The Prospector Senior Edition 2022

THE SENIOR EDITION

The senior class of 2022 celebrates the traditional Senior Sunrise at Bear Creek Park at the beginning of the school year.

Thick-as-thieves survivors of a worldwide pandemic

Piper Larsen

By Gideon Aigner These past four years have been weird, to say the least. We started off as bright-eyed youngsters, entering the building for the first time to thick-as-thieves survivors of a worldwide pandemic that very nearly messed up our whole experience.

However, through every obstacle, we grew stronger. We learned that by working together we could triumph through even the worst of circumstances.

Whether you have been here since Kindergarten or moved here for the Second Semester of Senior Year, you are part of a family.

From our first homecoming against the St. Mary’s Pirates, to shoot-

ing into the trash for extra credit in Biology class, to beating Vanguard at the league championship in basketball, to getting told we had an extra week of Spring Break, to the one day we were all back in October, to the first boy’s soccer league championship in school history, to the first state football championship since 1990, to Senior Sunrise, to wearing our caps and gowns, these past 1,367 days have been wonderful.

So, thank you! We all have been connected through our years of schooling through friendships, relationships, or simply as peers, seeing each other in the hall, saying hi, and even becoming best friends.

Even though we may eventually forget the specifics, the ways that

we have made each other feel will stay with us forever.

Regardless of where you end up, you can always say that you were one of us. You were a Manitou Springs Mustang for a chapter of your life.

Don’t let being a Mustang define you forever, let it be a part of you, but don’t make it all you ever did.

Every one of us has the potential to do bigger and better things and it is up to you to fulfill that potential, but that’s tomorrow’s concern. Today is the time for you to reminisce on the little moments that have made your experience these past four years.

pleased to offer MSHS Seniors a printed publication to help reminisce new and old memories and share articles about the unique and special Class of 2022.

Amy Nicole

Therefore, The Prospector is

In this year’s Senior Edition, The Prospector is pleased to present a printed publication to the Class of 2022. This class has demonstrated amazing talents, overcome many obstacles, and always landed on top. All of the students and faculty members will be sad to see you go; but remember, you left a mark on the Manitou community. Everybody is filled with anticipation to see what your future endeavors will be. While some of you may be joining the workforce, others will be seeking higher education and some may be taking some time off. No matter your path, it will be an exciting new chapter of your life. We thank you for the special mark you made and hope that you have many fond memories of times with friends, teachers and peers in your Mustang Home.

- Jack Embery, Editor-in-Chief

Page 2

Ella goes to Africa

By Charlie Morgan Ella Carroll (12) has been known to travel before; and this winter break was no change as she decided to take her senior trip to Tanzania, Africa with her mother Kayla Yates from December 30 to January 15.

Babies bathe at Neema Village. According to its website, “Neema Village Tanzania, Inc, is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit in the USA and a registered NGO in Tanzania. Neema in Swahili means Grace and any good done has been done by the Abundant Grace of God!” (Ella Carroll) Carroll has stated she has been wanting to go back to Tanzania since she was 10 after her previous trip in 2015. “I went there first in 2015, so like seven or eight years ago,” Carroll said.

“It was just a [house] at first on our first trip…and [now] they’ve grown into a huge village. I wanted to see more and see what they turned into over the years, and I just wanted a cool experience.”

Carroll’s reasons for going to Tanzania weren’t just to learn about the culture or spend money on silly trinkets or go on a safari, but rather to help and volunteer in the community where it was needed most. “My mother and I worked at a baby home called Neema Village,” Carroll said.

Carroll’s mother, Kayla Yates, was the one who took Carroll to Tanzania.

It was just the two of them as a part of personal experience, and as a way to help the world.

Yates experienced a personal connection from their previous trip and learned a lot about herself and the experiences people go through, “We continue to learn that joy, laughter, pain and tears are all universal and that we all need each other,” Yates said. “It’s about learning to find your place in the world and contributing to make it a better place. In turn, it makes you a better person.”

Carroll also seems to have learned a valuable thing or two. “I learned that there’s still a lot of problems that we in America think are gone and think [they don’t] matter anymore, but it does,” Carroll said. “I learned that we’re super privileged and that we have nothing to be mad about the world, because they have what we would call nothing, literally nothing; and they are the most joyful and loving people I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

Both Carroll and her mother want to return. “I would leave tomorrow, and I think Ella would too! East Africa is a special place,” Yates said.

“The people there have beautiful souls. They are filled with kindness, love and compassion. They are filled with joy even though they lack most basic needs. It is always a reminder of how spoiled we can be here in America; and yet, people seem so unhappy most of the time. [This trip was] a reminder that relationships

Carroll hugs an infant while in Maasai Village.

and purpose are what bring joy and happiness, not things.”

Carroll is also planning to return to Tanzania. “I’m planning [to return] after college. I want to move there for three months and work as a nurse, and then travel to different orphanages,” Carroll said.

Yates has a strong feel-

Kayla Yates

ing towards the culture and the things learned there, and she would greatly encourage anyone to go. “I would tell people do it, now! Don’t wait. You will NEVER regret the time there,” Yates said. “Even if it’s not Neema Village in East Africa, just do something that is bigger than yourself, outside of your comfort zone. Travel, get to know other cultures, learn to love people outside of your circle of friends and family, you will be far richer because of it.”

Ballard jumpstarts his future

By Claire Kisielnicki As the first semester comes to an end, seniors are getting closer to graduation. For some, that day is much much sooner.

Ryder Ballard is a senior who has made the leap to graduating early this year from Manitou Springs High School. He will be done with

school on December 17, 2021 and is very excited about it.

Graduating early wasn’t something that Ballard had been planning on; but when the opportunity came about, he decided it was a good idea. “College is expensive. My parents can’t help me pay for it, so I

have to pay for it myself. I’d rather go into less debt and just leave earlier to go into work full time,” Ballard said.

Ballard already has a job with a publishing company as an office assistant, and in January he will start a job at District 11 working in arts and integration.

To figure out if he could graduate early, Ballard went to his counselor Michele Mandel. “I went to my counselor to do a credit check; by the end of the semester, it showed I would have more than enough credits to graduate early.”

Ballard did not have to graduate early, but he decided that it was his best option as a way to jumpstart his future.

Jerry McCauley While attending MSHS, Ballard was led the Manitou Performing Arts Club (MPAC), was involved in theater and sang with the Chamber Choir.

“I told my counselor I wanted to graduate early, and she asked me

if I had a plan. Once I told her my plan, I wrote an essay about why I wanted to graduate early in detail, where I work, where I’m going to work, what school I’m going to, and the counselor signed off on it.

Then I talked to Mr. Hull, showed him my essay, and he signed off too,” Ballard said.

While Ballard is working, he will continue to perform with the Millibo Art Theatre. He is very passionate about theatre and the arts and is hoping to minor in Music Theatre in college. Ballard will be attending CSU Fort Collins and wants to major in Psychology.

Ballard has advice to any students hoping to graduate early. “Don’t make it so last minute, double up on English courses and make sure that you are ready and have a plan, because if you don’t, they won’t say yes.”

Page 3

MSHS’s up and coming band

By Paige Harrison ​​ When senior year rolled around, Lucas Grieb (12) and Lance Warner (12) got into the punk-rock music crowd; which is when they decided it was time to start their own band, Euphoria.

write a song, and then I’m super unoriginal so I use a lyric [for the title],” Warner said. “It’s not really something we put a ton of thought into; it’s just whatever comes to us and seems right.”

Naming the band came easy; they named it after the feeling they had in that moment, “euphoria”. “Euphoria” is the feeling or state of extreme excitement according to MerriamWebster.

“The song ‘Dog Walter’ was a joke Paige Harrison Lucas Grieb (12) & Lance Warner (12) pose for a band photo outside in Manitou Springs, until we actually wrote it and it CO with their guitars. became one of our favorite songs,” Grieb said. put a ton of thought into; it’s just whatever comes to us and music, everywhere and anywhere,” a good attitude [and is] content with seems right.

Warner said. the music, make sure everyone is on the same page.”

After high school, the band memAlthough these band mates have bers seem to have similar plans. “I some serious goals for their future, As seniors in high school, Grieb haven’t figured that out,” Warner there is still fun to be had. Grieb and Warner are looking to expand said. “More publicity, more gigs, it said, the best part about the whole their name through the close knit would be more of a career; but for thing is, “Playing bass and having community we call home: Manitou now, it’s just a hobby and I have fun some funky fun with my buddies Springs. To do so, Euphoria is now doing it.” while making music.” on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Instagram.

Grieb said,“After high school, my Grieb and Warner are working toplans are to become a professional wards their goals, and getting new punk rocker. We have dedicated our songs and albums out whenever poslives to punk rock.” sible. Warner expressed some words of encouragement for those who are Playing music in the Punk genre, considering starting a band. “Don’t practicing weekly, and working hard let anyone play in the band that is a to release new songs, Euphoria has bad influence on the band, practice one set goal in mind. “[Playing] live consistently, make sure everyone has

With Grieb on bass and Warner on vocals, guitar, and song mixing, they were missing a key element: a drummer. Grieb and Warner put up flyers in the halls of the Manitou Springs High School asking for a drummer, which is when they got a text from Asher Evans (11), who is now the drummer for Euphoria.

Practicing in Evans’s basement, Euphoria’s first ever album drop is an extended play (EP), titled “Euphoria EP”, which got a significant amount of attention from the MSHS community. Naming songs and albums is hard for any music writer. “I will

Advice for the Class of 2022

Life goes by very quickly. If you don’t stop and see it, you’ll miss it.

-Mr. Bonner

Do what you love, and it’s a career.

Do what you have to, and it’s a job.

Find a career.

-Mr. Brown

Get out of here and travel: See the world.

-Ms. Waters

Don’t be afraid to fail; it is in failure when you find success.

-Mr. Slama

Find room to do things you know you are not good at. Have fun and keep learning.

-Mr. Gillard

Do not be afraid to question the power structure and fight against it if it’s wrong.

-Mrs. Kerrigan

Life is a long race. Do not get down on yourself and you can outlast and endure more than you know.

-Mr. Rogge

Be a healthy skeptic in all you do.

Avoid following a crowd without knowing why.

-Mr. Talbott

Page 4

Always been a Mustang

By Paige Harrison

As the 2021-2022 school year comes to a close, seniors are beginning to feel sentimental about their time as students in Manitou Springs School District 14, especially those who started Kindergarten in Manitou.

These seniors, who have grown up through MSSD14 for the last 13 years, have known no other than to be a Mustang, which stands for honesty, respect, equality, inclusion for all and support through community.

“There’s a sense of community when you grow up in this environment,” Adele Goodwin (12) said. “It feels good to know that we’re all in it together, and everybody welcomes everybody with open arms.”

MSSD14 is known for the small town feeling and community.

Grayer Whipkey (12) feels this way as well. Other school districts may be good, or great even; but MSSD14 is different.

“No matter what district you go to school in, it will end up well; but I would highly recommend MSSD14 because it gives children a closeknit community, where they are able to grow up with trusted teachers, staff and peers,” Whipkey said. “I would say that growing up here at MSSD14, the environment creates lifelong friendships.”

Goodwin agrees. “It’s a good idea to put your child into this community. Manitou provides a sense of community and welcomeness and love that no other school district can match.”

It is evident that these seniors had a great educational experience at MSSD14. They also made many memories. Max Geode (12) and Whipkey recalled a specific memory that they will always remember and that made their time at Manitou even more special.

“One of my favorite memories is every morning and most days

after school for most of elementary school, Grayer and I would play Minecraft on my mom’s computers in her classroom,” Goede said.

Whipkey also named this time as a favorite memory. Both Goede and Whipkey’s mothers taught at Manitou Springs Elementary School.

With graduation approaching quicker than any of the seniors want to admit, these Stangs will no longer be Stangs, but will hopefully be taking the values of the Mustang into their newest adventures, to aid them in their next steps.

Most teachers and faculty members from MSSD14 choice their children into Manitou if they live out of district. Teacher’s kids grow up in the district, and they spend extra time in the school buildings and at extracurrucular activities. This makes their time at MSSD14 even more special.

The seniors cherish the close-knit community, the friends who feel like family and the way they grew up at Manitou. “Growing up here was kinda sweet,” Goede said.

“The small and tight community leads you to get to know everyone, making friends is easy, being involved is easy. Overall it’s an amazing district.”

Justus Whipkey Grayer Whipkey and his mom, MSES teacher Chris Whipkey, at his 5th Grade Promotion.

Brooke Cote

Page 5

Seeing in double in the class of 2022

By Piper Larsen In Manitou Springs School District 14, we commonly refer to ourselves as “The Herd” because our mascot is the Mustang and we are a big family. Manitou Springs High School is home to actual families as well.

Most common are siblings, cousins, and students with parents who work in the school. However, the most remembered are the twins. There are over ten different sets of twins attending MSHS, three of which are in the senior class of 2022.

There are two different types of twins, fraternal and identical. Fraternal twins are defined as two ordinary siblings who happen to develop in the womb together and who are born at the same time; fraternal twins arise from two separate eggs.

Identical twins are defined as a pair of twins who developed from a single egg, and are alike in all genetic characteristics, including gender and typically appearance.

Fraternal twins Jason and Jaxen Sellers have been attending Manitou Springs School District since Kindergarten. They have had a large variety of advanced classes together over the years, and they are both on the Knowledge Bowl team. “Our biggest similarity is probably that we are both pretty smart,” Jason Sellers said.

Many students will remember the Sellers twins as exceedingly intelligent.

People might wonder if it is difficult living or being around someone constantly. When it comes to twins, it seems like that time is multiplied, especially in childhood. Twins are often dressed alike and do the same activities when they are kids.

“There’s always some difficulty being around someone all the time,” Jaxen Sellers said, “but when I was younger; I always had that friend to hangout and interact with.”

The biggest difference between these two is their sociability. Jason is more introverted, and Jaxen is more extroverted. The Sellers twins are fraternal twins, though when they were younger their appearance was quite similar. They say it was more common for them to be mistaken for each other during their younger years.

Mary and Anna Kilpela have been attending MSSD14 since 8th grade.

They are well known for being nearly identical twins, although they are fraternal. They look almost exactly the same except for their difference in fashion. “We are most different in the way we dress,” Anna said. They used to have to share almost everything they own, but now they have their own rooms as well as styles,

making them more individual and unique.

The Kilpela twins are involved in a lot of activities together. They have had many classes together and they even have the same job. “We get food together, we hangout together, we complain together, we do everything together,” said the Kilpelas.

Mary and Anna are best friends, with the same humor, and the love spending all their time together.

“Having a twin is really nice,” Mary Kilpela said. “You always have someone there for you.” The Kilpelas get mistaken for each other all the time, “at least ten times a day,” Anna Kilpela said. They have never swapped and pretended to be one another, though they considered it many times. In their eyes they look different too, but most people would agree they could definitely pull it off especially when they were younger.

Terry and Jalen Lindh have been attending Manitou District since 8th grade. “Having a twin is sort of like having a best friend, someone you know very well and who knows you,” Jalen Lindh said. They share their love for music. Both of them have very different tastes in music, but they enjoy listening to it together and having something special in common.

“Terry is more extroverted than I am, I prefer to keep to myself,” Jalen Lindh said. Terry is one of Manitou’s strongest wrestlers, and many people would say he’s inspirational. Jalen is a strong actor and is intellectual and kind-hearted which makes him a good friend to have, his classmates said. They may have separate friends at school, but they will still go watch movies together and hangout at home.

Not many people know that Jalen and Terry are twins because they are fraternal. Even when they were younger, they never really got mistaken for each other. It did happen every so often though. They tried swapping places in the 1st grade, but it didn’t work because their appearance wasn’t similar enough. They are very similar with their sense of humor, the way they talk, and the way they explain things. “Sometimes we’ll be talking and say the same word out of nowhere,” Terry Lindh said.

These three different pairs of twins are unique and independent in their own ways, each having completely different personalities, thoughts, relationships, and clothing. Being a twin could be hard to be your own person; but no matter how many people mix them up and call them by another name, they stay true to themselves and their family.

Henry White leaves his mark on MSHS theatre

By Emily Waite Senior Henry White has been actively involved in the Manitou Springs High School theater program since his freshman year.

In White’s high school career, he has participated in five plays and even helped to direct a show called “Ghosted” in his junior year that was performed in the Theater Buffet.

White participated in “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay” and “Copacabana” during his freshman year. “I think my favorite play I did was the musical, ‘Copacabana’, White said.

“The theater program felt a lot more full and the seniors and the juniors were very good role models to look up to. I got to play a decent sized part with a lot of fun, jazzy dances and I really like jazz.”

The next year White played a part

in the production, “Freaky Friday”.

“My sophomore year our play got canceled because of COVID, which was really hard to work that hard on something and have it just all go away,” White said.

In White’s junior year, he participated in “The Astonishing Adventures of White Weevil” for the Theater Buffet. “This was a good year for me. While I did play a role in ‘The Astonishing Adventures of White Weevil’, I also directed a show called ‘Ghosted’ that was in the Theater Buffet,” said White.

During White’s final year in the MSHS theater program, he has been in the productions “Our Town” and is currently working on “Fiddler on the Roof”.

White has had some role in the MSHS theater department for all

Dinah Mann Henry White (12) in the play “Our Town” that was performed in the fall of 2021.

four years of his high school career and this has had an effect on who he is as a person. “I really enjoy being able to entertain people, making people smile and just having that emotional impact on people,” White said. “It has definitely impacted my life. I feel like just the overall experience has made me a more rounded person responsible.”

White has overall had a good high school experience. “I have really enjoyed high school. I think Homecoming this year was the best expe-

rience for me. To be able to all come back and be all together again. I just wish I just feel like that was like the peak, you know, especially this year, and like the past couple years where it’s been super hard,” said White.

White does plan on continuing his career in theater. “I’m definitely going to college,” he said. “I’m undecided on a major, possibly either education, acting or chemistry. I may not do theater as my main career path, but I’m definitely gonna do it as a side thing.”

Page 6

Then and Now

By Serena Holvenstot

Eryn Hilyard

Claire Kisielnicki

Students constantly come and go from Manitou Springs High School, but there are a select group of seniors who have been here since the beginning. Every single one has been through changes, whether that’s physically or mentally; but either way, they have all grown into young adults.

Pictured below are Manitou students who have matured from naive middle schooler (left) to exceptional high school seniors (right).

Noelle Balderrama

Ashley Magee

Piper Larsen

Weatherly Hall & Adele Goodwin

Riley Drennan

Kayla Apotheker & Ella Vaillancourt

Senior Reflection: High school in the time of COVID

Page 7

By Claire Kisielnicki On March 13, 2020, Manitou Springs High School along with schools around the country announced that they would be extending Spring Break by two weeks because of a new virus called COVID-19. I remember that we were all excited to have extra time off, but we had no clue what it would turn into.

During Spring Break, the Superintendent announced that we would be going into full online school instead of in person learning because the virus was becoming a worldwide pandemic. This was a shock to all of us as nobody had experienced online school or been away from our peers for so long.

Online school was a very difficult adjustment for everyone as we were all stuck in our homes, expected to sit and do our work in our personal spaces. There was definitely a divide as some students felt they learned more at home while others couldn’t focus and had no motivation.

Life as a high school student is almost completely back to normal now that COVID is coming to an end, but is it really? I think it’s important that all students impacted

by COVID reflect on the true impact these past couple years have had on them.

COVID-19 completely changed the way students learn and work with others, but are we recognizing this?

This is a big question I think a lot

of students are glossing over as we come to the end of our first year back to full in person learning.

This reflection starts by realizing the things that we’ve lost and the things that have changed. The Class of 2022 lost the second half of their sophomore year, and for a lot of students, that meant a whole sports season as well. This means that as athletes we lost a whole year of progression which can be a big deal.

Losing a whole semester of in person learning definitely had an impact on our following years. How we learned completely changed and learning to constantly adjust made our experience much more difficult.

For others COVID wasn’t just about school but also their families.

Essential workers like nurses and doctors had to spend large amounts of time away from their families, and people lost family members and those close to them.

People are tending to forget about or try to move on from all of these events, but without reflecting on how they truly affected us we will struggle to truly move on.

Making the adjustment back to full in person learning was something a lot of us struggled with. The homework loads got much bigger, and teachers expectations for us were the same as before COVID happened.

Claire Kisielnicki is the Editor-in-Chief of The Prospector.

Along with this, many students including myself had a large loss of motivation going into this school year, especially after we experi enced smaller work loads and had more time to finish assignments.

Being a high school student is already hard enough on teenagers, so having to adapt to all of these changes as well as just getting through high school is very difficult. I know I had a lot of struggle with my motivation and overall organization coming back this year, and with the stress of being a senior added on top of that, it has been a lot to handle.

So not only has our education been impacted, but there has also been a change in students’ mental health.

The APA reported that 81% of teens

Sean Cayton

have experienced more stress during the pandemic and much of this is associated with schooling. Anxiety, depression, PTSD and suicidal ideation has raised in teens because of the pandemic. There are studies that show how our mental health has declined, how our test scores have dropped and how many nega tive impacts this whole situation has had on all of us.

So what I need all of us to do is take a breather and not be too hard on ourselves. Find those people to hold you accountable when you can’t get motivated and know that you are not alone in feeling that way. It will be hard, but finding a new normal as students whether in a new chapter going to college or continuing as a high school student is possible and we will get there.

Claire Kisielnicki Seniors, Paige Harrison, Serena Holvenstot, Adele Goodwin and Claire Kisielnicki, get ready to go out, dressed in “ninja attire.”

Jennifer Vaillancourt Stuart Myers, Nian Crouch, Alyssa Rash, Ella Vaillancourt and Jackson Dunlap jump for joy as a group in Garden of the Gods.

Page 8

Senior Assassin

By Gideon Aigner

One week in early March, senior Ethan Boren brought up an idea at the senior Student Council meeting.

“My cousin goes to Chatfield, and he told me about this thing that they do called Senior Assassin,” Boren said. “I thought it would be fun, so we started to set it up.”

Here’s how the game works: there are 30 teams of two players. Each week, every team is assigned another team to get “out.” Teams get opposing players out by spraying them with water guns, but players are immune if they are wearing goggles around their necks or on their faces. If a teammate is eliminated, you have the rest of the week to get both of your assigned targets out to get your teammate back in. It is a complicated game, but one that caught on quickly, with 59 participants in the inaugural game.

Many places are off-limits in Senior Assassin. Players can’t be eliminated on school property before 5:45 p.m., at practice, at work, while inside of their house, or while driving.

Players can’t just shoot opposing players though and say that they’re out. Video proof of elimination is needed to officially get someone out. These videos are posted to the Senior Assassin Instagram page.

There are also Frenzy Days, where no matter what, the goggles do not protect players from getting eliminated. Every elimination gets voted on via the Senior Assassin Instagram account that is run by a nonparticipating party.

“When I first heard about it, I thought it sounded fun, so I said ‘Let’s do it,” said senior Parker Salladay. “So far I’ve gotten out Mary and Nian. Alyssa tried to get me out one time. I was helping my girlfriend out to her car, and Alyssa came up and started talking gibberish. She pulled out her water gun and started chasing me. I made it to my car before she got me, but it was funny.”

“I would try to solidify the rules beforehand. There wasn’t a set rulebook until almost three weeks in” Salladay said.

Addyson Sheffield signed up to participate as well. “My friend Rylie Battig approached me after Ethan told us about the game in Anatomy and Physiology,” said Sheffield.

She has not personally gotten anyone out, but Rylie got Anna Kilpela.

Sheffield said she lives in constant fear of getting eliminated. “Atticus

Cian Melker (12) goes over and above with his disguise in attempt to win the 2022 Senior Assassin game.

Max Goede The most feared team, Max Goede (12) and Aaron Clune (12) hide in the woods in attempt to assassinate their next victims and sport their immunity goggles and water guns. Cian Melker (12) attempts to camoflage himself in a ghillie suit. Senior Assassin brought the Class of 2022 adventure and excitement during second semester.

waited outside my house for hours for two days, Audrey chased me in her car and Henry ran up to my car to try to get me and was pulling at the doors,” Sheffield said.

Sheffield believes that the game would benefit from more structure.

“I would be more strict with it, rather than let people negotiate,” Sheffield said. “It is much scarier and more stressful than I anticipated.”

Since the game is regulated through Instagram, players can check to see who has been eliminated at any time, but not all seniors have social media. “I first heard about Senior Assassin through my friends, since I don’t have social media,” said senior Jackson Dunlap. “I’m on a team with Nian Crouch, who has told me everything about the game.”

Dunlap formulated a strategy for success in Senior Assassin. “You

have to look at it one day at a time and take it from there because that’s what it’s all about,” Dunlap said. He also believes that the game should be simplified. “We should try to make it faster so that less people would get burnt out,” Dunlap said.

“I would also get rid of the poll system. A committee that’s not involved should decide on eliminations.”

Multiple seniors said that Team 27 (Max Goede and Aaron Clune), was the most intense and feared team in the game so far. “I first heard about Senior Assassin through my man Aaron Clune,” Goede said. “I’ve personally tried to get out Paige, Claire, Henry, Ayla, Colton, and Cami as well, and knocked them all out.”

Many other respected teams have tried to eliminate this duo; but recently, they’ve slowed down. “As

far as I know, they’re all too scared to try to get me out,” Goede said. “I always stay strapped.”

Like the other teams, Goede had a couple of suggestions for next year.

“I like the Bounty List and Frenzy Days, but I feel like the rules could most accomplished team is feeling tired though. “After like the first week, it stopped being fun,” Goede said. “Nothing impactful has really happened; but every time I get a kill, I get super pumped.”

It all started as an idea imported from Chatfield, but the Manitou Class of 2022 has made it their own.

Though unforeseen problems have popped up, the juniors believe that they will do it again. “We will probably change the rules,” said junior Kaleena Jones, “but I think that we will do it again next year.”

The 2022 Prom King & Queen

Page 9

By Serena Holvenstot This year, every senior at Manitou Springs High School patiently awaited the day when they found out who the lucky Prom Queen and King would be, and as the 2022 Prom came to a close, Weatherly Hall and Raymond McCaskey were crowned.

Hall and McCaskey have been together since their freshman year, which is about 3 years now. Because of this, they had a lot of supporters and enthusiasts in the crowd. “Hearing all of my friends cheering for me and seeing my brother jump up and down in excitement was really a special moment,” Hall said.

Many of Hall’s friends were elected to the prom court this year as well.

“I thought any one of us could’ve gotten king or queen, so it was surprising when I heard my name called,” she said. “I really didn’t expect it to be honest. I was just excited to see that some of my closest friends had made Prom Court with me.”

Although the feeling of winning prom king/queen is a great feeling, there is a lot of tension that comes with being elected onto Prom Court, especially when it’s up against some of your closest friends, but Hall didn’t let her victory affect her virtue. “I think any of the other

members on court, and even any of my other peers deserved this recognition; and so it is an honor to have been chosen as Prom Queen this year,” she said. “It definitely makes me feel like all of my hard work in and out of school has paid off.”

McCaskey has had many great memories from high school dances.

Senior Prom to him is bittersweet. ”There were a lot of fun memories made but I’m a little sad that it’s the last,” he said. This helped him make the most of the night, and winning Prom King made it worth it. “I didn’t really expect it at all, but I was very excited. I couldn’t hold back a smile,” McCaskey said.

As our Prom Queen and King shared one of their last great memories together at MSHS, Hall became reflective. “I am so sad that this is the last high school dance, because I have enjoyed every single one that we’ve had throughout the years. I love dancing with all of my friends and I am definitely going to miss it a lot,” Hall said.

This year’s Prom, unlike the last two years, was almost normal. After two years of cancelled and modified events, the senior class felt thankful for the opportunity to celebrate.

Weatherly Hall

Nicole Mack

Lairden Rogge Lydia Kilpela Prom Queen Weatherly Hall and King Raymond McCaskey celebrate at Hillside Gardens, during the 2022 Prom dance.

Ella Carroll, Eligh Hettle, Kody Smith, Ethan Boren, Ashlyn Thomson, Davis Mack, Tate Christian, Serena Holvenstot, Nicholas Marro and Katy Vance, take pictures with their dates at Garden of The Gods before the 2022 Prom dance.

Alyssa Rash, Ella VAillancourt, Mary Kilpela, Anna Kilpela and Tallulah Bates to pictures before the 2022 Prom dance.

Lairden Rogge, Kian O’Boyle, Cody Kelly, Ella Vaillancourt, Isabella StreblowMuncher, Henry Ilyasova, Skylar Stanley, Jaxen Sellers and Nian Crouch dance together at Hillside Gardens during the 2022 Prom dance.

Kelly Kisielnicki

Caylani Falbo, Jesse Jorstad, Piper Larsen, Bryan Bosler, Paige Harrison, Grayer Whipkey, Adele Goodwin, Serena Holvenstot, Claire Kisielnicki and Nathan Haas take pictures with their dates in Crystal Hills before the 2022 Prom dance.

Page 10

Mustangs ready for service

By Colt Henricks As seniors begin the transition from high school, students have many choices to make. Traditionally, many seniors choose to further their education through college; however, a few seniors have chosen to honorably serve our nation.

Christian Cashdollar, Terry Lindh, and Dallen Alexander and have all chosen to join the United States military. These individuals have taken the honorable oath to serve and protect our country and it’s values along with the freedoms that every American has.

Christian Cashdollar has already enrolled in the Army as an infantryman and has decided to attend airborne school in addition to Ranger School right out of high school.

Cashdollar’s family has a long history of military enrollment dating back to his grandpa and continuing to his dad who has twenty- eight years under his belt. Cashdollar has thought about the process mentally and often thinks about the twenty eight year struggle that his dad went through.

“Seeing what my dad struggled with and went through for those twenty eight years makes me really wonder how long I want to serve,” Cashdollar said. Cashdollar looks forward to the experiences and information that he will learn and further his life. “The opportunity to go in and learn new things really excites and really lets me dedicate time towards things that really interest me,” he said.

On the other hand, Dallen Alexander, has his mind set on joining the Marine Corps. Alexander is a very mindful person and often takes time to work on his physical physique and his mental physique. He decided on becoming a member of the Marine Corps for the personal challenge.

“I really just wanted to challenge myself by pushing my body and pushing myself to the limits,” Alexander said.

Alexander takes inspiration from other cultures and their values, and uses that knowledge to better himself. “I really take inspiration from ancient Samurai culture and especially the Bushido code where I learn responsibility and respect for myself and others,” he said. Alexander thought a lot about what he may encounter in the Marine Corps. “If the time comes where I ultimately need to take the life of another human being in conflict, I will respect them and their own values and pray for their soul and the souls of their families,” said Alexander.

While Alexander has no prior family history of military service, he wants to protect everyone from harm and believes heavily in American freedom.

Alexander is unsure if he wants to make a career out of military service. “It will be at least eight years,” he said. “If I make it out without much harm, I may serve for

Colt Henricks Christian Cashdollar, Terry Lindh and Dallen Alexander are the Class of 2022’s only future soldiers.

an extended amount of time.”

Terry Lindh is entering the Air Force after graduation. Lindh has lots of support from family and friends, but his dad has especially given loads of support towards the decision. Lindh is not a stranger when it comes to service; both of his parents have served in the military. Lindh is interested in serving because he has the desire to learn and wants the life experience to carry with him.

done but as a human being,” Lindh said.

To begin the process, Lindh has been doing a lot of physical training. “I hit the gym a lot, and I have been dieting myself in preparation for joining,” he said. “I especially like pushing myself in workouts and being dedicated to my workouts”

Lindh’s family history of service has brought him a sense of peace and accomplishment that he hopes “By the time it all comes and goes, to live up to. “Seeing both of my I want to be able to know the people parents serve and the way that they that I served with were able to trust brought me up from birth to now me not only to get the job inspires me to become a better man and bring out the best in me.”

A letter from MSMS teacher

Dear Seniors, Wow…how time flies! It feels like months, not years, that we began our journey together at Manitou Springs Middle School. It’s not often, in modern times, in a public school, that a teacher gets to follow a group of students for several years. I was so lucky to have the privilege of teaching so many of you through your middle school years. What joy it has been to watch you grow, change, and flourish into the young adults that you are today!

Looking back, I hope you’ll always remember the fun times you had! I hope you’ll remember “fluffy friend” Fridays, the gingerbread project (It was crazy!), the LAUNCH projects, the 8th grade career project, and the NY/DC trip. I hope you’ll look back with happy memories of time spent with friends, sports, clubs and activities, homecoming, academic successes, and so much more.

Looking forward, I hope you’ll seek to be your authentic self. I hope you seek out and find your tribe because believe me, they’re out there! I hope you find people that support you and love you for who you truly are and are meant to become. I hope you seek new friendships, while also maintaining old ones. I hope you seek adventure and don’t fear breaking from your comfort zone. I hope you seek to continue learning and growing…for the sheer fun of learning something new! I hope you seek balance…it’s something I’m still learning to do each day. Most of all, I hope you embrace the words of a poster that’s hung in my classroom every year since you were in the 6th grade, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt Congratulations, Class of 2022! I am so very proud of you! In closing, I’d like to leave you with a couple of lines from the song “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars which Claire, Ayla, and Sunshyne sang on your 8th grade promotion night: “I’ll never let go, never say goodbye, You know….

You can count on me like one, two, three, I’ll be there…”

Each of you will always hold a special place in my heart! I’ll be cheering for you each step of the way!

With love, Ms. Cowart

Abeel & Akse play in top youth orchestral group

Page 11

By Emily Waite Manitou Springs High School students Anton Akse (12), principal chair tuba, and Logan Abeel (12), principal chair bass trombone, are playing for the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony for their senior year.

“The Colorado Springs Youth Symphony is the top orchastical group in the Colorado Springs area.There are only two of these prestigious orchestra groups in Colorado, the other being in Denver,” Akse said.

The CSYSA gives an opportunity for high school students to develop their skills with the instruments they play and give students an experience to play in an environment they may not otherwise see.

“It’s really cool to work with some top musicians in the area. It’s definitely grown my understanding of music and grown my love of music.

And since a symphony has stringed instruments in it as well, it has expanded the type of music I can play,” Akse said.

The CSYSA also helps to build character and develop skills that can be used outside of an orchestra.

“CSYSA has affected me by giving me an ensemble to continually work for throughout the year. It builds a strong commitment at a very high level of expectation, which I believe helped me evolve myself into a more

responsible person,” Abeel said.

To get into this orchestra, students have to audition in front of several members of the CSYS. “You have to complete a several day audition at the beginning of summer,” Akse said. “There’s one tuba spot at the top of the band, so they have to look at all of the auditions and then decide who gets in.”

Auditioning in front of professional musicians and teachers is not easy for student musicians.

“Anyone who has auditioned for anything will know how nerve-racking it can be,” Abeel said. “I warmed up in a room with a few other musicians, who all seemed to be more prepared than me; and when the time came, I walked into the audition room with friendly faces who made the process incredibly easier than I could have ever imagined,” said Abeel.

This honors band plays several concerts throughout the year. “Most of our concerts take place at either the Ent Center, which is in Colorado Springs, or at the Pikes Peak Center, which is downtown,” Aske said.

They also play at different events across Colorado, such as an event that was played on February 26, 2022 at Macky Auditorium Concert Hall in Boulder.

Anton Akse Anton Akse (12) and Logan Abeel (12) get ready before their performance at Mackey Auditorium in Boulder on February 26, 2022.

The CSYSA also has the opportunity this year to play in other countries.

“We’re going to Greece over the summer to play on cruise ships and play in one of their famous halls,” Aske said.

looking into colleges in New York or Oregon to study music education,” Akse said. “And I made sure both schools have bands and an orchestra with strings, so I can continue to play in both.”

Abeel is still considering how to pursue his career after high school, so he is planning on taking some more time to think about it. “I plan on attending a community college to get at least some prerequisites out of the way. And once I find out what I want to pursue, I may find a more specialized education,” Abeel said.

CSYSA After high school, Aske plans to Logan Abeel performs with CSYSA on his continue his music career. “I’m bass trombone.

Hollick makes Manitou history

By Claire Kisielnicki On February 17, 2022 senior Hannah Hollick became the first girl in Manitou Springs High School history to place at a state wrestling competition.

my head and dance around,” Hollick said. “Before my State match I was listening to ‘Can’t Hold Us’ by Macklemore, and that really got me in the right mindset.”

Hollick placed fourth at the state competition; and her overall season record was 17 wins and nine losses, which was the best record on the team including the boys.

This is the second year that the MSHS girls have wrestled as a separate team. Before that the boys and girls went to the same tournaments and wrestled the same teams, but now there is a specific girls and boys team.

“I was predicted to get sixth, so my only goal was to get higher than that,” Hollick said.

She has only been wrestling since sophomore year and this was her first year making it to State.

“I don’t really get nervous before competitions; but before I go on the mat, I just jam out to a song in

“Hannah placed in every tournament she’s competed in, becoming our schools first Tri-Peaks League champion, placing fourth at regionals, and then again making history by placing fourth in State,” said Paul Bonner, the boys and girls wrestling coach at MSHS.

“Being the first in general to place is pretty cool. They put my name up in the wrestling room which is exciting,” Hollick said.

Hollick owes a lot to her coach and

team. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my team,” Hollick said. “They’ve really pushed me to be better. And you know, my coaches are pretty cool too. Shoutout to them.”

Daniel Mohrmann Despite only wrestling for two years, Hannah Hollick (12) clinched a fourth place victory at State.

Page 12

Mustangs commit to college sports

By Charlie Morgan Claire Kisielnicki (12), Henry Ilyasova (12), and Abigail Parker (12) have all decided to chase their desires to continue to play the sports of their choice in college next year.

All the seniors who have signed to a sport for college have decided to commit their entire college career to play this sport; this means constant effort and dedication to their craft.

For instance, Kisielnicki has decided to sign for division three lacrosse at Willamette University in Oregon.

She has been playing lacrosse since sixth grade. However, she only started to enjoy it and became committed to the sport once she made varsity at Cheyenne Mountain High School during her freshman year.

“I think I enjoy [lacrosse] too much to be done with it now,” Kisielnicki said. “I love the sport so much and just thinking about this being my last year it makes me want to cry. I just have so much fun being on the field and playing that I think I’m already so committed that it wasn’t even really a thought in my brain to not continue. It was just, ‘Oh, I’m gonna keep playing’ like that was just kind of first nature.”

Kisielnicki is excited to continue playing and going to a higher level

and seems like she really cannot wait to move on.

“I’m so excited,” Kisielnicki said.

“I think just being able to play at the higher level is going to be such a cool experience. And I haven’t really had the best experience in high school, playing and making friends on teams and that kind of thing.

So I’m really just excited to have a group of people that I can play a sport I love with.”

Ilyasova committed to the University of Wyoming for division one track.

Since freshman year, he has been running after he realized he wanted to get into better shape, and he never looked back. Ilyasova’s reason he shared for committing to his college has to do with personal growth and striving to better himself.

Parker has committed to the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio for division three soccer. Since Kindergarten, she has been playing soccer but only became competitive with it in third grade.

Parker thinks that all the different things you can do with the soccer ball intrigued her the most. Parker’s reasons that she shared for committing to the sport are more so due to “I just felt it would be somewhere that I would fit in,” Parker said.

“Based on my conversations with he coach and my visit to the school, I just felt like it was supposed to be.”

Just like the rest of the seniors who have signed, Parker is very excited to pursue her sport and compete.

“I’m very excited about it,” Parker said. “I am just excited to meet the girls on the team and just go to college. And I’ve met some of the people that I’ll be playing with. We seem to get along.”

“I want to go further and I want to push myself as far as I can be the best runner I can,” Ilyasova said.

Due to Ilyasova’s aspirations, he seems very excited to go off to college and try to better his running.

“I’m very excited because it’s D one, and I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole running career,” Ilyasova said.

Charlie Morgan Seniors Isabella Coscetti (track and field), Henry Ilyasova (track and field), Claire Kisielnicki (lacrosse), Ashlyn Thomson (volleyball and basketball), Abby Parker (soccer) and Aidan Coté (swimming) have committed to continues their sports careers in college next year. NOT PICTURED: Sean Lowe (soccer), Raymond McCaskey (baseball), Parker Salladay (football), Anthony Snow (football), Katy Vance (volleyball).

A Poem from Doc Moen Dearest Class of 2022, And you’ve endured…

Westboro protestor’s hate-filled signs, At-home learning and motivation’s game of hide-and-go-seek, Shifted seasons: football in spring, Canceled traditions, New expressions, Pandemic isolation, Masked teachers, Masked friends, Masked dreams, Hybrid cohorts, In-person shifts.

And you’ve endured…

In business-as-usual fashion, Your teachers demand trust To follow their lead through worlds unfamiliar, To be time-traveling judge and jury: a witness to history, To be magicians divining understanding from abstraction, To be specters floating through the lives of the living, To be telepaths traveling the roadmaps of foreign thoughts, To be scales of the tangible weight of other’s truths.

And still you’ve endured…

And you’re stronger for it.

I promise.

You’re ready to assume the rights and privileges, The responsibilities and freedoms, Of adulthood, Closing the door on childhood pursuits, Strutting closer to the reality of your dreams.

While you cannot turn back to the known safety of these classroom walls, You can turn and wave back at those of us who miss your presence from our halls.

Amanda Kerrigan

Miss you already, Doc

Hilyard finishes novel “The Key and The Beholder”

Page 13

By Angela Rowe Manitou Springs High School senior Eryn Hilyard started writing her novel “The Key and The Beholder” in October 2019, her sophomore year. The project was co-authored by Anja Tabor, Hilyard’s best friend who goes to a different school. While it took until her senior year for the book to be finished, Hilyard never gave up and put lots of time and effort into completing it.

“The Key and The Beholder” is young adult fiction with some fantasy elements. “The story takes place in a small town in Wales called Argensey,” Hilyard said. “The main plot revolves around a fairytale about a door hidden deep in the woods that holds memories. The door is guarded by forest nymphs, since it’s power was abused long ago. The five main characters attend a private school in town. Their memories are tied to the antagonist’s in the way that ‘everything is connected’, so due to the villain wishing to change their own memories, which would alter the timeline with a butterfly affect, the five teenagers are faced with having to protect the door and it’s magic.”

Hilyard and her friend were having a sleepover when they came up with the idea to write a novel. As the night went on, they chatted up ideas and plans for their book. But by the time they came up with a sturdy plan and plot for their book, a few months had passed.

Hilyard’s writing process was a lot like that of published author.

Originally she spent about a year on one plot, but then realized it wasn’t flowing the way she wanted to. So she switched the plot and enjoyed this one a lot more and found a groove with it so she stuck with it.

Hilyard said, “Our book now took two years, but we started with a different plot three years ago and then changed it. So technically two years.”

Hilyard has always had a passion for writing with English being one of her favorite subjects in school.

Pierce Gillard has been Hilyard’s teacher in English for three out of the four years, which has played a huge role in her enjoyment of writing. He helped with encouraging her and being a supportive teacher in the classroom, which helped with her never giving up on writing her book. After years of work, Hilyard put hours and days of effort into her book, she finally finished with thirty-two chapters.

Gillard has given her the opportunity to learn more techniques and to expand her creativity with different types of writing. His class has also given Hilyard the chance to expand her book into better writing and ideas, as she learns more about different ways of writing in his class.

“This year [Mr. Gillard] definitely has [helped me] because I’m in his creative writing class. I think he [inspired me] other years as well because we would do creative writing units and [he would] give me good feedback,” Hilyard said.

Hilyard creates a very positive atmosphere in Creative Writing class, which plays a part in how she learns. With the class being smaller she gets the chance to elaborate and compare all her ideas with people in the class. Which helps her with building new techniques for her writing.

“She has a smile every class. The class is a smaller one, so everyone gets to know everybody, especially as the semester goes on,” Gillard said.

In creative writing, Hilyard is given the opportunity to collaborate with her class, and get all types of critique from many people’s point of view on her writing. This critique really helps her with improving her writing skills.“[Eryn is] in a group where there’s a lot of collaboration

Molly Joy Eryn Hilyard (12) loves the outdoors and also finds it as an escape just like her writing.

and the sharing of writing and so it’s exciting to come up with new ideas and share out and collaborate on different concepts and new stories,” Gillard said.

Gillard has been impressed with Hilyard’s process and her writing.

“She’s really good at taking risks and trying new things into super ideas without second-guessing herself or stopping along the way,” Gillard said.

While writing her novel, not second-guessing really helped with the flow of her chapters and taking risks in what she wrote gave a diversity in the types of writing that gave her book a more interesting read.

As you write a book, at many points you could run out of ideas and topics, so Hilyard used many different types of writing and TV shows to help her with different types of

plot twists and side details in her book.“Inspiration for my writing comes from different books, authors and TV shows,” Hilyard said.

Hilyard said that after finishing her book, she began considering a writing career, since she enjoyed writing her book so much.

“I’ve always been super creative, and I just love writing and making worlds in my head. [Writing is] kind of an escape from reality. It’s just super fun to be creative in that way,” Hilyard said.

Hilyard has found writing as something to free her mind. Whenever she’s feeling down or happy, she uses writing to express her feelings.

Even while Hilyard is bored she uses writing as an enjoyment.

“It’s kind of like my own thing.

I’m writing it with my best friend, Anja. She goes to a different school. And it’s just kind of for fun,” Hilyard said.

Page 14

Beezley & Lockwood-Flesher roll with it

By Serena Holvenstot

Mark Bloom Senior Zora Beezley celebrates a victory with her team, The Pikes Peak Derby Dames (PPDD). Beezley’s roller derby name is “Zora the Destroyer”.

Roller derby, a sport that isn’t commonly played by many high schoolers, has been revived by Manitou Springs High School students, Koya Lockwood-Flesher (12) and Zora Beezley (12).

are still rules and penalties just like any other sport.”

Lockwood-Flesher is no stranger to the derby life, for this has been her primary sport for over 10 years.

“Roller derby consists of two teams, each with five skaters on the track, two of which are racing each other,” said Lockwood-Flesher. “The objective is to break through the opposing teams wall of four players at the end of the track, earning you a total of four points.”

“Roller derby is a unique sport because it is very supportive and exciting,” Lockwood-Flesher said.

Many people assume that roller derby is different from other sports, but Lockwood-Flesher disagrees. “It is actually a lot like most normalized sports,” she said. “There is a lot of talk around it about how it is super different, but really it’s not. There

Roller derby isn’t a mainstream sport, so many are confused about what it actually is.

Lockwood-Flesher adds that “It is a very physical sport and you are constantly blocking the opposing team.”

Because roller derby is a club sport, which tends to be more intense

than your typical high school sport, Lockwood-Flesher puts a lot of her time and effort into it.

“I play for two teams,” she said. “I play for Denver Roller Derby, and I also play for Fort Collins which is a pretty high skill level team.”

Zora Beezley has been in roller derby for 11 years and has enjoyed every minute of it. “I do roller derby mainly because it is a great sport, but also because it is a great stress reliever,” Beezley said.

Beezley is a part of a local derby team called The Pikes Peak Derby Dames (PPDD). Being on this team is time consuming for Beezley, but she says it is worth it. “I get to travel, meet new players, and help

them learn how to play,” she said.

With the passion that comes with roller derby, there are also many challenges. “My least favorite part is definitely falling and hitting the floor because it hurts a lot,” LockwoodFlesher said.

Beezley agrees. “I think that the hardest part is definitely trying not to fall or get any penalties,” she said.

Roller derby is not a thing of the past for these MSHS seniors; instead, it is a passion. Roller derby enriches their lives in many ways.

“I like the crowd, I like the entertainment, and I like the hardness of it,” Lockwood-Flesher said.

Wordle Builds Community

By Ethan Anderson Wordle is a small word-based puzzle game created by Josh Wardle for his wife in October 2021 and it became very popular in late December.

teacher at Manitou Springs High School. “I’ll even wake up and do it at two in the morning and then go back to sleep.”

“I think people kind of appreciate that there’s this thing online that’s just fun, it’s not trying to do anything shady with your data or your eyeballs. It’s just a game that’s fun,” Wardle told the New York Times.

The enjoyment people get from Wordle can go beyond the game itself. “It’s really fun. It stimulates my brain in the mornings when I’m just waking up. I can feel better than other people. I can feel better than my mom,” said Kai Jacobson (10).

After Wardle added a feature that allowed you to share your results with others in the form of emojis, the game exploded in popularity on Twitter.

The most common way that people start playing Wordle is through word of mouth. Many people fell in love with the game’s simplicity and design.

“I saw it on some students’ phones [and when] I checked it out, I saw how fun and easy it was and then tried it and it was pretty addicting,” said Andrew Slama, a science

“I like that there’s kind of some luck involved and some skill, and also you can talk about how to strategize.” Said Slama. “I think it’s amazEthan Anderson ing. It’s such a simple game, but it Sophomore Kai Jacobson plays Wordle every day.

“I had a streak of 75 until I lost it 15 days hasn’t ever been thought up before.” ago,” he said.

The rise in popularity might have something to do with current events as well.“There’s so many stressful things going on in the country, in the world, [and after the pandemic, so] it’s nice that everyone can agree on something fun and light-hearted,” said Slama.

Wordle provides a way for people to relax and connect with others. “Ev-eryone’s kind of checking in on each other,” said Slama. “If they did the puzzle today, or [if] friends or love ones want a hint, or they want to try it on their own. Everyone checks in on each other a little bit.”

Wordle was built out of a desire for connection and fun, and became popular because that is something we all need. “It doesn’t ask a lot out of you, it’s just fun. How many things are just simply fun these days?” said Slama.

Senior Artwork

Native American by Layla Babcock

A Sacred Being by Hadley Buckley

Cactus by Caylani Falbo

Self Portrait by Saffron Stiles

Collage by Mary Kilpela

Peak by Saffron Stiles

Substances by Mary Kilpela

Page 15

Page 16

Letter from the President

By Abby Parker

To the Class of 2022: There’s not much I can say that you all don’t already know. This class has had quite the experience - from entering in through these doors in August of 2018 to leaving them in just a few short weeks. I will always be inspired by our class’s optimism and friendliness towards each other. The bonds we have established will carry us through these next unfamiliar steps, and I hope that there is nowhere else that any of us would’ve wanted to build the foundations in which we will continue to grow and become powerful individuals.

Appreciate the growth you have undergone. We have all seen many different pictures throughout our time here at MSHS. Each story of ours is unique and that is what makes us a true herd. Everyday that I walked the halls here, I found comfort in knowing that regardless of the circumstances, I had friends and classmates that would protect me. Thank you for all that you have done for this school, community, and senior class. From the hellos in the hallway to chanting at assemblies, every moment that this class has shared will not be lost. Use these moments to push you in these next few weeks, months, and years.

It feels like just yesterday we were looking down at the football field during Freshman Orientation hearing that we would have 4 years to write our story. 4 years to walk the journey. In our due time, we have arrived. We are here and it feels surreal. Looking down, I remember feeling uncertainty and excitement.

We were walking into the unknown, and in full circle, we have now reached that point again. Except this time, we have the certainty of knowing that all that we have learned - whether it be how to take outlines in US History or how to memorize the Spanish password or even how to park at 10:04 on a late start Wednesday - will guide us. You have learned so much. I know this because I have learned so much from all of you. Remember to smile, especially during these last few moments. We have come so far. I challenge you to make each of these last moments matter. Manitou has shaped each of us in different ways, and the bonds we have made with our friends, teachers, and coaches have formed us into who we are today. I am so thankful for all the teachers who have given so much of themselves to get us to this moment.

Angela Haas Abby Parker served as Student Body President during the 2021-2022 school year.

There is untapped potential in each of us. Find what drives you. Unleash your greatness.

Thank you for the memories that will stick with me. Thank you for the smiles. Thank you for the experiences. Class of 2022...What a journey!

And with that, Abby Parker, signing off.