Senior Tribute Magazine | 2024-25 | Rocklin High by Rocklin High School Student Media

COLLAGE

what is what is

collage?

Over the years, these seniors have built countless meaningful connections. Bonds that brought together people and communities alike. Whether you’re an artist, athlete, student, or something else entirely, a collage of memories has been created. This magazine marks the end of an era for the Class of 2025, but the connections formed will last a lifetime.

You’re probably more alike to someone than you think. This magazine can be a way to connect with others who share your interests or passions. It also serves as a way to showcase the deep relationships students have developed during their time here. Like it or not, you are connected to something, and that connection is part of what makes you, you.

Thank you to our staff and editors for being part of the creation of this beautiful magazine. We appreciate your ability to work under pressure and quickly adapt to a unique style. Special thanks to Ruby for being direct, honest, and always serving as a guiding light.

joshua gunter eli anderson

ziyi yang

eitan rubinstein

joshua gunter

evan gordon

kiana barnes

Ahmed, Sahil 30

Atherley, Saba 36

Band senior night ...................................... 02

Baseball senior night 38

Bennett, Elizabeth 44

Boys basketball senior night 24

Boys lacrosse senior night ............ 32

Boys soccer senior night ................ 24

Boys tennis senior night 32

Boys volleyball senior night ......... 32

Boys water polo senior night ....... 10

Boyapati, Sahil 17

Burke, Cameron ........................................ 08

Burkett, William 31

Byron, Shane 44

Campbell, Kylie 12

Carter-Buchanan, Avery 40

Carter-Buchanan, Peyton 40

Cerone, Jason 05

Cheer senior night .................................... 02

Clifford, Drew 42

Coleman, Nick 21

Conant, Conner........................................... 43

Cousin, William 13

Cox, Elijah 34

Cross country senior night 10

Crossman, Mackenzie 45

Cruz, Olivia 45

Cruz, Matheus Da Silva 20

Curley, David................................................. 36

Da Silva Cruz, Matheus 20

Dance senior night 02

David, Gavin.................................................... 12

Derepentigny, Jack 04

Dieter, Isaac 40

Doig, Ethan 46

Ejiasa, Shawn 06

contents table of table of

Fagan, Dylan 28

Felice, Talia 17

Fernandez Jimenez, Mildred 23

Fernandez Jimenez, Samantha 23

Filippi, Kendallyn 09

Flacks, Marlena 07

Football senior night ............................... 02 Georgeson, Luke 16

Girls basketball senior night 24 Girls flag football senior night..... 18 Girls golf senior night ...................... 18 Girls lacrosse senior night ............. 32 Girls soccer senior night 24 Girls tennis senior night .................. 18 Girls volleyball senior night .......... 10 Girls water polo senior

eitan rubinstein

joshua gunter

MOMENTS

senior night

Football - 11/1/24

Cheer - 11/1/24

Dance - 11/1/24

Band - 11/1/24

This picture by Joshua Gunter won 3rd in the Nation for Sports Reaction photography.

eitan rubinstein

rubinstein

eitan rubinstein

connor hassler

eitan rubinstein

connor hassler

cole broumas celeste contratto eitan rubinstein

DRIVEN BY BEHIND THE SCENES

n March of 2025, Jack Derepentigny waited backstage of an event at his church. The Frozen Junior, an event meant to enhance community outreach and show that church doesn’t need to be something scary, or difficult to attend, was about to start. Little did they know, this would be one of the most technical nightmares they’d face this year. In the show, it was planned that there would be an elaborate costume change from the main character Elsa, into a different dress. During the costume change, four fog jets were meant to shoot up into the air, hiding her in the haze. But, as it turns out, all of those fog machines; each pulling upwards of 30 amps, were all plugged into the same circut.

FAITH “YOU BECOME THE PEOPLE YOU OUT WITH

-JACK DEREPENTIGNY

“

I definitely popped [about] six breakers and destroyed a couple power cords because they melted.

This event was just one among dozens, maybe even hundreds to Derepentigny. What set them apart wasn’t the scale or the chaos, it was what they meant to him. At the center of it all, the most important thing to Derepentigny is God. Everybody embraces their faith in a different way. Some, casually attend church on Sundays. For him, embracing his faith meant relentlessly serving his church with his friends every sunday. Audio mixing, light programming, you name it, he probably does it. Countless events and a handful of Mexico trips stand out to Derepentigny in his mission to further the kingdom of God. “I do audio and lighting for the church, and what that looks like is being able to step more into the worship side of things, and to create a space for people to worship and have that intentional time of doing something. You’re getting there way earlier than everyone else, and you’re able to see The Church for what it is, and see the church for not just a building, but the people, and that’s a huge part of [what I do].“

SUMMIT FAITH

DYLAN YARBROUGH

As a young, naive freshman, Dylan Yarbrough nervously started his first day of high school. Reflecting on the day, Yarbrough said, “I was a really shy, awkward person.” He advised his younger self to “live life” and “be impactful and [to] do other stuff, and experience” things. Yarbrough noted that as he grew older, he realized “how important high school is” and became more involved in activities like photography and school events. On the topic of plans for the future, Yarbrough said “[He’s going to] be taking engineering [at] Sierra College and probably transferring after.” His interest in engineering was heavily influenced by his EST teacher, Mr. Hewson, who inspired and supported his passion for the subject.

Summit of Faith is a short cinematic by CM Originals featuring Jack created to introduce a sermon series at a Christian summer camp through Bayside Church. The video represents John the Baptist and his journey in preparing the way for Jesus

courtesy of cole morell

joshua gunter courtesy

COAST

COAST TO 10

A WESTERN SHIFT

THOSE IN YOUR LIFE.

Taking the court, is Jason Cerone, the 6’6 wing on the RHS Basketball team. He does a bit of everything; get down the court, attack the rim, shoot, and pass. He plays a versatile role that requires a mix of skills and adaptability on the court. His experience with basketball is deep rooted, all the way back to his old home in Florida. The transition for Cerone wasn’t easy, and daily he reflected on his home back in Florida. During the transition,

Cerone’s passion persisted. Leading to the end of his time at RHS, the basketball team ended up winning the section championship, a positive way to end his high school career. Cerone plans to keep playing basketball going into his future years. He plans to attend Sierra College, and play for their basketball team. Sierra College offers a strong stepping stone for his basketball aspirations, and is a place where he can continue playing on a competetive level. Sierra provides the opportunity to develop his skills, gain experience, and keep his dream of playing on a college team alive.

Parker Graham worked throughout his senior year with quiet strength. He traded spikes on the volleyball court for late-night gym sessions and bussing tables at a restraunt called Siena. At first, he kept to himself, but friendships forged over workouts and laughter, such as the infamous “Arsani Special” volleyball play, brought him out of his shell. Focused on a future in kinesiology and inspired by his dad, Graham’s story isn’t loud, it’s steady: lift by lift, step by step, building a life with purpose and peace.

all photos by joshua gunter.

photos courtesy of parker graham

joshua gunter

done it ALL ALL done it done it

From Ceramics to Mock Trial, Saba Atherley has explored it all in just four years. Her busy schedule began when she took her creative pursuits to the ceramics classroom. She soon discovered her interest in “making new creations”. Over the years, Atherley found that “it expanded [her] artistic horizons made me more interested in trying ceramics outside of school”.

Later in her high school career, Atherley became involved with Black Student Union, eventually leading the club as the president. She created a supportive community on campus. In combination with the club, she participated in Mock Trial. “It widened my confidence and my speaking abilities, or just leadership skills, and it’s helped me to mentor a lot of younger people”, Atherley said. After graduating, she plans to go straight to a four-year university, continuing her studies in the medical field.

rolling through the

motions

hen Shawn Ejiasa moved from Napa Valley to Rocklin, he wasn’t sure what to expect. From the get-go, the change in environment and education was noticeable. But it also opened new opportunities for him. “I met new people, made new friends,” Ejiasa says. “Rocklin was pretty inclusive.”

One of the people who made a lasting impact was Mr. Morrison, his junior-year physics teacher. “I was struggling a little bit, and he did a lot to help me out during the end of the year,” Shawn said.

From adapting to a new school to finding support along the way, Ejiasa high school experience became one of growth, connection, and resilience.

kiana barnes

courtesy of saba atherly

s i mon e ’sSt o yr

or Simone Oberg, high school wasn’t just about the classes and the grades. It was the friendships that made everything worthwhile. Oberg is especially close with her three best friends, a bond that has shaped her high school experience in ways she’ll never forget. “It’s really impacted my mental health for the better,” Oberg said, “I feel like I have a close-knit group that I can go to if I need

with my

ince fourth grade, Julia Pascua has been best friends with Marlena Flacks, and they have had classes every single year together at Rocklin, such as Spanish and Dual Enrollment United States History. During their freshman year, they had every day of P.E. swim together, which helped them to maintain their strong bond. Pascua describes Flacks as a very bright person, since “she’s always laughing, she’s a very funny person, [and] she’s just a very

Apart from the connection that they have, they are also part of a larger friend group, which Pascua would describe as being a major part of her best memories from high school. Driving around has, “become some of the best times,” she has experienced in high school. Pascua is, “forever grateful,” for these moments and will look back on them for years to come.

kiana barnes

courtesy of julia pascua

kiana barnes

remember

the era

Remembering the eras at Rocklin is the most important thing we can do for our seniors and for Cameron Burke, His era at Rocklin is just the beginning of a legacy in sports medicine, he said, “Sports medicine the whole and the connections I've formed, and I want to try and do sports medicine in the NFL so I plan on continuing sports medicine in college." His different experiences in the class and the moments, memories, and fun times spent in the class changed how he sees his future in life, and this era in his life is just one of the many he’s going to have. As he concludes his era in high school there aren’t many more that will hold as much value as this. Looking back on his time in high school and some of the experiences he’s had Burke Notes that “Mr Kirk made me want to learn math for the first time in my life,” which he considered before to be something he never looked forward to before. Burke had an amazing senior year to end off his era at Rocklin High School.

Our connections help shape who we are, and for Brady Smith, he credits his Sports Medicine class as a reason he feels very connected to the campus, “I did CPR training, and I just feel really close with the teacher and with the students in the class,” said Smith. From classes like Sports Medicine, Smith has made new relationships with people that helped him “grow as a person” and in his words “find who I am.” Connections made through programs at Rocklin High School helped shaped Smith’s four year venture on the campus, and he is grateful for all of his friends.

Reflecting back on his high school experience, Smith has 2 moments that he will remember forever. The first one was watching the schools 3v3 basketball tournament that is held once a year in the gym during lunch. The second was participating in the homecoming games during Smith’s sophomore year. He said, “I played with my friends, it was a bunch of fun. We won the game, I was scared but, you know it was just fun to compete with other people over the game.”

Although Smith has had many teachers during his 4 years at Rocklin, he gives his appreciation to Mr. O’Hare, “He was a really nice person to me and he inspires me. Hes a nice dude.” Overall, Smith feels he has had a fulfilling high school experience.

so many

connections connections

I just feel really close with the teacher and with the students in the class

brady kretzmer

carson may

Friendships Friendships

AtRocklin High School (RHS), community isn’t just found in classrooms. Sometimes, it’s built on the field. For senior Simi Sood, lacrosse became the space where friendships grew, teamwork thrived, and meaningful connections were made.

“Playing lacrosse has made me more connected to my peers around me,” Sood shares. What began as a sport quickly became a source of belonging. Through every practice and game, she found herself surrounded by people who pushed her to grow, not just as an athlete but as a person.

As she gets ready to close this chapter of her life, Sood leaves behind a legacy defined by kindness, teamwork, and genuine connection. Her story is a reminder that what truly matters in high school are the people who shape the experience.

REUNITED REUNITED

AtRocklin High School (RHS), connection means more than just being part of the crowd. For senior Malayna Luttrell, it shaped her future. As a key member of the RHS cheer team, Luttrell found herself deeply tied to campus life. “Being on the cheer team kept me most connected to campus mainly because being a part of the team means you are representing the school and attending almost every schoolrelated event,” she said. Her involvement made Rocklin feel like home, but it was a personal connection that truly altered her next chapter.

One bond in particular stood out — her friendship with Kendallyn Filippi, a former RHS student who graduated last year. “One [connection] that impacted me the most would be my friend [Kendallyn Filippi] who graduated,” Luttrell said. “I did cheer and stunt with her and I’m even following her off into college; we will be cheering on the same team in college at Menlo.” Their friendship, rooted in countless hours spent practicing and performing together, has now extended into their collegiate lives.

courtesy of simi sood

courtesy of malayna luttrell

kayla plog

kaitlyn tri

zachary burdick

shane byron

eli anderson

kayla plog

austin vandenberg

Waterpolo - 10/2/24

Cross Country - 11/2/24

Girls Volleyball - 10/21/24

eli anderson

cole broumas celeste contratto eitan rubinstein

future future

GKylie Campbell

avin David has a variety of goals to pursue after graduation like his job at Studio Movie Grill and his enrollment at Sierra College. David plans to major in psychology and then transfer out of Sierra to another university, as he stated, “Psychology has always been an interest of mine. It seems like a really fun degree that kind of suits my personality.” He then went on to explain how taking a psychology class influenced his bucket list, saying that in his lifetime, he would want to “travel a country on a motorcycle without any map. I was thinking Finland. In positive psychology, we learned that it was the happiest country in the world.” On his achievements during his high school years, David spoke about enjoying theatre, saying, “I started really thinking about it freshman year, but I didn’t have the confidence to join the play. I took the class sophomore year, but junior year is really when I excelled in theater, and I really just like acting and being on stage.”

SIERRA

Similarly to Gavin David, Kylie Campbell shares a background in V.A.P.A. like dance and theatre. “I really like theater, and also I like making stuff for video production. And I also like murder mystery type stuff,” stated Campbell. She went on to say that she has a focused idea of what the future may look like, saying, “I’m going to Sierra for two years after I graduate, I’m doing criminal justice over there, and then I’m gonna transfer. I want to do forensic psychology when I transfer. It’s like understanding how the minds work of killers and whatnot.” Explaining her history with this passion, Campbell said, “I grew up at my grandparents house for a while, and my grandma was always watching murder shows, like Forensic Files or Homicide Hunter. I just want to be able to understand the things behind why people do things.”

Gavin David

courtsey of gavin david courtsey of gavin david

courtsey of gavin david

courtsey of Kylie Campbell

violet yang

n her future prospects, Oceana Janson expressed, “I’m just gonna go to Sierra College, and then maybe transfer to a U.C. school. Probably Santa Cruz.” Janson plans to become a lawyer in the future, but most of her time now is spent with her friends in clubs like garden club or French club (pictured below), and even just driving around and blasting music. On her own, Janson finds herself taking up music in her free time, saying, “I like to play the guitar right now. I like to play songs by Rex Orange County.” She then went on to describe an item on her bucket list, saying she would like to “move to Canada, because I have family there, and I like it better.”

SIERRA

William Cousin is a future Sierra College student who plans to go for two years and transfer out to UCSB. He described his career goals, saying, “I wanted to join the Air Force because I really like planes, flying, or at least work on them.” However, Cousin has a particular interest in comic books and drawing, something that sparked from his dad’s dream. He explained, “I love drawing comic book panels and stuff. My dad, he always drew around me. He would draw characters from movies that I like, and I’d always color them. And he always taught me and gave me tricks. And whenever I needed supplies, he always bought them for me. So he really fostered that hobby for me. And I just fell in love with reading them, the stories, the movies, all of that.”

students students futures

futures

William Cousin

Oceana Janson

courtsey of malia chung

courtesy of william cousins

courtsey of william cousins

Best Best Buddies Buddies

Ethan Huang and Ilya Tsialehin, two friends who are Seniors at RHS, describe how they became close friends thanks to the connections made on campus. The two boys and their other friends, Pearc Glauser, and Noah Clifford all met at Orientation day. “Were getting shown around, and I was in a group with a couple other guys, and we sort of just said, what’s up? Dabbed each other up. And then we became friends,” Huang said. He and his friends had a few classes together last year and “Through my teacher’s wise guidance and putting us in groups together, we became closer.” Tsialehin elaborates by mentioning “we had history together and kinda just sat at the same table and talked,” Eventually he and friends got closer and now they are best buds at RHS. Although Huang and Tsialehin might not be involved with clubs and sports, they do a lot of extracurricular activities outside of school with their other friends.

We just had a lot “ “ of history together -ethan huang

sense

of community

Vira Postugla explains how she made great connections throughout her time on campus. Postugla explains, “I’m not really involved with Rocklin in the sense of club or sports but I would count the people I’ve made connections with at campus. I think more than anything the community you get out of Rocklin and its campus is more important than the stamp of a sport or club.” Postugla friend group fluctuated throughout High School and “It shows just how much a person changes right now.”

Postugla and her friends come from different backgrounds and perspectives. “I’m really surprised we are friends, we mostly met through mutual friends,” Postugla expresses happily. She and her circle of friends are able to be vulnerable and spontaneous because they don’t care for other people’s opinions. “Which is nice since people are able to let go of their expectations of themselves,” Postugla simplifies. Getting involved with RHS campus does not only mean joining a club or sports but it also means making great connections with those around you.

all photos by yasarie joann galiza

Baseball has shaped more for Troy Ueltzen than just his skills—it has shaped his character. “In life, you need to be a leader, step up, and take accountability,” he shares.

With Rocklin High’s strong coaching staff guiding him, he has grown through challenges. “You go through adversity every game. You struggle and fail,” he reflects. Among his favorite moments, were competing in the Little League World Series and winning two SFL championships. “Those are memories I’ll never forget,” he says.

Beyond the game, friendships have defined his high school experience. “Honestly, if I didn’t have them, I don’t know where I’d be,” he admits. Looking back, Ueltzen wishes he had joined more activities but cherishes the memories made. As he moves forward, he carries the lessons of leadership, perseverance, and friendship into his next chapter.

all photos by eitan rubinstein

The relationships that I’ve built in high school have changed my life and who I am. The relationships that I’ve built in high school have changed my life and who I am. “ “ “ “

eli anderson violet yang

eli anderson

STahil Boyapati is an extremely active member of all of his friend groups, doing the most to make the most of his senior year. After freshman year of high school volleyball, Boyapati decided to “play volleyball recreationally.” He also goes to the gym every day, but when he isn’t doing physical activity, he enjoys taking “trips to Tahoe or to different states”. Some of his most memorable experiences include booking an Airbnb in Tahoe for four days. “We went skiing for a couple days to different mountains, and then we went to Emerald Bay and walked through the forest. It was an awesome time.”

making high school unforgettable

alia Felice does a great job at juggling school, a part-time job, and a small business. “I work with my sister and we run a small jewelry business. I get to make jewelry and promote it on social media.” Marketing and even real estate are in the cards for her future. Felice explains that “I am a people person. I originally wanted to be a nurse because my family said I’m good with people, but I think having a business will help me be more successful.” Felice noted that she has made extremely impactful relationships participating in this competitive field, and even conducts “‘market research’” by working her part-time job at Abercrombie Kids. “If I was doing it by myself, I would’ve given up. But very I’m thankful I have my sister.”

Kaelyn Lu is extremely active in both cheer and a variety of charity organizations. Participating in cheer since first grade, she transitioned to the Rocklin program as a flyer. Lu says “I met a lot of my friends there. All of my best friends were in my stunt group. Sometimes we didn’t work well together and we’d get in arguments, but we’d set aside our problems and make up. [Cheer] brought me really close

to them throughout the year… [and] taught me how to work well with people.” Lu also participated in a charitable mother-daughter organization for six years and even incorporated cheer into her volunteer work by teaching cheer to younger kids. Lu has a multitude of colleges lined up for after high school, influenced by her sister to attend a school in southern California.

elizabeth bennett

courtesy of talia felice

courtesy of kaelyn lu

courtesy of sahil boyapati

senior night

Flag Football - 10/15/24

Girls Golf - 10/15/24

Wrestling - 1/28/25

Girls Tennis - 10/21/24

christian accord

eli anderson

bailee sexton

shane byron

sehajpaul basra

elise mullican

bailee sexton

cole broumas celeste contratto

eitan rubinstein

ALL THAT

Among the many experiences

ALL THATjazz jazz

Matheus Da Silva Cruz had at Rocklin High School, none shaped his voice more than his time playing bass guitar in the jazz band. For three years, Da Silva Cruz honed his craft, not just musically, but personally as well.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I learned how to really, you know, connect with people.”

Coming into high school more reserved, jazz band helped Da Silva Cruz step outside of his shell. “Honestly, maybe a little more extroverted,” he shared.

“I was just, you know, shy, quiet.” But performing gave him confidence, especially during one unforgettable experience: his first time playing at Sacramento State.

“They put us in this big hall… I was in the better jazz band, because there’s two,” he said proudly. “I just remember being in this big hall and thinking, ‘Oh, this is fire.’” His band placed fourth, but the true reward was the atmosphere—the sense of being part of something big, something special.

MOST OF IT making the

For Maggie McDonald, soccer was more than just a sport—it was the heart of her high school experience. It gave her a team, a family, and unforgettable memories. “Good teamwork,” McDonald said, reflecting on what soccer taught her. “I made a lot of friends through it that I still talk to and hang out with.”

One moment stands out clearly in her memory: winning a tournament in Las Vegas. “We were all super happy,” she recalled with a smile. That victory wasn’t just about the scoreboard—it was about the bond her team shared on and off the field.

Looking back, McDonald wishes she had leaned into more of what high school had to offer. “I wish I went to more of the things… a lot of the football games,” she admitted. When asked how she’s changed over the last four years, McDonald shared something many seniors can relate to: growth.

“I grew a lot,” she said. “You’re 18, you’re learning a lot about yourself… the people you want to surround yourself with.”

As she closes this chapter, McDonald leaves behind a legacy of real friendships and the kind of growth that doesn’t show up on transcripts but stays with you for life.

you’re learning a lot about yourself… the people you want to surround yourself

-Maggie McDonald

ziyi yang

courtesy of matheus da silva cruz

this, btw, is matheus matheus

finishing finishing

STRONG STRONG

For senior Nick Coleman, Rocklin baseball gave him more than just a spot on the field. “It’s a great culture. It’s a brotherhood, you know?” he says.

That brotherhood kept him going through a tough junior season. “I feel I did really good after being hurt all year last year, missing 20 games, and then getting surgery in the fall,” he says.

Even during recovery, he stayed with the team. “I was going to PT twice a week, still showing up to practice, still being with the team, being the best teammate I can,” he said.

One of his top moments came this year in the playoffs when he hit his first career home run. “It was great. All my family was there. Lots of friends were there,” he says. “Friday baseball is just a great environment.”

From injury to comeback, Coleman closed out his final season proud of what he accomplished.

For Cooper, the gym wasn’t just a physical outlet—it became a foundation for personal growth. “I think it’s helped me grow mentally,” he said. “Because I’m like, look better, feel better… it just made my day feel more fun.”

Beyond fitness, Cooper valued friendships formed through sports and meaningful connections made simply by showing up. “Just don’t be shy,” he advised. “You just have to, like, talk to people and get out there… nothing to lose.”

look better, feel better

courtsey of cooper welch

let’s play let’s play

SOME GAMES SOME GAMES

Anthony Manuel, a senior at Rocklin High School, reflects back on his time at the school. “It was daunting, because I’m sure we all felt like freshmen, a new big place with 2,000 people. Back in 2021, we were wearing masks at school. That was tough. It had us all on edge more than normal, and stunted social growth. The mask - it’s like a physical barrier. You can’t see each other’s faces, and it’s isolating to have that at school.”

As a way to be more connected to the school, Manuel enjoys being around his friends and goes to the Table Top Games Club. “All the events that we do are fun. No sports for me, but I go to the Table Top Games Club with Mr. Knight. My friends started it, and I’ve always been there with them. It’s a place where you can be more social and improve those skills. It’s really fun”, Manuel said.

Manuel hopes to start learning how to play an instrument. “I don’t play any instruments yet, but I do plan to learn electric bass guitar. YouTube is the best school; it’s all free and there’s so much you can learn.”

Most students at Rocklin will experience a class at some point that leaves an impact on them, and for Manuel, that class was Psychology and Sociology. Psychology and Sociology is taught by Mr. Hardy, the AP Microeconomics teacher. “It was great to learn about the mind, the brain, how it’s connected to the body, how people will behave and what influences us”, Manuel said. His experience with the class made Manuel want to be a teacher aide for Hardy. “It’s fun, sometimes it’s a lot of work. [Lots of] grading papers and sorting, but it’s cool to be able to help a teacher, because I know it’s a stressful job. There is a lot of work they have to do so I can help someone.”

Connection driven by

when we asked graduating senior, Elsa Zamora (not pictured), what connected her to campus she told us:

I

FEEL CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL BY THE HISPANIC HERITAGE CLUB BECAUSE I GET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER CULTURES, AND I GET TO BE CLOSER TO MY CULTURE

- Elsa Zamora

“ “

Mildred Fernandez Jimenez (left), a senior at Rocklin High School, has been part of the French Club, the Multicultural Club and National Honor Society. Her younger sister, Samantha Fernandez Jimenez (right), has a position on the board for the French Club. “I think it was because of my friends that were part of those clubs. They went there, and I decided to join one day. It was really interesting, and that made me want to join those clubs,” Mildred said. “She [Samantha] has a leadership position at the French club, so that was one of my reasons why I joined the French club.”

Although she’s graduating from Rocklin High School, Mildred did not go to school here until her junior year. “I moved [here in] my junior year, and it was a new environment. It was hard getting adapted, just because it’s an open campus. I was used to an indoor campus and finding stuff around here, You definitely have to put yourself out and ask questions.

I didn’t grow up here and know many people, but once you put yourself out there, people are really friendly.”

Mildred said that her previous school was more focused on community service. “I did Red Cross for my community service, which I completed hours before I came here. I know I did a lot of Red Cross over there. It was mostly blood drives,” Mildred said. “I was part of the team that was planning on having people come in and figure out where they were going, set up who’s in charge, who’s going to help monitor. The Red Cross was interesting to me, getting to help out and blood drives.”

Even though she only got to experience two years at Rocklin, Mildred was able to find a connection to the school and have an amazing time here.

Señora Navarrete leading the Hispanic Heritage Club’s celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

jacob goodman

miranda loreto

jacob goodman

courtesy of fernandez jimenez

kaia johnson evelyn miller

joshua gunter

dominic fitzpatrick

eitan rubinstein

Girls Basketball - 2/5/25

Boys Basketball - 1/23/25

Girls Soccer - 1/28/25

Boys Soccer - 2/5/25

eitan rubinstein

cole broumas celeste contratto eitan rubinstein

cut to confidence cut to confidence

four years of filming and friendship

Orlando Martinez still remembers being worried about being surrounded by older students on his first day of high school. “I was definitely nervous, you know.” Martinez said. But now as a senior, he has grown way more confident. “I definitely matured. I just took things a bit more seriously.”

One place that shaped his journey was video production, a class he’s taken all four years. “I branched out there because it was other people that shared

the same ideas or interests with me,” Martinez said. Through the program, he connected with classmate Christian Madrigal and worked on projects like the two-part series “Freaky Friday” for the Friday Show.

For Martinez, it all comes down to connection and how as he says, “Without connection, you wouldn’t have any outside source, but with connections you’d be able to make new decisions.”

stronger together stronger together

Atriple sport athlete in flag football, wrestling, and track and field, Jennifer Lamas didn’t just participate, she fully committed. While she started playing sports her freshman year, it wasn’t until her junior year that she dove in, joining multiple teams and getting heavily involved.

She was a part of Rocklin’s first ever flag football team, helping shape its identity. “We always try to do a little pump up before the game starts, and

we’ll all do a little team prayer,” Lamas said. That sense of unity extended to wrestling, where the support between teammates made every win sweeter and every loss feel shared.

Though her highschool career may soon be ending, Lamas is not done. She’s currently committed to UC Santa Cruz and hopes to continue her athletic journey through rugby. “I’m going to miss my wrestling team so much though, it’s like my little family.”

courtesy of orlando martinez

courtesy of jennifer lamas

serving up serving up victory

Whatstarted as a casual activity in PE turned into an eventful four-year long journey of passion and perseverance for Ziyi Yang. When Yang first tried volleyball, he “found out that it’s kind of fun.” “I’m actually kind of good. I can just jump and spike the ball because the net is just so low” Yang said.

growth and more experience, Yang learned that, “it’s just a point [and to] move on.” That growth showed to the team, when he returned to varsity with a new mindset and stronger skills during his junior year.

As of now, he has played volleyball every year of his highschool journey, improving alongside teammates who became close friends on and off the court. Yang has become a vital and vocal leader, known for his positivity and passion for the team.

This confidence led him to try out for the JV team his freshman year. According to Yang, the team, due to being brand new, consistently lost during most of their official matches. But instead of being discouraged, he kept trying.

By sophomore year, Yang made the varsity team, but self-doubt and his nerves led to a tough moment. After making a couple heartbreaking mistakes, “I kind of cried on the court after a game,” he said. This self-doubt caused him to lose his starting position on the varsity team. But due to personal

by: Connor Hassler

As a senior, Yang has become a mentor, encouraging younger players to stay confident. “When they mess up, I tell them it’s okay.” Yang’s journey from PE class to a varsity veteran is a story of perseverance, teamwork, and loving the game every step of the way showing how one’s dedication can truly impact yourself and those around you.

Photo

framingTHE FUTURE with ryan sanders

Ryan Sanders, a senior at Rocklin High School (RHS), has made the most of his time on campus, finding his purpose and a life long passion in the school’s Video Production (VP) program. “In video production, I’ve got three friends, and we call ourselves the A team, and that’s Christian Madrigal. Jerry… [and] Eric lingo.” Him and the A team climbed the ranks where he and Sanders became managers, growing deep connections between the three of them. You might know Sanders from the Friday show where he stars in occasionally. He originally had no plans to be in front of the camera, but then filled a much needed slot during his senior year. “I had no interest in being on camera at all, but at the beginning of this year, there was a roll to be filled, and I filled it….. I’ve enjoyed a lot of it.”

Sanders’ favorite memory from RHS was getting to be behind the scenes at Faculty Follies working and connecting with the teachers there, “during the faculty follies this year, me and the A team, we all work together behind the scenes to make sure that some of the stuff runs pretty good.” During the event Sanders was able to dress up as Thundersaurus, our school mascot. His favorite project Sanders made at Rocklin was his end of the year film in his Junior year where he bonded with his friends making a film to show to his class. “I think one thing that I’ll always remember my time by would be my short film that I made last year for our annual Short Film Festival. That was that it took a lot of effort and time, and just a lot of different things that had to happen.” Sanders loves watching the Video Production program change and evolve for the

all photos courtsey of ryan sanders

dedicated

TO PASSION

Senior Dylan Fagan doesn’t need the spotlight to feel connected to Rocklin High School. Over the last four years, his bond with the campus has taken shape through his camera lens, quiet routines, and a steady presence in the photo department. “I feel connected enough to kind of fit in,” Fagan said. “But not too connected where I’m gonna, like, cry at graduation. I’ll probably miss some of the aspects of this school.” For Fagan, that connection has always centered on photography. He joined the photo department as a freshman in 2021 and never looked back. “I joined the photo department when I first entered high school... and I’ve been in the department since,” he said. “My first teacher was Casey Nichols... but over the past four years, I’ve been just sticking around in the photo department.”

“I

definitely popped [about] six breakers and destroyed a couple power cords because they melted.

Photography wasn’t something he planned to pursue—it simply grew on him. “Honestly, I have no idea,” he said about how it started. “It kind of just happened out of nowhere... the more and more I did it, the more and more I started to enjoy it.” Although he didn’t build a large social network through the program, he found his rhythm as a solo creator. “I mainly work by myself and sometimes with the teacher, because I’m an independent worker,” Fagan said. That independence has shaped more than just his art. “I’ve become much more independent than I have been in the past,” he said. “I’m much more persistent, much more motivated, and I believe I’m definitely much more mature and level-headed.” After graduation, Fagan plans to attend Sierra College to study photography, then transfer to Sacramento State. He sees photography remaining a central part of his life. “Definitely hope to become more of a hobbyist, if anything... while having photography as like my main medium throughout life.” Dylan Fagan may not be the loudest voice on campus, but his connection runs deep—built not through crowds, but through creativity, consistency, and quiet pride in his work.

the the ins ins and and

For senior Sahil Ahmadi, soccer has been more than just a sport— it’s been a way of life. “It’s my life inside and outside of school,” Ahmadi says, reflecting on the countless hours spent on the field, the friendships formed, and the lessons learned through the game.

Throughout high school, soccer provided him with a steady rhythm—practice after school, weekend matches, and making sacrifices in his life so that he could spend time becoming the best player he could be. “It was a really fun experience to have with teammates,” he says. “The whole vibe was good.” Whether celebrating a win or pushing through a tough loss, Ahmadi found joy and connection through soccer. For Ahmadi, the field was more than a place to play. It was a place to grow as a person and form friendships that he will remember well beyond his high school years.

It’s my life inside and outside of school “ “

connor hassler

courtesy of sahil ahmadi

From her work life to her favorite vacation spot, family is everything to Kaleigh Pashkoff. As of 2023, Pashkoff has worked at In n Out, where she was hired by her cousin. The job has been a great learning opportunity and has immensely improved her time management skills.

When she’s not working, she loves playing volleyball with her family in Capitola. She hopes her sister shares a similar high school experience full of meaningful connections. Her best piece of advice for underclassmen is to “just have fun and soak everything in”.

of life of life OUTS OUTS

Senior Arabella Flores has spent high school balancing her studies and band rehearsals, performing at festivals, restaurants, conferences, and birthday parties with her Filipino band that consists of members from Rocklin, West Park and Woodcreek High. “Music’s always been part of my life—my dad’s in a band too,” she says. Her lifelong passion was made a reality when Alana Weichers joined as lead singer during her junior year. “My favorite memory is our first rehearsal. She brought so much character and energy.” Though the group started off on an awkward note, Arabella made the effort to break the ice. “I hate tension, so I started talking, and we realized we’re all kind of silly.” Now, she sees her bandmates as more than friends. “Honestly, they’re like siblings, “ she says. As she wraps up senior year, Flores is happy to say that her high school soundtrack has been anything but boring.

Since freshman year, William Burkett has thrown himself into the engineering program at Rocklin High. He’s taken the class every year— sometimes twice a day. “I’ve taken it about six times now,” he says.

The program became more than just a class. Burkett credits Mr. Hewson as “a pretty big influence on my life,” and says their connection helped shape his future. “I

realized through this program that I do want to go into the engineering field.”

Next fall, Burkett plans to study environmental resources engineering at either Humboldt State or Cal Poly. “It’s all about saving the environment,” he says, “but in a more engineering-focused way.” His advice to future students is simple: “Make the most of it. There’s a lot of resources to use.”

violet yang

courtesy of arabella flores

kiana barnes

violet yang

senior night

Boys Tennis - 4/7/25

Girls Lacrosse - 4/10/25

Boys Volleyball - 4/20/25

Boys Lacrosse - 4/24/25

eitan

eitan rubinstein

brady kretzmer

kinana barnes

eitan rubinstein

cole broumas celeste contratto

eitan rubinstein

branching how

four friends have rooted themselves in Rocklin

out

Career presentation day, the day everyone dreads. Every sophomore will have to present a profession to their Language class, and it is hard to imagine anyone would enjoy presenting in front of a crowd of staring seeminglyjudging eyes. However, for Connor Lusch, that’s exactly what he did. On that day, Lusch realized that he enjoyed talking about his interests greatly in front of the audience. On that day, his passion ignited. That same year, he would join speech and debate, believing that it was the public speaking that was the reason why he enjoyed presenting, but he felt unfulfilled and realized that “it wasn’t necessarily the public speaking that I enjoyed, it was instead the creation and telling of a story.” Upon this discovery, he would drop speech and join theater the next year, stating,” I started theater last year back…I do really enjoy public speaking as it is a form of storytelling. It was a great experience.” Lusch is planning on taking his passion even further into life. He is “interested in going back into teaching when I go into college,” a balance of public speaking and storytelling, while also “writing on a medium.” Who would have thought that a career presentation would help someone pursue their passion in the future.

The day was freshman orientation, and Elijah Cox was sitting on the gym bleachers with the other new highschool students, watching as a video projected a preview of what was to come for their high school careers. Cox remembers that “the theatre part was just so cool, like all the sword fighting was just so interesting to me.” That day bloomed a fascination for theatre that only grew throughout Cox’s years in high school. Cox has been in countless plays since then, being involved in over nine shows, and they explained that their main hobby is “performing in the plays and musicals, and also doing tech for it, just helping out in the theater.”

Even with all this time spent in the theater, Cox still values time for their friends, like going thrifting, getting food, and watching shows. Cox explained, “I generally like to just hang out with my friends as much as possible, because it’s my senior year. I want to be as free as I can.”

Cox concluded the most important thing they’ve learned in the past for years, saying, “Probably the people skills that I learned from theatre. I’m going to operate them more, better, but I’m definitely going to take them with me and use them in my future life.”

Elijah Cox

Connor Lusch

“

I love that tree. Been [with] that tree since freshman year, all the way to senior year.” freshman senior

- Amada Zavala

Amada Zavala’s high school journey has been marked by a deep connection to nature, a passion for learning, and a commitment to personal growth. Zavala integrates her love for nature into her daily life, often spending time outdoors with her dog. “When I’m at home, I try to, like, integrate some of that arts and nature, especially with my dog, I take him out,” she explained. Looking ahead, Zavala is considering a future in engineering or architecture. “Engineering or like architecture,” she noted as potential career paths. “And then, if those things don’t work out, definitely become a math teacher,” she adds. Reflecting on her high school experiences, Zavala emphasized the importance of understanding the consequences of her actions. “Every action of mine has a consequence,” is a lesson she learned after skipping school and receiving low grades because of it. Luckily, her growth has been supported by a strong network of friends, family, and educators. “My friends definitely helped me. My parents definitely, the teachers here too.”

One day in junior year, Tomas Ruiz and his friend were pulled aside by Mr. Kimmel and asked to become the leaders of the garden club at RHS. Ruiz was always working at the garden, and accepted with an interest in planting related to his family. “My grandma and my mom and my aunt were into plants. And then maybe freshman year I kind of just got into the whole plants thing,” said Ruiz. He often spends club meetings picking ripe plants and talking with his good friends, like Amada Zavala. Having met in seventh grade and gotten closer, Ruiz describes Amada as his best friend, saying, “She’s really nice. She’s funny. She always puts others before herself.”

Ruiz has also grown roots in another field of the school, Sports Medicine. He took up sports medicine in freshman year, and then, he says, “I think just like the idea of wrapping, taping, and all that in sports med, that interests me. I ended up taking sports med to sophomore year, and also human body systems, and that sparked even more. And then I took medical interventions, and then I took anatomy, and now I completed all three years of sports med.” His experiences in school have led him to desire a career path in the military as a pharmacy specialist, and Ruiz explained his motivations, saying, “I like helping people make it.”

Tomas Ruiz

courtesy of malia chung

courtesy of amada zavala

living life to the fullest

DavidCurley has been playing guitar for two years. He explained how time-intensive and repetitive the process is because “You just have to throw yourself at it and expect to fail.” Curley applies this determined mindset to life in general in order to “experience things to the fullest”.

Outside of guitar-playing, Curley says “I’m always going out thrifting [and] to concerts…I don’t like being inside, I like exploring new cities, going on road trips, [and] exploring nature.”

His most memorable experience was moshing and crowd surfing at an Exodus concert with friends.

EthanDoig is an active water-lover, and despite his physical distance from the school, he doesn’t let it impact his personal relationships, or his relationship with the water.

Even though he discontinued high school water polo junior year in order to “focus on grades”, Doig stays connected to the water in various ways. As a lifeguard, Doig is always busy during the summer. Although it’s anticlimactic right now, he says “during the summer, because there are more people that work there, I’m not as bored because it’s more active.”

Aside from taking his grades seriously, Doig takes his future relationship with the water seriously; he mentions, “I go fishing pretty much every other week and I’m going to Monterey for college as a marine scientist.”

“ I don’t let living so far away impact my relationships. -Ethan Doig “

aina Mendoza is a former track athlete with an unfortunate falling out after repetitive injures. When she isn’t spending time with friends, she has substituted her “favorite sport” with going to the gym. Even though Mendoza had to steer away from track, she commented “I have more free time without practice and I enjoy hanging out with friends and going to the gym a lot more.” She has made the gym a home away from home, and when asked about this, Mendoza said “I’ve been going to the gym there for about four years now and then I started lifeguarding… I love working out.”

Soon enough, she exploited her love for both the gym and working with kids. She said, “I work with the kids in the gym. I’ve been working with them for a few months now…I’ve gotten to know a lot of them and it’s a really fun job.” When asked about her favorite part of high school she said, “It’s definitely making memories and hanging out with my friends.”

courtesy of raina mendoza

courtesy of david curley

cole broumas

GONE and it’s and it’s

Joseph (Joey) Lorenzini has been an athlete since he was two. “I swear… the first word that ever came out of my mouth was ball.”

When asked about his baseball upbringing, Lorenzini said, “I played football, basketball, and baseball all the way up until freshman year. As for baseball, travel ball hit off [when] I was thirteen.”

Further discussing the future of his athletic career, Lorenzini explained “right now is a crazy time. I’m looking to get drafted … to play for the Padres or the Dodgers. It’d be a blessing to get chosen by anybody.”

No one thought Lorenzini was doing this alone. At his training center in Sacramento, Lorenzini has made good friends with some big-leaguers. He has been “able to bounce ideas off of and talk to them about what it’s like to live through that because they’ve done it.”

“Unfortunately, freshman year, I tore my UCL [in] my elbow, and I got surgery. It’s been a blessing in disguise…it gave me a little time off to get bigger, stronger, and throw harder.”

I have a phenomenal family. They’ll support me no matter what.“

- joey lorenzini

sophia brook

eitan rubinstein

sophia brook matthew price

eitan rubinstein

zachary burdick

eitan rubinstein

senior

Track - 3/28/25

Swim - 4/2/25

Baseball - 4/22/25

Softball - 5/4/25

cole broumas celeste contratto eitan rubinstein

UCSB bound

William Moyles rounds out the trio, majoring in econ and accounting at his “dream school.” UCSB runs in the family—“my mom went there”—and the beach sealed the deal. “Being by the ocean... I just really, really love the campus.” Known for his adventurous spirit, Will says: “I’m passionate about trying new things... basketball, spikeball, water polo—you name it.”

Nathan Teki found his passion in the shop: “Building stuff… like this card shuffler that didn’t really work. It’s fine.” After completing the EST pathway, he’s off to UCSB for computer engineering, where he hopes to join “clubs that’ll help me for internships... maybe surfing. They have a surfing club there.”

Isaac Dieter has been coding since middle school: “My dad works in computer science and introduced me to the field.” At Rocklin, he thrived in coding club and Mr. Warner’s class: “He lets us discover and work more with what we’re interested in.” Like Nathan, Isaac’s heading to UCSB for computer engineering—“They were the only ones “but it’s also a

sistersBY CHANCEFRIENDSBY CHOICE .

wins with distinct passions, Avery and Peyton Carter-Buchanan leave Rocklin High School with shared memories and individual dreams.

Avery, who loves science and languages—especially French—plans to become a doctor “to help people and travel.” She enjoyed Rocklin’s greenery and says the school helped her “be a better person.”

Peyton, a writer at heart, found her voice through poetry and yearbook, calling it her “safe space.” She plans to study communications and education, hoping to teach and work as a freelance copywriter.

Though they’re heading to different colleges, their bond remains strong. As Peyton puts it, “It’s hard leaving your built-in best friend,” and Avery agrees: “I know I can rely on her.”

arathana nagarajah

RHYTHM

Cassius Roman is a senior whose future bridges science and creativity. After graduating from Rocklin High School, he plans to attend Sierra College, transfer to UC Davis, and pursue a career in medicine—likely in anesthesiology or plastic surgery. “It’s a very detail-oriented job,” he explains. “And you make a lot of money doing those things.”

But Roman’s identity isn’t just academic. He grew up surrounded by music, thanks to his father, a producer. “I’ve just grown up with hip hop,” he says. “I was destined to be in music.” That passion led to the release of a 15-track rap album under the name Cassius King, a project he created with his dad. “It started with just one song,” Roman recalls, “and then turned into a whole album we wanted to make the best we possibly could.”

He’s already working on two more EPs and hopes college will bring more collaborators. “It’s not something I want as a fulltime job. It’s just how I express creativity throughout my life.”

At Rocklin, Roman found an environment where effort pays off. “If you want to put effort in, you get the reward back,” he says. He especially appreciated the teachers, calling Mr. Taghavi a standout: “I’ve never liked math before. But freshman year, Integrated II— math was beautiful.”

While he wasn’t involved in clubs, Roman looks forward to joining student life in college. “At Davis they have car meets and Picnic Day. I definitely want to be part of that.”

What will he miss most?

“My friends,” he says without hesitation. “A lot of them are going on missions or out of state.” Wherever he goes next, Roman takes with him both precision and passion—and a rhythm entirely his own.

arathana nagarajah graceyn nichols

signing

leaving

the field Out

Every senior has their own story, whether it be the friendships they’ve made over the years, lessons learned, or hobbies gained. Drew Clifford, shares his connections to campus that have made him who he is to this day.

With many students participating in school based extracurriculars, including athletics, connections to others are almost bound to be made. Clifford says, “my freshman through junior year, I played baseball and football. It taught me the family aspect [of a team], especially football and in the locker room, it felt like we were just a family.” Cliffords involvement in RHS sports have made long lasting friendships, which he still keeps to this day.

When having four years nearly completed of high school Clifford has learned, and grown from his experiences, saying, “These teams have taught me a lot about work ethic, and how to just get better at anything you do. I learned [to always keep] practicing and to never give up.” Clifford says his most memorable moment, being a part of one of these teams, was when the football team had the best record in the school’s history.

Even though he did not continue playing after his junior season, Clifford says these sports shaped him into the person he is today. In the upcoming months, Clifford will be a student at Sierra College, and is excited for the new experiences and people he will meet.

Preston Offner is the team captain of varsity lacrosse, involved in vapas, and has insight for highschool students. Offner got “elected by [his] teammates” to be the team captain and he believes he got chosen because he “[likes] to see everyone having their shot.” Seeing other people grow in past years has brought Offner to find joy in leading through opportunities.

Offner has a part-time job and being on a team has helped him learn “skills about teamwork, camaraderie and positivity [which] apply in the workplace.” Connecting through sports has shaped Offner to become a better person and brought him many close bonds with team mates.

Playing on sports throughout high school, Offner recommends “building relationships through a club, team, or finding a good place with people who have the same interests” and it will help anyone’s experience in highschool become joyous and memorable.

Despite being an athlete, Offner also participated in on school vapa classes, his favorite one being EST. He has found his favorite teacher, and says, “[Mr. Houston is] probably the only teacher on campus that [someone] can have an actual discussion [with.]” Offner finds good connections with teachers is essential because it can make going to school something to look forward to instead of dreading.

One thing Offner regrets not doing is not “[attending] more rallies.” He wishes he put himself out more activities to connect with new people on campus and recommends going to anything the school has to offer.

courtesy of drew clifford

courtesy of jasleen grewal

violet yang

tyler lydolloff

eitan rubinstein

courtesy of preston offner

his own

RIOT

During his four years in RHS, senior Conner Conant was “heavily connected” to the computer science programs. He took almost every computer science class offered on campus. “I have also participated in a few extracurricular activities, including coding club,” he said.

His intent to learn computer science originated from his childhood. “I’ve always been interested in computer science because my dad works with it,” he said.

Ever since Conant’s first computer science class, he “fell in love” with the program. “I have always enjoyed having Mr. Werner as a teacher,” he said. “I also enjoyed helping the programs.” His favorite computer science class is working with the Rocklin Institute of Technology (RIOT) to do Chromebook repairs.

RIOT “

“I also worked on varied projects, and sometimes just general work for Mr. Werner,” Conant said.

Conant wants to further learn computer science in college. He aims to study computer science in Sierra College for two years before getting a transfer program to get his bachelor’s degree at Sacramento State, hoping “to work in the field of AI development,” he said.

I have always enjoyed having Mr. Werner as a teacher.”

- Conner Conant

best friends

Senior Jasleen Grewal has only been with us since her junior year, but her life has definitely impacted many people at Rocklin. The friendship she made with her best friend Brook Moniz became one of her most meaningful moments of her RHS experience. Grewal said, “[Brook] always inspires me to do better and is always willing to help, no matter what. I can always talk to her and she will listen and always make me laugh.”

“School sucks because there’s a lot of classes to deal with but I look forward to coming to school because of her,” said Grewal. Grewal has known Moniz for years and over time their friendship has grown beautifully. Since Grewal and Moniz have known each for so long they are happy to be able to spend their senior year together.

Both friends are hoping to go to the same college together after high school so that they can still see each other. Grewal hopes to get a dorm room with Moniz in college to make even more memories like they did at RHS. Moniz has definitely been a role model and has shaped the way Grewal has looked at her time at school. “She sees things a lot differently than I do, so getting that new perspective really helps me,” said Grewal. Moniz and Grewal are two amazing seniors at RHS who have made so many memories together for their final year and Rocklin and will hopefully continue to do so as the years go on.

courtesy of jasleen grewal

kevin feng

M-5

seniors

Our seniors in M-5 didn’t just help build a great environment they made it a home. Over the past years, they’ve shaped this space with unforgettable moments, lasting memories, and unmatched dedication. Every year, we take time to honor our seniors and everything they’ve done for our program. Below are notes from our junior editors, written to celebrate this year’s incredible seniors and there four years of dedication.

Liz… This note took me a while to write down because I can’t put what you mean to all of M-5 into words, You are Unstoppable, Elite, Clutch, Decisive, Calculated, Sharp, Nerd (I don’t know how this got in here??), Focused, Disciplined and in the wise words of lev “What the cat dragged in”. There is no way to describe all of YOU and the amount of work you put into making M-5 what it is today. I’m sad that you decided to graduate and not become a super senior. But even though M-5 wants to hold onto you forever, we have to let you go. And I know that in everything you do, you’ll be amazing at Cal Poly and beyond.

-eitan rubinstein

Dear Malia, You have shaped and supported this program in numerous ways over the course of your time here. That’s not just because of your incredibly amazing design skills, but because of the lasting impression your character has left on M-5. You have continuously been so thoughtful, understanding, kind, and humble to everyone around you. When you think of your legacy here remember it is far more than just the remarkable book, it will be the effort you’ve put into designing it, the overnighters you spent connecting the team, the laughs, the question of the day moments, the crash outs all of it was you. I’ll miss your energy, the chaos, and your Block Blast breaks. We love you, Malia!

-hazel malit

Peyton- you’re one of the most hard working people I know. Being an EIC isn’t easy and it takes a lot to actually commit to the job. So for that, I’d like to say thank you for everything you’ve not only done for these programs, but also for everything you’ve done for me too. But this wouldn’t be a speech from me to you, if I didn’t bring up how short you are. Or Maverik, my bad I don’t know who wrote that. To me, you’ll always be that overly caffeinated, energetic soul. Congratulations on everything you’ve achieved, and everything you will achieve. SDSU is getting a good one!

-Joshua Gunter

Briley, I mean Kenzie… oops wrong one I can’t really tell y’all apart. Let’s reset… Kenzie, M-5 Literally wouldn’t be what it is without you, not because you get us all the inside info on ASB or the speaker you steal for our yearly BBQ, but because when you walk into the room, everyone starts having fun. Like they physically can’t have fun without you there (It’s really creepy). You are the living embodiment of the core value of “Have Fun” and I know next year is gonna suck without you. Thank you for being the most fun energetic person I know. (P.S. tell your dad I say hi again)

-eitan rubinstein

Briley the Balloon – you’re the one person who I would say actually resembles their spirit animal. It seems like every time you walk into a room, the party (or Kenzie) follows. You’re probably the most energetic, funniest person I know, and you always have the perfect response for every situation. Sometimes, I can’t tell if you run on tons of caffeine or pure chaos. With everything you’ve done for this school, there’s no doubt that the future holds even bigger things for you. Thanks for keeping it unserious and making M5 a more enjoyable place to be.

-Joshua Gunter

Hi friend. Where do I start, Shane so quickly became one of my best friends this year. Over night we went from not knowing each other at all, to sitting on the floor telling each other all about our lives. You always listen to everything I have to complain about and for that I’m forever grateful. You are such a kind and loving soul. You are absolutely hilarious and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to be in M-5 with you. We’re gonna miss you so much but I know you’re gonna come back to visit (cause I said so) I love you so much Shane Bye, friend.

-Celeste Contratto

There are so many different ways to describe Faith, but the first thing that comes to mind is the way that she always brings a glowing smile into every room. I’ve known Faith for 3 years now and I am so grateful to have been able to swim and be in the yearbook with her. From our intro class, to our second year pod, and onto being editors together, Faith has continued to be such an amazing role model for me in more ways than one. She is caring, kind hearted, and honestly one of my favorite people in the world. We will miss the laughter that you bring into M-5, but we can’t wait to hear about all the wonderful things your future holds! I love you so much!

Sara, I’m so so glad to have gotten to know you these past few years. You’ve genuinely given me some of the best advice and are such a comforting person to talk to. You, Olivia, and Ashley have been my favorite people in this program. You are such a smart, kind, and hilarious person! I’m always going to cherish our friendship and our podcast, even though we never took it that seriously they will always have a special place in my heart! I can’t wait to see the big things ahead of you!! Don’t forget about us in Maine!!! Love you so much!!!

-Kaelyn Cunningham

Milana, thank you for being such a dedicated and dependable EIC. You always put so much time and effort into making sure everything in journalism stayed organized and on track. You always made time for us and gave your all to every detail, even when things got tough. Your hard work never went unnoticed, and your impact will stick with all of us long after this year ends. Thank you for always being there for the editors and for leading with so much thoughtfulness and strength. We are so grateful for everything you’ve done for this program.

KIM

Olivia, I’m so glad to have had our journalism group this last year!! Filming podcasts, going on walks, and just chatting has been some of my favorite times in this class. You’re so funny and kind and your style is honestly amazing phenomenal!! I can’t wait to see where next year takes you!!! Your dancing is going to take you places your genuinely so talented I’m in awe every time I watch a dance! Love you girl!!

-Kaelyn Cunningham

Bhoomi, the past 3 years I have known you have been nothing but kind to everyone you meet and one of the funniest people I know. We met your sophomore year and I have watched you grow so much as a person and as a journalist. My freshman year wednesdays used to be my favorite day of the week because those were the days we had journalism meetings. I would always come in to see you laughing and getting to know everyone, it made me look up to you in the sense of connecting with people and always putting on a smile. You’re genuinely hilarious and always bring energy to the class. I’ve loved growing our friendship through journalism, your confidence and positivity inspire me. It won’t be the same without you, Bhoomi. Thanks for everything.

Cas, you are genuinely the most hardworking and perseverant person I’ve ever met. As an EIC, you constantly went above and beyond. You stayed late, put in extra hours, and did everything you could to make sure journalism ran smoothly. You are truly an inspiration to all of us. But more than anything, thank you for being there for me. You always listened when I needed someone to talk to, offered support, and made everything feel a little lighter. Your playlists are always perfect, and your aux game is unmatched. I love you more than words can ever capture, and I know that no matter where life takes you, you’re going to shine beyond measure. We love you Cas!!

-Ashley KIM

For the three years that I’ve known you Radian, for a while I thought you were a quiet person. Oh boy was I wrong, you have one of the loudest and funniest personalities that I’ve seen in a person. In this letter you’ll probably find some grammatical or AP style mistakes, but just know I tried my best. Thank you for all you’ve done for the program and I wish you luck and hope all goes well for you as you move from us

cole broumas celeste contratto eitan rubinstein

-CELESTE Contratto

-Ashley

-COLE MCCOY

-COLE BROUMAS