FROM THE EDITORS
To our readers,
Welcome to our third 2024-2025 school year edition! This edition is dedicated to the hard-working women worldwide and their achievements that have been accomplished throughout history in celebration of March being Women’s History Month. With a crazy March schedule and many days off from school, the staff has worked extra hard to complete their pages and meet their deadlines, and we couldn’t be more proud of everyone stepping up and working through the past few short weeks. We are super excited to share this edition with everyone after a well-deserved spring break and hope everyone enjoys reading as much as we did creating.
Happy reading!
FROM THE EDITORS
Editors in Chief:
Mitchell Barnard and Abby Hosler
Associate Editors:
Brayden Schimp, Drew Collins, Kenna Hulick, Trevor Anderson, Oli Matthew, Chase Vanderwalle
Staff Members:
Riya Bhatt, Asher Carpenter, Ryan Mauwa, Sophie Amberg, Gabriel Bautista, Layla Carpenter, Abby Dudley, Madeleine Duhn, Ana Van Dyke, Chrisopher LaLonde, Kush Kolhe
Policies:
The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open, designated, public forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body.
In accordance with best practice for student media, the Northern Light is not prior reviewed by administration. Building and district administration do, however, reserve the right to oversee the paper if necessary to ensure that the mission and vision of Portage Public Schools and the safety of students and staff are maintained.
As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publication, the Northern Light adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use or part of public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission.
It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editors and guest contributors, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350 words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.121, emailed to pnhsnorthernlight@gmail.com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024.
Abby Hosler Mitchell Barnard
13 14 11
IN THIS EDITION: APRIL 2025
The front cover was illustrated by freshman Maddy Duhn and was a collaboration between herself and freshman Sophie Amberg and sophomore Riya Bhatt. “I starting drawing what I was imagining, and Sophie and Riya kept giving me ideas,” Duhn shared. “We really wanted to show the connection between the school and the world in general,” Bhatt said. Fun fact: three of the girls illustrated on the cover represent Maddy, Riya, and Sophie.
ON THE COVERS
This edition’s back cover was created by junior Layla Carpenter as a part of the cover concept design challenge. “I just wanted to display people whose talents might be hidden and show that they have another layer to their personalities outside of the jobs that we know them for,” she said. “Women are multidimensional.”
photo courtesy of Amanda Thorpe
Photo courtesy of Kayla Miller Photo courtesy of PN Swim & Dive
Photo by Trevor Anderson
Huskie Headlines news you can use
Academic pep assembly rewards GPA success
Story by Drew Collins; design by Oli Matthew
The academic pep assembly took place on February 6th in the Doghouse in the afternoon. It was held to celebrate the students that showed PACKstrong behaviors by having an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher, no referrals, and no fees or fines in the first semester. “We want to do things that our students would like and also reward good behaviors and academics,” said assistant principal Kelly Hinga, who oversees these assemblies.
The event had 200 students in attendance, but over 600 were invited. Hinga explains that attendance
was impacted by, “all the snow days we had and having one the day before,” while adding that the assembly honored students who met high standards, and many of those students were eager to stay in class after all of the days missed due to weather.
“We try to do something different every year. When you hear ‘pep assembly’, you think it’s going to be the same thing.” Said Mr. White. “I want the kids to be excited to go to the assembly. I want them to
think it’s going to be different every time.”
The next academic pep assembly will be next fall and will reward students that meet the standard
Black History assembly embraces “Soul”
Story by Chase Vanderwalle; design by Oli Matthew
Portage Northern’s Black History Month assembly occurred on February 27th in the auditorium. The theme of this year’s assembly was “Soul” and featured a variety of acts representing the different elements of soul in the Black community. The record-setting 42 member cast performed a skit, step routine, and a dance segment that combined modern-day hip hop and traditional dances. The assembly also featured a string instrument performance of Sam Cooke’s “What a Wonderful World” and a guest speech by former PNHS student Muhammad Deme. “At first I was nervous to come back and speak, but I thought about what a great opportunity it was,” said Deme, who is studying engineering at WMU, where his mother is a professor of Africana Studies. “I’m really glad I did; I had a great time.” Senior Emerson Gillam-Shafer’s favorite
part of the assembly was the skit. “Everyone had free expression and got to put their own spin on the idea of soul,” she said. Senior Neajai Lewis’ favorite part of the assembly was taking the final bow on stage with her cast mates for the last time. “When the full cast stands on stage, surrounded by the appreciation of the PN community and the sound of applause, it makes you feel special and honored,” she said. “It is not only a privilege to carry on this tradition within the Black community but also to shed light on the struggles the audience may be unaware of.”
The assembly was run by the Empowered Club, which is a safe, supportive, social and academic space for diverse students and their allies. “I decided to join the Empowered Club when I was a freshman because Alanna Harris encouraged me too, and I’ve been here ever since,” says senior Te’a
Black History Month assembly for the students. Photo courtesy of Sara Fern
Harden, who also participated in every act in the show. The BHM cast will be performing selected parts of the show at the Moorsbridge Cultural Festival on March 16th.
Empowered Club performs the
Farishta Haidari plays bean toss at the assembly. Photo courtesy of Kayla
$2Gether for Tuleeni
Story by Riya Bhatt; design by Oli Matthew
$2 Gether for Tuleeni, an annual PN tradition that students have participated in for more than 20 years, raised $3,149.75 for students in Tanzania. Jamie Hoekstra’s 7th hour class raised $411.49 and won the class competition.
The event, organized by the Interact Club, helps provide education for children at the Tuleeni orphanage who don’t have access or the resources to continue schooling.
Portage Northern’s involvement with Tuleeni began when alumni Josh Kaiser visited the orphanage as a part of a summer program in 2007. “I was consistently and truly struck by [the orphans’] desire and gratitude for the chance to learn,” he shared.
Money donated in 7th hour classes, online, and in other classes
throughout the week still makes a significant impact on the children at Tuleeni today. “Knowing that being able to donate such a little amount of money, $2, [could help] 50 students get an education means everything to me,” shared Interact advisor and history teacher Kim Palmer. “Education is opportunity.”
The event is always a friendly competition between classes, with the winner being calculated not by total overall, but by average per student to level the playing field between large and small classes. Finishing behind Hoekstra’s class was Hertel with $17.63 a person ($246.86 overall), Searing with $13.31 per person ($465 overall), and Dixon with $12.21 per person ($329.73 overall).
Senior Jenna Abdulhak, an Interact Club leader, visits 7th hour classes during the Week of Giving to collect money for Tuleeni. Overall, 14 classes met the goal of $2 per student: Derenne/ Armitage, Everts/ Waltke, Fryling, Hebner, McKenzie, Miller, Neterer, the Office Staff, Palmer, Thorpe, Wangler, Warfield, Weeks, and Wood. Photo by Riya Bhatt.
Forensics team welcomes new coach and members
Story by Riya Bhatt;
design by Oli Matthew
The 2025 Forensics team involves many new faces as well as returning seniors determined to leave their impact on the school. Portage Northern alum and Amberly elementary teacher Hannah Thomas-Perez took over the role as head coach. “I am thrilled to be here,” she said. She is joined in leadership by seniors Blessing Afiademanyo and Grace Birko, who stepped up as head captains. Coaches and captains have emphasized the community of support the team offers, with team bonding activities such as bowling, while captains work to lift up newer members. “I want to be a head captain that [participants] will be willing to come to me and talk to me about how they feel,” Afiademanyo emphasized. New members share the same view. Freshman Oakley Martinek has en-
joyed forming a community with her teammates, especially at the first tournament. “I was the only freshman in [Storytelling] finals at GRC,” she shared. “The team has been so supportive.” Storytelling is an upbeat, high-energy event involving performing a piece of children’s literature. As the Forensics season progresses, the team continues to provide support for new members as well as those in their final season.
Sophomores Taris Harden, Kylie Musk, and Victoria Afiademanyo pose for a picture at the Portage Central forensics tournament. “I really try to have my speech completely memorized because I’m not someone that is good at just winging it,” said Harden. “I spend alot of time practicing.”
Photo by Riya Bhatt
The Forensics team poses for a picture after the first tournament. Photo courtesy of Hannah Thomas-Perez.
The fight for feminism
empowering women in the modern day
Congress declared March “Women’s History Month” in 1987. While America has made great strides toward equality between the sexes, women still face many barriers to prosperity. These issues include the pay gap, gender roles, body autonomy, and more.
The pay gap between genders can be found in many fields. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2024, women earned an average of 85% of a man’s salary. March 12th is Equal Pay Day, a day which symbolizes how far into the year women have to work to make the same amount of money men made the previous year. Research by the University of Minnesota identifies the most significant factors behind the gender pay gap as societal expectations regarding caregiving and discrimination in hiring and promotion. They state that organizations can take steps toward closing the pay gap by diversify hiring and promotion practices and promoting work-life balance through flexible work arrangements and parental leave policies. They will need pressure to do so, however, and that pressure has to come from society - from us
Women are also hindered by traditional gender stereotypes, like girls playing with dolls while boys play with trucks, the idea that girls should
be well behaved and boys should act out, that there is something wrong with women who don’t want children, that assertive women are unfeminine and “bossy”, and that women should be in the kitchen. That’s just to name a few, but women are fully capable of doing anything a man can do, and when we put women in stereotypical boxes, we minimize not just their potential, but the positive contributions they can make to the world. The solution lies at the beginning of our lives: as a society, we need to adjust the way we raise our children.
Women can’t begin to think about equality if the economic system is completely turned against them.
We need to get little girls toys other than dolls, we need to teach them to voice their opinions and be proud, we need to empower them to not be bystanders in their own lives. For our sons, we need to redefine what it means to be masculine and how to be sound in who they are becoming. We need to normalize raising men who have sympathy and empathy and who see women as their equals.
Furthermore, women need to be granted complete and total equality under the law. Our nation preaches
its ideas of freedom, but restricts the rights of over half our population (with 50.5% of the population being female). Basically any man in America can go purchase a gun on a whim, even though statistically, the person that is most likely to be shot with it is their wife or girlfriend, and men have no laws that govern their bodies directly. Women, on the other hand, are subject to numerous restricting laws, from the new voting legislation requiring the name on their government ID to match their birth certificate in order to vote (which impacts women more than men because women are more likely to change their last names when they get married) to new highly-restrictive abortion laws that are literally killing women who have had miscarriages and whose doctors refuse to give lifesaving medical care out of fear of going to prison themselves. Demanding common sense legislation that protects women is an essential next step in the fight for equality. We have come a long way, but we can be the generation that creates a better future.
Story by the staff; design by Gabe Bautista
photo by the staff
“If the men know we can shapeshift, they are going to the church.” And so began the infamous TikTok sound that many creators have recently used for their bold and unique makeup transitions. This serves as a great segway to the controversy of women’s makeup, specifically red lipstick. There are many negative stereotypes surrounding the use of red lipstick, such as the belief that women who wear red lipstick only care about physical superficiality and vanity. But the most common belief, quite frankly, is that women who wear red lipstick are overly sexual at best and prostitutes at worst. How does this make sense? It doesn’t. It makes even less sense when you
understand the history and the back and forth significance of red lipstick.
Red lip tint originated in Mesopotamia 5,000 years ago and was a sign of aristocracy. The prestige flipped in ancient Greece, where prostitutes were required to wear red lip pigment to distinguish them from “respectable” women. In 16th century England, Queen Elizabeth revived red lipstick as something positive, but by the 1700s, it was outlawed, with some believing women used cosmetics to seduce men, even leading to the charge of witchcraft. It wasn’t until 1920 that red lipstick started to be accepted in society as a bold statement of confidence and pride for women, with suffragettes wearing the color as a statement of female empowerment. As red lipstick started to be accepted across the world, Hitler inadvertently added to its popularity in the WWII era by creating a list of things his female visitors shouldn’t do, including wearing excessive cosmetics like red lip or colors on their nails. In order to stand up and fight back
against facism, “Vibrant red” became “Montezuma Red” in 1942 and issued as the standard lipstick in the Womens’ Marines makeup kit.
Through the ups and downs of its creation, red lipstick has come to be more relevant in popular culture today: many female-dominated sports require red lip, such as competitive dance and cheer, and there are also strong female icons taking back it’s meaning. Olympian Illona Maher proudly wears her red lip on the pitch and on the ballroom floor, striving to break the stereotypes facing muscular women. Taylor Swift wears her shade of red on stage and writes songs that inspire women. Both have faced criticism, mostly from men, for their bold choice in cosmetics. It’s absolutely insane to me that a tube of red lipstick can create so much trouble, and the fact that one color still causes so much controversy in 2025 genuinely concerns me with the state of the world. At the end of the day, there seems to be no better time than the present for women to break out their shades of red and sport a stunning red lip, so don’t be surprised when you see mine.
Which
social media do you spend the most time on and why?
Sukhi Kaur, 9th
Heard It From A Huskie
I use [Pinterest] to scroll and find outfits and room inspiration
Jackson Clemence, 11th
Instagram; I watch reels, my friends send me funny things.
Story by Kush Kolhe; design by Kenna Hulick
Gabe Garcia, 10th
Snapchat, because it’s easier to communicate, and it’s fun to use.
Will Pierce, 12th
Snapchat because that’s the way I communicate, and TikTok because it’s quick entertainment.
Patriotism VS Nationalism
Story by Mitchell Barnard and Chase Vanderwalle; design by Mitchell Barnard
The United States is finding itself on the tipping point between patriotism and nationalism. Both center on pride and loyalty towards one’s country, but the focuses and goals of each can differ greatly.
Patriotism is defined by Google as “the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.” Patriotism and nationalism are often used interchangeably and are similar in many ways, but they do have differences in meanings and implications. While both share the connection to one’s country, nationalism is often viewed as more aggressive than patriotism; patriotism is typically seen as more positive and encourages unity and working together to make a country better. Usually embodied by the phrase, “Proud to be an American,” perhaps our most famous national example of patriotism is that of the Continental Army, also known as the Patriots, who helped secure our independence from Britain during the American Revolution. Gallup polling reports that patriotism in America was at an all-time high following 9/11 and is at a near-record low today, with just 2 in 5 Americans reporting that they are “proud” to be one. The ideology of patriotism can have its pros that contribute to the strength and overall wellbeing of a country; some of these pros include the encouragement of unity across the country and its people, as well as inspiring positive change when it is needed. Though patriotism is typically considered positive for a country, it does come with its cons. Some of the cons that could be a result of patriotism could include extreme nationalism, which could lead to rises in tension and even conflict. Another con to patriotism is that it can lead to exclusion and prejudice against certain groups and people. Overall, while patriotism can bring a nation together, balance is key to respecting others, and avoiding division.
Googledefines nationalism as the “identifiation with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.” This has been seen in many places before: nationalism was a huge part of Mussolini’s plan for Italy. Mussolini believed and emphasized that there was a need for a strong government that could bring all the people of Italy together. In the end, this led to him trying to expand Italy’s territory and create an Italian empire. Nationalism was also seen in Germany with Adolf Hitler and his desire to create a “superior” Germany dominated by what he perceived as the “master race.” This is different from patriotism because nationalism focuses on the idea of national identity and the belief that one’s nation is better than the others, while patriotism focuses on the pride in their country’s history, achievments, and culture. The pros of nationalism are that it can promote pride in a country, unite all the people in the country together, and focus on the identity of the people, but the cons are that it can lead to major conflicts with other countries and can create fear, division, and violence within the people of the country. The United States crossed the line between patriotism and nationalism after 9/11, when what started as a patriotic selling out of American flags turned into the nationalist persecution and violence against Muslim Americans. Taking note of our past mistakes can prevent them from being repeated in the future.
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."
- Mark Twain
“Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Nationalism is inseparable from the desire for power.”
-George Orwell
Women Pave the
WayWOMEN’S HISTORY
MONTH 2025 HIGHLIGHTS THE WOMEN WHO HAVE SHAPED OUR WORLD OF EDUCATION THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND IN PORTAGE
Story by Madeleine Duhn, Riya Bhatt, and Sophie Amberg; design by Madeleine Duhn
As of 1978, almost 60 years after women received the right to vote, the conversation of honoring women began. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women started recognizing the week of March 8th as a time to empower and give representation to women. By 1980, women’s groups began to advocate for national recognition. Gerda Lerner led a 15 day conference on women’s history; this conference led Jimmy Carter to recognize the week officially. After more discussions by women’s groups and advocates, Congress passed Public Law 1009, pronouncing March as the official “Women’s History Month.” Themes varied over the numerous decades of this historic month. The 2025 theme: “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” enlightens the women who have formed our education system, while inspiring and advocating for women in the school system. The 2025 Women’s History Month theme highlights the fights women have won and the oppression they continue to face. Women over the past centuries have made momentous strides towards equality. The United States’ National Intelligence Council’s publication on gender equality states, “Worldwide, women are more educated today than at any point in history [...] In fact, women in some 50 countries on average have achieved a higher level
of education than men have [...]” Women’s History Month serves as a time to remember and learn from the decades of history and groundbreaking work women have done. Many moments in history, especially that of minorities, are forgotten and erased from our textbooks, making months like Black History Month and Women’s History Month especially important. These months hold schools, teachers, and our society accountable for recognizing and appreciating all of the pivotal people and moments in our past.
“Even in what I think is a very supportive and open district, I’ve still had administrators call me honey or sweetie or anything like that.” - Sarah Nott
Despite all of the advances women have made, work still needs to be done. Domestic and genderbased violence has been rising, seeing as, according to the Council on Criminal Justice, there was an 8.1% increase since 2020. Still today some basic human, and medical, rights are being restricted and outlawed, over 129 million worldwide are uneducated. Not only that, but political advances by the newest administration have been made to abolish Women’s History Month as a whole. These reasons all exist and continue to harm the views of women. Art teacher Ms. Nott explains her viewpoint, “Even in what I think is a very sup-
portive and open district, I’ve still had administrators call me honey or sweetie or anything like that.” Women still remain oppressed in many aspects of our society, even those that are considered to be modern and open-minded. However, supporters have firmly expressed that this isn’t a reason to give up, but rather a reason to continue to push for equality. Women’s history didn’t end with the 19th Amendment, it still is being made today as women make more and more advancements. One example of these modernday advancements is the revolutionary reclamation of craft in the art world. Today, there are thousands of art pieces that aren’t considered art as they are not the traditional form. “We call it craft. The only reason we call it craft is because a woman did it. So what’s happening right now... is traditionally handmade arts [such as] basketry, embroidery, felting, clothing making, and quilting, are being pushed forward into the spotlight to be viewed as fine art instead of dismissed as craft,” states Ms. Nott. Representation matters, whether it’s in the political world or the art world. Art works as a form of expression and creative ability that needs to be shared with the world, regardless of skin color, belief, or gender. During Women’s History Month it’s important to reflect on the past, while improving on the present day, as not one person can improve a society, it takes strength from every part.
Women of the World
There are nearly 129 million girls out of school worldwide, whether due to political reasons or otherwise, and as a teen, Malala Yousafzai was one of them. She loved education from a young age, inspired by her father, a teacher, but was challenged when the Taliban took over her home country, Pakistan, in 2011. She was shot in the head because of her work as an activist for girls’ education but survived. After her recovery, she founded an organization with her father, called the Malala Fund. The foundation paves the way in the fight for women and girls’ education, especially in lower income countries such as Afghanistan and India. According to their website, their mission is to ensure “12 years of safe, free, quality education for every girl,” and the organization has donated millions of dollars as well as secured grants for various schools and communities across the globe. However, in the age of COVID and political unrest, the fight for women’s education continues. Yousafzai and her foundation continue to advocate, and Yousafzai won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her work in shaping girls’ education, allowing millions of girls to complete secondary education.
Women make up only 28% of STEM workers, an improvement from previous years due to the numerous organizations dedicated to encouraging girls to join STEM fields. Reshma Saujani, an Indian lawyer and activist, founded Girls Who Code in 2012 and served as the CEO until 2021. Girls Who Code is an influential non-profit organization whose mission is to “close the gender gap in tech” through various clubs, summer camps, and even college programs, all aimed at increasing the amount of women in STEM, specifically computer science. The organization has taught over 600,000 girls and women to code, and aims to completely close the gender gap in STEM by 2030. Saujani was also the first Indian American woman and South Asian American woman to run for Congress. While Portage Northern doesn’t have a Girls Who Code club, the science department encourages girls’ interest in STEM subjects. “Having a female heavy science department here at Northern is really exciting,” shares science teacher Ms. Lockett. “Being in STEM means you don’t have to hide what you like. If you like robotics, if you like coding, if you like chemistry, it’s okay!”
In 1972, the landmark bill Title IX was passed as a part of the Education Amendments. Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded activities, allowing for girls to participate in sports and extracurriculars at elementary, middle, and high schools, and colleges. Patsy Mink, a Japanese-American born and raised in Hawaii, was one of the main authors of Title IX. Mink served as the first woman of color in the House of Representatives and the first Asian American woman in Congress. She advocated for equal opportunities for women through it, specifically within education. There are 18 sports teams women can join at PN, none of which would have been possible without her advocacy. “[Title IX] means a lot because I’ve been playing soccer for a long time,” shares sophomore Reese Graham. “Being able to continue that as [an] extracurricular was really something that I was looking forward to.” Full equality in terms of women’s sports and activities still has a long way to go, but Mink’s legacy lives on: Title IX was renamed
Houston Award honors students who have overcome adversity Houston Award honors students who have overcome adversity
Story by Abby Dudley; design by the staff
The Houston Award is a special award for seniors who have overcome immense adversity in their lives. The award is named after PNHS volunteer and Empowered Club founder Dr. James Houston. Born in Alabama in 1943, Houston overcame poverty, segregation, and racism to earn his PhD and help create the Community Promise Credit Union, which serves low-income customers in the Edison neighborhood.
The class of 2025 students who were awarded are Annie Tran, Blessing Afiademanyo, Neajai Lewis, Anezka Proxmire, Emerson Gillam-Shaffer, Autumn Harrison, Essence Harrison, and Lily Strang. Each one of these seniors overcame something unique to themselves that changed who they are and shaped their perspective on life. “I think a lot of us kind of struggle in silence and the ability to be able to share how the struggles that
we’ve gone through kind of gives us a little peace and relief,” Afiademanyo shared. “It also brings about some proudness knowing that I’m being seen and recognized.”
Receiving the Houston Award meant something different to each student, but they all appreciated the recognition it gave them and that it acknowledged who they are today because of it. “We’re all different, but it’s cool to see how you can grow with that,” Proxmire said. Whether it’s losing a family member, discrimination, depression, health issues, or any other struggle that people go through, these students rose to the occasion and fought their battles to overcome these obstacles in their lives.
Top: Houston Award winners left to right: Neajai Lewis, Annie Tran, Blessing Afiademanyo, Emmy Gillam-Shaffer, Autumn Harrison, Essence Harrison, Lily Stang, and Anezka Proxmire. Bottom left: Dr. Houston outside of his credit union; photo courtesy of Encore Magazine. Bottom Middle: Afiademanyo poses with Wood with her award. Bottom right: GillamShaffer gives her awards acceptance speech. All other photos by Brayden Schimp.
On the right: Carys Zemlick performing in her synergy recital at Miller Auditorium
“Dance is a sport!”
- Carys Zemlick
Carys Zemlick is a sophomore at Portage Northern High School who has been involved in recreational dance for 13 years. “When I was two years old, she [my mom] signed me and my sister up for classes,” said Zemlick. “She wanted us to do sports as kids, so she signed us up for dance and I continued to do it throughout my life.” Zemlick dances at BSD Dance Studio, and her favorite style is contemporary. “[Contemporary] is making a lot of sudden movements and shapes with your body, it’s not just fluent dancing,” she describes, “so it’s just cooler in my opinion.” With roughly 15 hours every week dedicated to the sport, Zemlick’s favorite part of dance is “meeting new people: not just people at school, people all around.”
On the left: Carys and Nora Zemlick after their senior duo performance
“She always comes in ready to be caught up and learn”
-Nora Zemlick, one of Carys’ dance teachers
“If I have a rough day at school, I know I have dance later and I can just go dance.”
Carys Zemlick
- Carys Zemlick FEATURE - 12
Story by Kenna Hulick, Kush Kolhe, Brayden Schimp; design by Brayden Schimp
JUST KEEP SWIMMING
Men’s swim and dive team advances 3 individuals and a relay to state
Story by Ryan Mauwa; design by staff
The men’s swim and dive team fought their way to a 4-6 record despite having only a 13 man team. The roster included Varsity captains Vincent Bruno, Ryan Mauwa, Ty Sturgeon, and Andres Lopez along with teammates Cameron Couch, Ty Oaks, Caden Buscher, Xavier Clinard, Landon Hamil, Jacob Kusisto, Owen Lietow, and Cole Buschbaum.
ship held at home in the natatorium from Feb. 28-Mar. 1. The relay includes Bruno, Andres Ayala-Lopez, Landon Hamil, and Sturgeon.
The team huddles together before taking on PC. The Huskies swam hard, but ultimately fell short by a score of 65-107. All photos courtesy of Denise DeVries.
Beyond the splash: Beyond the splash: Q&A with Will Blind
Q: How long have you been diving?
A: Since 3rd grade, so about 9 years.
Q: What is your favorite kind of dive and why?
A: Inwards, because they are by far the most consistent and highest scoring.
Q: Do you see yourself diving in college and beyond?
A: I’m still undecided; it depends on how much free time I will want to have in college and the amount of scholarships I could receive.
Athletes qualify for the MHSAA Division 2 state meet based on qualifying times and scores throughout the season. In the 50m free, Bruno and Sturgeon qualified with 21.82 and 22.39. In the 100m breast, Sturgeon qualified again with a time of 1:02.28.Bruno in total qualified for 5 open events, along with the 200 free relay making a last minute state cut at the SMAC conference champion-
The Huskies only have one mens diver on the team, but it’s William Blind, the #1 ranked diver in the whole state of Michigan. Going into the state meet, Blind’s goal was to earn, “Hopefully a win but anything, if I just feel good about myself, then I’ll be happy.”
And win he did. The junior became the one meter dive state champion by a narrow margin, besting Byron Center’s senior diver Jack Oliviers by a score of 508.90 to 507.95. Bruno became All-State in the 200 free placing 6th overall, and he was also 5th overall in the 100 backstroke.
Diver Will Blind broke his 6 dive record once and his 11 dive record twice this season.
Huskie wrestlers send 4 athletes into the post season PIN WIN and
Story and design by Trevor Anderson
The regular season for the Huskie grapplers ended on February 5th, 2025, but the team continued with 18 athletes competing in the district tournament. Of those, 4 advanced to the regional, and of those, 2 advanced to the state tournament.
On the men’s side, junior Damion Hedgspeth (175) placed fourth in the district meet to advance to regionals, and then fourth again in the regional to advance to state. “I just had to trust my work ethic in the room and remember that I could still wrestle with all the other good kids,” he said. Hedgspeth wrestled competitively at the state meet before falling in both matches and ending the day with an 0-2 record. “He faced a tough bracket in his weight class,” said coach Chris Dunham, adding that Hedgspeth came up just short of the podium, falling to the eventual 3rd and 6th place finishers.
For the women, Junior Harleigh Toepfer (145) placed first in districts and then again at the regional, earning herself an undisputed spot in the state finals. Toepfer also just missed the podium, going 1-2 on the day. “She dropped a tight opening-round match to the eventual 4th place finisher, then battled back through the consolations before falling to the wrestler who would go on to place 5th,” said Dunham.
Both athletes are hungry for next season. “My goal is to place at state next year,” said Toepfer, who is also intending on wrestling in college. To get ready, she “will be doing a lot of strength training and participating in tournaments over the summer.” Hedgspeth hopes to “wrestle a full season” in addition to placing at states. He will spend the summer recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, which he has been wrestling on all season. “By the time the season gets here, I will be ready to work hard at practice,” he said.
At right: Toepfer pins her Kelloggsville opponent at the regional meet to advance to the first place match. Photo courtesy of AJ Perkins. Below: Hedgspeth prepares to compete in the regional match that will advance him to state. He won 8-2.
Photo courtesy of Greg Stacy.
“Fortunately, both [Hedgspeth and Toepfer] are juniors and will have another shot at earning All State honors.”
-Chris Dunham, wrestling coach
moving
Men’s District Wrestlers
Jordan Barnhart
Grier Cameron
Ian Eby (2nd)
Steven Haist
Damion Hedgespeth (4th)
Carson Hernandez
Nolan Hough
Collin McLemore
Jayden Meaux
Marquis Moman
Cayden Nazarians
Jason Walden
Women’s District Wrestlers
Essence Harrison
Harleigh Toepfer (1st)
Essence Harrison
Juliana Weber
Harmony Wethington
Essence Williams (4th)
Regional Wrestlers
Ian Eby
Damion Hedgspeth (4th)
Harleigh Topher (1st)
Essence Williams
State Wrestlers
Damion Hedgspeth (4th)
Harleigh Topher (1st)
MOST PREDICTABLE:
BIGGEST SURPRISE:
Michigan wins over Texas A&M. This was a good game to watch because Michigan was ranked a lower seed than Texas A&M and Michigan was expected to lose. Michigan went 43.1% on their field goal percentage when A&M went 38%. Michigan just simply out shot Texas in this game and made them pay. Michigan also caused 9 turnovers playing outstanding defense, taking the win over A&M 91 to 79.
The most predictable thing about the tournament so far was that the first round of March Madness was crazy. The tournament doesn’t necessarily determine the best team in the country overall, it crowns the team that can win one game at a time against unpredictable opponents. This led to some exciting games in the first round, but not as many upsets as people thought there was going to be.
TOURNAMENT TRIVIA #1:
All four #1 seeds in the tournament have only made it to the Final Four once. What year was it?
MARCH MADNESS
Design by Chase VanderWalle
MOST PREDICTABLE:
One of the most predictable things to happen in the tournament this year is 2 seed MSU having a good first two rounds because of their outstanding defense. They proved that they can hold their own in a tough game against New Mexico where they got a 71-63 victory after turning the game around by stopping the Lobos’ offense.
TOURNAMENT TRIVIA #2:
The conference with the most teams in the tournament has only won the national championship once. What was the conference, team, and year?
BIGGEST SURPRISE:
Arkansas beating St. John’s, because Arkansas was highly anticipated to lose and St. John’s was the number 2 seed coming off a great season and winning both the regular season and conference championship Big East titles. Sadly for them, their best player, RJ Luis, only shot 3 for 17 from the field. The tournament is full of surprises, so this isn’t too shocking, but it was definitely surprising and an upset 75-66 victory for Arkansas.
Topher LaLonde Asher
Half-Cab Flip
Story and design by Mitchell Barnard
Welcome back, everyone! I hope you all were able to go out and learn the last edition’s trick, the varial kickflip. With that trick down, it’ll make this edition’s trick, the half-cab flip, just that much easier. With spring on the horizon and warmer days upon us, it is time to break out the board and learn some new tricks!
1 2
The half-cab flip is an intermediate skateboarding trick that combines two tricks: the kickflip and the fakie halfcab. Even though those are really the only tricks needed to know before learning to do a half-cab flip, I had a much easier time learning it after the varial kickflip because the motions are very similar. So make sure at least the first two tricks are mastered before moving on.
The setup for a half-cab flip is going to be very similar to a fakie kickflip, but most people like to put their front foot a bit farther down the board to help with the rotation. Some also like to tilt their back foot just a little bit to help with the 180-degree rotation, but it all comes down to what feels more comfortable to you. When I first started learning this trick, I also liked to have my shoulders turned a bit before popping.
3
Now that we have the setup, it is time to put it into action. When you are rolling, put pressure on your heel side so the board starts to rotate. And while doing that, you want to pop and flick as you would normally, but make sure to turn your shoulders, so that the board spins 180 while it flips. Once the board is done rotating, you catch it with your back foot, stomp it and ride away! This trick can definitely be tricky to get down, but keep practicing, and it becomes a very simple trick to impress your friends!
Lover by Taylor Swift
The Lover album by Taylor Swift has a lot of tracks that make your life feel happy, and “ME!” is a notable one. That song can make anyone’s day happier in the first 15 seconds of it playing due to its extremely happy vibe. The music is very upbeat and the way the lyrics are sung can make someone’s day. Another notable track is “Paper Rings”. “Paper Rings” is also a very upbeat song. The song talks about committing to your lover, no matter how someone is doing in life.
“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish, which reminds me of spring and birds singing and coming back, starting families, and being together. An essential part of the spring season to me is hearing birds chirping again, seeing all their nests, and getting to watch them fly around in their joyfulness.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
by Billie Eilish
Super Mario Odyssey is a video game that follows Mario and Cappy. All of the different kingdoms have different aesthetics; some are bright and happy and some are sad and gloomy. After you beat the main game, you can explore all of the kingdoms, which is always a lot of fun.
“Eternal Sunshine” by Ariana Grande is about someone be- ing the light in your life and in- spiring you. My personal eter- nal sunshine is my friends.
Super Mario Odyssey from Nintendo
Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande
“Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee is a representation of someone being something you know you need (we need the sun), and without it, we are lost.
Don’t Call the Wolf by Aleksandra Ross is an incredible story/ love story about a girl, Ren, who can turn into a wolf and a man, Lukasz, who is searching forhislonglostfamily.Thestory is mostly set in the forest, so the vibes of spring flood in as you read this increible journey.
Sunshine
indulge in these feel good fixes to clear away the winter blues
“I Wouldn’t Change a Thing” by Loving Caliber talks about missing the good days in life, it makes me think about how much I love springtime and the joys that spring bring to me.
ScatteredShowersby RainbowRowell
Scattered ShowersbyRainbow Rowell is a novel with severalcovershortlovestoriesandfeaturesa withbothrainandarain rainybow.It’sacozybooktoreadon preciatedaysandmakesyouap Focusingthesunny,springdays. on cute romances, heartit’sanovelthatwillwarmyour andappreciatethebitsofsunwe’refinallyreceiving.
Don’t Call The Wolf by Aleksandra
I Wouldn’t Change a Thing by Loving Caliber
Story by Abby Dudley and Ana Van Dyke; design by Ana Van Dyke
Ross
Sunf lower by Post Malone & Swaelee
Polka Dots
Cute, classy, and the ultimate
summer style!
design by Sophie Amberg
Poodleskirts, petticoats, and polka dots defined 50s fashion trends, however, most of these fads are worn in time, but polka dots continue to cycle through numerous decades of fashion styles. The pattern continued into the 60s, with Marilyn Monroe and Twiggy demonstrating many striking polka dot looks. As the hippie movement began in the 70s, the design faded but wasn’t forgotten, still making its appearance frequently in Hollywood. Once the 90s rolled around, the trend was back and strong as ever. Since then, polka dots have been worn consistently, as the print acts as a fashion staple. As the 2025 spring/ summer season begins, polka dots make their rounds during fashion week and numerous celebrities attires during award ceremonies. The timeless design makes its recurrence for the upcoming seasons, emphasizing the traditions of beautiful and chic fashion history.
“You can’t have a bad day in polka dots.”
- Anna Kendrick
the outfit. To do this, wearing simple jewelry and minimal colors really enhances the pattern. If a pop of color is wanted, going with a dark red adds a pop of color while matching the classy style of the outfit. The entertaining part of polka dots is how many colors they can come in: whether it’s the dot itself or the background, there’s endless possibilities. With a colored print, there’s more room to play with jewelry and accessories, as the polka dots radiate a spirited look. Belts, funky necklaces, or bangles all work for an addition to the vibrancy of the look.
“For spring and summer, they [bright/floral patterns] tend to become the hero of the season, but this year another pattern is vying for your attention. Polka dots!” -Vogue
Polka dots are one of the most elegant prints someone can wear, as it displays a youthful and playful appearance while exerting a classic piece with decades of history and class. Whether it’s silk skirts, blouses, headbands, or scarfs, polka dots can be worn in numerous ways, the design can be big and bold, tiny and close together, or different colors, the opportunities to style are endless. Reintroducing them into everyday wear makes the segway into the spring and summer seasons Styling black and white polka dots is ensuring that the piece is the center-focus of
“Polka dots are a way to get noticed without saying a word.”
- Claire Justine
Over decades of fashion history, numerous trends have dwindled to only their decade. Polka dots, however, remain a prominent focus point, as one of the many prints that continues to thrive. Clothing brands beginning to incorporate these trends are: Edikted, Free People, Princess Polly, and more chains alike. The spring and summer seasons call for light and soft designs, and polka dots work perfectly. The design works as an eternal source of inspiration and beauty, shown in old Hollywood films all the way up to being worn on red carpets today. The structure of the piece works for many peoples personal styles, as it can be altered to match almost any aesthetic. The polka dot remains timeless, and will continue to make history as a print of elegance and foundation to fashion as it thrives through decades in the past and decades to come.
Story and
Marvel’s next installment in the Captain America franchise has a solid landing.
There are certain makings of a Marvel movie that create its ratings, such humor, emotion, and overall ratings.
A lot of people may have walked away from “Captain America: Brave New World” more than dissatisfied, and there are plenty of reviews going on about how this movie might be the worst thing to hit Marvel (if you truly are looking for the worst thing to hit Marvel, I would recommend watching the Eternals movie). By and large, these viewers think that the film was so bad because they went into the theaters hoping and looking for Steve Rodgers, but guess what, Sam Wilson is no Steve Rodgers, and he’s better for it.
This movie started off unlike past Marvel movies with the lack of the traditional Marvel movie intro montage and music. I have to admit I was confused at first, and at first glance thought it made the beginning of the movie seem too abrupt, but as the
movie progressed and I did some light googling, I realized the lack of Marvel intro was purposeful: the whole point of “Brave New World” was that this is Sam’s origin story. This was the movie where he decided what kind of Cap he would be, and not having the Marvel intro grounded this idea and showed that this wasn’t anyone else’s story in the Marvel Universe but Sam’s.
While this was Sam’s story, it also tied in plot points from previous Marvel works, such as 2008’s “Incredible Hulk” and 2020’s ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”. Now one of the biggest plot points coming off of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” was that Sam never took the super soldier serum, making him one of the very few non-enhanced Avengers. Marvel could have fooled me
against that point with many of the action scenes in this movie, in moments when some of the things Cap did seemed inhuman, and I had to remind myself he didn’t take the serum, he has just trained and worked his butt off, something anyone could do. This was a recurring point made during the film, and a point carried across by other main characters Joaquin Torres and Isaiah Bradley, who played a big role in helping Sam discover who he was. Even his relationship and introduction with the villain in this movie helped shape his Captain America. The movie was action packed, bridged two movies and gave a compelling story that I actually wanted to sit through. More than that, I walked out of the theater inspired and feeling undefeatable, which is the whole point of Captain America.
Here are some Captian America Comics you should read if you want to see more of Sam or Isaiah’s stories. These are just some of my top suggestions, but if you want more, I encourae to look into it!
Sam Wilson, Captain America (2025) #1
Cover Artist: Taurin Clarke
Captian America: The SAGA of Sam Wilson
Cover Artist: Carlos Pacheco, Stuart Immonen
Captian America: Truth
Cover Artist: Kyle Baker
Story and design by Abby Hosler
5880 S. Westnedge Ave - https://www.pinspiration.com/locations/kalamazoo/
Advertise with the Northern Light and reach 1,300 students monthly in print and expo- nentially more members of the Kalamazoo community online and through our socials. Follow the QR code below for more information!
TOP LEFT: Amy Meyer embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and education, and she blends both seamlessly into her life. With a drive for business that started in her childhood, she has always had an interest in sales and connecting people with products they love. For over a decade, Meyer has worked in direct sales. Initially, she worked with ThirtyOneBags before she transitioned to Scentsy, a company she expresses deep love for. Her love for fragrance, home products, and giftable items shows through her work, as she helps people find products that bring warmth and comfort to their lives. Meyer highlights a deep connection between selling and teaching, viewing education as a form of sales and allowing her students to be “customers” in the classroom. Her dedication to working in a classroom and working with her business shows her passion to making a meaningful impact in both worlds. Photo courtesy of Amy Meyer.
2ND DOWN: Kelly Hinga has been committed to running for nearly two decades, setting and breaking goals for herself with each passing year. What began as a personal journey of weight loss after the birth of her daughter transitioned into the achievement of participating in 54 marathons and counting. Hinga has set many milestones, completing her 50th marathon by her 50th birthday and now a journey to completing her 60th marathon by her 60th birthday. Some of her races were even completed with Max Hinga running alongisde her. Her journey is an inspiration to work hard and not give up. Photo courtesy of Gretchen Hinga.
3RD DOWN: Karen Randall has brought warmth to many senior students for years by turning crocheting into a heartfelt tradition of creating small pets for each senior class. When time constraints prevented her from making full crochet blankets, she moved to creating fish, bunnies, octopuses, and now this year kitty cats! Each crocheted pet has unique color patterns and is made with dedication, embracing the creativity and care that she pours into her work. Each crochet animal represents the kindness Randall brings to the community of our school. Her generosity and commitment make every senior feel special, which truly makes her a cherished part of the school. Photo by Layla Carpenter.
The Genius of PN Women
Celebrating women at PN for their great accomplishments
Story and design by Layla
Carpenter
TOP RIGHT: Daniall Poulsen discovered her passion for photography in high school, starting with film and developing photos for her high school yearbook. Inspired by her aunt’s old photos, Poulsen began to capture moments of family and friends shortly after having children. 13 years ago, she launched a photography business after much encouragement from her family and friends, initially covering many subjects. 5 years later, Poulsen found her specialty in senior sessions and professional business headshots. Outside of business, Poulsen finds love for shooting nature and still life for creative fulfillment, often participating in 52Frames, an international photography challenge that fuels Poulsen’s inspiration. She encourages anyone with a passion or curiosity for photography to check out 52Frames weekly challenges for itching inspiration. Photo courtesy of Daniall Poulsen.
4TH DOWN: Katie Paynich, a Spanish teacher at PN, was honored with a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) award through the teachers’ union for her dedication to creating a more inclusive and supportive school environment. Paynich’s recognition stemmed from her perseverance in creating a school closet with free clothing for students to choose what they feel comfortable wearing. Paynich’s determination to advocate for students, overcome challenges, and thoughts of inclusivity led to the more successful and resourceful space that now offers clothing, hygiene products, and more. In February, Paynich received the award at the Michigan Education Association conference in Detroit, standing before a crowd of over a thousand educators. She describes the moment as “overwhelming, but very meaningful.” Photo courtesy of the MEA.