Vol 61, Issue 7 Southwords Senior Issue

May 15, 2025

PEACE OUT, SOUTH

The class of 2025 reflects on their four years as Hawks while looking ahead to their next journey

CLASS OF 2025

1111 S. Dee RoaD • PaRk RiDge, illinoiS 60068

Vol. 61, SenioR iSSue

Maine Scholars

Department Awards

Maine South Goodwill Award Winners

CTE Business Education Award Abigail Kladis

Mathematics Award

Evelyn Kellogg

Jacob Drone Tyler Smith

Sean Forrest Kate Dunleavy

Evelyn Hansen

Lucille Hassman

Abigail Kladis

Annamarie Milazzo

Kyan GuzmanPiwko

Music Award Mia Buchheister

Health & Wellness Award

Adam Drabek Speech/Drama/ Broadcasting Award Nicole Scimeca

Science Award Victoria Stott

CTE Applied Technology Award Luciano Binz

World Languages Award

Alessandro Allegrini

Peggy Ross Social Science Award Charlotte Chapman

Caitlin Vengazo

CTE Family & Consumer Sciences Kenna Garcia

Sydney Fraley Samara Lefler

Miranda Parikh Ryan Schoenstedt

Olivia Skora

Victoria Stott

Art Award

Alekos Lagis

English Award Yesenia Lemus Rodriguez

SCHOLARSHIPS and

2025 for the class of RECOGNITION

Art/Photo Club Scholarship

Sofia Torina

Athletic Booster Scholarship

Grace Jerger, Ava Jurek, Victoria Marchuk, Allison Pape, Sofia Rossi

Betty Houlihan Memorial Scholarship

Oliver Tiu

Brett J. Harman Endowment Fund

Tyler Fortis

Chance Walker 2nd Chance Scholarship

Nora Hartford

Chris Harris Memorial Scholarship

Noah Munoz-Lo District 207 Education Association: Helen Dobbins

Bridget Woods

Dolan Design Award

Julia Balaban, Jacob Drone, Aidan Micek

Elizabeth Greenhill Memorial

Panhellenic Scholarship

Addison Greenhill

Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship

Ava Jurek, Maeve Strotman, Jake

Zabratanski

Evans Scholars

Kate Dunleavy, Seamus Stanton

Gene Haas Foundation

Postsecondary Scholarship

Patrick Byrne, Jacob Drone, Jack Etchason, Benjamin Falconer, William Hoshizaki, Grace Jerger, Marko Krstovic, Nicholas Samaan, Alexander Wiacek

Gordon McClean Scholarship

Mia Buchheister

Iota Sigma Pi Outstanding

Young Women in Chemistry

Margaret Sheehan

Jim Kilburg Memorial Scholarship

Alexander Babich, Katherine Barker

Ken Reese Senior Service Award

Sydney Cruz

Lloyd Spear Scholarship

George Spiegel

Maine South High School Student Council Award

Katherine Barker, Brianna Giustino, Ava Kontuly, Maeve Strotman

Maine South Outstanding

Female and Male Athletes

Sofia Arcuri, Tyler Fortis

Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club Scholarship

Juliana Careaga, Charlotte Chapman, Kyriaki Demeros, Sayde Feeley, Maya Golebiowski, Kalyana Gollahalli, Mateo

Jelenkovic, Grace Jerger, Abigail Kladis, Brianna Milano, Nicholas Samaan, Angelina Severino, Margaret Sheehan, Caitlin

Vengazo

Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Clyde K. Watson

Ryan Schoenstedt

Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Jan Cannon

Mary Kay Doyle

Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Martin

McGovern/Scottie Wind

Katherine Barker, Lucille Hassman, Eve Hinton, Thomas Hurley, Kristyna Kubisova, Maeve Strotman

Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: The Amina Grace Memorial Award

Lauren Geier, Ella Goldklang, Lily Heneghan, Ava Jurek, Maeve Rafferty

Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Virginia Feurer

Sydney Cruz

Maine South Speech, Drama, Broadcasting Boosters

Jaden Clarke, Grace Halpert, Ava Klehr, Irene Kostov, Meghan

Magruder, Brianna Milano, Mia Militello, Naomi Nishi, Nicole Scimeca, George Spiegel

Maine 207 Foundation

Outstanding Student Tutors

Amina Arshad, Andriy Dyakiv

National Merit Scholarship Program: Commended Students

Alexander Babich, Sydney Fraley, Eliza Goldwasser, Evelyn Kellogg, Irene Kostov, Kayla Krawczynski, Reed Kuczura, James Macdougall, Katerina Markova, Victoria Stott, Laith Tannous, Caitlin Vengazo, Jake Zabratanski

National Merit Scholarship Program: Finalists

Thomas Hurley, Samara Lefler

Niles Chamber of Commerce

Samantha Brown

Norridge/Harwood Heights Rotary Club

Sydney Cruz

NROTC National Scholarship

Sydney Fraley, Aidan Micek

NROTC National Scholarship (Marines)

Isaac Gustashaw

Park Ridge Kiwanis Key Club

Sydney Cruz, Miranda Parikh, Margaret Sheehan, Kathleen Weitzel

Park Ridge Panhellenic Scholarship

Kyriaki Demeros

Park Ridge Rotary: Make a

Difference

Charlotte Hartung, James Oberholtzer

Park Ridge Soccer - Scott Wade Memorial Soccer Scholarship

Maris Muellner, Finn Quitno

Park Ridge Wilderness Scouts and Princesses Scholarship Program

Kate Wille, Owen Tremblay and Luciano Binz

Partnership Financial Credit Union

Molly Bristle, Molly Kay Doyle, Kathleen Weitzel

PEO Star Scholarship - Chapter DA

Ava Jurek

Photo Club Scholarship

Nicole Scimeca

Robert and Joan Lee Family Scholarship

Viktoriia Zavinska

Robert V. Simonson Award

Sunny Grandinetti

Sophia Pichinos Scholarship

Mia Militello

Steve and Vicki Lee Family Foundation Scholarship

Jacob Drone, Brianna Milano, Margaret Sheehan

STROLL Park Ridge

Eliza Goldwasser

The Kalo Foundation - The Don Pegler Scholarship

Alekos Lagis

The Kalo Foundation - The Don Pegler Purchase Scholarship

Soren Lenzini

Thomas Ziemek Memorial Scholarship

Evan Rioch

20th Century Club of Park Ridge

Tess Elliott, Kristyna Kubisova, Margaret Sheehan

“Oh,

the Places you’ll go!”

Class of Post-Secondary Plans 2025

*Based on the CCRC Senior Survey self-reported data of 376 students

Alabama

Auburn University–Teagan Barry, Isaac Gustashaw, Emily Persivale, The University of Alabama–Danielle Healy, Sofia Ortiz

Arizona

Arizona State UniversityDowntown Phoenix–Elizabeth Sekera

University of Arizona–Nathan Arena, Tyler Sierra, Timothy Walbert

Arkansas

University of Arkansas–Hailey Doe, Dylan Ranalli

California

Loyola Marymount University–Andrew Das Gupta, Andrej Oman, Grant Vaughan

University of California-San Diego–Lily Heneghan

University of CaliforniaBerkeley–Kyan Guzman-Piwko

Colorado

University of Colorado Boulder–Ryan Coakley, Charlie Kasicki, Matthew Marcucci, Katherine Wille

Connecticut

University of Connecticut–Anna Chukurov

Yale University–Sydney Fraley

Delaware

University of Delaware–Oliver Gvuzd

Florida

Florida Institute of Technology–Walter Szulczewski

Florida State University–Ella Kuduzovic, Hayden Magad

Jacksonville University–Gabriel Stanic

Nova Southeastern University–Mariam Woodrich

The University of Tampa–

Margaret Glavanovits, Isabella Jedrocha, Brianna Milano, Gianna Musso, Eliana Zagotta

University of Florida–Lucille Hassman, Jake Zabratanski

University of Miami–Lazar Nozinic

University of South Florida-Main Campus–Luke Gloetzner

Georgia

Georgia Institute of TechnologyMain Campus–Sydney Cruz, Jack Etchason, Mateo Jelenkovic

Illinois

Augustana College (IL)–Jett Mead

Aurora University–Lizbeth Bastida, Alex Cenich

Bradley University–Sienna Domenech

DePaul University–Molly Heneghan, Nicholas Kussy, Mia Militello, Joseph Mulè, Domani Oro, Rayyan Salameh, Constantine Sikaras, Nadja Turcinov

Dominican University–Kai Murphy

Eastern Illinois University–Tyler Fortis

Elmhurst University–Isabella Zambuto

Illinois Institute of Technology–Zoe Cruz, Tyler Galazka

Illinois State University–Mia

Buchheister, Molly Butler, Grace Fallico, Roman Haytergonzales, London Jones, Alyssa Lavecchia, Brooke Parsons, Bryce Waszczyk

Illinois Wesleyan University–

Alekos Lagis, Caitlin Leyden, William Smucker

Lake Forest College–Anna

Papanastassiou, Milena Peric

Lewis University–Luca Arghiropol, Alexander Chilicki, Constantine Coines

Lincoln Technical InstituteMelrose Park–Nathan Carrion

Loyola University Chicago–

Nabil Ali, Stella Cardillo, Natalie Causevic, Ella Rain Cedeno, Aleezay Ghani, Anzhela Halyulko, Larissa Kurtovic, Nora Lanahan, Yesenia

Lemus Rodriguez, Aleksander Petkovic, Kate Quintero, Andrew Ragona, Caroline Tovson, Dylan Walsh, Alyssa Worasutr

National Louis University–Amelia Laloganes

North Central College–Roman Hryb

North Park University–Olivia Brich

Northeastern Illinois University–Andrea Escutia, Camilla Olalde, Vlada Smishchenko-Myronova, Maile Tabet

Northern Illinois University–Nicholas Hollander

Northwestern University–Eliza Goldwasser, Thomas Hurley, Samara Lefler, Victoria Stott

Oakton Community College–Christopher Araujo, Noah Barrios, Jacob Ciupe, Jobe Andrey Dulay, Estevan Hernandez, Kayla Krawczynski, Alan Lassak, Elay Maalouf, Maeve McGrath, Nicholas Roman, Ryland Sinense, Lyla Taraska, Daniel Virella

Quincy University–Edward Dase Triton College–Anam Fatima, Alyssa Gianola, Lucas Kostolansky University of Illinois at Chicago–Majid Alavi, Zofia Calzadilla, Nathnael Daniel, Giovanni Guzzardo, Sofiia Hodunova, Solomiya Kalynyak, Selah Kim, Anthony Kostecki, Elle Kurzatkowski, Haralambos Legatos, Anastasia Musyakevich, Ana Petrides, Breanna Reyes, Landon

Sexton, Grace Talbert, Viktoriia Zavinska, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign–Amina Arshad, Julia Balaban, Mia Belconis, Thomas Beredimas, Kelly Burriesci, Sophia Canetta, Marika Chasak, Christopher Clark Jr, Jaden Clarke, Carina Costa, Adam Cywinski, Kyriaki Demeros, Natalia Dobrilovic, Brendan Donovan, Sophia Dovhaychuk, Jacob Drone, Kate Dunleavy, Andriy Dyakiv, Mark Forowycz, Christian George, Michael Glushkov, Henry Godsell, Kalyana Gollahalli, Alanna Gu, Jack Handley, Enya Hazizi, Vanessa Hnetnov, Suzanna Jakubski, Evelyn Kellogg, Ava Klehr, Grace Koch, Irene Kostov, Meris Kraja, Mia Lahart, Lauren Majerczak, Dane Markos, Elizabeth McAllister, Thomas McNamara, Alison Menchaca, Annamarie Milazzo, Maris Muellner, Noah MunozLo, Ian Nelson, Naomi Nishi, Rosemary O’Hara, Daniel Ormanov, Miranda Parikh, Andres Quispe, Kelsey Rouse, Sean Schermerhorn, Matthew Serritella, Violet Spychalski, Andrija Stanojevic, Maeve Staunton, Laith Tannous, Owen Tremblay, Julia Van Roeyen William Rainey Harper College–Marinna Marzano

Indiana

Butler University–Isabella Assenzo, Michael Dellumo, Tess Elliott, Anthony Sarno

Indiana University-Bloomington–Isaak Barliant, James Bies, Walker Bruce, William Christopoulos, Elizabeth Drakontaidis, Markella Himargios, Eve Hinton, Alya Kanjo, Jack Kelleher, Ronan Kirwan, Andrew Liss, Patrick McGovern, Samantha Oleary, Tiffany Wu

Purdue University-Main

Campus–Matthew Brow, Sayde Feeley, Monroe Lay, Leonidas Paraskevas

University of Notre Dame–Juliana Careaga, Josephine Hennes, Ava Jurek, Abigail Kladis, Aidan Micek, Margaret Sheehan, Olivia Skora, Maeve Strotman, Caitlin Vengazo

Iowa

Central College–Shane O’Sullivan Drake University–Molly McDonald Iowa State University–Meer Danha, Nathan Edsey, William Hoshizaki, August Ladewski, Benjamin Pellegrini, Finn Quitno, Stephen Ronan, Konrad Stepien University of Iowa–Jackson Butterfield, Patrick Byrne, Alina Chavez, Kayla Cremins, Nyah Downing, Mary Kay Doyle, Benjamin Foley, Koralia Georgiopoulos, Ryan Goff, Ella Jacobs, Grace Jerger, Collin Kearney, Daniel Kornely, Keenan Kraut, Nina Kulas, Maya Kussy, Victoria Marchuk, David Nowak, Claire Petruso, Jackson Prouty, Emerson Stewart, Aidan Story, Audrey Winkler, Isabelle Yadgar

Kentucky

University of Kentucky–Julia Allegretti, Claire Chiovari, Madeline Kron, Frances Marino, Max Sivore, Veronica Toland, Francesca Torina, Cora Valyer

Louisiana

Louisiana State University–Helena Tabares

Massachusetts

Berklee College of Music–George Spiegel

Boston University–Evelyn Hansen Harvard University–Charlotte Chapman, Sofia Rossi

Northeastern University–Ryan Schoenstedt

Wellesley College–Milica Simic

Michigan

Kalamazoo College–Colin Bristle Michigan State University–Grace Buzogany, Kara Chaplin, Charles Francis, Giovanni Gurgone, Wilson Hacke, Grace Halpert, Matthew Herdzik, Tristan Imhoff, Jin Larson, Hangal Munkhtulga, James Oberholtzer, Markiyan Pelyno, Jack Williams

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor–Diana Arias, Sophia

Bayraktarov

Western Michigan University–Lillian Tomaszewski

Minnesota

St. Olaf College–Adam Drabek

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities–Meghan Magruder, Lucy Nelson, Aidan Scerba

Mississippi

University of Mississippi–Nora Hartford, Izabella Kolk

Missouri

Missouri University of Science and Technology–John Mueller

Saint Louis University–Maya Golebiowski, Brooke Stern University of MissouriColumbia–Gia Fusco, Malena Ortiz, Jenna Pearl, Briana Zahara

New York

Cornell University– Allison Pape Fordham University–Petar Strbac

Marist University–Andrew Mullan

North Carolina

Elon University–Christina Piotrowski

North Carolina State University–Samantha Brown, Kenna Garcia

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill–Lena Schneider

Ohio

Case Western Reserve University–Tara Markovic

John Carroll University–Jack Sladky

Miami University-Oxford–Jacob Parilla

The College of Wooster–Alexander Babich

The Ohio State University–Alexis Kostelny, Kosta Loucopoulos University of Cincinnati-Main Campus–Benjamin Falconer, Jacob Klever

University of Dayton–Lazar Babic, Katherine Catuara, Joseph Figula Xavier University–Nicholas Riggs

Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus–Lily Giambarberee University of Tulsa–Sofia Arcuri

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State UniversityMain Campus–James Macdougall

University of PittsburghPittsburgh Campus–Anna Lind

South Carolina

University of South CarolinaColumbia–Luciano Binz, Ava Kontuly, Caterina Macias, Cole Mutchler

Tennessee

The University of TennesseeKnoxville–Grady Bridges, Emma Eberline, Addison Greenhill, Victoria Karp, Colton Rodgers, Tyler Smith, Katarzyna Szul

Texas

Abilene Christian University–Martin Cloherty

The University of Texas at Austin–Marjorie Depner

Utah

University of Utah–Jake Eckhart, William Painter, John Zone

Virginia

Virginia Tech–Faiza Naveed

Washington

Gonzaga University–Francis Morley

Wisconsin

Beloit College–Quinn Annis Carroll University–Grace Borchers Carthage College–Sofia Alshikhly, Benjamin Przekota Concordia University-Wisconsin–Evan Rioch

Marquette University–Gino Arcuri, Molly Bristle, Xander Cokee, Sean Forrest, Jadon Goldklang, Connor Judd, Reed Kuczura, Adrian Malik, Nicholas Olson, Brandon Prokuski, Michael Tegethoff, Alexander Wiacek, Olivia Zahara Milwaukee School of Engineering–Nathan Kapetanou Saint Norbert College–Luisa Arcuri, Patrick Muszynski

University of WisconsinMadison–Katherine Barker, Elizabeth Bordini, Lourdes BottariTower, Maya Busse, Victoria Bystron, Angelina Dervisheva, Brianna Giustino, Charlotte Hartung, Jaco LoPiccolo, Maeve Rafferty, Chloe Salvatore, Nicholas Samaan, Renata Trujillo, Anna Virlo, Makayla Waters

Class of 2025 BY THE NUMBERS

449

60

50

going to Oakton (highest enrollment numbers for going to UIUC (highest enrollment numbers for a 2-year college) a 4-year college)

32

11 going to a trade school

5

Based on the most recent selfreported CCRC data of 505 students going to a fouryear college or university doing an apprenticeship different states attended

4 taking a gap year

Amina Arshad

by Annamarie Milazzo

Amina

Arshad is one of the hardest-working people I know. It’s not just a matter of latenight studying for her classes, but how she dedicates time to her family while also selflessly giving time and effort to her community.

Amina is the Vice President of and four-year competitor in DECA, the president of Women in STEM, a National Science Honor Society member, and a basketball coach for a league outside of Maine South, just to name a few of her accomplishments.

Amina is truly committed to both her personal goals and the success of others, as evidenced by her many leadership positions. What is most impressive about Amina, though, is that during her high school career, she and her sister Aisha started their own national nonprofit organization, Let’s Get Ahead.

Their mission is to provide free tutoring, mentorship, and other resources to underprivileged children in struggling communities. So far, they have organized many food and clothing drives and donation events, with all proceeds going to youth organizations in Ghana. This achievement is an incredible testament to her potential.

Having known Amina since freshman year, I can honestly say that she is one of the kindest people I’ve met. She is extremely patient, understanding, and non-judgmental. Amina does great things for others, even when it’s inconvenient.

I usually spend my free periods in the library with Amina, so I have been able to witness firsthand the immense effort she invests into her academics and beyond. She truly deserves all the praise in the world for her incredible character and for being such a great friend.

Amina will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study mechanical engineering. Even though this program is competitive and known for its high standards, Amina will undoubtedly excel in any situation she is placed in. I cannot wait to see the amazing things she will accomplish as a future engineer.

Mia Buchheister

by Grace Halpert & Thomas Hurley

Ifyou’ve experienced any of the performing arts at Maine South, either as a participant or in the audience, chances are Mia Buchheister has played an integral part in what you’ve seen.

Mia is incredibly talented — she has been selected for the ILMEA All-State Band and Choir several times. Although she is certainly known for her talent, her commitment to the PA-wing, support in others’ successes, and passion for the art that is created aren’t necessarily as recognized.

Mia might have been most visible to students as the drum major, but she has taken on countless other roles. She is a prominent member of choir and Vocal Jazz, has performed in shows in both the cast and the pit orchestra, and has done stage crew for several shows. This year, Mia stage managed two productions — both V-Show and the spring musical, “Anastasia.” She is also a student teacher for the Concert Band class and frequently helps the band program in unique ways, including conducting a song for the spring concert.

What defines Mia as an exceptional leader is that she puts in so much work into everything she does because she truly cares about the programs she’s a part of and wants to see her peers succeed in them as well. Conducting is only a fraction of the influence Mia has on the marching band — she has helped to cultivate a tight-knit community even in one of the largest extracurriculars in the school. In choir, Mia always has her part down and helps to make sure that everyone else feels confident in the music too. As a stage manager, she does so much more than call the cues — she holds the entire production together with skill and compassion.

Next year Mia will be attending Illinois State University to study music education. We know that Mia will take the same level of leadership and dedication that she exemplified at Maine South wherever life takes her and she will have a profound impact on the students who are lucky enough to have her as an educator.

Andriy Dyakiv

by Kyan Guzman-Piwko

If you pass my Spanish class at 11:20 on an even day, you’ll notice a small burst of celebration; that’s the moment I spot Andriy Dyakiv. In seconds, we light up with wide grins, a sweeping wave, and the cleanest dap-up imaginable. Andriy always makes my day, but I’m just one of many lucky people who know his talent for spreading joy, perpetuating kindness, and chasing life with enthusiasm.

Besides being sweet, approachable, and easygoing, Andriy has an exceptional mind and is an incredibly supportive friend. Whether he’s excelling in Multivariable Calculus or competing with Maine South’s Math Team, Andriy is quick-learning and dedicated. His teammates recall him showing up to tournaments while sick just to compete and cheer them on.

Between these contributions, Andriy pauses to uplift others. His math classmates recount him introducing his class to the card game Palace, which many of them still bond over today. It’s Andriy’s nature to use his skills to bring others together.

Andriy’s talents don’t end there. He’s a virtuoso accordionist-pianist who stole the show at V-Show and performed an encore with the band. Andriy’s technical precision and enthusiastic performance made way for one of the most unique and captivating performances.

Offstage, he channels that creative energy into cultural pride through Ukrainian Club. He works with peers to celebrate heritage in art, food, music, and celebrations, cultivating a welcoming space for discovery and inclusion.

Next fall, Andriy will bring his talents to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to major in electrical engineering. I’m certain U of I's net happiness will skyrocket when he arrives.

Andriy is treasured by friends and the school community alike. Wherever he goes, I am confident that he will continue to bring a sense of belonging, and reassurance to those around him.

Annamarie Milazzo

by Eliza Goldwasser

Annamarie Milazzo does not know how to do things halfway. Whether it’s completing her AP Biology notes or finding a gift for a friend, I challenge you to find a more thoughtful person.

At school, many note Annamarie’s devotion to her education. However, her dedication is also is rooted in a genuine curiosity about the world and a desire to help others.

Annamarie took AP Psychology her sophomore year, where her passion for the subject began. Since then, she has committed herself to exploring her interest. Interning at a mental health center, Annamarie aided psychologists and immersed herself in a counseling environment.

Annamarie also dedicated her History Fair project to Dorothea Dix, an activist who advocated for asylum reform, with her project being the only one from Maine South to make it to Nationals.

Beyond just learning about psychology, Annamarie commits herself to applying her knowledge of the subject and bettering other people's lives.

Annamarie held an important leadership role at the Crux retreat, inspiring others with her testimony. Her understanding of psychology made her impact even greater, giving attendees meaningful ways to integrate spirituality into their lives.

Although these attributes are significant on their own, what makes Annamarie special is her ability to empathize with others. Her selflessness is evident in how she cares for her nieces and nephew.

Annamarie is the friend who brings you soup when you’re sick, is always available if you need to vent, and refuses to give up on the people she loves.

Annamarie’s altruism will continue beyond high school. She is attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she will study psychology, with the intention of becoming a clinical psychologist. Annamarie will do great things in her future, and I am lucky enough to have this Unsung Hero as my best friend.

Maeve Rafferty

by Ava Jurek

Shenever fails to brighten the day of the people she interacts with. She is committed to enacting positive change in our community. She doesn’t work for accolades or recognition, but rather to make a difference. She is genuine, kind, and caring.

She is Maeve Rafferty, an ideal representation of an Unsung Hero.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Maeve since Kindergarten and have navigated life with her ever since.

Inside of school, she is a change-maker. She has served as one of the presidents of Hawk Pals, Maine South’s disability inclusion and respect club, for two years. In this role, she searches for ways to make Maine South a more inclusive place through organizing the school-wide Respect Week or National Banner assembly, planning a Hawk Pals holiday party, or just hanging out with pals at lunch.

Maeve also leads Maine South’s Medical Careers Club as one of the officers, bringing in guest speakers in the healthcare field and creating cards for hospitalized children.

For two years, she has also been a part of the Signs of Suicide program to raise suicide prevention awareness. This program required her to attend training sessions to teach freshmen the warning signs of suicide and depression.

She is not only committed to bettering Maine South, but continues to work for the inclusion revolution. She has worked as a Youth Leader at the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, organizing the Young Athletes events, and capturing the stories of athletes to raise disability awareness. She also works closely with the Amina Grace Memorial Fund, a local Down Syndrome awareness nonprofit, and volunteers with their program at Gigi’s Playhouse.

Although her work may go unnoticed, she is truly leaving behind an impact.

Maeve plans to continue her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I know she will continue to make the world a better place.

Ryan Schoenstedt

by Charlotte Chapman & Margaret Sheehan

Everywhere

he goes, Ryan Schoenstedt is always smiling. Whether he’s drilling speeches at a Constitution team meeting, practicing percussion for the musical’s pit orchestra, or leading his Hawk Pride freshman, Ryan approaches every situation with a positive attitude.

This optimism has allowed Ryan to impact the community through his involvement as a percussionist in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Through this organization, he has performed in concerts for elementary-age students in Chicago Public Schools, sharing his expertise with younger students.

Ryan continues this mission as a member of the drumline and the pit orchestra. He can often be found hyping up a crowd at football games, but few realize the hours of time and effort that Ryan puts into practicing for these events.

“Ryan is one of those people who makes everyone better,” band director Mr. David Hutter said. “He is kind, intelligent, and devoted in every step of his life. I've watched Ryan shine for seven years through middle school and high school band, and he always performs at the highest level while having a smile on his face.”

Ryan hopes to continue this passion as a member of Northeastern University's pep band.

On top of these efforts, Ryan has also made a significant impact in the STEM fields. Throughout his time at Maine South, Ryan has been conducting virtual research with graduate students at the University of California Los Angeles, exploring the potential uses of antisense oligonucleotide therapy in treating pancreatic cancer.

Going forward, Ryan will continue his research as a Stamps Scholar, a prestigious honor given to select incoming college students.

What makes Ryan so notable, though, is not only his accolades or hard work — it is his ability to be a genuine, caring friend. This will truly take him far in life and be the key to his success at Northeastern and beyond.

Everyone needs to have a coach

Mr. Timothy Spiegel Guidance Counselor

Aphonecall I received back in May of 1993 changed the course of my life. It was from Maine South’s former principal, Dr. Tom Cachur, who invited me back to a second interview for a position in the Special Education Department to launch a new program that is now commonly known as Life Skills.

I was thrilled about the possibility of landing a job at the same school that my aunt and uncles attended back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but also felt apprehensive about my expertise to develop a successful program.

At the conclusion of the interview, Dr Cachur offered me the teaching position, which I enthusiastically accepted.

However, it was the followup question that I have always remembered, as it truly represents how important it is to be a valued member to the fabric of a community.

He asked me, “What else can you also contribute to Maine South?”

This revealed an expectation that I was not prepared to answer.

Searching for a response, I expressed that I coached soccer and volunteered for numerous duties at my previous school.

Now reflecting on my profession

as a teacher, a counselor and a soccer coach, I recognize that the extra contributions made back to Maine South over the last 32 years provided invaluable opportunities that have become the most important of my career.

The question of “what can you contribute” has always been at the forefront of my understanding of how a successful school works.

Yet, it was also the relationships that were cultivated through my continued involvement that made it all so meaningful. Each year I learned and developed as an educator by receiving guidance, support and motivation.

In essence, I was being mentored in the field of education by coaches; the educational coaches in the classroom, athletic coaches on the field, and life coaches helping in my decision-making were all integral to my investment to achieve.

If a coach is someone who accepts the responsibility to grow, challenge,

and support those in their community, I had the very best. Every coach that I worked with had their own style, but the exceptional ones shared many of the exact same characteristics. They were adaptable. They were not afraid to challenge assumptions. They were not focused on success as much as expecting the very best effort. No matter the role I served, I am better because of those who have coached me.

I have always sought to surround myself with people who helped me grow and, in turn, I have learned so much from them. These individuals have been my coaches and assisted me through all parts of my career.

So, wherever you are on your journey, bring a coach along to assist you in the game plan. Life is filled with opportunity, and every occasion is its own adventure.

With the right coaches, you will learn how to prepare for life’s events and be empowered to become the expert of your own success!

Farewell from the darkroom: Ms. Moore reflects on her journey

Ms. Mary Lee Moore Art Teacher

Iwasnever known as a risk-taker. I grew up in Bloomington-Normal in a family of seven, where life was safe and predictable. My father taught art at Illinois State University, and my mother was a high school guidance counselor. I always knew I’d attend ISU — because that’s just what you do when your dad teaches there.

An example of how unworldly I was, I didn’t take my first plane ride until college, when my parents gave me the gift of a summer study abroad in Art History and Photography.

That trip changed my life.

It was the first time I left home for that long, the first time I had to navigate a foreign country on my own. It was uncomfortable. It was a risk. And it sparked something in me that’s guided my path ever since.

You might think becoming an art teacher was a straight line from childhood, but it wasn’t.

Even with art and education in my blood, I didn’t start college as an art major. I took college art classes but changed my major twice.

I wasn’t in a rush — I needed to feel passionate about what I was going to do and I was supported in my

exploration of my various interests.

One summer, a family friend who taught art in the park asked if I wanted to be her teaching assistant.

Watching the kids’ excitement as they wove yarn, sculpted clay animals, and painted hooked me. I decided I was going to be an Art Teacher.

After graduating, I began teaching at Eureka High School — a small school about 30 minutes from home.

I was the only art teacher, teaching everything from drawing to ceramics. At the same time, I’d visit Chicago on weekends to see my sisters, explore the museums, and feel the excitement of the city.

Eventually, I knew it was time for a new chapter. I finished my master’s degree at night while teaching during the day, and then took another leap: I left a tenured position to move to Chicago.

I met a department chair from Maine West at a job fair — and that’s how my journey with District 207 began.

Coming to Maine South was a big change. The school was five times the size of where I started.

I left a place where everyone knew me and walked into something entirely unfamiliar. Was it uncomfort-

able? Absolutely. Was I nervous? Of course. But I’ve learned that’s exactly when growth happens. I encourage my students to take creative risks and step outside their comfort zones — and I’ve tried to live by that advice myself.

At Maine South, I finally got to teach photography in a real darkroom. I found colleagues as passionate about art as I was, students who challenged me, and a community that supported the arts.

I also remained an active artist — creating alongside my students, exhibiting my work, and pushing my own creative limits.

That part of me isn’t going away. In retirement, I plan to dive deeper into my studio practice and keep exploring what art can be.

One of the things I’ll treasure most about South is the incredible teachers across every department.

It’s a rare gift to work among people so deeply committed to their students’ growth — not just academically, but personally and creatively too. You made this school feel comfortable and welcoming.

To my students, past and present: thank you for sharing your ideas, your creativity, your laughter, and sometimes your frustrations. You made every day unique.

A little about my family: my husband Niko has been supportive through this journey.

Our sons, Nicholas and Jonathan, are about to start exciting new chapters themselves.

It’s a big year of changes for all of us, but seeing them dive into their own new adventures reminds me that even when change feels a little scary, it’s also really exciting.

I may be retiring, but I’ll always be an art teacher — and an artist. And I hope you always remember: take the risk. That’s where the magic happens.

23 years of ‘living the dream’ through teaching

Ms. Beth Ann Ball Math Teacher

The phrase “living the dream” is often used sarcastically—as if you’re really not. But in my case, I truly have lived the dream for the past 23 years.

As a junior in high school, I sat in my college counselor’s office as he asked me what career I planned to pursue. I told him I wanted to be a high school teacher. Unfortunately, he replied that it wasn’t a good career choice at the time.

I’m at the tail end of the baby boom, and during that era, school enrollments were declining so rapidly that schools were closing. Within three years of my graduation, Maine North, Niles East, and New Trier West had all shut their doors. Not only were teachers not being hired — many were being let go.

I was crushed. Teaching had always been my dream. My mother was a teacher. My great-grandfather was a teacher. But it wasn’t meant to be — or so I thought.

I shared my disappointment with my physics teacher, and he encouraged me to explore engineering, noting my strength in math and science. I attended a weekend program for women in engineering and chose chemical engineering as my major.

I began my professional career at General Electric in their Plastics Business Group, where I managed parts of the manufacturing operation. The work was exciting, challenging, and deeply fulfilling. After the birth of my second child, I stayed home to raise my children. Then one morning, I read an article about an impending teacher shortage. Could it be? A second chance?

To address the shortage, many local universities had launched programs to help college graduates earn teaching certifications.

I found a program at Northeastern Illinois University — just 18 minutes from home — and began attending classes on nights and weekends. I completed my observation hours at Maine South, student taught at Maine South, and, happily, never left.

Being a teacher was every bit as amazing as I’d imagined. I read journals regularly to find new problems and ideas to bring into the classroom. I joined professional teacher groups and attended specialized workshops. For my first 20 years, I taught geometry nearly every year — and I loved it. It was a class full of fun, filled with students who learned not just practical math, but also logic and reasoning. Geometry was primarily taken by sophomores,

and teaching sophomores is a joy.

I also taught three different levels of calculus, which I loved because it directly connected to my background as an engineer. I could share realworld examples of how calculus is used — when it solved problems, and when miscalculations led to disasters.

On several occasions, former colleagues of mine came in after the AP exam to talk about their engineering careers, often inspiring students to consider that path.

One of my greatest joys, beyond the classroom, has been involvement in extracurriculars. I’ve had the privilege of sponsoring several student leadership groups: sophomore class council, senior class council, and eventually, Hawk PRIDE. Watching

students grow into leaders has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve cherished events like Freshmen Orientation, Homecoming, Senior Breakfast, and Prom. I’m so grateful to have been part of these milestones. We always encourage students to get involved because it enhances their high school experience — and the same is true for teachers. The more involved we are, the richer our experience becomes.

One of my favorite “outside the classroom” activities has been working crowd control at football games. In my early years of teaching, Saturday games were hard to attend (before we had stadium lights), as I had three children with their own weekend commitments.

One day, I realized that if I worked the games, my family would understand it was part of my job — and I could still be there. That decision let me watch my students play football, cheer, march in the band, or dance at halftime for the next 20 years. It brought me not only great enjoyment, but also a deeper connection with my students by seeing them in a different light, outside of class.

This year, after 23 years — my “Michael Jordan years” — I’m retiring. I have truly lived the dream, and I’m deeply grateful.

An unexpected career with a close-knit community

Mr. Patrick Sanchez Technical Director

If anyone had told me when I was in my mid-20s that I would spend 37 years working with high school students, I would have told them they were crazy.

I never expected or planned a career working in a high school theater program. I was working in professional theater when an opportunity to create and establish a high school program in technical theater came up.

Since that time, I can say that I have helped to produce over 150 shows, concerts, and dance recitals. Three of my shows, “The Empress of China,” “Ice Wolf,” and “Noises Off,” were selected and performed at the Illinois Thespian Festival.

I was also the Technical Director for the All State production of “Arabian Nights.”

Along with these honors, Maine South’s Theater Program was selected

for Best Production by Theater Chicago for “The Addams Family.”

Although people often associate me with the Fine Arts Department, I have contributed to many other departments as well. Outside of school, I am involved in period reenacting.

I have created historical personas

as both a Greek and a Roman soldier. I also reenact a soldier’s life in the American Civil War, WWI, and WWII. Several teachers, including Margaret Wolf, Stella Weber, and Sandy Deines, in the World Language and Social Science Departments have invited me to give presentations, in my uniforms, to their classes.

It gave me great pleasure to share my passion for history and artifacts I have collected over the years with students in the classroom.

I also did presentations for ceramics and photography classes. In addition to the class lectures, I have had the privilege of helping to establish several extracurricular clubs, such as the Outdoor Adventure Club, Maine South Theatrical Technicians Guild, and It’s a Stitch.

As you can see, I am a man with many interests. On warm, sunny days, you may see a green Morris Minor or a white convertible parked in the lot. A little known fact about the convertible

is that I drove the car into the Spec Gym, with the Prom King on the back. The one thing that I am most proud of creating at Maine South is the legacy of a Crew family. Every theatrical production has 50 to 60 students who fill out Crew applications.

The only requirement to join crew is a desire to be involved. We take any and all students of any ability.

Students learn how to use power tools, work with lighting and audio equipment, make props, and build and paint scenery.

Students also learn leadership skills while creating a theatrical production.

The season starts in August and goes through May. We spend countless hours and days together, and we have created a close-knit family.

We know that we can count on each other, and that is one of the things I will miss the most.

Senior Signees

BASEBALL

Alex Babich

College of Wooster

Constantine Coines

Lewis University

Eric Fugate

Carthage College

BASKETBALL

Allison Pape

Cornell University

Asia Kobylarczyk

Illinois Wesleyan

University

Caitlin Leyden

Illinois Wesleyan

University

Jack Sladky

John Carroll University

Cross Country/Track

Luisa Arcuri

St. Norbert College

Sofia Arcuri

University of Tulsa

FENCING

Alexis Kostelny

The Ohio State University

FOOTBALL

Lazar Babic

University of Dayton

Alex Cenich

Aurora University

Eddy Dase

Quincy University

Michael Dellumo

Butler University

Ryan Espinosa

Aurora University

Tyler Fortis

Eastern Illinois University

Evan Rioch

Concordia University

Jonathan Schlenhardt

Northern Illinois University

Zak Stoilov

Army-West Point

Petar Strbac

Fordham University

FOOTBALL, CONTINUED

Jacob Vitel

North Central College

Bryce Waszczyk

Illinois State University

GOLF

Adam Drabek

St. Olaf College

LACROSSE

Marko Adamovic

Concordia University

Andrew Mullan

Marist University

Milica Simic

Wellesley College

SOCCER

Delia Garcia

Illinois State University

Maeve McGrath

Oakton College

Will Smucker

Illinois Wesleyan

University

Francesca Trippiedi

Ferris State University

SOFTBALL

Christina Piotrowski

Elon University

Peyton Santore

University of Dubuque

SWIM/DIVE

Dragos Cozma

University of WisconsinMilwaukee

Ben Przekota

Carthage College

TENNIS

Alexandra Zaskowski

North Central College

VOLLEYBALL

Ana Petrides

University of Illinois

Chicago

Sofia Rossi

Harvard University

Leo Trespeces-Winck

Northern Kentucky University

FOOTBALL

FEBRUARY Top row (left to right): Alex Cenich, Ryan Espinosa, Evan Rioch, Bryce Waszczyk. Bottom row (left to right): Michael Dellumo, Jacob Vitel, Petar Strbac, Lazar Babic, Eddy Dase

FOOTBALL DECEMBER (Left to right) Zak Stoilov, Jonathan Schlenhart, Tyler Fortis

FALL SIGNING (Left to right) Christina Piotrowski, Alex Babich, Constantine Coines, Allison Pape, Sofia Rossi, Sofia Arcuri, Leo Trespeces-Winck, Francesca Trippiedi, Delia Garcia, Dragos Cozma, Andrew Mullan, Alexis Kostelny

SPRING SIGNING Top row (left to right): Jack Sladky, Luisa Arcuri, Adam Drabek, Ana Petrides, Will Smucker, Maeve McGrath, Milica Simic. Bottom row: Ben Przekota, Eric Fugate, Caitlin Leyden, Asia Kobylarczyk, Peyton Santore, Alexandra Zaskowski

PHOTOS COURTESY MR. MATT RYDER

SENIOR CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. League in which Hawks might face off against Trevians or Wildkits

5. Critters you might find scurrying around the locker rooms

9. Award-winning broadcasting team

10. Senior who has 5 girls’ track records

13. League of universities gaining four seniors for the first time in 11 years

14. “Popul’r” sparkling water drink that lost its place in the vending machines

16. Team that has won State 32 times 17. Chain for which you might win a gift card over the announcements

21. Total number of principals we had 22. Test that our grade was the last to take as a graduation requirement

25. Our junior prom theme; inspiration for set design of junior spring musical

26. Senior who was first chair bassist at ILMEA for two years

27. Another name for the landmark near where many seniors park on Rose

28. Senior who attempted to eat five Big Macs in five minutes at Mr. Hawk

31. Necessity that causes fifth and sixth periods to be longer on advisory days

32. Abbreviation for the Class of 2025’s most popular 4-year college choice

34. Practice that eliminated accelerated English courses starting junior year

40. Informal name for the course that became required sophomore year

41. One AP Bio teacher’s enthusiasts

42. Drum you might hear senior Laith Tannous “clicking off” on to set the marching band’s tempo

45. Retiree who might teach you how to calculate the volume of shapes, like her last name

46. Competition won by girls’ swimming and diving for the first time in four years

48. Requirement that spurred a rowdy walkout freshman year

50. Football didn’t have one of these within Conference all year.

52. Team that flipped into the second day of State junior year

53. Senior who might be found on the sidelines filming for her hype videos

55. Last name of retiring art teacher who has helped students see things through a new lens

56. Theme of this year’s homecoming football game

57. Senior whose unique informational videos were shown in advisory lessons

59. Cause of the only emergency day taken during our senior year

60. Informal name for the AP exam which some seniors will take just a few hours before Prom

61. AP Physics C teacher’s last name

DOWN

2. Senior pole vaulter who jumped to the top of the Conference this year

3. Show that won Best Production in the state of Illinois in 2023

4. Armed forces branch that offered scholarships to seniors Sydney Fraley and Aidan Micek to universities whose official colors include a color of the same name

5. Digital tool that might be used in some CTE classes

6. A red one was cut when construction finally finished.

7. National championship category won by the Hawkettes for the first time in program history this year

8. Senior who attended the Jimmy Awards as a student reporter and won in four categories at the National Student Production Awards

9. Sport that added a girls’ team sophomore year

11. Freshman year spring musical, senior year halftime theme, Southwords special issue

12. Parking area that opened this year

14. Type of cake that raises funds for Color Guard every month

15. Fitness influencer who visited athletes sophomore year

18. Where Wind Ensemble took the national stage this March

19. Color of our PE leaders’ shirts

20. Former name for pre-homecoming competition that our class was the first to win as both juniors and seniors

23. Senior partner competition that our year has been the first to fully complete 24. Quarter after which “Hey! Baby” is sung

29. History class that has transitioned from juniors to majority sophomores

30. CTE subject for which an honor society was founded junior year

33. Destination of the annual overnight event that caused a cafeteria stampede

35. Last year’s annual book was a gem. 36. You might find this technological creation in what used to be the V-Wing

37. Low string instrument senior Ollie Tiu might be found playing

38. Temporary hockey team location while Oakton Ice Arena was under construction

39. Number of words in the fight song

43. Annual excursion taken by PE leaders to Barrington

44. Superstitiously kissed PE-wing floor emblem lost to construction

47. Last name of teacher who will be leaving the Maine South crew after 37 years

49. Replacement for 22-Across

51. Last name of counselor who is leaving Maine South the same year his son, who won an IHSMTA Award for his performance as Pippin

53. Structure under which our first school dance was held

54. A member of Hawk Nation, e.g.

55. Misspelling on seniors’ parking stickers

57. Name of the club whose Maine South chapter is the seventh-largest globally

58. Team named after a real-life international organization, in short

Thomas Hurley & Caitlin Vengazo Editors-in-Chief

Senior Assassin makes history

Sayde Feeley, Grace Halpert, & Josie Hennes Entertainment Editors

“Who do you have? Do you know who has you?” These became the two most asked questions in the senior class in February when the annual game of Senior Assassin began.

Around 110 teams were involved, all vying for the cash prize and bragging rights awarded to the winners.

In previous years, the game has not made it past the first couple of rounds due to complaints about the game’s disruptive nature, but this year the game went through to the end.

While everyone waited in anticipation to see how it would play out, seniors Andrew Oberholtzer and Joseph Figula ran the game behind the scenes and worked on forming rules to ensure the game’s success.

“To make the rules, we looked at other senior assassin accounts but we also improvised a lot and added rules when necessary,” Oberholtzer said.

As the game commenced, it became an allconsuming activity for many seniors.

“I basically spent every waking moment playing the game, from leaving the house and getting back, to doing anything outside, I just had to be constantly aware and careful,” senior Mateo Jelenkovic, who made the final three teams, said.

The excitement and adrenaline from the game also motivated other players to dedicate many hours.

“In the beginning, between planning kills and stalking, I spent two to three hours a day on the game,” senior Julia Waszczyk said.

As the game progressed, many seniors were shocked at how long it was lasting.

“I honestly thought it would end after two or three rounds and was shocked to see that it didn’t,” senior Francie Marino said.

Figula and Oberholtzer were committed to ensuring the game’s completion

“We stayed determined throughout each round, and while we would sympathize with complaints, it didn’t mean we had to shut down, especially because the game was not affiliated with the school,” Oberholtzer said.

The game was played in groups of two, and each week was a new round, where every group was assigned another team to “kill” while another one had them.

Many teams used this set up to help advance them in the game.

“I made a list of all the remaining teams each round, then I would ask around to see who had who to narrow down, therefore determining who had me,” senior Elizabeth Drakontaidis said.

This was a common and very successful tactic used by several teams who made it far in the game.

“Each round, we would ask people who they had and connect the dots, and we would try to team up with other groups and our friends to stage kills,”

Jelenkovic said.

A byproduct of the necessary communication between teams to plot kills was unity and community throughout the senior class.

“I reached out to a ton of people I’ve never talked to before to help me get targets, and ended up making new friends with people I didn’t know before,” senior Tiffany Wu said.

In contrast to the community-building aspect of the game, many people were “betrayed” by their friends to advance in the game. Using friends of targets to know their schedule and addresses was a common strategy.

“Getting help from their friends one hundred percent helped us get a lot of our targets,” Waszczyk said.

In addition to selling out your friends, some teams unfortunately had their own friends as targets, creating tension.

“We had two close friends [as targets] the first round and it felt like we were set up for failure from the beginning because we had to break contact with people we talk to every day, and both of us were pretty invested at the beginning, so it created a lot of tension,” senior Alina Chavez said.

Most of these issues were quickly dismissed as people taking the game too seriously. In some

cases, people even risked physical injury for a “kill.”

“I was driving back to Maine South after getting lunch with my friends and all of the sudden someone jumped on the hood of my car as I was driving and wouldn’t get off, so I was late to class,” senior Kayla Cremins said.

While fun at the beginning, it quickly became a very vexing and time-consuming game, so many of the final teams became determined to win in order to get the cash prize.

“I was in it for the money because I wanted a PS5,” Jelenkovic said. “It was fun at the beginning, but by the end, it got annoying.”

The game wrapped up the week of April 28, with Julia Waszcsyk and Angelina Dervisheva as the final winners.

“It’s crazy to know that from over 100 teams we won, and it feels like our hard work paid off,” Waszcyk said. “Angelina and I are both putting the money towards prom expenses.”

As most Senior Assassin games in Maine South history have ended early due to its intensity disrupting the community, the conclusion of this year’s Senior Assassin was considered a great success.

“We want to congratulate all the teams, no matter how long they were in for, and thank all the people that helped us,” Dervisheva said.

CASHING OUT Seniors Julia Waszczyk and Angelina Dervisheva claim their cash prize after spending many weeks strategizing in order to win Senior Assassin. They beat over 100 teams and are the first winners of a completed Senior Assassin game with Maine South students.

NO WHERE IS SAFE Senior Mateo Jelenkovic eliminates target Kayla Cremins with a "team wipe" as she gets off the bus at an away soccer game. This "kill" allowed Jelenkovic to advance to final three.

PHOTO CREDIT ANGELINA DERVISHEVA

PHOTO CREDIT MATEO JELENKOVIC

What I wish I told my freshman self

Sayde Feeley Entertainment Editor

Looking back on high school, there are several things I wish I had known as a freshman.

While everyone has different experiences, there are a few consistent lessons I’ve learned that would have made the past few years more meaningful.

First, and most importantly, I would tell myself to stop rushing to graduate. As a freshman, I saw high school as a stepping stone — something to get through as fast as possible. I was focused on college and what came after. In doing so, I overlooked how valuable the high school experience can be.

Not only is it preparation for the real world, but it creates memories you'll carry for a lifetime. From the day-to-day routines, small talk in class, sports games, and dances, all are worth paying attention to.

High school may be one of the few times in life when you simultaneously experience real independence and

steady support from home — a balance that doesn’t really happen once you get older. Therefore, embrace it all and be present in every moment because you won’t get this part of your life back.

I also think a large reason I tried to rush through high school is because I dwelled a little too much on the negative experiences.

Stress, failure, and drama are unavoidable, but they didn’t deserve all the attention I gave them. I spent too much time focused on things that didn’t go as planned instead of moving forward and learning from them.

The ability to put things in perspective and not let temporary setbacks define your mood is very valuable in high school, and once I learned that, my experiences greatly improved.

Another important point I would emphasize is the value of being selective about extracurricular involvement.

Early on, I joined too many clubs and activities, thinking quantity mat-

DANCING THROUGH

LIFE Graduation has been something that I have been looking forward to for a long time, but there are some things that I regret not doing in my time at Maine South.

tered for college. In reality, spreading myself thin didn’t allow me to develop any real depth in the areas I was involved in. I’ve since learned that choosing a few activities and committing to them leads to a stronger sense of purpose.

Gaining this leadership allows you to leave a lasting impact on the

the school and connect with others. It’s better to be fully engaged in a few things than half-involved in many. Finally, I’ll always stress the importance of branching out and making friends with people you wouldn’t expect.

It’s natural to stick with familiar friends, especially in an overwhelming environment, and there's nothing wrong with sustaining your close relationships.

However, limiting yourself to one friend group can make you miss out on great people who have new perspectives and interests. Building a diverse network of friends not only makes high school more enjoyable but also helps develop the social skills you will always need in the future.

As I conclude my senior year, I would tell my freshman self to just slow down, focus on what matters, and invest fully in fewer things.

High school isn’t just about checking boxes — it's about building relationships and memories that you’ll carry forever.

You can have it all, just not at the same time

Caitlin Vengazo Editor-in-Chief

One of my most vivid memories of elementary school is a naive eagerness to be older.

At the end of the school day, my second-grade self would take home all of my school folders just to make my backpack look fuller, like I was an adult with important things to do.

I idealized an older version of myself: she had a perfect home, her dream job, a buzzing social life, a family (eventually), and vacations around the world. (It might be worth noting that my favorite toy at the time was Barbie.)

By no means did I have an unhappy childhood (don’t worry, Mom and Dad!), but I was convinced that once I was older, I would have it all.

Little did I know that well before adulthood, I’d realize that “having it all” was nearly impossible and frankly not as appealing as it sounds.

Anyone who knows me has probably heard me talk about my planner. Of course, everything is color-coded, with a designated fine-liner for each category of life events — family, friends, extracurriculars, you name it. In theory, if the colors are represented

HAVING MY CAKE AND EATING IT TOO I may have outgrown my delusions of having it all, but my sweet tooth is forever.

in proportion to how much I value that category, then my life is balanced.

Before the end of my third quarter junior year, my school/extracurriculars pen ran out, and my planner was fuller than ever.

Between multiple leadership positions, an internship, a job, a varsity sport, and the hardest classes I’d ever taken, my junior year brought opportunities that occupied a lot of my time. I grew accustomed to leaving the dinner table early most nights to finish schoolwork, arriving at school early and staying late almost every day for clubs or office hours, and sacrific-

ing hobbies and sleep to spend time with friends.

You might think this made my life miserable, but it wasn’t.

The activities I was involved in were genuinely valuable to me, and I credit my positive experiences to my amazing teachers, club sponsors, and other mentors who motivated me to work hard.

I wasn't burnt out, but I felt guilty and frustrated that my life was completely imbalanced. If I didn’t spend so much time on school and clubs, I wouldn’t have the grades and experiences I wanted. But in doing so, I sacrificed rest and time with family.

Eventually, I decided to just embrace the opportunities filling my schedule. I don't regret the time and energy I spent on school, and I'm grateful to have seen it paid off in many ways.

All year, though, I was looking forward to my summer trip to Europe with my sister.

As I recorded our adventures in my planner, my “family” pen ran dry.

That moment was a revelation to me. In less than three weeks, I had gone from barely sleeping, manically studying for AP tests, and seldom

seeing my sister, to sleeping in and spending every day with her in a foreign country where I didn’t so much as open a book.

Evidently, my life was anything but balanced. Honestly, it was more comparable to a pendulum, swinging between extremes. But in both situations, in completely different ways, I found purpose and fulfillment.

It took the busiest and calmest periods of my high school career for me to realize that life ebbs and flows.

What I’ve learned is that every period — busy or slow, good or bad — is temporary. The key is to embrace them all for the opportunities they present, or else you won’t grow.

The girl I dreamed of growing up to be probably doesn’t exist in perfect balance like my younger self imagined, but I know second-grade Caitlin would be just as proud of who I am today for realizing that my identity and happiness do not lie in how balanced my life appears, but rather how I make the most of my opportunities.

I can’t do it all, at least not all at the same time. But I can appreciate what each phase of life offers me, and maybe that’s what “having it all” is all about.

My journey to becoming a ‘yes’ man

Hayden Magad

Commentary Editor

Iwaslate to my freshman orientation. My mom dropped me off in a rush across the Spec Gym lobby from where the rest of the nervous freshmen stood anxiously waiting to enter the building.

Embarrassed, I scurried through the lobby, carefully avoiding the hawk that once iconically sat at the heart of our school. I was immediately ushered into a gauntlet of upperclassmen aggressively cheering me and my fellow freshmen behind me.

That day I entered Maine South with a complete disregard and lack of respect for everything the school had to offer. I was annoyed by the enthusiasm and spirit that surrounded me and wanted nothing to do with it.

Coming out of COVID and a botched eighth grade year, in many ways, it made sense that I would feel this way. Millions of other kids and I experienced the same nightmare of a situation during a rather critical time in our development.

While I attended the occasional

CHEESIN’ Even when I was young, I had a positive attitude about the world around me. I was always smiling and happy to put myself out there.

football game and joined a few extracurriculars to please my parents, my heart was just not in anything I was doing. I was simply going through the motions, waiting for summer to finally come.

To this day, I don’t count my high school experience as starting until my sophomore year. Something in me changed and I began saying “yes” to everything.

While there was hesitation at the start, the more I found myself saying “yes,” the happier I became.

The most important “yes” I made that year was in relation to the sport of wrestling. I was sitting during my free period with my friends when they began discussing the upcoming wrestling season.

Most of my friends had already joined the team. This led to me, someone who had never touched a wrestling mat in my life and wanted nothing to do with the sport, ultimately giving it a try and saying yes.

Since then, I found myself starting on varsity and falling in love with wrestling and everything it had to offer. I made tons of new friends and learned lessons that will stick with me for the rest of my life. This was only possible, however, because I took a leap of faith.

That same year, I joined the podcast club, which I am now one of the officers of, as well as Southwords, where I became an editor this year. On top of that, I decided to take AP Economics, which led to me deciding on a major. Time and time again I took chance after chance, and every time, it paid off in a positive way.

Finally, the high school experience I didn’t know I wanted had begun. My junior year, I said “yes” to one of the greatest experiences I had in my high school career: Constitution Team. Joining the team, I had no close friends or that much of a keen interest in civics and government, but it ended up being a life-changing experience for me.

I created four new amazing lifelong friends through being a member of Unit 6 and was even able to make an informed college decision as a result of the connections I made through this team.

After four years of struggles, failures, and successes, I feel that I can safely call myself a yes man. While the journey was long and strenuous, it was one that left me with absolutely no regrets. This is a mindset that I plan on carrying into my life beyond my college years and one that I recommend to everybody, especially freshmen lacking direction.

As Ms. Politi once told me, “If you throw enough spaghetti at the wall, some is bound to stick.” Go Hawks. Go ‘Noles.

Yes, my mom still makes my lunch, and no, I’m not ashamed

Eliza Goldwasser

Commentary Editor

Serving as both a commentary writer and editor for the past three years on Southwords , I have been feeling an impending sense of dread at the prospect of writing my final commentary.

Since the fall, I have generated and negated idea after idea — the pressure of constructing a perfect send-off story looming omnipotently.

This feeling of stagnation brought me back to the first story I ever wrote for Southwords, a critique of the excessive food waste in culinary classrooms.

I remember sitting at my kitchen table the day before the article was due — crying, I may add — because I did not know what to say.

I could not find my voice.

What I also remember, though, is my parents sitting with me, proposing sentence starters and asking questions to help me narrow my argument and get words on paper.

Sentence by sentence, with their support, I was able to write my first commentary article.

This was not the first, and by far not the last instance in which I leaned on my parents for support during my high school years. However, I always felt a little embarrassed about my dependence.

Movies and books portray high school as one’s “coming-of-age” years: a time of self-discovery and greater independence. This depiction is not entirely inaccurate.

High school necessitates greater self awareness and self reliance, both of which are facilitated by things like licenses, difficult classes, and planning for life after high school.

It feels as though there is, to an extent, a culture of individualism and independence among the students at Maine South.

We rush to do things on our own merit, perhaps thinking that needing help is a symbol of inferiority or immaturity.

But, I’d like to propose an alternative: high school is, for many, the last period of time that they truly can lean on their support systems. It is not shameful to need help, nor is it shameful to ask for it.

Since I was little, my parents have been a constant source of support. Whether it was sounding out words or hiking a trail in Michigan (as pictured), their unwavering encouragement made me the person I am today.

I may be capable of managing several AP classes and numerous extracurriculars on my own, but if I needed to make my lunch every day, I think I would survive off of granola bars and perhaps the occasional quesadilla.

I have been privileged enough to have a mom who makes my lunch, providing me with the nutrition I need to get through the school day.

The first few weeks of freshman year, I was embarrassed to pull out my

floral Vera Bradley lunchbox, filled with a meal I did not even prepare. However, these lunches are now something I cherish. The familiarity, the consistency — I know when I open that seven-year-old lunch box that I am being cared for.

It can be easy to push away the support of loved ones in high school, but I would strongly encourage people not to.

Frankly, these are our last four years of being kids. Next year, I probably will not be able to sit down with my parents and work through an article, nor will I be able to open my backpack every day and expect a meal prepared with love.

Rather than rushing to a life independent of our families, we should allow ourselves to be supported and accept the fact that sometimes we cannot, and should not, do everything on our own.

Although writing that first Southwords article might have been a challenge, I look back on that moment fondly and wish I had one last opportunity to work through an article with my parents.

LEAN ON ME

Electives allow you to make the most of high school

Grace Halpert Entertainment Editor

As I think about my time at Maine South coming to an end, I’ve realized that many of my favorite memories here have taken place in the classes and extracurriculars that have little to do with my future plans, but are simply environments where I am enjoying myself and growing personally.

Though it may not be riveting to say that my favorite classes are “fun” classes, the importance of electives are often diminished in an environment where post-secondary planning is deemed more valuable than the high school education itself.

There’s a push for career exploration while enrolling in classes that will “prepare” students for their future majors and careers.

Of course, this is undeniably important; however, it’s crucial that students feel empowered to take classes that they truly enjoy and seek extracurriculars that are worth more than a blurb on the CommonApp. It’s essential to embrace activities that you can only do in high school.

You’ll get plenty of time to work on your college major in college; however, your time in high school is finite, and your possibility of getting involved in activities that interest you — but maybe aren’t your career path — dwindle as you continue to get older.

CALL ME A GRAD High school is a time to explore and branch out. There is no other time in which you will be able to try as many new things as you can when you are a teenager.

My favorite classes throughout high school have been my PA-Wing classes, as well as Newspaper Practicum and getting to be an editor for Southwords . Never have I thought that I’d be entering the

music field or starting a career in journalism after high school, but I’ve appreciated the sense of community these classes have brought me and the skills that I’ve learned.

Though choir, orchestra, and journalism may not seem like direct paths into Speech Pathology, which is my college major, I feel as though these classes have actually prepared me very well for my future and my life after high school as a whole.

Learning to work with a deadline, collaborate closely with classmates, and take and utilize feedback are timeless skills that are vital wherever your post-high school life may take you.

Most important, I’d argue, is that being able to find times in your schedule that you can look forward to is a necessity in an often stressful and jam-packed school day.

School is a lot more enjoyable when you can genuinely take joy in what you’re learning and connect with the content.

As a high school student, it’s imperative that you separate your personal interests from your career interests as you pick your classes and join extracurriculars; being able to incorporate both of these categories into your schedule will give you a high school experience that not only prepares you for the future, but allows you to enjoy the present.

Everyone needs to remember how to dream like a kid

Thomas Hurley Editor-in-Chief

National Geographic was magical to me. As a kid, I found little more exciting than being able to transport to distinct biomes and cultures just by picking up a yellow magazine.

As much as I’ve always appreciated a good novel, I have yet to find a work of fiction more fantastical than our own world. I used to imagine what it would be like to be on the other end of the story — how cool, I thought, must it be to scour out what needs to be covered and set out to go discover it for yourself?

That level of artistic liberty in life must feel like a superpower. Not only National Geographic, but the entire field of journalism mystified me — it was one of those early influences that I never really understood and certainly didn’t know the name of, at least yet.

This wasn’t my only childhood exposure to journalism. My favorite show growing up (maybe besides “Wild Kratts”) was “Rick Steves’ Europe,” and although I never understood half of what he was saying, I always appreciated the way his words made me feel like I was traveling with him.

I realize now that that was his superpower.

As much as my parents tried to shield me from the news because of the characteristic violence, I couldn’t help but notice it and became amazed by the journalists, especially the vast number of roles they seemed to play.

They were somehow politicians, investigators, diplomats, and entertainers all at once. Adaptability and a range of authority: those are superpowers, too.

So, by the age of 10, I think I wanted to be a journalist without even knowing it. My unending desire to see the world and share its stories with others caused a dream to blossom subconsciously.

I’m not quite sure when this dream faded into the background. What I do know is that being a teenager is overstimulating in a lot of ways, and I definitely lost sight of some of what I believed in as a child.

By junior year, I was convinced that I needed to somehow find a verifiably “reasonable” career path at the age of 17. Part of me started to feel like a career wasn’t something to enjoy, but something to grin and bear.

Without even realizing it, I developed an internalized concept of what a “reasonable” future would

MAKING THE CASE FOR DREAMING

look like for me.

I’ve always wanted to have a career that allows me to travel the world and share its vibrancy with others. Choosing to go with my dreams instead of caving to doubt hopefully means I’ll get to do just that. the past year could hold a candle to how strongly I feel about going into journalism.

Funnily, all of this pressure came from within. My parents have never been anything but supportive of all of my aspirations, and my teachers — especially Mr. Stathakis — reminded me how much I love writing.

It’s astounding how much pressure we put on ourselves, especially when it comes time to apply to colleges.

What changed it all for me was the actual necessity of making a decision.

When I had to pick a major, I realized that none of the options I’d frantically cycled through for

It sounds stupidly simple, but the second I made that choice I knew it was the right one, and I think I’ve finally started to feel just as blindly passionate as I once did.

Remember that dream you had as a kid, no matter how “unreasonable” it is.

All you have to do to get that dream back is let go of the doubts that inhibit it, and follow it — who knows, you just might get superpowers.

Leaving your comfort zone might change your life

Margaret Sheehan Features Editor

Every spring break, my Instagram feed is flooded with pictures of what seems like the crown jewel of senior year: the Mexico trip.

I would scroll with jealousy through photos of friends who attended with their older siblings, or upperclassmen who had the whole experience. At the end of junior year, I couldn’t wait to start planning my own trip.

As senior year approached, however, reluctant friends and hesitation from my parents caused the fabled Mexico trip to slip further from my grasp.

Finally, my friends planned our senior trip to Fort Lauderdale. But as my friends prepared for a week on the beach, something else remained in the back of my mind.

For the past four years, I’ve taken French class at Maine South. French has always interested me, but I had never thought much about it outside of class.

Junior year, when I heard about a trip to France, I immediately perked up, as I had always wanted to go on a school trip.

However, as cool as this opportunity sounded, I was deterred by the fact that I barely knew anyone going on the trip, and I didn’t want to leave my friends for my last spring break of high school.

Finally, my mom made the decision for me. “When else are you going to get to go to France?” So I booked it.

It turned out that going on this trip was probably the best decision of my high school career.

The beaches of Mexico or Florida did not compare to the experience of watching the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night or playing soccer in a French ruin with local kids.

Each meal, tour, and activity was a new adventure that brought me closer to the strangers I started the trip with. Going out of my comfort zone and pushing the boundaries of my expectations made for the most memorable high school experience.

On our last full day, our trip culminated in a scavenger hunt, which took us around the city of Nice searching for landmarks and buildings.

While running around the city with a team of three other seniors, climbing the most beautiful hike to a waterfall at the peak of the city, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity.

Even though we were not the fastest group to complete the scavenger hunt, something about this moment was perfect.

Sitting on the beach with three people I barely knew only a week earlier, we were already talking about returning. The people and places I expe-

CATCHING THE TRAVEL BUG

rienced on this trip made it so worth a missed tropical vacation.

Because I took a risk and embarked on this European adventure with my classmates, I explored a new part of the world. But more than that, I gained an appreciation for French culture, valuable friendships, and countless memories.

The comeback is always greater than the setback

Josie Hennes Entertainment Editor

Thesummer before my freshman year, I had crafted the perfect plan: try out for tennis in the fall and make many friends through the team, try out for soccer in the spring, and get straight A+’s.

However, these plans quickly unraveled. After three days of tennis tryouts, I was cut from the team — my first setback, and I hadn’t even stepped foot in Maine South yet.

Throughout my freshman and sophomore years, setbacks came in many ways — having no one to sit with at lunch and seeing people I considered friends leave me out.

At the time, these experiences felt like they would define and shape the next four years of my life. Looking back, however, I realize they were essential in building my confidence and opening up opportunities for even greater joy.

After being cut from tennis, I joined the track team to get in shape for soccer tryouts, to hopefully avoid facing rejection again.

During that first indoor season, I unexpectedly discovered a passion for running and formed incredible friendships (shoutout to the Hurdle Homies!). I loved running track and, I decided to stay for the spring season.

The setbacks I faced only motivated me to push myself. My early disappointments fueled my ambition. Ultimately, this led me to achieve success and validation in my athletic career.

I allowed my setbacks to be a motivator, not a definer.

exclude me was painful, but leaving that behind was even harder.

Being in a new environment without close connections — especially when it seemed like everyone else already had their groups — felt overwhelming, embarrassing, and isolating.

However, by focusing on activities I genuinely enjoyed and staying true to myself, I eventually found and built real friendships.

If I had let that setback keep me isolated and hidden, rather than stepping out and embracing new opportunities, I would have missed out on so many incredible relationships and so much happiness.

I am so grateful that I went to club meetings, asked people to sit at their table, and made new friends wherever and whenever I could.

High school is your time to embrace setbacks that you will inevitably face.

In a way, it is a good thing to work through pain and frustration and an even better thing to not let it become a limit on what you are capable of.

In addition to medals and broken records, I gained confidence and trust in myself.

My fond memories largely overshadow my uncertain beginnings and struggles along the way. If something doesn’t work out, it's okay to be frustrated and angry.

In these moments of vexation, it's extremely important to continue exploring new activities and searching for things you love.

You will find them.

Having "friends" who went out of their way to

Your efforts will be rewarded with extraordinary growth!

Right now, you are surrounded by communities, resources, and endless opportunities to explore clubs, sports, and activities.

The people and pursuits you once believed were meant for you may not last.

Yet every redirection is a chance to uncover what genuinely excites and moves you — and to steadily build and grow into the person you are meant to become.

MONKEYING AROUND While life may seem like it's all setbacks, it is important to remember that the only way to succeed is to keep pushing. Setbacks do not define you — how you react to them does.

Since my 2013 trip to Hawaii, I've always wanted to see the world. My high school French trip gave me the opportunity to continue my love for travel.

The gift of gratitude

Lily Giambarberee Production Editor

As I finish off this defining part of my life, I look back with joy, nostalgia, embarrassment, and regret.

Regret not because I wish I did something different, but because I wish I did some things sooner.

For many, including myself, anytime something bad happens to me in a day, I tend to let it ruin the whole 15 hours I am awake, which should never be the case.

Yes, it's easy to be hard on yourself about a bad grade or a test you did not study enough for, but in the end, if you let yourself be hung up on something for a whole day, you can miss a lot of beautiful things that happen in your life.

Having a negative attitude can put a gray haze over your perspective of a day, and that’s why I begin my day with gratitude.

Whenever I feel upset about something and it begins to tear my mood down, I think of something I am grateful for.

It can be gratitude for anything —the weather, friends, family or even the Starbucks that kept me running all four of these years.

Gratitude is an immediate boost of serotonin and dopamine for anyone who takes a second to reflect.

Gratitude literally rewires your brain to look at things with positive reinforcement and activates your hypothalamus, the part of your brain that acts like a reward system.

As I write this, I have a profound sense of gratitude for Southwords, my co-editors, the yearbook and its members, and most of all, the Maine South Visual Arts wing for boosting my passion for photography and what it is today.

Without all of these people, I would not be going into the career path I have chosen today: journalism.

Ms. Moore was the first person to help me see photography as a career path when she first recommended that I sign up for Southwords.

Ever since, I have taken photography very seriously as I continued to look for internships and other ways to grow my passion. It wasn’t always easy, though.

I had days where I felt disappointed by my work and days where I wondered if it was worth it to continue putting so much effort into

photography.

To change those feelings and continue my path, I found a positive in it, something to be proud of. If I tried a new sport or a new technique, I had learned something new through that.

Seeing those positives instead of the negatives drove me to be better, and to never take an opportunity for granted, which changed my entire outlook on not only photography, but my life.

As I close this chapter, the one feeling that rises above all others is gratitude — gratitude for the people who believed in me, the challenges that shaped me, and the passions that gave me purpose.

It's easy to focus on what went wrong or what could’ve been done differently, but I've learned that the real strength lies in appreciating what did go right.

Every late night, every deadline, every mistake that led to growth, all of it has brought me to where I am today.

And for that, I am endlessly thankful.

Gratitude has been my compass, guiding me through doubt and discouragement, and reminding me that even on the hardest days, there is always something to be thankful for.

That mindset has changed my life and it will carry me forward into the next chapter of my life.

You don’t have to care about everything

There’s a general tendency for people to equate visibility with importance.

The things you see or hear about the most — surely those are the most important, right?

Surely if something is pervasive, it matters more. At Maine South, the most prevalent activities end up being the things that receive the most attention. But I don’t think that’s necessarily fair. I don’t think it makes sense to think of the most visible things at Maine South as having the most bearing on your life.

And, more specifically, I don’t think it’s fair to say that the things other people value the most have to be the things you value. Since freshman year, what I’ve chosen to view as significant has changed pretty drastically.

What I’ve come to realize as a senior is that the things that end up affecting your life the most are the things you choose to focus on. What parts of your high school experience seem to matter most are a consequence of what you do and who you surround yourself with.

To an extent, I feel like there’s a separation that exists between two types of people at Maine South: people who engage and really commit to the most prominent activities and extracurriculars, and people who don’t.

The former group exists, to a degree, in a kind of insulated bubble. Obviously, there’s overlap, but it feels to me that there’s a perception that the engaged group is Maine South — which makes sense. They’re participants in the most representative

part of the school. But those people don’t represent the norm. Being well-known doesn’t make someone — or the things they’re doing — more important.

It’s just that the things those people care about happen to be center — stage.

Your time in high school isn’t your life; your life is your life.

You can find the activities that you actually care about. But those don’t have to be things that other people see.

They don’t have to be the “main” channels if those aren’t things that appeal to you. Carving out your own niche means you can limit yourself to just the things you think are actually worth doing.

How you choose to engage completely changes what you perceive as important.

For the people who invest their time in a given extracurricular, that space is going to seem like it really matters. For other people, the social scene is going to be the same way.

That doesn’t mean that that activity matters to everyone, and that’s fine.

Those things don’t have to be lifedefining just because they’re things that some people really value and keep track of.

I’m not here to tell you not to succumb to peer pressure or do drugs or whatever.

But socially speaking, you aren’t obligated to care about what people expect of you. You can just do something else. You can find your own spaces without worrying on other people’s behalf.

Ultimately, the only person you’re really beholden to is yourself.

Quinn Annis Features Editor

PLAYING WITH FIRE We all have our own interests and quirks. Based off my interests when I was younger, natural selection should've taken me sooner.

The best lessons are the ones from elementary school

Brianna Giustino Sports Editor

Whenit came time to write the final commentary of my high school career, I wanted to reflect on some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned.

I realized most of the important lessons I know came from the same place: elementary school. The mottos that have stuck with me for as long as I can remember — hard work pays off and be yourself — were taught to me before I could even appreciate their full meaning.

These lessons were so fundamental and essential that we learned them before we knew just how much we needed them.

In elementary school, hard work meant coloring inside the lines of my coloring page or memorizing words for my spelling tests. Success came quickly— I was given a compliment from my teacher or a Class Dojo point. As I got older, the work got harder and the success came slower.

Whether it was studying for the ACT all summer just to fall short of the score I wanted or applying to colleges with the scary feeling that it might all be for nothing, my time in high school pushed me further than I thought I could go.

Knowing from such a young age that perseverance could lead to accomplishing my goals was crucial in helping me through tough times. Another lesson taught to us — though it’s easier said than done — is to not care what other people think about you and to just be yourself.

As I continued to grow older, social pressures

THE GOOD THINGS STICK Just like snow, good can come out of the gloomiest situations. No matter how lost you can feel as you get older, the lessons you learned when you were younger will come back to you.

became more intense. I often felt obligated to do certain things or buy certain clothes just to “fit in” with my grade. However, what I’ve learned through confining myself to those boxes is that the joy of being true to yourself outweighs any fleeting reward that comes from blending in.

I’ve been lucky enough to form lifelong friendships and take risks I never would have if I had been too busy worrying about what others thought of me.

Not caring what people think allows me to be authentic and bold — the very qualities that have

been with me since kindergarten.

The magic of these lessons lies in their simplicity and universality. They are often challenged and reshaped, but never forgotten.

They will continue to guide me beyond high school, and no matter how much I change, these core values will remain — keeping a part of my elementary school self with me, always.

No matter how much I grow or how far I go, I know those elementary school values will always be with me, reminding me of who I’ve always been and the possibilities of who I can become.

You will always be able to find your community

Samara Lefler News Editor

Withgraduation coming up soon, our high school class is moving on to the next step in our lives.

It might seem scary and overwhelming, but the future’s nothing to be afraid of.

I was very overwhelmed at first, as all throughout senior year people are asking what your plans are after high school graduation.

It started as early as junior year with other students in my grade starting college visits and deciding where they wanted to apply.

Even after my applications were done and I started hearing back from colleges, I still didn’t know where I wanted to go, and it was stressful.

However, after visiting colleges myself senior year, I got more excited as I could see myself enjoying college.

Hearing the college students at each school talk about their personal experiences helped as well because while being nervous is a very common feeling going into college, every one of them seemed to find their community at their school.

Choosing where you want to go to college can feel like a huge decision, but anywhere you go, you

BIKE TO THE FUTURE Though these next few years may be scary, it is important to remember that we will get the hang of it. Soon, it will be just like riding a bike.

will be able to find your community of people and your place at the school.

There isn’t really a wrong decision when you’re choosing where to go to college.

It also isn’t an irreversible decision. If you spend a year at a school and decide you really hate it, you can transfer to a different college.

Or if you decide you no longer like your major, you could always change it. Whatever path you choose, you are not stuck in it.

Knowing all of this made it easier to actually commit to college for me.

I had decided what school I wanted to go to, but I delayed committing for a while. It felt like this huge decision, and I didn’t want to be stuck in the wrong place.

After I realized that this doesn’t have to be a permanent choice, it felt better to commit. The future is nothing to be afraid of, and it is never set in stone. You can always choose what you want to do in the future.

The same still applies even if you aren’t going to college; whatever you choose, you can always go in a different direction.

So, whether you are going to college, trade school, the workforce, or something else, I hope you’re as excited as I am for the next adventure.

Life is not a to-do list: learn to be flexible

Kyra Demeros Sports Editor

Throughout high school, I opened the same Google Document almost every day. It is the first bookmark on my Chromebook, simply titled: “Things to do.”

This document has seen everything from homework deadlines, club meeting reminders, birthdays, and even scheduled nap times.

For the past four years, if I needed to get something done, it went on this list. And if something wasn’t on the list? It probably didn’t happen.

At first, this habit made me feel organized and productive. I believed that if I planned enough, I would be able to perfectly balance my schoolwork, extracurriculars, and my social life.

My days were blocked out by the minute. If I had written down that I would be doing homework from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., then I was doing homework then, no matter what. Eventually, somewhere along the way, I began to notice that I was missing out.

I turned down spontaneous ice cream runs and movie nights with

friends because they weren’t part of the plan.

I was so focused on being productive all the time that I stopped being present.

I was always living in the future, thinking about where I would want to be in a year, five years, or even ten years from now. Without realizing it, I was letting the best parts of high school pass me by.

Senior year, I decided it was time for a change.

Maybe it was the awareness that time was running out, but something made me loosen up on my perfectly planned schedule.

I still use my to-do list, but now it is just a guide rather than a rule book. I have started saying “yes” to the unexpected. “Yes” to staying a little longer. “Yes” to the unplanned moments of high school.

I have now learned that some of my best moments, in fact, were not scheduled. They did not come from reminders or calendar invitations.

They happened during the random detours of my schedule that turned out to be the best parts of my day.

Recently, I looked back at the history of the Google Doc and realized it had become, in its own strange way, a diary of my high school experience.

I saw the days I was most stressed, or had the most fun.

There were no feelings or thoughts listed in the margins, but the list showed where I had been and how much I had grown.

Scanning through those lists, I can see how my priorities have shifted,

how I became more flexible.

What started as a tool to manage my time has ended up telling the story of how I have learned to get through high school. I still believe that it is good to plan. Life can get busy and having structure helps.

But, it is equally important to leave room for the unexpected.

Some of the best memories you will make will be the ones that surprise you.

The double life: embracing energy and exhaustion

Charlotte Chapman News Editor

Throughouthigh school, there have been many weeks where I’ve felt as though I was sprinting.

Each day would be packed — editing articles between classes, memorizing speeches before mock trial practice, and staying up way too late preparing flashcards on Constitutional law. During these weeks, I felt motivated, passionate about the progress I was making.

However, there were just as many weeks where I barely had the energy to prepare for my next math test or to read my English book.

There were weeks where even the activities I loved felt like a burden. It took me four years to realize that both versions of my life were acceptable and actually necessary to succeed. Many of us believe, either consciously or subconsciously, that success is a straight line. Students who thrive are always “on.”

They are always efficient, productive, and energized. I spent much of

my high school experience chasing that version of myself.

And sometimes, it worked. There were absolutely moments when hard work was something I looked forward to.

There were times when I could spend countless hours reviewing objections before a competition or take dozens of SAT practice tests to improve my score.

But that wasn’t always the case.

The full story also includes the junior year burnout, when all of my activities and classes felt like they were catching up to me.

It includes August of senior year, when I thought I should be living in the moment, but instead felt drained trying to summarize my life experiences into one essay.

It includes late nights staring at a blank document, attempting to write a news article or a closing argument while feeling like I had nothing left to say.

However, these moments of burnout and exhaustion were important. They taught me a lesson that moments of achievement never did. They forced me to stop and ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” And each time, without fail, I remembered.

I would be reminded of the feeling of publishing an article that mattered. The energy after concluding a rebuttal argument. The satisfaction of confidently answering a free-response question. My motivation would come back, certainly not all at once, but slowly.

One interesting conversation with a Women in Business speaker.

One sentence in an essay that I was especially proud of.

One sustained objection after a string of failures.

For a long time, I believed that the lulls, the weeks where I struggled to motivate myself, meant I was failing.

I took them as weaknesses, a sign that I would never be able to fully accomplish my goals. But in hindsight, I am able to see that they were perfectly normal.

They were signs that I was working hard, passionate, and sometimes just reaching my limit.

The important part was building myself back up.

So, to anyone who feels burnt out, unproductive, or behind — trust me when I say it’s part of the process. Those lows matter just as much as the highs. You’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to not have it all together all the time.

It doesn’t make any of your successes less impressive. In fact, it makes them even more significant.

PRINCESS TREATMENT I have spent a majority of my high school career following an exact schedule. I have learned that I don't need to live my life minute by minute — I can left myself have fun.

TIARAS UP In high school, I've learned to keep my head high. When busy, it's important to give yourself grace.

Finding opportunity in difficulty

Ava Jurek Features Editor

EleanorRoosevelt once said, “An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” This idea was something that took me four years of high school to finally understand.

Entering Maine South on my first day of freshman year was a true shock to my 14-year-old self. Not only was I fresh out of the pandemic, but also, as the oldest child in my family, I was the first to navigate the halls of Maine South.

I had no idea what I was doing, where my place was, or where to even begin, but I knew I wanted to set myself and my family up for success.

I had placed an immense amount of pressure on myself that was only made worse by the looming unknown of my future. I have successfully made my way through high school, and I have finally realized what it was that helped me get here: being optimistic.

It is not necessarily about being a “glass halffull” person; instead, it is learning how to frame each situation to find something good in it.

For instance, I actively sought ways to get involved with extracurriculars early on in my high school career, namely in applying for officer positions for clubs that encompassed my interests.

In the cases where I was successful in earning officer positions that I applied for, I didn’t take it for granted.

I was happy and embraced my success, yet understood that it was hard work that got me to this place and that I had earned it. But on the other hand, on the surface, things didn’t always go as planned.

I didn’t get every officer position that I applied for, but maybe that was a good thing. Instead, I got to devote more time to other clubs in which I held leadership positions, allowing me to enact real change.

It allowed me to join more clubs without the stress of having to attend every meeting, providing the space for me to find my true passions. I applied the concept of optimism to all parts of my life — not just extracurriculars, but also academics.

Despite studying for hours, I didn’t perform exceptionally on every test, but maybe that, too, was a good thing.

The extra studying I did for the retake allowed me to grasp a thorough understanding of the material and be successful on the cumulative.

My steadfast commitment to being optimistic was vastly advantageous in the college application process. I knew it was a notoriously stressful experience, but I also knew that I could do my best to make it more manageable.

I knew that I wasn’t going to be fulfilled having a dream school with the chance of not getting in. Instead, each application was an opportunity to

JUST KEEP SWINGING I have learned that no matter how hard something may appear to be on the surface, as long as I don’t give up, I can find a positive out of the seemingly challenging situation.

look at the world optimistically. If I were accepted, it would be a time to celebrate my successes and accomplishments. If I weren’t, I acknowledged that maybe the place wasn’t meant for me, and I would not have been able to be my most successful self. Life is not perfect, and not everything that gets thrown your way will seem good up front.

However, learning how to frame situations optimistically will allow you to find the good in every situation and be your most successful self.

Ignoring embarrassment is the key to success

Comic-tary by Anastasia Musyakevich

Eliza Goldwasser Badminton

Eliza Goldwasser has been a member of the varsity badminton team for two seasons. Eliza was a captain on the team, and she played in the top three doubles and top six singles positions. “Eliza is a fierce competitor, but sees the good in others,” Coach Donna Schwan said. “She is the first to identify the good things happening during practice and to celebrate team accomplishments. She regularly works with all athletes and makes sure the younger athletes feel welcomed on the team.” Goldwasser will be studying journalism at Northwestern University in the fall.

Claire Chiovari Cheerleading

Claire Chovari is a four-year member of the varsity cheerleading team. She was a versatile cheerleader, stepping up to many different positions such as a flyer, tumbler or backspot when needed. Her outgoing and positive attitude serves as a bright light for the rest of her teammates. “Claire was always supportive of all of her teammates,” Coach Stacy Pater said. “She showed her dedication by always being happy for her teammates. She brought joy to the team by always being happy and cheering for everyone.” Chovari will be attending the University of Kentucky in the fall.

Constantine Coines Baseball

Constantine Coines has been an outfielder on the varsity baseball team for three years. At press time, he had a batting average of .373, an on-base percentage of .492, and scored 17 runs. Coines is known for his intensity and dedication to the sport, having an exemplary work ethic at each practice. “Constantine is the type of player that is the first one there and last one to leave,” Coach Brian Lorenz said. “He doesn’t quit until the job is finished and is the type of player that is going to lead by example.” Coines will be playing Division II baseball at Lewis University.

Owynn Garrelts Boys’ Cross Country

Owynn Garrelts was a member of the varsity boys’ cross country team for four years. He was the only runner in school history to attend the state meet four years in a row. In the history of the school, Garrelts is one of nine Maine South runners awarded All-Conference, All-Regional, All-Sectional, and All-State honors in the same season. “Owynn is exceptionally reliable,” Coach David Fermanich said. “No matter the circumstance, he can be trusted to deliver his best performance, even under pressure.” Garrelts is currently undecided on his post-high school plans.

Tyler Sierra Boys’ Basketball

Tyler Sierra was a three-year varsity starter for the boys’ basketball team as a point guard. He was the leader in assists on the team for two consecutive years, averaging four assists per game this season. “I feel that his teammates would share that Tyler embodied an element of toughness, resilience, and someone they could look to for leadership during difficult times of the season,” Coach Colin Wehman said. “These characteristics helped keep our group together and moving in a positive direction.” Sierra is still undecided about future plans, but is considering playing college basketball.

Sofia Arcuri Girls’ Cross Country

Sofia Arcuri was the number-one varsity runner for all four years of her high school career. Arcuri was awarded CSL All Conference for three years and she led the team in qualifying for state every year. Her time on the state meet course is one of top five in school history. “[Arcuri’s] teammates would describe her as a dedicated runner, who understands the idea that how hard you practice determines how successful you will be,” Coach Jeffery Downing said. Arcuri will be running Division I Cross-Country & Track on scholarship at the University of Tulsa.

Ally Pape Girls’ Basketball

Ally Pape was a three-year starter for the varsity girls’ basketball team. The three seasons that she played for the team were arguably the most successful consecutive seasons in the program’s history, with two CSL Conference championships, three regional championships and one sectional championship won. “Ally was one of the hardest workers in practice and modeled to her teammates that hard work does indeed pay off,” Coach Jeff Hamann said. “She is an excellent student and an even better person.” Pape will be continuing her basketball career next year at Cornell University.

Michael Dellumo Football

Michael Dellumo was a threeyear varsity football player and a two-year captain. He was reliable on both offense and defense, having scored 49 touchdowns over his career and having been named the Bob & Dorothy Inserra Most Dedicated and Reliable Players on Defense. In addition, he led the team in interceptions in the 2024 season. “Michael is an absolute competitor and holds others accountable,” Coach David Inserra said. “He is an extremely hard worker who gives his best every day.” Michael will be playing Division I FCS football at Butler University in Indianapolis.

Kayla Cremins Flag Football

Kayla Cremins played on the varsity flag football team for one year, where she was a middle linebacker and wide receiver. She helped lead the team defensively to being ranked No. 1 in the state at one point during her senior season. Cremins led the team with 96 flag pulls, which ranked her sixth in the state. To acknowledge the immense impact she had on defense, she was recognized as the team’s defensive MVP. “Kayla is a fierce competitor and a determined leader,” Coach Carlos Panizo said. Cremins will be attending the University of Iowa in the fall where she will study education.

Sydney Gatz Hawkettes

Sydney Gatz was a four-year member of the varsity Hawkettes dance team and a captain this past year. She was a valuable member of the team, helping them win two national championships during her time on the team, one in 2022 for UDA Kick and another in 2025 for NDA Pom. “As captain, she led with both heart and determination,” Coach Casey Fritz said. “Her leadership, motivation, and relentless work ethic made her an irreplaceable part of the team’s success.” Gatz will be attending the University of Illinois in the fall, where she will be dancing on the Illinettes dance team.

Adam Drabek Boys' Golf

Adam Drabek golfed on the boys’ varsity golf team for three years. He qualified for state both his junior and senior year. He was the numberone golfer on the team for his last two years, and that showed in his consecutive state qualifications. He placed 47th in the state his senior year. His commitment to the sport and always striving for the best allowed him to find success. “His teammates would say he is a hard worker,” Coach Adam Kwiatkowski said. “He can hit the ball farther than anyone.” Drabek will be attending Saint Olaf College where he will play Division III golf.

Ryan Goff Boys’ Hockey

Ryan Goff has been a member of the varsity Maine Hockey team for three years. As a captain this year, Goff led the team in both goals and total points, with 22 and 40 respectively, and he helped guide the team to a league championship and Final Four State run. His achievements earned him All-State honors. “Ryan’s attitude of focus, pride and work ethic was mirrored by his teammates, and will live on in the upcoming seasons through the actions and play of the younger players with whom he played,” Coach Greg Mrofcza said. Goff will attend the University of Iowa in the fall.

Makayla Waters Girls’ Golf

Makayla Waters was on the girls’ varsity golf team for two years. She was a sectional qualifier and captain her senior year and she shot consistently low scores. Waters had both the lowest dual match average and lowest season overall average on the team her senior season. “Athletically, Makayla distinguished herself through consistently strong scores, demonstrating well-honed technical skills in her swing and short game, and exhibiting the mental fortitude crucial for navigating the challenges of each round,” Coach Kayla Hansen said. Waters will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.

Andrew Mullan Boys’ Lacrosse

Andrew Mullan has played attack on the boys’ varsity lacrosse team for four years. Mullan averaged 3.7 goals per game over the span of 13 games his senior season. He led the team in points, goals, and assists, which serves as evidence of the immense impact he made on the team. “Andrew has accomplished a lot as an individual player, but his impact on this program will be felt for years to come as someone who elevated the program and set high standards for himself and others,” Coach Alex Michelini said. Mullan will be playing Division I lacrosse next year at Marist University.

Maggie Depner Gymnastics

Maggie Depner was a member of the varsity gymnastics team for three years. She was an all-arounder for the team, and she was a team captain her senior year. Her senior year, she qualified individually for Sectionals. Depner was known for her hard work and commitment towards her team, attributes that made her deserving of senior MVP. “Her steady leadership and unwavering commitment helped create a team culture built on dedication, camraderie, and hard work," Coach Cristina DeFillippis said. Depner will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall.

Milica Simic Girls’ Lacrosse

Milica Simic has been a starting midfielder for the girls’ varsity lacrosse team for three years. Simic has been named All-Conference, All-Sectional and was an All-State honorable mention. She is an offensive powerhouse, having scored over 100 goals in her career and she led the CSL in goals scored during her senior season. “Offensively she is a threat to score any time the ball is in her stick, even while picking up opposing teams top defenders,” Coach Will Pankratz said. Simic is dually enrolled at Wellesley College and MIT. She will be playing Division III lacrosse at Wellesley College.

Will Smucker Boys’ Soccer

Will Smucker was a two-year varsity starter for the boys’ soccer team. Smucker was a team captain who played forward. He helped lead the team to a Regional championship win and a top-25 state ranking his senior season. He is a top goal scorer for the team, scoring 13 goals and 10 assists his senior season. These stats put him ninth on the all-time point scoring list for the Hawks. “Will is a talented, hard-working, and dedicated student-athlete who quietly led by example,” Coach Dan States said. Smucker will be attending IllinoisWesleyan University to play Division III soccer.

Kelsey Rouse Girls’ Soccer

Kelsey Rouse is a three-year starter and two year captain of the girls’ varsity soccer team. Rouse was a key defender for the team, but she also got moved up to offense at times when the team was looking for a goal to be scored. Rouse showed exceptional leadership, and she was a central motivator for the team. “Kelsey is a person of high character and leads by example,” Coach JJ Crawford said. “She works hard, and wants to win and compete against the best competition.” Rouse will be studying business at the University of Illinois in the fall where she plans to join the intramural soccer league.

Natalia Dobrilovic Girls’ Swimming

Natalia Dobrilovic was a fouryear girls’ varsity swimmer who competed in the sprint freestyle and butterfly. During her senior year, her exceptional performance at the Sectional Meet was a catalyst for the team pulling off a sectional championship win for the first time in 40 years. Dobrilovic was a hard worker and coachable athlete who put the betterment of the team above personal betterment. “Tali willingly did whatever was asked of her each season, even if it didn’t fit with her personal goals” Coach Don Kura said. Dobrilovic will be attending the University of Illinois next year.

Peyton Santore Softball

Peyton Santore has been a shortstop on the varsity softball team for three years. She was part of the team that saw two conference and a regional championship. Santore was a team captain, making her a role model in terms of hard work, skill, and personal character. “Athletically, Peyton is phenomenal,” Coach Emmy Paiser said. “Her talent on the field–whether at bat, in the field, or on the bases — helps the team compete at the highest level. But it’s her heart, character, and leadership that truly make her invaluable.” Santore will be playing Division III softball at the University of Dubuque.

Walter Szulczewski Boys’ Tennis

Walter Szulczewski has played boys’ varsity tennis for all four years at Maine South, where he competed at the top of the lineup for his entire career. His junior year he qualified for State, where he won three matches at the state level. To qualify for State, he had to compete against seeded teams in Sectionals as an unseeded player. “Playing at the top of the line-up is extremely difficult in our conference,” Coach Gerald Smith said. “It takes tremendous focus and conditioning to be able to play at the highest level for every match.” Szulczewski will be attending the Florida Institute of Technology.

Dragos Cozma Boys’ Swimming

Dragos Cozma was a four-year athlete on the varsity swim and dive team. Cozma was consistently one of the top swimmers on the team, where he qualified for state individually twice in both the 200 freestyle and the 500 freestyle. He was also a part of multiple state-qualifying relays, including the 400-freestyle relay that won an All-State medal. “[Cozma] always expected the best from himself in practice, which is a mindset that became contagious among his teammates,” Coach Don Kura said. Cozma will be swimming at the Division I level at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Charlotte Hartung Girls’ Tennis

Charlotte Hartung was a member of the varsity tennis team for four years and was a captain her junior and senior year. This year, she received the Sarah Pate Sportsmanship Award which is chosen by all of the coaches from the CSL south, a testament to her character and sportsmanship. Hartung has consistently played at the top of the line-up. “Not only is Charlotte an exceptional tennis player, she is an even better teammate and motivator,” Coach Gerald Smith said. Hartung will be attending the University of WisconsinMadison in the fall where she plans to play club tennis.

Sean Schermerhorn

Boys’ Track & Field

Sean Schermerhorn has run on the boys’ varsity track and field team for two years. His time in the 100-meter dash broke a 26-yearold record to become the fastest in school history. His senior season, he has broken the school indoor record in the 50 yard dash, 200-meter dash, and 4x200-meter relay. “He treats coaches and teammates with the sort of respect that may have been commonplace in the 1940s and ‘50s, but which is uncommon among teenagers today,” Coach Jason Kacprowski said. Schermerhorn will be attending the University of Illinois in the fall where he will also run track.

Girls’ Track & Field

Sofia Torina has been a sprinter and jumper for the girls’ varsity track and field team for three years. Torina is one of the fastest sprinters in school history, holding the indoor 200-meter dash record, and she was a member of the 4x200-meter relay team that holds the indoor school record. She is also a top long and triple jumper on the team. “Her stamp is on our record boards as her name is on all of the top times for the sprinting events, jumping events, and the sprint relays,” Coach Jeffrey Downing said. Torina will be attending Iowa State and studying graphic design next year.

Ben Przekota Boys’ Water Polo

Ben Przekota has been a member of the varsity boys’ water polo team for all four years of high school where he played point and hole defender. He holds the record for most varsity starts in the program’s history. In addition, he was a two-year captain for the team with the most wins in program history. “He possesses great knowledge of the game, manages our offense and is a clutch goal scorer and our best defender,” Coach Terry Lyons said. “He is a most important factor in our alltime best three-season record of 76 wins.” Przekota plans to swim Division III at Carthage College.

Leo Trespeces-Winck

Boys’ Volleyball

Leo Trespeces-Winck has been a varsity volleyball player for three years at Maine South. He has earned many accolades as a player, having been named both All-Conference and All-State, and he was also a team captain. He is a force to be reckoned with on both offense and defense. “Leo has been our go-to guy concerning our offensive attack these last two years,” Coach Garrett Fechner said. “Leo has demonstrated himself to be one of the finest allaround talents in Maine South history.” Trespeces-Winck will be playing Division I volleyball at Northern Kentucky University.

Tyler Fortis Boys’ Wrestling

Tyler Fortis was a four-year heavyweight wrestler and one-year captain on the boys’ varsity wrestling team. Fortis qualified for State three times, placing fifth and fourth in the IHSA state tournament his junior and senior year respectively, making him a two-time All-State wrestler. “[Fortis] is a genuinely kind person who cares about his teammates,” Coach Kevin Hansen said. “Despite his accolades, he remained humble and encouraged and supported his team from his first varsity match to his last.” Fortis will be playing Division I football at Eastern Illinois University in the fall.

Girls’ Volleyball

Sofia Rossi was a four-time varsity player, three-time All-Conference recipient, three-time MVP and she hit a milestone of 1,000 kills throughout her years on the team. Rossi was a team captain both her junior and senior years. “Hands-down, she was our number-one overall player,” Assistant Coach Sona Torosian said. “She played six rotations and she was a go-to for our offense. She was a marked player since her sophomore year. Rossi has been the player that other teams watch out for and try to stop.” Rossi will be continuing her volleyball career playing for Harvard University.

Alyssa Gianola Girls’ Wrestling

Alyssa Gianola was a varsity wrestler for three years, and she was a member during its inaugural season. She was awarded All-Conference her senior year. Gianola not only had a leadership role on the team but was constantly stepping up as a role model for the team. “This athlete stuck out because this year she really jumped levels and stepped up into a leadership role,” Coach Juan Diaz. “Alyssa is a senior that was able to take control of the team and lead them through warm ups as well as encourage them through competition.” Gianola will be attending Triton College in the fall.

Sofia Torina

Sofia Rossi