Elevate 5.1

ELEVATE MAGAZINE RJ MEDIA STUDENT MAGAZINE

REGIS JESUIT HS

VOL. 5 ISSUE 1 WINTER 2019

VARSITY SOCCER

DOMINATES GOES TO STATE FOR THE FIRST

TIME IN 11 YEARS

28

14

37 10 36

15

2

17

8

CONTENTS FEATURES 6 A FOND FAREWELL

Mrs. May has left the community with a legacy that will be cherished for years to come

12 THE DOWLING FAMILY

The Dowlings seem like your average Regis Jesuit brothers, but they grew up in a significantly different way

40 THE INCLUSION REVOLUTION

The Regis Jesuit Special Olympics club has found great success

CULTURE

SPORTS 14 SWIMMING STAR

A look into all the work that goes into being one of the top swimmers in the state

15 MORE THAN A RUNNER

The top cross country runner at Regis Jesuit, also an avid hiker and outdoors man

22 SPORTS PHOTO ESSAY

All the highlights of this season’s sports

28 COLLEGE RECRUITING

Student athletes at Regis Jesuit who are continuing their sport in college reflect on their recruiting process

37 SQUAT IT OUT

Meet the two students battling it out for the squat record

11 RJ ARTS

There is not just one kind of art, Regis Jesuit students take on all the art forms

17 LATINOS UNIDOS

Students find community in culture

18 FAITH AND IDENTITY

EXTRAS+MORE 34 TATTOO QUIZ & TEACHER TATS

Find the meaning behind skin art, and the tattoo you should get

Jewish students reflect on community and inclusion

36 INDIVIDUALITY

A look into the lives of Ethiopian students right here at Regis Jesuit

38 FALL MUSICAL

20 ETHIOPIAN CULTURE

COVER 26 AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASON

The soccer team goes to state for the first time in years

Students let their true colors shine through their art and relationships

A story of a man named Joesph, and his ability to interpret dreams

42 TOP 10

What were the Top 10 unforgettable memories of the semester, check it out!

44 IMPEACHMENT

Should our president be impeached? How do Regis Jesuit students feel about it?

46 TIJUANA-OP-ED

Sophia Marcinek ‘20 speaks on her experience traveling to the US-Mexico Border this October

TABLE OF CONTENTS ELEVATE 01

ELEVATE EDITORIAL STAFF & POLICIES

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE HEADS OF RJ MEDIA: SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20 SAM STERN ‘20

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: HUNTER SULLIVAN ‘20 MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21

HEAD DESIGNER: SERENA NGUYEN ‘22

ONLINE MAGAZINE: RJMEDIANOW.COM

CONTRIBUTORS: Jp Pak ‘20 Rilley Wible ‘22 Ethan Poland ‘20 Liv Giardino ‘20 Ben Gelfand ‘20 Nick Faestel ‘20 Hunter Sullivan ‘20 Sam Stern ‘20

Maddie Proctor ‘21 Sophia Marcinek ‘20 Natalie Skaggs ‘20 Sophia Wirths ‘22 Sophia Mitsuoka ‘23 Parker Biley ‘20 Reilly Wible ‘22 Sabrina Vizurraga ‘22

Cami Evangelista ‘21 Justin Mun ‘21 Anna Moser ‘23 Grant Barnes ‘23 Noemie Vitou ‘21 Morgan Dorais ‘21 Weston Mullins ‘23 Olivia Bachmann ‘20

PHOTOGRAPHY: Sophia Marcinek ‘20 Lauren Birchfield ‘20 Kylie Pendleton ‘21 Sarah Faestel ‘22 Maddie Proctor ‘21

Sam Stern ‘20 Natalie Skaggs ‘20 Sophia Wirths ‘22 Sophia Mitsuoka ‘23 Nick Faestel ‘20

Reilly Wible ‘22 Katherine Derdzinski ‘21 Cami Evangelista ‘21 Justin Mun ‘21 Cameron Collins ‘21

ADVISERS ADAM DAWKINS ‘98 NICOLE ARDUINI MARIA LYNCH SARA HILDRETH

We’ve partnered with publication printers to completely offset our magazine’s paper consumption but “releafing” (replanting) trees around the globe.

02 ELEVATE STAFF

IT HAS BEEN A VERY CRAZY first half of the year for us at Elevate Magazine. Each year the senior leaders of the media team graduate, leaving us in the wings to step up and lead the program for the next year. Like breaking in a new pair of shoes, it takes a little while to get comfortable as a leader. We have all learned how to write, learned how to report, and learned how to put together a publication we are proud of these past few years. Now that we are in the drivers seat, it feels a lot different. We chose to focus this magazine on the people of Regis Jesuit. The students that all bring their own talents to the school, the teachers who inspire us to be better everyday, and everyone in between. This year we have seen amazing performances by our sports teams and major success in our clubs. We have spent many late nights and early mornings creating this magazine for you. Many reporters have been all around the state writing stories for this magazine and we hope you enjoy our final product - we know we have enjoyed making it for you. - THE ELEVATE MAGAZINE TEAM

JOIN OUR STAFF COLOR PALETTE Pantone 2347 CP, 4006 CP, 7466 CP, 3125 CP, Black 6 CP FONTS USED AHJ Franklin Gothic for body copy & captions Masthead: Mongoose Bold Headlines: Mongoose Bold Subheadlines: Bodoni 72 Bold Drop Caps: Bodoni 72 Pull quotes: AHJ Franklin Gothic Condensed COVER PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

RJ Media is an open Forum for student free expression We met every Monday during academic support and Thursdays

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN Comments, Questions, Ideas?

Come and see us in the RJ Media Lab RM P102 or find us on Social Media.

@rj_media @rj_media @rjmedia

e e e he e ny

EDITORIAL POLICIES RJ Media [Elevate Magazine, rjmedianow.com, RJTV and RJTV Sports Network] operates as a limited-open forum for student free expression. The publications are for the students, by the students.

The staff aims to balance what the audience wants with what it needs, and strives to make solid judgments with regards to news value and news awareness.

The publications will serve as a medium for student opinions and ideas. RJ Media strives to produce objective, well-balanced and accurate reporting and content that features a range of students, their interests and their viewpoints. The staff is dedicated to being fair, accurate, balanced, truthful and responsible. The staff will seek the truth and report it, minimize harm and act independently.

We promise to be transparent, accountable and open. The staff also upholds Ignation values with regard to social justice and openness to growth. The staff prides itself on using the Ignation Pedagogical Paradigm to help make decisions: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

The student Editorial Board will have final say in the content of the publications. School officials, administration or faculty and staff shall not practice prior review or the have the ability to censor any student publication, with the exception of material deemed to be legally obscene, libelous, substantially and materially disruptive, or coverage on any one of the following three topics, wherein coverage will be worked through with the president and principals: Obituaries, employee termination, and crimes or cases in the court of law.

The views of columnists are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff. Opinions will be published on designated pages or otherwise marked.

All material published by RJ Media is copyrighted to RJ Media, year and date of original publishing. RJ Media will not publish any material that is a violation of copyright.

We take our own photos and produce our own content. We sometimes use photos with express written permission, but only if we absolutely have to. Those will be credited to the photographer with attribution specified by the permission of use. Read our full editorial policies at rjmedianow.com/ about Read our full Editorial Policies at rjmedianow.com/about

ELEVATE

MAGAZINE

SENIORS SAM STERN, JAKE STUART AND PATRICK CARLSON get ready to call the game at the Arapahoe foundation game.

The boys attend most sports games at Regis Jesuit to live stream the games on NFHS. SAM STERN ‘20 AND JAKE STUART ‘20 call the fisrt basketball game of the year against Overland.

REILLY WIBLE ‘22, ANGELA SERWAA-MARFO ‘20, ANNA MOSER ‘23 take photos at a Regis Jesuit Football game.

RJ MEDIA had the best time recruting at this years club fair. Our doors are always open!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature. Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the RJ Media staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length. The staff will not edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review.

Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102). You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

STAFF ELEVATE 03

ELEVATE LEADING OFF

04 ELEVATE LEADING OFF

RJ

UNIFIED

THE FIRST PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE NATION TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL Megan Bain #56 cheers during the annual Special Olympics basketball game against the Rowdies.

The Unified team was up 35-18, and the crowd was going wild. The game took place on Halloween, and the entire school crowded the Boys Division gym to support the players.

SEE FULL STORY ON PAGES 40-41 PHOTO BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

LEADING OFF ELEVATE 05

en recuerdo de

06 ELEVATE MAY

MRS. MAY

S

“SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DISEASE

THAT WOULD MEASURE HER LIFE IN WEEKS

that, all we can say is thank you.

The tears we have shed over the past

AND NOT YEARS ANYMORE AND SHE WOULD

months were not all out of sadness. Tears were

ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE AS IF NOTHING

shed because we were so inspired by how she

HAPPENED.”

had bettered this community. The lives that

- DAVE MAY, COLLEEN MAY’S HUSBAND The time that God gives us on this earth is what

we choose to make of it. No one lived this better than Mrs. Colleen May. While students roamed the hallways, there was always a gleaming light in

she changed and affected are more than she could ever imagine. Loving. Inspiring. Caring.

Dedicated. Passionate.

We dedicate this prayer to her. We know how much this particular one meant to her.

We will miss you Mrs. May.

freshman hall. She brought a sense of love and positivity that sent waves through the hearts and minds of so many faculty, students, and staff.

In times of struggle or distress, her light became brighter and bigger for those calling her name (or “Sra”, much to her dismay).

Mrs. May’s vibrant nature was so beloved by so many in the community. Her passion for teaching a foreign language was so evident, and it made every student ecstatic to learn from her. Not only was she a fantastic teacher, but she was selfless and

DONDE HAY FE, HAY AMOR, DONDE HAY AMOR, HAY PAZ, DONDE HAY PAZ, ESTÁ DIOS, DONDE ESTÁ DIOS, NO FALTA NADA.

empathetic.

No matter what someone would be going through, she always had the right words to say. For

BY SAM STERN ‘20 PHOTOS BY CROSSING BORDERS TEAM

MRS. MAY REMEMBERED AT THE BORDER On October 6th, 2019, the RJ Media delegation that went to the Tijuana-California border had a beautiful memorial service for Mrs. May. Directly in front of the border there is a rock garden with messages and prayers written on rocks, and stones that are left in front of the wall. During the service, the group recited her favorite prayer aloud and then laid her stone down against the wall with the prayer written on it. During that day, the group also participated in a cross border mass between the Mexico and United States border. There was communion given between the border wall and there were beautiful scenes of both sides coming together. The group planted some flowers and vegetables in front of the wall as well. The people in the Tijuana community take pride in their garden in front of the wall. This was just one of the many events during the Tijuana trip that represented what Mrs. May thought about on a daily basis. She consistently sought ways of bettering those around her and seeking justice for the marginalized. It was amazing to think that her spirit will live at the border wall forever. Her legacy lives on.

MAY ELEVATE 07

ELEVATE FEATURES

“

SHE HAD AN OMNIPRESENT HAPPINESS THAT HELPED ME GET

MRS. MAY LOVED RAIDER DAYS. We used to plan our “Twinning Winning” days together with our pink RJ shirts and our pink Chucks. We often accidentally dressed alike.

My favorite quote from Mrs. May is, “I believe that to be a true statement.” She taught me the words to the song “Blinded by the Light.” She made me smile every day. She’s a twin, and as a mom of twins, she was a great person to ask, “is this a normal twin thing?”

CANDACE BUSSELMAIER MATH TEACHER

THROUGH SOME VERY HARD MOMENTS IN LIFE. SHE HELPED ME

BECOME THE MAN I AM TODAY.” ZACH CHURCHILL ‘22

MY MEMORIES OF MRS. MAY center on the joy that she conveyed to her students and colleagues, and for her wonderfully empathetic nature of caring for those in her orbit. Mrs. May had an impact on me by always smiling, showing passion in her teaching, and having us leave with smiles EVERYDAY. DAVID CARD PRESIDENT

ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES OF MRS. “WE DECIDED TO RIDE THE MAY came from during Examen. LIGHT RAIL to RJ’s BD graduation She was running late and came into class right as Examen was starting and went to sit down and her chair moved into her metal desk and she banged her knee into it about as loudly as possible and tried to silently express pain without making a scene and kept awkwardly shaking her fists in place of cursing out the class. She had an omnipresent happiness that helped me get through some very hard moments in my life. She helped me become the man I am today.

ZACH CHURCHILL ‘22

08 ELEVATE MAY

but neither of us had ridden the Light Rail nor were we very good with directions. We did finally make it to the Performing Arts Center downtown but it was after several wrong turns, using the GPS on our phones, and lots of laughs. She was a kind, caring, and friendly person.

She always made an effort to understand students and make her content accessible to all students.

KRISTEN HAYTON BOYS DIVISION LEARNING SERVICES

o

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MRS. MAY

AS ONE OF MY KAIROS TEACHERS, she and I talked for two hours one night about all of my family problems and how it was taking it’s toll on my academic and hockey performances. From there, we decided to meet once a week during lunch to help create a plan for me to get my life back on track.

DILLON WHALEN, CLASS OF 2017

MRS. MAY AND I HAD A FRIENDLY COMPETITION, After a student once referred to me as the “GOAT” (greatest of all time), she made a “greater than” sign that she posted between our desks in the office. It faced towards my side. Every time one of us had a great idea or did something super fun in class, the other one of us would turn the “greater than” sign to indicate that the other one was the greatest.

MRS. PHIPPS SPANISH TEACHER SHE WAS AN AMAZING TEACHER AND A TRUSTED CONFIDANT but, even better, she was just a really good person. I think one of the coolest things she did help with translation for recent immigrants and asylum seekers - and invite me to do it, too! She compassionately helped Spanish-speakers fill out forms to be able to stay in the U.S. ... Another favorite story is when we called her the “queen of the gingers” since she has a lot of red-headed folks in her family. She couldn’t find a red-headed queen emoji and exclaimed, “What fresh bull**** is this?!” She was so funny.

MARIA LYNCH SPANISH TEACHER

MRS. MAY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TEACHERS I had the privilege to observe during my first year at RJ. I walked in, sat in a desk and after a few brief announcements I realized she was giving a test that period. When I got up to leave she said, “Where are you going? Don’t you want to take this test?” I’m not sure if it was my pride or fear of disappointing Mrs. May (or both), but I took the test. The next day I found my graded test in my faculty box with thoughtful comments and affirmations in spite of all of the red ink. Mrs. May’s thoughtfulness was never lost on me. Mrs. May modeled what it means to be an Ignatian educator, always keeping the care of her students at the heart of her teaching. All the way up to her final days, she was concerned for her students’ well-being. She simply loved accompanying young people. Her love was tangible in the way she taught and the way she interacted with others.

MR. TRICCO PRINCIPAL

MAY ELEVATE 09

ELEVATE FEATURES

FENTON ‘20 & MICHAEL ‘23 DOWLING TAKE ON LIFE IN A FAMILY OF 12

BROS life for

STORY BY ETHAN POLAND ‘20 PHOTO BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

“THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON A PLANE WAS THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR.” Fenton Dowling and

Sharing a life with eight other

his brother Micheal Dowling

Dowling would argue. All nine

are two of eight other siblings.

of the siblings have impacted

The average family has 2.4

each other’s lives in ways that

children, and in a study from

make them unique and alike at

2014, only 14% percent

the same time, a trait not a lot

of families have 4 or more

of people can brag about.

children.

As you might assume,

but it’s benefits far outweigh the negatives, each and every

“I get ideas from them, and they get ideas from me,

this can come with some

it’s kind of like our own social

challenges. One was getting

group where we all share an

them all on a plane; the first

inherent similarity.” Michael

time the whole Dowling family

stated, just before he gets in

flew together was for their great

Fenton’s car at the end of a

grandfather’s funeral.

school day.

Despite the hardships,

Although they have

Fenton recalls his childhood

this inherent similarity that

as “being born with nine best

comes with brotherhood and

friends.” On the surface, Fen-

sisterhood, the Dowlings have

ton Dowling is your average,

their differences. While Fenton

hard-working Regis Jesuit se-

and John Dowling ‘18, both

nior scholar and rugby athlete.

played rugby during their time

However he isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, Dowling

10 ELEVATE STUDENT PROFILES

people seems like a lot to bear,

at Regis, Michael finds himself in Choir and music.

to complete this path. Fenton

According to Mr. and

spent his childhood in a house

Mrs. Dowling, their children’s

filled with other Dowlings: Han-

adventure has just begun.

nah, Morgan, Amanda, Maggie,

“They’ve been best friends their

Bridget, John, Fenton, Micheal,

whole life. That’s something

Gianna, and Liam Dowling all

that doesn’t change no matter

grew up sharing their parents,

what. In 30 years, they’re still

their lives, and their toys,

going to be there for each

which Fenton says helped him

other. That goes for everyone,

learn at a young age to love

not just my kids, but all siblings

the moments and the people

in general.” While it may have

instead of the simple materi-

been tough to share toys or

alistic objects often taken by

get them all on a plane in one

other siblings. The arguments

piece, the Dowlings are bless-

over Wii remotes, he said, are

ed with a loving family, good

outweighed by our memorable

memories, and the closest

family dinners.

friends - for life.

Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement &

likely to be awarded 3 TIMES more for school attendance dosomething.org

year of electives to the white day class full of song for Isaiah Henry, or completing a college credit through oil painting for Isabel Otteson in the Boys Division art room. For some Regis Jesuit students, this is their regular.

Although all under one category, singing, dance, and

ART as a form of

expression

SENIORS ISABEL OTTESON, JORDYN HUBBS, AND ISAIAH HENRY USE DIFFERENT FORMS OF ART AS A WAY TO SHAPE THEIR IDENTITIES BY LIV GIARDINO ‘20

F

painting each mean something different for those involved in each. Jordyn and Isabel both plan to expand their artistic careers in their future.

Isabel, an AP art student is in the process of applying for art school. She’s learned in her expanded experience of painting to just go for it and take the first step without over thinking.

She will continue to create and prosper as an oil painter and artist in school as well as outside of it on her own time. Art has always meant a lot to her and she doesn’t see an end in sight of her creativity and efforts.

Isaiah Henry, a singer, put his voice to the world. He finds the art of music close to his heart, and something he dedicates much of his time to. After trying out art classes and some theatre, singing

or most, a typical week for a high school student has been by far his favorite. He consists of the things they love most. For some,

even says that “music has always

it’s art. Not necessarily the kind of art that you

been an amazing therapy for me

make with paint and colored pencils, but instead all of

so when I joined choir at Regis

the art forms. For some, that means hours of practice

Jesuit that’s when I realized how

downtown after school for Jordyn Hubbs, dedicating a

much I enjoyed it.”

Jordyn hopes to attend The Juilliard School in Lincoln Center in order to expand her creative dance abilities and continue her academic career.

Jordyn says, “There hasn’t been a time where I didn’t enjoy dancing, but it isn’t the easiest thing to do… it is physically draining on your body.

You are doing things The art of dance the human body was is the universal not meant to do.” language.

- Jordyn Hubbs

Even in her struggles and loss of motivation Jordyn still dedicates most of her time and efforts to the art of dance.

She elevates the level of ‘a good dancer’ to an inspiring one. Throughout all her experience she found that “It wasn’t until I let go of the comparisons and negativity and instead found who I am that I gained my motivation back.”

STUDENT PROFILES ELEVATE 11

ELEVATE FEATURES

1877

1888

Our school was founded by Italian Jesuits in Las Vegas, New Mexico

1921

Those two schools merged into one and was renamed for St. John Francis Regis, a French Jesuit who spent most of his life serving the marginalized.

In 1921 the school was formally split into a college (Regis College, later renamed Regis University) and a high school for catholic boys, Regis High School.

FAMILY TIES a long history

A

1974 Stephen Hanley, Ben’s uncle, at the “Pink Palace” campus in North Denver.

12 ELEVATE STUDENT PROFILES

ttending Regis Jesuit High School for me has always been a matter of following in my family’s footsteps. And for us, the Regis Jesuit path is well-worn. To be exact, six family members have attended Regis before me. My second cousin, Mike Hanley ‘68; my Uncle John Hanley ‘74; my Uncle Steve Hanley (1974-75); my cousins Alex Hanley ‘99; Matthew Hanley ‘2017; and Lauren Hanley 2019. And I, Ben Gelfand, will be number seven of eight who will call themselves Regis High School graduates by 2020. Joey Hanley will graduate in 2021. We have been very lucky to call this place home.

And that is fine with me because Regis is now and has always been considered a top notch high school in Colorado. It remains a college preparatory school with rigorous standards, as it was at its inception.

Although we don’t go this

at regis jesuit

far back, Regis Jesuit has been around since 1877. Our school was founded by Italian Jesuits in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Seven years later, they opened a second school in Morrison, Colorado. In 1888, those two schools merged into one and was renamed for St. John Francis Regis, a French Jesuit who spent most of his life serving the marginalized. This institution was a college located at 52nd and Lowell Boulevard in North Denver. In 1921 the school was formally split into a college (Regis College, later renamed Regis University) and a high school for catholic boys, Regis High School.

The college and high school shared the Lowell campus in North Denver until 1989. Most of that time, the boys high school was housed in what was affectionately deemed “The Pink Palace,” a rather shabby huge building which has subsequently been restored to great old glory and placed on the National Historic Register. It

BY BEN GELFAND ‘20

is now used as an administrative building for Regis University, but back then Regis Jesuit High School boys happily rattled around in that immense edifice until 1984 when a separate building was constructed.

Then in 1989, the high school was moved to its current location at Parker and Arapahoe Roads, thanks to a generous alumni who donated the land. Since then, Regis Jesuit High School continues to improve and evolve with the addition of the Girls Division and the Steele Center.

My second cousin, Mike Hanley ‘68, was the family trailblazer at Regis. What he remembers most was the impact of the “brotherhood” of Regis had on him.

“I feel since we were an all boys school, and a small one at that, we were forced to become close and build a devoted camaraderie. What sticks out to me was just how close the relationships were that I built with my classmates and teachers,” he said.

1989

The high school moved from the Lowell campus in North Denver to the current campus in Aurora.

He went on to explain that he found that closeness to definitely be a good thing because sometimes at other schools people kind of slipped through the cracks due to their anonymity, but at Regis they were held accountable and made to feel significant.

Mike remembers Father Craiger, reportedly of Golden Gloves boxer fame, keeping boys on the up and up by sometimes resorting to knocking them down, literally. A disciplinary measure that would surely be frowned upon today; Mike vowed it was true.

When asked if he was likewise felled, he replied, “oh no, I was much too big for him to knock me down.”

Mike also remembered that playing sports at Regis were just as challenging as the academics and taken quite seriously.

He explained, “My senior year I went from playing football to wrestling with no break. Doing that and keeping up with my grades was like walking on glass. But I figured if I could get through this, I could get through anything. And I was pretty much right.”

For my Uncle Steve Hanley, the family tradition of attending Regis High School has meant a lot to him.

“With a family having a long legacy, there comes great tradition and a strong sense of school spirit,” he said.

because strong teacher/student For Steve, however, family relationships foster growth and tradition was only one aspect of his allow the teacher to improve not decision to send his three children only their academics but their to Regis Jesuit High School. growth as individuals too,” he said.

“I did feel like it was equal Steve remembers hopping the parts tradition and pride to want RTD 52 bus, which had Regis as a my kids to go there. But from top stop, and venturing downtown with to bottom, no question about it, Regis has talented people and good his friends from school. He had fun exploring downtown Denver resources that would have made us and treasures these trips as part consider it even if I didn’t attend the of his Regis Jesuit High School school,” he said. experience.

When asked about the Alex Hanley was the first Hanley differences between then and now, to attend the Steve replied Boys Division in that he thought Aurora (which is the Catholic faith the Girls school was a bigger part now). of the school and WITH A FAMILY HAVING Alex, along the premise of A LONG LEGACY, THERE COMES GREAT TRADITION with many other how the school AND A STRONG SENSE OF classmates operated. He SCHOOL SPIRIT who graduated estimated in 1999, have that 95% of done well the students in college and their professional were from practicing Catholic careers, and Regis is something to families. He considered that during credit for that Alex maintains. his tenure, Regis was viewed as “ The students who choose a Catholic school first before a to attend Regis Jesuit, come prestigious preparatory school. from great families who are very His favorite teacher was Mr. purposeful with their intentions and Guptail, his World History teacher. have a good conscience and really He definitely lightened the mood want their children to flourish in a and brought the students closer strong learning environment,” Alex together. said.

“Students were able to mess “If you surround yourself with around with him and build strong people who are very intentional friendships and camaraderie with about success, it naturally rubs off him. This is definitely important

INT. QUIATUR, Senior class photo of Ben’s uncle, Mike Hanley, at the “Pink Palace” campus in 1968.

on you. My advice to you, Ben, is to always have quality people around you. They will set your bar high, he advised.

For me Regis Jesuit has had its ups and downs, but whenever school got hard for me I was able to think about all my family members that had done it before me. This paved the way for me to start my journey and always gave me hope when I needed it. Going to this school while continuing my family legacy has truly been a privilege.

ALEX HANLEY ‘99 Aurora campus Ben’s cousin

JOHN HANLEY ‘74 North Denver campus Ben’s uncle

BEN GELFAND ‘20 Aurora campus

STUDENT PROFILES ELEVATE 13

ELEVATE SPORTS coaches from all around the country littered the stands watching for talented swimmers at one of the

BY HUNTER SULLIVAN ‘20 biggest meets in the country. Bradac PHOTO BY MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21 Hundreds wanted to do well for her team and of hours of impress the college coaches, but the most pressure she faced was training all pressure caused by herself. She let comes down to doubt into her head and started over a minute long thinking her race, which is disastrous race to make in almost any sport. After her race, the Olympic she felt upset and angry, but most of Trials all sad with the result.

BRADAC HAS HAD A VERY DECORATED SWIMMING CAREER both with her club and within the Regis Jesuit team. She is an All-Aurora, All-Colorado, and All-American athlete for her accomplishments during the high school season. With her club, she has qualified for the top meets in the country where only the best of the best are able to compete. She has found lots of success, but it has come with its costs and setbacks.

Playing a sport at a high level is a huge time commitment and one that Bradac knows very well. “It is very hard to balance school, swimming, and my friends,” she explains, “but it is this balance that has gotten me to where I am today and it is this IT IS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL AUGUST DAY balance that keeps me going every at Stanford University in California. While many high schoolers day to continue to strive to reach are enjoying the end of their summer, Sophia Bradac ’20 is my goals.” Bradac has sacrificed dialed in at the Stanford University pool. She has been training countless hours extremely hard all summer for this moment. that she could Many students spent their summer sleeping have been in or hanging out with friends all day, but not spending with Bradac. She had only one goal in mind. She friends or relaxing wanted to get better. She wanted to make her I felt an overwhelming sense at home to show Olympic Trials time and earn her spot in the of happiness for her because up to practices meet that would take place in the summer of I train with her every day and and meets almost 2020.

I know she deserved every every day of the After a slew of early mornings and late second of that race she won.” week. nights at the pool or the weight room, Bradac Although her thought she was ready to compete at the end of season highest level. Physically she felt great, she race at Stanford was one of the was in the best shape of her life and ready to swim the fastest races of her career. She had her goal in mind and going into the biggest races of her career, one of the other biggest was the 100 meet, she thought that she was capable of achieving that goal.

Instead of swimming her way to an Olympic Trials time, she per- breaststroke at the CHSAA 5A State Championship which took place in formed well under what she was expected to go. The issue was early February of this year. Bradac not that she was unable to go as fast as she needed to, it was swam a time of 1:02.38, finishing rather that “the mindset and pressure I was feeling, manipulatsecond at the meet. The winning ed itself in the form of a terrible race,” Bradac describes. time was a 1:02.04, swam by BraShe wanted the time so bad, that it led to an immense dac’s club teammate Emma Weber. amount of pressure being put on her shoulders. Not only were Bradac and Weber train together her teammates and her coaches watching her, but college

SOPHIA BRADAC

14 ELEVATE SPORTS PROFILE

throughout the year, only splitting up for a few months during high school season as Weber goes to a different school.

Bradac was a little disappointed that she was not able to win the race, but she was thrilled when she found out that the girl who had won it was one of her best friends and training partners outside of the high school swimming season.

After realizing Weber had won, she says, “I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness for her because I train with her every day and I know she deserved every second of that race that she won.”

Bradac’s teammates have many words to describe her that show how crucial she is to the success of the team. Franna Hutchens ’20, practices with Bradac during the high school season and loves Bradac because “she has a way of bringing everyone together and her positivity and humor makes everyone feel welcomed and loved by the swim family.” When teammates truly care for one another, they can accomplish anything.

BRADAC IS BACK AT THE STANFORD pool. It is a few days after her disappointing 100 breaststroke where she missed her time. She had a few days to think about what went wrong and as she stretched out for her race the words of her coach rang around her head.

“I know you can do this.” Six small words, but six powerful ones. Bradac realized that instead of feeling pressure from people expecting her to do well, they did not care how she performed. They would be there for her if she failed and they would be there for her if she succeeded. The nerves that consumed the first race had turned into excitement before the second one. She had one more shot to make her Olympic Trials time.

The race was a blur and Bradac gave everything that she had to finish to the wall as fast as she could. The cheers of her coach and the smiles of her teammates from behind the blocks were all she needed to know when she finished. She had done it.

EVAN GARCIA ‘23 SHARES HIS EXPERIENCES PLAYING FOR REGIS JESUIT HIS FRESHMEN YEAR Q: What was your favorite moment of the season?

A: My favorite moment of the season was taking the corner kicks and the free kicks.

Q: How do you create morals behind the scenes?

A: The bonds that we had on the team started out pretty weak and then after we played more games and talked more the bonds through our team started to grow.

S THOMAS BEATTY A star cross country runner talks about his other passions and what his future is shaping up to be.

BY NICK FAESTEL ‘20 PHOTOS BY SARAH FAESTAL ‘22

Q: What have you learned from this season?

A: I have learned just to keep having fun when playing soccer and to just enjoy the game.

Q: What are you looking forward to for next season?

A: For the next few years I hope to stay in the soccer program and just have fun playing soccer. In the next few years in the program I hope to make varsity.

“

Basketball I am looking forward to a great season. We hope to go far in the playoffs this year, do well and work together as a team and do well at every game.”

TAVIAN WILLSEA ‘22

“

I like to swim because I love being apart of the team. We always have fun and encourage each other even when we are in the middle of a hard practice or meet.”

KENNA CASHMAN ‘22

Someone shouts a quick command, and the gun goes off. Already accustomed to this unusually fast start, Thomas Beatty shoots out to the front, eying the surrounding landscape that sits at over 7,000 feet above sea level. Surrounded by multiple fourteeners, he jostles to put himself in the sights of a win. Seventeen minutes and three seconds later, Beatty claims his title at the Salida Cross Country Invitational. He learns later that with the help of his teammates, they have won the meet and get to take home “Loyal Duke” and the railroad spikes, the coveted first place trophy.

As a man of the outdoors, Thomas was made for these more rugged races. He has been into running in the wilderness for some time. While hiking is newer to him, he started the backpacking club with his friend, John Hearly, to give people a way to enjoy the outdoors together. His family loves climbing, and his job at the Highlands Ranch Rec Center’s climbing wall allows him to help others climb and set new routes at every rotation.

Thomas has collected many more titles just this season including the fourth best time in Regis Jesuit history, a Regis Jesuit number four all time at

a 15:47.4 at the famous Liberty Bell Invitational along with another first place finish at the Denver East Invite and third at the Washington Park Invite.

Thomas’s cross country coach, Andrew Drysdale, describes these moments as exciting wins and that these accomplishments validate the hard work Thomas puts in, consistently modeling effort in daily workouts that then translate to races.

“It also validates the philosophy of the program,” Coach Drysdale states. Thomas models that philosophy as a captain of the team.

“We’d like to see a top ten finish at state,” Coach Drysdale explains, “There’s bigger goals that he can achieve.”

As a senior, Thomas has worked hard in his college search and has taken his passion for the outdoors into account. His top choices are the military academies across the country and in the top twenty outdoors school like Montana State University, where he has already been accepted into.

“I’ve been choosing kinda what I know I’ll enjoy,” Thomas explains.

Thomas has a few brothers going through Regis after him which is where he finds some of his biggest motivation, but that extends to the larger community, too. Thomas’ goal for the end of his senior year is to leave behind a positive legacy, “inspir[ing] the underclassmen to be what they want to be.”

SPORTS PROFILE ELEVATE 15

ELEVATE CULTURE

DIVERSITY

AT REGIS 82

JESUIT

Black (5.57%) Hispanic (10.53%) Mixed (5.69%)

IT DOWN

54,148 NORTH AMERICAN JESUIT SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

1634

TOTAL RJ ST U DEN TS

827

JESUIT SECONDARY SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE

726

857,186 JESUIT JESUIT EDUCATION STATISTICS

ONE CO-DIVISIONAL

HINDU JEWISH 0.49% 8.45% 0.12% NOT SPECIFIED BUDDHIST

OTHER 0.61%

0.06%

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE WORLD

REGIS JESUIT

CHRISTIAN

24.54%

CATHOLIC

65.36%

16 ELEVATE DIVERSITY

Caucasian (71.7%) Asian (3.61%)

LET’S BREAK

JESUIT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH AMERICA

SECONDARY STUDENTS WORLDWIDE

Native American (0.49%) Pacific Islander (0.43%) Other (1.29%)

GIRLS DIVISION

908 BOYS DIVISION

AS THE ONLY CO-DIVISIONAL JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE WORLD, Regis Jesuit has a unique model of diversity.

While RJ is still predominantly Catholic and Caucasian, our diversity has increased exponentially over the past 5-10 years. Students come from every corner of Colorado. They make the daily commute from the Denver metro area, Aurora, and Boulder. Students come from private, charter, and public schools.

We come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, different religions, and different viewpoints. We have our differences, but we are all one RJ family.

NOSOTROS SOMOS

BY NATALIE SKAGGS ‘20

T

FINDING COMMUNITY ON CAMPUS

REGIS JESUIT

Two years ago, Regis Jesuit High School threw a party. After the 12:25 bell chimed for lunch, hundreds of students rushed to congregate around the PAC. Someone inside most probably dropped a quarter while queuing up for a Peace Tea, but nobody would hear it fall beneath the thick mix of chatter and chisme.

The true excitement, however, was outside where Marc Anthony and Luis Fonsi were being drowned out under excited voices. It seemed like the whole school was present and lined up at the chance at buying a homemade tamale or sugary round Oblea. But the most excited students present were on the other side of the table, passing small bowls of fruit and taking turns abandoning post to dance for a song or two.

The whole thing had started half as a joke: a small group of hispanic students rallying to throw Regis Jesuit’s Girls Division its very own “Quinceñera” for its fifteenth anniversary. But when every last streamer was thrown away, and the leftovers were stashed in Mr. Pantoja’s office, something new remained. That same small group of hispanic students named themselves “Latinos Unidos.”

Now an official club on campus, Latinos Unidos continues to thrive under the leadership of seniors Christina Nelson and Alejandra Galaviz. Accompanying this growth is a dedication to uplifting the Latino community within and outside our school. But most importantly, this club is a uniquely recognized outlet for the heritage and culture intrinsic to our big Regis Jesuit family. Latinos Unidos belongs to us all, every student.

Anouk Schembri, a founding member of Latinos Unidos, Colorado

Immigrants Right Coalition volunteer, and Spanish Honors Society member, says that Latinos Unidos Club and other celebrations of diversity here at Regis “have helped me find people with a similar background, but also learn from people with entirely different backgrounds from me. And I’ve met a lot of people who have also been raised bi-culturally. In the previous school that I attended it was very seldom that happened, that there was people like me. So it has been very cool to connect and also learn from others.”

Her experiences, like many in Latinos Unidos, not only enrich her community, but call her to it. Clubs like Latinos Unidos or Diversity Action Group aren’t only about connecting minority students; they are also capable of empowering all students to bridge the distance between them and others To many on campus, junior Antonio Segura is known for wrestling, but he is also a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Diversity Action Group, as well as Latinos Unidos.

Antonio - better known as Tony or Twan - comes from a Peruvian descent. For Tony, the Latino community provided a comfortable place to begin at Regis.

“My freshman year at Regis I hung out with a lot of Spanish speakers because where I come from in Thornton, there’s a lot of Chicanos there... where it was ‘whites against browns’ or ‘us against them.’”

That initial sense of belonging in tht Latino community allowed him to extend himself beyond it.

“It was nice to be somewhere finally where it wasn’t constant tension, constant ‘I shouldn’t hang out with this person ‘cause they’re not like me’...

I can just be friends with someone

“

LATINOS UNIDOS HAS HELPED ME FIND PEOPLE WITH A SIMILAR BACKGROUND, BUT ALSO LEARN FROM PEOPLE WITH ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FROM ME.”

because of who they are...I became comfortable [at Regis] and then decided to spread out more and ... talk to more people that weren’t just the same color as me or from the same decent... I became more open to other people of different races and ethnicities and backgrounds rather than just sticking to people who speak Spanish, or who are Peruvian, or just Latino in general. So being here just kind of helped me branch out.”

Latinos Unidos moderator, Ms. Lynch, says she’s “loved seeing how many new faces, including non-Latinos, have joined in on the discussion and community.”

Two years ago Regis threw a party and formed a club. But to the students of Regis Jesuit High School, that club has become far more than anticipated.

Latinos Unidos is not only a place to meet on Tuesdays to eat chips and discuss current issues; it’s a family.

And as for that party two years ago?

They hope it was a beginning, a start towards making Regis a home for all of its students, including but not limited to the ones who awkwardly danced outside the PAC in broad daylight.

DIVERSITY ELEVATE 17

ELEVATE CULTURE

GROWING UP, MOST OF FRESHMAN ASHER WEISBERG’S LIFE REVOLVED AROUND HER RELIGION, JUDAISM.

BY THE

NUM BERS

20+ 600+

“

PROTESTS

SUPPORTERS

ONE ONE ONE FAMILY

RELIGION STUDENT ACTIVIST

TWO SIDES

ASHER WEISBERG’S PATH TO ACTIVISM THROUGH HER RELIGION.

OF ME

BY SOPHIA MITSUOKA ‘23

18 ELEVATE HUMANS OF RJ

After birth, Weisberg had her baby naming at the Temple Beth Israel in Arizona, where she was given the Hebrew name, Hiya Gettle, and was accepted into the temple. From then on, her family brought her to the temple every Friday for Shabbat, and she attended a Jewish day school to learn about her religion from when she was three months old to three years old.

Growing up, Weisberg also went to Sunday school to continue to learn more about her religion until she was 12 years old, when she began preparing for her bat mitzvah, which is a coming of age ceremony that recognizes a 13-year-old Jewish girl who has assumed full religious obligations.

Weisberg says, “(The bat mitzvah) was nerve racking but very rewarding.”

Weisberg says she enjoyed growing up Jewish, but being Jewish isn’t always easy.

Many of her family members were victims of the Holocaust, but her grandparents managed to escape its grasp during its beginnings, around the late 1930’s, and they

Being Jewish is only a part of my identity; it’s not who I am as a person moved to Brooklyn, New York (grandfather) and Charleston, West Virginia (grandmother). According to Weisberg, not everyone was very accepting to her grand- parents. “One day when they came back (home), there were these children walking up and down the Jewish neighborhood with a Nazi flag just to make people feel threatened.”

Although her early life revolved mostly around her religion, Weisberg says, “Being Jewish is only a part of my identity; it’s not who I am as a person.”

Weisberg says being Jewish has been a big factor in her interests. Social justice is something that has been en- grained in her because of her heritage.

A rally at a detention center is just one of the many protests Weisberg has joined in on. Some of the others she’s attended have been for gun safety, abortion rights, immigration rights, women’s rights, the Muslim ban, and homeless peoples’ rights.

She enjoys going to rallies, “because I feel like people around me have similar beliefs, and I feel like rallies can make a difference.”

BEING JEWISH IS ONLY A PART OF MY IDENTITY; IT’S NOT WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

RISING ABOVE

BY SOPHIA WIRTHS’22

n

g, er

”

sh ; on.”

or ce of

ny

’s

e

R

SOPHOMORE KATHERINE LEAFFER REFLECTS ON EXPERIENCING INTOLERANCE

Religions and beliefs differ from place to place because of the amount of diversity present in our world. While in India the main religion is Hinduism, in places like Spain and Italy, its a form of Christianity. As of 2018, the dominant religion in the United States is Christianity with 70.6% of the population.

Regis Jesuit is no different. Although we are certainly majority Catholic, (65 percent) being a Catholic school, the school is accepting everyone and their beliefs. The theology classes, daily prayers and retreat programs establish our Catholicity.

“They do try to convince you that the Catholic religion is the right one,” says sophomore Camila Rodriguez. “But they are not forcing you to believe that.”

Theology teacher, Ms. Champa, recognizes that Regis Jesuit is very accepting as a school.

“We should recognize that people come from different religious backgrounds,” she adds. “But we are coming together with all of our perspectives and studying the Catholic faith. Not to believe it, but to compare it to our other religions possibly as well.”

But the intention of inclusivity is not always the reality for students.

Sophomore Katherine Leaffer experienced plenty of negativity during

her freshman year at Regis.

“I received a lot of antisemitism for being a Catholic-Jew,” she says. “It was hard for me to accept the Catholic religion because a lot of the students that were anti-semitic towards me were Catholic.”

Katherine is not the only person to experience this type of negativity at school. With all the different ethnic backgrounds in addition to the religious backgrounds it is no surprise that this type of negativity toward other students exists.

“Not being respected for what you believe in is one of the worst feelings on earth,” Katherine states. As she said this her expression immediately became distressed and sad. It is easy to tell that her feelings are genuine.

Small acts of intolerance, such as making negative comments about someone’s religion or bullying them for what they believe in, can add up to major societal problems.

Katherine went to a religious service on Saturday the 28th of September in the Botanical Gardens where, ten minutes before she got there, a person snuck into the service proclaiming the death and murder of Jewish people as well as a death threat. “It saddens me because [that] is a religious space where we respect other people while sometimes we aren’t respected

“

“WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS,” SHE ADDS. “BUT WE ARE COMING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF OUR PERSPECTIVES AND STUDYING THE CATHOLIC FAITH. NOT TO BELIEVE IT, BUT TO COMPARE IT TO OUR OTHER RELIGIONS POSSIBLY AS WELL.”

ourselves,” she adds. “But you know what, people can respect me or not but I respect myself.”

That fact that Regis Jesuit is accepting all the people that go to this school and their religions helps prevent situations like Katherine’s from happening.

HUMANS OF RJ ELEVATE 19

ELEVATE CULTURE

A PIECE OF ETHIOPIA AT REGIS JESUIT LESSONS IN CULTURE AND CONNECTION FROM THE HABESHA COMMUNITY

BY MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21

Ethiopia. A 28-hour plane ride away across more than 8,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean. Or sitting right next to you in Mr. Turner’s 4R

close-knit.”

The strong culture and com-

English class. Lidya Wolde is a junior who was born and raised in

munity connects people across

Ethiopia. Her family moved to the United States two years ago. She

the two religions. Lidya herself is

had to learn English, leave her close-knit community in Ethiopia,

Orthodox and has an uncle who is

and adapt to a vastly different culture. This year, she transferred to

Muslim. This mix of religions only

Regis Jesuit. Some elements of Ethiopian culture differ from those in

serves to strengthen and diversify

America. One of the starkest differences is in family relationships.

the community. While Americans

Lidya said, “The relationship between parents and children is

may value community less than the

different because in Ethiopia the relationship is more respectful, and

Ethiopian culture, it is an essential

there’s a distance.”

part of our experience here at Regis

LIDYA in Ethiopia

Jesuit. From the moment you step

the ‘90s, but a lot of the culture and

immigrated from Ethiopia, agrees. Ruth says that the biggest

foot on campus, someone is talking

traditions are the same.”

assumption people make about her is that “her parents are strict,

about the brother or sisterhood.

which is true on some level. In terms of Ethiopian culture, there is

Specifically, Lidya sees the sister-

munity at Regis Jesuit, which may

a big emphasis on education, so the parents often have high stan-

hood in her classmates, teachers,

be due to the fact that the Denver

dards when it comes to school.”

and clubs like DAG and Justice

Metro Area is home to over 30,000

League. Lidya explained that while

Ethiopians and Eritreans. They bond

coming to the United States, they have kept their family values.

she is still getting to know everyone,

over a shared love for Ethiopian

Lidya has four siblings, calling them her “best friends”, and Ruth has

many groups and communities at

coffee and injera—which is a sour-

a younger brother, Caleb, who is a freshman at Regis. Both explained

Regis Jesuit have embraced her as

dough-like flat bread. They also talk

that family is valued in Ethiopia, and they are especially close to

a new student. One such commu-

about the struggle of assimilating

their siblings.

nity at Regis Jesuit is the Habesha

into a new culture while staying true

community.

to their own.

Ruth Woldemedhine, another Regis Jesuit junior whose parents

Both Lidya and Ruth are very close to their families. Even in

When it comes to community, Lidya said that it is a central part of Ethiopian culture and that “everyone knows and respects each

Ruth explains, “The Habesha

There is a large Habesha com-

Lidya attended Denver East

other. There are two religions in Ethiopia: Orthodox and Muslims.

community is the Ethiopian and

High School before coming to

Both religions respect each other, and the community is very

Eritrean community. They split in

Regis Jesuit, and there was an even

20 ELEVATE CULTURE

LIDYA AND RUTH sit next to each other in Mr. Turner’s 4R AP Language class. LIDYA poses for a family photo in traditional Ethiopian dress.

larger Habesha community there.

she is the co-founder of the Girl Up

Here, she seeks out opportunities

club. Girl Up provides the space,

to engage with people about the

resources, and support needed to

Habesha culture and languages, as

empower young women throughout

well as people with other back-

the world. It is not just the activities

grounds. One way both Lidya and

we are a part of or where we are

Ruth engage with their culture at

from that make up who we are. It

school is through DAG, or the Diver-

is the relationships, passions, and

sity Action Group. Ruth says, “The

experiences we have that inform

nice thing about DAG is having that

our identity. Both Ruth and Lidya

community with similar experiences

speak passionately about “social

of Regis Jesuit High School.”

justice” and “having meaningful

Clubs and activities are an

relationships.”

important part of the community

The clubs and organizations

of Regis Jesuit. Through clubs like

they are a part of, such as DAG, Jus-

DAG, students forge relationships

tice League, and RJ Media, provide

with students of similar back-

them with an outlet to discuss larger

grounds, as well as learn about the

issues of social justice.

perspectives of other subgroups in the school.

When asked what things,

RUTH ‘21 AND CALEB ‘23 smile next to their parents for a selfie.

ETHIOPIA IS THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IN AFRICA

Britannica.com

OVER 80 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN ETHIOPIA Ethiosports.com

ETHIOPIA IS THE OLDEST COUNTRY IN AFRICA

Absoluteethiopia.com

IT IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO HAVE 13 MONTHS

and mix together. Accordingly, we must seek to understand those who come from a home that is different than our own. If we can become more culturally educated, we will learn to see the humanity and dignity in others. That is social justice.

Through experiencing a culture different from her own and struggling to assimilate into American culture, Lidya has learned “to love unconditionally and show respect to everyone. Humanity doesn’t depend on your culture or where you’re from. It just exists everywhere.”

timesofindia.com

The intersection of social justice and cultural awareness is important because where we are from does

groups, or words she felt described

make a big impact on the way we

her identity, Ruth responded

think and behave. Staying educated

without hesitation.“Habesha and

on the cultures around you can be

woman.”Not only does she engage

as easy as talking to the new girl

with the Habesha community at

in your English class. In our world

Regis through clubs like DAG, but

today, people and cultures migrate

CULTURE ELEVATE 21

ELEVATE SPORTS

8 5

7

9

LET THE

moments

22 ELEVATE SPORTS

SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

4

1

1. JUNIOR TREY TOMLIN, starting varsity goalie, warms up at Dicks Sporting Goods stadium for the biggest game of the year, state. The Raiders ended their year at state with a loss, 1-0 against Broomfield High School.

8

2. VARSITY GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY geared up for a net smack at their state championship game. The team took on Colorado Academy at their last game of the year losing 2-1.

2

6

3. PYREESE MILLER ‘22 celebrates a touchdown alongside Dallas Macias ‘22 and Anthony Tocchini ‘21 at the game against Fort Carson the Raiders won 41-21. Regis Jesuit also honored all military and first responders at the game.

4. NICCO MARCHIOL ‘22 AND CLAY NANKE ‘21 celebrate going 10-0 in their regular season. The boys were just as excited about their gift from Coach Fillman, no Saturday morning practice.

5. COACH MATTACCHIONE ushers off Junior Paris Howarth after a pretty hard hit to the face. Girls rugby won second at their end of the year state tournament.

6. SENIOR SYDNEY CROSS WATTS was the only senior on the varsity volleyball team this year.

3

7. Cat Redden ‘22 pitches at a home game from this years softball season.

8. Will Barbara ‘20, varsity basketball captain, takes a shot at the first game of the season against Overland.

9. JADA MOORE ‘20 dribbles down the court at the first game of the season against Doherty High School, where the Raiders won 64-48.

PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20, ARMANDO MALDONADO ‘21, RILLEY WIBLE ‘22

SPORTS ELEVATE 23

ELEVATE SPORTS

1

2 5

1. SOPHOMORE NICCO MARCHIOL, Regis Jesuit starting Quarterback, gears up for a pass at the teams last game of the season. Regis Jesuit lost to Pomona High School 28-14 in the quarterfinals ending their season early.

2 2. DAVID DODY ‘21, wide receiver, reaches for the touchdown at the homecoming game against Mullen High School beating them 30-21.

3. ZOE DALE ‘20, Field Hockey captain, celebrates after winning 1-0 in double overtime against Cherry Creek with her sister, Grace Dale ‘22. This game was the state matchup from the year before, where the Raiders beat the Bruins take home the state championship in 2018.

3

4. FRESHMAN NIA MCKENZIE is new to the team this year but is already a strong player.

Nia McKenzie and the Raiders took on the Arapaho Warriors in the teams annual game to raise awareness and funding for the prevention of teenage depression and Suicide. The final score of the game: 52-48, Raiders.

5. REGIS JESUIT CHEERLEADERS keep the spirits high at the girls Field Hockey state game. Senior Katie Messenger leads the line up on the side of the field.

6. SENIOR MIDFIELDER NICK DERMER kicks the ball down the field to awaiting an attacker. Nick Dermer is one of four players to make All-State team from the Regis Jesuit team.

4 9

24 ELEVATE SPORTS

6

10

7. GIRLS VARSITY POMS placed third at the Continental League Championship.

The team is lead by seniors Mady Nistal and Maddie Dailey.

8. SENIOR BRYCE SLOAN, Scores his last touchdown as a Raider. Sloan celebrates at the last game of the season with senior Jackson Connolly a wide receiver for the team.

7

5

11

9. LAUREN PENDERGAST ‘20 dribbles the ball down the sideline during the Creek vs Regis state rematch in which she scored one goal with one assist to beat Creek 1-0.

10. NICK FAESTEL ‘20 one of the varsity cross country captains runs at Nike Cross Regionals in Arizona and goes a 17:21.

11. CATE LORD ‘21 drives towards goal, maneuvering past the defenders stick to help defeat Smokey Hill 7-0.

10 13

12

8

12. CASEY MCCLOSKEY, senior attacker, tries to snag the ball from a player. Casey was also awarded first team All-State this year.

13. ANDERSON SCHUILING ‘22, serves at a tennis match. The boys tennis team are state champions after scoring 83 points and winning all three singles and one doubles match.

SPORTS ELEVATE 25

26 ELEVATE SOCCER

AN UNFORGETTABLE SEASON

Final game of the season does not define such a powerful team STORY BY JP PAK ‘20 & SAM STERN ‘20 PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

record-breaking season. The significance of their achievements cannot be overstated. According to coach Rick Wolf, who was recently honored as Colorado’s Coach of the Year, their ability was unmatched by every group they faced. “We were, without question, the best team on the field in every game,” he claims. “From the 4-0 win against Gonzaga in the Jesuit Classic, to the heartbreaking and controversial loss in the state final, we were the best team every time.”

COMMERCE CITY | Soccer is a game

Wolf’s journey back to the state final took

of romance. Its vibrant culture, international

patience. Seasons in recent memory have left the

adoration, and religious fanbase are all products

program with the taste of “wasted potential,” despite

of one gift: joy. Defined by this common thread,

where the team may have fallen in the playoffs.

“the beautiful game” serves to engender bliss in

Although this year ended in heartbreak, Wolf believes

audiences and players alike.

it could not have been more different. In his eyes,

With every game’s victory, however, comes

being recognized as coach of the year is not as

an equal defeat - a painfully necessary outcome.

gratifying as you might think. The real treasure,

This year’s Class 5A state soccer

he says, is in the experience itself - the pain, the

championship game was no exception to this

victory, and everything in between. “It was the most

rule. Unfortunately for the Regis Jesuit boys

memorable season I’ve had as a high school soccer

soccer team, it marked the end of a historic

coach,” he reflects. I have never seen a collective

playoff run. Coach Wolf’s Raiders - playing the

group of high schoolers play such a beautiful style of

final at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the first

soccer. It was an honor to coach this team and will be

time since 2008 - were edged out by Broomfield

a season I look back to with great fondness.”

High School’s Eagles in a 1-0 defeat, their

More often than not, the scoreline of a soccer

only in-state loss of the season. Despite their

final is an inaccurate representation of the match as

fruitful efforts to maintain possession of the

a whole. While it’s an incredibly unfortunate reality,

ball, a characteristic that defined the group

the truth is something that players, coaches, and

throughout the season, an unfortunate second

fans have to deal with - at the highest level, a final

half concession eventually prevented Regis from

is simply about walking away with more goals than

winning the game.

the other team. Rather than joy, the championship

In the 55th minute, a controversial call from the match’s center referee resulted in a Broomfield penalty kick. The set piece was

“I had the mindset we’d make it to state. Eli, Murphy, and I made sure everyone on the team knew that was the goal, and that’s what we did. Simple as that.” - NICK DERMER ‘20 All-State Second Team “This season was absolutely incredible. We accomplished so much as a program and I’m grateful I was apart of it.”

- CASEY MCCLOSKEY ‘20 All-State First Team

Johnny’s fiery attitude on the field made him a very fierce competitor on the defensive line. His strong play will be missed for years to come.

-JOHN KRUPANSZKY ‘20 All-State Honorable Mention “I am going to miss the friendships, the brotherhood, and the coaches. I am going to miss all the people I had relationships with.” - BRADEN MURPHY ‘20 All-State First Team

by fear.

This was not the case for the Raiders. They played with the same distinct edge that served them well

was denied by Regis goalkeeper Trey Tomlin

throughout their season. Although they eventually fell,

‘21, the Eagles’ star forward Gustavo Gutierrez

the performance was applauded by journalists and

‘20 slipped the ball into the net. Tomlin’s

fans across the state as one to remember. The team’s

outstanding efforts throughout the game were

ability, achievement, and desire to succeed is a

reduced within seconds.

significant mark in Regis Jesuit’s legacy. Their season

Raiders, it represented a minor blip in their

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON?

performance of the average “elite” team is defined

dramatic to say the least - after a shot that

Although the game was cruel to the

ALL STATE TEAM MEMBERS

was not defined by defeat - rather, it was defined by joy.

SOCCER ELEVATE 27

ELEVATE SPORTS

BY PARKER BILEY ‘20 PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

GETTING THE OFFER

1 2

THE INS AND OUTS OF COLLEGE RECRUITMENT FOR ATHLETES Regis Jesuit High School, a sports powerhouse, has many elite athletes who go on to continue their sport collegiately. So, what does it take to be a high level collegiate athlete?

It’s no secret that in order to play at the collegiate level, there has to be lots of time dedicated on the field, on the court, or in

3

the pool. Playing a sport collegiately isn’t easy and takes some knowledge about the recruiting process of each sport. A broad recruiting process might be contact with the coach, an official recruiting visit, a verbal commitment, and signing. But each sport is unique, and so is each recruiting process.

The NCAA has a recruiting calendar which is the guideline for when coaches can start contacting athletes. Every sport has a very unique and complex recruiting calendar. Some sports, such as basketball, will start recruitment as early as a student’s sophomore year. Other sports will hold off until as late as a student’s senior year. Until recently, swimming, tennis, and track collegiate coaches were not allowed to make contact with athletes until their junior year. Last year, the NCAA changed their recruiting calendars to have each sport be on the same recruiting schedule so all athletes may be contacted as early as their

4

sophomore year. The recruiting calendar is a crucial piece of the

1. Jada Moore ‘20 - Kansas State University basketball 2. Athletes sign on National Signing Day 3. Jada Surrell-Norwood ‘20 - University of Alabama swimming 4. Hunter Sullivan ‘20 - College of the Holy Cross swimming 5. Ms. Kathryn Ames speaks about Sydney Able ‘20 Lewis University lacrosse

recruiting process because all college coaches follow it.

The NCAA has mandated specific periods in the recruiting process. There are periods known as contact periods, evaluation periods, quiet periods, and dead periods, but unlike the recruiting calendar, these still differ by sport.

28 ELEVATE SPORTS

5

CONTACT PERIOD

receive any kind of athletic scholarship and

view. He has seen high school athletes blossom

A coach will contact an athlete via phone

these athletes will sign non-binding “celebratory

into successful college athletes, including

calls or email, or visit a practice to watch the

signing forms.” To play at any one of these

Regis Jesuit’s most heavily recruited athlete,

athlete but has no face-to-face contact.

levels takes an immense amount of dedication,

Missy Franklin ‘13. Kos assists his athletes by

EVALUATION PERIOD

discipline, and hard work, however, it’s very

contacting coaches for them and telling coaches

College coaches will watch athletes compete

doable.

about the student side of these athletes. He

in a tournament, a match, a game, or a meet.

Senior Hunter Sullivan is a swimmer and will

This period is also typically when a college or

be competing at the Division 1 level at College of

university will offer an official recruiting trip,

the Holy Cross in the fall of 2020 in Worcester,

some colleges might not choose to send athletes

Massachusetts. He explains that his recruiting

go to a school because of the name and the

out to their school. Official recruiting trips are

process was “mild at first.” He also explains how

prestige. Too many times I see athletes that

when the college pays for an athlete to come to

the recruiting process is specific to swimming,

leave here, and at Regis we kind of have a stigma

campus and visit the team. The college will offer

“The way swimming works is you get half

advises them to narrow choices down quickly, to prevent stress.

“Go to a level that you can play. Don’t just

that when you graduate you need to go to an

this when they are very serious about an athlete

of your stuff done through this website called

academically, and athletically rigorous school,”

playing at their school and are considering

collegeswimming.com. Basically it has all of your

Kos said, “[Athletes] over reach and get the

offering athletic scholarship.

times and videos on there for coaches to see and

scholarship or the walk on and they go and they

QUIET PERIOD

they can contact you via that website because

never end up playing. I watched them be such

College coaches may choose not to contact

it also has your email and phone number on

good athletes here and then just not playing or

the athlete face to face, but will contact them

there for them as well,” Sullivan says, “If you’re

sitting on the bench in college, or even burning

over the phone.

interested in a school that doesn’t use that site

out and quitting, because it’s so much work.”

DEAD PERIOD

you have to reach out. Some schools emailed

Jada Moore ‘20, a star basketball player

me via that website and other schools I had to

for the Raiders, will continue to make strides

reach out myself. I started doing this at the end

in her basketball career as a Division 1 athlete

of my junior year.”

at Kansas State next fall. With offers from

Similar to a quiet period except there is no contact with the athlete at all.

As we all know, there are different divisions: 1, 2, and 3. Division 1 is the most competitive

Hunter has been swimming for as long as he

schools such as Gonzaga, Villanova, Michigan,

“GO TO A LEVEL THAT YOU CAN PLAY. DON’T JUST GO TO A SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE NAME AND THE PRESTIGE. TOO MANY TIMES I SEE ATHLETES THAT LEAVE HERE, OVER REACH AND GET THE SCHOLARSHIP OR THE WALK ON AND THEY GO AND THEY NEVER END UP PLAYING.” MR. KOSLOSKY level that an athlete can play at collegiately. D1

can remember and has always loved the sport.

and Kentucky, Moore chose K State because

schools are subdivided by football sponsorship,

He also knew he “wanted to swim in college but

she “loved the people there” and “felt like

so if the football team is considered D1, all

didn’t know if [he] was good enough to.”

[she] was just one of their own.” Her process

other sports at that school will be considered

He had an amazing meet with significant

D1, as well. Division 2 schools can be just as

improvement and solid time drops that changed

were “really just trying to sell their school to

competitive as Division 1 schools, however,

his perspective sophomore year, which “really

prospective players.”

they do not have the financial resources that

showed me that I was good enough to pursue

D1 schools do. D1 and D2 schools are the only

swimming collegiately.” He advises any student

types of schools that can offer athletic money.

who has the desire to continue their sport

Everyday, multiple times a day, I would get phone

collegiately, should “try and play it...even if you

calls from college coaches, all trying to build a

always sign an NLI, a National Letter of Intent.

don’t want as much commitment but want to

relationship and get me to go to their school.

An NLI is the last step in the recruiting process.

stay with the sport, there are club sports that

Narrowing down my list was very hard because I

This letter states that the athlete commits to play

almost every school offers.”

built so many relationships with college coaches,

Athletes who commit to these schools will

their sport for at least a year with that specific school.

At the Division 3 level, athletes cannot

Mr. Koslosky, or Kos, as most of the GD calls him, explains what the recruiting process looks like from an athletic director’s point of

included multiple recruiting visits where colleges

“In all honesty, it was very stressful.

but unfortunately I can only choose one school,” she said.

CONTINUED ON PG 30

SPORTS ELEVATE 29

ELEVATE SPORTS

BY SAM STERN ‘20

B

ON THE GREEN

CONTINUED FROM PG 29 “Coaches coming to my house and my games was nerve-wracking and the recruiting process took up a lot

process in order to be successful throughout the process.

Bo Wardynski, explained that in

of my time everyday. I decided to end

order to be recruited for golf, “college

my recruiting early because I knew K

coaches are looking for tournament

State was the school for me.”

scores more than anything. Talking to

Being a role model to many female

golf coaches means talking about the

basketball players and athletes at

positives in your game, the negatives

Regis Jesuit, she advises that “anyone

in your game, and where you need to

who wants to play collegiate basket-

improve.” Bo will be attending Uni-

ball should work hard and never give

versity of Tampa to continue his golf

up. To play any sport at the collegiate

career at the Division 2 level.

level is a very special opportunity

“College coaches don’t look at

that many people don’t get, so it will

high school [tournaments] that much.

not be easy. Always put God first and

They look at individual tournaments

remain humble. Don’t be afraid to be

with better competitors,” Wardynski

different, your route is different than

said.

others. Don’t stop until you get what

the United States Air Force Academy

even harder.”

to further his academics and his

There are so many athletes at

baseball career. He explained that

Regis Jesuit who have been through

when he was a sophomore, the Air

the recruiting process or are going

Force Academy came out to one of his

through it right now who would be

games and he had a lights out game,

more than willing to discuss their pro-

warranting him a spot on the AFA

cess to assist kids who want to play

baseball team.

“The coaches there are amazing,

directors are here to guide athletes,

they make sure they take care of the

as well. Playing at the collegiate level

students and the athletes,”

is difficult, but not impossible. It takes

Parsons said.

a lot of work, dedication to the sport, and knowledge about the recruiting

The Raiders came on with a strong group of golfers this year.

This squad came into the season being led by senior Bo Wardynski ‘20. They ended up capping off their season with an impressive 5th place finish. Wardynski and junior Teddy Hummel ‘21 were named all state second team players. Junior Ryan Occhionero ‘21 finished the season with an all state honorable mention as well.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

A PERFECT REGULAR SEASON BY SAM STERN ‘20 10-0! The Raiders had an incredible season with so many team accomplishments. With sophomore Nicco Marchiol’s fantastic quarterback play, his offense was one of the most powerful lineups in the league. Marchiol had an impeccable 2,359 passing yards

on the season with 25 touchdown passes as well. Junior David Dody ‘21 led the squad with an astonishing 1173 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. The Raiders are excited about this young core that should flourish in the next couple years. Excellent season Raiders!

“DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE DIFFERENT, YOUR ROUTE IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS. DON’T STOP UNTIL YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT AND ONCE YOU GET THAT, GO EVEN HARDER.” JADA MOORE ‘20

30 ELEVATE SPORTS

B

The Jon the ele ap Sil pa un ar Sc No Ma

Bryce Parsons will be attending

you want and once you get that, go

collegiately. The coaches and athletic

ANOTHER BIG YEAR FOR GOLF

n

BY SAM STERN ‘20

BACK ON TOP

TENNIS WINS STATE AGAIN

The Raiders are Champions once again! Mrs. Jones, Head Coach, led yet another team to the state title. Their performance way truly electrifying. Junior Morgan Schilling ‘21 had a performance for the ages by beating Luke Silverman of Fairview in the singles final. “This past season couldn’t have been better going undefeated, winning the second state title in a row, and being named player of the year,” Schilling said about his remarkable season. In No. 2 singles, RJ’s Andy Schuiling beat Creek’s Matthew Batmunkh, 6-4, 6-2, while in No.

3 singles, RJ’s Cameron Kruep defeated Nick Svichar, 6-3, 6-2.

10-0! The Raiders had an incredible season with so many team accomplishments. With sophomore Nicco Marchiol’s fantastic quarterback play, his offense was one of the most powerful lineups in the league. Marchiol had an impeccable 2,359 passing yards on the season with 25 touchdown passes as well. Junior David Dody ‘21 led the squad with an astonishing 1173 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. The Raiders are excited about this young core that should flourish in the next couple years. Excellent season Raiders!

PHOTO BY KATHERINE DERDZINSKI ‘21

BY SABRINA VIZURRAGA ‘22

RUGBY GOES TO STATE FROM INEXPERIENCE TO SUCCESS

FIELD HOCKEY IS THE MOST PLAYED SPORT IN THE WORLD

4TH

https://sportsshow.net/ top-10-most-popularsports-in-the-world/

RUGBY IS THE NATIONAL SPORT OF COUNTRIES; WALES, MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND.

3

BY REILLY WIBLE ‘22

FIELD HOCKEY

https://www.squizzes. com/rugby-union-fastfacts/

THE GAME OF TENNIS COMES FROM

INSIDE ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SEASON Field hockey has given me a family who loves and supports me no matter what.” says Ellie Johnson ‘22. The varsity field hockey team had the best season record in the history of the program this year with fifteen wins, two ties, and two losses. Field hockey is a dynamic team sport, coached

by Spencer Wagner, Ali Meehan, Leah Malm, and Sarah Tartell. “This season was an amazing ex-

perience because we all grew together after every single game in our skills, but much more importantly we became much closer and the friendships and memories made were the best part.” explains Katie Loftus ‘22. Every girl on the team would agree, the family formed throughout the season is one of the key elements to the sport.

The tight-knit group of girls gave everything they had at every

game, helping them make it to the state championship to defend their title, falling to Colorado Academy in a close 2-1 game.

All three teams practice together, helping to develop bonds between girls on all levels, making the transitions to different levels easier. “There are no other girls I want on the field with me.” says a team captain Zoey Dale ‘20.

GREAT BRITAIN

http://www.10-factsabout.com/tennis/ id/27

WITH HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT, girls rugby transformed from an unexperienced team into an unstoppable team. It had been several years since girls rugby was played at Regis Jesuit and experienced such success, but coaches Anthony Mattacchione, Kelli Mattacchione, and Matthew Ortiz created a strong team of girls with a drive for success.

The girls tied their first game, lost to both Mountain Vista and Fort Collins twice, but stepped up and won several games in a row. They would later win against both MVHS and FCHS, proving themselves and their thirst for success.

By the end of their season, the win to loss ratio was 8:9, with one tie. Girls rugby finished as runner-up in the Tier II State Championship, creating a deep school pride. Not only had these girls triumphed the season, but they also had won a new community of sisters. Many players speak fondly of the friendships they formed during this season. “It’s brought a new family of girls into my life,” Jalie Albrecht-Reed ‘20 said.

SPORTS ELEVATE 31

ELEVATE EXTRAS+MORE

LET THE moments

SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

AFTER FLYING HOME FROM A WIN, Brianna Tolkacz ‘20 spends time at her barn with Lucy, her rescue horse, while her World Champion Horse, Brooke, is coming home across Kentucky. Tolkacz and Brooke won their fourth consecutive world title this summer. PHOTO BY NICK FAESTEL ‘20

HONEY, HONEY Scraping the wax from her bee colony, Rylie Ward ’21 cleans out the hive to make sure there are eggs and bees buzzing around. The Ward family began backyard beekeeping about two years ago, and this year they have successfully harvested over two gallons of honey. PHOTO BY BRENNA ALBRECHT ‘23 REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL has an awesome FIRST EVER advanced piano recital. Students in this brand new class get the opportunity to do a public performance and perform on a gorgeous 7-ft Steinway Piano! PHOTO COURTESY OF REGIS JESUIT INSTAGRAM

MR. ALCORN, is a new faculty member this year, teaching History in the Girls Division. We are so excited to have him here! PHOTO BY MERILYN AMPONSAH-ASAMOAH

SOLES FOR SOLES On August 16, Andrew Simon’22, a Regis Jesuit student, received hundreds of shoes for a local non-profit called soles for soles. He is working to help out communities in Africa that don’t have it as well of as he does.

Photo by Connor Schultz’22

32 ELEVATE STUDENT LIFE

PATRIOTS IN DENVER Andrew shows no fear wearing his teams shirt with his friends at the lake during the long weekend. After having a long week of school Andrew went up to Fort Collins to go water skiing and tubing, but it would be unlike Andrew to not be showing his teams spirit for the Patriots. PHOTO BY JACK DOYLE ‘22 VOX LUCIS AND CANTA BELLES were the music, on an incredible evening, during the Christ the King vigil at the Cathedral Basilica in Denver on November 24th. PHOTO COURTESY OF REGIS JESUIT INSTAGRAM

PICTURE THAT Armando Maldonado, on the sidelines, prepares to take the shot at the first football game against Pomona to share the joys of football. Armando is a junior at Regis Jesuit High School who has a passion for capturing the important moments and sharing them with his fellow students. PHOTO BY LUCAS FRAZIER ‘20 DO IT YOURSELF FLYING Liam Giardino ‘23 ties a fly at home at his work station in preparation for his next adventure in fly fishing. He uses extensive and randomized materials in order to create lifelike flies that will attract fish. PHOTO BY LUCAS FRAZIER ‘20 DOGGOS ON CAMPUS! Regis Jesuit go some special visitors this semester and brought tons of joy to all of our students. PHOTO BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20 DRAWING THE LINE Guillermo Perez-Ochoa ‘20, focuses in on his work during his fine art class in the BD art room to share his incredible talent with Regis. PHOTO BY LUCAS FRAZIER ‘20 ART IS MORE THAN JUST A HOBBY Anjali Wahlstrom ‘23 lies on the ground in the Girls Division Quad during Academic Support touching up one of her most recent drawings.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA MITSUOKA ‘23

STUDENT LIFE ELEVATE 33

ELEVATE EXTRAS+MORE

QUIZ:

WHAT TYPE OF TATTOO SHOULD YOU GET? A TATTOO

INTROVERT EXTROVERT WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? EDGY

WHAT MAKES YOU SAY “AWW”?

FOOD

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

PUPPIES

FANCY

CASUAL

SWEATS ONLY

KITTENS

GUN CAN PUNCTURE THE SKIN BETWEEN 50 AND 3,000 TIMES PER MINUTE, PENETRATING THE SKIN ABOUT ONE MILLIMETER DEEP IN THE SKIN TO THE DERMIS.

58% CELEB BESTIE? MILEY CYRUS

ARIANA GRANDE

DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT A TATTOO? SHAWN MENDES

LIL NAS X

YES!

NAH

LATER

IDK MAYBE

OF WOMEN HAVE AT LEAST ONE TATTOO

41%

OF MEN HAVE A TATTOO

WOMEN

ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO GET THEIR TATTOOS REMOVED THAN MEN. https://www.thefactsite. com › tattoo-facts

IN 2017 THE AVEARAGE AGE FOR GETTING YOUR FIRST TATTOO WAS

18 YRS OLD FACE TATTOO

34 ELEVATE TATTOOS

FLOWER

CONSTELLATION

LION

https://www.statista. com › statistics › americans-age-of-thefirst-tattoo

BY CAMI EVANGELISTA ‘21

PAYING TRIBUTE TO THOSE LOST THROUGH SKIN ART

T

TATTOOS GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER THOSE THEY LOST

o start this story off, I Googled “Why do people get tattoos?” and the results were, to say the least, interesting. As I was browsing through the internet, a quote from a website stood out to me.

It read, “Our bodies have become the refrigerator magnets of quotes, sayings, and reminders.”

I myself don’t have any tattoos but I felt that this quote truly demonstrated what tattoos are like for people. When you buy magnets from your vacations to put on your fridge, do you pick the best ones? The ones that will look good on your fridge at home? Chances are the answer is yes, and that’s exactly what getting tattoos is like. You pick a tattoo you

think will look good on your body.

That being said, you’ve seen them around. Some are visible and some are not. Tattoos have been in the world for thousands of years, but only recently gotten popular in the United States. People get tattoos to express themselves, to feel like they belong, to be unique, or to feel happy and confident.

Tattoos start conversations.

Take it from Social Studies teacher, Mr. Chris Walsweer, who has been known to start more than a few conversations regarding his ink. He began his tattoo journey when he was a teenager, and he’s gotten about 13 since then. His first tattoo was a lightning bolt on his right hip in honor of his favorite

surfer and the company that sponsored him.

Walsweer described it as “super dumb and cheesy.”

After this first experience under the needle, he decided that the rest of his tattoos would have a reason behind them.

To signify luck, he got a koi fish, and to represent life and death, he got two phoenixes on his forearms.

He said that, since nobody craves that type of pain, there must be a “tremendous psychological implication behind every symbol someone chooses.”

Tattoos, he feels, have a therapeutic element; since you are forced to sit in a tattoo parlor for a long period of time feeling uncomfortable, you are forced to stare into the abyss and there is “a

massive psychological release in the process.”

Most of his inkings came in his 20’s and 30’s which were dark periods of his life and, “getting someone to prod me with needles,” was his way of coping. The first tattoo Walsweer will get in a good place in his life is one he is planning will represent his son, which is meant to be funny and amusing.

English teacher Mrs. Kristi Dindinger took a different approach. She got her first tattoo at age 35 and only has four so far. Dindinger got emotional explaining the significance of the last two. Both are in honor of her late son and something that she will never regret doing. One reads, “You are not alone,” in cursive, taken from a journal her son wrote before he passed.

With tears rolling down her face, she said, “It’s a reminder in my sadness that I’m not alone, but it’s also a reminder to all of you as I’m standing up in front of you that you’re not alone either.”

A student, Ellie Fox ‘21, got the only tattoo she currently has on her sixteenth birthday. It is a geometric outline of a fox and her whole family has the same one. She, like Mrs. Dindinger, likes when tattoos have an important meaning to the person getting it.

As she was waiting to get tattooed, she was afraid and nervous but she quickly realized it was a good fit because her family is “something permanent in my life [just as] the tattoo is permanent.”

A common theme that popped up when questioned what advice they would give to those who want tattoos was to wait.

Mr. Walsweer feels that people should, “Wait until you’re one hundred percent positive this is a direction you want to go in...because you only get one skin.”

Mrs. Dindinger believes, “Don’t get one unless it has significant meaning cause you will tire of it and regret it. And wait. Wait until after college because teens and young adults have a tendency to do stupid things and make decisions rather impulsively.”

We as humans crave self expression and individuality, and tattoos give us a way to do this.

Asking about the stories behind them are a great way of getting to know people.

“IT’S A REMINDER IN MY SADNESS THAT I’M NOT ALONE, BUT IT’S ALSO A REMINDER TO ALL OF YOU AS I’M STANDING UP IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE EITHER.” TATTOOS ELEVATE 35

ELEVATE

EXPRESSING YOUR INDIVIDUALITY STUDENTS SHARE WHAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHAT MAKES THEM WHO THEY ARE “THERE ISN’T ONE THING that really stands out about my individuality. I am involved in a lot of things that make me the person I am today. Like in track I do every event from the 400 to the two mile and in RJ Media I have many jobs from photography, graphic designer to producing a documentary from our Tijuana trip.”

AMY BECHTEL ‘22 “I EXPRESS MY INDIVIDUALITY through many types of dancing such as ballet, jazz and lyrical.

I love that when I dance I can express myself without fear of judgement. I am a quiet person, so dancing helps me express myself. I can just move to the music in anyway I want, and have a good time. Whenever I dance (especially when I jump), I feel like I am flying and I never want to hit the ground. I love dancing because it helps me express myself.”

36 ELEVATE INDIVIDUALITY

RYLIE WARD ‘21 “I LOVE COOKING because it allows me to show my love for others in a unique and tasty way. I enjoy cooking for myself, my friends, my boyfriend, and my family. One of my favorite meals to make is chilaquiles because they are a mix of two pretty awesome foods: Mexican and breakfast food.”

“I LOVE TO SKI. I have been skiing since I was three and it has become such a big part of my life. I love everything about skiing.

Not only is it a way to stay healthy, but it is also a way to experience nature. Another reason skiing has had a big impact on my life is because I have met so many new people while skiing and made so many memories with them. Without skiing, I would not have many of the friends and experiences that I have today.”

MAGGIE GREGORY ‘22

NICK FAESTEL ‘20

CREATIVE

https://www.fastcompany. com/3063626/7-surprising-facts-about-creativity-according-to-science

CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS TEND TO BE

INDEPENDENT AND ASPIRATIONAL https://www.format.com/magazine/features/art/creative-thinking-science-facts

CREATIVITY, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-WORTH, ARE PROMOTED THROUGH

ART

BEN ARVENITIS ‘20 “MY INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION enters the world through my graphic art. I convey my inner thoughts, emotions, hopes, and beliefs through this visionary art style.

Creating through the medium of a computer allows me to bring inspiration from nature and my mind, and utilize modern technology to bring it to existence.”

TRYING NEW THINGS MAKES PEOPLE MORE

LAUREN BIRCHFIELD ‘20 MEGHAN EMERSON ‘20 “SOMETHING THAT INDIVIDUALIZES me is the relationship I have with my dog. My dog’s name is Molly and she is almost 13 years old. I have had her since I was in preschool and she has been my best friend ever since. Molly is the sweetest dog that I have ever had and I have no idea what I would do without her.”

“I LOVE TAKING PICTURES because once you capture that beautiful moment, its forever . Photography is so much fun you can go out and captures these frozen seconds in time and it makes me feel grateful for the wonderful world we live in. My favorite pictures are of people just being who they are. “

http://www.theoldjailartcenter. org/15-fascinating-fun-facts/enlightening-and-dazzle-your-mind/

INDIVIDUALITY IS THE QUALITY OR CHARACTER OF A PARTICULAR PERSON OR THING THAT DISTINGUISHES THEM FROM OTHERS OF THE SAME KIND

T

MUSICAL THEATER club STUDENTS SHARE WHAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHAT MAKES THEM WHO THEY ARE

BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

The Musical Theater Club is a place for students who need a creative outlet. This year was the first annual Musical Theater Club. Students took the center stage to sing Broadway, cabaret, and so many other styles. Students like Ella Hagg ‘21 use Musical Theater as “an opportunity for everyone to have access to a creative outlet and express themselves free of judgment.” The Musical Theater Club is one of the many clubs on campus doing amazing things.

520 LB

SQUAT IT OUT

http://www.thspa. us/staterecords. aspx

THE MOST WEIGHT SQUAT LIFTED IN ONE MINUTE IS

DAVID DODY BREAKS THE RECORD

11,1012 LB

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MUN’ 21

Lifting up the new school record for squat is David Dody ’21, with a new record of five hundred pounds.

“It took a lot of hard work and dedication, I’ve been trying to lift at least five times a week since I was a freshman, it’s just the result of years of hard work.”

It was a Saturday afternoon when David Dody walked up to the front of the squat rack and stripped the school record from Levi Rush ‘17.

Afterwards Dody said, “I was just happy

THE MOST WEIGHT SQUAT LIFTED IN HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL RECORD

I was able to do my best.” He explained how over the summer the Varsity football team had been working on their max squat weight and how he got very close to breaking the record.

“I put on a few more pounds and broke it,” he said.

There is also a second new challenger for the school record. Grayson Stovall, a sophomore, shows flare and competitiveness for the new record.

When asked what his reaction to the record being broken

was he said, “I want to break Dody’s record as soon as I can.”

Stovall ultimately did break Dody’s record. Unfortunately for him, there was a catch. For his last rep, he did not squat low enough for it to be counted, thus becoming his unofficial record. His unofficial record comes out to be five hundred and fourteen pounds with his official record is five hundred pounds, just like David Dody.

Grayson says, “I’ll get that record next time. I just have to train harder.”

AND WAS ACHIEVED

BY JOSHUA SPAETH (USA) AT RAB FITNESS IN KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON, USA, ON 15 AUGUST 2015.

guiness world records

A TIME TO BOND

FRESHMAN RETREAT CREATES A COMMUNITY TO LAST NOT ONLY FOUR YEARS, BUT A LIFETIME STORY BY ANNA MOSER ‘23 PHOTO BY LAUREN BIRCHFIELD ‘20

Around Regis Jesuit, retreats are a special part of the community and the way we view our high school experience. Coming from a small school and only knowing two people, I found the retreat to be an opportunity to get to know my peers, and open my mind to the Raider life. Around Regis we are often told that we have a “sisterhood” or a “connection with one another” but after watching movies like Mean Girls or High school Musical, you could say there were many expectations for high school.

Before the retreat it seemed the teachers only knew one phrase “participate don’t anticipate”, but I never knew how important it was until the retreat began. You must enter with an open mind to fully grasp the connection with each other, and surprises along the way.

Through talking with our leaders and other group members, the retreat reminded me that everyone has something great to offer to both the Regis community, and the world. In the end the retreat showed me how much we need each other. We can achieve great things when we grow in relationship, trust, and appreciate one another.

STUDENT LIFE ELEVATE 37

ELEVATE EXTRAS + MORE

E

ven as the sun goes down at Regis Jesuit, the lights remain bright in the Z-Theater. Every autumn day after school, the

theater is full of students practicing for their upcoming performances. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat tells the story of Joseph, played by Blake Mann ‘20, and his ability to interpret other people’s dreams. Based on the book of Genesis, Joseph’s 11 brothers sell him into slavery out of jealousy. The story is told through numerous musical genres and sly sense of humor, brought to the stage at Regis Jesuit

“BEING IN THE MUSICAL WAS AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE. OPENING NIGHT WAS SO REWARDING BECAUSE ALL THE HARD WORK HAS F I N A L LY P A I D O F F . ” ABE TIMME ‘20 (LEVI)

with superb acting, singing, and dancing.

Watching Joseph and the Amazing

rehearsal after school to perfect every line,

Technicolor Dreamcoat’s rehearsals taught

note, and move. If one thing was off (though

me a lot about the dedication of the direc-

it appeared flawless to my eyes), they

tor, cast, and crew members.

would start all over.

Being in the same play as a sophomore

Will Cassidy ‘20, who played Joseph’s

here at Regis Jesuit, Mr.Pantoja worked

father Jacob, said this week, also known as

hard sitting in the director’s seat to orga-

tech week, was “actually fun, though we did

nize 40 actors, 44 crew members and 19

have to stay here until nine o’clock.”

pit band members. He was proud that he

Friday, November 1st was the first

could bring this story once again to Regis

public showing of Joseph and the Amazing

Jesuit, and described this experience as

Technicolor Dreamcoat. At 7:00 PM, the

“amazing” and “nostalgic.” He also noted

lights finally turned off, and the music

how far Regis Jesuit Performing Arts has

began. With over 250 family members,

come through the years.

friends, students, and faculty in atten-

Through several days of watching rehearsals, I saw the progress that the

dance, the show was complete.

The laughter, gasps, and applause were

theater made. The sets looked better, the

missing from the rehearsals, but it complet-

singing improved, and the dancing became

ed the show. The loud music, spotlights,

more in sync. But as the first performance

projector, and cast astonished, and when it

grew near, the rehearsals got more intense.

was over, we couldn’t help but give a

Fully dressed up, the cast went through a “hell week,” which entails hours of

standing ovation.

1

JOSEPH

& THE

AMAZING TECHNICOLOR

DREAMCOAT THE PROCESS BEHIND THE PRODUCTION

BY GRANT BARNES ‘23 PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

38 ELEVATE FALL MUSICAL

3

2

4

1. JAKE HOWARD ‘20 practicing the drums for pit band 2. BLAKE MANN ‘20 plays the lead role as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Jake Howard ‘20 practicing the drums for pit band 3. THE PLAY ENDS with colorful theatrics as everyone sings together. 4. ELLA HAGG ‘21 prepares herself for her part as the understudy of the Pharaoh’s Wife

N

FALL MUSICAL ELEVATE 39

ELEVATE FEATURE

40 ELEVATE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

SPECIAL

OLYMPICS THE INCLUSION REVOLUTION

T

The Special Olympics Unified team

BY MADDIE PROCTOR ‘21 PHOTOS BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20 AND CAM COLLINS ‘21

Will Munro ‘20, Christina Nelson ‘20,

is up 35-18 against the Rowdies, and

Ellie Fox ‘21, Cami Evangelista ‘21, and

#56 Meagan Bain dashes up the court.

Olivia Baptiste ‘21.

You can feel the energy in the crowd as

The team is packed with talent and

she pumps her arms up and down. It is

highly successful, coming off a 1st

October 31, but over 1500 high school

place finish at the state flag football

students are focused more on the court

tournament this year. However, it is the

than the night’s festivities.

community and sense of inclusion that

Before the game, Regis Jesuit

truly make the Unified team special.

became the first private school in the

The coaches, partners, and athletes

nation to be recognized as a Unified

come together twice a week, ending

Champion School. Chaka Sutton and

each practice and game with an Our

Ben Wrubel, from the Special Olympics

Father and a “Family!” cheer.

Colorado state office, presented the

The RJ Unified team really is a

banner to a gym full of cheering fans,

family. The partners develop deep

coaches, and athletes.

connections with the athletes and vice

Special Olympics Colorado defines

versa. You can see it in Meagan’s sick

a socially inclusive school as “a place

dance moves and cheers, Chaz’s goofy

where no student is excluded because

smile, and Ryan’s competitive spirit.

of the degree or type of disability or

It is clear when partners and athletes

the services required to meet his/her

share a laugh, hug it out, and come in

needs.”

for a team huddle.

The Unified Program is a big part of

“ S P E C I A L O LY M P I C S I S ALL ABOUT KINDNESS AND OPENNESS AND J O Y, T H E J O Y T H A T THEY BRING TO EVERY EVENT” -MRS. BUEHLER UNIFIED MODERATOR

The Regis Jesuit Unified Program

Regis Jesuit’s movement toward inclu-

is part of the Inclusion Revolution. Are

sion. It includes student partners who

you? Come to club meetings every

play flag football, basketball, and soc-

Wednesday at lunch, sign up to be a

cer alongside people with disabilities

Unified partner, or come cheer on our

in the community. These athletes and

basketball team at a game. Let’s

partners are led by student coaches

go Raiders!

SPECIAL OLYMPICS ELEVATE 41

ELEVATE EXTRAS + MORE

TOP 10

1 tik tok

3 world cup

42 ELEVATE TOP 10

moments

HERE IS WHAT HAPPEND THIS YEAR

tik tok

ONE OF THE biggest apps to come out in years, Tik Tok has swept teenagers across the entire nation by storm. This social media platform where users share videos of thmselves using different sounds has exploded in popularity and has no signs of stopping anytime soon.

4

2

music mondays

ON MANY MONDAYS during the year, Regis Jesuit students take the stairs of the Steele Center to showcase their musical abilities. Toby Yarrington ‘20 and Makayla Regalado ‘21 performing on a Music Monday.

vsco girls

VSCO IS A photo-editing app used mostly by teenage girls that inspired the trend of VSCO girls. VSCO girls can be defined as a lot of things as what originally started as a meme turned into a huge trend. The staples of a VSCO girls outfits are scrunchies, oversized T-shirt, and Hydroflasks, a brand of water bottles that has only grown in popularity due to this trend.

area 51 raid

DURING THE SUMMER, the United States Women’s National Team defeated the Netherlands in the final 2-0 to win their fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup. US striker Megan Rapinoe also won the Golden Ball, awarded to the best player in the torunament.

WHAT STARTED OFF as a joke quickly swept the entire internet by storm.

Millions of people responded to an invitation to storm Area 51, but when the day came only a few hundred showed up to the gate.

5

8

avengers endgame THE CONCLUSION TO years of Marvel film was highly anticipated during Spring of this year. The movie lived up to the hype, but most viewers left the theater upset with certain moments of the movie.

8

snow days

6

REGIS JESUIT HAS already had four snow days so far this year, leaving plenty of opportunities for Regis Jesuit students to have some fun in the snow. The best part of snow days?

Not having to show up to math class. Earl Stephens ‘20, Jesse Atkins ‘20, and SOMEONE SOME ‘20 are seen here during one of the the snow days.

billie eilish

VS

7

popeyes chicken sandwich

WHEN THE POPEYES chicken sandwich originally came out in August, Popeye’s stores around the world sold out very quickly. The natural rival to the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, a lot of social media users think that Popeye’s is better. If only they could keep them in stock.

9

BILLIE ELLISH HAS been around in the music industry for a little while, but she has finally emerged into a superstar this year. She has won a slew of awards, while also racking up six Grammy Award nominations. The Grammy awards are in January and Eilish is expected to bring home some more hardware. She will continue to be one of the biggest female voices in the world as a new decade begins.

THE HOMECOMING PEP RALLY at the end of homecoming week is most students favorite part. During the week, Regis Jesuit puts on lot of events including dress down days, the homecoming game, and a dance

10 homecoming week

TOP 10 ELEVATE 43

ELEVATE EXTRAS+MORE

IMPEACHMENT? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS AND DONALD TRUMP

O

BY RYAN TIERNEY ‘20

On September 19th, 2019, it was revealed to the press that an intelligence officer had filed a complaint over a phone call that President Donald Trump had made in July, in which he allegedly, as the officer described, “[used] the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election.” This “foreign country” that the whistleblower speaks of is Ukraine, whose President is Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the whistleblower’s complaint, Trump linked the delivery of U.S. military aid to his desire to have Ukraine investigate Hunter Biden, former Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden’s son. The complaint implicates Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, as “a central figure,” and alleges that Attorney General William Barr is “involved as well.” Furthermore, the whistleblower describes a potential cover-up, revealing that “senior White House officials had intervened to ‘lock down’ all records of the phone call.” In short, these explosive allegations did not bode well for President Trump and his administration.

In the days following this initial complaint, new revelations changed the landscape of the situation and brought the controversy to the House floor. Having been inundated with accusations of a cover-up, the Trump White House voluntarily released an official record of Trump’s phone call with President Zelensky, presumably in an effort to move the administration beyond the controversy.

However, according to House and Senate Democrats, the official record of the call did the opposite. They argue that Trump’s request

44 ELEVATE IMPEACHMENT

for “a favor” from Zelensky, his unprompted description of U.S. military aid, and his suggestion that Zelensky speak to Giuliani and Barr, reinforce the argument that there was a quid pro quo (“a favor for a favor” in Latin) offered on the call. This, in addition to allegations that the transcript of the call had been redacted by the White House, prompted the House of Representatives to begin a formal impeachment investigation of President Trump on September 24th.

Since then, numerous closeddoor and public impeachment testimonies have been held, putting career diplomat William Taylor, State Department official George Kent, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, former National Security Council official Fiona Hill, former ambassador

to Ukraine Marie Yovanovich, and other key witnesses under extensive questioning. While their testimonies have varied with regard to structure, they have been centered around four key questions that were outlined

by Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who is overseeing the impeachment inquiry: 1. DID TRUMP SOLICIT FOREIGN HELP IN AN ELECTION? 2. DID THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE AGREE TO A MEETING WITH UKRAINE ON THE CONDITION THAT UKRAINE LAUNCH INVESTIGATIONS ON BEHALF OF TRUMP? 3. DID UKRAINE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE MILITARY AID WAS BEING WITHHELD ON CONDITION OF LAUNCHING TRUMP’S INVESTIGATIONS?

PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 2019. (Pool/Abaca Press/TNS) MCT Campus ABOUT THREE dozen demonstrators showed up Friday afternoon outside the Statehouse to demand the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump. [Maddie Schroeder/ Dispatch] MCT Campus

84% OF

FEMALE STUDENTS SURVEYED SAY TRUMP SHOULD BE IMPEACHED

ONLY

12% OF

BOYS DIVISION STUDENTS SURVEYED THINK TRUMP SHOULD BE IMPEACHED

100% OF 4. HAS THERE BEEN A COVERUP OF THE BASIC FACTS OF TRUMP’S CONDUCT? President Trump maintains his innocence and has been supported

by House and Senate Republicans throughout the impeachment investigation. In fact, no House Republicans voted in favor of the impeachment inquiry. The impeachment investigation is, in this way, divided on party lines.

While Democrats present their case for impeachment in front of the American people, Republicans have put up a defense for President Trump, arguing that Trump’s conduct is not impeachable and does not qualify as a “high crime or misdemeanor.” In addition, they argue that, with less than a year until the 2020 Presidential election, the electorate should decide Trump’s fate through the ballot box.

But what is the public’s perception of all this? Countless national polls, gauging the American public’s appetite for impeachment, have been conducted, and a FiveThirtyEight poll from November 27th indicates that 47.7% of Americans now support the impeachment and removal of President Trump, while 44.1% of Americans oppose it.

These numbers are within the poll’s 4% margin of error, which may indicate that America’s support or opposition of impeachment is evenly split.

How, then, does the Regis Jesuit student community and their families view the possible impeachment of President Trump?

Do they support or oppose it?

What do specific gender, grade, economic, and racial groups within the school think?

STUDENTS OF COLOR SURVEYED WERE IN FAVOR OF IMPEACHMENT

47.7% OF

ALL AMERICANS SUPPORT TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT

Source: FiveThirtyEight

14%

OF STUDENTS SURVEYED DISAGREED WITH THEIR PARENTS ON THE IMPEACHMENT

On November 5th and 6th, 25 male and 25 female Regis Jesuit students from each grade (for a total of 200 students) were surveyed in a multi level stratified random sample survey on the subject of impeachment. Their responses were tabulated and analyzed.

On the question of impeachment, the student body mirrored the national polls and was roughly split. 48% of the students surveyed were in favor of impeaching the President, while 52% were opposed to it. For the Regis Jesuit parent population, the data was similar. 49.5% of surveyed students’ parents were reported to be in favor of impeaching President Trump, while 50.5% were reported to oppose it.

However, these opinions are much more sharply split across gender, economic, and racial lines within Regis Jesuit. 84% of Girls Division students surveyed supported impeaching the President, while only 12% of Boys Division Students supported it.

On the economic end, 88.7% of the 53 students receiving financial aid surveyed were in favor of impeaching the President, while only 11.3% of students who do not receive financial aid support impeachment.

And finally, of the 28 students of color surveyed, 100% were in favor of impeaching President Trump.

These dynamics are likely to change as the investigation progresses, but in the end, Congress will have to decide to impeach or not to impeach.

?

SHOULD TRUMP BE IMPEACHED

34%66%

56%

FRESHMEN 44% JUNIOR

48% 52% SOPHOMORE & SENIOR YES NO

25 students polled from each class

IMPEACHMENT ELEVATE 45

ELEVATE OPINIONS

RJ MEDIA FOR STUDENTS BY STUDENTS

We encourage student voices submit your opinion piece or letter to the editor for our next issue at rjmedia@regisjesuit.com

CROSSING BORDERS

I

ENCOUNTERING FOR EMPATHY

BY SOPHIA MARCINEK ‘20

thought that I had seen it all up until recently.

I have had the opportunity to travel, and I was convinced that I knew what the world had to offer. But after traveling with RJ Media to Tijuana, Mexico, I realized that I haven’t yet begun to scratch the surface.

When Regis Jesuit first introduced the Crossing Borders trip, I knew immediately that I wanted to go. I had the opportunity to do an exchange program to Mexico during my sophomore year here, and I was extremely passionate about what was happening at the border. However, I don’t think that anything could have prepared me for what I saw during the week I spent in Tijuana.

After we walked across the border on the second day, we walked straight to the Deported Veterans office.

As a military kid this hit home. Men and women like Hector Lopez, who had served their country, some for more than 15 years, being deported from a country they were willing to give their lives for. Hector Lopez joined the US military in 1982 and after leaving the military he was diagnosed with PTSD and turned to Marajuana as a way to self medicate. Instead of getting desperately-needed help, he was sent to Mexico, a country he had no real recollection

THIS TRIP TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF AND IT ALSO GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE INJUSTICE FIRST HAND AND IT PUT A FACE TO THE INJUSTICE.

46 ELEVATE OP-EDS

of. He had to leave his wife and children behind.

After many years his wife moved to Mexico to be with him. Hearing his story was the first time I cried during the trip; it would not be the last. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness and anger that accompanied me most of the rest of the week.

We next traveled to a women’s and children’s shelter in the city run by a Catholic nun. Most of the women here have fled violence in Central America or southern Mexico and are waiting for their asylum hearings. There, I met two women with whom I spent hours talking about their stories. I found the story of one of the young women particularly upsetting.

A teacher and professor dedicated to teaching children with special needs, Aida is now fleeing Venezuela because of the current political and economic struggles, living at a shelter in Tijuana while seeking asylum. She has nowhere else to go. The feeling of displacement—of having one’s entire life uprooted and not knowing what to do--that she lives with constantly is beyond my comprehension. Talking to these women made me realize my privilege. I have won the birth lottery.

Recognizing my privilege has long been something I have been aware of, but I was abruptly confronted with it again in that moment.

Throughout the next week I found myself repeatedly challenged by this privilege. When we went to the border and planted carrots in Friendship Park,or when we said Mass across a wall, or when were were serving breakfast a food bank just before getting on the airplane to come home. My paper due the next day seemed to be much less important. That fight that I had with my best friend no longer was the end of the world.

Seeing that trauma put a lot of what my life looks like into perspective.

We also became quite close with Carla and her son Kenneth, friends of our host family and so they stayed with us during much of our time in Tijuana. Carla had applied for asylum and was deported back to Honduras. She had spent the summer making her way back to Mexico. In Tijuana, I was able to spend a lot of time with her son, Kenneth, six years old and full of energy. He

wanted to help and to be a part of whatever we were doing. For me, he signified hope in a situation that seemed hopeless. Honestly how someone can look at him and decide that he isn’t worth saving is saddening, but that is part of the problem, they don’t look at him. They don’t sit and eat tacos with him or play in the water fountain at the museum with him. Society has found a way to take away his humanity through the immigration process.

He deserves more than that, everyone deserves more than that.

This trip taught me so much about myself and it also gave me an opportunity to see injustice first hand and it put a face to the injustice. People are no longer migrants, they are Kenneth, they are no longer veterans hat have been deported, they are Hector, they are no longer displaced women, that are Aida.

Pope Francis said, “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women, and men who leave or are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more.” As a church we are called to treat everyone with the dignity and respect that they deserve. God calls us to seek out injustice and to stop it. This trip taught me to do just that. It taught me how to be a changemaker within my community, and the importance of recognizing the dignity that each of us have.

STEPPING OVER STANDARDS IN 2018, NAVY SEALS ALERTED MILITARY OFFICIALS THAT THEY SAW THEIR SPECIAL OPERATIONS CHIEF, EDWARD GALLAGHER, TAKE OUT A HANDMADE HUNTING KNIFE AND STAB A CAPTURED ISIS TEENAGER TO DEATH WHILE ON DEPLOYMENT IN MOSUL, IRAQ. Chief Petty

Officer Gallagher was tried in a military court-martial, where several of his platoon-mates testified against him.

After a two-week trial in 2019, Gallagher was acquitted of murder, attempted murder, and obstruction of justice.

However, he was convicted of posing for a photo with the dead captive and was ordered to be demoted one rank.

While Gallagher was acquitted, the controversy surrounding his case was just beginning. Over the course of the initial investigation, Navy officials discovered alarming new information on how Chief Gallagher had violated regulations during his SEAL career. They found a live training grenade in his personal garage and uncovered text messages revealing his use of narcotics with other SEALs. Over 150 SEALs have had their Trident pins, signifying their SEAL membership, taken away for similar violations since 2011. To maintain consistency, Navy brass sought his removal from the SEALs. This military justice, aimed at maintaining

WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS WRONG IN PROTECTING EDDIE GALLAGHER

BY RYAN TIERNEY ‘20

accountability and professionalism within the armed forces, would have likely gone forward unimpeded, if it weren’t for one man: Donald J. Trump.

From its onset, Gallagher’s trial received, as former Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer described, “shocking and unprecedented interference” from President Trump. The Commander-in-Chief tweeted countless messages of support for Gallagher, used his executive power to reverse Gallagher’s demotion, and, most recently, halted the Pentagon and the Department of the Navy from expelling Gallagher from the Navy SEALs. This final action brought about turmoil within the higher-ups of the Navy, prompting Richard Spencer to publicly express his displeasure with President Trump’s decision. The next day, he was forced by the Pentagon to resign.

Trump and many of his supporters (including Gallagher himself) have argued that his protection of Gallagher demonstrates his commitment to the military and its “real warfighters.” Those who are not as sympathetic to Gallagher’s case, they argue, are “enemies of the people.”

True respect and commitment to the military is not a bad thing. However, in Trump’s case, his respect is rooted in dangerous thinking: that the military can do no wrong… that the military is a privileged class of people

who are beyond reproach. He, like many right-wing politicians and media outlets, hide behind the American flag and try to desensitize the U.S. public to warcrimes, arguing that they are just “part of the mission.”

A perfect example comes from the early 2000s, when it was revealed that the CIA had waterboarded prisoners and convicted Islamic extremists at Guantanamo Bay. Conservative pundits (and Donald Trump himself) defended this form of “enhanced interrogation,” despite it being classified as “suffocative torture” by Amnesty International.

The fact is, what makes the military great is not that it is the best force of, as President Trump says, “killing machines” in the world. What makes the U.S military great are the high standards of ethics and conduct to which it adheres. This is not to say that the United States doesn’t fall short of this high bar. Gallagher’s actions, the My Lai Massacre, and countless other injustices are a testament to that truth. But the institutions and systems in place within the military, at the very least, help maintain a standard of integrity and professionalism that nearly all servicemen and servicewomen abide by.

In overstepping those institutions, Trump thought he was bolstering the military, but in actuality, he delegitimized its core structure, leaving it weaker as a result.

A THANK YOU LETTER STANDING UP FOR UNHEARD VOICES

BY NOEMIE VITOU ‘21

Dear Shaun King, My name is Noemie. I am a high school student with a profound interest in issues concerning black communities in America. Being a black girl myself, I feel obliged to advocate for the progression of black bodies in America. Your Instagram page and podcast have been a big part of why I am so involved and interested in black rights. I am writing to you because I am inspired by the waves you have made as a civil rights activist, through your use of social media. As someone who gets a lot of their news through social media (and a lot of their outrage), I aspire to use my platform to create change in my community like you have.

I am writing to you as a result of something that has been weighing heavily on my mind: the discrimination black girls and women face when they are being brutalized.

In particular, the way the victims of R. Kelly were/are treated in comparison to the way the victims of Bill Cosby were treated. The reason I chose to analyze these two cases is because both are black men who are in positions of power and using their power to abuse innocent women. The one crucial difference between these two men, is who they chose to abuse; Kelly chose to abuse black women, and the majority of Cosby’s victims were white women. Kelly’s ‘‘pied piper’’ behavior traces back decades, he has been accused of sexually abusing 1 girls as young as fourteen years old, yet

nothing major has happened to take this man down. A great deal of girls and women have had the courage to come forward and speak out about the abuse they have endured under R.Kelly, yet few are listened to. Although these girls finally got the recognition they deserve through the documentary Surviving R. Kelly earlier this year, it seems like no one is talking about it now. Black girls’ cries for help are never recognized by the media or ‘justice’ systems. Along with the injustices presented to the victims of Kelly’s abuse, tons of black girls are being kidnapped, raped, and murdered all across the country without our knowledge. All of this begs the question: would R. Kelly’s victims have been treated differently if they were white?

I chose to analyze this specific case because I feel like it is a more well known case, especially in the black community, of black women’s pain not being taken seriously by American justice systems. I am writing to you, as a black girl, who feels unprotected in America. Someone who feels like her voice, along with the voice of her sisters is often never heard. I am writing to you in hopes that you can use your platform to advocate for black girls and women in this country and hopefully bring light (again) to R. Kelly’s victims.

Thank you for your time, Noemie

OP-EDS ELEVATE 47

ELEVATE OPINIONS

A LETTER FOR ACTION Dear Senator Gardner, I am a student in Aurora. My brothers are students, my sister is a student, my friends are students. My parents are teachers. Being at school is our job. We want to do our job well, society wants us to do our job well, our futures rely on us doing our jobs well, and we want to enjoy doing our job, after all we do it at least thirty-five hours a week. How can we be expected to succeed here, when we are in constant fear of losing our lives?

Gun control is an issue close to my heart for a multitude of reasons, but gun control is an important issue that most Americans care about, both Democrats and Republicans, men and women, children, teens, and adults. But this isn’t just an issue in the United States. Other countries around the world have had this problem, and quickly dealt with it.

1. AFTER THE MARCH SHOOTING IN NEW ZEALAND, WHERE FIFTY-ONE PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND MORE INJURED, SEMI AUTOMATIC WEAPONS WERE BANNED WITHIN A MONTH. There hasn’t been a shooting since. On the OP-EDS & LETTERS TO THE EDITOR are welcome and encouraged, but will only be published if they are accompanied by a name and signature.

Letters should be short and free of “bashing” or obscenity. Letters to the editor do not reflect the views of the RJ Media staff and will be marked on pages designated as such. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for potentially libelous material and length. The staff will not edit letters for punctuation, grammar and usage. Letters with issues will be returned to the submitter for further review.

Contact the RJ Media Editorial Board at rjmedia@ regisjesuit.com or in the RJ Media Lab (PAC-102).

You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram @RJ_Media

48 ELEVATE OP-EDS

OLIVIA BACHMANN ‘20

MORGAN DORAIS ‘21

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

other hand, there have been twenty-two school shootings in the United States this year, where the precious lives of many children and adults were stolen.

2. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF INTENTIONAL DEATHS BY GUNS IN AMERICA IS 36,383.

This rate is “25 times higher than other highincome counties.”

3. I KNOW THAT BY NOT CONTROLLING THIS PROBLEM YOU THINK YOU ARE PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT. But the second amendment simply doesn’t apply to our world today the way it did when it was written. The weapons that existed back then couldn’t take the lives of dozens of people in a matter of seconds. These types of weapons are not necessary for the average person, not even for purposes of self defense.

I know that you have heard the facts and seen the statistics. But have you really understood them?

You need to understand the feeling of a parent sending their kid to school thinking it’s safe and just another day, but never getting to hear their child’s voice again after tragedy has stricken. You need to understand the feeling of post-traumatic

stress disorder, and not being able to get up in the morning and simply go to school. You need to understand the feeling that a lot of American youth feels, the feeling of worthlessness as our government does not care about protecting our lives. You can’t tell me that as a father and a Christian you don’t feel this, that votes and money from the NRA4 are more important than the lives of the citizens of your country.

My school is just miles away from the shootings that took lives at Columbine, Arapahoe, and STEM. THE LACK OF ALARM AND CONCERN FROM OUR STUDENT BODY AND STAFF, SHOULD BE ALARM ENOUGH THAT THIS IS A DIRE PROBLEM. This has been normalized for teenagers, even though it is something no human being should have to experience. We have had our classes canceled because of potential threats. We are losing hours of our education because of this problem that seems to have an obvious answer.

Simply put this is unfair, but it is much more than that. This is not freedom. I sincerely hope that you will reflect on my words and consider gun reform.

Morgan Dorais ‘20

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD BE ONE, TOO

JESUS WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST

Since our freshman year, we are taught about the idea of Ignatian spirituality, God in all things. We learn that encountering Christ in everyone and everything allows us to grow further in relationship with Him. It’s only logical, therefore, that this applies to God’s Earth that He created just for us, an Earth that allows us to experience His love most fully.

In the Bible, God stresses that He wants us to use the land so that we are able to flourish and find the connection between us and it’s creatures. However, Jesus also comments on a phenomenon that is true over two thousand years later: “​I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination” (Jeremiah 2:7).

After all, the koalas are now on the brink of extinction after the devastating Australian wildfires. Half of the Great Barrier Reef is dead as a result of coral bleaching and over-fishing.

Indigenous populations are suffering due to the

exploitation of sacred lands and climate-related immigration. Need I say more?

JESUS WOULD BE QUITE DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT WE HAVE DONE, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. I do believe, however, that God has hope for us to reverse the damage that has already been made and instead restore Earth to its former glory, full of life and love and His image.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 states that “for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Though it may seem like a losing battle, we should fight for climate activism to not only find an immediate solution to these impending problems, but also to inspire everlasting hope and faith in a world that is often disheartening.

I argue that Jesus would be rallying along with activists like Greta Thunberg and holding up signs that say “There is no Planet B” and

“Respect our Mother Earth.” He would be signing petitions to protect our oceans and preserve our national parks. Jesus would even be using a metal straw in order to save the turtles. After all, taking care of the environment is not an invitation of our faith; rather, it is an o​ bligation​of our faith, a faith that sheds light on areas of darkness and holds a mirror to injustice. This type of activism starts with thinking globally but acting locally. Try a vegan meal; use reusable bags; carpool whenever possible. You can even contact your representatives and ask them to vote on bills that support climate advocacy. Whatever it is, know that what you do to protect the Earth ultimately carries out God’s mission for us to “let all the trees of the forest sing for joy” (Psalm 96:12b), to “soar high on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31) , and to “live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18). So what do you have to lose?

ELEVATE STAFF

STAFF EDITORIAL

RJ IS OUR HOME

At Elevate we believe in seeing the good in communities, especially our own.

Amongst all the stress and negativity in life, Regis Jesuit is a haven for hope.

Students work hard to give themselves and their communities a bright future. Regis Jesuit is a place that fosters relationships that will last forever, and creates so many opportunities for students to find their

passions. Regis Jesuit teaches its students more than just academics but also about what it means to be a good person. It is a place where creativity starts and never stops. It is a place that helps students grow. Regis Jesuit gives us the ability to find ourselves in a safe environment where it is ok to make mistakes. Students leave Regis Jesuit every year, but they never

leave the community. The lessons that we learn are lessons that we will take with us forever. Regis Jesuit is a place of love, community, and solidarity. Where we, as a student body, learn to stand together through both the good and the bad. And for us here at Elevate, Regis Jesuit is our home. It’s a home for all of us and we are one big family.

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MAGAZINE

The Varsity Field Hockey team had the best season record in the history of the program this year with fifteen wins, two ties, and two losses. Field hockey is a dynamic team sport, coached by Spencer Wagner, Ali Meehan, Leah Malm, and Sarah Tartell.