WINGED POST THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 | THE HARKER UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER, VOL. 18, NO. 7
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HATS OFF TO THE CLASS OF 2017
WHAT’S INSIDE? Gym Construction A2 Sanctuary Cities A3 March for Science A5 Senior Shoutouts A8
MEENA GUDAPATI
Seniors graduate in Mountain Winery ceremony
STRETCH YOUR HORIZONS Andrew Semenza (11) reads Harker Horizon the day it comes out right outside of Manzanita Hall during lunch.
Space is infinite for new science magazine anvi banga reporter
The premier issue of the Upper School’s student-run scientific journal Harker Horizon came out May 8. The journal consists of student research papers and projects, articles about current scientific issues and topics and interviews with professors. “Our goal is to spread student research throughout the campus so we featured a lot of research articles, like more lay-pieces on just a broader discussion of scientific topics,” Rajiv Movva (11), Articles Editor, said.
Annual Senior Showcase performance to be held tomorrow kshithija mulam editor-in-chief
Seniors will perform in the annual Senior Showcase tomorrow night at the Mexican Heritage Theater as part of their certificate performances. A dinner will be held beforehand to honor other members of the Conservatory this year.
CHECKMATE Last year’s national team, consisting of members Vignesh Panchanatham (11), Richard Yi (‘16), Michael Wang (10), Evan Lohn (‘16), Richard Wang (10) and Shaunak Maruvada (10) pose with their awards. This year’s competition will be held in Nashville instead of in Atlanta, and Harker will once again send a delegation to compete in the competition.
School protects against phishing outbreak jenna sadhu reporter
A phishing program was globally released last week and students at the Harker School were vulnerable to the hack. Emails from students were sent out to all their contacts, asking them to open a Google doc. The link came from an unknown server, and once it was opened, hackers gained access to their username, password, contacts, and other information. Director of Learning, Innovation, and Design of grades 9-12 Diane Main sent out a few emails following the outbreak to warn students about opening these emails. “Phishing is usually an programmed hack that one can send out in a mysterious link,” she said.
ALL PHOTOS NICOLE CHEN
SPECIAL TO THE WINGED POST
Chess club advances; state of game changes
IT’S OVER (TOP) The class of 2016 tosses their hats into the air at the graduation ceremony last year at the Mountain Winery. (BOTTOM LEFT) Mary Najibi (‘16) shakes hands with Head of School Chris Nikoloff as she walks across the stage at graduation. (MIDDLE RIGHT) Anika Mohindra (‘16), the valedictorian of the class of 2016, addresses the senior class last year at graduation. (MIDDLE BOTTOM) Priscilla Chan, wife of famous tech giant Mark Zuckerburg and ex-Harker teacher delivers the keynote address at last year’s graduation. (LEFT BOTTOM) Students sit in the audience as they wait to graduate at last year’s class of 2016 graduation. This year’s graduation will be held on May 18 at the Mountain Winery at 5 p.m.
kshithija mulam & maya valluru editor-in-chief & Aquila news editor
Upper School Division Head Butch Keller announced the 2017 baccalaureate and graduation speakers during senior class meeting on April 17. Students in the senior class voted for the baccalaureate faculty and students speakers as well as for the faculty members who will present speeches at the other ceremonies that will take place to celebrate the completion of the school year. Keller announced that the baccalaureate faculty speaker will be economics teacher Samuel Lepler, and the student speaker will be Aditya Dhar (12). Baccalaureate is a ceremony held for the junior class, the senior class, faculty and senior parents as an induction of the junior class as seniors and a way to bid farewell to the graduating seniors. “When he told me, I kind
of waffled between being really honored, because it means a lot to me, and being horribly nervous,” Lepler said. “It is the last time that this school is together with the senior class. There is a little pressure, but it’s great and always really fun to watch the seniors accomplish what they have and move on.” In addition, history and social science teacher Damon Halback will speak at the alumni luncheon and math teacher Troy Thiele will speak at the bricklaying ceremony. The alumni luncheon is held for parents and students of the senior class to honor their becoming alumni. The bricklaying ceremony is held by the Office of Advancement to honor the seniors who will have bricks engraved with their names lain into the walkway that leads to the Patil Performing Arts building. The alumni luncheon, the bricklaying ceremony and baccalaureate ceremony will all take place on May 17 in that re-
spective order. They will all take place at the upper school.
“Being named valedictorian is [knowing that] I’ve come a long way. A lot has changed, and I have a lot to be grateful for.” KAI SIANG-ANG (12) VALEDICTORIAN Keller also announced the valedictorian of the class of 2017, Kai-Siang Ang (12), who will also speak at the graduation ceremony. He has been awarded the title of valedictorian by the administration for being the senior with the highest cumulative GPA throughout his high school career. “Being named valedictori-
an is [knowing that] I’ve come a long way. There have been a lot of people who have helped me along the way. A lot has changed, and I have a lot to be grateful for,” Kai said. “The most significant impact that [being named valedictorian] has is that I know I have these 5 minutes in the speech to say something that is valuable to me...I really value that opportunity, and I’ll try to make the most of it.” This particular graduation will also mark the last time that long-time Head of School Christopher Nikoloff will address the senior class at the graduation ceremony. Nikoloff will be replaced by Brian Yager on July 1. Other speakers and performers at the graduation ceremony include Chris Malachowsky, one of the founders of the Silicon Valley tech company Nvidia, honor council representatives and various upper school choirs. Graduation will take place at Saratoga’s Mountain Winery on May 18 at 5 p.m.