McCallum HS The Shield, Volume 72, Number 1 (Oct. 29, 2024)

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McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine Drive / Austin, TX 78756 / Oct. 29, 2024 / Volume 72 / Issue 1

Seniors navigate the voting process page 3 Texas should make it easier for new voters to vote page 28 Kamala HQ enhances the Harris campaign page 29 EDITORIAL: Young voters must mobilize in local elections page 31

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issue 1 vol. 72

oct. 29, 2024

save the date

November

Eligibile seniors prepare to their first votes in the upcoming Nov. 5 general election.

High kicks and high notes For junior Lili Escamilla, having to choose between marching band and drill team was never an option.

New emcees bring the noise Seniors Trinity Ritcherson and Julia Rasp take on new job of pep-rally emcees with enthusiasm

Leading from afar Junior Ruhi Motwani continues to manage the You Can Be a Leader club after having moved to Florida

From Germany to game day German exchange student welcomed into McCallum football community

Texas’ dubious distinction

The process for voting registration and mail-in voting discourages first-time voters from their civic duty.

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A new class of ballots

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a&e center people sports opinion

MacTheatre Fairytale Ball @ 2 p.m.

Softball fall league game @McNeil, 7:00 p.m.

Election Day Fine Arts Academy Audition Workshop @ 5:30 p.m.

Veterans Day Piano Fall Recital @MAC, 6:30 p.m.

Knights of Steel Fall Concert @MAC, 7 p.m.

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the issue

Hispanic Heritage Month photo essay on macshieldonline.com

pg. 09

Senior Trinity Ritcherson and junior Ronan Henson hand senior Sonya Peterson a cup of Jarritos soda for McCallum’s hispanic heritage celerbration during lunch of Oct. 19. Photo

by Dave Winter.

Junior Darby Roldan and senior Chander Tripathi jump after being hit by a water balloon during the final lunch of pink week on Friday, Oct. 11. Photo by Julia Copas.

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oct. 29, 2024

Graphics by Nate Williams.

A new class of ballots Eligible seniors to cast their first votes in consequential election

Nate Williams co-editor-in-chief Many seniors who’ve turned 17 and 10 months old or older filled out a voter registration form for the very first time this year. The eldest members of the class of ‘25 will vote in their first presidential election on Nov. 5.

The 2024 election includes more than just the selection of the country’s most powerful person, however. Ballots will be counted in the race between incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and former professional football player turned politician, Democrat Colin Allred. Locally, voters will decide between incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Republican Jenny Garcia Sharon for control of Texas District 37.

Senior Avi Zeifman has eagerly waited for years for the ability to vote.

“It’s a really special event for me because I’ve been invested in politics for years,” Zeifman said. “I think a lot of people my age have been focusing on November as well. It seems like everyone who can is going to vote.”

As she casts her ballot for the very first time, Zeifman said she has been doing extensive research on the candidates and ballot measures at play.

“I have been paying attention to the news more than ever,” Zeifman said. “I also ask

my family and teachers a lot of questions about the candidates’ policies to help me understand who I should vote for based on my values.”

Voting early and in person, senior Kai Talebi will also vote in her first election this fall, an exciting milestone, she said, due to it being a presidential election year.

“It’s pretty exciting especially since this election will determine a lot of things, and all my friends who can are very excited about voting,” Talebi said.

Talebi said she understands the issues and positions at stake in the election and is relying on family to learn more about the voting process.

“I have talked to my mom a lot, and we are going over the ballot together, so that I know my plan for who I will vote for before going [to the polls],” Talebi said.

Zeifman is particularly engaged in this election because of her belief that the issues at hand will affect fundamental freedoms for all Americans.

“I’ve been really invested in abortion rights and freedoms for women ever since there were rumors of Roe v. Wade being overturned, and when it happened, I felt very powerless with my inability to vote,” Zeifman said. “Homelessness in Austin is also a big deal to me, and it’s very worrying seeing fiveto-seven homeless people every time I drive to school and back. It makes me recognize

information about the candidates. that they aren’t getting the help they need.”

“I feel like most TV stations try to make In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed sensationalist content to make people mad Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an and provide a sound chamber for their abortion. The decision was leaked in May supporters,” Tripathi said. “I feel like it’s easy of that year, but it only took months for to get a variety of insights through news states, including Texas, to begin introducing articles, so I prefer going that route.” legislation to ban Tripathi estimates all abortions. that 60% of his Currently, in the friends will be Lone Star State, it voting in this is illegal to perform Voting is such a privilege election. an abortion unless Because and can really make a the life of the Zeifman believes mother is at risk. difference since it’s your this election is Talebi agrees consequential for with Zeifman’s chance to really make your all Americans and assessment of the is longing for her voice heard. most important moment to enter issues when —senior the voting booth, voters head to Kai Talebi she encourages all the polls and said teenagers who can while there are to vote. many significant “You should decisions to make, always vote if you there is one issue that is top of mind. are for people having a voice,” Zeifman “There are a lot [of issues] I think of, said. “Vote!” but protecting women’s rights and bodily In a matter of days, Talebi will have her first autonomy is one of the most important in my votes counted, and she said casting her ballot eyes,” Talebi said. is a preservation of democracy.

With the amount of misinformation and “Voting is such a privilege and can really disinformation across social media this make a difference since it’s your chance to election cycle, senior Chander Tripathi said really make your voice heard.” he has been careful where he has gotten

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issue 1 volume 72

oct. 29, 2024

Crisis prompts ‘big ask’

Facing $110 million deficit; Austin ISD asks voters to approve property tax hike Priya Thoppil news editor THE ISSUE Getting increasingly larger, Austin ISD’s budget deficit has increased to $110 million for the ongoing 2024-2025 school year. A proposed solution to combat this ongoing problem is an increase in property tax, approximately a $34 increase per month per household. The Board of Trustees voted Aug. 15, 8-1 in favor of placing the tax on the Nov. 5 ballot, so voters will now decide if the tax increase will be enacted or not. Currently, there is no set time for how long the tax increase will last; if enacted, it will continue until AISD decides to roll it back, should the state funding allotment increase. other areas with insufficient funds, whereas The Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, the new tax increase, if approved, will or VATRE, is a special ballot initiative funds to be allocated however the district asking voters to approve a tax rate increase leadership sees fit. In 2017, McCallum to provide the school district with extra received approximately $8.5 million in funding. The amount the district receives calculated costs for numerous projects, most per student has not increased since 2019, visibly the new dance studio; in the 2022 staying steady at $6,160. This rate has not bond package, McCallum received $66.5 kept up with inflation, and other costs million for a partial campus modernization. that have arisen, which has contributed Whitley Chu explained said the tax was a significantly to AISD’s debt. If voters enact better option than another bond. the tax, the district will raise an additional “This will give us $41 million each year so $550 per student. we don’t have to keep coming back to the AISD trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu, whose voters,” she said. “We voted on two budgets, district includes McCallum, said this plan so that if in November this passes, teachers was a last resort but absolutely necessary will get a raise in December, which voters due to the have been really insurmountable excited to hear.” deficit the If voters approve district faces. the tax, it will stay in “It is a big effect until the Board We can’t give up on the state ask of our of Trustees decides to communities,” doing their job just because rescind it because the said Whitley district receives more Austinites are doing theirs.

Chu, a longtime state funding. teacher and The district worked mother of two. with Education “We wanted —Kathryn Whitley Chu Austin, the local to ask the Austin ISD Board of Trustee teachers’ union, to state, who is figure out how to obligated by apply the potential the constitution tax revenue toward to fund their teacher raises. The schools, to do district will direct their job, and the $17 million of the $41 million toward fact is, that they didn’t.” pay increases for school-based staff. The percentage raise that each teacher will receive HOW IT AFFECTS MCCALLUM will depend on years of experience. The raise will range between 1.4% and 7.3% with In the past decade, voters have approved the highest percentage going to the most two AISD bonds, one in 2017 and a experienced teachers. second in 2022. Bonds provide money Principal Andy Baxa said he is in support for modernization for several campuses of whatever raises additional funding for and must be designated to fund specific improvements and cannot be redistributed to the school. He noted that the district has

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been working hard to minimize the effects of the budget shortfall on dayto-day operations on its campuses.

“AISD has done a good job of trying to insulate the campuses from feeling the budget crunch as much,” he said. “We are biggest feeling it in some of our ancillaries, but as far harm as teachers in the classroom, the districts did of the deficit has a good job of trying to buffer it.” been the lack of resources If voters pass it in November, the tax and materials. Many teachers have will go into effect directly in December, spent personal funds due to the lack of and teachers will departmental see a retroactive funding. pay raise for the “Especially whole of the fall in science, we semester. Baxa always want to It does suck that [the tax said that feature of do activities and the tax proposal is burden] goes on the hands-on stuff,” impressive. he said. “When homeowners, but this is the only “I thought it you don’t have the was cool that they money to buy those way to get the money we need. thought forward things, I know I enough to say if and some other —Ivan Gonzales, advanced physics this does pass, we’re teachers have spent going to pay off our own money for and astronomy teacher staff retroactively our classrooms.” for this fall semester Oftentimes, in the middle of parents help December.” out teachers by While McCallum purchasing supplies and neighboring schools haven’t been or other materials. affected much by budget cuts, Baxa “I love the fact that parents kind of fill the acknowledged that other parts of the district gaps a little bit with help, but we can’t expect have not been so fortunate. them to do everything,” Gonzales said.

“Downtown, they have been taking a hit Although Gonzales would not have to pay right now and have to restructure a bunch of the tax increase because he is not a property their stuff,” he said. “I’ve known some friends owner, he is still conflicted about it. He that have lost jobs down there and had to recognizes the benefits for the district, but he look for different positions.” also understands the burden on homeowners.

Even though a large portion of the tax “The redistribution law is the reason we do money that would be raised would be subject not have the money that we need,” he said. “It to recapture, Baxa still feels hopeful. does suck that [the tax burden] goes on the “We are going to have to cut off a share [of homeowners, but this is the only way to get property tax revenue] for recapture, but it the money we need.” still brings in additional funds.”

On Nov. 5, the VATRE will take place, and Ivan Gonzales, an advanced physics and voters will determine the fate of the tax rate and astronomy teacher at McCallum, said the the teacher raise that its increase might fund.

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volume 72

UT lowers auto admit rate

Due to high demand for admission, current juniors to face Top 5% threshold Daniela Di-Capua staff reporter High school students all around Texas expecting to gain automatic admission to The University of Texas at Austin now have a new threshold to meet. On Sept.

19, UT Austin’s president Jay Hartzell announced the new auto admission rate, lowering it from the top 6% to the top 5% of graduating seniors statewide starting in the fall of 2026. This will affect the number of in-state auto admit applicants from the current junior class that will be accepted to UT. In 1997, the Texas legislature passed the “top 10 percent law,” which states that all public colleges in Texas have to grant automatic admission to all students in the top 10% of any recognized high school. By establishing this policy, legislators hoped to diversify classes because many Texas high schools are homogeneous in terms of race and economic status; by 2008, 81% of UT Austin’s freshman class was admitted under the top 10% rule. To reduce that percentage, an exception was made that allowed the university to lower the auto admission rate as long as 75% of its freshman class was admitted automatically.

Since this rule was passed, UT has changed its rate several times including in 2017 when it moved from 7% to the current threshold of 6% because of the growing interest from in-state students.

“Their [stated] reasoning is because of the amount of applications they are receiving, but I think they’re wanting to be more elite,” college counselor Camille Nix said.

UT received a record 73,000 applicants for the current fall semester. To make more space to meet the increased demand of out-of-state and regularadmission applicants, UT is lowering its auto-admission rate again, which will directly affect the chances of current McCallum juniors hoping to be accepted to UT through auto-admit.

“I mean obviously it’s

gonna make our [McCallum’s] numbers go down for sure,” Nix said. “It definitely will shift gears for juniors that had it on their list, but kids do get admitted outside of auto-admit so I guess I just have to hope that happens for them.”

Though high schoolers all across Texas can still apply to the university on their own, they are competing with out-ofstate students as well. Three-fourths of UT’s freshman class is composed of auto-admit students, leaving the other 25% for in-state students and other applicants. This 25% is evaluated in a holistic review process that looks at test scores, accomplishments, essays and more.

Junior Merrill Price in the top 6% of her class, faces this exact issue.

She had been counting on her auto admission to UT when choosing colleges to apply to, but she would miss the new auto-admit threshold because she barely misses the top 5%.

“Whenever I made the top 6 percent, it was nice because I knew that everything [the autoadmission rate] could change junior year and senior year,” Price said. “A lot happens to grades and ranks and percentages and stuff, but it felt like this is just nice to know, kind of like a backup.”

Going to UT is a Price family tradition.

“Both of my brothers go to UT, and my parents went there, so it’s definitely more of a family thing, and I can really see myself going there.” Price said.

When considering colleges, UT felt like the only definite choice for Price. She has made a

list of other places to look into but being able to stay in Texas is an important to her.

“The past two years when people ask where I wanted to go I was like, ‘The only place I’ve looked into is UT, but I’m open to looking at other places,’” Price said. “I definitely want to stay in-state. I’m gonna look at other Texas schools, but I just don’t like any as much as I like Texas.”

For the past year or so rumors have been going around about UT making a change to its auto admission rate considering the high level of interest from students around the world. Even though Price isn’t excited about the change, it didn’t come as a surprise to her.

“I also knew when I got to top 6 percent that it was planning on changing, so I kind of knew about it, but I was like, ‘I wish it was staying [at 6%],” Price said.

While auto-admit is comforting to students who qualify, it’s not a panacea. Accepted students are not guaranteed a spot in their desired major.

The admission guarantees only a place somewhere at the university.

To get into a specific major or program, seniors still need to apply. Sullivan Banks-Gilmore, a former McCallum student, is now a freshman at UT. Banks-Gilmore was admitted to UT’s Plan II

Honors program after gaining automatic admission to the school for being in the top 6% of his class.

“Auto-admit made it [the application process] pretty easy,” Banks-Gilmore said. “I felt less stressed than many of my friends, and it was helpful having backup choices for my major.”

In order to be a part of his desired major though, Banks-Gilmore had to apply just like everyone else.

“I was interested in the Plan II Honors program because it sounded like a unique, small, ‘liberal arts’ education within a larger university,” BanksGilmore said. “I spent a few hours writing the application for the program and then sent it in, as well as applying for undecided liberal arts as my major.”

Banks-Gilmore has been planning to go to UT ever since he started at McCallum, so throughout high school he has made sure to keep his grades up to meet that top 6% and gain automatic admission.

“I’d been within the top 5% my entire high-school career and had planned on having UT as an option from the time I chose to go to McCallum.” BanksGilmore said.

When considering the new threshold students will have to meet in the fall of 2026, Banks-Gilmore considers himself fortunate to have been able to enjoy the comfort of his automatic admission throughout high school.

“I feel lucky being part of the top 6% and know that it might be hard for some students who come close to the 5% mark in the future and not quite make it,” Banks-Gilmore said. “Having the 6% guarantee definitely was a comfortable constant within the application process.”

The University of Texas tower on the campus of UT Austin. Starting with the class of 2026 UT Austin’s automatic admission will move down to the top 6% of each senior class. Photo by Naomi Di-Capua

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On screen for the AP

volume 72

College Board introduces new digital format for select AP exams Beatrix Lozach staff reporter College Board has decided to replace the analog AP test format for 28 out of 40 exams with digital and hybrid tests through the testing application Bluebook, claiming benefits such as time efficiency for students, user-friendliness and technological equity, in an announcement in July. The primary reason for the change, however, AP officials said in statements reported by multiple media outlets, is the record high number of canceled AP scores in 2024. While they made up less than 1% of total scores, canceled scores increased considerably after May 2024, when a number of test materials were leaked online in a major security breach, leading to a complete overhaul of paper assessments in favor of digital assessments that College Board can closely monitor.

Sixteen of the exams will be fully digital.These exams fall into the arts and humanities category, with exceptions being AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Environmental Science. Twelve will be hybrid exams—virtually all math or science—ranging from AP Calculus classes to AP Biology. For arts, language and music AP tests, the audio components of the tests will remain unchanged.

As of now, College Board has not notified teachers of any changes in preparation.

According to AP U.S. History teachers Jennifer Richter and Clifford Stanchos, this before the exam.” means that preparation will resemble that of The teachers’ primary concern, above previous years. all, regardless of subject, is annotations.

“Mr. Stanchos and I are mostly talking Historically, Richter said, students have been about how we can create a system so that incredibly reliant on annotations, particularly [students] can use scratch paper to work for document-based questions, which require most effectively” citations and Richter said. a thorough According to analysis of Stanchos, typing documents speed will be of following a Especially with Stats, and utmost importance rubric. in the new format.

“I am the Calc as well, you kind of “I did see an email most concerned from AP Classroom with the want to ‘touch the problem.’ that said they were writing,” And with this, you can’t. adjusting some Richter said. things to make “We’ve been —AP Statistics teacher the practice exams so dependent Richard Cowles closer to Bluebook,” on annotating Stanchos said. documents “However, some and planning of my students are documents by at a disadvantage hand. It’s a lot because they don’t to keep in your have a quick typing speed. There are some head after a grueling, long exam.” websites where you can practice typing. I was AP Statistics teacher and College Board considering making my students practice consultant Richard Cowles agrees. For him,

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annotating problems is a crucial component of facilitating student understanding.

“Especially with Stats, and Calc as well, you kind of want to ‘touch the problem,’” Cowles said. “And with this, you can’t.”

Cowles is also concerned with student ease of use and upcoming guidelines for hybrid exams.

“College Board promises that they’re going to give us practice, but the only things they’ve sent out are information on completely digital exams,” Cowles said. “The hybrid exams are supposed to be coming out soon-ish, but I’m anxious to see what that looks like.”

Cowles remains optimistic. In his view, the new format is unlikely to disproportionately affect students with learning disabilities or other accommodations.

“If you start 30 seconds behind the person next to you, you get that other 30 seconds.

I’m pretty sure the accommodations that are going to be built in will take care of that, “Cowles said. “This year, unfortunately, I’m worried there’s going to be some tough love, and we’llhave to handle the fallout.”

Cowles also rejects the idea that digitization will considerably impact scores unless there’s an emergent testing disparity between this

With 40 AP exams, the College Board has announced changes to select exams.

Graphic by Beatrix Lozach. and previous years.

“On AP Stats, it’s usually about 12-13% that get fives, so if they’re at 10%, they’re going to be like, what’s going on, so they’ll either adjust the cutoff or investigate the formatting,” Cowles said.

Ultimately, students will have to wait until further notice from College Board on the ramifications of digital exams on preparation, similar to the previous year’s introduction of the Digital SAT, which was also specifically created to combat cheating and to increase

Scan the QR code or go to macshieldonline. com to read the full story.

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news briefs Mayoral candidates appeal to neighborhoods in forum

Mayoral candidate Jeffery L. Bowen speaks at the Allandale Neighborhood Association’s forum, Oct. 15. Photo by Lillian Gray.

Austin Council of PTAs hosts journalism workshop

Four of the five Austin mayoral candidates attended the Allandale Neighborhood Association’s forum, Oct.15, with current mayor Kirk Watson notably absent despite being invited. Watson is running for another term against Doug Greco, Kathie Tovo, Carmen Llanes Pulido and Jefferey Bowen.

Greco, a former Austin ISD teacher and longtime organizer, entered the race to shift Austin’s leadership focus. Tovo, a former Mayor Pro Tem and City Council member with over a decade of experience, emphasized her deep understanding of city issues and leadership. Pulido, the executive director of GAVA (Go Austin/ Vamos Austin) and a former City Commissioner and Bowen, a U.S. Air Force veteran, aim to address leadership gaps throughout the city. Though Watson is the frontrunner, having raised nearly nine times more funds than his competitors, all candidates expressed the need for new leadership at the forum.

Voters will make their choice for mayor on election day. If a candidate is unable to get above 50% of the vote total, a runoff election will occur in the spring.

—Lillian Gray

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calendar nov. 1

Student/staff holiday End of early voting nov. 4

CAC meeting, 5:30 p.m.

PTSA meeting, 6:30 p.m. both meetings in library nov. 5

Election Day Student holiday nov. 6

Enroll Austin Priority Registration opens nov. 25-29

Thanksgiving break

After lease expires, Peter Pan Mini-Golf faces uncertain future

Members of The Shield attended a conference at the Texas State Capitol, Sept. 12, to discuss the merits of school vouchers. Speakers included Josh Sanderson, the Executive Director of the Equity Center, Rep. James Talarico (D-50) and Mandy Drogin, campaign director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who debated for and against school choice. Vouchers increase the state’s basic allotment of $6,120 per student, allowing parents to use public funds for private or charter school education. The state of Texas Peter Pan Mini-Golf, an Austin staple since 1948, faces currently holds $4 billion in unused taxes intended for education, Hallways across McCallum have been packed since the start an uncertain future as its lease was recently extended leading to a heated debate about whether these funds should be of the school year, as the campus reaches over 2,000 students. only until March 2025. The Texas Juvenile Photo used to support vouchers or improve public school funding.

Photo by Harper Maxwell.

Justice Department is transferring control by On Nov. 5, voters will decide on Proposition A, which seeks to a new third-party trustee by the Elizabeth to raise taxes to increase pay for instructional coaches, hourly end of the year. This transition Nation. workers, content interventionists and mental health support, raises concerns about a potential while also reducing the district’s debt. The average property tax rent increase that could threaten increase would be $34 per month, adding to the current average the business. Owner Margaret of $560. If Proposition A is not approved, programs such as Dismukes Massad is hopeful school nurses, dual language, advanced academic programs, that she can negotiate a longer librarians, and UIL arts and athletics could face cuts, as they are McCallum’s school population recently passed 2,000 students, lease with the new trustee, while not required by the state.

—Beatrix Lozach but with the overcrowded hallways and increasing class sizes, the the course also pursues historical school built in 1953 was not prepared to hold this increasing size. landmark status after receiving over Part of Mac’s population rise is due to the neighborhoods near 26,000 petition signatures, which McCallum getting younger and more families moving in. Records could offer protection. show between 2000 and 2010, Austin’s population grew nearly Massad, an Austin native, The McCallum administration announced changes to the FIT 150,000 people, making it the fastest growing city in the United cherishes her personal or flexible instruction time before the start of the year. The change States. Although the neighborhoods around the school may be a connection to Peter Pan, included shifting the short period to Wednesday through Friday promoting factor, it is not the only reason for Mac’s rise. When the recalling childhood memories and pushing advisory time to Monday and Tuesday. The first two Fine Arts Academy was introduced in 1997, McCallum experienced of her father carving the days of the week will feature longer second and sixth periods a large new wave of students now interested in transferring to the course’s iconic sculptures. for grade discussions or Social and Emotional Learning lessons. school for an arts-focused education.

Locals, including McCallum Sophomore Georgia Strickland finds the new system confusing and Today, the fine arts program still attracts more students than the students, hope the course’s misses the previous schedule. Teachers also face challenges, now school is capable of holding. Although the problem is clear, there unique history and responsible for signing students up for their own FIT sessions as is not yet a quick and direct solution to the packed hallways and significance will help the administration works to find a permanent solution. Geometry large classes. The Austin ISD BOND renovation plan to completely keep it alive for future teacher Matthew Whipple said the current schedule is difficult modernize the school will not be close to completion until 2040, generations. but hopes for improvements. The administration has said they are and until then students and teachers must make do with the —Elizabeth working towards a permanent solution.

—Carson Duncan 75-year-old building.

—Harper Maxwell Nation

Overcrowding taxes campus as student body exceeds 2K

Admin adjusts FIT, advisory

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High kicks and high notes

For junior Lili Escamilla choosing between band, drill team was never an option JoJo Barnard print manaing editor Junior Lili Escamilla tightens her hat before sprinting off the football field. The marching band has just finished performing, and she needs to be ready quickly. She puts her saxophone down, then regroups with the drill team, preparing to perform once again.

The back-to-back performances Escamilla participates in may seem like a lot of work, but to Escamilla, who is a member of Mac Band and the Blue Brigade, this is just any other game day.

“It’s definitely challenging having to figure out a schedule that suits both [band and drill team] being that they are mostly at the same time,” Escamilla said. “But I really enjoy getting to do both of the activities I love.”

With Escamilla entering her junior year, she says she has already worked out all of the kinks with managing both activities.

She was not, however, the only one who had to make adjustments.

“It was definitely a learning curve in Lili’s first year when she decided she wanted to do both,” Blue Brigade director Nancy Searle said. “We [the directors and Escamilla] kind of all worked together to figure it out, and now that she’s a junior we’ve gotten it down.”

Searle, who has been the Blue Brigade director for 35 years, has never had a student concurrently participate in marching band and drill team. In her opinion, the biggest adjustment was football games.

“Games were confusing in the beginning,” Searle said. “We had to figure out details like who she would get ready with or travel home with. We definitely learned a lot from that first year.”

Escamilla agrees that managing both activities required some adjustments.

“It was definitely really challenging at first,” Escamilla said. “So working with both directors was an important part of it. We all had to collaborate, but once I figured out a good system it went pretty smoothly. Both directors were very understanding about everything.”

Dillon Junkin, the assistant Lili Escamilla performs at Bandapalooza on Aug. 25.

Photo by Lillian Gray.

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director of Mac Band, has worked in fundamental part of the band for more than combination with Escamilla and Searle to just her character; she also holds two leadership make Escamilla’s positions. dual extracurricular Escamilla is activities a possibility. the co-sectionDespite Escamilla’s leader for her involvement in instrument, I love dancing and I love two groups with which allows overlapping practices her to set the playing an instrument, so I and performances, standards for didn’t want to give up either both marching Junkin reports that she “never wavers on and musical and I’m glad I made that the expectations.” performance “She holds herself within the decision. —junior and her peers to saxophones.

Lili Escamilla such high standards,” Additionally, Junkin said. “And I Escamilla is think that has a movement motivated captain, a job that other entails helping members of the band to raise their create and teach choreography. The role allows standards as well.” her to apply her dancing experience from Junkin started at McCallum Blue Brigade to the band. three years ago, the same “I feel like being in dance helps time that Escamilla arrived me get more creative when on campus, which created a coming up with choreography,” unique dynamic between Escamilla said. the two.

With both extracurriculars “Lili has been at McCallum for the same amount Lili Escamilla performs of time with the Blue Brigade during as me, the Pink Week pep rally on and Oct. 10. Photo by Julia Copas. every step of the way she has been one of the people that I lean on the most,” Junkin said. “She has been an integral part of the McCallum program, and she has been

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Escamilla’s schedule is packed. Every day she arrives at school at 6:20 a.m. to practice with the band. On B days, Escamilla has Blue Brigade fifth period, so she goes straight from band practice to drill team practice. On A days, when Blue Brigade does not have class, she misses the last hour-and-a-half of band practice to dance. Additionally, Escamilla has band practice after school on Mondays until 6:15 p.m., and Blue Brigade practice afterschool on Tuesdays until 6 p.m.

Despite the packed schedule, Junkin and Searle claim she makes it work.

“The biggest challenge has probably just been keeping up with both [activities] consistently,” Escamilla said. “Because they’re both happening at different paces, everything can feel all over the place and unpredictable at times. This makes it difficult to handle, but I’ve gotten used to it.”

For Escamilla, leaving one of her passions behind in middle school was never on the table.

“I wanted to do both because I love dancing, and I love playing an instrument, so I didn’t want to give either up,” she said. “ And I’m glad I made that decision because I’ve made so many friendships along the way.”

Escamilla has demonstrated that it is possible to be involved in both marching band and drill team: “I hope that I can encourage people to work hard for what they want to achieve and what they love to do,” she said, “because it is all worth it in the end.”

such a help to me as well.”

Escamilla has become what Junkin describes as a Lili Escamilla’s weekly comittment to both Band and Blue Brigade. Graphic by Chloe Lewcock.

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PALS bleed pink, earn green Annual Pink Week raises $2,755 for Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas RIGHT: PALS form the shooting PAL-ery, making themselves water balloon targets to raises money for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas. “Giving people the opportunities to do something fun and for a good cause was very satisfying,” senior PAL Zane Wiggins said. Caption by Josie Mullan. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

BELOW: With the help of her mom, Austin Pets Alive! community affairs officer Suzie Chase, junior PAL Maggie Brown organized the first ever Pink Week puppy petting event, which helped raise $700 on Pink Week Tuesday. “It was so great to see how excited people were to pet the puppies,” Brown said.

Caption by Josie Mullan. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

ABOVE: Science teacher Syndey Schriever took three shaving cream pies to the face at the Pink Week pep rally. “It’s a good way to get your teachers back, but is also fun,” Schriever said. Caption

by Fletcher Vandegrift. Photo by Sophia Manos.

RIGHT: Decked out in pink nails, glasses and a lei, junior PAL Max Satterwhite shows his Pink Week spirit. Satterwhite and the rest of the PALS put in lots of work to organize the Pink Week festivities.

“In order to prepare, we would split up into different committees, which were in charge of one specific part of Pink Week,” Satterwhite said. “We would plan in those groups for several weeks before Pink Week. Also, the weekend before Pink Week we would come decorate the school, which wasn’t easy.” While the week was successful, it required lots of time. “One challenge that we all had was setting up and cleaning up the courtyard,” Satterwhite said.

“Many of us would have to get out of classes early and get back to classes late in order to make Pink Week possible.” Satterwhite said the being PAL-lery target was a personal highlight. “I volunteered to be in it on Wednesday, and it was really fun, especially after the PSAT.” Caption by Carson Duncan Photo

by Beatrix Lozach.

ABOVE: With fellow junior Kimora Hale photobombing the photo behind them, juniors Chris Alvarez, Kiekie Mason, Jaelyn Martinez, Valeria Villafuerte and Jaylin Sanchez lock arms as the band plays “Hawk” at the Pink Week pep rally. Sanchez said that Pink Week is one of her favorite times of the year for several reasons. “My favorite part about Pink Week is being able to raise money for breast cancer awareness and how it promotes good activities to help people,” Sanchez said. “My favorite color is also pink, so it’s always fun seeing the color all around school.” For Sanchez, the Pink Week pep rally embodies much more than just school spirit and sports. “Raising awareness for breast cancer is important because it promotes early detection, supports those affected and helps fund research for a cure and treatments,” Sanchez said.

Caption by Chloe Seckar-Martinez. Photo by Sophia Manos.

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These shoes knock socks off

Just for kicks, we rated our favorite shoe brands, so you can find the best fit for you Sophia Manos, Sofia Saucedo staff reporters

Sneakers are all anyone’s talking about these days. Everyone wants to know what the next top trending kicks will be, who will have which pair, and how soon until this micro trend will last. We have put the 6 most trending sneakers to the test, but be warned, we spared no sneaker from our most devious thoughts.

Reebok: 4/5

Having been around since 1958, Reebok is making its comeback. Once known for being athletic shoes, these iconic sneakers are now a staple in everyday streetwear, making it clear that they aren’t just a microtrend that will pass in a year.

They’re also durable and good quality. What more could you ask for?

These timeless sneakers combine modern designs with their retro predecessors. I personally love them because they are classy, yet not too flashy. After all, I don’t want my shoes to be my statement piece.

Unlike other brands that solely focus on aesthetics, Reebok shoes are known for both look and comfort. They have a lot of padding inside them, making the soles extremely soft.

They are also friendlier to your pocketbook than most of their competitors with most of their shoes being around $70.

—Sophia Manos

Adidas: 5/5

It is fair to say that Adidas is the shoe to have at the moment. Whether it’s Sambas, Gazelles, Spezials or even Campuses, Adidas is selling out nationwide.

Consumers around the world are obsessing

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over the creative style, fun colors and wide variety of platforms and low tops, and it’s fair to say that so are we.

Personally, the style of Adidas Sambas is perfectly curated to match whoever wears them. My personal favorite Adidas shoe, however, is the Gazelles. I love the high tops, and I think the color combinations are perfect.

Some say that the Adidas brand of sneakers look like bowling shoes, but they are actually supposed to be a kind of soccer shoe, and anything soccer-related, you already know, is gonna be fire.

Since I own a pair of Adidas Sambas, I can attest to the fact that you will need to size down.

I ordered a pair of white and black sambas in a size 7.5 and ended up needing a size 6.5. They don’t provide all that much support but after all they were made to play soccer, so they still are more comfortable than other shoes.

Although Sambas may be trending for their style and popularity, the real question is how much are they, and will they last me? Adidas shoes are also generally affordable compared to some of the other trending shoes, coming in at $100-$120 on the Adidas website.

Generally, I can overlook the fact that they are not the most durable because of how versatile they are. You really can wear them with anything.

—Sofia Saucedo

Onitsuka Tigers: 3/5

While Onitsuka Tigers are trending right now, the color options are slightly more vibrant, meaning, you may not find a color option that you will fall in love with. It might be safer to opt for a more diverse brand like Adidas.

In my opinion, however, Onitsuka Tigers, are more creative and stylish than any of the other shoes on this list. I love the pattern on the sides of the shoe, and they are more niche than Adidas or New Balances.

Although the Tigers bring a vibe to any function, the vibes are kind of lost when remembering that the prices range anywhere from $215 to $360 for regular sneakers.

We were able to find a bargain off of StockX, but even with a sweet deal, the Tigers still reign in at a whopping $170. With such an expensive price, you better believe the Tigers are durable.

Overall, you would not catch me wearing Onitsuka Tigers, just because of the price tag, but other than that, the Tigers are stylish, colorful, and definitely trendy.

—Sofia Saucedo

Pumas: 4/5

I own a pair of Pumas, and they have yet to disappoint. Originally, I bought my Pumas for $75 off of Amazon, but unfortunately, I did not get the pair that I had ordered.

While I didn’t receive the pair I initially picked out, I still love the ones that I received.

I think they are quite comfortable—dare I say?—more comfortable than my Adidas Sambas, and they provide stability when I walk around for extended periods of time, and not to mention they are adorable.

My only problem with them is that there is not much variety, and whether or not you love bright colors, or like to keep it classy with neutrals, you will have limited options.

I think that the design aspect of my Pumas is lovely. I really like the color of the word Puma on the side, as well as the font, and I also really like that the stripe is not basic, but not too over the top to where they take over the whole design concept of the shoe.

I would say the Pumas are my current favorite sneaker.

—Sofia Saucedo

New Balance: 3/5

My pair of New Balance 550s are my favorite pair of shoes I own. They match every outfit and with so many color options, there is really something for everyone, and you can never go wrong with them. They are the perfect shoes to go with any outfit,

whether they are your statement piece or just a pair of shoes to go about daily.

People criticize them for looking like “grandpa shoes” but they always complete my outfits.

So what if I look like a 70-year-old man when wearing them?

In my opinion, It’s a look. On their website, they cost $110, but they are extremely popular, and they are commonly sold out of their most sought-after styles, so you have to order them from third-party websites most of the time like StockX, or Goat, and the prices are typically higher than what they are on the website.

One reason for their popularity is that they are extremely comfortable, I wear them all day and my feet never hurt.

The only negative is that they are rather bulky and heavy, making it hard to travel with them. Other than that, they live up to expectations.

—Sophia Manos

Golden Goose: 1/5

Out of every pair of sneakers, Golden Goose will always be at the bottom of my list.

Although they have become a more notable brand in recent years, there is no way to justify buying a pair of sneakers that comes looking dirty for around $400-$600 when you could buy something that is just as nice, as well as way cheaper from any other brand.

The design, which includes distressed marks all around the brand-new shoe, makes it seem as though the shoe has already been worn by another person, which is counterintuitive to paying such a high price for these handcrafted shoes made in Italy.

Despite some people seeing them as a fashion statement that sets the wearer apart, I see them as unattractive and ugly.

The worn-out look makes it seem like it would take you less than a minute to find something similar on Depop, for a fraction of the price.

Credits to the brand’s approach though, as it seems to amass a unique market of buyers willing to pay that much for such a distinctive, yet laid-back style. The only good thing about this product, however, is that it can still be classified as a shoe, which stands for something for sure.

Similar to the one star trademark that appears on the shoe, I am giving it a one-star rating.

—Sophia Manos

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New spaces, new sound Guitar and piano classes thrive after relocations and expansions

Evelyn Jenkins a&e editor, co-business manager The guitar and piano classes had been sharing a space for over a decade, but when the dance program moved into its new studio, a space opened up. The guitar classes relocated into the black box last spring, and the piano program was able to expand into the rest of the portable. According to teachers and students across the board, this move has been beneficial for both programs.

The guitar class moved into the portable in 2013 after being in a classroom in the Fine Arts Building. According to guitar teacher Andrew Clark, the extra space in the black box has allowed the program to be more productive.

“We outgrew the portable,” Clark said. “At the start of last year, I had about 170 students, so most of my classes were in the lower 30s.

With guitars in half a portable, it was a little tight. The [new] space is much larger here, and it has the feel of an adequate rehearsal space.”

According to chamber guitar player Shirel Behar, the new space has been a significant upgrade for the program and is contributing to its success.

“I like the new space a lot, especially since it’s closer to the fine arts building,” Behar said. “It’s going to be a lot easier to set everything up, and transporting equipment to the Mac will be a lot easier.”

The move from the portable to the black box has also proved to be beneficial for the piano classes. According to senior piano

Photo

by Dave Winter

Graphic

by Evelyn Jenkins student Josie Molnar, now that they have expanded into the second half of the portable, they have more space and fewer distractions.

“One of the things I like the most about the expansion into the guitar portable is that the upper-level piano classes don’t have to do assignments like ear training or rhythmic dictation,” Molnar said. “I think it will also be good during ensemble because more than one group will be able to practice out loud. It used to be really hard to practice with your group when another group was playing out loud because you could hear it through the headphones.”

Theater performances will also take place in the black box in the evening, and plans are being made to accommodate McCallum’s theater program in any upcoming performances.

“I agreed to share this space with theatre,”

Clark said. “They’d like to have performances in here in the evening because it is a black box theater space. I think that’s what it was originally intended for. Dr. Parrott and I have also discussed moveable black curtains being placed around the perimeter so that theater can have performances.”

According to Molnar, when the music classes were sharing a small space, distractions and interruptions occurred. In the past, the piano classes were able to hear through the walls of the portable and were often interrupted.

“When guitar class was on that side of the portable I could always hear the teacher talking and people playing guitar,” she said.

“It was especially distracting when they had a metronome on because it made it really hard

The dance classes, that were previously housed in the black box theater, have moved to the new dance studio.

Guitar moved to the black box theater, and piano expanded to both rooms in the portable it had shared previously with guitar.

to focus on your own metronome.”

Clark has plans for improving and renovating the new space to account for the echo in the black box; however, the plans remain in the future as the class is still getting used to the space.

“What I would like to work on now is that there is a little too much of an echo,” Clark said. “That can make it hard to hear the nuances of the classical guitar, so we’d like to get rid of this marley floor and put in some soft carpet.”

Overall the move for both programs has been beneficial.

“I’m so happy to be in this space because it’s the perfect size for this program that has been growing over the past several years,” Clark said.

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The march back to college Math teacher joins alums, performing in band on Longhorn Alumni Day Lillian Gray staff reporter Math teacher Richard Cowles went back to college on Saturday Sept. 21.

Cowles took part in the Longhorn Alumni Band´s halftime performance during The University of Texas´ home game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

The Longhorn Alumni Band includes alumni from the UT band who come together once a year to perform at halftime.

The day started at 9 a.m. with an hourlong practice to confirm that the alumni knew their marching lines and their music and to reinforce both for the practice later in the day.

Cowles, who finished with the band in the fall of 1992, said that he didn’t need too much of a refresher, because the music he learned in college has stayed with him through the years.

“Although the show looks complex, it’s not too bad,” Cowles said. “For the most part, most of us have it still somewhat memorized. I was able to do about 75% from memory and then just had to kind of remember some of the other stuff.”

Cowles’ introduction to the music world started in seventh grade with the trumpet.

When he got to the University of Texas in 1987, he tried out for the Longhorn Band but was placed in the basketball band instead. After a year with the basketball band, Cowles gave it another shot, making the Longhorn Band the second time around. He said getting back on the field last weekend was nostalgic. ¨It brings back such fond memories,¨ Cowles said. “It’s great to be out there performing with your buddies. I saw some people that I haven’t seen in years. It was such a treat to catch up.”

Along with seeing many former band mates, Cowles also connected with McCallum graduates who are current members of the Show Band of The Southwest.

“It was a huge treat,” Cowles said. “It was fun that there’s that tradition of people from McCallum going and getting into the Longhorn Band and [enjoying] that success. And certainly McCallum’s top marching program helps them succeed in getting into the Longhorn Band.”

Longhorn Band piccolo player, junior Madelynn Niles, was one of those students. Although the two didn’t catch up, they passed by each other after their performance, a special moment for Niles who had Cowles for AP Statistics before she graduated McCallum as part of the class of 2022 “It was definitely comforting to see a

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Math teacher and PALS sponsor Richard Cowles poses for a selfie with Alumni Band members Kirsten Davenport (left) and Anne Hochfelder (right) before their halftime performance with current members of the Longhorn Band. Photo Courtesy of Cowles.

University of Texas sophomore and Class of ‘23 McCallum graduate, saxophonist Stephanie Gallegos, (right) marches to the stadium alongside sophomore saxophonist Rohan Engineer prior to start of the football game. Photo by Longhorn Band photographer Kailey Kessler.

familiar face cheering us on at the end of the game, and also cool to realize and see how one of my McCallum teachers shared many of the same experiences in college that I am having now,” Niles said. “Even though I didn’t get to talk to Mr. Cowles at the game, I definitely feel a greater sense of connection to him now that we’re both a part of the LHB family. I hope I see him next year for my last alumni day.”

Despite Longhorn Alumni Band members spanning several generations, Niles said there is a strong bond between them and the group of students in the Longhorn Band today.

“It is actually pretty surreal to play alongside people that marched in the band in the ’50s, ’60s, etc.,¨ she said. “We have such a shared experience. It’s also really cool to see how the band has changed over the years, but we still do a lot of the same things, too. As

cheesy as it sounds, it really does feel like a family. A family of over 1,000.”

Mellophone player John Hamlet, who was in the same graduating class as Niles, shares the sentiment.

“It was really special,” Hamlet said. “LHB [Longhorn Band] is home to a tight-knit community, very similar to McCallum.

It’s very nice when the two communities overlap.”

Hamlet, like Niles, saw Cowles at the game and emphasized the significance of the opportunity to march with the Alumni Band.

“The experience with the alumni was exciting,” Hamlet said. “It’s cool to see the decades of people who come back every year to march again, and it shows just how much of an impact both LHB and band in general have on people’s lives.”

In his third year at the university, a

performance like this was fairly routine for Hamlet, but one he doesn’t take for granted, especially on unique nights like this one.

“Playing halftime shows in DKR [Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium] is always amazing,” Hamlet said. “There’s nothing like an audience of 100,000 people to get you hyped up. Having the alumni definitely makes it a unique experience for sure, especially with the amount this year. It shows how much being at UT and in LHB means to so many people.”

Though UT sophomore saxophone player Stephanie Gallegos did not have Cowles as a teacher at Mac, she spotted him immediately on the field.

“He happened to be right in front of me when the current band joined the alumni band during the performance,” Gallegos said. “I remember walking out to my spot during the rehearsal and seeing a McCallum shirt in front of me. I didn’t know he played trumpet, so my immediate thought was ‘No way!’ It was really cool and kind of ‘What are the odds?’ considering how many people are on the field at the time.”

Like Niles and Hamlet, Gallegos couldn’t help but appreciate the unique experience that having the alumni band presented.

“There’s around 1,000 of us on the field,” she said. “You have people who were part of the Longhorn Band in the 1960s to people who are in their first year of college.

It’s a sweet reminder that you’re part of something bigger, and it’s so fun to see them partake in traditions that they did in college that we still do today. There’s a game my section plays right before we enter the stadium, and this time we also got to play with the alumni.”

For current or past members of the Longhorn Band, Saturday night provided a memorable experience, one that Cowles, like these Mac alumni, found to be energizing.

“Being on the field, hearing all the cheers, playing the ‘Eyes of Texas’ with a thousand instruments was pretty cool,” he said. “It was loud, which was neat. As well as just remembering what it was like to get on the field and march in front of a big crowd. It’s certainly an adrenaline rush.”

Scan QR code to watch the Longhorn Alumni Band. perform on YouTube.

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fine arts briefs

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Theatre 1 freshmen perform scenes in Oct. 16 showcase The Theatre 1 majors came together to perform a series of scenes and monologues directed by performance theatre teacher, Bonnie Brookby, on Wednesday Oct. 16 Freshman theater major Etta Fannin performed the monologue “Hot Tragic Dead Thing”’ by Ashley Rose Wellman and the scene “Ruby Year” by Alexander Lee alongside freshmen Avital Cuevas and Hudson Haywood. Fannin said the new class of theater majors have become very close over the time they’ve prepared for this showcase. “It was a good environment,” said Fannin. “My favorite part was hanging out backstage and hyping everyone else when it was their turn to go onstage.” Fannin enjoys the process of building up emotions during a scene with her classmates.

In the scene “Ruby Year,” Fannin performed with Cuevas and Haywood and said the scene was very emotional, displaying a complicated family dynamic and showing the commonality of arguments within them. “My favorite piece was my scene, and I enjoy acting with others and being able to build up the scene with the other actors,” Fannin said.

— Tallulah McAuliffe

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MacTheatre Fairytale Ball @ Mac Cafeteria—2 p.m. nov. 8

FAA audition workshop @ MAC—5:30 p.m. nov. 12-14

Piano Fall Recitals @ MAC—6:30 p.m.

Freshmen Etta Fannin, Avital Cuevas and Hudson Haywood introduce themselves to the audience before their performance of “Ruby Year,” which concluded the freshman Theatre 1 showcase on Oct. 16. Photo by Dave Winter.

Visit Shield online Ballet Folklórico lunch show for A&E coverage delivers During lunch on Oct. 11, the McCallum Ballet Scan the QR code to read more stories on arts and entertainment from McCallum.

Folklórico dance troupe performed in the cafeteria.

Spanish teacher Jeanette Miranda Santiago said she appreciated that Hispanic Heritage Month was getting recognition. “It’s amazing for the students to have a chance to get a taste of the Hispanic culture,” Santiago said. “I think it’s so important for the school community to make a connection with this amazing culture.” She explained that it’s important for others to understand different cultures they may not know or have been exposed to before. “It’s nice when we can understand other people’s traditions and cultures, and be a part of it for a short period of time,” Santiago said. “I think it was so kind of them to give us a performance during lunch time.”

New mixed choir makes debuts at fall concert

Under the direction of Nathan Thompson, concert choir students perform on Oct. 17 in the MAC. Photo by Riley Pita.

Junior Abigail Peacock and Ian Savinsky take part in a traditional Mexican dance, the Jarabe Tapatio, when performing with the Ballet Folklórico for Hispanic Heritage Month Oct. 11 in the cafeteria. Photo by Adele Seeboth.

Members of the choir program sing during the choir concert titled “Who we are” on Thursday Oct. 17. During the concert, four preexisting choirs and a new one performed their first musical pieces of the year. Concert choir debuted a piece of music, and a new mixed choir with all the voice parts, the meistersingers, was introduced during the concert as well.

Although the meistersingers choir is new, choir vice president and senior Zane Wiggins believes that there haven’t been many challenges. Wiggins is thankful for the combined class since last year there was no designated mixed choir, meaning students from tenor bass and chamber choir found time outside of school to rehearse for this group. He also loves being a part of the choir.

“Having a mixed class makes it so much more convenient and allows us to put more effort into those pieces,” Wiggins said.

“And the atmosphere of the class is great, and I can see the class becoming more like a family over time.”

Senior choir officer Ella Piston, a member of both the meistersingers and chamber choir, agrees that it’s more efficient to

have a class period dedicated to the choir.

“I got to sing last year as part of our UIL mixed choir, but it’s even more special to have a specific mixed class,” Piston said.

“There’s so much range in our voices, and it has allowed us to create a really rich sound.”

Piston’s favorite piece from the concert repertoire was “There Was a Time,” which was performed by the mixed choir.

“The sounds of our voices mixing and the dynamics we created really stuck with me.”

Wiggins’ favorite piece was a song performed by the tenor bass choir called “Excursion around the Bay.” This performance featured two solos and choreography.

Wiggins, however, felt that one student stole the show. “[Sam Kruck] coming out on stage in a dress and screaming at the top of his lungs and dying was so unexpected yet so hilarious,” Wiggins said. “I never would’ve expected something so over the top in our first concert of the year.”

— Riley Pita

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Chords and crawfish

From piano instructor to food truck owner, Wiley ‘can’t say no to anything’ Elizabeth Nation staff reporter Kate Wiley has many jobs such as coaching kickball, offering private piano lessons and running a crawfish truck, but her favorite is teaching piano at McCallum.

Ever since Wiley played her first chord and fell in love with the piano at age 3, it has been an important part of her life. As a toddler, she enjoyed messing around on the piano and learning chord progressions from her mom, a fellow musician, and in first grade, she entered the world of competitive piano.

Although Wiley succeeded at competitions on the local, national and international levels, she stopped playing competitively in eighth grade when she and her family moved from Austin to Mississippi. The move spurred her decision to start giving piano lessons.

“The arts are not funded in Mississippi,” Wiley said, “so I started teaching private piano lessons when I was a freshman.”

Wiley’s love for teaching piano has only grown since giving her first private lesson during her freshman year. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor of music with a major in vocal performance and a minor in piano performance, she decided to enter teaching.

Coming to McCallum was a no-brainer for Wiley because it provided her with an opportunity to reunite with her hometown and spread her love for piano to students who are also passionate about music.

“I had a brother and a sister that both came to McCallum,” Wiley said.“They weren’t in the fine arts,

but when you get your degree in music, and especially when you get your degree in music and go into teaching, you definitely want to be in a place where you’re teaching students who have an interest in the arts and are there because they want to be, not because someone stuck them in a class to get a credit.”

When Wiley began teaching at McCallum in 2012, the framework for the collaborative piano academy was in place, but no one had instituted it yet. Wiley worked to start the program, which accepted its first piano major in 2013. In its beginning, only one or two majors graduated a year. Since then, interest in the collaborative piano academy, and in piano classes in general, has skyrocketed, according to Wiley.

“Now, there’s often times where, at the beginning of the year, I look at my rosters, and I don’t have enough pianos for all of the kids that are signed up,” Wiley said. “As a department, we’ve consistently grown into a more difficult repertoire, and push each other in a good way to be more successful and grow.”

Despite the growth of the piano academy, Wiley said it is important to limit the number of piano majors to an extent. A requirement for majors in the collaborative piano academy is to accompany shows, orchestras and various musical ensembles at McCallum, so only a certain number of piano majors can be accepted a year. More than logistics, the small size of the piano academy creates a safe, creative environment for majors.

“Since it’s a very small, tight-knit group, it definitely creates a feeling of safety and lack of judgment in the room because we all know each other, we’ve all heard each other play before, so we’re not going to be judging how people play,” said junior Maggie Brown, a fine arts ambassador

for the piano academy. “We’re just there to support each other.”

While Wiley directs the collaborative piano academy, she also teaches all non-major piano classes and Music Theory I, a required class for all music majors at McCallum.

When Wiley was given the task of teaching all piano classes at McCallum, she decided to stack all of them together, so that Music Theory I is taught at the same time as Piano I,II,III and IV. This structure allows newer students to receive help and inspiration from advanced pianists.

“You hear one of the piano majors play their solo, and you’re like, ‘Oh wow, somebody that’s my age, or even if maybe the piano major’s a freshman and you’re a junior, well, if they can do that, I feel like I can do that, or I want to do that’,” Wiley said. “It just gives you a little more drive, or a reason to put the work in.”

Although it may seem tough to teach all piano classes at the same time, Wiley is an expert at ensuring all levels of piano receive the support they need, according to her students.

“I feel like Ms. Wiley is really good at treating all of her students the same way, even though some may be majors, some may not be,” sophomore technical theater major Dede Reagins said.

Reagins, who has taken piano the duration of her time at McCallum, isn’t the only student who appreciates the structure of Wiley’s class.

Senior Kate Talley, an orchestra major, originally wasn’t looking forward to Music Theory I but grew to enjoy the class. Wiley played a huge part in Talley’s change in attitude.

“Her personality is awesome and I think that she had a very good approach to

LEFT: Wiley poses with former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in front of her crawfish truck. Photo courtesy of Brandon Millen. RIGHT: Wiley observes student Augustus Smith play “What Can I Share?”

Photo by Elizabeth Nation.

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teaching piano,” Talley said. “It was just really fun. I liked learning all about music theory, and I liked that there was a cool balance between music theory and piano.”

Wiley doesn’t only balance music theory and piano for her students; she also balances two businesses outside of teaching, giving private piano lessons and running a crawfish truck, Pops Crawfish. Although Wiley didn’t intend to get involved in so many businesses, when she heard that her stepdad was looking to sell Pops Crawfish, she couldn’t bear to see the business go.

“In my family, everyone jokes that I don’t have a ‘no’ button,” Wiley said. “I can’t say no to anything.”

So, Wiley purchased Pops Crawfish from her stepdad and now runs the business with her stepmom and dad. Through introducing high-quality crawfish to the Austin food scene, Pops Crawfish has grown greatly. Now, they are the official crawfish provider of the University of Texas Athletics Department.

Scan the QR code to read the full profile or visit macshieldonline. com.

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More than just desserts

Senior America Franken balances creating her own sweets business with school, various extracurriculars Maya Tackett people editor

Ever since senior America Franken was little, she’s always wanted to run her own business. Franken remembers sitting down with her mom and brainstorming business ideas such as creating their dream restaurants or launching a fashion or makeup line.

When Franken was 13, she took her first step into entrepreneurship. Her very first business was selling bracelets for a dollar or two at the horse shows where she was competing. Her passion switched to doing nails during her sophomore year, but after a year, she felt the urge to explore something new.

Baking cookies and sweets after dinner one day with her grandma, Franken realized she loved making desserts. Soon afterward, ATX Sweet Serendipity was born. “[Sweet Serendipity] is a mix of my passion for creativity and my desire to make others smile,” Franken said.

Sweet Serendipity specializes in chocolatecovered strawberries, which Franken points out to be the most popular item, as well as various other chocolate-covered treats.

“I mainly focus on sweets that give you a sense of serendipity,” Franken said. “As for my favorite thing to make, I really enjoy creating choco-flan which is also known as impossible cake. It’s a unique dessert with layers of rich chocolate cake and creamy flan.

I love how surprised people are when they see the final product. It’s both a challenge and a delight to make.”

ATX Sweet Serendipity doesn’t just specialize in desserts though. Franken points out that when she created this business she didn’t want it to just be about her desserts, but about creating unforgettable moments for others as well.

“With my business, it’s not just about what I sell or make,” she said. “It’s about creating an experience that leaves a lasting impression.”

One specific experience that Franken helps to create and that her business is involved in is quinceañeras, which is a girl’s 15th birthday party.

“From bringing four-foot-tall gold letters for the birthday girl’s name and number

15, to selecting the perfect tablecloths and backdrops that set the scene, I ensure every detail is just right,” Franken said. “And of course, I provide whatever snacks and sweets are requested, tailored to fit the theme and taste of the event. Whether it’s a classic treat or custom creation, I’m here to make sure the celebration is as sweet as possible.”

Franken additionally makes handcrafted eternal ribbon roses, Migajó flowers, and boutonnieres for prom.

“These delicate creations last far beyond the celebration, serving as a cherished keepsake for those special occasions,” she said. “They can last up to 20 years.”

Franken highlights a challenge that comes along with being a business owner, saying it’s hard to earn customers and stand out in the marketplace.

“Getting people’s attention and building a loyal customer base takes time and effort, especially when I am doing all of it by myself,” Franken said.

To attract customers, Franken uses social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok,

ATX Sweet Serendipity was started and created by senior America Franken. Graphic courtesy of Franken.

and Facebook to share photos and videos of her work. She also relies on word-of-mouth from previous customers who often refer her business to others.

“I try to make cards to hand out and sometimes I make flyers and post them around school hoping for more customers,” she said. “Having kids at school that order from me is so much easier for me because I can make the sweet that morning or the night before and bring it in my cooler to hand out at school. Occasionally, I offer promotions or discounts to attract new clients and keep existing ones engaged.”

Franken attributes much of her success to her grandparents and mom who have supported her throughout Sweet Serendipity’s journey. “[They] have supported me all my life in every aspiration and project,” Franken said.

“My grandparents have always been there for me such as taking me to deliveries when I couldn’t drive myself. My mom played an

important role in getting my business off the ground and even came up with the name ATX Sweet Serendipity. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

For Cecilia Baylon, Franken’s grandma, driving Franken around to complete her orders was never a sacrifice. It brings Baylon joy supporting Franken. When Baylon first heard that Franken was starting Sweet Serendipity, she thought it was a great idea.

“I am extremely proud of [America] for dedicating herself to making her business run well and for staying committed to her studies,” Baylon said. “Every good enterprise begins with a solid idea and hard work.

If she puts a lot of effort into it, I know she’ll be very successful.”

Franken’s grandpa, Bernardino Martinez, also acknowledges how starting Sweet Serendipity young was one of the best decisions that Franken has ever made.

“As long as she puts her best foot forward and doesn’t get lazy or scared about how things are going, she’s going to do great,” Martinez. “It is a wonderful thing how much passion and enthusiasm she has to run a business, which so far has been going incredible.”

Martinez hopes that ATX Sweet Serendipity continues to prosper and receives lots of clients in the future.

“It will be challenging and exhausting, but that’s the nature of hard work,” he said. “With enough passion, she can accomplish anything.”

Franken’s mother, Claudia Franken, also has hopes that Franken’s business continues to grow and become something that Franken can build on in the future.

“I’d love for her to gain more experience, maybe even expand her skills and offerings,” Claudia Franken said.

“Whether she wants to keep it as a side hustle or turn it into a full-time venture later on, I just hope it gives her confidence and a sense of independence. More than anything, I want her to enjoy it and feel proud of what she’s accomplished.”

Along with helping to develop the name, ATX Sweet Serendipity, Claudia Franken played a role financially, helping Franken get started.

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New emcees bring the noise Seniors Julia Rasp and Trinity Ritcherson rally their pep as the new voice of pep rallies

Camilla Vandegrift social media managing editor

Interested in being an emcee so she could bring hype to the crowd, Ritcherson contacted Brodbeck over the summer.

“I think I asked in the week or two before When it’s football season on campus, Mac school started,” Ritcherson said. “I emailed spirit is everywhere. From dressing up for the Ms. Brodbeck to ask about the position. Even theme of the week during the day to cheering though there already was an emcee chosen, they from the stands of House Park in the evening, allowed me to do it with Julia, so I’m thankful school pride echoes from every corner. But they let me do that.” arguably the most spirited events of them all are Though leading pep rallies was once a role pep rallies—and to be able to lead pep rallies, filled by teachers, students have taken charge of seniors Julia Rasp and Trinity Ritcherson have the tradition in recent years. to be the most spirited in the school.

“Last year we had our president of our Rasp has been student council interested in the idea and our president of becoming a pep of our senior class rally emcee since her who asked to be freshman year when emcees, and we Getting to look at the entire she said she started kind of just fell into to go all out for spirit senior class and get the that,” Brodbeck said. days. Since then, Rasp “This year, [Rasp and energy up, and just seeing has only become Ritcherson] came up more spirited. to us because they people laugh and yell was “I just love to really wanted to be scream my heart emcees, so we had really fun. out at pep rallies,” them apply to be in —senior Rasp said. “I always Student Council so thought if I didn’t lose they could do that.”

Julia Rasp my voice by the end This new tradition of pep rallies, I was brings even more just doing it wrong.” spirit to campus, Because she felt this way, Rasp knew that being an emcee would as Brodbeck thinks that be a good fit for her. students actually pep up “It was just the highlight of my week when other students more I got to go to pep rallies,” she said, “or, when I than teachers. would see MacJ do the spirit day pictures. I just “I think they’re loved it.” gonna get all riled Rasp said she talked to members of up when they have Student Council, including seniors other people, student body president Kalliope their peers, Haltom, student body vice president Christina Petropolous and class president Poppy Harris, who all thought Rasp would do well in the emcee role.

“I brought it up to Kalliope, Poppy and Christina because they’re my good pals,” Rasp said. “I think they brought it up to [Student Council sponsor Amy] Brodbeck. So, it just kind of happened—it wasn’t super formal.”

Ritcherson became an emcee in a similarly informal fashion.

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cheering them on, compared to teachers trying it’s helpful because all the attention isn’t just to do it,” she said. on one person, it’s like an on-and-off thing. It’s After the emcee team was set, all that was nice having someone by my side to do all these left to do was wait for wacky things with.” football season. The Brodbeck said the first pep rally can be emcees are doing a nerve-wracking for a great job, despite how new emcee, according new the role is to I always thought if I didn’t to Rasp. But the both of them. tradeoff is worth it “They both enjoy lose my voice by the end of to her. it, and they’re both “Getting to look at pep rallies, I was just doing it spirited young ladies,” the entire senior class Brodbeck said. “I and get the energy up, know they’re going wrong.

—senior to do fantastic for the and just seeing people laugh and yell was the year.”

Julia Rasp restAsofemcees, really fun,” Rasp said.

“And it just felt like Ritcherson and Rasp the perfect, perfect have an entirely thing for me.” different pep rally The pre-rally experience than the nerves also are lessened by having a partner to one they had for the past three years, on the hype you up, Rasp said. gym floor instead of in the bleachers.

“It made it a lot easier to plan it out or “I missed a little bit being able to just be talk it out, and get each other’s energy with everyone,” Rasp said. “But it’s nice to up,” she said. “Just having a buddy by just see all my friends together. It didn’t your side makes a world of difference. honestly feel that different, since we stand so We coordinate our outfits on pep rally close to them.” days, so it’s nice having a companion Not only does Rasp show spirit during pep for that.” rallies, but she brings it on during the day by Ritcherson feels the same way about dressing up for themes. Since her brother the sharing of emcee duties.

Anthony Rasp won Most Spirited as “I would say it’s more a superlative for the LASA Class of reassuring,” she 2014, Rasp has been carrying the said. “And family torch of school pride. “[My brother] didn’t directly influence me to do my spirit day outfits,” Rasp said, “but he always told me if it’s fun and I like doing it, my true friends will laugh along and be supportive of it.”

Out of every spirit day theme, Rasp’s favorite is Barbecue Dad vs.

Soccer Mom. “It’s a classic,” she said. “It’s worldrenowned. You see the amount of people who do it that day—it’s wonderful when you’re dressed up in the barbecue dad outfit, and you see another barbecue dad, and there’s that look of understanding. I love it.”

Ritcherson’s favorite spirit theme, tropical, has already passed this year, and since she is a senior, this is the last time she will have dressed up for it.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Ritcherson said, “but since it’s senior year, I’m excited to go all out for everything. Embarrassment is just a mindset.”

“

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Seniors Trinity Ritcherson and Julia Rasp dance at the tropical and disco-themed pep rallies.

Photos by Dave Winter and Josie Linton.

Graphics by Nate Williams.

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Favorite spirit day: Barbecue vs Soccer Mom

Photo by Dave Winter.

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It’s wonderful when you’re dressed up in the barbecue dad outfit and you see another barbecue dad, and there’s that look of understanding.

Favorite spirit day: Tropical/Hawaiin

Photo by Julia Copas.

“

I loved dressing up and going all out this year for the tropical day but the theme days have such a bittersweet feeling.

Dressed up for USA Day, seniors StuCo members Evan Bausman, Kalliope Haltom, Poppy Harris and Christina Petropoulos pose near the office where they present the morning news to Mac. Photo by Eva Sanchez.

Knock, knock, who’s there? president; Harris, the senior class president; and Bausman, the senior class vice president.

The seniors’ inspiration from previous years of listening to the announcements drove their desire to be a part of it.

“We would hear the seniors from last year do the morning announcements, and thought it sounded so fun,” Harris said. “Picking the song, saying the joke and laughing with your friends in that booth is just so great, and I’m so glad we got to take part in it this year.”

Eva Sanchez Part of the job for this crew includes keeping the music and jokes fresh each day. staff reporter The announcers have a playlist and joke book they bring to school every day. The styles of Every morning at McCallum the same the songs are chosen from what’s trending bell rings through the speakers during the currently or the vibe that day brings. beginning of second or sixth period. A “For Fridays, we try to keep it hype, popular song fills the room and the famous especially for game days,” Harris said. line “Good morning, Mac Knights!” said “However, every other day we use songs from by seniors Poppy Harris, Kalliope Haltom, the playlist we all add to. Most songs we try to Christina Petropoulos and Evan Bausman. play are trending or popular.”

After making their For any announcements aspiring students and updates for who would the week, they end like to join the with the “bad joke announcement of the day.” The senior year, The best part of doing Student Council Haltom suggests officers cultivate joining the the announcements content and news student council to keep students and becoming is connecting informed and a member of entertained daily. with the student body. the team so the “I’ve heard tradition lives —senior people say that the on. She advises jokes are not good, the students who Kalliope Haltom but I think it’s want to take part funny that they are in this role to not funny,” Harris never be nervous said. “The laugh at and stay positive. the end is always The announcers more funny than the joke.” find it fun and exciting to start the day off Year after year, McCallum’s Student Council with laughter. members are the voices of the announcements “It’s not too stressful,” Harris said. “But if that the students receive every morning. the announcements are ever late one day just This year’s announcers include Haltom, the know we are probably in there dancing and student body president; Petropoulos, the vice laughing to songs.”

Senior StuCo officers embrace opportunity to take their turn at the morning microphone

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New emcees bring the noise Seniors Julia Rasp and Trinity Ritcherson rally their pep as the new voice of pep rallies

Camilla Vandegrift social media managing editor

Interested in being an emcee so she could bring hype to the crowd, Ritcherson contacted Brodbeck over the summer.

“I think I asked in the week or two before When it’s football season on campus, Mac school started,” Ritcherson said. “I emailed spirit is everywhere. From dressing up for the Ms. Brodbeck to ask about the position. Even theme of the week during the day to cheering though there already was an emcee chosen, they from the stands of House Park in the evening, allowed me to do it with Julia, so I’m thankful school pride echoes from every corner. But they let me do that.” arguably the most spirited events of them all are Though leading pep rallies was once a role pep rallies—and to be able to lead pep rallies, filled by teachers, students have taken charge of seniors Julia Rasp and Trinity Ritcherson have the tradition in recent years. to be the most spirited in the school.

“Last year we had our president of our Rasp has been student council interested in the idea and our president of becoming a pep of our senior class rally emcee since her who asked to be freshman year when emcees, and we Getting to look at the entire she said she started kind of just fell into to go all out for spirit senior class and get the that,” Brodbeck said. days. Since then, Rasp “This year, [Rasp and energy up, and just seeing has only become Ritcherson] came up more spirited. to us because they people laugh and yell was “I just love to really wanted to be scream my heart emcees, so we had really fun. out at pep rallies,” them apply to be in —senior Rasp said. “I always Student Council so thought if I didn’t lose they could do that.”

Julia Rasp my voice by the end This new tradition of pep rallies, I was brings even more just doing it wrong.” spirit to campus, Because she felt this way, Rasp knew that being an emcee would as Brodbeck thinks that be a good fit for her. students actually pep up “It was just the highlight of my week when other students more I got to go to pep rallies,” she said, “or, when I than teachers. would see MacJ do the spirit day pictures. I just “I think they’re loved it.” gonna get all riled Rasp said she talked to members of up when they have Student Council, including seniors other people, student body president Kalliope their peers, Haltom, student body vice president Christina Petropolous and class president Poppy Harris, who all thought Rasp would do well in the emcee role.

“I brought it up to Kalliope, Poppy and Christina because they’re my good pals,” Rasp said. “I think they brought it up to [Student Council sponsor Amy] Brodbeck. So, it just kind of happened—it wasn’t super formal.”

Ritcherson became an emcee in a similarly informal fashion.

“

”

cheering them on, compared to teachers trying it’s helpful because all the attention isn’t just to do it,” she said. on one person, it’s like an on-and-off thing. It’s After the emcee team was set, all that was nice having someone by my side to do all these left to do was wait for wacky things with.” football season. The Brodbeck said the first pep rally can be emcees are doing a nerve-wracking for a great job, despite how new emcee, according new the role is to I always thought if I didn’t to Rasp. But the both of them. tradeoff is worth it “They both enjoy lose my voice by the end of to her. it, and they’re both “Getting to look at pep rallies, I was just doing it spirited young ladies,” the entire senior class Brodbeck said. “I and get the energy up, know they’re going wrong.

—senior to do fantastic for the and just seeing people laugh and yell was the year.”

Julia Rasp restAsofemcees, really fun,” Rasp said.

“And it just felt like Ritcherson and Rasp the perfect, perfect have an entirely thing for me.” different pep rally The pre-rally experience than the nerves also are lessened by having a partner to one they had for the past three years, on the hype you up, Rasp said. gym floor instead of in the bleachers.

“It made it a lot easier to plan it out or “I missed a little bit being able to just be talk it out, and get each other’s energy with everyone,” Rasp said. “But it’s nice to up,” she said. “Just having a buddy by just see all my friends together. It didn’t your side makes a world of difference. honestly feel that different, since we stand so We coordinate our outfits on pep rally close to them.” days, so it’s nice having a companion Not only does Rasp show spirit during pep for that.” rallies, but she brings it on during the day by Ritcherson feels the same way about dressing up for themes. Since her brother the sharing of emcee duties.

Anthony Rasp won Most Spirited as “I would say it’s more a superlative for the LASA Class of reassuring,” she 2014, Rasp has been carrying the said. “And family torch of school pride. “[My brother] didn’t directly influence me to do my spirit day outfits,” Rasp said, “but he always told me if it’s fun and I like doing it, my true friends will laugh along and be supportive of it.”

Out of every spirit day theme, Rasp’s favorite is Barbecue Dad vs.

Soccer Mom. “It’s a classic,” she said. “It’s worldrenowned. You see the amount of people who do it that day—it’s wonderful when you’re dressed up in the barbecue dad outfit, and you see another barbecue dad, and there’s that look of understanding. I love it.”

Ritcherson’s favorite spirit theme, tropical, has already passed this year, and since she is a senior, this is the last time she will have dressed up for it.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Ritcherson said, “but since it’s senior year, I’m excited to go all out for everything. Embarrassment is just a mindset.”

“

”

Seniors Trinity Ritcherson and Julia Rasp dance at the tropical and disco-themed pep rallies.

Photos by Dave Winter and Josie Linton.

Graphics by Nate Williams.

16

Favorite spirit day: Barbecue vs Soccer Mom

Photo by Dave Winter.

“

It’s wonderful when you’re dressed up in the barbecue dad outfit and you see another barbecue dad, and there’s that look of understanding.

Favorite spirit day: Tropical/Hawaiin

Photo by Julia Copas.

“

I loved dressing up and going all out this year for the tropical day but the theme days have such a bittersweet feeling.

Dressed up for USA Day, seniors StuCo members Evan Bausman, Kalliope Haltom, Poppy Harris and Christina Petropoulos pose near the office where they present the morning news to Mac. Photo by Eva Sanchez.

Knock, knock, who’s there? president; Harris, the senior class president; and Bausman, the senior class vice president.

The seniors’ inspiration from previous years of listening to the announcements drove their desire to be a part of it.

“We would hear the seniors from last year do the morning announcements, and thought it sounded so fun,” Harris said. “Picking the song, saying the joke and laughing with your friends in that booth is just so great, and I’m so glad we got to take part in it this year.”

Eva Sanchez Part of the job for this crew includes keeping the music and jokes fresh each day. staff reporter The announcers have a playlist and joke book they bring to school every day. The styles of Every morning at McCallum the same the songs are chosen from what’s trending bell rings through the speakers during the currently or the vibe that day brings. beginning of second or sixth period. A “For Fridays, we try to keep it hype, popular song fills the room and the famous especially for game days,” Harris said. line “Good morning, Mac Knights!” said “However, every other day we use songs from by seniors Poppy Harris, Kalliope Haltom, the playlist we all add to. Most songs we try to Christina Petropoulos and Evan Bausman. play are trending or popular.”

After making their For any announcements aspiring students and updates for who would the week, they end like to join the with the “bad joke announcement of the day.” The senior year, The best part of doing Student Council Haltom suggests officers cultivate joining the the announcements content and news student council to keep students and becoming is connecting informed and a member of entertained daily. with the student body. the team so the “I’ve heard tradition lives —senior people say that the on. She advises jokes are not good, the students who Kalliope Haltom but I think it’s want to take part funny that they are in this role to not funny,” Harris never be nervous said. “The laugh at and stay positive. the end is always The announcers more funny than the joke.” find it fun and exciting to start the day off Year after year, McCallum’s Student Council with laughter. members are the voices of the announcements “It’s not too stressful,” Harris said. “But if that the students receive every morning. the announcements are ever late one day just This year’s announcers include Haltom, the know we are probably in there dancing and student body president; Petropoulos, the vice laughing to songs.”

Senior StuCo officers embrace opportunity to take their turn at the morning microphone

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Motwani has made her move to the Sunshine state but continues her passion of creating leaders. Graphic by Nate Williams.

Leading from afar

Former Knight, now Floridian, continues to inspire students despite distance V Overstreet staff reporter

on how Motwani’s efforts paved the way for these opportunities.

“Last year, she brought in guest speakers for us to hear from,” Seckar-Martinez said.

When Ruhi Motwani, founder and “We had a photographer, a lawyer, and president of the “You Can Be a Leader” Club even an influencer speak to us. We were at McCallum, announced she was moving to also planning to bring in more guests, like Florida, many students wondered what the Kendra Scott and local restaurant owners. future held for the club. Despite the distance, Even though Motwani has moved to Florida, Motwani has clarified that her leadership is she’s made sure that the program continues far from over. because it’s such a “I started the club great opportunity after I attended a for students to learn three-week prehow to become The hardest part has been college camp at leaders.”

Barnard College preparing myself mentally to Junior club in New York,” member Corinne Motwani explained know that I can only do so Hampton echoed when asked what this sentiment. inspired her to form much online and not “It’s definitely been the club. “The camp everything is in my hands. different not having focused on business, the founder of the entrepreneurship, —junior club be able to run it and leadership.

I came to the Ruhi Motwani in person since they moved,” she shared. realization that “But I think that the anyone can be a club is still going leader, not just to be able to run people in influential positions of power. smoothly this year since we now have some That’s what led me to want to start the club.” club officers who will be running it under the Since its inception, “You Can Be a guidance of the founder, Ru.” Leader” has been dedicated to fostering Despite her move, Motwani remains deeply leadership skills among McCallum students, involved in the club’s activities. encouraging them to see that leadership “Now that I’m remote, I’m still in charge of doesn’t always mean being the loudest or the planning bi-weekly to monthly meetings with most powerful person in the room. the officers,” she said. “We discuss club ideas The club, which started last year, has grown and I’ve been reaching out to guest speakers, into a meaningful space where students keeping the social media accounts updated, not only learn leadership skills but also get and creating presentations for meetings. I’m exposed to guest speakers from various doing everything I did last year when I was in fields. One of the club’s newly appointed vice person, except for attending and leading the presidents, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, reflected

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meetings themselves.” presidents are committed to maintaining its Her ability to adapt has been crucial original mission. in ensuring the club remains active and “Our goal this year is to keep going with continues to meet its goals. the original intention of the club. Although The transition hasn’t been without its she can’t be here physically, Motwani is challenges, according to Motwani. still a vital part in helping us reach out to “I have two amazing vice presidents who’ve other businesses and create lessons to teach helped make the process easier,” she said. leadership values to students at McCallum,” “But the hardest part has been preparing Seckar-Martinez explained. “It’s about myself mentally to know that I can only do showing students that you don’t always have so much online and to be the loudest not everything is in person in the room my hands. I would to be a leader, and love to come to all that’s something we I’ve been thinking about the meetings, but emphasize.” that’s not possible, Looking forward, expanding the club across so it’s been tricky to Motwani hopes to transition to doing Austin ISD for a while, so that expand the club all the behind-thebeyond McCallum. might be something you’ll scenes work. But “Once I’m more I know I’ve left settled in, I would hear about from me soon. the club in great love to expand hands!” the ‘You Can Be —junior Seckar-Martinez, a Leader’ club to Ruhi Motwani who has taken schools across the on a leadership Orlando area,” she role in Motwani’s said. “I’ve been absence, has worked thinking about tirelessly with her co-vice president to ensure expanding the club across Austin ISD for a the club’s success. while, so that might be something you’ll hear “We were selected as vice presidents, and about from me soon.” over the summer, we reached out to a lot of Motwani’s move to Florida hasn’t businesses,” Seckar-Martinez shared. “We’re diminished her passion or leadership. bringing back people like the influencer Instead, she’s found new ways to contribute Motwani introduced last year, and we’ve been from afar, proving that leadership knows in contact with local restaurants like Nervous no boundaries. With her remote guidance Charlie’s and El Dorado. Right now, we’re and the dedication of Seckar-Martinez, doing meetings virtually to check in with Hampton, and the other officers, the “You Motwani and see what our goals should be.”

Can Be a Leader” club continues to thrive, Even though this is only the second year reminding students that anyone, anywhere, of the “You Can Be a Leader” club, the vice can be a leader.

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volume 72

Creating a lasting impact

Noack leads Link Crew, a program to help freshmen transition to high school Piper Norfolk staff reporter

friendships, how to apply for a job, all the things that freshmen are looking at.”

Noack had worked with freshmen for 10 Two years ago, science teacher Sarah Noack years and her extended time spent in the wanted to do something more for McCallum. “freshman world” allowed her to understand She went to the principal at the time, Nicole what they needed Griffith, looking for help with. After an opportunity to talking with further her impact Griffith, she on the school. learned that the Griffith described a It feels kind of like summer administrative program called Link staff had been camp. I like knowing that Crew that had been needing someone established at Austin to establish we’re helping the younger High designed Link Crew at to bridge the gap members at McCallum.

McCallum. between middle and Once Noack high school. Noack, agreed to be the —science teacher, who has been at coordinator for McCallum for 12 Sarah Noack the program, she years, decided to needed another start a McCallum coordinator chapter of Link so she went to Crew to do more to history teacher help the freshmen Ashley Friedman and then science teacher in their transition by having upperclassmen Gabriel Adame. Once Friedman and Adame share knowledge with their younger peers. had agreed, they “I had a dream went to training the about a freshman following January. class like High The August School 101, before they [and] How started Link to Do High Crew at School Better,” McCallum, Noack said.

Noack went to “Things like how Link to email your teachers, how to navigate

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Crew’s training week and orientation orientation,” Manos said. “I thought it at Austin High to learn from them and would be cool to give other freshmen that integrate the way they run their program into experience that I didn’t have,” Manos said.

McCallum. Although they don’t collaborate Manos said her favorite part of Link Crew is much, Noack and the coordinator at Austin socializing with her peers and knowing that High try to answer each other’s questions as she isn’t doing it all by herself. best as possible.

“It isn’t just you Now at having to guide 10 McCallum Link freshmen around Crew is run by the school,” Manos Noack, Friedman, said. “You get to Ms. Noack makes Adame and new collaborate with addition Katie others.” her environment very Liseman. This Sophomore welcoming and is always summer the Lujain Alhallaq four worked to explains that she there for her students. tie-dye shirts for loves Noack not Link Crew and just for her great —sophomore facilitated training teaching but also Lujain Alhallaq week. for the environment “I think my she provides for her favorite part is students. how fun it is,” “Ms. Noack is a Noack said. ”It’s great teacher in the something totally outside of my teaching job way that she cares for all her students and that is a ton of work, but it’s super fun.” makes learning super fun,” Alhalllaq said.

Noack explained that if she could have Link “She makes her environment very welcoming Crew as just her job she would. and is always there for her students.”

“It feels kind of like summer camp,” Noack LEFT: Noack poses with varsity volleyball player said. “I also like knowing that we’re helping and junior Isa Urbina, who honored Noack on the younger members at McCallum. We Teacher Appreciation Knight. Photo by Mercury may not be impactful in the first year, may Estabrook. RIGHT: Noack teaches her forensics not be super impactful in our second year, science class. Photo by Piper Norfolk. but the more years we have it here, the more successful it will be.”

Junior Sophia Manos, who joined Link Crew this year says her favorite part is getting to help the new freshman class since she didn’t get this kind of help her freshman year.

“During freshman year, I never had a freshman

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volume 72 Brosnan (right) with her coworker Ellie Blankenship at Redbull Ice House during a shift. Photo courtesy of Brosnan.

Family comes first

Junior takes first job in space with much childhood significance staff at Contigo felt like family.”

Looking towards the future, Thea Clare Josie Linton always thought she would work at Contigo. staff reporter “When I was younger I always talked about how Contigo would be my first Many students at McCallum have job,” Thea Clare said, “but unfortunately it part-time jobs in addition to their fullclosed down during COVID.” time jobs as students. Work for students Thea Clare’s mom, Dee Brosnan opens up new opportunities, experiences compared the closing of Contigo to a small and connections. Students have different scale moving away for their family. reasons for “I watched TC applying for jobs and her sisters and thoughts grow up in on working Contigo, seeing I truly could not have picked alongside school. her there again Junior Thea with an apron a better place to work Clare Brosnan on feels like a works at Redbud real circle of life as my first real job.

Ice House on experience,” she —junior Anchor Lane, said.

Thea Clare Brosnan which opened up Thea Clare’s in March. younger sister “My uncle’s Frances Brosnan, restaurant a sophomore at Contigo used Mac, said the to be in the closing of Contigo space, and I spent many nights there as a was sudden, but Redbud taking over was kid, so it was a pretty significant part of exciting in its own way. my childhood,” Thea Clare said. “We had “It was hard hearing that our childhood things like birthdays, reunions, and familyrestaurant was closing,” Frances said. “But, friend dinners every Thursday night. The it was exciting to hear that Redbud was

“

20 people

”

opening because we knew it was going to have a similar vibe to what Contigo did”.

Thea Clare was hired on the spot after sharing her connection to Contigo and the Brosnan and her grandfather at the dream of it being her first job. According original family restaurant Contigo. to Thea Clare, Redbud Ice House workers Photo courtesy of Brosnan. shared it was their goal to have the same family-oriented culture that Contigo did.

“It still holds the same charm that Contigo They have been super understanding and did,” Thea Clare said. “My managers and have allowed me some time to transition coworkers are incredible and have become a into a healthy school routine without second family to me.” having to worry Thea Clare’s about work.” family supports her Even though job and her work this setup was Redbud opening made my at Redbud, and not exactly what sometimes visits dream that was lost through Thea Clare had her at work. in mind as her contigo closing possible “I go visit TC at first job, to her work and seeing —junior it turned out her work there now best way Thea Clare Brosnan the is so crazy,” Frances possible. said. “It is such a “Redbud full circle moment opening made because we grew up my dream that there together.” was lost through In terms of Contigo closing working hours, Thea Clare worked four possible,” Thea Clare said. “I’ve been with days a week in the summer, but with school Redbud since it opened and I truly could starting now, she only works one shift on not have picked a better place to work as the weekends. my first real job.”

“

”

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sports

oct 29, 2024

Soaking up senior year

Class of 2025 cheerleaders head into their last year on McCallum cheer team Carson Duncan staff reporter As the year begins, seniors Mary Mae Forsyth and Avi Zeifman have to start their goodbyes, one of the hardest being to cheer. From football games to hours on end of practice, cheer contributes a lot to the duo’s high school experience, especially to their final year of high school.

Zeifman has been on the team since freshman year and says her life won’t be the same without it.

“The team has been my life,” Zeifman said. “I think for a lot of girls it is another extracurricular, but I am cheer obsessed. I’ve been cheering since I was 9, and it’s always been the thing I love the most.”

Cheer not only provides an outlet for Zeifman and Forsyth, but it also offers them a family. The girls on the team spend a big portion of their high school experience together, allowing them to make lasting memories over their years together on the team.

“Cheer has given me an incentive to be a better community member, student and friend to those around me,” Zeifman said.

“It’s the best group of people you could find; it’s literally a sisterhood. It has added a lot of happiness in my life.”

For much of her time on the team, Zeifman has been the only person from the Class of 2025 on the team, but this year there was a new addition.

“My friend Mary Mae joined and has just made cheer that much more enjoyable,” Zeifman said. “Getting to experience my very last Taco Shack with her was amazing.”

Forsyth had been in Blue Brigade for two years, serving one year as a social officer and then decided to try out for the cheer team her junior year.

Once she made the team, she decided to make the switch from Blue Brigade to cheerleading.

“I’m most looking forward to enjoying my senior year with all the amazing girls on the team and making memories to bring to college,” Forsyth said.

Throughout the year the cheer team plays a large role in pep rallies, and the later football games, working to create more spirit for the school.

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“I love how involved we are at the games and how engaged we are with both the crowd and watching the players,” Forsyth said.

Being on cheer has brought new challenges for Forsyth. This team is a new experience for her and she has had to adjust to the way it operates.

“Being on the

the team; sophomore Marlowe Walsh just joined the team this year and said that the seniors have helped her feel more welcome.

“They bring great energy to the team,” Walsh said. “They give us tips that are really helpful to make our team stronger.”

Zeifman and Forsyth help the team in a multitude of ways, trying to help everyone be the best they can be.

“They help give me advice on my stunting so our stunts are stronger,” Walsh said. “They also help calm everyone down before pep rallies and games.”

Sydney Schriever, the new solo head coach for cheer, says that the Senior Avi seniors have made her transition to Zeifman flies at coaching the team smoother.

“They have both brought the Taco Shack pep rally. Photo by different things to the table,” Schriever said. “Avi has been on the Frank Webster. team for all four years, so she has a wealth of knowledge of the history team has definitely affected my of the team. She also knows a lot about drive and discipline,” Forsyth said. cheer, so she is someone that I have been “Stunting requires lots of persistence able to ask questions to; she has been a and determination that I’ve never been good resource. challenged with, as well as my teamwork Forsyth and Scheirver, both being new, ability because of how collaborative have had to learn how to be a part of the cheer is.” team together.

Forsyth isn’t the only newcomer to “Mary Mae came from Blue Brigade

Seniors Mary Mae and Avi Zeifman pose for a picture at a recent McCallum football game. Photo courtesy of McCallum Cheer. this year, she has dance experience, and we incorporate dance into our cheer stuff sometimes,” Schriever said. “She has been very knowledgeable on that, and she has brought a new perspective, like how cheer is different from Blue Brigade.”

The team has lots to look forward to after football season ends; one of the big events coming up for the team is their first time competing in a UIL competition.

“Cheer is going to the UIL State Championships in January,” Schriever said. “This is the team’s first time at a UIL competition, allowing us to compete against other teams on the state level. We are very excited.”

The cheerleaders are looking forward to this new experience especially because of its long-awaited arrival.

“It’s been quite a few years in the making,” Zeifman said. “I think we all know that because it’s our first year, there isn’t a huge chance of us winning, but it’s an amazing legacy to leave behind for the years to come.”

With much of the year to come and lots of memories to be made, the cheer seniors are ready to soak up all of their last moments at McCallum and make the best of the year.

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issue 1 volume 72

Coaching doubles

oct. 29, 2024

New assistant tennis coach brings enthusiasm to the court, classroom Daniela Di-Capua staff reporter Every morning during the fall team tennis season, well before classes begin, you could spot the varsity tennis team practicing on the court under the guidance of their new assistant coach, Ashley Friedman. Prior to the start of the season, Friedman accepted the position of assistant coach for the varsity tennis team, working alongside head coach Michael McLaughlin. The team practiced in the mornings before school during the fall team season, in which the varsity had several competitions, placed third in district and advanced to the first round of the 5A state team tennis tournament.

Though Friedman is new to coaching tennis, she isn’t new to the sport. Not only did she grow up around the sport, but her father was a tennis coach in Connecticut. Friedman credits her love of the sport to her family.

“I grew up playing tennis,” Friedman said.

“Not on a team or anything, really just for fun Friedman teaches her first period AP World History class. Photo by Daniela Di-Capua. because my whole family is a tennis family.”

McLaughlin has never worked with another Her passion for the sport and her experience Cienna Patel, a JV team member who also coach in tennis so having Friedman come in playing it have helped her transition into sometimes practices with the varsity team, and help out is a new experience for them coaching the team. says Friedman has been helpful in giving both. While Friedman is having to navigate “Honestly I’m not sure I know exactly what directions and advice to players. how to help around the team and coach the I’m doing, but I’m trying to figure it out along “She’ll give us tips like don’t stand too close, kids, McLaughlin is learning to work with the way, and I love the game,” Friedman said. don’t stand too far,” Patel said “She’s really another coach and use her help in a way that “I think it’s really just an awesome sport, so encouraging, and when it’s just so stressful it’s will best benefit the team.

I’m excited to learn and see how it goes.” good to have her there just to calm you down “Last year I had somebody who was helping Friedman has been interested in coaching and make it fun.” a little bit but really didn’t do a whole lot,” tennis since she started working at McCallum, After winning silver at district last year, the McLaughlin said. but this year was team earned bronze this year with a third“This is my third the first time her place finish in a far more competitive district. year coaching schedule allowed “She brings a lot of positive energy, and she and really the first for it. helps encourage us and make us feel welcome I think she’s definitely time I’ve had an “I’ve been trying and not as stressed.” Patel said. assistant.” to find ways to get Friedman said the team made great strides brought in some enthusiasm In terms more involved,” throughout the fall season, improvements that of workload, Friedman said. will help the team compete in the individual and kind of given the whole Friedman does “Even though with portion of the season in the spring semester. program a bit of a lift more than just Link Crew and “I think we’re warming up, and we’re also coaching the team. stuff I’m already playing really competitive teams, so it’s been that we needed. “[She] makes a pretty involved, but a little bit tricky,” Friedman said before the huge difference,” I’ve been thinking fall season ended. “I’m hopeful, I think we’re —head tennis coach McLaughlin said. about coaching, and gonna really get ‘em.”

Micheal McLaughlin “Not just the I know that this is Friedman, an AP World History teacher, practices, I mean the one sport that said she has been enjoying seeing her previous all the other stuff I would actually history students out on the court and helping that goes along really want to them capture their talent. with coaching: all coach.”

“I really like [coaching],” Friedman said “I’ve the paperwork, we had to order uniforms this Head coach Micheal McLaughlin recognizes had a lot of [the team]in class, so that’s been year, it’s just been a lot of stuff so she’s been a the positive effect Friedman has had on the really cool to get to spend more time with a lot of huge help.” team and the kids’ morale. the players that I know from previous years and Friedman has been going to all the team’s “I think she’s definitely brought in some watch them play because they’re really good.” matches and most practices to play her enthusiasm and kind of given the whole In the future, Friedman hopes to stick part in helping the team grow. Whether it’s program a bit of a lift that we needed,” around and move to coach the JV team. supporting the players and preparing them McLaughlin said. “It’s a year-long sport, [and] “I’m looking into maybe just me coaching for matches or just organizing equipment and I’ve done it all by myself, and it’s just a lot of JV next year,” Friedman said. “ I think it filling out paperwork, Friedman has made a work. To have her come in and alleviate a little will be good to give them more practice difference this season. bit of that load is just a tremendous help.” and experience.”

“

Mac tennis players competes in one of their first tournaments of the year against LASA. Photos by Tzuri Patrick.

Seniors Jack Racine and Evan Bausman

Junior Harper Wade

”

Junior Nadia Tissenbaum

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issue 1

oct. 29, 2024

New kid

volume 72

n the court

Adair becomes third freshman on varsity volleyball in four years

Fletcher Vandegrift staff reporter

Brodbeck still believes that Adair is a key player in the Knights’ success.

“I’m already impressed with her maturity and her knowledge of the game,” Brodbeck When Piper Adair stepped onto the court said. “She knows where to place the ball in Don Caldwell Gymnasium for the first when she’s hitting, and she can spot serve, time, she was the lone freshman on varsity. which is fantastic. I’m excited to see how she Adair played 11 games before attending a day grows to become an all-around player where of high school, and her team went 7-4 in that she would not get off the floor, I think she has time span. Despite the pressure to succeed, that capability.” she said she had no difficulty playing her first Brodbeck emphasized that Adair’s games. Adair said teammates have the only difficulty walked her through is proving her the process since commitment and day one. worth to be on “The chemistry the team.

I’m already impressed is great,” Brodbeck With a long said. “The kids with her maturity and history of all respect her, volleyball, Adair her knowledge of the game. they know her expressed zero skills, her talents, stress or anxiety. and they support “It wasn’t that —head coach her in every way. difficult to start Amy Brodbeck When she gets a on varsity because kill, they all chant we had already ‘She’s a freshman.’ had multiple She’s well accepted, preseason games, everybody has been so it was more very welcoming for exciting than her to be on the team.” scary because people were coming to watch, As for Adair’s teammates, they are and I just wasn’t as nervous,” Adair said. impressed with her talent and composure.

“I’ve been practicing outside of school with “She’s always been very talented,” junior my club for three years, so [being with new Isa Urbina said. “Her passing has gotten players] is nothing new to me,” Adair said. better, and she’s adapted to learn how to play Adair also expressed her teammates have together. She’s a very fast learner and asks been very welcoming. questions if she doesn’t understand. She’s “My teammates are awesome,” always communicating and adjusting to Adair said. “The chemistry is improve her performance.” good. Everyone is friends, and I While being the knew some people coming into only freshman the season. I want to show on varsity this that I should be on varsity, year, Adair and I don’t want to let my is not the first in teammates down.”

McCallum’s Adair and the Knights volleyball started off their season program.

6-0, but have faced Senior adversity since, losing 14 of their last 25 before starting district play. Still, head coach Amy

“

”

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Greta Carlson and junior Lexi Rosenblatt also started their high school volleyball career with coach Brodbeck on varsity. In Carlson’s freshman year, the Lady Knights went 26-20 and finished second in the district, but took a first-round loss to Weiss in the playoffs. In Rosenblatt’s freshman year, the Lady Knights went 28-15 and went undefeated in district, including a four-set win against Pflugerville in the first round of playoffs.

Being a freshman on varsity once herself, Carlson understands Adair’s situation.

Carlson said walking into a varsity environment as a freshman can be overwhelming and stressful.

“I think she could break out of her shell a little bit,” Carlson said. “It’s hard being a freshman on varsity, it usually means you don’t get a say in what happens.

When she gets older, she’ll become more talkative which will be better for the team.”

Despite her emphasis on Adair’s improvement, Carlson is blown away by the freshman’s ability to work well with older players.

“She’s doing really well,” Carlson said. “She’s a great pinhitter, and she’s very scrappy; she’ll be on the ground for any ball in her vicinity. She also meshes well with the team; we can trust her on defense and services. She’s a really good, strong player and key to our team.”

“Being a freshman on varsity can be very daunting,” Carlson said. “You’re not with your friends, you feel a little alone, but you’re still a big part of the team.”

After a solid district campaign and a second-place finish in District 24-5A, Adair and the Knights look to extend their season in the 5A state playoffs.

PIPER ADAIR’S FRESHMAN YEAR SEASON HIGHS

14

kills versus

Eastside on Sept. 6

4

aces versus

Lexington on Aug. 29

9

points scored

on her serve versus

Hendrickson on Aug. 23

Piper Adair sets the ball in the varsity volleyball game against Anderson, Oct. 18. Adair had four kills and a solo block in the Knights’ 3-2 loss. Photo by Josie Linton.

Piper Adair spiked the ball for one of her 11 kills during the varsity’s 3-0 victory over Ann Richards on Oct. 1. Photo by Callen Romell.

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From Germany to game day oct. 29, 2024

volume 72

Exchange student impresses peers with football skills

Fleischer (No. 80) huddles up with his teammates as they took on Pflugerville at Pflugerville High School on Oct. 12.

Photo by Fletcher Vandegrift.

Josie Mullan co-website managing editor

When junior Fabian Fleischer came to Austin from Hamburg, Germany, to begin his 10-month exchange, his new peers did not expect him to be familiar with the American football scene. American football is not regularly offered at schools in Germany, but Fleischer was introduced to the sport through an after-school club.

Head football coach Thomas Gammerdinger said he was immediately impressed by Fleischer skill level in American football as an exchange student.

“I was excited to have somebody new,” Gammerdinger said. “I was surprised by how much knowledge of football he had. I think that would be my No. 1 impression: I was impressed with his skill level.”

Teammate, sophomore Aiden Ilai, said on the first day of practice he immediately took notice of Fleischer’s size and strength.

“At first I was like ‘Dang, that kid’s big; he’s huge, super tall’,” Ilai said. “‘He’ll hit somebody pretty hard.’ The first day of practice we were doing a drill, and he just came and smoked me completely.”

Gammerdinger said Fleischer’s broad abilities in football have set him up for success in adapting to the team’s playing style.

Learning our scheme would be what he’s improved on, alignments, our rules, he’s a defensive guy, so what our schemes are on defense,” Gammerdinger said. “He tackles well; he’s got some ball skills, so he’s got a pretty well-rounded skill set.”

During his time so far in Texas, Fleischer observed that the U.S. sports culture is much different than in Germany.

“You feel the emotions in the game, and it’s way more intense and way harder,” Fleischer said. “In Germany sometimes you feel like the kids have to do [sports]. They’re not doing it out of fun, but here people are focused.”

While Fleischer is here, Gammerdinger emphasized that he wants to try to include him as much as possible in team activities to immerse him into McCallum culture.

“We brought him with us to Taco Shack because I want him whenever he goes back to Germany to feel like he got the full experience of Texas high school football,” Gammerdinger said.

Gammerdinger explained the importance of including people from diverse backgrounds on high school teams.

“In order to work in the real world, you’ve got to work with all different kinds of people,

and the same thing is true on the football team,” Gammerdinger said.

Aside from football, Fleischer’s main goal as an exchange student is to improve his English.

“That’s the goal, learning English and making a lot of friends,” Fleischer said.

Ilai said he’s personally enjoyed getting to know more about Fleischer and his background in Germany.

“He’s a super nice kid,” Ilai said. “It’s been nice getting to know his story and how he got here. I feel like everybody’s welcomed him in pretty well, I hope he feels that way. I know a little bit of German, so I’ve tried to speak [with him].”

As an exchange student, Fleischer said bring a part of the team has helped him integrate into McCallum during his first few months here. Fleischer said he hopes to try playing basketball and golf as well.

“I had a great experience at Taco Shack, and I feel like a part of a team,” Fleischer said.

“That’s very cool because I’ve just been here for a month and I’m right into it, and I’m a

part of it.”

Gammerdinger said Fleischer has been an awesome addition to the team.

“He’s great, I love Fabian,” Gammerdinger said. “Anytime Fabian makes a play, everybody gets excited about it. I’m excited he’s a part of it, and hope he’s having fun.”

“

I want him whenever he goes back to Germany to feel the full experience of Texas high school football.

”

—athletic director Thomas Gammerdinger

sports 25

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oct. 29, 2024

issue 1

Kicking off change

volume 72

After 23 years of coaching experience taking him from Ohio to Texas, Jason Rich has found his new home as the McCallum girls head soccer coach Sienna Martens staff reporter After 23 years of coaching experience taking him from Ohio to Texas, Jason Rich has found his new home as the McCallum girls head soccer coach.

Rich started coaching soccer after college at Avon Lake High School, near Cleveland.

After moving to Austin, Rich worked at Stony Point High School in Round Rock, as well as Georgetown High School. After being in contact with boys soccer head coach Nick Martin for a few years, Rich was informed that a position had opened for the girls soccer program, and Rich immediately applied.

“I’ve had my eye on working at McCallum for a few years now,” Rich said.

Although Rich decided to come to McCallum because of the school’s athletic reputation, there were many other benefits to switching. The proximity of the commute was much shorter and this allowed him to spend more time with his family.

Strength and positivity are both super important aspects Rich is hoping to bring to the McCallum soccer program.

“Culture-wise, we want the experiences of our players to align closely to our values as a program,” Rich said. “Everything we do as a group will be to strengthen that alignment so that all of our players can have a positive experience during their four years with us.”

As far as expanding the program, Rich has already received approval from the district to add an additional JV team. Rich said he is

26 sports

excited to provide more experiences for more people to be able to participate. The program anticipates having 50-55 players total .

Strength and positivity are both fundamental aspects Rich is hoping to bring to the McCallum soccer program.

Rich said he is excited to provide more experiences for more people to be able to participate. The program anticipates having 50-55 players total.

McCallum players said they are eager for their season to start, especially after making program history last year, advancing to the regional quarterfinal. One of them is returning varsity member sophomore Maya Garwood. Garwood is coming into the season confident in the team, and thrilled to have a new coach as encouraging

“

as Rich.

“I like how Coach Rich is detail-oriented and holds everyone accountable. He also has routines that keep us united as a group,” Garwood said.

Being under new leadership also gives the team hope for an amazing season and the future of the program.

“I’m excited to have a coach who is serious and has goals for the program’s future,”

We want the experiences of our players to align closely to our values as a program.

—head coach Jason Rich

”

Garwood said.

Senior Sofia Thatcher, approaching her senior soccer season, feels confident in the program’s future, especially now that it’s in Rich’s hands.

“I like that Coach Rich is very invested in the program and organized, he also really wants us to improve and go far.” Thatcher said.

New girls soccer coach Jason Rich coaches his players through a drill on Oct. 10. Photo by Olivia Hernandez-Eeds.

the

issue 1 volume 72

oct. 29, 2024

sports briefs Lentz advances to Huntsville regionals

The boys and girls cross-country team competed at the UIL 5A District 24 Championships on Oct. 11 at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. Junior Julia Lentz was the only McCallum runner to qualify for the regional championship, placing eighth out of 40 runners in the five-kilometer race. The top three teams and top 10 runners from each division qualify to compete at the regional meet.

“I’ve been working for that moment over the whole season, so I’m glad to be qualified for regionals,” Lentz said.

Lentz’s varsity team finished just two places shy of a team qualification. Seniors Amalia Scatton and Tate Jones finished close together, placing eighth and 25th, respectively.

“This season went really well, but I haven’t hit a personal record this year, so I’m hoping to do that at regionals,” Lentz said.

The boys varsity team ran neck-and-neck against a new opponent, Bastrop, but could not overtake their third-place lead in the division. The top five runners from each team count towards a school’s overall score, which is determined by placement in a race.

Junior Waylon DeAtley was the first Mac boy to finish in the varsity division, finishing in 17:53.2 and placing 11th out of 40 runners, one place shy of qualifying.

Lentz races the course at the UIL District 24-5A Championship on Oct. 11. At region on Oct. 22 in Huntsville, Lentz placed 74th of 164 runners. Photo by Adele Seeboth.

Varsity football looks to finish strong in final two games

The varsity football team lost to the Connally Cougars 49-46 on Oct. 18 after the Cougars scored as time dwindled off the clock and subsequently recovered a McCallum fumble. This was McCallum’s fourth consecutive district loss, their worst record since 2019.

Senior lineman Ajay Woolf said that the team knew the pressure was on for the annual Taco Shack Bowl, especially after a successful offseason.

“It’s always going to be a good battle with those guys,” Woolf said. “We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, especially coming from 7-on-7, [we were] feeling good about coming back from state,” he said.

After Taco Shack, the Knights ended their pre-district record 2-1 by beating Travis 42-14 on Sept. 6 and L. G. Pinkston 71-51 in a road trip to Dallas. Starting a season with new district opponents, Woolf said the main cause for poor performance was due to player injuries suffered in predistrict.

“Going into district, we already had our heads down,” Woolf said. “That’s why we lost like that to Elgin, and then going into Bastrop we had nothing

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calendar nov. 4

softball fall league @ mcneil h.s.—7 p.m. nov. 7

jv football vs Crockett @ Noack—6 p.m. nov. 8

varsity football vs Crockett @ Burger Stadium— 7:30 p.m.

to lose. I feel like we played with that demeanor, and that’s why the game was close even if we didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”

The Knights lost to Elgin in the district opener on Sept. 20, and then again at Bastrop 39-32. Following a bye week, McCallum also lost at Pflugerville on Oct. 10. The Knights played perhaps their best game of the season putting up 57 points against first-place Liberty Hill last Friday in a 78-57 shootout.

With two games left, and no chance of playoffs, Woolf said he hopes to keep things positive.

“I think we’re just gonna go out there and have fun,” he said.

“There’s no point in being mad about everything and pouring your heart out. I still love the sport and everything, but you just need to have fun with it and realize that these are the last few games that I’ll ever play in my life.”

The Knights wrap up the season against Navarro on Oct. 31 at House Park and at Crockett Nov. 8 at Burger Stadium.

—Julia Copas

Wide receiver Jaiden Booe leaps to make a reception during the Knights’ 52-14 loss at Pflugerville.

Photo by Julia Copas.

This is a caption for either a photo or type of image on the page. Photo/ Graphic by (insert creator name).

Volleyball finishes second in district Swim team kicks off season The varsity volleyball team has finished extended the Knights district winning second in district play and will enter the streak to six games, but the streak which against ARS, Crockett state 5A playoffs as the No. 2 seed from started after a Sept. 24 straight-set loss

District 24-5A. They beat the Crockett Cougars 3-0 on the road on Oct. 15.

Junior Kafia Jackson-Woods said the team felt well-prepared going into the game but still had to work together to keep a strong mentality throughout the game.

“We already had the confidence going in,” she said, “but we made sure that we kept our serves going, and stayed talking and listening to each other.”

Jackson-Woods said that communication was essential for her own success in the game.

“I listened to my back row players when they were telling me where I could hit or where I could tip, like strategies to get more points Rosenblatt sets the ball, perhaps for one for the game to end quicker,” of her team-high 16 assists at a 3-0 loss at Jackson-Woods said.

Anderson on Sept. 24. Photo by JoJo Barnard. The victory over Crockett

at Anderson ended on Friday when the Trojans edged the Knights in a five-set classic that determined that the Knights will place second in district behind the Trojans.

The Knights enjoyed their second five-set thriller win in the past two weeks when they came back from 2-1 down to defeat Ann Richards on the road on Friday night as they had against LASA two weeks prior.

After dropping the first and third sets to the Stars, the Knights took the fourth set, 25-17, thanks to a seven-point service run from junior Lexi Rosenblatt and a five-point service run from senior Kai Talebi.

The Knights jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the tiebreaker set before the Stars rallied to a 14-13 lead and a game point. Senior Helen Rogers’ kill staved off that point for a 14-all tie, and then a Rosenblatt tip and a Carlson tip on Rogers’ serve sealed the win for Mac. —Josie Mullan, Maya Tackett, Tristen Diaz

The swim team competed against Ann Richards and Crockett at Great Hills Country Club, Oct. 9. It was the first meet against other schools this season due to the shortage of available pools.

Senior captain London Pagnini said the competition was beneficial, especially for new teammates.

“I felt like this meet was a good intro to how meets work for our new swimmers this year,” Pagnini said. “Having a meet with other schools allowed for some pretty competitive spirit and I feel like this was a good kick-off to meet season for our team this year.”

In addition to the introduction to competition, Pagnini believes it was great to have this meet at their home pool.

“I think that having our meet at our home pool made people feel comfortable but I think going to away meets gets the team more pumped up,” Pagnini said. “Everyone has been putting in a good effort so far this season and we have made a lot of progress.”

Pagnini said she is looking forward to the rest of her final season swimming with Mac and upcoming competitions.

“I’m really excited for our UT meet as well as our [Corpus Christi, TX] meet cause those are always super fun,” Pagnini said.

—Riley Pita

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opinion

oct. 29 2024

Texas’ dubious distinction

Registration process in Lone Star State an unnecessary barrier for new voters Chloe Lewcock co-editor-in-chief I filled out the register-to-vote form exactly two months before my birthday. As a September-born Virgo, and technically out of my own resignation a summer birthday, the prospect of getting to vote was always one that thrilled me.

If Texas allowed online voter registration, I would have been registered on the spot, but Texas requires registration by mail, so instead of registering immediately, I signed my full name on the dotted line at the end of my voter form, added the date July 20, 2024, to the paper and stamped it with one single American Flag stamp, I tucked the form—the form I had waited 17 years and 10 months to send—safely in its envelope on my dining room table. But then my busy life got in the way, and the letter remained on that table, unmoved, for 32 days until I finally got around to sending it.

Texas, one of eight states that still employs the antiquated paper voter registration system, creates an extra and unnecessary step for its residents to cast their votes in elections. Saddled with one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation, according to the Texas Tribune, Texas has a registration process. The difficulty of it obviously process and voting procedure that are—if reduces the likelihood that new voters will not impossible—so annoyingly inconvenient make it to the polls this November. And that they discourage new voters from voting that’s simply unacceptable. by making the process take ridiculously The state needs to come up with a better longer than it should take. system. In the 2024 presidential primary, 3.2 As I checked my million Texans voter registration voted, way down status online, after from the 4.1 finally mailing million voters the form, I saw who participated The possiblilty of a mail-in a series of “NOT in the 2020 REGISTERED” on presidential vote would create a sense various websites. primary election.

The giant red “X” of ease whether or not you In fact, Texas has next to my name been awarded can make it to the polls. indicated that my the title of “most prospect of being restrictive prea new voter was registration law in doubt. When in the country,” I finally did get according to the my registration, Tribune. my name was misspelled, something that Wisconsin, Michigan, Connecticut and would not have happened if I had entered Illinois, just to name a few, have a policy my own name during an online registration that allows their voters to register and vote process. Instead I had to go back to the on the same day. Texas, on the other hand, beginning of the snail mail process. requires voters to be registered by Oct. 7.

In this new generation of cellphones, This unnecessary deterrent disqualifies smartwatches and artificial intelligence, people from resolving issues with their the idea that I had to register to vote with registration, as I am having. These potential pen and paper seems out of touch with voters may not get their registration resolved my generation. At least I had the time and in time. The lack of a voter registration card, the resources to navigate the labyrinthine or confirmation places stress on the voter,

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Graphic of a declined voter registration card.

The card symbolizes the challenges new Texas voters face when trying to reach the polls.

and requires considerable research to make sure everything is in order for election day.

Another issue facing voters in Texas, especially those unfamiliar with the system is mail-in ballots. Unless you qualify as disabled, incarcerated, pregnant, above the age of 65 or outside the county throughout the voting period, you are disqualified from being able to vote by mail.

For teens, the unpredictability of scheduling whether it be work or school, the possibility of a mail-in vote would create a sense of ease that no matter the circumstance your vote will be counted whether or not you can make it to the polls. Nearly 88% of California votes, according to the California Secretary of State website, are conducted by mail.

That’s just one example of a state that allows for universal mail-in ballots and sees how that provision allows more citizens to vote efficiently without having to visit the polls.

Compare Texas, with its less than 50% voter turnout rate, to Minnesota, a state where over 80% of registered voters cast their ballots. With same-day voter registration, as well as less strict identification standards, the state sees the majority of its registered citizens voting. If Minnesota can simplify its process to enable voting and attract voters to the polls, why can’t Texas? The disparity raises troubling questions about why Texas has such a convoluted process.

While the possibility of voting early exists throughout the U.S., including in Texas, many voters will wait until Election Day and a certain percentage of those people will end up missing the vote.

In order for Texas to raise its voter registration numbers and low voter turnout numbers, the state needs to implement new methods that make it easier to vote.

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oct. 29, 2024

volume 72

Kamala HQ uses expert social media to enhance the Harris campaign Shila Gill opinion editor Can being a brat help win an election?

Democratic candidate for President Kamala Harris’ use of social media will provide a clear answer come Nov. 5. Her social media presence known as Kamala HQ follows trends such as “brat.” Kamala and her social media team has a significant presence with her constantly trending videos using popular audios to reach a larger audience. While this may not seem like a notable feat, it is. In so many presidential candidates campaigns, the candidates have neglected the younger generation of voters. So many people feel as though presidential candidates are too old and out of touch to properly represent the country, and so many do nothing to correct this assumption. With one million followers on Instagram and 4.4 million on TikTok, Kamala HQ is an olive branch between Harris and the younger generation of voters.

Being a presidential candidate is all about balance. While it’s important to showcase the characteristics of a strong leader, it’s even more important to show that a candidate is human.

Kamala HQ does a great job of creating a persona for Harris in which these two aspects of her character can be synonymous.

With so many having hectic lives, it’s not always possible to keep up with politics. Politicians having a social media page that is constantly putting out short video clips of some Graphic of their best moments, and

by Mira even following trends that summarize everything one Patel. stands for, allows the public to scroll on social media for entertainment while

simultaneously being influenced politically, sometimes without even realizing it.

Think about the copious amounts of things that have gotten popular due to them trending on social media. So many have gotten careers after trends using their music, or a dance being created to a song that they have made. Social media can not only change

peoples lives and careers, but it can also change the election.

It’s said that you can tell how a debate is going by the looks on the debater’s faces. A social media presence is no different.

Kamala HQ follows trends that showcase Kamala’s policies, highlights some of the things that Trump has said and debunks them and overall

humanizes Kamala. On the other hand her opponent, Republican Donald Trump, does the opposite. Trump uses X, formerly known as Twitter, to vocalizes every one of his feelings, even at some point getting banned on the platform. On the app, he posts everything from outlandish accusations to hate messages towards people that don’t support him. Social media makes a lasting impression on so many voters and the way that it is used can be crucial to one’s public image, whether changing it for the better, or the worse.

With such a polarizing election, it is smart campaigning to get your message out to the world online, while being able to debunk your opponent to millions. You could visit all the states and speak to them about who you are and what you want accomplished, but simply by making a post you can reach people from all over the country and have such a large impact.

Harris’s campaign continues to paint her in the best possible light–a light that now millions can possibly see her in. She even has people call her Kamala instead of Harris, continuing to humanize herself and make that personal connection with voters who might not have felt that with a presidential candidate previously.

This new generation of voters uses social media to express their voices and their opinions and Harris being a part of that is giving her an incredible advantage and one that is not talked about as much.

With social media really taking off in the past years, using it to its potential is crucial to reaching and influencing countless voters. It’s come time to stop ignoring an indispensable tool for widespread messaging. Kamala HQ has paved the way for many politicians to come.

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oct. 29, 2024

Results of a @macjournalism Instagram poll that received 24 responses.

Photos by Carlo Hinsdale taken on Oct 18. Graphics by Nate Williams.

A recipe for student stress Long lines, short lunch period make midday on-campus meal a real struggle

Carlo Hinsdale staff reporter

both fill up equally fast, and the wait time is unbearable.

Students who do not bring a lunch from home or buy one from school are left with After four hours of hard work, two options: break the rules and go off McCallum students are rewarded with campus or be hungry. No student wants to 40 or so minutes of free time to eat and get in trouble for leaving campus, but they relax. But those who buy school lunches are left with little choice. Only seniors are don’t get this luxury, spending half of the allowed to go off campus, so the rest of the allotted lunch time waiting in the lines for student body has no solution to assuage food. Once they their hunger. finally get their The frustrations food, they are don’t stop with just either forced to the long wait times. eat it in the time For students who rely on Once students remaining, in finally reach the their next class these meals to fuel their day, front of the line, or not at all. If a favorite school lunch is this situation is far from ideal.. their options are often normally their sold out, forcing first meal of the them to settle for day, they won’t their second choice. eat until dinner.

The decreasing time While the looms over students issue of long lunch lines is preexisting, as they try to scarf down their meals the overcrowding brings it to a whole within the limited time they have. Many new level. The lunch lines are exhausting. are left with half-eaten lunches as they They’re crowded, and a lot of people get rush to their next class, which can lead to pushy because they’re impatient. And unhealthy eating habits and unnecessary although there are two separate lunch lines,

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stress. For students who rely on these If we had more lines, we could offer meals to fuel their day, this situation is far positions to students who would want from ideal. to help with food preparation or service.

We could propose a survey to gather A proactive approach could highlight feedback on what students want or need the problem and engage students in the during lunch. Is it long enough? Do we decision-making process, fostering a sense need multiple lunch periods? This way, of community and cooperation. We share administration will see how serious the common frustrations with the system and issue is. They as a student body patrol the campus, we have the power but they don’t to create and experience it propose solutions the same way problems like We need those in positions for students do. We this one. need those in through of power to understand how theWalking positions of power hallway to understand stressful and draining simply during lunch, it’s how stressful and hard to miss the buying lunch here is. draining simply commotion around buying lunch here the cafeteria. People is. Some people know that if you only go through the don’t get to the line line to get sodas or early, you won’t get chips, but they have your food. School to wait through the whole line. We could lunch should be a time for nourishment also try adding more lines and stations and relaxation, not a race against the clock. throughout the school with snacks, so those McCallum can do better to accommodate its who are looking for a specific treat don’t students’ needs. After all, a well-fed student add unnecessary length to the lunch lines. is more focused and engaged.

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oct. 29, 2024

volume 72

Become a change maker

Young voters must mobilize in all elections in order to have greatest influence Shield staff We’ve all heard that every vote counts, but every election season it seems the voices of the youth are discounted. While there are always great resources and incentives to vote around election day, such as trading your “I Voted” stickers for a slice of pizza, there has been a lack of encouragement for people to get to the polls in years without a presidential election.

The younger generation of voters constantly has the lowest voter turnout. This means that the voices of the youth have been underrepresented when electing government representatives. Understandably, the media coverage so vastly differs from the presidential election to the more local elections like mayoral and city council races.

Nonetheless, this loss of coverage and lack of encouragement to get to the polls is one reason why young people don’t vote in the elections that are closer to them and for that reason more important.

Generation Z eligible voters should be encouraged and assisted to receive an “I Voted” sticker more than just every four years a president is selected.

The polls should be just as crowded for years when an Austin ISD board member election is taking place, and there should be the same resources to vote readily available to young voters to aid them in getting easily informed and registered to vote. High school students deserve to be encouraged to vote no matter the year and have the support to easily register to vote. It’s these technicalities and obstacles that stop so many younger voters from voting.

Younger voters are not the only ones lacking when it comes to voting in local elections. This imbalance of attention towards these elections causes the voter turnouts for every age group to be drastically down. If we want a more representative government, one of the first steps is to start voting more in local elections. The change one wishes to see in the world starts by exercising our vote locally.

While the president does make overarching decisions, he is not the only one capable of creating change. It’s these nearby policymakers that make the decisions that affect us the most. The way to effect change in your local community is to register and vote in local elections.

Cartoon

by Nate Williams.

shield staff

the

A.N. McCallum High School 5600 Sunshine Drive Austin, TX 78756 (512) 414-7539 fax (512) 453-2599 contact.macshield@gmail.com

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Mira Patel

Julia Copas

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Advertisements published in The Shield do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff.

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