Day at the Jay
Reported by Kora Smith (pg 5)
The Next Step
Reported by Addi Fung (pg 6-7)
Revivng a Tradition
Reported by Katelyn Smith (pg 8-9)
Anticipating the Next Moment
Reported by JaiDynn Sargent (pg 11-13 )
From STUCO to the Stage
Reported by Destinee Davis (pg 15-17)
Struggling with Senioritis
Reported by Abbi Mota pg (18-19)
EDITOR IN CHIEFKora Smith
MANAGING EDITORJaiDynn Sargent
ONLINE MANAGING EDITORAddison Fung
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERAbbigail Mota
PHOTOJAY MANAGING EDITORCeily Tiemann
PHOTOJAY COPY EDITORAyla Espinoza
PHOTOJAY EQUIPMENT MANAGERIyari Hyde
SECTION EDITORS-
Destinee Davis
Camdyn Johnston
Abbigail Mota
Katelyn Smith
Seniors’ Last Solo
Reported by Camdyn Johnston (pg 20-21)
The Ones Who Change The World
Reported by Lucy Boyle (pg 22)
MIZ
Reported by Brodey Hutton (pg 22)
ZOU
Reported by Victorya Wilkinson (pg 23)
University of Missouri
Reported by Madeline Jones (pg 23)
Designing My Future
Reported by Jenna Shores (pg 24)
REPORTERSLucy Boyle
Lennon Camara
Brodey Hutton
Madeline Jones
Jenna Shores
Victorya Wilkinson
PHOTOJAYSMaddox Calvin
Ethan Chase
Tyler Hollinberger
Madeline Phillips
I think I am going to win, elementary schooler Brodey Martin said.
Reported by: Kora Smith Editor In Chief
On April 3 at 5 p.m., the club Blue Crew Crazies (BCC) kicked off the baseball season at the Liberty High School Baseball Complex with the Day at the Jay. This event consisted of a ketchup, mustard, relish and hotdog relay, a hotdog-eating contest and kids running the bases at the end of the game.
“We have fantastic Blue Crew Crazies and members who help put this whole thing together. We couldn’t do it without the members, the coaches and Tricia Middleton,” senior Mason Robertson said.
This event debuted last year to showcase the new baseball stadium; from here on out, it will become a yearly tradition. The spirit leaders liked the idea of doing the kick-off party that BCC did last year for the first baseball game, or Opening Day at the Jay. Since the game against Staley on April 3 wasn’t technically the opening game, it was renamed Day at the Jay.
“We still needed to celebrate the team and all they have accomplished, so doing Day at the Jay is perfect,” senior Ava Shaw said. BCC handed out free hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and water to the fans during the game against Staley. Then, math teachers Kellen Laws, Matt Kiser, Christopher Murphy and senior Cager Grampsas all raced dressed in condiment and hotdog costumes. Grampsas, dressed as a hot dog and he won. When the hot
dog eating contest occurred, the three participants had one minute to eat as many hot dogs as possible.
Sophomore Jackson Schnieders won, since he was the only one who was able to eat one hot dog. At the end of the game, Staley won 3 to 2, and the kids who signed up to run the bases were able to while being cheered on by BCC.
Up next for BCC, on April 23, their banquet will take place in the cafeteria from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and the seniors in the club will be honoured. After food is provided, the members will move up to the PAC. Here, seniors will be called up to the stage to receive their cords, letter jacket patches and Blue Jay pins and be honoured for their time in BCC.
“I’m excited to watch BCC grow throughout the years, and I’m sure I speak for all the other seniors on that too,” Shaw said.
The new spirit sticks will be handed over to next year’s spirit leaders on May 7 at the Senior Assembly. Until then, catch BCC showcasing spirit for spring sports like track, women’s soccer and men’s tennis.
The thing I am most excited for is to win, elementary schooler Maddox Sutton said.
On the left is Jonathan Pearcy and above is Junior Logan Sutton, Junior Anson King, Senior Mason Jeffers, Freshman Kameron Gillespie and Coach Kirk Bragg. They gather around the pitcher’s mound at Day at the Jay on April 3 against Staley. The ending score was 2-3. Photo by Ayla Espinoza.
Award winning mens sprint team loses big chunk of seniors.
Online Managing Editor and News Section Editor
The sound of the gun shooting off, sending senior Femi Nilson into a full sprint on April 19 at the KU relays. The anticipation for track season began as the smell of sweat from runners’ foreheads as they stepped up to the line. On the sprint team the seniors are Aaron Black, Nilson, Andrew Fiaco, Lincoln Hare, along with freshman Jace Hicks and junior Colt Nolin.
With nearly all of the sprint team being seniors, a few things will change once they leave. With their time here these current seniors raced in relays and medaled at state multiple times. They have competed in highly competitive competitions
and finished in the top three many times throughout the years. Underclassmen will have to step up and create a new relay team, which Nolin and Hicks are already a part of.
“My favorite moment was at Sectionals when we ran one of the fastest times in Missouri history in the 4x100 and got the school record,” Black said. “I’d also add medaling twice at state in the 4x100 and 4x200.”
Last year, one of the 4x100 relay teams consisted of current seniors Femi Nilson, Aaron Black, Andrew Fiacco and Jaxon Hicks. This year, his younger brother, a freshman, Jace Hicks has taken his place and is following in Jaxon’s footsteps as one of the
Seniors Ava Glaeser, Kali Leimkuehler, Lily Artherton, Ella Campbell and Berkley Bragg sit together playing games and talking together at the Senior girls’ lock-in on Apr. 4. “I think it was a really great thing to for us to do. I’m glad we brought it back so it brings more school spirit,” Leimkuehler said. Photo by Ceily Tiemann.
According to Everyday Speech, “Building social connections in high school has numerous benefits. It provides students with a sense of belonging, fosters positive self-esteem, and promotes emotional well-being. Students with strong social connections are more likely to have better mental health and academic achievement. They feel supported, valued, and motivated to succeed.”
Liberty High School has many traditions for the senior class. They organize events like prom,
homecoming, senior skip day, senior breakfast, senior walk, senior sunset/sunrise and more. Most high schools also host experiences like these for their seniors.
According to Merion Mercy Academy, “Traditions can help to build school spirit and pride, particularly in sports and other extracurriculars.”
This tradition is expected to return next year. However, currently STUCO is planning senior events for the end of the year.
CAP
CELEBRATION
COLLEGE CORDS
DIPLOMA EDUCATION
GOWN
GRADUATE
MILESTONE
SENIOR TASSEL
VALEDICTORIAN
Designed by Kora Smith
her high school career and learned the hard work and discipline of the sport.
“When I got up to where I am this year, I wanted to be a good leader because I’d seen how negative a leader can make the program.”
Wilt also runs her own photography business, Sunshine Snaps by Jordan. She has the idea to start it with her mom.
“My mom said to create a name, and an Instagram account and see what happens,” Wilt said.
After starting the business, she determined pricing, to book with her visit her Instagram. She plans to open a restaurant and sell her photos.
After graduation, she hopes to major in business at Northwest Missouri State and use the degree to open a restaurant where she plans to sell her photos.
To learn more, visit LHSnews.net or view her work on the PhotoJay website, or her socials on Instagram @sunshinesnapsbyjordan to see her work.
college, but I knew I wanted to do something in leadership,” Jackson said.
His leadership in choir and STUCO helped guide his decision to a college and career path. Jackson plans to attend the University of Arizona, where he will major in business management and minor in Spanish. He chose business management because it offered opportunities to lead and work with people in meaningful ways. While he’s excited to enjoy his college experience, he also says he’s focused on learning as much as he can to prepare for the future.
@LPSFineArts
@DanayaRoller
@MikeCSharp
Senior Spencer Jackson makes signs for a Student Council event. Jackson says his experience in leadership will help him throughout his college years. “My favorite part of STUCO is getting to work with other students who want to make school more fun and inclusive,” Jackson said.
by Ethan Chase.
Seniors talk about the stress of getting things done in their last year.
Designed by Kora Smith
Reported by: Abbi Mota
As the end of the year creeps around the corner, senioritis starts to kick in, making it harder for seniors like XLaysia Brown to show up to school. She has enjoyed most of high school, but is itching to get to summer. “Senior year feels like a typical school year in 0.5 speed, I want to be finished soon,” Brown said.
Sports Section Editor and Social Media Manager
The class of 2025 will soon be on the big stage of T-Mobile Center to receive their diploma on Sunday, May 11. This class is finally at the end, but many experienced stress and burnout before graduation. The next step of life could be anything they choose, however, some students found it difficult to stay focused on the goal ahead of them once second semester senior year started and are finding this last stretch of the semester tiring and ready to be over with.
“They’re the worst grades I’ve ever had. The classes are hard, and you have to make grown-up decisions now,” senior Matthew Esser said.
Making it to the week of graduation can be tough. This term and weird feeling for many seniors is widely classified as “senioritis”, a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance, and many students already know what they’re doing after high school.
“I plan on going to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and I want to major in nursing and minor in Spanish,” senior Hannah Adams said.
Their last year at high school and a mix of emotions are stirring around. Many want to take the next step, and others are nervous about
her sister. For her bass solo, she played the ‘first movement of the Koussevitzky double bass concerto’, for her piano solo the ‘Brahms intermezzo op. 117 no. 1 piano solo’, bass and cello duet was the ‘first movement of the Rossini Duetto for cello and bass’ and then for the quintet the ‘first movement of the Hummel piano quintet’. Calder got gold ratings on all four of her events.
“I’m nervous because it is a performance, but I also feel confident because I’ve done this before,” Findlay said.
Findlay played the tuba and performed a solo and an ensemble with freshman Mason Naseem and senior Weston Flook on trumpet, junior Christian Solic and junior Ryan Wohletz on trombone, and freshman Rhys Caudle on horn. Findlay got top ratings all four years.
“I would usually be a little nervous, but I know this was my last year, so I was just having fun,” Tervort said.
Tervort played the piano and cello, performing two romantic pieces, one by Rachmaninoff and one by Forre. He performed a cello and bass duet with Calder on bass and a quintet with junior Matthew Fang on violin, senior Brian Sequeira on viola, junior Michael Fang on cello, Calder on bass and Tervort on piano. He also got gold ratings on both of his
pieces to go to state.
received two gold awards for both the Violin Quartet and Duet. She has had many outstanding awards throughout the year.
“I heard most of the students, and I thought that the passion that they had for the music, the work ethic and all the practicing that goes into the music was just phenomenal. I mean it takes a lot of effort, practice, determination, grit and courage to play a solo in front of a group. I was very proud of everyone who showed up for the event and followed through on it because it can be scary,” Davis said.
Several seniors will continue playing in orchestra and/or band in college. Several will attend UMKC, one will attend Arizona State University, one is attending the Colorado School of Mines, and several will attend MCC, University of St. Mary’s, K State, University of Kansas, Missouri State University, University of Arkansas, and University of Mississippi. The next orchestra concert is on May 5, at 7 p.m., in the Performing Arts Center.
Idon’t like journalism. I only ended up coming to that conclusion this year, which was probably a good thing because I wouldn’t have wanted to waste my time doing journalism in college and hating it. Despite that fact, I was a member of The Bell’s staff for the past four years. In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have taken this class year after year.
The main reason I kept coming back, and probably the only thing I am grateful to this class for, is the people in it. If there’s one benefit to joining a journalism program, it’s the friends you will make. The Bell has allowed me to make some close friends and my girlfriend. However, I am also grateful for the fact that this class showed
Reported by: Lucy Boyle Reporter
The most dreaded question an individual my age might have to answer is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If I were still five years old, writing to my future self, I would say I wanted to be a nurse. If you were to ask me those same questions a few years later, I would say a writer. But now, after years of living my life, I can’t promise you I know for sure, but I could say I’ve been figuring out more about what I am passionate about.
As a young student, I didn’t feel my voice mattered. I had seen the greats change the world through their speeches and movements, but who was I to think I could ever make an impact like that? After my time as a scholar in journalism, I know this is wrong. I started to gain a voice and true passion for journalistic activism when I joined a newspaper class my freshman year. This class sparked an eagerness to spread information and connect stories to the community. As I worked up to Editor in Chief, I was able
me that journalism is not the career path I want to take. Because the fun I had in previous years was lacking from this year, it kind of soured the idea of becoming a journalist. Going into journalism is one of the main reasons I settled on the University of Missouri. Up until this year, I thought I was going to be a reporter, but then that fell out of the picture. I still wanted to go to a big school though and my girlfriend decided to go there too, which made Mizzou a bit of a no-brainer.
While my four years on staff didn’t lead me to go into journalism, I am still grateful to the class for teaching me valuable skills and helping me make friends and connections that I value immensely. It was a pretty fun four years, that’s for sure.
Reported by: Brodey Hutton Reporter
Finding my voice through the power of the press.
to see the true effect media stories have on individuals in the community. These stories give people voices and tell unique and unheard narratives. I was able to diversify my high school and give recognition to students and staff members who had important topics to discuss. I found myself connecting the ideas and skills I had learned in my journalism classes in every aspect of my life: I was writing AP Research papers on student journalists, networking with specialist and pursuing multiple internships within journalism. After all these experiences within journalism these past four years, I realized my voice was always there. I hope to continue to use this voice and tell others unheard stories in college and beyond in my future career. In the fall, I will attend Brigham Young University where I plan to major in Journalism and Political Science. Everyone has a voice, and everyone desires to be heard. Journalism has been an outlet for me to share my voice and the voices of others.
My farewell to journalism and high school.
Designed by Destinee Davis
Reported by: Victorya Wilkinson Reporter
Photo by Ceily Tiemann
have spent four years in journalism, doing both photojournalism and Newspaper. The thing is, I never intended to be here. I applied to photojournalism because it was the only photography class I could find. As for Newspaper, it was simply a backup class. I received an email telling me I had been accepted. I dropped one of my classes and put it in my schedule. I didn’t realize how it would change my life forever.
“Look for something, find something else, and realize what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for,” author Lawrence Block said.
This class had one of the biggest impacts on my life. Every year, in the Spring, the University of Missouri (Mizzou) holds J-Day, a state competition. The journalism programs of schools around Missouri spend the entire day taking lessons around the campus before the award ceremony. I had always planned on attending the University of
A newspaper publication shows dedication to a lost teenager.
Designed by Destinee Davis
Reported by: Madeline Jones Reporter
Being on the newspaper staff has changed my view on collaboration as well as the idea of being a part of a team. Although I was only a part of the staff for two years, I have made very valuable connections that I will carry with me through college and beyond.
Since my freshman year, I have felt like an outsider, and I wanted so badly to find a place within school where I felt safe and included. I joined the newspaper staff my junior year and at first, it was a difficult transition. I continued to feel isolated, but after a few months, I started to open up to my peers; that’s when I truly allowed collaboration to happen. Communication is very important in this class because of quick deadlines and needing to work together with
everyone in the class for the paper to be successful. Although I still might feel like an outsider with my peers, I have met wonderful people who have brought me to where I am today.
In the fall, I plan to study Health Sciences at the University of Missouri. Ever since freshman year, I thought I would be going out of state for college, but due to financial reasons, I chose to stay in state for my undergraduate degree. After medical school, I will work to become a Radiologist through residency and fellowships.
Being in newspaper has shown me the power of working together as one solid unit. I see it with my friends, family and other relationships. This staff has challenged me in ways I didn’t know were possible, but I am truly grateful for it. I will continue to carry the importance of collaboration and teamwork through my everyday life.
Missouri-Kansas City until my freshman year. When I stepped foot onto Mizzou’s campus and knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be. On Dec. 14, 2024, I was accepted. It was the only college I applied to. Had it not been for this journalism program, I would have likely never even considered Mizzou. I may not be continuing in journalism, but I will never forget what it has taught me. I plan on going into nursing, specializing in Neonatal care. Knowing how to talk to people, how to sympathise with them and how to listen to their stories are fundamental to the career I have chosen. Just as fundamental as they are to journalism.
I could not be more thankful for every opportunity I have gained from this class. My biggest advice for any student in or interested in journalism is to never forget the purpose of what you do: you are giving a voice to the voiceless. Even if it doesn’t seem like it to everyone, you make all the difference to someone.
How the Bell Newspaper class has changed my life.
Designed by Destinee Davis
Reported by: Jenna Shores Reporter
walking into my first day of newspaper class my freshman year, I was terrified. My eighth-grade ELA teacher had told me I would be a great fit in the class, so I signed up. I did not know what to expect; all I knew was I wanted to be just like Rory in Gilmore Girls. The day my very first story was due, I had no idea, had completely forgotten and had nothing prepared. I thought I had failed and was never going to succeed in this class, let alone in high school. During our Halloween party that year, I met Victorya Wilkinson and Hadley Cotton. We laughed, complained and we completely understood each other. It was then that I knew I was going to love being on this staff.
Over the next few years, I progressed into leadership.
I became a section editor my sophomore year and went to our nationals trip in the fall to St. Louis, it was there I fell in love with the design process. After the trip, I threw myself into my next design, spending multiple weeks and countless hours on a Taylor Swift-inspired design. It was then I realized I wanted to spend my life doing this.
I researched everything about being a designer and how I could do it, then in my junior year, I applied to countless scholarships and received many. I verbally committed myself to Northwest Missouri State University on a 50,000 dollar scholarship. I had it all planned out.
Second semester of my senior year, I started to realize just how much it was going to cost me to go to college. I was trying
my absolute hardest to afford it and put in the work so I could go away for college because it was my dream.
After trying and trying, I realized that being a beginner designer with over 40,000 dollars of debt wasn’t smart, so I researched Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City and saw they offered an associate’s degree in graphic design. I then applied and realized that going away for college isn’t the end-all be-all; getting a free education that will get me a job in less than two years is more important.
I am so excited to experience and find every opportunity awaiting me in the next couple of years, and I’m so grateful to The Bell Newspaper for getting me to the point I am today.
Lucy, your dedication, kindness, and big dreams inspire us every day. Keep reaching high and changing the world. We are so proud of you!
- Your Family
Your dad and I are so proud of you and are excited for your next chapter at Mizzou! Keep shinning your light for Jesus!!!!
- Your Family
Thank you for all you have done on staff the past four years! You will be missed.
- The Bell Staff
Luc, we are proud of the young man you have become and the new challenges you took on. We love you! Congratulations! Papa, Mama & Liam
Congratulations!! The guy with the biggest heart, best jokes, and unmatched strength. We love you!! Thanks for choosing us! Big Prickly and Mrs. Beauty Girl
Thank you for being on staff the past two years! Your kind heart will be missed.
- The Bell Staff
