Issue 11: Senior Magazine

northwest

SPEcial edition

PASSAGE Vol. 45 issue 11 may 9, 2o14

destinations 2o14 What’s your next move?

12

influential seniors You’ve picked the big 10

15

this year in photos The year recapped in photos

22

Colleen Winter Owner

13222 West 62nd Terrace Shawnee, KS 66216 Phone: (913) 962-0077 Fax: (913) 962-5577 Email: wbushawnee@gmail.com www.shawnee.wbu.com Twitter: @wbushawnee Facebook: Wild Birds Unlimited of Shawnee, KS

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Assistant Swim Coach must be 16 years of age with prior swimming experience. Starting Salary $9.75/hr

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All positions require pre-employment drug screen.

Senior

magazine Shawnee Mission Northwest 12701 W. 67TH St. Shawnee Kan. 66216

table of contents

then and now o9

info in ink 1o

Survey results reveal the pop culture, according to the seniors, ten years ago and now

Compilation of facts and quotes about the class of 2014 and graduation

prom 11

destinations 2o14 12

influential seniors 14

Pictures retell court results and the last dance of the school year

See where the class of 2014 is heading to next

The Class of 2014 chose the 10 seniors who shaped their high school experience the most

survey results 2o

this year in photos 22 senior song 24

Quotes compiled from seniors’ prospective including advice and lessons they learned

See photos that defined the school year

senior staff

Seniors went out of their last assembly with a song

daniel mirocke sarah egger alaura moore lena dennington calista bohling nate compton co editor-in-chief sarah egger design + photo editor nate compton copy editor lena dennington ads editor daniel mirocke advisor susan massy

Congratulations SMNW 2014 Graduates!

Smallcakes has been on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” season one, two, and seven, the hit daytime talk show “The View” ,the MTV Music Awards and was recently voted by USA Today as the top place to get a Gourmet Cupcake.

We bake and frost 15 signature flavors every morning, fresh from scratch and feature over 150 seasonal/special flavors. Choose us for your graduation party!

Two convenient locations: 7303 W. 80th Street, Overland Park KS 66204 1710 W. 39th Street, Kansas City MO 64111 913-341-7303

favorite sports memory?

Swim season: the whole crowd shouting my name while I was swimming the breaststroke...slowly.” —Omar Hussain

Winning sub-state in a close game against SM West sophomore year in basketball and going to state.” —Olivia Sanders

My swaggy group of varsity cross-country girls.

‘Ohana means family. Family means no one is left behind’ - Lilo and Stitch.” —Mathilde Guglielmi

Here’s To YouI couldn’t have been as successful in high school As I reminisce, I realize without getting by with a little help from (a lot of people)

attending trinity university

Lena dennington lena

will not miss high school. I won’t miss waking up at 6:30 in the morning. I won’t miss going to class for seven hours in a row. I won’t miss writing IAs for IB. I won’t miss the lunches venting about tests I dreaded. And I definitely won’t miss the Tardy Table.

But, I will miss the long work nights, singing Miley Cyrus at the top of our lungs, sending aggressive emails to a dress company in another country. I will miss the long pep assemblies and chanting, “SENIORS, SENIORS.” I will miss seeing the same people in all of my classes.

I will miss you.

As I sift through endless notes from classes that seemed interminable at the time, I’ve come to this realization: It’s really not the class that I remember at all. In fact, it’s Mr. Wolfe telling us that Stalin was a “dirtbag.” It’s Ms. Barger refusing to see a doctor for the mystery bug bite on her arm. It’s

Mrs. Williams and her terrible, but hilarious, mole jokes.That’s what I’ll remember.

While I’d like to think I can calculate the integral of sine and detail the Cold War after high school, I don’t think that’s what I will remember. In fact, I know this. But I will remember you. The people. And, to be honest, (you’re) the reason that I have been able to be so successful.

So, here’s to you.

My friends, you guys are incredible. Thank you for always being there to help me with my homework, to encourage me in all of my pursuits and to allow me to call you my friend.

To my teachers and counselors, who have the most underappreciated jobs in America, thank you for your patience, for your guidance, but most of all, for your support. Without you, I don’t know how I would have gotten by.

To my parents, I am so blessed.

Thank you for cooking endless

dinners, reading countless essays, paying for every dream I ever chased and asking for nothing in return.

To my sisters, I can’t help but say you two are my rocks. Thanks for listening to my crazy rants, putting up with my late-night shenanigans and always being there to play a game of cards.

It’s not the desks I’m going to miss; it’s not even the newly renovated cafeteria. As I leave Northwest, it doesn’t feel quite final yet, because I still feel connected to you. I hope that these connections don’t end here; with technology as it is today, I can’t wait to see where the world takes you. Just don’t forget where you came from.

Thank you. You made the 6:30 a.m. sun worth greeting, the essays worth writing, the Tardy Table worth laughing at and the seven hours worth attending. So, as I manage to escape the Northwest parking lot for the last time, I raise my banner to the fore; here’s to you.

Abroad Aiming I’m not going to college... i’m going to germany Traveling to germany

alaura moore

ome people have it all figured out.

As soon as we’re finally done, they’re ready to get back to the grind of school and homework, so they can continue on their path to a fulfilling career.

What most people don’t realize is, you might change your mind. You might have wanted to be a doctor your entire life, but one day you walk into a ceramics class and realize you’ve found your calling. There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind. But what if you would’ve let yourself experience more things before settling with a solid career path that left you paying off loans for the rest of your life?

In the past 12 years, I’ve sat in more desks, opened more textbooks, and taken more tests than I could ever count. I realize the importance of education, but you can only learn so much from a textbook and a teacher.

In the end, there isn’t a grade for life.

But, there is a massive pressure.

Living on your own is a whole new world. A million doors open when you walk out of your parents’ home at 18. Choosing to take advantage of

presented itself, I had to make the decision between sticking with “the plan” (JCCC for a couple years) or traveling the world with my husband for the next three years.

I realize the importance of education, but you can only learn so much from a textbook and a teacher. In the end, there isn’t a grade for life. ..

this new freedom can help you define yourself as a person, and discover how you can succeed on your own.

For some, taking a year off to travel or work can encourage you to get back in the routine of school after you’ve spent some time enjoying your first year as an independent adult and taking a gap year.

I never thought I would be so lucky as to get the chance to live in Germany my first year out of high school. When this opportunity

Honestly, the decision was easy.

I can always go back to school, but opportunities like this come so often. I know I will find my way through school when the time comes.

But after following this routine of school and living by the rules and regulations of the Shawnee Mission School District and my parents, I’m ready to live my own life. Change is good, and for most of us, graduating from high school and moving out is our first “real” experience.

o5

favorite sports memory?

In the football games when the lights go off and the band starts playing while wearing glowsticks.” —Marycarmen Lopez

Whenever a basketball player would dunk, mainly Brady, and the crowd would go insane.” —Kelci Scott

Final football game, North vs. Northwest, freshman year with the harvest moon. We all thought it was a “sign” that we would win.” —Rachel Jones

News Old Remembering past mistakes and looking forward to future ones attending johnson county comm. colg.

Mirocke Daniel mirocke

ver since I can remember, I have considered myself “old.” The movies I generally watch are from the ’70s; the music I listen to is almost always the ’90s; some of the clothes I wear were in style 40 years ago.

But up until recently, I had never really felt “old.”

Of course, I understand that at 18, I am not actually an “old person.”

However, in the twilight of what has become an uneventful senior year, I have been reminiscing about how I got to where I am today and how long it has taken. When I graduate from high school, I will have been in the Shawnee Mission school system for a whopping 13 years. I have not exactly reached the point of feeling like an antique, but more like a vinyl record.

I had a flash of insight a few months ago when I realized that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is now 7 years old. Man, I thought to myself, that game was awesome when I was in sixth grade...

That’s when it really hit me.

Hard.

I graduated from elementary school six years ago, and now I am about to graduate into yet another realm of the school system.

To put it into perspective, here are some things that were happening six years ago: George W. Bush was still president; the housing market was disintegrating into what is now referred to by some as the “great recession”; the final book in the Harry Potter book series had just been published; the first iPhone was out; Barry Bonds broke the home-run record; Justin Bieber had not been discovered yet; Michael Jackson was still alive; and Miley Cyrus’ tongue was still in her mouth.

The summer of 2008 was brimming with possibility. After sixth grade, I thought I was ready for “The Big Leagues.” But as it turned out, school would not be as easy as it had been in elementary school. No more straight As and presidential honors. I cannot help but be reminded of this same

feeling as I prepare to enter college.

This time, however, I am now about to enter what adults call “The Real World”. My anticipation for college is tenfold what it was for middle and high school. Am I ready to deal with college? If high school had a degree of difficulty I was not prepared for, what should I expect from college?

Despite how “old” I feel, maybe it’s time for me to grow up.

Even though I have felt “old” for a solid part of my life, I have never actually made a grown up decision.

I desperately want to believe that I can get away the same sloth in college. This is not going to happen.

It is not a fear of growing up and making decisions just an aversion.

My greatest desire is to retain my best qualities of my childhood and develop new qualities for success in college.

I hope to not continue to be my “old” self in college. It’s about time for me to change that aspect of my “old” life. I know that I have the potential to succeed in college, but

Forward Moving Back, Looking even though i am excited to move on, it turns out i am going to miss this place attending university of cincinnati art & design

calista bohling

t’s funny how the closer college gets, the more scared I become.

I think every kid has dreamed of going off to college, becoming independent, and stepping into a new world where your past doesn’t matter. We’ve dreamed of a time when who we were in high school becomes meaningless. But as this dream is beginning to become reality, I find myself feeling small and unprepared.

While part of me is excited for the endless possibilities that lie ahead of me, another part of me is terrified of all the changes that are about to take place.

Coming to Northwest as a freshman, I remember the Awkward Me (which I’ll never forget), and it has taken until now, days before graduation, to build the required confidence to confront it. However, just as we manage to reach this apex, we will be similarly thrown into the exact situation we were in only a few years ago: lost and at the bottom of the food chain.

As I look back on all the weeks, months, and years of work I have put in, I can’t help but wonder if those years have prepared me enough to face college on my own. Without my friends, or family, all I will have

want to grow up so fast. Now that I’ve begun to see a little of what adulthood looks like, I wish I could live in some of those memories I’ve made. I think of all the amazing people I have met and all the memories I’ve gained, I

These memories and experiences are the only thing of value that I’ll take to college, because these are the things that I’ll find comfort in when I’m miles away from home. to carry with me are the memories that I’ve collected these past few years.

Although I know I will continue to create new memories, I can’t help but feel incredibly sad about all the things that I am leaving behind. In only a couple of months, all the friends I have now may simply become people I once knew, and all the familiar places I grew up around will be miles away.

I think I was crazy as a child to

wouldn’t trade them for anything, not the good or bad. These memories and experiences are the only thing of value that I’ll take to college, because these are the things that I’ll find comfort in when I’m miles away from home.

In four months, I’ll be 10 hours away from home, no family or friends, none of the familiarity or comfort that comes being here. I’d never thought I’d say it, but I’ll miss this place.

Winning the Vermont State Lacrosse championship in 10th Grade” —Griffin Walsh

My first varsity touchdown when I was a sophomore.”

—Devin Shockley

Going to state with my bowling team (‘13).”

—Amanda Vanderwerf

Last soccer game of the C-team season sophomore year.

We decided we weren’t ever going to try and win and we all switched positions and had fun.” —Ben Higginbothom

School High in Learned IhighActually What school, i’ve learned less about math and science and more throughout about myself and life

attending university

of missouri

Compton Nate compton nate

y story began on freshmen day of 2010 when I was just a shy 14-year-old. I figured uttering a single word in class was about the most terrifying thing in the world. I had no idea who I was or how I wanted my story to play out.

I came from a small private school where I spent kindergarten through eighth grade with the same people. I was psyched to have the opportunity to break away from those classmates.

When I enrolled for my freshman year, I joined Photojournalism primarily to meet new people.

My plan was to take it for one year and move on. Four years, four Photojournalism classes, two Yearbook classes, two Newspaper classes, and an Independent Study in Design later and I know what I’m doing with my life. Despite all the required classes on subject matter that the we will forget by the time that last bell rings (When am I going to need to remember that i^2 = -1?),

the main point of high school is to prepare us for life.

Journalism has taught me how to open up. I learned that talking to other people isn’t going to kill me, and that you can learn some pretty incredible things about these people.

Everyone has a story that’s worth hearing. Journalism also taught me that no decision you make affects only you. When I don’t receive photos on time for the paper or the yearbook, I can’t design the spread. When I can’t design my spreads, pages are late. And when pages are late, we get fined. Your “whatever” is always someone else’s “I’m screwed.”

Photography has taught me the importance of finding the beauty in everything: a speck of dust floating in the sunlight, water splashing up from a pothole, sparks from the gunfire at the start of a race. The respect I have gained for the “ordinary” is incredible. It’s all about perspective.

People are the same way; even “ordinary” people are magnificent.

High school has taught me that life

is unpredictable, and the situations I’ve been thrown into do not make me who I am. The way I’ve handled those situations do, however. And just like everyone else, I have made decisions that I am proud of and some that I’m not, but all of those decisions are a part of my story.

I learned that everyone is struggling with something that you would never know by looking at them. Never make snap judgments.

I learned that despite the saying that you can’t choose your family, you actually can. I have gained other siblings who I might as well have a blood relationship with. I learned that no matter how tightly you hold on to someone, it’s always a possibility that you will lose them. Sometimes they don’t come back. I’ve learned that sometimes you have to save yourself. I’ve also learned that you need help to do that.

I’ve learned that each year passes faster than the last. Eventually, all of this will just be old stories we tell, so make your story count.

Slate Clean As much as I’m going to miss high school, I’m ready to start college fresh attending university of missouri

sarah egger

igh school is almost over for me, and, let’s be honest, most of us are only going to miss the classmates we have known since way back when, the ones we’ll leave behind as we head off to college.

But me?

I’m looking forward to a clean slate.

In college, people aren’t going to recognize me. They aren’t going to know about that time freshman year when I fell up the stairs and spilled hot chocolate all over my white shirt. They won’t remember that day the Benninghoven parking lot was covered with ice and I wiped out in front of three classes of thirdgraders. They won’t remember who I was in sixth grade, a time I try not to remember.

They are only going to know the things I decide to share.

I was sitting in Van Rose’s Calculus class attempting to learn

the day’s lesson, when I turned to my friend Kelly Chambers for help. I’ve known Kelly since elementary school.

She looked at me and laughed.

“Do you remember in elementary school when....” her stories always

like Rachal does; or that when I’m upset, all I need is a hug, like Keegan does. They won’t know the things about Me that really matter.

So I’ll hang on to Katie and

I’ll see them on breaks and maybe go visit them at college. And we’ll continue tell all of the stories that begin “Do you remember when...” begin. It’s always fun until someone brings up something embarrassing.

My face turns bright red as I deny that the event ever occurred. I wondered how, after all these years, they still remember that.

But a clean slate also means that no one really knows me, the real Me. They won’t know that my favorite color is blue, like Katie does; that my mom lives four states away,

Rachal and Keegan and all of the other people who really know Me. We’ll stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter and Skype. I’ll see them on breaks and maybe go visit them at college.

And we’ll continue tell all of the stories that begin “Do you remember when...”

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how have you changed since freshman year?

I’m taller, but I still can’t grow a beard.”

I’ve learned so much about who I am an what it means to be happy. I learned that I was good at things other than talking to boys.” —Zoe Ziegenhorn

—John Pedrosa

I’ve gotten significantly more attractive.”

—Phil Shamet

I have become less muscular, more pale, and much lazier.”

—Anthan Swearingen

and then now The progression of trends that the class of 2014 favored from the time they were 10 years old to now MAIN GRAPHICS BY MITCH FREYERHERM + LAYOUT GRAPHICS BY NATE COMPTON

profession

video games

pokemon

Grand theft auto

teacher

teacher

then

now

then

now

tv show

spongebob

then

+

pokemon

the walking dead

then

now

book series

+

breaking bad

now

favorite english book in high school

harry potter

harry potter

the great gatsby

to kill a mockingbird

then

now

first

second

Facial hair, mostly, and I have become wise (or more cynical) regarding the nature of people.” —Jake Palmer

I have realized who I am. I am confident. I am independent, and wiser.

I finally got a figure!” —Rachael Birt

Since freshman year I’ve learned that spending time with the people you love is more important than getting straight A’s..” —Paige Vanderleest

Prom

Dominant + Above Senior Sam Gay and Gabby Riggs smile as they walk down the main gym on April 25 during the annual prom assembly. Gay received first runner up while Riggs received queen. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA Dancing wildly, the seniors become a part of the senior skit after members of the skit toss fake money into the crowd. PHOTO BY NICK KAHTAVA Seniors Nate Compton and Calista Bohling smile while walking down the gym. “I honestly didn’t know that enough people even knew who I was to put me on court so the entire experience was truly incredible,” Compton said. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA Freshman Lawrence Jones dances as he faces sophomore Erica Esch during the Rock Paper Scissors finals during the prom assembly on April 25 in the main gym. Jones ended up winning the tournament. PHOTO BY LUCAS SILVA Junior Sam Nobrega holds junior Izzy Williams during the junior skit. PHOTO BY SAVANNAH KELLY

Left (clockwise) Senior Alex Gabrielli is applauded as he walks to the stage at prom on Apr 26. Gabrielli won King. “It was so exciting and was a humbling experience.” said Gabrielli.

“My first thought was of all the kind people that voted for me.” PHOTO BY TARYN SMITH Pointing to the senior class, senior Sam Gross performs his untitled, poetry slam winning poem on April 25 at the prom assembly in the main gym. Gross was the 2014 Slampion on senior Natalie Chance was the runner up.

“Poetry has really opened my eyes to the world around me,” Gross said. “Especially at LTAB, it allowed me to put a face to one of dozens of other groups in this city that i would normally only read about in the paper.”

PHOTO BY SAVANNAH KELLY Seniors Abby Zimmerman and Sam Gay stand on the stage after being crowned the second runner ups for prom queen and king. PHOTO BY ISSY WALLIS Senior Justin Moody and friends danced during the Prom on April 26 at the Shawnee Civic Center. The theme of this years Prom was Cirque du Soleil. PHOTO BY ISSY WALLIS

o9

Most embarrasing moment?

When I was in Aquatics class and had to go to the hospital because I hit my nose underwater.”

—Krysta Heller

My cellphone going off in class during a test and I couldn’t find it to shut it off.”

—Cara Clark

words from

The first week my freshman year, I almost walked into the boys bathroom.”

A

—Samantha Rucker

—Hank Raines

Having to wear goggles over glasses freshman year for soccer because I got an ulcer on my [pupil] due to the fact that I wore my daily contacts for too many days.” —Steven Skells

? s r io n e s g in m o c in e h t r o f advice

“It’s time to knuckle down, this year sets off how you’ll spring your future.”

—Cassie Queral

“Find something you love and stick with it because it will get you somewhere in the end.”

—Betty Bedasso

“Try a new thing every day.”

“You can procrastinate as long as you can still function at midnight and write the paper.”

—Tristan Gerfen

“Don’t grow up too fast, this is the last year to be a kid, don’t take it for granted.”

—Jesse Black

“Embrace senior year. You only have one (hopefully).”

—Cara Clark

—Mia Woodward

“Never talk about people behind their back.”

“Even if it’s stressful, don’t wish any part of this year away.

Take a lot of pictures.”

“Hangout with friends. Cherish the time you have with them because you won’t get to see them everyday anymore.”

—Kaitie Marlof

“Don’t lose yourself in the moment, keep your head on straight until the very end.”

—RJ Rojas

“If it takes 5 minutes, do it now instead of later.”

—Josh Boston

“Don’t try to act “cool,” let the people you “deserve” come to you.”

—Brock DeVolder

“Keep an open mind when what you once thought was a guarantee is no longer an option.”

—Katie Dewitt

“Make the most of this year. Do whatever makes you happy! Keep your mind in today and your eyes on the future.”

—Leilani Velasco

“Apply for scholarships now! It’s free money you get for things you’ve already accomplished.”

—Skyler Jackson

“Don’t worry if you have no idea what you want to do. Everyone else may seem like they have life figured out, but they don’t.”

—Sarah Lang

“Turn in your applications early. Be on top of deadlines. Enjoy your last year, but also don’t forget about your futures. The deadlines will come before you know it.”

—Courtney Saylor

“Do everything you can; go on trips, dances, games— it’s the last time you’ll ever do it in high school again.”

—Alyssa Gerber

When I made a big show of asking someone to prom and they had already been asked.”

—Devin Shockley

—Amanda Vanderwerf

“Don’t settle when making college plans. Go where you truly want to go and everything else will work itself out.”

—Paige Vanderleest

“Don’t be afraid or discouraged to follow what you are passionate about and remember that high school is just a small section of your life so don’t stress yourself too hard.”

—Randy Prosser

“Senioritis comes quick and is hard to shake.”

—Ryan Verstraete

“Focus your time on the people and the opportunities you have left in high school. The time goes so quick, so hone in on those that mean most to you.”

—Natalie Chance

“Stay focused on the ultimate goal but don’t take NW for granted.

We have an incredible loving community here.”

—Kelly Sharpe

“Surround yourself with good friends and make sure you live for yourself. Do whatever makes you happy and never let fear stop you from doing anything because soon all of this will be over.”

—Nate Compton

“Do your homework! Don’t get caught doing anything stupid. Your career is on the line.”

—Julian Cole-Nieves

“Do everything you possibly can, create memories you will never forget and meet new, awesome people. Try not to say no to things because you never know when a good opportunity might present itself.”

—Mirell Molder

I fell down the stairs of the bus freshman year… face first”

—Skyler Jackson

L

Having to wear goggles over glasses freshman year for soccer because I got an ulcer on my [pupil] due to the fact that I wore my daily contacts for too many days.” —Steven Skells

Asking what an e-cig was.”

—John Elsea

Learning how to drive and accidentally running over and breaking the lights lining my boyfriend’s driveway (we hadn’t even been dating that long!).”

—Olivia Broome

? l o o h c s h ig h in d e n r a e l e v a h u Lessons yo

““Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” Albus Dumbledore.”

—Mercy Baldwin

“People are idiots.”

—Chris Graves

“Surrounding yourself with the right people can make all the difference.”

“Don’t sass Gibbens.”

—Alexander Bratten

“Always eat breakfast or else your stomach will practice whale calls.”

If you see somebody sitting alone at lunch, invite them to sit with you, not only are you giving them a friend but you also get a new friend - the most loyal kind.”

“Always keep a handcuff key on your person!”

“If you don’t love yourself, no one else will.”

“Don’t let the past reflect who you are in the future.”

“Find your niche. The right people can either make or break your high school years.”

—Tori Devonshire —Laura Dewey

—Scott Melrckill —Devin Shockely

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

—Phil Shamet

“Keep trying no matter how hard you goal is to reach.”

—Dehven Talley

“I learned to take life slowly and enjoy it because it passes by before you know it.”

—Calista Bohling

“Sometimes it’s best to force yourself to do things that seem scary or impossible.”

—Anthan Swearingen —Skyler Jackson

Getting my hair caught in the ceramics wheel in the middle of class and smacking my face in the clay.” —Madison Jarmusch

y

your senior moment?

“My favorite moment was a conversation with Mr. Gibbens. He gave me the greatest advice and compliment. Very blessed to have such an incredible teacher that is strong in his faith.”

—Sarah Lang

—Natalie Chance

“Everyone you meet has their own struggle, so don’t ever jump to conclusions.”

“My senior moment has not happened yet but it would be when I walk across stage and dedicate my diploma to my daughter.”

—Carolina Mach

“I am an entity beyond my experiences. What people say and do to me doesn’t define me.

—Erin Smith

“Cursive was a waste of time.”

—Madison Jarmusch

—Mariela Carbajal

“When I was planning my graduation party and realized that first of all, I’m not going to graduate with my senior class back in Estonia which feels weird. And then I realized that 12 years of school is over and I’ve always wanted it to be over but now I don’t know if I want it. I mean, I love meeting new people and facing new challenges but I also cannot imagine my life without seeing my friends five days a week, 180 days a year.”

—Charlie Russell

“Every person you’ll meet has something interesting to add to your life. Give them a chance.”

“Don’t have your fishing pocket knife anywhere near you at anytime during the day.”

“People don’t think the same way you do.”

—Ben Higginbothom

—Mirell Molder

—Tristan Gerfen

“Kindness is the greatest tool in your arsenal.”

“Never be too proud to reach out when in need.”

—Steven Skells

—Bridget Lynch

“Going to Mexico over spring break with the people I’ve spent all of the high school with before we all go our separate ways.”

“Don’t be afraid— whether you’re choosing to go out of state, join a new club, or talk to a new person. You never know what’s going to happen unless you try, don’t let fear hold you back.

“To be who you are, I’m a christian and not ashamed.

Just be unapologetically yourself. People appreciate positivity and encouragement.”

“When my parents walked me down the court for senior night.”

—Ana Sokolenko

“Everyone matters.”

—Hayley Nugent

—Natalie Chance

—Emmy Sousley

“Life isn’t easy, but how you come through in the end will define who you are becoming.”

“Being with my peers every day has been a blast! I always wish the best for them.

We have come so far together and we have gotten each other a step closer to graduation every day! We have all become so unified. We have made every day a senior moment.”

—Zoe Ziegenhorn

—Cassie Queral

“Don’t ever assume that people think poorly of you.”

“People will always come in and out of my life, the decision is who is worth keeping.”

—Taylor Bonser

—Paige Vanderleest

—Karli McCluskey

—Maggie Brown

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College 1

Alabama A&M

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Allen County Community College

3

Baker University

Destiny Greene Colten Allen Sean Beal Tyler Filson Megan Johnson Emily Robinson

4 5

Rider University

6

Carthage College

7

University of Central Missouri

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Coffeyville Community College

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Friends University

Elizabeth Brooks

Broadmoor Technical Center Jessica Bailey Anna Thomsen Ebony Davis Mikala Modiri Taylor Kangethe Bethany Vonada

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Dodge City Community College

11

Emporia State

Khalil Hatlley Ariska Savior Lily Bordoni Margaret Brown Danielle Holst Katelin Delaughter

12

Hampton University

13

Hutchinson Community College

14

Illinois Institute of Technology

15

Illinois State

16

Iowa State

17

Iowa Western Community College

18

Quinton Burnett Justin Moody Jacob Esparza-Hoskins Katheen Mullin Jessica Oszman Paige Vander Leest Adria Northrop Ashley Verrill

Johnson County Community College Angela Acosta Karen Acosta Huda Alsadeq Haley Arroyo Mercy Baldwin

Bailey Bandle Jeffery Barnhill Jocelyn Barrios Meghan Beam Kalekidane Bedasso Bethelem Bedasso Derrick Bennett Jordan Berry Nisha Bisht Jesse Black Conan Brennan Madison Burge Mary Carmen Danny Casteel Zachary Chomyak Cara Clark Carlos Cocotl-Zanahua Joana Cocotl-Zanahua Gwenivere Cody Robert Conklin Brooke Courtney Jordahn Cretsinger Ethan CroffDooley Josh Cuchran John Cummings Emily Daly Tiffany Davis Brock Devolder Laura Dewey Shea Drummond Anthony Duckworth Karyna Elliotw John Elsea Breanna Enlaneu Makenzie Everett Jordan Fink Anthony Fisher Nicholas Flanery Christopher Garcia Reed Gardener Tyler Garrison Nicholas Ghilardi Christopher Graff Jasmine Guerra Blair Gulick Mekiah Harris Krysta Heller Maggie Hockersmith Ana Hunt Shai Husband Kyle Hyde Kathleen Jacobsen Kaitlin Johnson Dondi Jones Marianne Kaminski Hope Kang Morgan Karl Joshua Keegan Evan Kelley Patrick Koonce

19

59 9

Patrick Koonce Mason Laws Timothy Madorin Lindsey Marcus Sara Martin Cody Martin Karli McCluskey Timothy McLead Andrew Medis Rebekah Meigs Daniel Mirocke Khalea Mitchell Kellen Mollohon Ashley Murrell Jason Niemackl Luke Nunnink Fatima Ornelas Isaac Pauli Jon Pedroza Jonathan Pedroza Oseas Perez Tomas Perez Emelin Prieto David Pullen Cassandra Queral Alexis Railsback Giuliano Ramirez Stephanie Richards Wyatt Richerson Katelyn Robinson Socurro Rodriguez Mckayla Ross Kira Sauerbrei Caleb Schmidt Dominic Schreimann Austin Simms Gurkirat Singh Jacob Slaughter Nicholas Smith Sarah Sousley Samantha Stiles Amanda Stoeckl Jessie Tattershall Emily Thomas Emoni Todd Kyle Tong Canyon Toshavik Dana Verstraete Simapreet Virk Jessica Volker Breann Walker Nalina Washington Samuel Wickoren Emily Young

Kansas State University Jon Anderson Carly Benjamin Lauren Benjamin

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60

56

61 30

7

23 58

27

37

Taylor Bonser Niklas Carlson Kelly Chambers Brett Christianson Corbyn Coffelt Chase Cunningham Brock Devolder Kayla Eubanks Leah Fields Heidi Forland Hailey Foudray Bailee Fuller Tristan Gerfen Jacob Gilliam Christopher Graves Grace Gregory Rachal Henchek Amanda Hoelting Kellan Horner Simrun Hundal Sondra Ibarra Matthew Imel Kyle Ingram Maxwell Jinks Connor Johnson Erin Key Avery Kostelac Cody Krehbiel Bridget Lynch Carolina Mach Kaitlyn Marolf Katie Rose McKinley Maggie Mulich Tyler Nelson Emily Nicol Kirsten Nilges Michael Nyhart John Raines Gabrielle Riggs Daniella Santos Darrien Savage Courtney Saylor Max Schnittker George Skells Jennifer Smith Warren Sparks Anthan Swearingen Garrett Tann Kelsie Thomann Tori Tummons Lindsey Unrein Leilani Velasco Chi-Leigh Warren Mallory Wilhite

29

Kendra Wright Raelee Wright Abigail Zimmerman

20

Kansas City Art Institute

21

Kansas City Community College

22

Kansas University

Sarah Dean Erin Smith

55

Rachael Hinkle Kate Atkinson Mckenzie Baker Joshua Boston Aaron Bunyar Travis Calvin Michael Catt Hannah Clevenger Sean Collins Michael Cook Keaton Cross Madison Delamore Jared Fisher Alexander Gabrielli Samuel Gay Skylr Heck Samantha Hidalgo Melanie Higdon Omar Husain Christian Jones Collin Jones Nicholas Jordan Daniel Kashani Jeremy Kembel Andrew Knapp Harley Knapp Michael Lee Jordan Leichter Sydney Lindenman Danielle Lollas Sandra Ly Robert Lynch Morgan McNeace Tucker Meyers Logan Miller Andrew Moss Hayley Nugent Emma Perlmutter Jane Peterson Ashley Railsback Jack Rheuport Charles Russell Medmaly Sanoubane Kelci Scott Phillip Shamet

Devin Shockley Matthew Springston Catherine Stutheit Jon-Eric Taylor Joshua Van Auken Amanda Vanderwerf Ryan Verstraete Richard Walsh Alice Wambua Gabrielle Whitmore Jung Yun Halston Zebley

35 36

23

Lindenwood University

24

Rochester Institute of Technology

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Michigan State

26

Miluakee School of Engineering

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Missouri University of Science and Technology

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Missouri Western State University

29

Missouri State Unviersity

30

University of Missouri

31

New York University

32

Ohio State University

33

Oklahoma State

34

Purdue University

Brody Slocum

37

Katherine DeWitt Tatiana Darby Abigail Born Zachary Walker Olivia Sanders

Jeremy Gonterman Sunnie Helmer Sarah Egger Nathan Compton Darielle Criss-McKellar Sarah Godke

Samuel Gross Gabriel Falcon Jacqueline Entzminger Joshua Alexander Michael Chalabi Andreas Watts

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39

6

53

17

16

26 24 14 15

51

33 54

24 41 31

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4

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50

Military Airforce

49

Joseph Carey Tyler McCoy

1

IOS Branch

Dallas Ernsdorf

48

45

42

Marines

Patrick MacAnerney

Navy Jesus Venegas

Ottawa University Cody Peterson

46

Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

44

Griffin Walsh

Army National Guard Kyle Wohletz

Alyssa Gerber

Travel Abroad

Pittsburg State Unviersity Courtnie Adams Austin Bondaurant Madison Frazier Griffith Hoffman Ralph Rojas Cierra Smith Jillian Sommerfeld Jessica Sprang Elizabeth Stithem Chandler Voss Mia Woodward Trevor Donovan Taylor Roberts Jamie Zarda Juliana Cook

z cosmetology

44 45

University of Alabama

46

Trinity University

47

Truman State

48

University of Arizona

Samuel Arnold Tyler Bienhoff Milad Ghasempour Benjamin Higginbotham Neng Huynh Philip Ruo Presley McGarry Isaac Booth Skyler Jackson Kristalyn Gentry

Madison Jarmusch

49

University of Arkansas

54

University of Oklahoma

55

University of Southern California

56

University of Washington

Asia Williams

Institute of Production and Recording Jahnan Jackson

Rockhurst University Ashley Okerberg

Sacred Heart University Grace Freeman

Savannah College of Art and Design Libby Fisher

Southwestern College Faith Bryant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Texas State University

50

Maddie Mitchell

53

Olivia Broome Ana Sokolenko Lena Dennington Dustin Gansebom

Kate Helfrich Natalie Chance Gage Hutchinson Rachel Jones Carter Oberheu Emily Petersen Kelly Sharpe Alexander Springer

51

University of Denver

52

University of Missouri Kansas City

Ellen Megerson Scott Melrckill

David Khongmaly Rachael Birt Alexander Bratten

57

Washburn University

58

Webster University

University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Arct, and Planning Calista Bohling

Ben Huddleston

Victoria Devonshire Brady Skeens Sarah Taylor Ethan Tidwell Jake Horner Jenna Septer

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Wichita State University Logan Adkins Devante´ Covington Christopher Gies Nina Gramajo Sonia Ulloa

Sarah Lang (Europe) Alaura Moore (Germany) Zoe Ziegenhorn (Belgium)

Returning Home

Lina Donath (Germany) Mirell Molder (Estonia) Romulo Nader (Brazil) Julia Sonnleitner (Austria)

Overseas Universities

60

William Jewell College

61

William Woods University

Mathilde Guglielmi

Evan Khan Sara Laney

Adam Hofmeister

62

Johnson Whales University

63

Wyotech Trade School

Evan Miller Samantha Rucker

Nicholas Tomassi William Ferris

Working Lindsay Binder Michael Haynes Andrea Helton Halen Knapp Matt Macek Mckenzie Minshew Chris Osborne Brennen Strohm

McGill University - Canada

New York University - Prague

Undecided Abstained Danielle Bryant Alexander Butler George Dowell Luke Illig Brandon Keller Rex Larson Jacob Palmer Amanda Rebori Austin Schulte Josiah Shoemaker Sukhjit Singh Warren Specht Dehven Talley Holly Williamson

Ashley Bennett Kayla Bohlander Jessica Eitel Bradley Foster Kevin Maek Hannah Reever Valeria Resendez

13

A Shawnee Tradition Since 2003

$3 off a Large Pizza 22716 Midland Dr. 913.667.3000

class of 2O14’s

influential Influential Seniors seniors VIDEO INTERVIEWS ON SMNW.COM

photos by interviews by

Nate Compton Lena Dennington Sarah Egger + Alaura Moore

front Taylor Bonser Sarah Godke Sam Gross Natalie Chance Lena Dennington

middle Carolina Mach Josh Van Auken

back Connor Johnson Bady Skeens Warren Specht

15

senior Moment?

Me and John Cummings naming his giant red car Clifford.” —Brock DeVolder

What were your goals as a freshman and how have they changed?

“I think as a freshman I had superficial goals, as far as only wanting to get good grades and get that high ACT score. I didn’t really know what to expect other than doing those things and trying to work hard to get those things so that is about it. My goals have definitely changed as I have gone through high school. Now that big grade and numerical values have been given to me, I am much more interested in getting to meet as many people as I can, and just having people around me and being involved.”

What does it mean to be influential?

“I think to be influential is just to encourage those around you to do their best through everything you do. I don’t know if I did that, but I think it is just when you are around other people you are encouraging them to be the best they can be.”

What would you like to have accomplished with swim?

“I would like to have motivated my fellow swimmers as much as possible for our team. I also would like to have been a captain that let people have a good time on the team but also did some hard work, someone

Finding my Best friend and roommate and vowing to try something new every week. Let’s just say, this has been the greatest year in high school” —Mia Woodward

who was ready to take up any activity that was given to me with whole-heartedness. I think I definitely could have been a better captain, but it was hard with our team. We just had a lot of fun. I’d say that was the most we’ve accomplished. I think that’s good too.”

What will you take with you from NW? “I met a lot of awesome people, our class is full of good people.

I think those relationships will definitely help me appreciate and see the best in everybody.

I always worked hard in high school, so I think that is something that I will carry on as I move into college, where there is even more weight put on my work.”

Where do you see yourself in the future?

“I would love to end up in the automotive industry really doing anything I like. Ideally it would do something with math and I would be figuring out statistics for Tesla or Porsche would be great. I will be majoring in either mathematics or engineering.

Either of those would do good for me, but if that doesn’t happen I would love to be in the automotive industry with either of those degrees. I don’t know if that is possible in math. I don’t know, I will just do my best.”

What activity do you do that best defines you?

“I would probably say the activity that best defines me was when I went on a mission trip over spring break to Texas and we basically just helped out a bunch of kids that were in unfortunate situations and just living in terrible conditions. It was awesome to be able to help them and this best defines me because my faith is a big part of me.”

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind?

“I definitely hope I leave some sort of legacy behind because I feel like I put a lot of hard work into all the things that I have done like tennis. Coming into my freshman year I didn’t know how to pick up a racket and play tennis. I definitely hope I leave a legacy behind in newspaper because I feel like it’s something I grew to value a lot and it’s very important to me. I also think IB I hope to leave a legacy because I have worked so so hard in my classes to get this diploma.”

If you could say one thing to the class of 2014, what would it be?

“I would say make sure you live for the now.

I think a lot of people are like I can’t wait to do this, I can’t wait for Friday, I can’t wait for college. I think our class, our generation in general, just doesn’t live for the now and I feel like we are losing valuable time so find something you love to do so that way you are always doing something you love.”

What have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

“I’m definitely most proud of my IB diploma

How do you become successful at NW? “I think to become successful at Northwest means that you have to get involved in something that you believe in and follow that and stick with it for a while and meet people that also believe in what you believe in that organization. Just have a good time with that.”

What activity do you do that best defines your time at Northwest?

“I think my involvement in StuCo probably best defines my time at Northwest. Even though I had a short tenor as a representative, I really enjoyed it and I met a lot of great people I never would have otherwise. It really brought me closer to a lot of people at Northwest and the activities that we do.”

Realizing that this is it with my friends and I hanging out regularly. Everyone is moving away.” —Nick Flannery

josh van

auken

Who would you like to thank?

“I would like to thank Brewer for being my first high school teacher who I truly loved as a teacher and as a person and who definitely gave me high hopes for everything that was to come in high school. Of course I would thank my parents even if my mom would get on me for somethings that I think were unreasonable, but she pushed me to do my best all the time.

She let me have a good time throughout.”

because I worked hard— I typed so many essays, so many words, worked with so many groups to get there. Obviously I haven’t gotten there yet, but I’m definitely most proud of that, and obviously I’m very proud of the newspaper.”

who influences you?

“There are a lot of people who influence me to be honest, my sisters are huge influences on my, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without my sisters. My parents are huge influences in my life, they’ve gotten me where I am today, and I think they’ve encouraged me to keep doing what I’ve been doing and they encourage me to chase my dreams. And my grandparents are huge cheerleaders, they’re huge cheerleaders, and lastly I think that Jesus and God has influenced me the most. I think my faith is the foundation of who I am, and it is why I am so happy in the way that I am, and I think that that influence causes my joy to be from something greater.”

What is your goal in life?

“My goal in life is just to be someone that God’s gonna look on and be like “wow I’m really proud of her, and that’s Lena thats my child,” and thats probably my biggest goal in life. Short term goals I hope to finish college obviously, and still debating if I want to go to law school because I think my mind will probably change a lot in college and beyond. I think it would be awesome, I’m still keeping my mind open about being a behavioral analyst for the CIA.”

Lena D Dennington

how have you changed since freshman year?

I’ve learned that you’ll make mistakes throughout your life but what’s important is that you improve and learn from them.” —Tori Devonshire

It’s incredible how much you can change visually and intellectually. Looking back on some of my freshman pictures, I don’t even recognize myself.” —Tate Kembel

What activity best defines you?

Natalie Chance

“Either [being] Club 121 president or being involved in the poetry club and the poetry team. I feel like a lot of people know me by my faith, and I love that because that’s what I’ve tried to make my whole life about. My faith in Christ. Also, the cool, creative, fun side of me loves to write poetry and [that] got me far in high school which was really cool.”

what is your goal in life?

“One of my main goals is to impact somebody in a positive way every single day. That was one of my goals that I wrote at StuCo camp. Another goal that I have is to have a Godly marriage, a Godly life, and [a life] that is worthy of the Gospel. My biggest goal is to make my life a proclamation of Jesus and not about me.”

How have your goals changed since your freshman year?

“Some of my goals as a freshman involved a lot of gymnastics so those have changed immensely.

I got hurt my sophomore year and fractured my back. A lot of my goals had to do with [that fact that] I wanted to go to college for gymnastics. Earlier in high school, doing so much gymnastics, my focus was purely on that and not on the people I was surrounded by. As I got

What Kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind?

“I want to leave behind a sports legacy because my father left a sports legacy at his high school, so I really want to follow his footsteps.

I think I have done a good job of leaving a sports legacy in basketball, baseball isn’t over yet, but I definitely think I did in basketball.”

what was your greatest success in high school?

“My greatest success would be either making it to state, or making varsity my junior year for basketball and baseball.”

How have your parents influenced your sports career?

“Both of my parents and all of my family have deep roots in sports so I have just tried to follow their footsteps everyday. My dad played in college and so did my mom, now I am and so I think I’ve done a good job of keeping their legacy and making my own. I’m proud of that.”

what will you miss most about northwest?

“I think the thing I will miss

most about Northwest is all of the friends I have made and the teachers I’ve met.

Especially [Justin] Stigge because he’s the one that got me interested in the sciences from his meteorology class and physics class.”

making varsity my junior year for basketball and baseball.

Especially in basketball, I think making varsity my junior year ultimately defined my high school sports career and influenced my decision to play in college.”

what is your favorite sports memory?

If you could change how you did something in high school, what would it be?

“It’s got to be when we were playing SMS basketball this year. They were better than us, and we came into the game with fire in our hearts and we beat them and it was just a great feeling. It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had actually.”

why is basketball your favorite sport?

“I think it came from my dad, because his favorite sport was basketball and [when I was younger] we would play everyday and into the nights, and I just loved it. Him and my brothers, because I also played with them, are the reason I’m good at basketball and they got me a lot better, especially in middle school.”

what was your greatest success in high school?

“My greatest success would be either making it to state, or

“I wish I would have started my freshman year off better.

I started my freshman year off with bad grades and it kinda went downhill from there until I picked it back up my sophomore year. I think I realized that you can’t just walk through high school, you have to work hard and get good grades.”

What’s the most important thing to you?

“The most important thing to me is my family because they’ve supported me, and I feel like I need to support them back. I think [I can do that by] moving on in life like: getting a job, moving on in basketball and stuff like that.”

[farther] into high school and my injury happened, I realized that the people that I was surrounded by [were] people who made an impact on me and I wanted to make an impact on them too.”

how has poetry helped you face difficult situations?

“Poetry is my sanctuary. It is my getaway 100%. Any emotion or any story that I want to portray, I can use that as an outlet. It relates to audiences and is incredible to me. I can stand up on a stage and people will clap and like you for being weird, it’s really amazing.”

tell us about being involved in Louder Than A Bomb [Ltab]?

“Being involved in LTAB was one of the most rewarding high school experience because it pushed us all to our very limits. We were writing insane amounts of poetry and we’d be at my house for seven hours and [we still wouldn’t] have a group poem. But to be on that stage, to nail a poem, and to see people from all over Kansas City [participating was] amazing.

We were going against schools who were really focused on it and have clubs preparing them for Louder Than A Bomb. And our team was purely thrown together, Kincade [said we were doing it] and we were all super busy but it was so worth it.”

I’m taller and can grow a beard.” —Sam Gay

Which of your poems is the most meaningful to you?

“It would probably be “The Table”, that I did last year, which was me laying out all of the hard times that have gone on in high school and in my life.

[That poem was me] coming clean about things. To give that to an audience gave me the benefit of appreciating that I’ve been through those things. My other favorite is “My Declaration Sonnet”, that I did this year.

If that was going to be my last poem on stage and I wanted it to be about Jesus. I didn’t want it to be about me at all. I thought I might not get to the finals and that was okay and if I was going to have this one guarantee, I have to make it about God.”

What are the best situations for you to write poetry in?

“The best time to write poetry is from 2:30 am to 5:00 am. There’s just a really beautiful time in that section where you get down to the core of yourself. But I love writing in the park. I really like coffee so I go to coffeeshops and write poems because it’s nice and warm, and you can have coffee. I love [writing] where there are noises around me. So, being in the park and hearing leaves, wind, water, and people moving around.”

warren s specht

favorite sports memory?

Getting top 10 in cross country and getting gold metal and helping our team go to state.” —Joshua Girardi

What activity do you do that best defines you?

“Definitely journalism, because I joined when when I was a sophomore, and in freshmen year, I didn’t really know my place at Northwest, and when I entered yearbook, I thought it was just going to to be a fun place, another activity to do. However, when I got into it, it was just my natural place. Cough always tells us to find our niche, and I definitely found mine in journalism.”

Is there something that you wish you would have been involved in that you didn’t during your time at NW? “I got into Club 121 in my senior year and I really wish I had joined it at the beginning of my freshman year because the people I’ve met through it and I’ve become a lot stronger in my faith because of it. But it has only been one year, and if I had started it in my freshman year it would have been that much more amazing.”

Who influences you?

“One was Hayley Nugent. She has made believe in myself more than anyone else really ever has, and so for her to reach and be like, “No, you can do this,” or, “Sarah, you are this strong of a person,” then that meant so much to me. Also, very cliche, but my parents and Jesus Christ.”

what was your greatest success in high school?

“I would say being the role model that I wanted to be. I entered into high school and I was like, “I want to get involved in this, this, and this,” and I thought that was what all high school was about was just getting involved. It wasn’t until the middle of my high school career that I really realized that through those opportunities I could become a role model for someone else, or you could become a leader for someone or someone they can look up to. Having people come up to me that say, “I really respect you for so many

When I made a diving play down the line at third base and then threw a kid out while sitting down.” —Brandon Keller

reasons,” that means the absolute world to me.

It’s not get voted for this or having that title, that honestly doesn’t mean anything to me, but having someone say, “I look up to you,” that means everything to me.”

what is your goal in life?

“Career wise, what I want to do right now is, As a person I have a lot of hopes and dreams, but career wise I’m going to the University of Missouri to double major in Marketing and Advertising with a minor in Business, and then I want to go get my MBA, and I really want to be a marketing director or work for an ad agency.

That’s definitely [what I want to do] career wise.

Another part of me, at some time in my life wants to take a year off and become a missionary, and I also want to be a documentarian, and just show the people around, because I feel like people are so centered on their own lives. If I could be the one to like show people, like there are seven billion people in this world, cherish them. We’re not [different], we’re all the same practically, and I would love to just shine Lord’s light even more in different countries. So that’s definitely my one goal in life is to take a year off and not be “Sarah Godke,” but to be someone that the Lord can use.”

what is your biggest accomplishment in high school?

“My goals were to start varsity in football, get straight As and be involved.”

“It kills me to say this because as a StuCo member spirit club is our rivals but I wish I would have gotten involved in spirit club; they do some really cool things and I like being out in front of people and they get to do that a lot with assemblies.”

“Probably winning homecoming king. It was an awesome experience to get picked out of all the peers I look up to and admire for one thing or another. Oh and another accomplishment I’m proud of is receiving the only detention Schaufler has ever given out in her whole teacher career. That was pretty cool it was just because she wanted to spend time with me.”

what activity best defines you?

“I’d say student council. I have done so much for it and spent countless hours in Dent’s room. Whether it be hanging out in 132 or working on stuco events. I have spent so much time in and out of school doing work for StuCo and I enjoyed every bit of it.”

what is the most important lesson you learned in high school?

“To always be nice to everyone because you never know what they are going through or if you are going to end up becoming friends with them because they have the perfect amount of weirdness. So I always try to be really nice and sincere with everyone.”

Is there something that you wished that

odke

“I had such smaller goals, because to be honest I really didn’t have the Lord in my life and I didn’t really follow Him everywhere I went. That sounds weird, but He put every single path in front of me. It was like hey Lord, here you go this is [my path], let’s do this! And now He’s the main focus of my life, so my goals have changed, because they’re a lot more genuine, and I think I’ve become more genuine.”

you would’ve gotten involved in that you didn’t during your time at NW?

“My goals stayed pretty much the same besides now my goal is to get all As and Bs. But the football goals and being involved stayed very much alive.”

S arah

how have your goals changed?

What were some of your goals as a freshman?

how have your goals changed?

I won Maiden Equitation Champion for the snowflake series at White Fox Manor (KCPHA)” —Sara Laney

what kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind?

“Probably just a fun, goofy guy but responsible at the same time. Just being very approachable and being nice to everyone. I want people to remember me as someone who knew when to work and when to have fun. I don’t like dull moments so I like to do weird things to make them more interesting.”

who influences you?

“Mrs. Dent. She understands everyone and is all the girls go to person when they need someone to talk to and she is hilarious and has heard so many things a teacher probably shouldn’t but she understands the kids and doesn’t judge people and accepts them.”

if you could say one more thing to the class of 2o14, what would it be?

“That everyone in this class is special in their own way. And I’m going to miss all the quirky little things about the people in this grade. Go out there and use your talents because I know there are so many talented people in our grade.”

how has NW prepared you for the future?

“I have learned a lot of people skills. I feel like I should have learned more information but sadly I haven’t. I have learned however to complete assignments more “efficiently.””

connor johnson

Going to state in 2013 as a Junior with my best friends and the last year with Mr. Haney as our coach. I placed 11th..” —Cassie Queral

Soccer manager, helped support the team.”

My wrestling career. Even though I was a girl at Lansing HS they treated me like another boy on the wrestling team. My favorite memory was winning with 3 seconds left in the 3rd round in one of my beginning matches.” —Ana Hunt

—Sara Laney

What activity best defines you?

sam

grosss

“I think the activity that best defines me is probably our poetry club and our LTAB team because doing the poetry slam and LTAB is a way to be really theatrical and even in your face about things with no subtlety, but you actually try to get points across and share your opinion with people. A huge part of that for me was not even just doing it but listening to other people do it. That was the best part of it, getting to hear everyone elses perspective on what they are going through.”

Who influences you?

“Ever since I met him in kindergarten class at Benninghoven, Phil Shamet has consistently brought out the best type of person in me and been someone I have strived to keep up with, whether it be academically or socially. He’s been a great friend to not just me, but most people in our grade.

That sortof goes unthanked. He kept me from going off the deep end more times than I can count.

I will forever be indebted to him and he is one of the biggest influences in my life.”

What will you miss about NW? “I’m going to miss sports. As someone who had no chance

Carolina

Mach

to compete at a collegiate level, like no chance, at all, in any way, high school sports were an excuse to go out. even though you knew that you were pretty bad, there were sports that would accept you with open arms. It was an excuse to stay in shape it was a reason to go out and try to be athletic and be healthy in your life. I hope I can continue to work on that as I go in to college. I am going to miss the athletic things I did.”

What started you in poetry?

“The poem that inspired me to start writing slam poems was very simple and very effective. It was one that Kincaid showed us when I was in her english class it was called “I want to hear a poem”. I thought this would be a nice introduction to what she was trying to teach us but it was this guy and he just went off on all of these types of poems that he wanted to hear. I thought “Wait. you can say things people don’t agree with and they will be okay with that? Sign me up!”

The first poem I did in the slam was about how athletics are stupid and we put way too much importance to them and movies are way better. I was getting claps and cheers, even though if I said that in a conversation I

how has KUGR affected your high school career?

“I would say that KUGR has affected my high school experience so much more than I ever would have anticipated. I just kind of took it as an elective course my sophomore year and ended up falling in love with it. And just finding out that I have this passion for video and film, and now it’s something that I want to pursue for the rest of my life, so just being in this classroom, 153, it’s kind of like a second home to me.”

if you could say one more thing to the class of 2014, what would it be?

“It would be “Thank you for helping me to become who I am today,” which I know sounds really cheesy, but looking back on my freshman year, how uptight and how concerned I was with every little detail, and how easily I got offended, and I took everything too seriously to who I am now.

I couldn’t do it without the people in my class, who I’ve essentially lived with for four years, so I just thank them for helping make me who I am.”

what have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

“I think that I’m most proud of running Adopt-A-Tot, for three years now. It’s works for an organization that’s close to my heart, with Head-Start program, and I just love the whole concept behind it of adopting the families, and I think that it’s fostered a lot of positivity in the school, and it’s really cool to see the looks on kids

would have gotten “bood.””

When did you begin to become interested in movies?

“I was forced to do a wide array of sports as a child, none of which I was actually good at. I would be at these games in the outfield for baseball picking grass, thinking about all of the cool quality movies I was missing on TV right now.

I was just sitting on the bench at a basketball game thinking about all of the DVDs I had at home and I would much rather be watching them.”

Who would you like to thank?

“I want to say thank you to all of my friends who have been accepting of my weird tendencies throughout the year.

Who have starred in my piece of crap home movies that got me into a film school. Lets be real, we never thought that was going to happen.”

What is your goal in life?

“My goal in life is to at some point, be in involved in the production of a major motion picture. Thats pretty much it.

If I do that, I can go home to whatever crappy appartment that I have and fall asleep resting easy knowing that I had a hand in that.”

faces and look back on the photos that people have taken throughout the day and just know that you had a part in that.”

how has StuCo helped you prepare for the future?

“It’s really helped my to troubleshoot and realize that not everything is going to go the way that you first intend it to, but you can work with what you have to make the end result fantastic. And also that you can’t do things by yourself. I’m a pretty headstrong person and I can be pretty stubborn and want to do things all on my own, but StuCo has shown me that, by asking people for help, you can really get so much more done and make such a greater impact.”

what do you hope to accomplish in the future?

“In a perfect world, I would love to pursue being a documentary filmmaker. I would love to travel to third-world countries and do missions work, and film after I get to know people and tell their stories. And make either one documentary, or make a bunch of micro-mentaries, featuring people and their stories and relating all these different areas.”

how has NW helped prepare you for the future?

“By showing my how this conglomeration of a bunch of different people from a bunch of different backgrounds can all come together. And that’s just something that’s really cool to see at such a young age, just the diversity within the building is diverse, and how we all can come together at assemblies.”

most embarassing moment?

Waving at people because you think they’re waving to you, but it’s the person behind you very awkward.” —David Khongmaly

When I took my girlfriend to Panera, early on in our relationship, and forgot my wallet at home.” —Chase Cunningham

What kind of legacy do you hope to leave behind?

brady skeens

“I want people to look back and think I was friendly, always being positive and just having fun and that I tried to make other people happy too. whether it is sitting with someone or saying something in the hallway. That would be perfectly fine with me. I would rather be viewed as somebody who was nice to everyone and tried to make others happy.”

what activity at NW best defines you?

“I am involved in basketball and I think it defines me better than any other activity because we play a lot of games in front of a lot of people, so a lot of people will recognize me when I walk around in the school and out of school and we did pretty well this year so that helps.”

If you could say one thing to the class of 2014 what would it be?

“Good luck, and try to set yourself up for the future, try hard throughout all of college and it will pay off”

how did the state basketball game go?

“We played okay, but it was not one of our best games and it was fun to get out of school to hangout with my friends and play basketball. It was a good bonding experience for the

What activity do you do that best defines you?

Taylor

Bonser

“I think the activity that best describes me has to be CCC because I’ve always loved helping out people and loving them and I really enjoy being in community with everyone. The feeling of helping someone is just so great and this club is a way to help others.”

what is your position on the CCC Executive Board?

“I’m the president of CCC. Its really fun, I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve been so blessed to be able to be involved in school. I came from such a small middle school and very private and there wasn’t just as many opportunities and it’s so cool I’ve been able to come to this school and be involved in as many things as I wanted to be in.”

what is the most important lesson you learned in high school?

“The most important lesson I’ve learned in high school would have to be that you need to be, it sounds so cliche, but you just need to be yourself. If you want to be in ramen club then you should just be in ramen club or

Running the red light at 67th street and getting pulled over in front of everyone who drove by” —Jamie Zarda

team but it did not end up how we wanted it to.”

how has basketball affected your high school career?

“I think it improved it because i got to meet a lot of people while playing and it helped me build relationships for teachers and coaches like Rose and Stubbenraugh and everyone else that is involved in the sports.”

you were voted as one of the most influential seniors, who influences you?

“Mr. Paps and Mr. Rose have influenced me a lot just because they work so hard and they love doing what they do. It is just inspiring to me to be that hard working. Also my parents have definitely influenced me to do good in school, they are so supportive and loving while being on my side with anything I do, and they are always there to back me up and they have taught me a lot of good life lessons that will help me in the future i think.”

What was your greatest success in high school?

“My biggest success is being part of the basketball team and the good season we had.

We had broken a lot of team records and we went to state.”

if you love God and thats what you wanna do, be in club 121 or FCA. Nobody cares, nobody is judging you. Everyone is looking at themselves and they have no time to judge other people. We all just want to have a good time. Thats what I’ve learned.”

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

“That I loved others and I lived my life for God. People think some people are hypocritical for their faith. I just want people to remember me as the one that focused on God and wanted to live my entire high school career for Him.”

what have you done in high school that you are most proud of?

“Not caring what other people thought of me. I just did my thing and lived how I wanted to live and didn’t care what other people thought of me.”

you were voted as one of the most influential seniors, who influences you?

“The people that influence me most is obviously God and thats my legacy that i want to live on because He’s the only reason I am who I am. I

WHat would you change about your high school career?

“If I could restart I would probably try new things I have not tried, like in the fall [I would] go to more football games and more plays, I liked them a lot. I just started going to those this year and I am really enjoying them. I would want to try different sports and just be more involved, I also wish I would have done more clubs probably, just to get involved.”

what were your goals freshman year?

“As a freshman my goal was to make varsity Basketball, and to have good grades throughout high school, so I ended up accomplishing both of them.”

What are your plans for the future?

“I am going to college at Washburn to major in business.

Hopefully I will get a good job coming out of college and while in college I am going to play basketball.”

how have you changed since freshman year?

“The coaches have helped me develop and to be a better player. Mentally I have learned to not care what people think of me and if you don’t know them it should not bother you.”

wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t have the lord in me. Natalie chance influences me so much she has this joy that nobody understands, but I understand because she loves God so much and everything she does she is completely dedicated to Him. Also Sarah Godke, they are two of my best friends and I’m so blessed to have been in high school with great influences and with people who kept me accountable for what I’m doing and encouraged me. Its been great. Also my parents. My mom and dad, they teach me things all the time and they always strengthen me and encourage me. They’ve always been amazing, so great.”

how has NW prepared you for the future?

“NW has prepared me for the future by preparing me as a leader and getting along with people. Teaching me some great things in life. My classes have been interesting and the teachers are amazing. I’ve learned more from Ron Popalo, hes such a crazy guy, but he taught me to care for others and put others before yourself.

That’s been a priceless lesson that I’ve learned.”

“ k n

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nfo

in

compiled by atalie black

graphics by calista bohling

day of the week instagram hashtags #mancrushmonday #transformationtuesday #womancrushwednesday #throwbackthursday #flashback friday #selfiesunday

% of students attending 30% Other JCCC 45% K-State KU 14% 11%

favorite OPEN LUNCH SPOTS 1. chipotle 2. home 3. quicktrip

The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

There are

422

seniors in the class of

2014

-Dr. Seuss

42%

most annoying trends

1. YOLO 2. SWAG 3. WANNA-BE FRAT BOYS 4. SELFIE 5. LEGGINGS 6. #(HASHTAG) 7. ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

21

THis year IN

photos

1. With his hands cupped around his mouth, senior Jake Horner chants “Seniors, seniors” during the Homecoming Assembly on Oct. 4 in the main gym. The different class sections cheered in an attempt to win the Spirit Stick, which was given to the senior class. “Cheering at games can play a huge role in momentum and can really make a difference,” Horner said. PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN 2. Senior Connor Johnson tackles a SM North player on Oct. 25 at SM North. “The football season was a roller. We had so many close games and sadly, more of them went on the opposite side of the win column,” Johnson said. “We came together after a notso-hot season and really came together strong and got off to a promising start but we suffered some key injuries and ended up losing some really close games. The high point had to be the west game when we beat the defending state champions to go to the playoffs.” PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON 3. Freshman Makenzee Smith, Tavin Cook, and Allie Marx, along with the rest of the freshman cheer squad, cheer at NW on Oct. 17. The freshman squad clap their pom poms together chanting “We, we want a touchdown cougars!” PHOTO BY GINNY BOHLING 4. Covering his face, assistant coach Drew Perkins watches the soccer game against Lawrence from the sideline on Oct. 16 at Lawrence High. The Cougars won 1-0. PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN 5. Covered in muck, junior Jesse Robinson smiles during Muckfest on Sept. 4 at SM Park. Students from all of the SM high schools attended the Young Life sponsored event. PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN 6. Reacting to her name being called, senior Mallory Wilhite is named the 2014 Queen of Courts on feb. 14 in the main gym. “As they announced ‘and your 2014 Queen of Courts is..’ I leaned over and told my dad someone else’s name,” Wilhite said. “When they called my name I was utterly confused because I was truly no expecting it. I’m so honored, and it’s definitely a moment I will never forget.” PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN 7. Junior Sam Sullivan looks at his arm while blood is being transported to the blood bag in the Main Gym on Nov. 5. “I felt fine but I was scared that I was going to feel bad at football practice,” Sullivan said. This was the last blood drive that will take place in Northwest. PHOTO BY KYLE TONG 8. After making a goal, junior Cole Nelson celebrates during the game against Olathe North on Sept. 24 at SMAC. The cougars won 6-1. “It’s always a crazy feeling to score a goal,” Nelson said. “the rush of energy is incredible.” PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON 9. Seniors Daniella Santos and Joe Carey dance to the song ‘One Hand One Heart’ performed by the Marching Cougar Pride on Oct. 12 during the KU Marching Festival. Carey and Santos were depicted as Tony and Maria from West Side Story, the band’s theme for this year’s marching season. “Dancing in front of the whole audience made me feel good,” said Santos. “ Everyone was focused on Joe and I trying to create the emotion of love between Tony and Maria.” PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN 10. Senior Jeremy Gonterman plays his instrument along with fellow marching band members at the bonfire on Sept. 5.

Gonterman was a part of the Marching Cougar Pride leadership board. “My favorite thing about being on marching band this year was being a leader,” Gonterman said. “I really felt I was giving back to the organization that has been the definition of high school career. PHOTO BY KRISTI SENG 11. Junior Jana Kotzman does a one armed handstand during the spring special on May 3 in the Greg Parker Auditorium. The Spring Special is where the drill team performs various styles of dances.

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON 12. Crying, sophomore Zachary Ziegenhorn hugs his sister, senior Zoe Ziegenhorn, after she read her poem at the Poetry Slam on April 17 in the library. Zoe’s poem was about how she was bullied her freshman year and almost committed suicide as a result. “It was really weird seeing Zoe in that light,” Zachary said. “I never knew that it got that bad.” PHOTO BY SAVANNAH KELLY

13. Hitting the pavement, junior Tevyn Pak dives for the ball during a tennis match on April 8 at Olathe East. This was Pak’s first official singles match, which he won 8-3.

“I don’t really think [about diving during a match], I just know that I need to return the ball,” Pak said. “ Sometimes I forget that I’m not playing goalie [like I did in soccer].”

PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN 14. Environmental Education teacher Mike Pisani takes a butterfly out the net to put in an envelope at the Baker Wetlands. This butterfly would later be tagged and then released. “Catching monarchs just isn’t something you do a lot,” Elliott said. “[As] kids, [we would] always chase butterflies, but we never got to catch them.” PHOTO

BY KATE JACOBSEN 15. A Ball Python is one of the many animals in the Environmental Education room. PHOTO BY NICK KAHTAVA 16. Counselor Jim Mowry and Marybeth Green get help for the library assistant with their new Macbook Airs on March 11 in the library. Next year students and all

staff will receive Macbook Airs next year.

PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN 17. Senior Jake Horner attempts to make a layup during the state quarterfinal game against BV North at Wichita State University on March 13. The cougars lost 57-66. PHOTO BY KATIE DEWITT 18. Senior Nate Sterns throws the ball as the opponents team, Denim Dodgers, on March 1 in the main gym. They lost in the finals. “Going into this year we thought we would do good considering last year went far.” Sterns said. “So losing was difficult but we couldn’t be mad because it was so fun.” PHOTO BY ADDISON SHERMAN 19. Sophomore Parker Kremeier plays his solo on the saxophone during the Jazz Cabaret concert on Mar. 8 in the cafeteria. The Jazz Cabaret had bands from Trailridge, SM North, and SM Northwest performed. “I was confident in my abilities as a player and was prepared,” Kremeier said. “But as usual I was pretty nervous.”

PHOTO BY BRYCE REX 20. Senior Bethany Vonada plays the guitar

to a worship song at See You at the Pole on Sept. 14 on the east side of the building.

See You at the Pole is sponsored by Club 121 to have the NW Christian community come together and profess their faith.

PHOTO BY SARAH DEAN 21. Gathered around the table, sisters Lenny and Babe, portrayed by senior Emily Robison and junior Ryllie Quesada, break into laughter while talking to their other sister, Meg, portrayed by senior Rachael Birt, during the rehearsal for Crimes of the Heart on Feb. 19 in the Greg Parker Auditorium. “It’s really difficult to play a mentally unstable person [like Meg],” Birt said. “ You have to understand everything that person went through and how she would feel.” PHOTO BY CARLEIGH WHITMAN 22. Holding out this hand, Junior Spencer Dang reads off his poem during the Poetry Slam on April 18 in the library. Dang along with the rest of the district slam team received first place at the district slam competition. PHOTO BY KATE JACOBSEN

senior song JOSH KEEGAN + SARAH TAYLOR

chorus the hardest part is saying goodbye to the only thing you’ve known for so long... the hardest part is finding the right time to say the final words we have been struggling to [let out] first verse sittin’ by the window. wondering where to go next step. and hiding behind the fears of regret of wondering if i ever said everything i wanted to say... to you. chorus second verse we are all just vapors waiting to evaporate out of thin air... but the memories we’ve all left behind will stay with us... stay with us... always chorus PHOTO BY KATE JACOBSEN

senior song video

by KUGR

PHOTO BY NATE COMPTON

PHOTO BY KATE JACOBSEN

SMNW.com