By Leyah Philip and Siena Ebert Opinions Editor and Staff Writer
On a seemingly normal Friday night, senior Dithyae Devesh was having dinner with her friend at the Preston Forest ChopShop. Suddenly, she noticed a stranger in her car, taking her bags. After searching and calls to friends, she was able to recover her bag, but not her wallet or her ID.
Just a few months later, junior Jessie Moran was in the same parking lot getting her flu shot at the Walgreens nearby. She left her bag in the backseat of her car. By the time she returned, the backseat was empty, and her belongings had been taken.
Recently, car theft has been on the rise in the Hockaday community, as several students have reported their car or belongings stolen in the past few months. Consequently, many have been forced to improve their car safety habits.
“It was very shocking,” Moran said. “You don't expect something like that near Preston Hollow or Hockaday so you have to be vigilant and take precautions to protect your stuff because people will take it.”
Unfortunately, leaving your car unlocked, is a common habit among many teenagers, making them more susceptible to car theft. Especially in the Hockaday community, many students underestimate the risk of being targeted.
“I feel like people take it really lightly and you don't think you'll get robbed in a nice area, but it can happen to anyone,” Devesh said.
After their past experiences, both Devesh and
Breaking Boundaries Lock It or Lose It
Moran have increased their safety precautions when going out. Regardless of the time or place, they make sure to hide their items and double-check that they’ve locked their cars.
“If I'm planning to go study somewhere after school, I always put my stuff in my trunk before I leave, so people don't see,” Moran said.
Self-defense teacher promotes car-safety
To ensure students are well-informed about safety procedures, Hockaday requires a self-defense class for seniors, taught by Jessica Glover. In this course, Glover equips students with skills to protect themselves in various situations, including personal safety strategies, defense techniques and heightened awareness of their surroundings.
“Once you get to your location, get out of your car, lock it right away and go in,” Glover said. “When you get into your car, the first things you should do is lock the door and turn it on. A moving vehicle is a fantastic weapon, but if it’s not turned on, then it’s basically a death trap.”
Beyond individual safety habits, Glover teaches students to identify potential threats and suspicious activity, ensuring they can recognize warning signs before danger escalates. She stresses the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, as many attackers rely on the element of surprise.
“Generally, if somebody wanted to attack someone, they would wait for them at their car or follow them to the car,” Glover said. “If you
observe any strange activity, either go back into the complex you were previously in, or get in your car and drive away.”
Glover also stresses that car safety is not just about recognizing potential threats but also about making smarter decisions when parking a vehicle. Although it might not be as convenient, parking strategically, rather than opting for the closest or quickest spot, can reduce the risk of potential threats and ensure greater personal security.
“Nighttime is when people are more vulnerable to car-related crimes, and depending on the location or the zip code, some areas are going to be more prolific for crimes,” Glover said. “The best thing to do is park near lights, where you have a direct line of sight to a door. Although it might not be the closest spot, if it’s in a well-lit area of the parking lot within a direct line of sight, then the chances of there being a car-related incident decrease significantly.”
Johnson first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress to represent South
By Danya Risam-Chandi Co-Managing Editor
Rep. Julie Johnson has been involved in North Texas politics for more than five years, but this election cycle her campaign made history. Newly elected Congresswoman Johnson became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent the South or Texas in Congress with her November 2024 election win.
Johnson hopes her win will encourage other women and minorities to take a stand and advocate for themselves.
“I never thought that as an out, LGBTQ person in Texas I could win an election, and I do believe that held me back,” Johnson said.
media coverage than national elections, and thus, get lower voter turnout.
“It seems that in local races, there is a lot more door-to-door campaigning,” Blevins said.
Elected to Texas Congressional District 32, Johnson now represents parts of Collin, Dallas and Denton counties. Johnson strongly believes that grassroots campaigning was the key to her electoral success.
“What really set my campaign apart was our commitment to the ground game,” Johnson said. “We really made an effort to go door-to-door and talk to people in person.”
Upper School economics teacher Kristin Blevins thinks that local elections receive less
“Oftentimes, the candidate themselves will be out walking with volunteers in these local races.”
Johnson’s campaign earned endorsements from many prominent North Texas organizations including The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Police Association, and the Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee (TEXPAC).
Brianna Menard, staff director of TEXPAC, whose main goals as a political action committee are enhancing healthcare access, ensuring practice viability and protecting physician autonomy., believes that Rep. Johnson’s campaign was important for the healthcare industry, particularly for medical care in Texas.
“We can trust her to make the right decisions for healthy Texans,” Menard said.
Johnson is married to Dr. Susan Moster, a gastroenterologist who practices in Fort Worth.
“As a spouse of a Texas physician, she [Johnson] is an advocate for protecting patient-physician relationships and reducing red tape and unnecessary regulations in healthcare,” Menard said.
Johnson acknowledges the urgent need for healthcare reform in Texas and hopes she will make a positive change in Congress, specifically regarding women’s healthcare.
“Texas leads the nation in some very undesirable healthcare statistics such as the highest maternal mortality and infant mortality rates,” Johnson said.
Beyond healthcare, Johnson is currently fighting against legislation which she believes could diminish women’s rights in the United States, including the SAVE Act, a bill recently introduced to the House.
“The bill says that voter registrations need to match people’s names on their birth certificates, which would mean many married women could be denied the right to vote,” Johnson said.
Johnson hopes her example as a legislator will encourage young girls, especially at Hockaday, to pursue their dreams.
“To the young women of Hockaday– your future is in front of you,” Johnson said. “You’re smart, talented, capable, and can do great things.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF SIENA EBERT
A car safety reminder sign
Julie Johnson speaks at congress.
Underground country singers Returning to up-and-coming country singers’ roots
By Cece Johnson Opinions Editor
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you have definitely heard of one of the following artists. Ty Myers, Hudson Westbrook, Drake Milligan, Tyler Halverson, Megan Moroney and Ella Langley are all up-and-coming country singers who are, in my opinion, severely underrated. Ty Myers
Born and raised in Austin, Ty Myers has been singing and playing guitar since he was 12 years old. He was so determined to follow his passion for music, he chose to be home schooled. His first song was officially released in 2023 when he uploaded “Tie That Binds” online and TikTok helped him grow. His most famous songs are “Ends of the Earth” and “Drinkin’ Alone,” both from his debut album, “The Select”.
He performs in Dallas May 9t at a concert for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. You can find him on all streaming platforms, as well as his TikTok account, which has approximately half a million followers.
Hudson Westbrook
Another Texas native, Hudson Westbrook, is from Stephenville and attended Texas Tech. He went from writing music and working on a ranch to selling out Billy Bob’s within a year. He has one self-titled album released in 2024 that features his most popular songs, “5 to 9,” “House Again,” and my personal favorite, “Dopamine.”
He is performing at House of Blues in Dallas April
Drake Milligan
Drake Milligan was born in Arlington. He began his career playing Elvis on the TV series “Sun Records” in 2017. Shortly after, he auditioned for a
label. After initially rejecting him, BBR Music Group signed him six months later. July 2021, he released his first self-titled debut extended play. He and his band also appeared on “America’s Got Talent” on June 8, 2022, and received four yes votes. His debut album “Dallas/Fort Worth” was released in September. 2022.
Megan Moroney
In 2022 Moroney blew up with her first single “Tennessee Orange,” and the following album “Lucky,” which was also released in 2022.
Senior Caroline Polosky says she found Moroney on Spotify’s Hot Country playlist.
“I love the whole ‘Am I Okay’ album,” Polosky said. “I think Megan has been kind of teasing an album,
Graduation gift guide
Ideas
and I know she’s planning on touring this summer.” In her album, she covers everything from toxic relationships to backstabbing best friends. Moroney attended the University of Georgia and won the Miss Sorority Row pageant with her performance of Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine.” Her inspiration for becoming a singer/songwriter started at 16 when she first learned to play guitar. She was influenced by many female Country artists growing up and started singing country with her dad and brother. Her tour began on March 26, and she’ll be in Texas May 2-11 traveling to Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
on what to give your favorite 2025 graduate
By Elle Myers and Larkin Clouston Managing Editor and Arts & Life Editor
It’s no secret that students lose their things all the time, so imagine losing a dorm key on a big campus. AirTags are perfect for college students to keep up with their belongings regardless of their location on campus. Additionally, AirTags can be tracked on your phone.
Every college freshman needs a small bag to carry makeup and toiletries. We personally recommend ordering these in bulk, but once monogrammed the bag is unique for the future graduate. Don’t feel pressured to buy from this brand though, Etsy has great alternatives if you want a different design or price point.
This graduation gift is cute and practical for anybody planning to live in dorms next year, which will be most college freshmen. At $39, this grad gift won’t break your budget but will still be perfect for any girls needing a place to carry their shower supplies to those crusty dorm bathrooms.
These adorable pajamas with your college of choice’s colors are perfect for a graduation gift. To make it even more personable, you can add their monogram to the pocket as well!
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CECE JOHNSON
PHOTOS COURTESY OF APPLE, MARK AND GRAHAM. LOVE SHACK FANCY, KATIE KIME
Country Singer Hudson Westbrook performing in Dallas
Rocking the runway
Hockaday community shares New York Fashion Week experiences
By Lang Cooper and Anderson Rhodus Sports Editor and Staff Writer
New York Fashion Week, the semiannual event where world class designers reveal their newest collections on topnotch models. This February, New York Fashion Week showcased designers and models from the Hockaday community on the runway. Designing the runway
Nardos Design, founded by junior Elyana Brook’s mother Nardos Imam, creates eye-catching, luxury gowns and accessories that consistently leave customers awestruck. Imam’s passion for fashion is evident in every design.
“When I was 22, I knew that I wanted to pursue fashion but didn’t know if I could make a career out of it,” Imam said. “But my passion for it drove me to go into the business, even though I thought ‘I’m not going to get a job.'"
Attending Dallas College El Centro, Imam took fashion as well as science classes in case her career as a designer was unrealistic.
“In the middle of learning English as a second language and taking other classes in science to maybe go into medical school, I decided I’m just going to try for fashion,” Imam said. “I was so much more passionate about fashion that I spent all my time studying this. I was constantly buying materials from Joann’s and sewing myself little things.”
colorful jewelry that you collect and place in one box.”
The road to creating each design and planning the show takes a myriad of hours. From makeup artists to photographers, Imam’s team of more than 200 staff must make sure the designs and models are ready for the show.
“My favorite part is seeing the dresses come to life, but I have to think as a businesswoman too,” Imam said. “Issue number one is figuring how much money to invest, and issue number two is deciding the venue, music, jewelry and all the other details.”
Although planning begins months before each fashion week, last-minute changes often take place. For example, Nardos Design uses a casting director to hire models. So, when each model arrives, Imam and her team match them with a design and then choose a makeup look and hairstyle. Once these assignments have been made, Imam and her team make last minute alterations to ensure each dress fits the model correctly.
“Models can pull out of the show last minute, so it’s always a headache making quick alterations,” Imam said.
Imam’s schedule leading up to fashion week consists of not only making final touches to her collection and last-minute plans but also meeting with clients.
debut this February for fashion and footwear designer Marc Defang.
Robert’s sister, senior Emmy Roberts, was also selected to model for Defang.
“One of my family's close friends knows the designer and saw he posted casting calls on Facebook,” Roberts said. “All I had to do was submit some photos of myself, and then my sister and I were picked.”
So, the Roberts sisters along with other pageant friends traveled to New York for four days of runway practice, exploring the city, attending Broadway performances and the final show. Roberts went through many rehearsals with the other models to practice her walk. Because of the limited spaces for fashion shows, Marc Defang was just one designer of many utilizing the same venue.
“Everybody was doing their runthrough at similar times,” Roberts said. “Since there were multiple
After working her way through the fashion world, Imam opened her first boutique in Dallas in 2016. Six years later, Nardos Design opened on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Her designs first hit the New York Fashion Week runway in September 2023.
This February, her collection was inspired by colorful, vintage jewelry.
“I love color,” Imam said. “For me, natural stones have the best colors that you can’t find anywhere else. So, I took inspiration from all the
“Time is not on your side when it’s almost show time,” Imam said. “I always hope to pick and order each fabric earlier, but somehow it always gets done.”
Imam looks forward to September’s New York Fashion Week and another opportunity to create and share her next collection.
“Every season when a fashion show happens, I get stuck in the beginning,” Imam said. “This year, I was looking through this 1965 jewelry book that was on my shelf and was struck with inspiration.
Fashion is my craft, and I’m always excited for my next collection.”
Walking the runway Involved in both pageantry and modeling, junior Lily Roberts made her Fashion Week
designers, the energy was very high, and the space was crowded.”
All of Defang’s collections were custom-made for each model, and Roberts got to keep the outfit from the show along with sparkly hats and robes. On the runway, Roberts rocked a hand-beaded white suit with confetti sparkles on the pants and jacket; her shirt had asymmetrical buttons on the front and a mesh back.
“Everyone loved my outfit, so I was moved to walk first,” Roberts said. “It was so amazing to open the entire show at my very first runway experience.”
However, Roberts also encountered the last-minute trials of being a model.
“I was told last minute that I needed to take off my jacket to show the back of my shirt,” Roberts said. “So, I had to master taking it off five minutes before, but it kept getting caught. It ended up working out great though, and I even got to model in front of Miss Universe.”
Roberts loved her experience
and the opportunity to meet other models from across the country.
“I would love to continue modeling,” Roberts said. “It was super fun to meet so many amazing people and partake in such a cool opportunity.”
Shipp Shows Out
Hockaday alum Ava Shipp ’24 made her NYFW debut this past September, modeling for a list of high fashion brands, highlighting Prada, Versace, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
Beginning her modeling journey during the summer between her freshman and sophomore years of high school, Shipp found it difficult to secure jobs before she turned 18.
“There are a lot of rules around age in the fashion world,” Shipp said. “After I turned 18, I could work for anyone because the career forces you to be independent.”
Once fashion week arrived, Shipp’s schedule filled up fast; her days often starting at 5 a.m. with castings and ending the day late with fittings and rehearsals. Reflecting on this schedule, Shipp shares a common misconception about the fashion and modeling industry.
“Some people believe that modeling is not a real job; like thinking that I am living in a ‘la la land,'" Shipp said. “Modeling is a difficult world, and it requires a lot of hard work. There is a lot of waiting and not a lot of sleep.”
Shipp finds the shows and catching up with old friends to be exciting; however, the smaller things, like getting her eyelashes curled at 5 a.m., aren’t exactly “fun.” Overall, Shipp is grateful for everything that the modeling industry has brought her.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NARDOS IMAM, LILY ROBERTS, AVA SHIPP
Roberts and Defang at the show
Nardos Design fashion show
One of Nardos' designs
Shipp walks the runway.
Expanding the arts
Fine Arts Board brings creative experiences to all with FAB Fest
By Emilie Illum and Aanya Naini Staff Writers
From dazzling musical performances and carefully curated workshops, to masterfully created films and exciting secret talents, the spirit of creativity and collaboration seemed to shine in each activity of the day as students joined together to celebrate Hockaday’s second FAB Fest, an annual event dedicated to celebrating the arts.
Sponsored by the Fine Arts Board (FAB), FAB Fest began as a way to showcase the unique range of artistic interests held by students both inside and outside of school. FAB chair senior Saxon Moseley has been involved with the festival since the very beginning.
“We came up with FAB Fest as a way to show the Upper School what their fellow students were doing in the arts,” Moseley said. “It’s also just a way to bring the arts to the forefront of people’s minds, to allow them to try things that they don’t usually try.”
Tech Theatre representative senior Stella Monteiro further believes that the event is a way to preserve the necessity of the fine arts in the Hockaday community.
began preparing in May 2024.
“We started setting dates and made sure that the board knew what was going on,” Moseley said. “Then, we’ve been working since the very beginning of this year.”
FAB representatives spent the winter and spring months leading up to the event meeting twice or sometimes even three times a week to work on planning the festival. Managing a full day of activities for more than 500 students remains quite the challenge, especially when it requires balancing the necessity for students to receive a well-rounded exposure alongside the limitations of a packed schedule.
“Putting all the advisories into time blocks, that’s probably the hardest part,” Studio Art representative junior Nitya Yarlagedda said. “Other than that, it’s just finding people for workshops, figuring out the materials we need and how much that’s going to cost.”
Yarlagedda believes the FAB planning process has gone more smoothly in the second year since the board has a better understanding of what the event requires. This year, the board worked towards making sure students attend one mass communications, one performing arts, and one visual arts activity, alongside at least three extracurricular activities which encompass interests outside those represented at Hockaday.
“Fine arts aren’t actually a cornerstone at Hockaday because when the school was founded, it was kind of expected that young women would participate in the arts,” Monteiro said. “I think the cornerstones have become such a foundation here that sometimes the arts don’t always get the attention they deserve.”
Monteiro believes that the fine arts programs are crucial in allowing students to grow into well-rounded individuals.
“I know they’ve given so many people—me included—such a rich experience,” Monteiro said.
This year, FAB Fest took place during an X-day, and encompassed the entire Upper School as well as some Lower and Middle School students. An event of this magnitude requires months of planning, and the Fine Arts Board
FAB has additionally worked towards the inclusion of Middle School and Lower School students this year, through their participation and performance in fine arts activities and workshops.
“We’ve been coordinating with teachers and recruiting people for workshops,” Moseley said. “I think it’s important for Lower and Middle schoolers to see what Upper School arts are capable of.”
Dance representative junior Ava Ortega believes that the festival provides the younger students with a valuable insight into the Upper School fine arts, which they rarely observe, and can even inspire or spark specific artistic interests.
sion, the board has further focused on expanding their repertoire of workshops. Students and teachers alike have a variety of outside artistic interests and many were represented at FAB Fest.
“We have things like henna, Indian dance, Folklórico, beading, crochet and more as a way to integrate yourself in the arts,” Moseley said.
Other workshops included a Rainbow Loom workshop by junior Anaiya Saxena, a songwriting workshop by junior Jessie Moran, a book-binding workshop by senior Emily McShane and a spoken-word workshop by senior Anjy Fadairo.
“The entire point of FAB, this year and in general, is to increase visibility for the arts,” Yarlagedda said. “We want to make sure that everybody gets a good variety [of exposure] and that they aren’t just sticking with whatever they know.”
FAB representatives have already seen the positive impact this event has made, having witnessed their peers both explore new arts and even remedy some of their misconceptions. In the 2024 dance workshop, Ortega watched many students discover the hidden nuances and technique hidden behind a dancer’s polished performances.
“They only see the final product,” Ortega said. “So actually being in FAB [Fest] and actually getting to take a dance class, seeing what ballet steps are, [and] how we correct technique is really important because they get to see behind the scenes.”
Ortega believes that the understanding FAB
“I think it’ll be really cool for them to be able to see a lot of Upper School art and get to interact with Upper Schoolers as well,” Ortega said. “It’s kind of just a really big community bonding activity, and I think it's important for them to get hands-on experience and see what some of their fine arts classes could look like.”
While the event showcases arts from across Upper School, this year, Middle and Lower schoolers were also given the opportunity to demonstrate their own artistic talents.
“We want to be able to see what they’re working on,” Moseley said. “Hopefully, they’ll want to continue to be a part of the arts once they come to Upper School.”
Beyond the all-school inclu-
provides is valuable not just for dance, but for every fine art at Hockaday, and she’s been able to recognize this firsthand through her collaboration with her fellow representatives.
“It’s really cool to be able to appreciate and discuss other people’s disciplines and to find ways to kind of make a harmony out of all of them,” Ortega said.
The Fine Arts Board remains hopeful that the event will grow in the future. Current representatives are already developing ideas for future years, including collaborations with the St. Mark’s Fine Arts Board to the creation of a school-wide collage or art project.
“I hope for the future Fine Arts Board that FAB Fest feels like something big and exciting, but not super daunting,” Moseley said. “We are only in the second year, so there are a lot of things we’re still working through. It feels like a lot of work, but I’m so happy to do it.”
PHOTOS COURTESY AANYA NAINI
Senior Gabby Goana presents film principles.
Students experience the Orchestra presentation.
Juniors practice filmaking on their phones.
BLUEPRINTS COURTESY OF JOAN GUZMAN
Introduction Constructing the
At Hockaday, countless changes and innovations have been made over the past century to meet the constantly evolving needs of its students. These improvements ensure that students excel in each of the school's four cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship and Athletics.
This commitment to adaption and growth is not only reflected in the curriculum and community, but the architecture as well.
Since Hockaday's origin at the original campus on Haskell Avenue (1913-1919), Hockaday has moved locations twice before finding its long-term home on Welch Road (1961-Present).
In this edition of the Fourcast, we explore how Hockaday’s architecture has adapted overtime, beginning from its founding in 1913 to its most recent expansions. Specifically, this issue dives into the historical previous campuses,
History 1913-2025
Original campus (1913-1919)
Founded in 1913 by Ela Hockaday, The Hockaday School was created to provide quality education to girls. Lisa Culbertson (’96), Head of Upper School, provided insight into Hockaday’s founding.
“The same people who moved St. Mark's forward had daughters and wanted the same education for them,” Culbertson said.
After realizing this need, they reached out to Ms. Hockaday and The Hockaday School was born in just a few days.
On the first campus, Hockaday began putting an emphasis on its cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics. These concepts were support by the campus architecture and facilities. For example, according to the Centennial Anthropology by Virginia McAlester (’61), under the cornerstone of Athletics, a new swimming pool and basketball court was built in 1917 to broaden
the sports available on campus.
Greenville Campus (1919-1961)
As the student body grew, so did the need for a larger space. The school moved to the Greenville Avenue campus, where students attended school for nearly five decades.
It was at the Greenville Campus where the first issue of the Fourcast was published, and the academic and athletic programs expanded to welcome new additions.
One theme that is noticeable throughout how Hockaday has approached its campus design is flexibility and adaptability. When the Great Depression began in the early 1930s, a Junior College building was built on campus to support higher education for families who needed it.
Beginnings on Welch Road (1961-Present)
When moving to the current campus, Hockaday began a new and modern approach to their
By Jessica Boll | Web Editor-in-Chief and Audrey Liu | News Editor and Mary
LLARC, the science building and most recently added athletic complex. Take a glimpse into the history of our school that continues to shape the Hockaday experience.
architectural design, featuring more harsh lines, which were in vogue at the time, while blending aspects of the school’s history, featuring an art deco style. An increase in acreage also came with an increase in layout flexibility.
“The oldest buildings on campus are the main building, Hoak Portico and Biggs Dining Hall,” Culbertson said. These buildings have kept the same general placement today, but others, such as the Lower School, were initially constructed at what is now the LLARC.
Another way Hockaday has changed since launching the new location in the 1960s is taking account of multiple perspectives when designing these new
spaces.
“Back when [Hockaday] was first developed, we weren’t really considering the students’ voice in this, but in our master planning, our focus groups included students at all levels,” Culbertson said. “We talked about what the students are looking for and what they need. One of the biggest things that we developed in the master plan was thinking about like where students can learn comfortably.".
Liza Lee Academic Research Center 2002
The Liza Lee Academic Research Center was completed in 2002 and received the AIA/ALA Library Building Award in 2003, an award developed to recognize and encourage excellence in the architectural design and planning of libraries. For the past two decades, the LLARC has been recognized for its architectural design, taking advantage of natural light and the preservation of three large oak trees in the center of Metzger Plaza.
Head Librarian Corey Lott said the architecture plays an important role in fostering a love of reading and research.
“A well-designed library—one with natural light, comfy seating, quiet corners, and study rooms—feels welcoming and inviting. An open layout with well-organized books and resources supports deep focus
and study, as well as curiosity and wonder,” Lott said. “At the same time, various spaces for group work will foster collaboration and connection. Ultimately, a thoughtfully designed library is not just a place for books. It is a space that will inspire learning, creativity, and community.”
The three-story library was created for all students from Lower School to Upper School to ensure all resources are provided for academic success.
By featuring conference rooms and classrooms for a variety of classes including journalism and debate, it also facilitates collaboration, ensuring that growth happens together. The debate and journalism suites were added 13 years ago when the third floor was extended to accommodate the journalism suite.
“My favorite feature of the building
is the huge window – it’s like being in a tree house,” Lott said.
Although there are no renovation plans in the near future for the library, Lott shares what she would redesign.
“I would love to have a bridge that connects the science building with the library," Lott said.
Ultimately, the LLARC provides a reliable space for many students to work during the school day throughout the year.
“My hope is that students have plenty of different spaces to work, whether quietly at tables or in carrels, or collaboratively in the study rooms, depending on what they need.”
Main campus building in 1940
Original Welch Rd campus in 1962
Student study together in 1931
Uncharted paths Class of 2024 graduates experience unique college beginnings
By Melinda Hu Arts & Life Editor
When it comes to college, many already have a predetermined image of what it may look like.
Graduate high school, have a great summer, start college in the fall and stay there for the next four years. However, many members of Hockaday’s Class of 2024 have strayed from this stereotype.
From opportunities to take gap years to summer lab work, students have the opportunity to enrich their learning before embarking on their college journeys.
Ryan Brown ’24 is one of those who decided to write her own journey. Instead of spending her freshman year on the main campus of Northeastern University in Boston, Brown spent her first semester in Oakland, California and the following semester in London, England.
Brown is a part of the Global Scholar’s Program at Northeastern which allows her to spend her freshman year abroad.
“I applied for the program because I was really interested in going to London since I’ve never been,” Brown said. “Since I’m a political science major and I want to do a focus in American politics, I thought it’d be easier to go abroad for my freshman year instead of going abroad later.”
political science major time to travel around Europe during those two weeks.
“So far I’ve been to Morocco and Budapest, and I went to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day,” Brown said. “It’s really easy to get places in Europe and pretty cheap if you plan in advance. We also only bring a backpack.”
Before applying for the Global Scholars’ Program, Brown did a lot of research to ensure going abroad was what she wanted.
“My advice is to do a lot of research, go to the website, Reddit, social media, or anyone you know that went to that program,” Brown said. “Be open-minded and acknowledge that going abroad is only temporary.”
In the Global Scholar’s Program students can choose their study abroad plan. Additionally, Northeastern has 13 different campuses across the U.S., Canada and England with Boston, Massachusetts being their main campus. Most students choose to spend the majority of their college career in the main campus. Brown plans to spend her last three years of college at the Boston campus.
“Academically wise, I felt well prepared. The only thing that I found kind of different was just the fashion style in college,” Brown said. “It’s different from Texas or SEC schools. I had to find good jeans that I’d be comfortable in all day.”
At the Oakland campus, Brown had assignments due every class, but at the London campus, she has assignments that are due on a weekly basis.
“Since I’m on the England schooling schedule now, my grades are only determined by midterms and finals,” Brown said.
As a liberal arts major, Brown’s finals consist of papers. Additionally, students get two weeks off for midterms, which allowed Brown as a
Tarighi chose to spend her gap semester back home in Dallas. She worked as a server at Rise Soufflé and trained for a half Iron Man.
Another member of the class of 2024 who took their own path is Angelina Dong. Once Dong got her acceptance to Johns Hopkins University in March 2024, she immediately reached out to neuroscience professors with research projects that interested her. Dong arrived to college a few months early.
Dong arrived at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute. There, she assisted in research related to the treatment of malignant brain tumors.
“I wanted to get a head start earlier and be able to get familiar with the Baltimore area,” Dong said. “The main benefit of going there earlier was that it taught me what lab opportunity to look for that is best for my health and schedule as a full-time student.”
Ultimately, Dong decided the lab she worked in over the summer was not the best fit. Her head start allowed her to have the time to make the decision to switch labs before the start of the semester.
“That was my personal goal by the end of the gap semester, to be able to do that and compete,” Tarighi said. “I also did a little bit of traveling too.”
Throughout Tarighi’s time between graduation high school and starting college, she was able to prepare herself for this new chapter of her life.
“The transition from graduating to going to college is really not a lot of time,” Tarighi said. “I think the beauty of the gap semester was having an opportunity to reflect and being able to walk into college with a sense of intentionality with what I wanted my experience to look like.”
Tarighi said she has quickly settled into college life.
“I was very privileged in the sense that we had a big class of students from Hockaday going to NYU,” Tarighi said.
" Don't be afraid of doing something just because it's conventional.”
Leila Tarighi '24
“Having time to make that decision and make that switch was ultimately a great thing for me,” Dong said.
Instead of starting college earlier, Leila Tarighi ‘24 started her first semester of college in January. Her acceptance to New York University was for the spring semester, meaning she would take a gap semester.
“It wasn’t fully my decision and so at first, I was a little confused as to why I was starting in the spring as to the fall,” Tarighi said. “It ended up being great and now I’m making up the semester that I missed over the summer, so I’ll be in New York over the summer.”
“They were very welcoming and supportive and made me feel very included and welcome to New York.”
Tarighi is a huge advocate for taking a gap semester between high school and college as she believes that everyone is on their own path and trajectory.
“You will never be 18 and have three months to just hang out with yourself and do the things you have never had the chance to,” Tarighi said. “Don’t be afraid of doing something just because it’s unconventional. For some people, some things come sooner and for others it happens later. Recognize that your time will come.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANGELINA DONG AND RYAN BROWN
Dong engages in lab work at Johns Hopkins.
Brown enjoys free time in London.
Breaking barriers in female scouting
Michelle Mankoff ‘18 pushes boundaries for women in sports industry
By Juliette Friguletto Staff Writer
In a world traditionally dominated by men, Hockaday graduate Michelle Mankoff
‘18 is one of many women who are changing the dynamics of sports analytics, management and scouting. Mankoff now works as a pro and college scout for the Minnesota Vikings, after an intern year with the Buffalo Bills and attending the University of Southern California from 2018 to 2022. Hockaday is a key contributor to Mankoff’s confidence in thriving in the industry.
“All of sports is a maledominated industry. Hockaday couldn’t have been a better place to raise a strong-minded woman who is confident and capable of doing whatever job they want to do,” Mankoff said.
Mankoff works year-round to draft and trade for the top football prospects. She finds that Hockaday fostered the positive community in which she felt comfortable to step into such a male-dominated world.
“I got to do a column for 'The Fourcast,' and it was a sports column titled ‘From Michelle’s
Mind',” Mankoff said. “Doing those columns was when I really discovered how passionate I was for sharing my opinion. A lot of scouting is doing exactly that.”
Often, industries like sports, economics, business and government are widely labeled as ‘male-dominated,’ creating a stereotype that those who are not already naturally gifted, or born male, simply cannot make a living in that world.
“I was at Missouri State, and I met a sophomore who was an equipment manager for their football team. She came up to me and said ‘I really want to get into coaching- I didn’t know women could do that. But you’re here giving me confidence that I can',” Mankoff said. “Those relationships are really cool, and they stand out especially knowing the impact that you can make on anyone you see day-to-day.”
Mankoff said challenges and self-doubt are common, but she reminds herself how hard she has worked to advance in her career.
“There are times that I’m not sure my voice should be heard.
As I’ve aged a little bit, and experienced more, I believe that my opinion not only matters, but it can be an additive to the conversation,” Mankoff said. “All I want to do is help my team win a championship and to believe that I can actually have an impact on my team.”
Mankoff never takes being part of the NFL for granted.
“I am privileged to go out, show my face and guide women who want to work in football,” Mankoff said. “There are women entering every single aspect of sports. Yes, it is male-dominated. All we need is time. I believe that sports are better with women. We deserve a voice at the table. You can have a voice that’s different than that of a male superior and still be correct.”
For the industry to keep expanding and changing in fundamental ways, Mankoff says how important it is for women to keep working to break down these barriers, even if you face some hardship in the process.
While meeting fellow female scout Hannah Burnett with the New York Giants, who has been in the industry far longer than
Is Dallas a sports city?
Mankoff, she was told that, to Burnett’s knowledge, there had only been two women attending a scouting session.
“We were the only two there, two women. She looked at me and goes ‘This has never happened before. There have never been two female scouts at one time at one school’," Mankoff said. “I’m just walking through the doors that [people like Hannah] kicked down for us.”
Amateur and opinionated sports fan shares thoughts on Dallas sports
By Elizabeth Truelove Editor-in-Chief
Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia are credited as some of the best “sports cities” in our country, but why? Of course, it takes generational success, star players across all sports and strong franchise management, but, in my opinion, the most important aspect of sports cities is the fans’ culture.
In Philly, it’s the aggressive, arguably feral passion from the Eagles fans. For the Bostonians, it’s Bruins fans booing their own team after adding to their three-game lose streak. Up in the Big Apple, it’s the Yankees fans hating their oncestar player Juan Soto for switching sides to the Mets. Regardless of the sport, or the talent, the fans make the game.
in 1989, has become more and more disliked among fans as time has passed. From the feud with adored coach Jimmy Johnson to his most recent hush-money scandal, Jones remains one of the biggest roadblocks for the Cowboys.
So, why isn’t our very own Dallas up there as a prominent “sports city”? Though I’m no sports guru, I think there are a few things holding us back.
For America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys, it’s management. If the General Manager of a football team appears more in the gossip column than the sport section, that should be an immediate red flag. Jerry Jones, after acquiring the Cowboys
Off the field and onto the court, the Dallas Mavericks, in my opinion, are the closest in our city to touching the superstar status needed for the title of a “sports city.” After the previous majority owner Mark Cuban bought the Mavs in 2000, the program has seen substantial increases in fans, viewers and key players that have helped change their success as a team. However, most recently, beloved player Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the decision was made after Cuban sold his majority ownership.
While trading Dončić severely affected the Mavs’ success on the court, the decision had much sharper repercussions off it. Dallas had been extremely privileged to have the star player in prime years of his career, so few people could ever imagine the franchise willingly trading him off to Los Angeles.
underrated Dallas sports team has always lived in the Mavs’ shadow at the American Airlines Center: the Dallas Stars. Of course, no one expects a hockey team from Texas to succeed, but the Stars have proved themselves as worthy of respect from the Dallas sports fans.
Even just to hear the hockey lingo on their social media, I love following the Stars and proudly own my title as a bandwagoner. Ranked 2nd in their conference and 3rd in the league this year, the Stars would round out Dallas’ roster of sports teams, if only they had the fan count to match. After the loss of March Madness in early April, I highly recommend watching hockey’s perfect balance between brutality and skill as the Stars head to the playoffs.
Now, personally, the most
feel much slower than the other sports I’ve mentioned, it makes every play, pitch and base stolen that much more entertaining, and air-conditioned stadium definitely does not hurt.
As for the Rangers fans, I believe we are the best representation of true Texan energy. We use our manners to order some popcorn and a soda before the game but get rowdy when the umpire makes an outlandish call.
Lastly, our 2023 World Series Champions, the Texas Rangers possess, in my opinion, every quality necessary to elevate Dallas to the status of a “sports city.” From recently winning the title to their newly renovated stadium, the historically-loved franchise brings generations of fans alongside some of the best energy in Dallas sports.
Though I agree that baseball can
To me, that’s what defines somewhere as a “sports city.” Dallas doesn’t need to match celebrity status of players in L.A., or the “do or die” nature of Philly, we need to represent the core of our city. After living here my whole life, I believe this means maintaining the fierce loyalty and almost arrogance we have as the Lone Star State, but not forgetting the southern charm while we remind everyone that Dallas can hold their own. So, while there’s a few apparent reasons for why we haven’t joined the likes of Boston or New York as a “sports city,” I don’t think we’re too far off.
GRAPHICS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH TRUELOVE
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA GOSPER
Mankoff with mentor Connie Carberg
Myth-ercise Debunking common workout misconceptions
By Aadhya Yanamadala Features Editor
"Get abs in a week!” “Do this to look like a model!” Social media is flooded with over-edited videos that each assert that they know the best way to get you looking and feeling your best. However, most of this fitness content is rife with misinformation and flashy promises that aren’t scientifically true. Hockaday Strength and Conditioning coaches Elia Stanfield and Jessica Glover debunk the most popular workout myths.
"Spot fixing"
Spot reduction training, colloquially known as “spot fixing,” refers to using workouts to tone or achieve subcutaneous fat loss in one specific area of the body. Many fitness influencers, such as Chloe Ting and MadFit, produce fitness and exercise videos that are advertised to tone and shape arms, legs or glutes.
Other websites suggest tricep dips for arms or Russian twists and side planks for oblique muscles. However, while these exercises are beneficial to overall fitness, they can’t slim any specific region of the body.
“You can’t target fat loss in a particular area,” Glover said. “Fat loss is different for everyone, but it is a total body thing. You can’t really control it to just the place you want.”
While spot fixing is a myth, it is more than possible to build different muscle groups through targeted exercises.
"You can target different muscles for hypertrophy,” Glover said. “That means that you are making the muscles larger by strength training."
"Weightlifting makes you bulky"
Studies have shown that one of the main impediments to women working out is their fear that lifting weights will make them gain too much muscle and look bulky.
“I used to avoid weightlifting,” sophomore Eres Stone said. “I thought it would make my arms and legs huge, so I just did cardio-respiratory exercises when I worked out.”
However, incorporating resistance is why men tend to get bulkier that females.
Equating weightlifting with bulkiness is not only false, but also a harmful myth that prevents women from doing types of exercise needed to keep them healthy.
“Women need to be doing weight bearing exercises, not just body-weight exercises,” Stanfield said. “It helps us accrue bone density, and we reach peak bone mass by age 30. So whatever bone strength females can acquire now during adolescence through their early 20s is what can be maintained through adulthood. With early and continued weight-bearing exercise, we can reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.”
Bone density is important in preventing skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis. Thus, weightlifting, especially in high school and college, is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle in adulthood.
"Abs in a week"
Similar to spot fixing, many influencers advertise abdominal workout videos that promise rapid results, swearing that users will be able to see a noticeable difference in just a week.
“I started doing the two-week Chloe Ting workouts during COVID,” junior Cata Littrell said. “And I know a lot of other girls did too. Even now, whenever I work out on my own time, I still like to do these exercises because I kind of play into the video titles.”
The titles, promising quick results, lure subscribers in but never produce the results it assures. Building any kind of muscle, including those in the abdominal area, takes months of dedication—it can’t be accomplished in a week.
“Abs are made in the kitchen and the gym over a long period of time,” Glover said. “If someone wanted to build abs, they should eat nourishing, nutritious food and keep up with their cardio and resistance training.”
Especially in a society that over promotes information about calories and calorie deficits, many young gym-goers believe that so long as they workout enough, it doesn’t matter what kinds of food they eat.
“That’s just not true,” Stanfield said. “Your diet does matter. Students should try to eat a variety of food for nutrition.”
While treats are good for the soul, they shouldn’t be over-consumed. Instead, they should be paired with a balanced meal. Stanfield believes that an easy way to be conscious of this is to be cognizant of the packaged food you’re eating.
“Try to eat as much food as you can that doesn’t come from a packet,” Stanfield said. “Even protein bars. Sure, they are a convenient way to get your protein in—and if that’s the only way you can meet the amount of protein you need, that’s fine—but it’s better to derive it from natural sources.”
Littrell does bicep curls.
Littrell does a weighted squat.
Littrell eats oranges. PHOTOS COURTESY OF AADHYA YANAMADALA
Seniors say farewell in their final pieces for the Fourcast Letter from the editors
By Elizabeth Truelove and Shreya Vijay Editors-in-Chief
Elizabeth Truelove
Dear Fourcast,
When I joined Upper School, I had my dream schedule down to a tee. I manifested nearly every class that I am currently taking. The only exception: Fourcast.
Ms. Quick’s Introduction to Communications class wasn’t even my first choice. Regardless, I sat next to the new girl, Jordan Lacsamana, and Lila Noack, and we had a ball learning AP Style, watching Hayden Christensen in “Shattered Glass” and creating spreads on InDesign. However, freshman Elizabeth had no clue that her future co-Editor-in-Chief and, more importantly, future close friend Shreya Vijay would be on the other side of the classroom. We fell in love with journalism at the same time and followed that passion to Fourcast, the closest thing I can call home on campus.
While everyone can read the Fourcast, no one knows it like the staff. After cutting out nearly every student’s yearbook picture as a sophomore, to knowing each square inch of my pages intimately as a junior and finally being able to visualize the entire issue as a senior, the Fourcast is hard-wired into my brain.
Our mega-table, the singing birthday candle, computer number two and every part of room 305 has witnessed some of my favorite memories with some of my favorite people. However, I didn’t have the pleasure of leading as an EIC without any help.
To Ms. Quick and my Intro class, thank you for making my first impression of journalism amazing. To Ms. Copeland and my first year on staff, wow, wasn’t that such a year. Thank you for teaching me how to speak up and have a spot at the table (literally). To the Class of 2024, thank you for teaching us the ways of InDesign and how to manage it all.
To the 2025 staff, I love you all and am so deeply im pressed and proud of you every single day. To the juniors, I am going to miss you like I would miss my own siblings and am looking forward to the amazing things you’ll accomplish. To the seniors, we’ve truly been through it all and made it out as better
reporters, students and people. I am so excited to visit and hear about all the amazing things we will achieve in our future.
To Ms. Rodgers, you have been a confidant, a pillar of support and a great mentor to me these past years, and I’ll make sure you never forget our class because we will never forget you.
Lastly, to Shreya, you have become one of my best friends, and I truly believe I would not have success as a leader, both in and out of Fourcast, if it wasn’t for you. I have no idea what I did to get so lucky with my co-Editor-in-Chief. I joke about my impending departure from Fourcast, and you, all the time, which admittedly I do to get you riled up. However, I do it because the hole that you, and the rest of Fourcast, will leave in my heart next year will never be filled. Fourcast, and to everyone that has been in that room or will be, never lose the magic of our little paper. Smile in your seventh hour of workday. End your fifth email requesting an interview with an exclamation point. Never stop the endless laughter during each story discussion. Remember absolutely everything and NEVER use oxford commas.
4CAST 4EVER!
It’s been my honor, Elizabeth Truelove Shreya Vijay
It was my first day at Hockaday. I remember climbing three flights of stairs and walking into the Fourcast room for the first time, only to realize I was in the wrong spot. Inside the room was Elle Myers, who was also in the wrong place. The two of us, with the guidance of Mrs. Copeland, eventually found our way to the Intro to Journalism room and took our seats on the left side.
A lot of interesting things happened in that room. I truly owe it to Ms. Quick, our Intro teacher, for helping me find my passion for journalism. I still remember reading the Los Angeles Times award-winning story “Snowfall,” which was the first time I realized I loved journalism and wanted to pursue it further.
While the majority of my time
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHREYA VIJAY
in Intro was spent watching ABC 20/20 videos with Amitha and Madison, I did actually do some pretty cool things. I interviewed a Hockaday alumna about her organization centered around advocating for abortion rights. I filmed Jordan Lacsamana on a Go-Pro swimming in the pool for a video story. I learned about making graphics and even created my own spread on InDesign. I always liked writing more and so, naturally, I decided to join Fourcast sophomore year. I sat at the back of the table with Amitha and Danya and we eventually became our own little trio who never got an ounce of work done together. At the front of the “sophomore side” of the table sat Elizabeth Truelove, who would later become one of my best friends. Sophomore year, our little group of seven became quite close, as we built our gingerbread house together (I rigged the competition by voting like 20 times sorry) and bonded over our fear of the Fourcast seniors except for Zoya and Ambyr. Then, my junior year rolled around, and Fourcast split into two classes. In my quiet little G period class, I got to meet some of my new best friends. We would sit in the back together, all ten of us, and I would have them work on my Opinions pages. Most of them are now expert “widow-catchers” when it comes to their own pages. While the majority of these girls were also Spanish III Enriched survivors, we bonded over our shared passion for journalism, and it’s some of those experiences which I will never forget.
My junior year, I had the opportunity to write the Fourcast 100-year anniversary piece. I got to speak with alumna who work for major newspapers in America, and I learned about how their initial passion for journalism started in the Fourcast. This community is truly amazing, and it is one I will always cherish.
Now, we return to my senior year. Getting to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the Fourcast has been absolutely amazing. But now, as I reflect on the end of this journey, it wouldn’t feel right con-
cluding this letter without thanking everyone who made this journey so memorable.
To my parents, thank you for driving me to so many Saturday 9 a.m. workday sessions throughout these past three years. Thank you for reading every piece I have written for the Fourcast. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I will miss you both so much next year. To Ms. Rodgers, thank you for being an amazing teacher. You have always pushed me to think outside of the box as an EIC. The Fourcast is lucky to have you. You are the only person truly deserving of having this big a classroom with these many windows.
To the section editors, I cannot even believe how far you all have come. Most of y’all started out not even knowing what AP style meant, and you have all grown into excellent journalists and leaders. I am so excited to see what you all will do next year. You all make me so proud.
To Elle, Danya, Alexa, Amitha and Anjy, we started this journey together three years ago, and I am so grateful that we did. The Fourcast is lucky to have you all, and I will miss you all so much.
And finally, to Lizzy, serving as an EIC with you has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will never forget our summer “debates” over colors and fonts (my fault sorry), our endless FaceTimes over pages and our countless laughs. You have become one of my best friends through this journey, and I cannot think of anyone better to have worked with over these past three years. I will miss you more than you know. Thank you for being the best co-EIC I could have ever asked for. This time, and I truly mean it, you really are awesome.
It has been my honor to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the Fourcast, and I hope we were able to #MakeFourcastRelevantAgain. Please mail me a copy next year. I will miss you all.
Yay Fourcast, Shreya Vijay
Truelove with her jellycat
Truelove and Vijay have fun at Senior prom!
Vijay with her jellycat
Spring Action: Mid-Season Check-In
By: Mary Bradley Sutherland Photo and Graphic Editor, Social Media Manager
"I am really excited for my last season, and I think with every game I play, it gets more and more real that it'll be my last one soon," senior Sunnie Wang said (left). "I am just trying to enjoy one game at a time with my teammates before we leave."
"This season the Varsity Tennis team has been really good so far, and being a captain has been amazing watching the team grow," junior Anika Gopal (left) said. "I think SPC is going to be really fun, we are all very excited!"
"I've had so much fun this season and been able to PR in my hurdles and the high jump, which I am super proud of," sophomore Kora Thomas said. "Going to the Redondo meet in California with the team was great and I am looking forward to competing at SPC!"
"Everyone has been working very hard during practice and putting a lot of time and effort in," senior Gretchen Jones said (left). "We are all very supportive of each other and we have made a lot of improvements throughout the season."
