Issue 9

Don’t You

FORGET About Me

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NW PASSAGE May 11, 2018 | Vol. 49

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Issue 09 | May 11, 2018 SENIOR MAGAZINE

SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: CADENCE ELDER & JACK LYNCH COPY EDITORS: SAMANTHA JOSLIN & ASHER NORBERG DESIGN EDITOR: RACHEL ALBERS PHOTO EDITOR: MADELINE MANNING ADS MANAGER: WILLIAM GROSS STAFF WRITER: ANASTASIA KLING STAFF DESIGNERS: KENNADY BUSTAMANTE & GRACE ROEDER

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Influential Seniors Ten students were chosen by the Class of 2018

Final Words

Seniors look back on their years at Northwest

A New Chapter

Four faculty members wrap up their last year here

STAFF: PUBLICATION OVERSIGHT: Editors-in-Chief Online Managing Editor

Cadence Elder & Jack Lynch Annalissa Houser

CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Design Editor Copy Editors Photo Editors Ads Manager

Rachel Albers Asher Norberg & Samantha Joslin Erin Henton & Madeline Manning William Gross

OUR PURPOSE: The purpose of the Northwest Passage is to relay important and interesting information to the community, administration and students of the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

As a newsmagazine, the Northwest Passage will cater to the interests and concerns of the student body. Outside concerns and activities will only be covered if they somehow affect the school or students. The Northwest Passage is a 16-page

02 May 11, 2018 | Senior Magazine

STAFF DESIGNERS:

STAFF WRITERS:

Erin Albers Kennady Bustmanate Rylee Garrett Kasi Maniktala Alden Norberg Grace Roeder

Jake Ditto Rory Dungan Anastasia Kling Kate Lawrence Nick Lorino

Sonni Meyers Sam Rice Cate Taggart

ADVISERS: Adviser Assistant Adviser

newsmagazine. The paper will be distributed every four weeks during fourth hour. Subscriptions will be available to the community for $25. The Northwest Passage firmly supports the First Amendment and opposes censorship. The content of the newspaper will be determined and created by the entire staff. When questions concerning word choice, legal problems or ethics arise, the editorial board and adviser will discuss

Susan Massy Wes Mikel

the problem to find the solution. In these cases, the editorin-chief and editorial board will have the say in all decisions.

Letters to the editor will be accepted and encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit for grammatical mistakes, length and good taste. Letters may attack policy but not people. In no way will ideas or viewpoints be changed. The editor-in-chief and editorial board reserve the right to refuse any letter.

Expose Yourself

Seeing Through a Different Lens

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

Make the most of your time at Northwest +ASHER NORBERG

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s a senior, I am automatically assumed to be a spring of knowledge from which you can drink. Northwest has taught me many things, some not appropriate to include in a column.

But the most important thing that this school has taught me is that experience is the most valuable form of education. Exposing yourself to as many cultures and ways of life as possible is the only way to achieve a well-rounded education and worldview. Growing up in the Johnson County bubble, we often forget that there is an entire world that exists outside of Shawnee. It is crucial that we make an effort to view the world from a global perspective. And as the American economy becomes increasingly globalized, it is more important than ever to not be left behind.

High school is not just about the learning that happens in the classroom: it is a time to figure out who you are and your place in the world. When I was a freshman, I remember thinking about high school as a temporary waiting period before I would become an adult and head off to college and start my “real life.”

Looking back, I see how wrong I was. Your “real life” starts when you are born.

High school is not a waiting period. It is the time to experiment and make huge mistakes.

Read a book. Start a club. Eat a vegetable.

Explore your sexuality. Being a high school student gives you a free pass to do basically whatever you want within reasonable bounds.

Public schools bless us with our Constitutional rights, something that private school kids cannot claim. As NW students, we keep our rights when we walk in the door and we should exercise them whenever we can. Stand up for things you believe in and speak out against things you don’t. You will not gain anything from staying in your comfort zone except for maybe a false sense of security. Exposing yourself is the best way to gain knowledge.

Pushing boundaries is the best way to grow, and Northwest gives everyone ample opportunity to do that.

03 May 11, 2018 | Senior Magazine

+ PHOTO BY GRACE ROEDER

How I change manual settings throughout +MADELINE MANNING my life

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s I picked up my first DSLR camera at the beginning of my sophomore year, I didn’t understand just how much it was going to change me. I didn’t realize the power of photography, color and perception. It may seem simple, but those small buttons and dials on a camera soon became clockwork throughout my years here at Northwest.

When shooting, I have the power to change settings like ISO, aperture and shutter speed. By changing these three settings, I have all the power to create a photo exactly the way I want it to look.

First is aperture. Aperture determines how out of focus the photo’s background will be. From these three years of shooting, my eyes have adjusted to a low aperture. A low aperture blurs the background and focuses on the main subject. When I look at my future, I see only the next step, not the miles I have left. Aperture, most importantly, helped me focus on love. When looking at the people I love, I am able to see them most of all, and blur everything that is not a necessity to the overall image. When lowering my aperture, my intentions will always be on the most important piece of the photo. It allows me to focus on the good and see the love I am given.

My biggest regret during high school was taking things for granted. I let perfect moments pass without giving them a second thought. Shutter speed determines how fast the camera will shoot.

A fast shutter speed gives the photo crisp focus. Shutter speed helps me capture the moments I let go by. It helps slow time down when it seems to be going all too fast. Shutter speed captured my Grandma Margie’s time on earth before August 31, the moment Nate unexpectedly told me he had loved me for a whole year on May 13 and every imperative moment in between. It keeps these memories sharp, even though I may not have known the impact of the event at the time. While we live on, shutter speed takes us back to the good times.

We’ll end with the easiest of all: ISO. This is a small setting on your camera that can add light to the image. I believe we are not able to choose what lighting we are given in our time here on earth, but we can choose how much light we want to put in it. We have the opportunity to determine how high our ISO can be. No matter how dark the NW gym is or how low we can get in life, we have the option to add our own light to the image. No matter how artificial it may be, the light will help our end result be brighter.

As a photographer, I can’t control what situation, light or moment I’m given. As a person, I can’t do this either. Before I understood how to control my end result, accepting this matter hurt. It tore me apart knowing I couldn’t keep somebody alive, have my college tuition paid for or simply control how I looked, but the list goes on. I had to learn that we can’t determine where we came from, but only where we go from there. I will always remember I just have to keep my shutter speed fast, aperture low and ISO high.

Remember the Love

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

I won’t miss high school, but the people I met along the way will have an impact +RACHEL ALBERS on me forever

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’m not going to miss my alarm going off at 6:30 a.m. five days a week. I am not going to miss sitting in a desk too small for my laptop for seven hours straight. I’m not going to miss the fear of failure and judgement as I walk into math class. I’m not going to miss the idea of not succeeding because my ACT score wasn’t high enough. I am definitely not going to miss high school.

What I am going to miss is eating chocolate croissants with Maddie Munsey whenever I wanted to. I’ll miss driving around rapping “Booty Me Down” with Kennady Bustamante and Maddy Manning until the sun rises, and the feeling of being crowned Homecoming queen first runner-up on my birthday. What I will miss is going to a party and finding someone who stole my heart during a game of Go Fish or finding a group of friends who make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I’ll miss being a part of an award-winning publication and discovering some of the best people I’ve ever met. I will miss Jan Berg: the woman who taught me everything I know, the adviser who helped me decide my future and the most influential teacher of my high school career. I will miss the feeling of having a family away from home. You, the students of Northwest, have left an impact on my life.

This is what I am going to miss about Shawnee Mission Northwest — not the classes, the anxiety or the stress, but the people who have changed my life for the better. It’s hard saying goodbye to hundreds of people I will probably never see again, but I went through this kind of heartache before when both my boyfriend and one of my best friends headed to college as I headed into my senior year. I got through it and became a stronger person as a result. As I walk out of the mall doors for the last time, I will remember the moments I shared with all of you. I will remember the laughs and the tears, but, most of all, I will remember the love I have for the people of this school.

The Burning Realization

Staying Busy

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

Senior year, I decided to chase my dreams of becoming a firefighter

Extracurriculars are a must in high school and college

+ANASTASIA KLING

+MATTHEW OWENS

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Friday night lights are the quintessential high school experience. Watching the team run out on the field and prepare for the battle that will take place on the 100 yards of green turf is an awe-inspiring event. For most, there are two places a student will be: in the student section or on the field.

Me? I am towering over the stadium reading the opening line: “Welcome ladies and gentlemen, this is Cougar football.”

When we enter high school planning to attend a top university, we are told a couple of things: high GPA, a plethora of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes and an ACT score that is at least Eric Hosmer’s number will get us into the college of our dreams, along with uncontrollable factors that can help or hurt admission rates. Colleges want professional students.

In today’s society, we value a person who can memorize facts over someone who can communicate well, or one who can fill their essays with useless words over someone who has mastered a trade skill. Career Technical Student Organizations provide the necessary skills needed to succeed in multitude of job fields, ranging from business to teaching to medicine to technology services. Sadly, these skills are not valued as highly in college applications as test scores are.

Extracurriculars in high school have been the my most valuable experience. It is not what you do from 7:40 to 2:40 that you will remember long after walking across the graduation stage. I will remember the BPA trips, the connections I made working on the newspaper and the sports I was able to broadcast. It is no surprise that Fortune 500 companies sponsor these organizations, as they see their many benefits; in my opinion, colleges have not fully realized the potential of these groups.

After high school, it is not what you know, but who you know. I have known peers who have received job offers by meeting people through these groups or different publications. You never know if you will meet the next Peter Thiel, Elon Musk or anyone who will be able to help out in your job search. Instead of building your college application by joining activities, now these college extracurriculars will strengthen your job resumé along with networking, the most influential part of college.

On the other hand, when it comes to college admissions, I do not think extracurriculars are regarded as highly as they should be. The main factors are ACT score, GPA and other uncontrollable aspects of a person and their family life. For now, what is on most people’s minds is getting in, and I know for me personally, I wouldn’t change what I did in high school just to fit the mold as a professional student. Instead, I was able to be a part of organizations which will help me in the career field by building relationships or learning valuable traits instead of staying in my room with an ACT study book in front of me.

n the first day of freshman year, I walked through the halls of Northwest like every other student. Back then, I did not have any aspirations for my future. Senior year, that all changed when I enrolled in the Fire Science class at Broadmoor Technical Center. I have always had the desire to help people. If it was not for my Fire Science teacher Ed Morrison and my grandfather, I would have never realized that I wanted to become a firefighter. My grandpa became a volunteer firefighter for the Shawnee Fire department when he was 19. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) when he was 23 years old; even with a disease that was killing him, he was saving others from being killed.

I never expected to find a career, let alone a passion for my life, while I was in high school. I want to become a fire medic and eventually an arson investigator. Morrison showed me that I am capable of following my dreams, even if the stereotypical firefighter is male. I enrolled in the Blue Eagle Fire Science program, and have been striving for greatness since. Being one of the two girls in the class can be challenging, but I believe that anything a boy can do, a girl can do as well. I may not lift weights and have broad shoulders, but I am just as strong as the guys.

At Northwest, Fire Science One and Two have given me a jumpstart on the college fire science classes that my future classmates will not have. At the beginning of the year, I was assigned a locker with a bunker coat, bunker pants, boots, a helmet and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The fire science teaching system is made up of evolutions, which are testing situations that firefighters encounter in the real world. During one evolution in which we had to suit up in bunker gear in 60 seconds, I finished in 30.6 seconds. Every new thing we do is training me to be a firefighter, whether that is looking for our bunker gear blindfolded, saving someone whose Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) is going off and you have to listen for the sound of their device to rescue them, or crawling through a ventilation shaft built by students. I am constantly learning and obtaining new information every day. What I love most about this job is that no day at work will ever be the same.

My grandfather is who I look up to, and although he may not be here on Earth with me, I do feel closer to him than I could have ever imagined. He struggled for almost 40 years with MS but never let it get him down. He was the strongest person I knew and I will keep striving to make him proud. High school taught me that you may have to wake up at 7 a.m., but if you find something that you are passionate about, you can make it worth your while. I want to make my grandfather proud of the woman I will become and show him that all of the pain he went through helped me become stronger.

04 May 11, 2018 | Senior Magazine

Keep your head up and your heart big

Turning the Page

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

Learning to cope with the loss of someone who was taken too soon

The biggest influence on my life thus far as been literature

+ BY GRACE ROEDER AND KENNADY BUSTAMANTE

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Aug 29, 2018.

As teenagers and young adults, we think we are invincible. Earlier this year, we learned that we are not as invincible as we think. On August 29, we realized that the life we are given is a very delicate and fragile gift. That day, we received the news that our friend Haylei Jo Bell had passed away in a car accident earlier that morning. That night, we played our first varsity game. At that game, the crowd took a moment of silence to honor Haylei. In that moment, it hit us that her death was real. Denial was no longer an option for us. We then played the game that night in her honor.

We were blessed to be close with both her and the rest of the Bell family for about four years. We got to know her through the volleyball team we both played on, and that her mother, Cristi Bell, coached.

We had never met anyone like Haylei before. She saw the best in people and lived freely. She was outspoken and kind to us, even though at one point, we were on the opposite side of the court playing against her. We were always laughing and telling each other the strangest of jokes. Practices and games

05 May 11, 2018 | Senior Magazine

were times of laughter and bonding. Haylei was a spunky, outspoken, competitive, and loving young woman. To know Haylei was to love her. We know for a fact that we will never meet a soul like hers for the rest of our lives.

Haylei taught us to embrace, love and be ourselves, and that life is never something to take for granted. There are so many things to say about Haylei, but we just cannot do her justice with our words. We often wonder what we would have told her or spoken to her about if we had gotten to talk to her one last time.

Her life was a bright shining spot in our lives and it is going to be a hard spot to fill. On the court, we will always miss her attitude and love for the game. Playing next to Haylei was a blessing and a privilege that we will sadly not have again. Death is a very challenging concept for us both; Haylei was a young girl and her passing was very untimely. Haylei’s passing for us was a struggle that we had to help each other overcome.

But again, life is a fragile, unpredictable and hard gift to accept sometimes. We will never forget the impact she had on our lives and we cannot wait to see her again.

+SAMANTHA JOSLIN or most of my life, I didn’t have many friends.

Instead of playing with my peers during recess in elementary school, meeting new people at lunch during middle school or attending Friday-night parties in high school, I did the one thing I truly loved — I read.

Literature has a funny way of making you realize you’re not alone. F. Scott Fitzgerald has a quote that sums up everything I have to say about reading: “That is part of the beauty of literature.

You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.”

My mom always told me to choose my friends wisely because they would influence who I became. But I didn’t have friends. I had books. I had characters.

When I came into high school, my literature tastes had coalesced into one single obsession: teen dystopian books with the same carbon-copied heroines who are outspoken, brave and always looking for love, even when they’re running from monsters or trying to save the world. But just because this archetype is overused does not mean that these strong, courageous female leads didn’t have something to teach me.

I learned that speaking up and finding love couldn’t possibly be as scary in this world as it was for my favorite characters in theirs — when they were up against villains and monsters and I was just a teen going to school.

High school became a mix of required and casual reading, but somehow both of these genres taught me the same thing: there are other people exactly like me in the world. Nothing about my tumultuous high school experience was unique, something I learned from characters like

Holden Caulfield and the stunning casts of The Raven Cycle series and A Separate Peace. For someone who had never been able to connect with anyone I could relate to, this was exceptionally important. I realized that high school wasn’t just a necessary evil, but a setting — a place for a story to begin.

As college looms closer and time continues to tick incessantly forward, I feel more and more pressured to bypass the adolescent fiction section in Barnes and Noble and peruse the shelves of what I’ve always called “adult fiction.” But no matter how many “adult” books I try, I just end up bored.

My mom told me to be careful about who I surrounded myself with because they would help form who I became. That’s why I spend hours in Half Price Books scanning the children’s clearance section for my next escape, ignoring the books that bore me. There’s no doubt that people change every year of high school.

The only unique thing is what changes us.

Books and reading made me who I am — they formed my imagination, my ideals and my personality in the same way that a group of friends would have. These past couple of years, I grew up. I made friends.

But although they might come and go, my love for reading will never fade.

I don’t want to become an adult yet, which might just be me trying to put a cover on real life. But even though life is forcing me to grow up and accept adult responsibility, I can keep reading the peculiar, imaginative books in the children’s section of every bookstore and the outlandish but relatable, romantic but action-packed books in the teen section. These are the books that shaped who I am as a person, and I don’t want to let them go just yet.

Closing Time

Just Curious

Transition to the Real World

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

+ PHOTO BY MADELINE MANNING

Time for us to go out and look back one last time

I do not always have to be a journalist to continue to use my words to speak out

Why high school is just a string of learning experiences

+JACK LYNCH

+CADENCE ELDER

+WILLIAM GROSS

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have more regrets than I can count. I’m not saying I didn’t have a good four years, but I do wish I had done more.

I did a lot in high school. Newspaper, Categories, Debate, Poetry Slam, Quidditch Club and Cougar Community Commitment (CCC) are all things that I am glad I tried — but I should have done more.

I should have tried out for that play.

Should have gone out for tennis. Joined photojournalism.

Regret is a recurring theme for a lot of students their senior year. So are optimism and fear. On April 20, I said that we had 15 school days left, and two people cried. I wasn’t sad then. I didn’t have a breakdown that day, but I did a few times before.

February of this year, I went to my fifth hour English class. Mr. Pabst was talking about his life, our lives, college. You know, simple stuff. Even though he was trying to reassure us, I left class feeling worse.

After school that day, I went to see him and we talked for 45 minutes. We talked about life, his college decision and my own.

Then Dr. Winston showed up, and we talked about education for the sake of itself. And I still felt terrible, scared of the future and the possibilities it will bring.

But I felt a little better.

So, I leave you with this: you do you.

Be passionate. Try new things. You can only ever ponder what could have been if you don’t figure it out for yourself. Don’t worry about how this helps you meet graduation requirements or how that fits into your parent’s plan for you.

Too often we worry about the future, echoing the interrogations of adults: how will I get into college? How will I afford it? What do I want to do with my life? How do I justify what I want to do? And too often we reject the only answer we ought to: because.

Because it makes you happy. Because you are passionate.

This is the only life we get, so make the most of it. Go out past curfew, play your music too loud, wear what you want to wear.

Live your life. Live it free from judgement, free from fear. Live proud. Live free.

06 May 11, 2018 | Senior Magazine

alking into the journalism room for the first time felt like walking into someone else’s house. Books, lunch boxes and jackets were piled around the room. The back room was filled with posters and pictures of good times and inside jokes. You could walk into room 151 any time of the day and find familiar faces eating lunch, or photographers editing photos when they should have been eating lunch themselves. Even hours after the 2:40 p.m. bell rang, there would be people putting final touches on designs as the clock ticked toward deadline. I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of the chaos and magic that was 151.

I had grown up curious about the world around me and the universe that stretched even further. I began to care deeply about the environment at a young age and imagined how I could step in and create change. My elementary school book reports were always about strong, independent women changing the world, and I wondered how I could be one of them. I had a voice and wanted to know how to use it.

Room 151 became the space that I would not only write about challenging topics, but also meet the most interesting people along the way. There is nothing better than telling the story of someone who walks past me every day in the hallway and finding that she aspires to be an immigration lawyer so that her grandparents can come to the United States.

I learned words — my words — have so much power.

Being a journalist is not just who I am in 151, but in every aspect of my life. I feel a pull to learn about people because everyone has a story and it is my job to tell it, or at least listen. I use journalism as I stand in the Starbucks drivethrough passing out drinks: when I meet a woman who visits Shawnee Mission Park to race her kayak each week with friends, or the man who suffered from cataracts at a young age and cannot read our menu clearly.

I see stories in the children who I work with at Little Sprouts Montessori Preschool when they show me how to properly pick rainbow chard from their garden. I am curious enough to ask the tattoo artist sketching on my arm what all of his ink means and find out about his time in prison as we sing Johnny Cash songs together. It’s in the trees my father and I used to gaze upon in the afternoon sun. These moments led me to ask questions about plants, their impact on the environment and finally my desire to study them. I am in awe of the world and the people around me. I want to know more, and I want to tell their stories.

Being a journalist means being curious and finding the words to stand up and speak out for what you believe in.

Even though I will no longer be surrounded by the walls of 151 ‘till 10 p.m., I will never lose the voice I found in there.

ello there. How are you doing? Good, great. My name’s Will — William James Gross III, minus the III. Anyway, I am your typical straight, white, suburban boy. I was a bit of a roller coaster in the NW media program, bouncing around from position to position: editor, videographer, actor, writer, designer and, finally, ads manager.

Newspaper became a big chunk of my NW experience after a series of unfortunate events, and I learned a lot.

I learned how to write like Capote, film like Kubrick, present like Cronkite and design like some famous graphic designer (obviously to a lesser degree). The only thing I did not learn was how to blow stuff up like Michael Bay. Luckily, I have some rocket science friends that can give me a crash course if I desire to learn. So thank you, media, and, especially, thank you newspaper, for the learning experience.

I know a lot of people who float through high school. They either get caught up in the social hierarchy, stick to a meaningless activity or forget to smell the roses once they leave the classroom. In the 21st century, we all get so caught up in our limitless education that we don’t realize what’s actually important. It is not academic obsessions, snapchat addictions or thoughtless dedications. It’s your own perspective. And, when we all leave, things will be put into perspective, for better or worse. Newspaper gave me a perspective I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

I learned about economic policies, personal psychology, medical anomalies and soundcloud rappers. I interviewed activists, athletes, singers, writers, fashion designers and crazy people. I wrote people’s thoughts, designed people’s visions and made some people angry along the way. And, even in the bubble of the high school social experiment, I found some purpose. So, thanks for that, newspaper.

And when the bubble pops on graduation day, I hope I’ll have enough perspective for the real world. The beautiful, terrifying, euphoric, unfair, wonderful and crazy real world. We’ll see how it goes.

CLASS OF 2018

Influential seniors

ERIC MAXON Q: What have you done in high school that are you most proud of?

A: One was making state for cross country, both sophomore and junior year. Two would be making seminar shows for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Q: Who would you like to thank?

A: I would like to thank my mom for being a constant example of an influential person; she shows me how she goes about things in her daily life and it makes me want to act just like her in mine.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: To think for yourself and not be afraid to do your own thing, even if it means going against the crowd.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: To be in the United States Air Force as a special ops aircraft mechanic.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: Well, I’ve grown a beard. And my voice has gotten deeper.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: I feel like during my time here at Northwest, I have met a wide range of people and I’ll miss seeing their faces every day.

Q: Who is your most influential teacher?

A: Mr. Dent. I’ve spent so much time with him and he’s always shown me that I should not sugarcoat things and that I should tell them how it is, and that I will be thankful for it in the long run.

Q: What is your favorite memory of Northwest?

A: After a cross country practice, Michael Scott and I were debating whether or not to walk through the halls of Northwest in just our underwear. Long story short, we did it.

PORTER VOLK Q: How does being an influential senior make you feel?

A: I’m honored. I really am — I’ve always wanted to be influential for other people and, you know, now that the title is official, I’m especially excited about it.

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

A: People won’t remember me well. I am not entirely concerned with leaving a legacy. What I would care more about would be my sister and trusting that she continues to represent me and our family well.

Q: Of all the things that you’ve done at Northwest, which defines you the best?

A: Well, I guess I should start with who am I. I think I’ve played my part in defining the standard or status quo for the rest of the school.

I’m mainly Student Council, and my impact there is average. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s taught me life lessons and how to speak in front of people.

Q: What class has been the most impactful to you?

A: I would say honestly senior IB English HL. Probably because Mr. Pabst is, in a word, a persuasive teacher. He has taught me to be more cynical. Actually, that’s a little too harsh. He has given me a cynical perspective, but whether I choose to accept it is up to me. That’s something I really appreciate. He taught me to be a free thinker.

Q: What has been your favorite class at Northwest?

A: My absolute favorite class has been IB Bio, and that seems like an anti-answer because, you know, everyone says, “Oh, IB Bio is a ridiculously hard class. Don’t ever take it.” But it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, just because we all love Mrs. Brewer — she’s super influential to all of us. When you have a good teacher in a subject you’re really passionate about, you can do some great things in the class.

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JACKSON BROGAN Q: How has Northwest changed you?

A: Northwest has completely changed me. I came from private school, so I went to school with the same 45 people. I was used to the same couple of friends and, when I came here, it was just this brand new opportunity of meeting tons of people I’d never seen before.

Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned in high school?

A: Just go for it. A lot of times in life there will be things like ‘maybe I can do that, I don’t know,’ so I’ve learned that if I have something I think might be successful, if I just go for it, that’s better than not trying at all.

Q: What is your favorite memory of high school?

A: Coming on the first day and being absolutely terrified. It actually turned out to be fun.

Q: What is your favorite memory from band?

A: I have two: my first is when we went on the trip to Orlando. We got to march in a parade through Disney World. [Second,] after the marching competitions this year, we would come back to the band room and blast music really loudly on the speakers.

Q: Do you have any favorite moments with Mrs. Snead?

A: Snead is just always hilarious. You just walk in and say something, and she can crack a joke about it. She does not sugarcoat things. It’s funny when she calls people out because she lightens the mood and everyone has fun with it.

Q: How did music become important to you?

A: I’ve played piano since first grade. I actually didn’t like it, but my parents made me keep going. As I got a little older, I joined band.

Music helps me focus. I can [also] make it and share it with people. I play piano and trumpet, plus a little bit of ukulele, bass and drums.

CASSIE GOMER Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

A: I’m most proud of going to state in golf. It’s something I worked really hard toward. Being able to go to state with all the girls on the team was just amazing. I felt so proud of them and myself.

Q: What does it mean to be influential?

A: To me the most influential people in my life are the people I look up to. I find the most influential people in my life know, kind of, what their goal is in life and how to deal with hardship.

Q: Who would you like to thank?

A: I would like to thank my best friends. I have a group of nine best friends and they are the most amazing things that could have ever happened to me. I go to them for everything and I hang out with them every single second I can. I just want to thank them because they have made me who I am today.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: Since freshman year I think I have become more outgoing and less of a brat.

Q: Most influential teacher?

A: The most influential teacher I’ve had is Mrs. Dent. She is amazing and I go to talk to her about anything and everything. She has just taught me how to be kind, care for others and put happiness first.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A:I’m going to Northern Arizona next year to study biology and I hope to come back to the University of Kansas Medical School. I hope to be a medical surgeon or a medical researcher. But the end goal is to travel a lot and make good memories.

NW PASSAGE | feature 09

ALEX RICE Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

A: Probably winning all-state outfield as a junior. In the Sunflower League, they take the top nine guys in the state and make a team.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: My goals since freshman year were to win state and play college baseball. We haven’t won state but I am going to Cloud County [Community College] to play baseball next year.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A: I have no clue.

Q: Who has influenced you the most in your high school career?

A: Probably Mr. Ybarra. He has coached me since I was a freshman in baseball and he’s moved up with us as we went along, up to varsity. He is just a great guy. He is fun to be around.

Q: What is your favorite memory from baseball?

A: Probably last year during regional championships, even though we lost. It was at 3&2 against BV Northwest. It was one of the funnest games we’ve played.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: Probably all of my friends. I’ve been with some of them since first grade, and we are all going our separate ways next year.

GIA VARGAS Q: What activity best defines your time at Northwest?

A: There’s so many but I would say Student Council and cheerleading are my top things that I’m involved in. I’ve been doing cheerleading for three years and I absolutely loved it. I keep growing every time, and figuring out that I can learn new skills and just be more confident in myself. Student Council has just helped my leadership skills grow.

Talking to the underclassmen and helping them figure out what they want to do in high school and just being that older sister for them has been pretty fun.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: I was so shy freshman year, I didn’t want to talk to anybody.

Now, I can go up to a random person and just say, ‘hi’ and have a conversation, and I wouldn’t be scared or anything. I just want to make people feel welcomed at Northwest.

Q: What are your plans after college?

A: I want to pursue computer science and work in cyber security like my dad. It’s just making sure that companies have their security set up so hackers can’t get in.

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

A: Treat others like you want to be treated. I will always ask how everybody’s day is going and just be kind to others because you don’t know what they’re going through. I know as a freshman, I wanted someone to look out for me and just say, ‘hey how are you?’ It’s so good to not think about yourself all the time.

Q: What was your greatest success in high school?

A: I’ve definitely found myself in high school. I think that’s a great achievement because I was very lost freshman year. I didn’t know what friend group to be in or what classes I wanted to take, but now I would say I know what I want to do in life.

10 May 11, 2018 | vol. 49

PIPER SCHUERMAN Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

A: Becoming photo editor for the yearbook was a big one. Last year, I was swim team captain and we made it to state, and I qualified individually for state. I went to Holy Trinity Catholic School and I didn’t know anyone when I got here, so I’m most proud of all of the friends that I have made because I went from nothing to some of the best people ever.

Q: How has photography helped you face difficult situations?

A: Photography has helped me see the beauty in things. I mainly do portrait photography, and I really like it because I get to look for the best in someone. I get to describe their life in a photo.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: Thank you for being a good home for me for the past four years.

I feel like I’m not necessarily close to everyone, but the people I encounter every day, even if they’re not my best friends, made my high school experience what it is.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: All of the friendly faces. In every class that I went to, I didn’t ever not know anyone. Even if I started off the year not knowing very many people in the class, I feel that I made friends really quickly. People are all so friendly, and they want to tell you about themselves.

Q: What was your best memory from Northwest?

A: So, I was on WPA court and, after we walked at the assembly, I had a bunch of people come up to take pictures with me and, all of sudden, it was like all of my closest friends were there. We were just doing one big group hug. It was a really simple thing, but it was just like, ‘I’m so loved and I love all these people so much.’ It was just really cool.

RACHEL ALBERS Q: What activity do you do that best defines your time at Northwest?

A: Being design editor for the NW Passage and an advanced graphic design manager. I get to put all of my crazy and turn it into something beautiful.

Q: What is your favorite day at Northwest?

A: My favorite day at Northwest would be the senior homecoming parade. It was filled with an intense amount of emotion and not only did I get the chance of being in the parade, but also getting crowned first runner up all on my 18th birthday.

Q: Who would you like to thank?

A: I would like to thank my little sister Erin, Maddie Munsey, Maddy Manning, Shelby Beaumont, Halli Said, Asher Norberg, Taryn Smith, Cadie Elder, 10 Bens, Will Gross, Lilly Blecha and Drew Vander Leest for getting me through high school.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: Do whatever you want, but you better be doing it passionately.

Q: Who was your most influential teacher?

A: The most influential teacher in my high school career is without a doubt the amazing Jan Berg. She has inspired me in more ways than I could ever imagine, and it is because of her that I am the woman I am today.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: I’m attending KU and majoring in visual communications and advertising.

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

MICHELLE BANKS Q: What is your biggest goal in life?

A: My goals in life are to have fun, do my best and not to worry about tomorrow and only worry about where I am today.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: As much as I say I don’t like my sister, I will miss going to school with her. I will miss seeing my friends every day and I will miss the nice teachers, like the Dents and Mrs. Demke.

Q: What is the most important lesson you learned in high school?

A: People change and you change, but don’t focus so much on the change — focus on the good you can do from the change.

Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind?

A: I want people to know that I’m a very kind, caring person: if you’re sad, I’m there to make you feel better; I’ll make you laugh, and if you need a hug my arms are open.

Q: What activity best defines you and your time at Northwest?

A: Freshman year, I made these weird music videos with my sister. I think that defines me because they were meant to be serious, but fun.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A: I see myself graduating from college, having my masters degree in social work, working on the weekdays and going to a karaoke bar on the weekends.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: My goals as a freshman were to make new friends and get good grades, and my goals now are to make new friends and not stress so much over assignments.

MOLLY BORN Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?

A: I’m most proud of my team and being able to compete with them at the state meet several times over the past four years.

Q: Who are your role models?

A: Coach Rose. He’s such a kind person, and he’s been such a great role model. He’s taught me a lot about running and shares a love for distance running with me.

Q: Tell us about being involved in cross country and track.

A: Participating in cross country and track has been the single greatest [experience] of high school. I’ve met so many people and shared a lot of memories. I was able to work hard with my teammates to create goals and achieve them.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: I’ve grown a lot since freshman year, from coming into the program knowing nothing about running really and now having so many new friends and more experiences has been great.

Q: How have cross country and track helped to prepare you for the future?

A: It has taught me the value of working hard and let me experience so many new things. It’s really going to pay off later in life.

Q: Who has been your most influential teacher at Northwest?

A: Coach Rose. He’s taught us all we know about running. After bad races, he’s the only person I want to talk to. He always knows the exact right thing to say to make me feel better.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: Thank you for following my running so much. It means a lot to have people so into a sport like distance running.

12 May 11, 2018 | vol. 49

ERIC MAXON Q: What have you done in high school that are you most proud of?

A: One was making state for cross country, both sophomore and junior year. Two would be making seminar shows for everyone to watch and enjoy.

Q: Who would you like to thank?

A: I would like to thank my mom for being a constant example of an influential person; she shows me how she goes about things in her daily life and it makes me want to act just like her in mine.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: To think for yourself and not be afraid to do your own thing, even if it means going against the crowd.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: To be in the United States Air Force as a special ops aircraft mechanic.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: Well, I’ve grown a beard. And my voice has gotten deeper.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: I feel like during my time here at Northwest, I have met a wide range of people and I’ll miss seeing their faces every day.

Q: Who is your most influential teacher?

A: Mr. Dent. I’ve spent so much time with him and he’s always shown me that I should not sugarcoat things and that I should tell them how it is, and that I will be thankful for it in the long run.

Q: What is your favorite memory of Northwest?

A: After a cross country practice, Michael Scott and I were debating whether or not to walk through the halls of Northwest in just our underwear. Long story short, we did it.

PORTER VOLK Q: How does being an influential senior make you feel?

A: I’m honored. I really am — I’ve always wanted to be influential for other people and, you know, now that the title is official, I’m especially excited about it.

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

A: People won’t remember me well. I am not entirely concerned with leaving a legacy. What I would care more about would be my sister and trusting that she continues to represent me and our family well.

Q: Of all the things that you’ve done at Northwest, which defines you the best?

A: Well, I guess I should start with who am I. I think I’ve played my part in defining the standard or status quo for the rest of the school.

I’m mainly Student Council, and my impact there is average. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s taught me life lessons and how to speak in front of people.

Q: What class has been the most impactful to you?

A: I would say honestly senior IB English HL. Probably because Mr. Pabst is, in a word, a persuasive teacher. He has taught me to be more cynical. Actually, that’s a little too harsh. He has given me a cynical perspective, but whether I choose to accept it is up to me. That’s something I really appreciate. He taught me to be a free thinker.

Q: What has been your favorite class at Northwest?

A: My absolute favorite class has been IB Bio, and that seems like an anti-answer because, you know, everyone says, “Oh, IB Bio is a ridiculously hard class. Don’t ever take it.” But it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, just because we all love Mrs. Brewer — she’s super influential to all of us. When you have a good teacher in a subject you’re really passionate about, you can do some great things in the class.

08 May 11, 2018 | vol. 49

JACKSON BROGAN

Q: How has Northwest changed you?

A: Northwest has completely changed me. I came from private school, so I went to school with the same 45 people. I was used to the same couple of friends and, when I came here, it was just this brand new opportunity of meeting tons of people I’d never seen before.

Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned in high school?

A: Just go for it. A lot of times in life there will be things like ‘maybe I can do that, I don’t know,’ so I’ve learned that if I have something I think might be successful, if I just go for it, that’s better than not trying at all.

Q: What is your favorite memory of high school?

A: Coming on the first day and being absolutely terrified. It actually turned out to be fun.

Q: What is your favorite memory from band?

A: I have two: my first is when we went on the trip to Orlando. We got to march in a parade through Disney World. [Second,] after the marching competitions this year, we would come back to the band room and blast music really loudly on the speakers.

Q: Do you have any favorite moments with Mrs. Snead?

A: Snead is just always hilarious. You just walk in and say something, and she can crack a joke about it. She does not sugarcoat things. It’s funny when she calls people out because she lightens the mood and everyone has fun with it.

Q: How did music become important to you?

A: I’ve played piano since first grade. I actually didn’t like it, but my parents made me keep going. As I got a little older, I joined band.

Music helps me focus. I can [also] make it and share it with people. I play piano and trumpet, plus a little bit of ukulele, bass and drums.

CASSIE GOMER Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

A: I’m most proud of going to state in golf. It’s something I worked really hard toward. Being able to go to state with all the girls on the team was just amazing. I felt so proud of them and myself.

Q: What does it mean to be influential?

A: To me the most influential people in my life are the people I look up to. I find the most influential people in my life know, kind of, what their goal is in life and how to deal with hardship.

Q: Who would you like to thank?

A: I would like to thank my best friends. I have a group of nine best friends and they are the most amazing things that could have ever happened to me. I go to them for everything and I hang out with them every single second I can. I just want to thank them because they have made me who I am today.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: Since freshman year I think I have become more outgoing and less of a brat.

Q: Most influential teacher?

A: The most influential teacher I’ve had is Mrs. Dent. She is amazing and I go to talk to her about anything and everything. She has just taught me how to be kind, care for others and put happiness first.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A:I’m going to Northern Arizona next year to study biology and I hope to come back to the University of Kansas Medical School. I hope to be a medical surgeon or a medical researcher. But the end goal is to travel a lot and make good memories.

NW PASSAGE | feature 09

ALEX RICE Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

A: Probably winning all-state outfield as a junior. In the Sunflower League, they take the top nine guys in the state and make a team.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: My goals since freshman year were to win state and play college baseball. We haven’t won state but I am going to Cloud County [Community College] to play baseball next year.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A: I have no clue.

Q: Who has influenced you the most in your high school career?

A: Probably Mr. Ybarra. He has coached me since I was a freshman in baseball and he’s moved up with us as we went along, up to varsity. He is just a great guy. He is fun to be around.

Q: What is your favorite memory from baseball?

A: Probably last year during regional championships, even though we lost. It was at 3&2 against BV Northwest. It was one of the funnest games we’ve played.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: Probably all of my friends. I’ve been with some of them since first grade, and we are all going our separate ways next year.

GIA VARGAS Q: What activity best defines your time at Northwest?

A: There’s so many but I would say Student Council and cheerleading are my top things that I’m involved in. I’ve been doing cheerleading for three years and I absolutely loved it. I keep growing every time, and figuring out that I can learn new skills and just be more confident in myself. Student Council has just helped my leadership skills grow.

Talking to the underclassmen and helping them figure out what they want to do in high school and just being that older sister for them has been pretty fun.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: I was so shy freshman year, I didn’t want to talk to anybody.

Now, I can go up to a random person and just say, ‘hi’ and have a conversation, and I wouldn’t be scared or anything. I just want to make people feel welcomed at Northwest.

Q: What are your plans after college?

A: I want to pursue computer science and work in cyber security like my dad. It’s just making sure that companies have their security set up so hackers can’t get in.

Q: What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

A: Treat others like you want to be treated. I will always ask how everybody’s day is going and just be kind to others because you don’t know what they’re going through. I know as a freshman, I wanted someone to look out for me and just say, ‘hey how are you?’ It’s so good to not think about yourself all the time.

Q: What was your greatest success in high school?

A: I’ve definitely found myself in high school. I think that’s a great achievement because I was very lost freshman year. I didn’t know what friend group to be in or what classes I wanted to take, but now I would say I know what I want to do in life.

10 May 11, 2018 | vol. 49

PIPER SCHUERMAN Q: What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

A: Becoming photo editor for the yearbook was a big one. Last year, I was swim team captain and we made it to state, and I qualified individually for state. I went to Holy Trinity Catholic School and I didn’t know anyone when I got here, so I’m most proud of all of the friends that I have made because I went from nothing to some of the best people ever.

Q: How has photography helped you face difficult situations?

A: Photography has helped me see the beauty in things. I mainly do portrait photography, and I really like it because I get to look for the best in someone. I get to describe their life in a photo.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: Thank you for being a good home for me for the past four years.

I feel like I’m not necessarily close to everyone, but the people I encounter every day, even if they’re not my best friends, made my high school experience what it is.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: All of the friendly faces. In every class that I went to, I didn’t ever not know anyone. Even if I started off the year not knowing very many people in the class, I feel that I made friends really quickly. People are all so friendly, and they want to tell you about themselves.

Q: What was your best memory from Northwest?

A: So, I was on WPA court and, after we walked at the assembly, I had a bunch of people come up to take pictures with me and, all of sudden, it was like all of my closest friends were there. We were just doing one big group hug. It was a really simple thing, but it was just like, ‘I’m so loved and I love all these people so much.’ It was just really cool.

RACHEL ALBERS Q: What activity do you do that best defines your time at Northwest?

A: Being design editor for the NW Passage and an advanced graphic design manager. I get to put all of my crazy and turn it into something beautiful.

Q: What is your favorite day at Northwest?

A: My favorite day at Northwest would be the senior homecoming parade. It was filled with an intense amount of emotion and not only did I get the chance of being in the parade, but also getting crowned first runner up all on my 18th birthday.

Q: Who would you like to thank?

A: I would like to thank my little sister Erin, Maddie Munsey, Maddy Manning, Shelby Beaumont, Halli Said, Asher Norberg, Taryn Smith, Cadie Elder, 10 Bens, Will Gross, Lilly Blecha and Drew Vander Leest for getting me through high school.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: Do whatever you want, but you better be doing it passionately.

Q: Who was your most influential teacher?

A: The most influential teacher in my high school career is without a doubt the amazing Jan Berg. She has inspired me in more ways than I could ever imagine, and it is because of her that I am the woman I am today.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: I’m attending KU and majoring in visual communications and advertising. I am really excited for change and I can’t wait to live with my bestfriend next year.

NW PASSAGE | feature 11

MICHELLE BANKS Q: What is your biggest goal in life?

A: My goals in life are to have fun, do my best and not to worry about tomorrow and only worry about where I am today.

Q: What will you miss most about Northwest?

A: As much as I say I don’t like my sister, I will miss going to school with her. I will miss seeing my friends every day and I will miss the nice teachers, like the Dents and Mrs. Demke.

Q: What is the most important lesson you learned in high school?

A: People change and you change, but don’t focus so much on the change — focus on the good you can do from the change.

Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind?

A: I want people to know that I’m a very kind, caring person: if you’re sad, I’m there to make you feel better; I’ll make you laugh, and if you need a hug my arms are open.

Q: What activity best defines you and your time at Northwest?

A: Freshman year, I made these weird music videos with my sister. I think that defines me because they were meant to be serious, but fun.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future?

A: I see myself graduating from college, having my masters degree in social work, working on the weekdays and going to a karaoke bar on the weekends.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: My goals as a freshman were to make new friends and get good grades, and my goals now are to make new friends and not stress so much over assignments.

MOLLY BORN Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?

A: I’m most proud of my team and being able to compete with them at the state meet several times over the past four years.

Q: Who are your role models?

A: Coach Rose. He’s such a kind person, and he’s been such a great role model. He’s taught me a lot about running and shares a love for distance running with me.

Q: Tell us about being involved in cross country and track.

A: Participating in cross country and track has been the single greatest [experience] of high school. I’ve met so many people and shared a lot of memories. I was able to work hard with my teammates to create goals and achieve them.

Q: How have you changed since freshman year?

A: I’ve grown a lot since freshman year, from coming into the program knowing nothing about running really and now having so many new friends and more experiences has been great.

Q: How have cross country and track helped to prepare you for the future?

A: It has taught me the value of working hard and let me experience so many new things. It’s really going to pay off later in life.

Q: Who has been your most influential teacher at Northwest?

A: Coach Rose. He’s taught us all we know about running. After bad races, he’s the only person I want to talk to. He always knows the exact right thing to say to make me feel better.

Q: If you could say one thing to the class of 2018, what would it be?

A: Thank you for following my running so much. It means a lot to have people so into a sport like distance running.

12 May 11, 2018 | vol. 49

THEN

AND

NOW

Biggest News Event Then

Biggest News Event Now

9/11

Trump & School Shootings

These are the class of 2018’s opinions on news, food, books and more as young people and now as seniors +ILLUSTRATIONS BY PIPER SCHUERMAN, MADDY MANNIG AND JACK LYNCH

Favorite Book Then

Favorite Book Now

Harry Potter

1984

Free Time Now

Free Time Then

Favorite Food Then

Favorite Food Now

Video Games

McDonald’s

Dreams Then

Dreams Now

Favorite Show Then

Favorite Show Now

Doctor

Graduate High School

Spongebob Squarepants

The Office

Fortnite & Sleeping

Chipotle

NW Passage| Then and Now 13

38

AVILA UNIVERSITY Eden Fridlington Hannah Hill

33 27

2 BALL STATE UNIVERSITY Julia Wiest

62

26 25

64

3 24 45 58

BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE Eli Goodwin 3 BAKER UNIVERSITY Caleb Addington Byron Harvey Victoriai Seston

52

29

32

43 36

4 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Danielle Johnson 8

5 BOSTON COLLEGE Matt Owens 6 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY Elizabeth White

24

7 COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Madison Manning 8 COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS Samantha Macauley 9 COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA Brooke Haley 10 COLUMBIA COLLEGE (CHICAGO) Trinita LeRoux

COWLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE George Specht CLOUD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Alex Rice Emily Wells CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY Katherine Strohm Sarah Wilcox DEPAUL UNIVERSITY Asher Norberg DRAKE UNIVERSITY Jinal Patel Elizabeth Clarey EMORY UNIVERSITY Trenade Brotherton EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY Hayden Goodpaster ENTOURAGE INSTITUTE Madison Sitton FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Maddison Hugeback 20

FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY Chris Fernandez

25

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Mackenzie Beaven Aiden Black Hunter Colbert Lance Cooper Dilen Dinkela Mikayla Doyle Zoeie Drew Eddie Echols Yohannes Girma Grecia Gomez Dakota Harkness Dillon Helmstetler Miguel Hunt LoraRose Johnson Hawk Johnson Shaun Jordan Samantha Joslin Kate Luty Pamilla Mancia Xandria Martin Verlee McCullough Alyssa McDonald Emma Metcalf Cecil Miller Esmeralda Monroy Lilly Novak Megan Nugent Jeremiah Payne Madison Perry Laura Renteria McCade Robinson Noelhy Robledo Eleanor Robson April Rodriguez Hallie Ross Mariela Sanabria Hayley Schaefer Grace Seibold Janel Sellers Jennifer Silva Heidi Smith Lauren Spear Sean Spinning PJ Van Nieuwenhuyse Taylor Vossen Brody Weirick Robert Witton Brady Wolken

27 KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Austin Andersen Samantha Anderson Abby Bliss Kessa Bondurant Kaden Bower Kennady Bustamante Cassie Cunningham Alaina DeVolder Cadence Elder Tessa Ervin Michael Filsinger Alexander Fletcher Ava Graves Abriel Jarett Carson Krehbiel Mikaela Lange Maya Lee Abby Lewis Jack Lynch Bhargav Marada Andrew Marsh Kalen Mckinley Pierce Mitts Bryan Morfin Seth Mosburg Mackenzie Nagel Jacob Onions Erin Osner Sarah Peterson Spencer Pope Nathan Riddell Matthew Robinson Grace Roeder Melissa Schmidt Cameron Sharp Jonathan Sommerfeld Cameron Stillions Reid Stimach Morgan Stone Caroline Taggart Maxine Teixeira Sophia Terryberry Levi Van Hoecke Paulene Vargas Estrella Villa Ellie Wells Cameron Wofford

28

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO Lydia Simms

KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE 29 MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY Michelle Martinez Althea Flores

HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Joshua Mitchell 26 KANSAS CITY KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Tyra Davis 22 IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Payton Jones Skyler Ford Anastasia Kling Aaron Masters Ethan Schleicher 23 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY Lillian Oliver Andrea Sexton

30

MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY Amanda Dulny MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY Jared Berlin Clayton Engelby Alyssa Gaul Alida Johnson Maddie Munsey

32 MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE

AND TECHNOLOGY Logan Emery

33 MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Noah Britt

34 MOOR PARK COMMUNITY

COLLEGE Austin White

35 MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE

47

Sabrina Creason

36

37

38

39

40

NEOSHO COMMUNITY COLLEGE Joshua Flack NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY Cassie Gomer NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY Dominique Brooks NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Jackson Brogan Ashley Ellis

SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY Austin Bachert ZhanArden Vil

48

SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE Drake Reynolds

49

SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE Jenna Steinle

50

TULANE UNIVERSITY Hadley Sayers Porter Volk SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY Sarah Verschelden

52 WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

Laura Jonah Spencer Snawerdt

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY Molly Born

53 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

OTTAWA UNIVERSITY Morgan Berry Alaina Burris Jordann Nachbar 42

43

PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Isaac Manica PITTSBURGH STATE UNIVERSITY Jayla Beasly Grace Buzzard Marshall Darpel Logan Doering Jordyn Everett Dylan Goode Katie Leming Kaylee Oakerson Jacob Simma

Eric Maxon

54

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY Jerad Habben

55 UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Ian Vasos

56

57

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Jack Merritt UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS Payton Bennett Alyssa Mendoza Piper Schuerman Lia Smith

58

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI Makenzie Cooper

44 PURDUE UNIVERSITY

59

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO Mary Hayford

45 ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY

60

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, BOULDER Abigayle Redeker

Mio Ueki

Gavin Benoit

46 SIMPSON COLLEGE

Jack Lammers

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA Maggie Congrove

Don’t You For get Ab out

65

63

72 35

28 39 10

22

4

46

66 60

7

54

59

6 2

44

5

23

30 67

48

9 37

34

40 57

73

68

55

56

69

62 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

Rachel Albers Rachel Albright Michelle Banks Sydney Biery Ariana Brooks Jacob Cobler Melanie Ebner Anthony Gao Christian Ghilardi Maggie Habben John Hanneman Sophia Hollman Caleb Johnson Ishara Johnson Lucy Johnson Lauren Klein Rachel Lee Ali Lollas Brianna Long Madeline Manning Floyd Martin Tristan Martin Spencer Modiri Giuliana Molas Caymen Northrop Emmanuel Osei Rachel Perez Jordyn Pomerantz Allan Rodriguez David Russell Luke Sabus Halli Said Michael Scott Claudia Shamet Liam Tepen Abigail Terrell Maddie Troutt Will VanBlarcom Macey Walsh

63 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Keslie Crable

42

70 53 64 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI -KANSAS CITY Cameron Akagi Eric Brennan Marissa Carrillo Sabrina Doughty Genesis Garay Evan Linville Anna Poleleyeva Madison Stieg Rachel Tao 65 UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA

Camille Haley

66 UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN

Emma Irvin Natalie Jones Jacey Korth Camden Obertop Brandon Rider

67 UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

Mihir Shroff

68 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN

CALIFORNIA Julian Kuffour

69 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-ARLINGTON

Abigail Kelly-Salo

70

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-AUSTIN Will Gross UNIVERSITY OF TULSA Collin Eichkorn

72 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Josh Sherfy 73 UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA Tristan Hood

50

GRADUATED AT SEMESTER Eleanor Audley Megan Carney Michelle Cazares Maree Corradino Sebastian Di Paolo Ariana Figueroa Bradlee French Madison Graves Elizabeth Hunke Bailey Jewell Alyssa Lackner Ja’Brion Lucas Anthony Ly Karina Mejia Ellaina Mendez Emily Mickey Kate Porras Raegan Rudd Emily See Montana Serrioz David Shelley Karla Villeda WORK Garrett Bolin Charlie Guzman Jack Kuckleman Kayne Lilly Brandon Long Vanesa Manjarrez Lilly Moore Gerson Portillo Khari Washington

20

UNDECIDED Emilia Battles Nicholas Chomyak Zachary Dungan William Elliott Daisy Fetters Nick Jackson Brandon Moore Matthew Nolan Dominick Zaragoza TRAVELING ABROAD Benny Alpert STUDYING ABROAD Tyler Smith ABSTAINED Ana Karen Hernandez Arteaga Elaina Ballou Paul Barton Benjamin Basel Aiden Black Guyon Bright Douglas Bueso Drake Clark Coby Cole Garrett Edwards Verner Estrada Chad Fridley Michelle Galarza Christian Douglas Gehrs Elijah James Graham Michael Green

Kalkidan Haboro J’Devon Hamilton John Ramirez III Isatou Jatta Yoon Jeong Hannah Judd Jaden Karnes Devin Keeney Jacob Lankford Ernest Malone Neo Manikitala Hunter Masters Meghan McGaw Mariah McReynolds Savannah Medrano Cecil Miller Logan Mitts Travis Morrison Brandon O’Dell Faith O’Dell Mira Olds Brandon Olmstead Erick Posadas Nick Rice Ethan Schleichar Jaylan Schneider MacKenzie Singleton Montze Smith Tyler Smith Joseph Soptic Fatima Sosa Reilly Spaits Skyler Spencer Liam Sprague Kiara Sprowl Nicholas Stewart Jessica Sunds Dylan Swink Edgar Tapia Keagan Taylor Matthews Villamarin Kaliana Wheeler Ariel Williams Luc Winklemolen Brendan Wood Owen Wright Karen Yuman

I

WORDS “I feel like I’ve changed so much, yet not at all [since freshman year]. The person I am today is the person I’ve always been, but I’ve learned how to present myself in a way that I can be proud of who I am.”

—RACHEL LEE

“[The most memorable moment was] winning the spirit stick in front of the juniors and seniors as a sophomore.”

—JACK MERRITT

“Northwest’s school spirit is unreal, so performing at assemblies will forever be my most memorable memory. The feeling I got after I performed my last dance for the student section is something I will always take with me.”

—SAMANTHA ANDERSON

“When the Royals won the World Series sophomore year. We were in Honors Pre-Calc with Mrs. Nagel, and she told us school was cancelled the next day for the parade and we all cheered.

A few minutes later we heard cheers fromother classrooms as people found out.”

n four years, up to 16 dances, 20 assemblies and too many nights spent in the student section to count, a tremendous number of memories were made. It is impossible to encompass “the best four years of your life” in a single quote, but these seniors remembered their highlights +ANNALISSA HOUSER AND KAILI SITZ

“It was seriously one of the best memories I’ve ever had [being crowned Prom King], like it was so amazing. It felt so nice to be recognized, validated, and it was just an amazing experience. I’m so thankful.”

—PJ VAN NIEUWENHUYSE

“My most memorable moment of high school was receiving my acceptance letter from USC and getting to celebrate with my friends.”

—JULIAN KUFFOUR

—ELIZABETH WHITE

“[The most memorable moment was] when we had an assembly and the other schools made posters for Treyvon, one of my friends who had died at the beginning of the year.”

—APRIL RODRIGUEZ

16 May 11 2018 | vol. 49

“My most memorable moment in high school involved being a part of a team, both on track and football, that made me feel like I was important. This isn’t a specific moment, it is just something that made high school memorable in general.”

—REID STIMACH

“I think the most quintessentially classic Northwest moment was when someone left a sticky note on all the cars in the parking lot to remind everyone that they were wanted and loved. I think Northwest is a really big family, and we all come together to help one another when we’re hurting.”

—RACHEL TAO

“I have a lot of memorable moments, but one that comes to mind was after a performance with the Marching Cougar Pride during the Bill Chase show my sophomore year. Afterward, I was out of breath and I felt like I was going to collapse, but I played my heart out. It was the first moment I felt like part of the school because I had moved and it was my first year. Standing tall and proud, barely breathing as the crowd cheered, is something I could never possibly forget.”

“[My best memory with my parents is] walking down the field with them on senior night for football.”

—HAYDEN GOODPASTER

“The [memory] I like to look back fondly on is definitely the first day of junior year. Me and a few of my friends all drove together with the windows down playing ‘Without Me’ by Eminem. Kinda cheesy, but it felt empowering and exciting and reminds me of the epitome of high school, according to movies.”

—EMMA IRVIN

—MADISON STEIG

“Probably anytime with my gymnastics teammates and Jessie [Rood], every practice, meet and place we went together was a memorable time.”

—MACEY WALSH

“[The most quintessential Northwest moments are] when the WiFi goes down, when Jack Johnson slips on a pizza box trying to break up a fight, and finding dead birds in the parking lot.”

—XANDRIA MARTIN

“Mr. Van Rose’s class I believe is what a classic class is. He has the stereotypical chalkboard, and most importantly, he loves teaching.”

—HAWK JOHNSON

“One time, StuCo executive board had to talk to other SM exec boards, but instead of talking normally, we talked through sock puppets. They all thought we were crazy, but we had a lot of fun.”

—CLAUDIA SHAMET

“[The most memorable moment of high school was] getting Saturday school for going to KFC for open lunch, 10/10 would do again.”

—ROBERT MITTEN

“Many of the Student Council events my freshman year. The allure of it all was the mystery and the novelty. Learning exponentially.”

—PORTER VOLK

“[My] favorite memory is definitely walking through the tunnel of people at the homecoming football game.”

—B.J. HARVEY

“I was talking about the song River

by Bishop Briggs in my Spanish class junior year and the guy in front of me said he loved that song, too, and that’s how Jacob Ramirez and I became friends.”

—JORDYN POMERANTZ

“My most memorable moments of high school would be the homecoming parades.

Northwest is a huge school, but on those days it adopts a small town feel. You never see anybody who isn’t smiling during the parade.”

—JOSHUA SHERFY

NWPassage| Quotes 17

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Grad Party Ideas Under $25 It’s the timeless struggle of graduation parties: how do I make my party a success without spending too much money?

It can be difficult to find the balance between saving up for penny-pinching college life and wanting a memorable, fashionable grad party. Here are some party ideas that won’t break the bank or look cheap. +BY SAMANTHA JOSLIN & CATE TAGGART

Mason Jar Floats For a rustic, clever spin on the nostalgic root beer float, fill mason jars with single servings of vanilla ice cream and place them next to soda cans in a cooler. Party-goers can pour the drink of their choice into the jars for Instagram-worthy soda floats.

If you want to make these drinks a main attraction, you could even put out whipped cream and cherries for toppings. And don’t forget the straws!

Suggested: • Perry’s Vanilla Ice Cream: $4.68 • One can of A&W root beer, Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, etc.

• Twelve Ball-brand mason jars for $7.49 Optional: • 13 oz ReddiWip Cannister: $3.88 • Mario Maraschino Cherries: $2.48

S’Mores Bar

Memory Jar While graduating high school marks the beginning of a new, independent phase in your life, it also means leaving behind friends, family and familiarity. To keep a hold of your favorite high school memories, leave a jar out and slips of paper for your guests to write down their favorite memories of you. You could try another twist on this by asking guests to put their thoughts and memories of you in separate jars labeled “Open Before College” and “Open in Five Years” to give yourself an easy trip down memory lane a few years from now.

Suggested: • Glass bowl: $10.99 • Construction Paper: $2.09

Old School Pictures

Summertime is approaching, and for all evening grad parties, a s’mores bar is an absolute must.

Fire pits are perfect for roasting the treats and can be found at common grad party locations like Shawnee Mission Park. Set out three big jars or bowls, and fill them with graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars for a cheap, fun and easy way to keep your guests entertained.

Suggested: • Jet-Puffed S’MoreMallows: $2.98 • H oney Maid Graham Crackers: $4.48 • H ershey’s 6 ct chocolate bars: $7.13 • 12 ct s’mores skewers: $11.99

While high school doesn’t mean the end of school forever, it does mean the end of cringe-worthy yearbook photos — what a relief. For a funny (and embarrassing) decoration idea, put all of your school pictures on a timeline so everyone can feel the nostalgia of braces and blue eyeshadow, and see the year-by-year glow-up.

Suggested: • Artskills Glitter Frame: $2.97 • Construction paper: $2.09

All supplies purchased from WalMart

A Novel Idea

English teacher Ben Pabst gives used books as graduation gifts While most students are focused on which friends to invite to their grad parties or which extended family members will bring the biggest checks, some may be thinking about inviting another group of people — teachers. It’s hard to say whether teachers will bring gifts, but English teacher Ben Pabst seems to have it figured out. For the last few years, he’s given unique and fitting presents: books.

“Books are awesome,” Pabst said. “I like to imagine my students going off and continuing to read and learn

as they grow older. Books are the thing that, in my life, I hold on to and have a sentimental attachment to.”

Pabst visits Half Price Books to find affordable, used books that he has enjoyed, sometimes opting to give books by certain authors to students who enjoy their other works. While the typical high school student might roll their eyes at such a gift, Pabst continues to advocate the importance of literature, hoping that books and other art will help students, and humanity as a whole, be better.

“Books are our history — they prevent us from being

idiots over and over again — and our future,” Pabst said.

“They’re aspirational. I could tell you not to do something that you love doing, but you’re still going to want to do it.

Art is the solution to that. Art works from the inside out, from bottom to top. Instead of hammering into your head that you must be a better person or else, it’s making you a better person because you choose to be, because you’re enlightened. You’re enlightened from within, and art is a conduit for that.”

Could there be a better present?

NW PASSAGE | feature 19

Upcoming Concerts in Kansas City +BY CADENCE ELDER AND SAMANTHA JOSLIN

There are a few traditions that are quintessential to a summer-well-spent: spending long days at the pool, staying up all night with friends and, of course, going to concerts. While everyone’s favorite artists are performing across the country at one music festival or another, some bands will drop by local venues, like the casual Granada in Lawrence where tickets can typically be bought for $30 or cheaper, or the outdoor Kansas City Power and Light District, where you can enjoy your favorite bands in the warm summer air. Whatever your preference, here are some bands performing this summer in venues close by.

MAY 18 Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ recordBar Kansas City, MO

June 3 Ween @ The Midland Kansas City, MO

June 8 Cold War Kids @ KC Live! KC P&L Kansas City, MO

June 23 Oh Wonder @ KC Live! KC P&L Kansas City, MO

June 26 Ke$ha and Macklemore @ Sprint Center Kansas City, MO

July 7 Paramore and Foster the People @ Starlight Theatre Kansas City, MO

July 14 Imagine Dragons and Grace VanderWaal @ Sprint Center Kansas City, MO

July 21 Halsey @ Silvertein Eye Centers Arena Independence, MO

July 24 Shania Twain @ Sprint Center Kansas City, MO

July 31 Walk the Moon @ CrossroadsKC Kansas City, MO

August 16 Smashing Pumpkins @ Sprint Center Kansas City, MO

August 18 Sam Smith @ Sprint Center Kansas City, MO

YEARBOOK DISTRIBUTION DAY IS MAY 15

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Flashback

+ ANNALISSA HOUSER, KATE LAWRENCE, AND RORY DUGAN

Todd Boren

Graduation year: 1988 Activites: Soccer, wrestling, band Quote: “Northwest was a positive experience for me because I feel that it helped me prepare for college, and as a teacher I would like to do the same thing for my students. Not just prepare them for college, but get them prepared for life.”

Memorable Moment: The rivalry with Shawnee Mission West; students stayed in Northwest “territory” Classes they teach: AP European History, IB European History Years at Northwest: 20

Sara Schaufler

Michael Pisani

Graduation year: 1980 Activities: none Quote: “I feel like Northwest is happy and lighthearted.”

Memorable Moments: The streakers that would run through the mall, and when everyone thought the world was going to end when the year changed from 1999 to 2000.

Classes they teach: Government, Practical Law and Foundations of Law Years at Northwest: 20

Graduation year: 1991 Activities: Track, wrestling Quote: “Have fun but do what your supposed to do because when and if you do go to college you look back and see how much you could have done.”

Memorable Moments: Soccer went to state and everyone painted themselves in all orange Classes they teach: Environmental Education, 1 and 2, and biology Years at Northwest: 22

+ PHOTO BY THOMAS DELZEIT

+ PHOTO BY SIDNEY HENKENSIEFKEN

Billy Dent

Brett Mach

+ PHOTO BY NICK STYERS

Stefanie Forbes

Graduation year: 1991 Activities: Track, volleyball, softball, spirit club, SADD, acapella choir, thespian troupe, NHS, orchestra and exploring teacher education.

Quote: “[Being a teacher], you just the opportunity to have a chance, for just a moment to touch someone’s life.”

Memorable Moments: Lost a student and the way the class came together to support one another.

Classes they teach: World Regional Studies, Psychology and Sociology Years at Northwest: 22

Graduation year: 1998 Activities: Football, newspaper and KSMNW Quote: “Since I went to school here, it just has a special place in my heart. It’s the only school experience that I have known. Both my wife and I teach here, and so my kids are here all the time for events, and I really get to know all of the kids here.”

Memorable Moments: Being the managing editor of the newspaper Classes they teach: Video Productions and IB Film Years at Northwesth: 14

+ PHOTO BY THOMAS DELZEIT + PHOTO BY KERI SENGPRASEUTH

Graduation year: 2006 Activities: Newspaper, tennis, club 151, and pinpoint Quote: “Show up and do your work.

What else is there too it, you know most of life is just showing up. Its harder to do with a cell phone. Relationships are most important and the most important thing you can do is just show up and be there for people.

Memorable Moments: Always hanging out with friends after an event, or at Shawnee Mission Park, and staying in the journalism room late into the night.

Classes they teach: English Years at Northwest: 4 + PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

In the five minutes between class bells, a huddle of acid-washed denim, stirrup pants and mullets gather in the student smoking lounge outside the building. This is the Northwest that history teacher Todd Boren remembers. We asked alumni teachers to share a pieces of their high school experience.

Kelsi Horner

Graduation year: 2010 Activities: Drill team (captain for one year), basketball, NHS, Coalition Club Quote: “[Teaching] was one of those things I just fell into. I didn’t really know what else to do, and it was something I constantly went back to. It ended up being between that and event planning, which is my job with Drill Team, so it worked out.

Memorable Moments: Being a Drill Team captain and participating in dance competitions.

Classes she teaches: World Regional Studies, Economics I, and Varsity Drill Team.

Years at Northwest: 4

Elissa Ojeda

Graduation year: 2013 Activities: Young Life, Young Democrats, basketball, soccer and track Quote: “I teach math and then I coach both basketball and track, so I just enjoy building all of those relationships and getting to hang out with my kids. “ Memorable Moments: Playing basketball all four years.

Classes she teaches: Algebra I, Intro to Algebra Years at Northwest: 1 + PHOTO BY ERIN HENTON

Cindy (Cummings) Alexander

Graduation year: 1980 Activities: International club, club 151 Quote: “Enjoy your nice big hair and pretty skinny bodies. You are more beautiful than you think.”

Memorable Moment: An advanced biology class I took with Mr. Frisbee doing research on rats.

Position: Nurse Years at Northwest: 13 + PHOTO BY ERIN HENTON

+ PHOTO BY THOMAS DELZEIT

Cassie (Freyermuth) Banion Graduation year: 2003 Activities: Choir, Thespian Troupe 888 Quote: “You have so much potential and this is an amazing place to grow that potential and see where it can take you. Whether it’s sports or clubs, be involved, and take advantage of all the things that are offered here.”

Memorable moment: Playing Laurie in the musical “Oklahoma!” her senior year Classes she teaches: Choir, Voice Techniques Years at Northwest: 1

Cindy (Fromholtz) Swarner

Graduation year: 1975 Activities: Drill team Quote: “Northwest is better now because there are more choices for classes that you can take, which makes more opportunities for the students.”

Memorable moment: Drill team performing at the Chiefs halftime Classes she teaches: Child Development, Teacher Education, Advanced Foods Years at Northwest: 25

Kenneth King

Graduation year: 1992 Activities: Debate, mathletics, forensics Quote: “You only get things you want by trying hard to earn them” Memorable moment: Riding home from a debate tournament in a blizzard; a two-hour drive became a five-hour drive.

Classes he teaches: Debate, Forensics, Speech 1, Speech 2, Writer’s Workshop Years at Northwest: 5 + PHOTO BY NICK STYERS

+ PHOTO BY DYLAN MITCHELL

+ PHOTO BY ABIGAIL ROBERTS

NW PASSAGE | feature 23

Cindy (McBride) Hayth

Melissa (Durheim)Terryberry

Graduation year: 1981 Activities: Drill team, NHS, Flag and PomPom Quote: I have worked in many jobs, and I would say do the one that makes you happy.

Memorable moment: Participating in Drill Team Position: Food services, bakery department Years at Northwest: 3

Graduation year: 2001 Activities: Key Club Quote: “You get pushed to do so much and it’s ok to focus on a few things and work on those few things.”

Memorable moment: How awkward freshman homecoming was Classes she teaches: Intro to Studio Art, Drawing, AP/IB Art Portfolio, Jewelry/ Sculpture, Years at Northwest: 12

+ PHOTO BY PIPER SCHUERMAN

+ PHOTO BY NICK STYERS

Mike Rose

Graduation year: 1990 Activities: Cross country, basketball, and track Quote: “Just put in the effort in classes to get your diploma and get on with life because there is so much more to do after high school. Enjoy your time but take care of your business in the classroom.”

Memorable moment: Winning the state championship in basketball Classes he teaches: Algebra 1 and Geometry Years at Northwest: 10 + PHOTO BY NICK STYERS

24 May. 7, 2018 | vol. 49

Ericka Marquez

Graduation year: 2012 Activities: Soccer, swim, and cheer Quote: “Take chances because you never really know where it could take you.”

Memorable moment: In the championship and one of the girls scored the winning point from halfcourt.

Position: Speech Interpreter Years at Northwest: 1 + PHOTO BY ANDRÉS AGUIRRE

Laura Paschell

Graduation year: 2002 Activities: NHS, NAHS and softball Quote: “Make sure your having fun but make sure your taking care of your responsibilities as a student.”

Memorable moment: Senior year and it’s freedom Classes she teaches: Co-teach Algebra 1 and Physical Science Years at Northwest: 7 + PHOTO BY WESTON PAYNE

The Next Chapter

Four teachers say goodbye to Northwest + BY NICK LORINO AND SONNI MEYERS

Dr. Lynn Leonard, Counselor After three years at Northwest and 40 years in education overall, Dr. Lynn Leonard is retiring. Thirty of her 40 years in education were spent as a counselor, which was her role at Northwest.

“When I was teaching, I was having kids come to me with problems and wanting to talk before and after school,” Leonard said. “I felt like there were so many students who needed more help than I could

give them in a classroom.”

At Northwest, Leonard found the students more polite than at other schools. During her first fire drill at Northwest, she remembers being impressed by the students’ manners as each student thanked her for holding the doors open.

“The students [here] seem so friendly,” Leonard said. “They are so polite here; I think in the whole they are very caring, and have just made it a

great experience.”

In retirement, Leonard plans to use her time traveling, riding her horse and teaching classes for counselors in training at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

“I’m going to miss the oneon-one relationship that I developed with students,” Leonard said. “It’s going to be very different to not have that on a daily basis.”

Rose has lead the boys to 21 state championships and the girls to 13. He was also the first inductee to the NW Sports Hall of Fame.

“The most important thing about this job is making each runner feel important,” Rose said in an 2009 interview with the NW Passage. “There are so many runners now that it’s hard to keep track of all of them, but I have to make them feel like they’re more than just a

number,”

Rose has been at Northwest since it opened in 1969. He is the only original faculty member still teaching here. He teaches precalculus and calculus.

“I just love it when they come to see me to say hello,” Rose said in 2009. “I have met their children and been invited to their weddings. It’s simply satisfying.”

end, but it has to. I’m trying to be really philosophical about it.

A part of me is excited to move on to a different chapter, and a part of me isn’t really wanting this one to end.”

Teaching debate, forensics and English language arts has brought Raner fond memories and good friends. Her favorite memory during her years here occurred during forensics.

“I took two teams to state one year in Garden City,” Raner said.

“One of those teams got into octa-finals. It was fun, but it was very pressure-filled. I was trying to be cool, calm and collected for them but, at the same time, I was really nervous and really excited. Watching how excited they were to do so well was one of the highlights of my years here.”

+ PHOTO BY WESTON PAYNE

Van Rose, Teacher Van Rose may be leaving 49 years of teaching on a chalkboard behind, but he cannot let cross country go. He will return next year as the assistant coach.

“I say this kiddingly, but I have no friends,” Rose said in an interview with MileSplit USA online newspaper. “My friends are the coaches. And if I’m not coaching, I won’t be around them. So that’s one of the reasons why I enjoy the coaching and why I’ll be still around.”

+PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

Linda Raner, Teacher Linda Raner’s story at Northwest is coming to a bittersweet conclusion after 17 years.

“At the beginning of this year, when I knew was going to retire, I was really excited,” Raner said. “But, to be honest, as it gets closer and closer it’s more sadness. It’s almost like getting to the end of a really good book. You don’t want it to

+PHOTO BY MAYA LEE

Christopher Walters, Teacher After three years at Northwest, Christopher Walters is planning to continue his teaching career at Gardner Edgerton high school.

“I came to northwest with Coach Black to coach football,” Walters said. “And then I’ve always heard the Shawnee Mission School District was a really good district to teach at so that was the reputation of it so that’s why I came here.”

During Walters time at + PHOTO BY WESTON PAYNE

Northwest he taught chemistry, physical science and was a linebacker coach for the football team. “[Northwest is] pretty much the same, I get to know the kids more so it’s easier for me and I get to build some relationships with kids so that parts good its been better and as far as the overall school its very similar to what it was when I first came” Although Walters is leaving Northwest he will never forget

the connections he has made with his students over the years “I think [they] are pretty good kids for the most part and I think everybody seems to get along with each other and I think that’s a pretty good deal there and you know the other thing that’s cool about it is there’s a lot of diversity more so than where I’ve been before and it works out really well.”

NW PASSAGE | feature 25

Only 18 percent of the student body joined in the protest against violence in schools on April 20. While at the walkout, students emailed legislators from their cell phones. +PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN EMERSON

#NEVER AGAIN

To protest school shootings, some students decided to partake in the national 4/20 walkout

A

t 10:35 a.m., on the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, approximately 300 students walked out of class to honor the victims of the recent Parkland massacre.

As students sat in a semi-circle around junior Riley Demo, she began to read the names of the victims from the shooting in order of their death. With each minute that passed, another name was read.

Demo organized the walkout for students at Northwest who felt like something needed to be done.

“Kids are dying in places they are learning,” Demo said.

“That’s not right. I think they should be able to come to school and not worry about our exit routes.”

Groups of students sat with their heads down and used the 17 minutes as a time of silence to honor the victims.

Some students stood and talked among themselves.

Eighty-two percent of the student body remained in their classrooms.

One of those students, senior Jackson Brogan, opted to remain in his physics class instead of joining the walk out.

He felt the walkout was disorganized and lacked a clear goal.

“There might have been better ways for them to push for their goal,” Brogan said. “I heard some people talking about writing e-mails to legislators. I think that in terms of being politically accurate, taking more active measures like that, rather than just leaving school, might be more effective.”

Sophomore Natalie Hole, however, decided to attend the walkout, and held a sign above her head reading “If I die of gun violence, forget burial, lay my body on the steps of the NRA.” Next to her sat sophomore Sophia Fairchild, holding a sign that read, “Whose children will bleed out before Kevin Yoder stops taking $$ from the NRA.” The duo sat in silence for the full 17 minutes.

Fairchild has taken part in numerous protests, including Black Lives Matter protests and the Women’s March, as well as others. Together, she and Hole silently voiced their

opinions on the NRA and gun control.

“I think a big part of my influence on the world is protesting because that gets media coverage, and when it gets media coverage, it gets seen,” Fairchild said. “So I think our voices are heard and our message is getting across. Even if people don’t listen, our message is out there, so people know what we stand for. My mom and I constantly email Roy Blunt whether we’re standing out for gun laws or for other things that matter.”

The administration made the event a respectful, positive and safe environment. Staff members were there to ensure that students were safe and to maintain order.

As students walked out, and later, during passing periods, some of their peers handed out cards listing the contact information of their state and federal representatives.

Some students thought that writing to legislators would have a bigger impact than walking out. “[Students who stayed in class] still may be politically aware, but they don’t feel like this is how they should do things,” Dr. Lisa Gruman said. “They might want to write a legislator or do something else in another avenue. I think the important thing is that it doesn’t matter what you do or don’t participate in; Just be respectful about [everyone’s] opinions.”

The walkout was based on many beliefs and opinions on the topic. Overall, these students came together during this time to reflect and focus on the safety of their future in different ways.

“I think what impacts change is when students are being reflective and engaged in their world” Gruman said. “We have kids that have a wide variety in their view points on a lot of issues regarding how to keep schools safe, and it’s not advocating one viewpoint. I think anytime students are discussing and reflecting that can lead to change, and becoming engaged citizens and aware of what’s going on in the world.”

+BY KATE LAWRENCE AND CATE TAGGART

With s megaphone in her hands, junior Riley Demo speaks April 20 on the new turf field. Demo annpunced the 17 names, one each minute, of the victims of the Parkland school shooting. +PHOTO BY DYLAN MITCHELL NW PASSAGE | feature 26

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Month In Photos

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1. Chemistry Club Co-President Mihir Shroff pours chemicals into a foaming solution April 24 in Room 215. Chemistry Club meets before school every two weeks to perform more complicated and exciting experiments than done during regular class time. “I like the idea of making chemistry really accessible to as many people as possible, so coming in for the club is such a great part of my week,” Shroff said. +Photo by Skylar Brogan 2. Up on stage Senior Maddie Trout is crowned prom queen at the 2018 NW prom. Being crowned prom queen was not expected by Trout. “I never thought in a million years that I would win prom queen, much less be on court at all!”said Trout. +Photo by Ciara Sandnes 3. During the opening scene of “Lucky Stiff”, senior Mandy Dulny shoots a gun into the air Apr. 3 in the Greg-Parker Auditorium. “Rita” was Dulny’s last character she would play at Northwest. “It was really sad knowing it was my last show,” Dulny said. “It’s been a big part of my life and i’m truly going to miss it.” +Photo by Abby Ryan 4. Getting past Blue Valley High School’s right back, freshman Kate Lawrence crosses the ball April 29 at SMAC. The cougars beat the tigers 2 to 1. “There’s a lot of talent and strong leadership in all the girls and I feel honored to be a part of that,” Lawrence said. +Photo by Sebastian Emerson

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5. Listening to poems, English teachers Linda Raner, Kathy Stewart, Marci Weitz sit in the Library April 6. The three teachers judged students as they performed for their peers. +Photo by Abigail Roberts 6. Running around, juniors Kaitlyn Pauli and Chris Rong, present the spirit stick ot the school April 19 in the main gym. This was the first assembly that the 20182019 spirit club executive board had lead. +Photot by Piper Schuerman 7. Senior Julian Gutierrez prepares for the baton to be handed off to him by senior Bj Harvey at a varsity track meet at SM South on mar. 31. Gutierrez and Harvey were running in the four by one. +Photo by Ciara Sandnes

NW PASSAGE | feature 27

Turning Pages

By: Austin Bachert, Alyssa Mendoza, Zhanarden Vil

Verse 1: We’ve been authors all our lives Writing down the words that come to mind From our memories, our everything, precious times As we go on writing the story Yours and mine Just remember

Verse 2: Going down our path with the good comes teh bad Haooy days, some grey and some sad Looking back on our colors And singing the Alma mater Now our past was once our future

Chorus: We’re turning our pages Take it with your ages Got a whole lot of writing to do So I leave this next chapter up to you

Chorus We’re turning our pages Take it with your ages Got a whole lot of writing to do So I leave this next chapter up to you

Bridge: So when you’re offon your own And catch yourself missing home Know you’re not alone And just remember Just remember Chorus We’re turning our pages Take it with your ages Got a whole lot of writing to do So I leave this next chapter up to you Ending: So I leave this next chapter up to you