUMAN abauman15@stastars.org

Before coming to St. Teresa’s, I had always desperately wanted to have a sister. I imagined how great it would be to braid each others’ hair and practice doing makeup, share secrets and talk about boys, wear each others’ clothes and be best friends.

Coming to STA, I often heard about this concept of “sisterhood,” whether it was splashed across the front of some recruitment magazine or talked of by older girls as if it was some secret society, coveted and mysterious.

In my first years at STA, I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical. Of course I wanted to be part of this sisterhood, but no matter how hard I tried to be a part of it, it was an ever-elusive idea that I just couldn’t grasp. I thought it must be a myth, a trigger word the school used to recruit students to come to an all-girls school.

I realize now that this idea of entering the sisterhood is not something that happens overnight or at one moment in time. While I was expecting a light bulb to suddenly go off, what I was experiencing was the gradual accumulation of days and months and years worth of memories that evolved into my own definition of the sisterhood.

If you are like me, maybe you're still a bit skeptical about sisterhood. But it is my prayer that you will find it in the simple, day to day happenings of the beautiful community around you.

Maybe you'll see it when your friend makes a silly face at you in the halls, or when someone screams your name across the bustling quad during pass-

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ing period.

Maybe you’ll feel it when you’re cramming for a test with classmates, or commiserating with the same girls when you “know that you all failed,” but you feel better because you know they all have your back.

Or when you realize that each of your classes forms its own little family, and the girls who sit next to you in class understand you better than anyone in the world.

Maybe you'll see it in the exchange of a knowing look of exasperation between you and the girl who had to park across the street when it’s just one of those mornings.

Or when you're shamelessly stuffing your face with mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, surrounded by the girls you sit next to in advisory everyday.

I hope you’ll feel it as you’re doubled over with laughter during the teacher skit when your teachers do and say things you thought they never would.

Or when your teacher asks how you’re doing, and you know they’re asking because they truly care.

Maybe you'll hear it when the choir sings it’s hauntingly beautiful rendition of the alma mater.

Or when a group of girls randomly breaks into a proud chant of the same song amidst the confused glares of everyone else around you.

You might see it in the crowd at a packed Sion game, as you scream "WHAT DO WE EAT?" at the top of your lungs, dressed in some ridiculous-looking get-up, but knowing that no one will judge you because they look just as ridiculous.

Maybe you’ll hear it in the voices of hundreds of girls screaming “Party at STA” at every school dance, and you realize that it really is.

I know you'll experience it when the school comes together in prayer and love in the face of pain and tragedy.

You might feel it when you finally

slip your class ring onto your finger, and don’t ever take it off for the next year because you know it connects you in a special way to a network of amazing women of all ages across the whole world.

Maybe you’ll feel it when it’s finally your turn to explore the infamous M&A tunnel, and leave your mark next to the names of all those who have come before you.

I hope you feel it on your last day of school as you look down at the colorful scribbles on your old, yellow-ish polo, and know there are 141 girls who love you like a sister.

I know I did.

Sisterhood is experienced differently by everyone, but there is no denying that it is very real. Sisterhood is an all-encompassing word to describe the love and support that can be found in the hallowed halls of STA. Class of 2015, thank you. Thank you for all the laughs, all the tears, all the memories, all the love.

If I could, I would tell my younger self that one day her wish would come true.

But it would be greater than she ever could have imagined. Instead of one sister, she got 598.H

Teachers, staff leaving STA The following staff members will not be returning in the 2015-2016 school year.

Staff

Mary Beth Compton Principal of Student Affairs

Teachers

Katie Dolan English teacher Pat Sirridge social studies teacher Greg Monsma choir director and music teacher Megan Warr math teacher

Confessions of a boring senior I went to a free instead of newspaper class sophomore year. This one is not embarrassing on principle, I know many people that have done this.

However, it was not the beginning of the semester. It was not like I didn’t know my schedule. This was well into second semester. I had gone to silent study in windmoor. As I sat working on

by LEIGH CAMPBELL homework my schedule fell out of my lcampbell15@stastars.org netbook. My heart started to race. I Several weeks ago, seniors started to sweat. I doubled checked my were asked to submit their senior schedule. Yep, I should be in newspaconfessions to the yearbook. We per. I grabbed my things and literally were only allowed to submit one. So ran out the door leaving my accountI thought I would use my last column ability and sprinting across the quad. in the Dart to elaborate on some I was so embarrassed to face all the confessions I have to get off my chest. juniors and seniors in my newspaper I cried freshmen year when I got a class - I tried to laugh it off but I think detention for accidently dropping my the pit stains gave away my anxiety badminton racket. about the event.

Ok, I am still bitter about this Some not-to-be-named classmates one. Let me set the scene for you. I and I snuck into the dome room in was just a little innocent freshman, M&A. scared of authority and fearful of Just last week in our final Friday at breaking any rules. I was flourishing STA, some friends in the badminton and I decided that we tournament with needed to explore Just last week in my partner Caroline the unknown parts of Crockett. Winning our final Friday at our school. Naturally, the tournament STA, some friends we headed to fourth was a hallmark floor M&A. After findand I decided that achievement for me ing the Harry Potter we needed to at STA. However, room (a KCYA office explore the unduring one class decked out in Harry I made a fatal known parts of Potter paraphernalia) mistake. I felt the our school. we found a door. I grip of the racket don’t want to reveal slip between my the location of the fingers. The metal rim barely touched room and the thrilling way we got there the ground before I grabbed it quickly. (it involved climbing through a window) Nope, too late. but the room was circular with gravel I remember Mrs. O’Rear calling floors. Really not that interesting, but me to her office for a detention. Not the thrill of finding the room was excitonly did I cry at school (the most ing enough to make for a fun time. embarrassing thing I have ever done) Being honest, my fear of punishment I also went home and cried to my from freshmen year is still a part of me, mom. To this day that detention is the so I really hope I don’t get in trouble for only form of punishment I have ever writing this. H received at STA. If there is anything I could change about STA, it would be that ridiculous badminton rule.

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How to define sisterhood

by GLORIA COWDIN gcowdin15@stastars.org

For four years now, the word I’ve heard most is “sisterhood.” We all talk about its strength and closeness and kindness and acceptance, but how exactly does one define this amorphous and omnipresent “sisterhood?”

Well, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately, and here’s what I’ve come up with…

Sisterhood is the smiles in the hallway from ten different people between classes; it’s the awkward but memorable advisory parties; it’s the girl who sends you the notes from a class you missed; it’s someone holding a door open when you’re dragging four bags of food inside; it’s when your class sings “It’s a Party (at STA)” as loudly as they can; it’s the wildly loud cheers at sports games; it’s the two slices of Waldo Pizza for a dollar; it’s candy from every administrative office and sneaking food from the teachers’ lounge after school (sorry, y’all); it’s driving the five minutes to school (and still being late) with my carpool every morning; it’s seeing my actual sister in the halls and at lunch; it’s knowing that she, and my 550 other sisters, are always there for me, on good days and bad; it’s the combination of every experience I’ve had here and the knowledge that even though I won’t be part of the sisterhood next year, it will always be a part of me.H

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Bridget Jones

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bits and pieces / last look

Instagrams OF THE ISSUE Each issue, the Dart highlights students’ Instagrams.

This month’s theme: senior year.

by AMY O'LEARY aoleary15@stastars.org

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE come together| Seniors gather to take a selfie on their last day at STA May 5. They pranked the school by riding their bikes to school and blocking off the senior lot. photo by MEG THOMPSON

My life sucks // My life rocks

Here, a student shares a moment that really made her cringe.

Here, a student shares an especially exciting experience.

by MARYMICHAEL HOUGH mhough16@stastars.org

by MARYMICHAEL HOUGH mhough16@stastars.org

My life sucks

My life rocks

“I woke up and stood up too fast and got really light headed and next thing I know I'm on the ground of my wood floors. I didn't feel it at first but I saw a bunch of blood gush out from my chin. My mom heard a loud thump from downstairs and ran up and we went to the hospital. I had to get 10 stitches and my tooth is cracked. I can't chew food for the next two weeks."

- Emily Godfrey, senior

“At the end of classes on Tuesday I had a 92.91 in Honors Physics and I went back in the next day to pick up my notebook to study with for the final. I found out that there was a bonus problem that I could complete to get my grade up. So the entire class helped me finish it and it got my grade up to a 93.1. We all cheered because now I'm exempt from the final!

It was wonderful. - Lizzie Sanders, senior

That’s what

she said

Each issue, the Dart shares entertaining student tweets.

by BRIDGET JONES bjones16@stastars.org

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Senior Marie Sarson @msars97 There are two things I will never forget from my time at The Academy: realizing I have 600 amazing sisters and hugging Mr. Sanem. #bubble Senior Ceci Ismert @CCIzzy Think I'm gonna celebrate my last weekend of high school homework by not doing my homework Senior Meghan Daniels @meghanxo_15 peace out high school, hello summer

Photo by senior Elaine Kerr @ekerr30

Photo by senior Lily O'Neill @loneill72

Photo by senior Bri Wells @bri1596

Next theme: summer #dartnewsonline

What sh ou ld

Definitely try to reach out more to the underclassmen.

— Mary Kat Hoser

Have a decent conversation with someone in your class everyday. You will feel closer to all of your classmates.

— Jessie Culver

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[Be] a KAIROS leader because it's awesome to see the experience from the other side.

— Caroline Crockett

Become friends with the ladies in the development office. They'll give you more candy and life advice.

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— Hannah Bredar

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— Averie Stapp

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[Go] to class day and [have] [your] shirt signed.

1. Sign your name in the tunnel 2. See the fourth floor in M&A 3. Go on the roof 4. Go in the dome 5. See the paint room

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— Fee Pauwells

The Dart asks seniors "what should be on an STA bucket list?"

raduate? ug

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Dress in theme for a sports game.

before o d u y o o y

Figure out where all the weird doors go in STA.

— Ameila Lester

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Linden O'Brien-Williams and Meg Thompson

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In the Humans of STA Take a look at the current coverage on DartNewsOnline

Gallery: Riding Out With Style The senior class of 2015 celebrated their final day of school with a prank May 5.

photos by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA and MEG THOMPSON

soarin', flyin'| Senior Gracie Fleming catches some air on her scooter May 5. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

collar ID| Senior Sydney Edmonds smiles after having her shirt signed by fellow seniors. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

an advisee embrace| Senior Mireya Ramirez embraces friend and fellow senior Sydney Hunter. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

#selfie| Seniors gather to take a selfie on their last day at STA May 5. photo by MEG THOMPSON

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015 page design by Anna Hafner

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