soaring in style: Conestoga students, staff support the eagles
be honest about your hatred for dynasties
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The Spoke’s special edition: Go Birds!
Conestoga High School, Berwyn PA, 19312
the road to victory: students, staff keep up with eagles
PagE 8
Volume 75 No. 4
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february 19, 2025
glory in green
www.spoke.news
Philadelphia Eagles soar past Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 to second-ever Super Bowl win
Rowan Chetty/The SPOKE
“E-A-G-L-E-S! Eagles!”: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, alongside Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and owner Jeffrey Lurie, holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Feb. 14 victory parade. The team’s win on Feb. 9 marked Barkley and Hurts’ first Super Bowl victory.
By Rowan Chetty, Rajan Saha and Nolan Talley, Co-T/E Life Editor and Staff Reporters At 4 a.m., junior Maggie Barnes woke up to catch a train to Philadelphia, joining other Philadelphia Eagles fans as they lined the city’s streets on Feb. 14. The fans cheered for the team as players and their
families paraded through Philadelphia, celebrating the team’s second-ever Super Bowl win. On Feb. 9, the Eagles played the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, winning 40-22. Five days later, on Valentine’s Day, more than one million poured into Philadelphia to attend the victory parade and honor the newly named NFL champions. “The energy (at the parade) was so hype,” Barnes said. “Everyone was so excited to be there. Everyone
was in such a great mood, and everyone was jumping, happy, dancing with the music and screaming.” Three days before the parade, Superintendent Dr. Richard Gusick sent an email to T/E families congratulating the Eagles and announcing that students whose families submit a note to attend the parade will receive an excused absence. Junior Maddie Rakes attended the parade with friends, seeing various Conestoga students in the city.
“Everyone came together. There were a couple people around us that I have no idea who they were, but they would make small talk and be very welcoming,” Rakes said. “There was this guy next to us, and he was telling us about how this is the city of brothery love, how it’s all love here.” At the parade, players and coaches gave speeches to celebrate their win and honor MVP and quarterback Jalen Hurts. During
the game, Hurts rushed for 72 yards, a Super Bowl record for quarterbacks, helping the Eagles start the game off strong with 24 unanswered points. In the second half, the Birds maintained their lead with a receiving touchdown from DeVonta Smith and three field goals. Senior Anika Maganti went to the Super Bowl game in New Orleans and felt energized by the other fans in the stadium. “The energy was high. In our section, we got to sit with
people who work within the Eagles, so they knew a lot of information. They had so much more energy and they knew the players personally, so everyone was cheering,” Maganti said. During and after the game, hundreds of fans took to Broad Street and neighborhoods in Philadelphia to cheer on the Eagles. Donning Eagles gear and waving flags and signs, they celebrated the Birds’ second-ever
Super Bowl win outside city hall with fireworks and chants. “Originally, I was watching in my friend’s house. Then, since we were destroying the Chiefs, we decided to go down and celebrate in Philly,” senior Will Johnson said. “It was incredible. Every single person, from the second I got onto the train until I was leaving, was absolutely fired up.” Continued on page 10.
Administration, staff, students discuss possible changes to device use Ashley Du, Zara Samdani and Faith Zantua Staff Reporter, Co-Managing Editor and Co-News Editor
This year, the school board, district and community have discussed implementing policy regarding appropriate use of computers, phones and artificial intelligence at school.The district has also mentioned possible standardizations for phone holders, hosted workshops and created a workgroup for researching generative AI. Initially presented by director of educational program Dr. Michael Szymendera alongisde other school administration at the Jan. 9 education committee meeting, the original plan included phasing in the mandated use of district-issued devices with each new class of freshmen and starting with the Class of 2029. At the meeting’s conclusion, the committee suggested accelerating the process, removing the option of only using “bring your own devices” (BYOD) for all Conestoga students starting in the 2025-26 school year. “It’s a little strange to have a rule that you can’t have a cell phone out during class but you can have a personal laptop that’s not really managed by the district because the difference between those two things is vanishing, particularly if you have an iPhone and if you have a MacBook,” Szymendera said at
the education meeting. “The majority of our students who bring their own device to school bring a MacBook.” Szymendera sent an email to all Conestoga guardians on Feb. 4 confirming the accelerated rule’s implementation. In the weeks before the educa-
tion meeting, he emailed current eighth grade families to inform them of the possibility. Szymendera oversees the district technology department, with approximately 22 members overall, consisting of the Network and Security, IT Support, Instructional Technology and
Information Services teams. They look into technology initiatives for all district schools, aid with issues and advise administration on related policy. Although students had access periodically to devices such as laptops and iPads before 2020, Szymendera said that the
COVID-19 pandemic increased the integration of technological use across the district with K-12 students attending online classes. With the district’s current updated 1:1 Technology Initiative, K-4 students can have an iPad and case, fifth to eighth graders can access laptops, and
ninth to 12th graders can use laptops or BYOD. Conestoga first offered BYOD as an alternative to district-owned devices during the 2015-16 school year, phasing in the option with each new class of freshmen. The reasons behind advocating for its dis-
Photo illustration by Mary Wolters and Faith Zantua/The SPOKE
continuation include BYOD creating distractions; staff being unable to resolve technology issues with BYOD; the devices having functionality problems; and BYOD providing access to applications that are not easily available to district laptops and can lead to academic dishonesty. With the change, students must bring a district-issued device with them for school. Conestoga department chairs discussed their thoughts on BYOD with Szymendera and principal Dr. Amy Meisinger before the education meeting. Szymendera said BYOD use was “widely unpopular within the school, with the adults at least,” at the education meeting. Computer science teacher Kim McPhillips feels that BYOD users in her classes can get distracted with access to applications that are banned on district-issued devices. She also said that it can be harder to help them with potential issues. “I have seen specifically students using MacBooks to send text messages, and that can be a distraction because it’s the same reason that I require phones to be away,” McPhillips said. “Some students have a little bit of trouble just installing (initial programs), and with the BYOD, I can’t really help them. So if they’re strug gling, if it’s not working, there’s nothing I can do, unfortunately. Whereas with the school laptop, I can pretty much guarantee that we can make it work.” Continued on page 3.
News
2 The SPOKE A BRIEF LOOK THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN T/E AND NATIONAL NEWS
76ers pivot to South Philadelphia for arena On Jan. 13, the Philadelphia 76ers’ managing entity, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, announced it would not move forward with the 76 Place project to build an arena in Center City, Philadelphia. The project received city council approval but faced controversy surrounding its potential impact on local communities such as Chinatown. The 76ers will instead partner with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in the existing South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
District
reveals final candidates for new elementary school name
In January, the school board Ad Hoc Public Information Committee narrowed name submissions for the new elementary school to four final options: Bear Hill Elementary School, Blue Heron Elementary School, Bluestone Elementary School and Covered Bridge Elementary School.
TikTok temporarily goes dark in US On Jan. 18, TikTok suspended its services in the U.S. after the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, took effect. Two days later, President Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying the enforcement of the ban for 75 days to “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.”
Medical jet crashes in Northeast Philadelphia On Jan. 31, a medical jet crashed near Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, killing seven and injuring 19. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Read more at
NEWS
Tredyffrin Township founds new arts commission
Conestoga revises Program of Studies for 2025-26 school year Miya Cao and Sophia Wu Co-Copy Editor and Staff Reporter At the Jan. 2 regular school board meeting, members approved the 2025-26 Program of Studies. Administration and teachers revised the TV, literature and preschool learning classes, with many of the changes resulting from the new mixed-model schedule and student feedback. In the Business and Technology department, the Beginning and Intermediate TV classes are currently semester-long classes that are prerequisites for Advanced TV Production/Broadcast Journalism, or Good Morning ’Stoga (GMS). These courses will be combined into a semester-long course called Introduction to TV Broadcast Journalism. The new course will condense the original curriculum by removing the film project in Intermediate TV. Students interested in film can now take Advanced Screen Writing and Production without a prerequisite. Junior Kaitlyn Parson has mixed feelings about the removed exposure to filmmaking in the TV classes. “I really liked Intermediate TV because it gave me the choice between broadcasting and film, and I like broadcasting, but a lot
of kids chose the film route,” Parson said. “I think that’s kind of sad that they don’t get to experience it anymore.” According to TV teacher Alison Ferriola, the department combined the courses due to students requesting to have fewer prerequisites for GMS. They aim to avoid confusion regarding
the new schedule by making one course worth 0.5 credits, meaning it will take place every day, instead of two courses worth 0.25 credits. In a new semester-long Sports Broadcasting class, students will learn how to commentate various sports and the fundamentals of sports broadcasting, with a final project of an original stu-
Paige Vachris Staff Reporter
Tredyffrin Public Library and its Paoli Library branch received the PA Youth-Led Humanities Award in October 2024. Every two years, the nonprofit PA Humanities selects libraries to receive a $5,000 grant. Funded by the National Humanities Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the PA Youth-Led Humanities award recognized 22 libraries in Pennsylvania that encourage teens to lead and develop their own programs through the humanities for the 2024-26 Youth-Led Humanities Cohort. At the Tredyffrin and Paoli libraries, these events include activities such as Crafternoons, book clubs and the Makerspace technology workshop. “We have a teen advisory council that works with the teen librarian at Tredyffrin to look at her budget and try to decide what kinds of pro-
grams they want to do,” said Rachel Kramer, fundraising associate at Tredyffrin Library. “In some ways, this grant is going to fund things we were already doing, which is great for the library.” The libraries applied for the award in September and received it in October. Their application discussed the background of the library and the community that uses it. In 2021, the libraries received the same award and put the grant toward a “remixed classics” program which encouraged members of all ages to creatively reinvent a classic work. This year, the libraries will use the funds for teen programs and focus on the humanities. Junior Sejal Shukla, a shelver at the Tredyffrin Library, said the grant will provide more opportunities for library members. “A lot of the kids already have a great program, like the Makerspace, which are hands-on activities,” Shukla said. “I think giving access
to even more kids and giving them more activities to do would be even better.” Tredyffrin Library plans to use its portion of the grant to fund a day trip to New York City for teen members of the library. Participants will go to see “The Outsiders” on Broadway. Paoli Library will put the money toward teen art programs, such as presentations from the Wayne Art Center, and a Little Free Art Library as a place to share and display teen-created art. “I think this is really going to offer new, exciting opportunities for teens at the library specifically, and it is teen-led. So the Crafternoons and what the art workshops are going to be about are up for discussion by teens. We want the teens to take a lead in that,” Kramer said. “In Tredyffrin, I think the library is the center of the community. There’s no other central gathering place, and so there is something for everyone in the library.”
Paige Vachris/The SPOKE
Watch and learn: A volunteer teaches a muffin-making class at Tredyffrin Public Library. The workshop included beginners and experienced bakers. The library will use the grant to improve teen programs.
Eshan Singh, Co-Copy Editor “Skattebo has done it! We are all tied up in the ATL!” That was Joe Tessitore’s call of Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo’s game-tying two-point conversion against Texas in the fourth quarter of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal in Atlanta, Georgia.
SPORTS
Flying high: Cheer wins first place at competition
Paige Vachris, Staff Reporter On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Conestoga cheer team competed at the 23rd annual Garnet Valley Cheer Challenge. The competition invites teams from the Central League to participate. Conestoga competed in the Super Varsity category and won first place.
seniors. Due to a teacher vacancy, it will be integrated into the Child Development Preschool Experience, which is a semester-long course available for grades 10-12. The English department revamped the blended accelerated and honors comparative literature classes for seniors. The current Comparative Literature: Coming of Age will become Mirrors, and Science Fiction and Dystopia will become Mayhem. A new course called Masks will focus on dramas and performative literature. These changes will allow for greater flexibility in the curriculum and for students to explore broader topics, and other forms of literature such as poetry, short stories, films and art in each class. Members of the English department collected student feedback through surveys and discussions to create the courses. “We’re constantly adapting and changing (the 12th grade course selection),” Gately said. “There were things and skills that we really wanted students to have before they venture off into whatever they do next. In many cases, it’s college, and we felt like having a more streamlined 12th grade course would allow us to better prepare our students for life beyond Conestoga.”
Tredyffrin, Paoli libraries win state award
Students attend 144th Philadelphia Charity Ball
In favor of the new College Football Playoff
GMS,’” Ferriola said. “It gave me an idea that if many kids are saying they want to do the sports part of GMS, and (we) don’t have a ton of space for all sportscasters in GMS, why not try to open up a course?” Learning Through Play is a current semester-long Conestoga preschool course for juniors and
Miya Cao/The SPOKE
T/E LIFE
OPINION
dent-produced sports entertainment show. The class was added due to demand from students in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing course that was added this year. “A lot of the students in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing class were saying ‘I would love to do just the sports part of
Revisiting revisions: Junior Lyla Siah looks over the new Program of Studies booklet for the 2025-26 school year. Senior Lia Piccoli designed the cover.
Lexi Lin, Social Media Editor In December 2024, the Tredyffrin Township founded a new Public Arts Commission that will serve as an advisory board to the township board of supervisors on art and culture matters. The commission’s goal is to provide guidance, advocacy, and leadership to support public art while also promoting the creative identity of Tredyffrin Township.
Mareska Chettiar, Co-T/E Life Editor Senior Sabrina Sandorff was the first debutante to enter the 144th Philadelphia Charity Ball on Nov. 29, 2024, among many guests, including Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes and Conestoga students.
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Saktisri Gowrishankar/The SPOKE
Learning language: Sophomore Declan MacDonald works on an AP French 4 assignment. MacDonald started taking French in middle school and could obtain the Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation if he chooses.
Conestoga to offer Seal of Biliteracy for 2025-26 Saktisri Gowrishankar Staff Reporter
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Conestoga will allow students who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages to obtain the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation. All 50 states offer the Seal of Biliteracy, and Pennsylvania was the 46th to adopt it in 2022. In the 2023-24 school year, 61 high schools across the state offered the seal. “We already know (world language) is a strength for our students at Conestoga. The world languages department is outstanding. Students are taking all the way through level six, taking (Advanced Placement classes),” TESD curriculum supervisor Dr. Patrick Gately said. “It’s time to recognize the strength of that program and the strength of our students with this award.” Gately worked closely with the world languages department and school administration to discuss the implementation of the biliteracy program. They looked at how other schools handled the program and ensured Conestoga offered the necessary proficiency exams. World language department chair Patrick Cupo served as a li-
aison between Gately and the rest of the world language teachers at Conestoga. The overall goal of the seal is to encourage bilingualism and cultural awareness, as well as give students an opportunity to show competency for colleges and future employers. “I think students here sometimes feel like they can only use the (world) language in the classroom, and so I’m hoping that we can garner some support in our community to be able to speak language outside of it,” Cupo said. At Curriculum Night on Jan. 30, Cupo introduced the opportunity to parents and students and released a page on the TESD website containing further information. Students will be able to submit an application anytime during their high school career to obtain the seal as long as they meet the requirements. These prerequisites include written, oral and auditory proficiency in at least two languages, one of which must be English. Students must have at least an 80% in English and world language classes from grades 9-12. For English, students have to pass the Keystone exam, get at least a 3 on the AP English
Literature and Composition exam or pass similar tests. For world language, there are various ways to meet the standards, such as earning a 4 or 5 on an AP World Language and Culture exam and at least an intermediate-high on the STAMP Language Proficiency Test. Native speakers must provide transcripts of at least three years of world language instruction with an 80% or higher to show proficiency. Languages that are not formally taught at Conestoga, like American Sign Language (ASL), can be tested through literacy exams including the STAMP and the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages. Junior Danielle Douglas, a member of ASL Club and student in Spanish 4, hopes to apply for the Seal of Biliteracy in the future. “I think learning other languages allows you to communicate with a lot more people,” Douglas said. “Even though a lot of other countries learn English, it’s not always their first (language), and it’s better to communicate with people with their first language, if possible.”
Local YMCA certified as Medical Fitness Facility Ryan Ding
Staff Reporter In October 2024, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine received a Medical Fitness Facility Certification from the Medical Fitness Association, becoming the first YMCA in the U.S. to attain this certification. According to its website, the Medical Fitness Association is a health improvement nonprofit that awards certificates to facilities that meet standards in operation and healthcare. YMCA of Greater Brandywine Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Heather Wilson directed the implementation of the certification, and the idea to apply came from YMCA of Greater Brandywine President and CEO Bertram Lawson. “During my time as president and CEO of the YMCA of Central New York, I was trying to understand ways to expand our services,” Lawson said. “I came across a fellow YMCA in Georgia who had figured out how to work with the state government, and they had some sort of accreditation that was state-related, which led me to have (Wilson) do some research. She came across this entity that
certified us to be medical fitness facilities.” To apply for the certification, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine worked to increase its professional expertise and quality of programs, ensure safety, and create programming to help minimize illness and disease as well as promote better health and wellness across its nine locations in Chester County. To meet the certification’s requirements, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine underwent a six-month process consisting of extensive audits from the Medical Fitness Association to match 130 criteria across nine categories. Staff evaluated policy and procedures in areas such as training for the health awareness team and safety documents to members. “Prior to this initiative and the certification, health and wellness was just okay. We had some things that we needed to correct,” Lawson said. “And coming in July of 2023 as the new president and CEO, I evaluated areas of improvement necessary for us to provide the best service overall. It was an operational shift,
and there were a lot of conversations and meetings prior to going through the audit to get everyone in alignment.” The YMCA of Greater Brandywine Fit Truk, while not a requirement for the Medical Fitness Facility Certification, was another step the YMCA of Greater Brandywine took to improve members’ access to health and wellness. YMCA of Greater Brandywine staff run the Fit Truk, which is a truck modified to attach ex-
ercise equipment that travels throughout Chester County so that YMCA members who are limited by transportation or distance from YMCA facilities can work out in a more accessible location. “I think the thing that’s most exciting is to see the excitement on my staff ’s faces and to see the excitement of outside stakeholders and our membership,” Lawson said. “When we rolled out the Fit Truk for people to actually see live and in person,
they could touch it and feel it and start to really connect the vision to a physical thing and say, ‘Wow, this is going to be really transformational for Chester County.’” Lawson and leaders of the YMCA hope to continue improving the health and wellness sector, aiming to enhance adaptive disability and younger generation programs. Junior Bradley Zhang, an active member of the Upper Main Line branch of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine and a mem-
Courtesy David Macdonald
The Fit Truk: Staff from the YMCA of Greater Brandywine participate in training on the organization’s new Fit Truk. The Fit Truk connected to their overarching goal of providing access to health and wellness services for everyone.
ber of the swim team, appreciates the services the YMCA offers for health and fitness. “I definitely noticed how the YMCA puts a lot of emphasis on health and wellness (with) all the services they offer. They have a lot of machines and trainers up there to help you,” Zhang said. “I take advantage of the hot tub and the sauna. It’s sometimes the best part of my day.” Lawson, a stage three cancer survivor, saw that various members of the YMCAs he worked at lacked access to services and tools to navigate through health challenges. Lawson feels that earning the Medical Fitness Facility Certification means a stronger organization to support overall health and wellness, assist members adapting to lifestyle change and provide preventative measures or treatment for disease and illness issues. “This is a true passion of mine to ensure others get the same level and opportunities to fight chronic disease issues and be preventative as well,” Lawson said. “We saw an opportunity that aligned with the needs of our community and our membership, and we went after it.”
News
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The SPOKE
3
District looks into effects of technology beyond BYOD Continued from page 1. Students, district staff discuss personal device use At the education committee meeting, Szymendera mentioned looking into standardizing the system for teachers who want to take phones away from students during class. Staff would still be able to decide whether or not to
collect them, but the standard would aim to establish the same tool for all teachers who want to use one and address some teachers’ concerns, like devices potentially getting damaged when inside containers. At the Aug. 26, 2024, regular school board meeting, junior Bo Phillips recommended that the district look into possibly restricting the use of
personal devices during the school day. He has attended other committee meetings since and feels that phones harm students’ attention span, mental health and general educational experience. “At the end of the day, you can spend however many hours on social media checked out just as a way to unwind from things. But if you do that,
you blink, and now you’ve lost all that time,” Phillips said. “I think it’s a serious problem, and people would feel a lot better if they gave it up, even for one day or even a week or any period of time. It just feels way better to not have to have this constant burden of needing to check things.” Computer science teacher Edward Sharick started requiring students to place their phones in a device holder during classes this year. In the past, he informally asked students to not use phones. “Even in my own personal life, I’ve found how distracting different social media applications can be. Having that constantly available to you I don’t think is good for your mental health. I don’t think it’s good for focus or concentration,” Sharick said. “My rule was always before don’t go on the cell phone. But now it’s more formal, and it helps to put the burden less on the students on making the right decision and more on me enforcing it.” For policies that significantly affect students, staff and community members in the district — such as Phillips’ initial suggestion to restrict personal device use in Conestoga — policy committee chair Susan Audrain said that the district would involve the community, such as by holding public hearings. “The feeling was that we needed to have input from not just the students or one student, but the parents as well,” Audrain said. “Some parents may want their children to have access to a phone at all times, so there are many sides to that issue. We would want to be sure we got input from several different sources before we’d make any change that would impact everybody like that.”
Faith Zantua/The SPOKE
Typing on technology: Students use their laptops and phones in the atrium. Over the years, the district adjusted how they approach changing technologies, including the decision to mandate bringing district-issued devices for all Conestoga students starting in the 2025-26 school year. Staff explore potential impacts of AI Last spring, the district technology department started hosting sessions for a district-wide workgroup and half-day AI workshops for K-12 teachers, who enroll on an opt-in basis. Both initiatives are ongoing. The workgroup explores AI’s implications for the district, such as impacts on teaching and learning, responsible use, algorithmic bias, data privacy, transparency and academic integrity. Art teacher Leanne Argonish is the National Art Honor Society sponsor and a member of the workgroup. She said that it performed research in smaller groups, looking at informational videos and reports on AI.
“Dr. Szymendera saw a need for having policies put into place for AI in not only the art area, but in school in general. Like, what are we accepting? What are we not accepting? How are we using it intelligently?” Argonish said. “We looked at other area policies, we looked at the terminology, we looked at the possibilities. We looked at websites and different places that are offering all types of AI, whether it be for writing or for video. And we are getting together this year to formulate more solid policies.” The workshops provide spaces for teachers to learn more and ask questions on topics such as the history of AI, terminology, pop-
ular tools, ethical considerations and hands-on activities. Szymendera said that the district hosts the workshops to help teachers create their own rules on appropriate AI use in their classrooms, contributing to the district’s overall goal of implementing technology appropriately to improve classrooms across TESD. “Hopefully, technology is being integrated in a way that makes learning opportunities possible that wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have them,” Szymendera said. “Sometimes it’s just for efficiency. That’s okay in certain situations. But obviously the ultimate goal is to redefine what’s possible in public school or in instruction by having access to that level of technology.”
Commissioners establish county government CEO, COO positions Rajan Saha Staff Reporter
Beginning their roles on Dec. 9, David Byerman and Erik Walschburger work as the CEO and COO of the Chester County government. The appointments follow Chester County commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz and Eric Roe announcing the reorganization of top administrative positions into CEO and COO on Nov. 26, 2024. The previous county administrator role involved handling all internal and external operations, with assistance from the deputy when needed. After the former administrator resigned, the commissioners saw an opportunity to separate the role into two, aiming to address the needs of Chester County residents. “We are slated to be the fastest-growing county in the state,” Moskowitz said. “We’re slated to grow by more than 100,000 people in the next 10 years, so we wanted to have a structure that would separate those duties.” Byerman and Walschburger collaborate to manage Chester County’s future growth and address ongoing issues. Byerman supervises Walschburger and focuses on external operations, working with several municipalities and organizations around the county. In contrast, Walschburger focuses on internal operations, overseeing and handling department issues. “One (Walschburger) would be collaborating between different departments, handling budget issues, and (Byerman) would be meeting with providers to expand hospital access or dealing with developers on adding more affordable housing projects in Chester County,” Maxwell said. “Instead of one person working under another, which is still the case, just not explicitly, we have two people doing different things, one inward and one outward.”
The commissioners chose Byerman and Walschburger after conducting a five-month national search and screening applications through online and in-person interviews. Byerman worked in the public and private sectors, including as secretary of the Nevada Senate and director of communications for a Fortune 300 company. Walschburger has worked with the county for more than 15 years, serving as deputy for two years and county administrator for seven months. “He (Byerman) has done a lot with business, and it’s important we are a very business-friendly community here: We need people that understand that side of the world. And Erik was our
deputy county administrator, and we were so impressed with Erik, so we wanted to move him up,” Moskowitz said. In the long term, the commissioners hope the new leadership system will enhance accessibility and connectivity between the Chester County government and its residents by establishing a stronger presence in the community and fostering better policies to address major county issues. “In terms of these new roles and structure, it is beneficial for Chester County, for the government employees, for the residents,” Walschburger said. “I look forward to seeing all the positive things we can do in 2025 and beyond.”
Nolan Talley/The SPOKE
Geared up: Machines sit in the VFMS Technology Education room. The school board approved the implementation of changes to the middle school schedule. VFMS and TEMS will replace the Technology Education course with a new STEM class starting in the 2025-26 school year.
District to implement changes to middle school schedules Nolan Talley Staff Reporter
Courtesy The County of Chester
Restructured administration: CEO David Byerman sits at his desk at the county office. On Nov. 26, 2024, the Chester County commissioners announced his appointment along with Erik Walschburger as COO.
The Tredyffrin/Easttown school board education committee approved changes to the middle schools’ schedule starting in the 2025-26 school year. The district is required to make adjustments to the curriculum to comply with updated statewide educational standards in Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS). The changes include a new STEM class, replacing Technology Education and adjustments to the special area classes. The STEM course will be a full-year class for seventh and eighth graders and a one-semester class for fifth and sixth graders. All students are required to attend 30 sessions of the STEM course. VFMS Principal Matthew Gibson collaborated with other district administrators and teachers to ensure the
school curricula adhered to new regulations. “New state standards in science, technology, engineering, environmental literacy and sustainability — STEELS — go into effect in the next school year,” Gibson said. “Even though science instruction will cover a lot of the standards, they can’t cover them all, so we had to create the other class.” In addition, the district will redesign the advisory period and limit special area classes, except physical education, to one semester. The advisory period for fifth and sixth grades will turn into a daily class. Advisory periods will no longer be part of the special area cycle, which is a six-day rotation of classes including the new STEM class. Students in fifth and sixth grades will have advisory class every day, rather than only two out of six cycle days. The updated advisory period will replace the initiative com-
ponent of advisory for seventh and eighth grades. Currently, the enrichment component of advisory is a period during which students participate in programs highlighting topics, such as creativity and social responsibility. The revised advisory period for seventh and eighth grades will include family choice extensions where guardians and students will be allowed to choose from art, music and physical education enrichment activities. The physical education family choice extension is limited to students in seventh and eighth grades, and a STEM family choice extension is a future possibility. Mark Cataldi, the director of assessment and accountability for the school district, has spoken about the changes at past school board meetings. He said that they will provide students with more opportunities to support their learning. “The students will have the opportunity to complete work,
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seek a teacher for extra help, like seeing a science teacher, school-recommended support, reading, writing, math, executive function, well-being. Students have opportunities to do what we call extensions: art extensions, music extensions and phys ed extensions,” Cataldi said. “World language will continue to be a choice, Spanish or French in five-six grade courses.” Although the district will remove the initiative component, Gibson is hopeful that staff will be able to incorporate the most enriching and popular aspects of the course into the new schedule. “I think there are some valuable lessons and some activities that the students found very informative and enriching (from advisory initiative),” Gibson said. “They (teachers) don’t have a spot for it, but (the teacher) knows the kids really enjoyed it, and it might be a better fit somewhere.”
T/E LIFE 4 The SPOKE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Community celebrates annual Phoenixville Firebird Festival Sowmya Krishna Appmaster
Courtesy Paulina Yang
Environmental leaders: Greening ’Stoga Task Force club members take a photo in front of DES on May 22, 2024 at the audit aimed at enhancing the school’s sustainability. They gathered data on overconsumption and waste to help the school be more environmentally friendly.
Greening ’Stoga Task Force club conducts audit of Beaumont Nishta Subramanian Staff Reporter
After recognizing the need to address environmental issues in the district, members of Greening ’Stoga Task Force (GSTF) conducted an audit of BES’s environmental footprint on Feb. 11. The club oversaw its first audit on May 22, 2024 at DES where members observed and gathered information about issues in resource efficiency and pin-
pointed areas for reduction and reuse. GSTF is a community-oriented club that focuses on helping the district become greener and promotes sustainability. Led by seniors Shriya Prakesh and Paulina Yang, its members want to make TESD a greener institution by conducting audits that collect data on how schools could be more environmentally friendly. “The main goal of this (audit) is, ultimately, more of a
Nishta Subramanian/The SPOKE
Data analysis: Seniors Paulina Yang and Shriya Prakash explain the Beaumont audit at a club meeting. They collected data on resource usage and consumption patterns during their visit on Feb. 11.
district thing to get the schools Green Ribbon certified. It’s through this environmental organization each school has to meet a certain set of criteria, and then it can be labeled a Green Ribbon school,” Prakash said. “Our audit is a big part of (working) not only to get these schools certified and make our schools more green, but also to make this student-led.” During last year’s audit at Devon, members collected data with help from custodians about resource usage while observing the cafeteria, bathrooms and classrooms throughout the day. Other members taught interactive and engaging lessons to elementary school students. “We went to the third grade classes (in Devon), and we made Chia Pets with them, which was really fun,” Yang said. “We also did a game on biodiversity, where they could win little key chains that were 3D printed that said Greening ’Stoga on it. I thought that was really fun, just seeing the kids.” Some data the club collected during the audit was about food consumption, utensils, paper towels and water supply wastage. Members gathered information about transportation used in Devon. The club presented all of these findings to the TESD
strategic planning committee on Jan. 30. “We’re going to a school board district meeting, and we’re presenting the data that we found from Devon Elementary School last year to the school board. Hopefully that’ll try to help them take some steps in what could be improved in terms of sustainability at the elementary schools and in our school community,” Yang said. After the audit at Devon, GSTF concluded that the school has been overusing paper towels and gave suggestions regarding cutting down waste at the board meeting. The club’s audit at Beaumont reflected a similar conclusion and is another step toward the Green Ribbon designation. Prakash and Yang believe that they are taking small steps to make a significant impact on the district. “We’re all very passionate about reducing sustainable impact, especially with the different climate changes and everything happening around us,” Prakash said. “I think it’s very fulfilling to be able to present to members of the district and have actionable, tangible changes that are being made, not just (changes) that are going to last a little bit. These are going to carry on into the future.”
At 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, the 21st annual Phoenixville Firebird Festival took place at Veterans Memorial Park in Pheonixville. The annual celebration invites the Greater Philadelphia community to appreciate and get involved in local arts and culture. The festival offered many activities for attendees, from hosting food vendors and craft stations to bringing in local performers, such as drummers, dancers and a band that performed throughout the night. However, the main event was the live burning of a 20-foot-tall wooden phoenix structure, which took over three months to construct. The burning symbolizes the nature of life and rebirth. “For me, the firebird, the myth, the idea of burning something down and opening up space for new goals and new ideas is just a great practice,” festival volunteer Marianne Calilhanna said.
Since its founding in 2004, the festival has relied entirely on the efforts of volunteers who work year-round to make sure the festival runs smoothly. As the event is free to attend, funding predominantly comes from sponsors and local businesses. Calilhanna primarily works to raise money and promote the
fit from the different businesses around,” Calilhanna said. “Then, I just reach out to them. I’ll email them; I’ll call them; I’ll meet people out and about and just say, ‘Hey, how could I get you involved?’” Henrik Teglbjaerg, who is actively involved with the event and is one of its six founding members, appreciates the community efforts that go into sustaining it. He co-founded the festival to bring an appreciation of art to the community. “It’s exciting that the festival is like a vessel for people to gather around and be creative,” Teglbjaerg said. “I feel I get so many gifts from Firebird Festival Volunteer people just adding their own creativity to it.” festival by managing the website The event attracted people and handling other communica- beyond Greater Philadelphia. tions. Calilhanna explains how Felicia Bello, an attendee from she goes about securing spon- Delaware, expressed her apsors for the festival. preciation of the celebration. “I look at businesses in “I like the way the festival is set Phoenixville and try to think up,” Bello said. “You can bounce about how the people we touch around to a lot of different things in the community could bene- and always stay entertained.”
For me, the firebird, the myth, the idea of burning something down and opening up space for new goals is a great practice. Marianne Calilhanna
Sowmya Krishna/The SPOKE
Burning bright: The Phoenixville Firebird Festival’s wooden phoenix burns in front of the festival’s attendees. The 21st annual festival took place at Veterans Memorial Park on Feb. 1.
: Bartaco Howard Kim
Co-Editor-in-Chief On a Friday night around 5:30 p.m., I strolled into Bartaco at the King of Prussia mall, where I discovered a casual atmosphere and rustic interior perfect for having a good time. While Bartaco does not accept reservations, I recommend customers beat the evening dinner rush or utilize the website’s waitlist to ensure timely seating. Unlike typical restaurants, customers order on the Bartaco website by scanning a QR code on the table, with the only aspects of service being when food and drinks are brought from the kitchen and dishes are cleared. Bartaco’s menu displayed a wide variety of options full of culinary fusion, blending elements of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine with Latin American foods. I started off with the sesame ribeye taco, which set the tone for the rest of the meal. The marinated ribeye with the sweet sesame-soy glaze complimented the taco’s distinct kimchi well. Next, I opted for the chilelime shrimp taco, which had some kick to it. From the spice of the chili peppers in the salsa ma-
cha to the sourness of the jicama escabeche, or pickled Mexican turnips, this dish was a welcome shock to my palate. I followed this up with the glazed pork belly taco, and it was perfection, just as I had hoped. Topped off with a spicy chile de arbol salsa, this dish balanced the heat with the sweetness of the melt-in-your-mouth candied braised pork belly cubes. My last taco, the roasted duck taco, was a bit too oily, and its seasoning was underwhelming. Its tamarind glaze and caramelized onions were a nice touch, but not quite enough to balance out the rest. In between bites, I sipped on the grapefruit ginger agua fresca. Although the grapefruit and ginger combination gave it a nice, refreshing zing, the distinct, citrusy tartness was a bit overpowering for my liking. After the tacos, I branched out and tried the tuna poke and plantains to see how Bartaco would deliver on less fusion-y dishes. The tuna poke contained the typical tuna, vegetables and poke dressing and also came with three tostada shells to pair with the poke, adding a nice crunchy texture to the umami of the poke itself. The
Howard Kim/The SPOKE
Fantastic fusion: Bartaco’s menu features options that blend tacos with other cuisines, such as the glazed pork belly taco. The restaurant had a casual atmosphere and rustic interior, perfect for having a good time. plantains were fried just enough that the edges were crispy and the insides were warm and soft. They served it with a delicious sauce with hints of citrus and cilantro. At Bartaco, individual tacos and drinks cost around $4 while other dishes are typically higher. For people interested in
trying some fusion and enjoying a vibrant atmosphere, Bartaco is the perfect restaurant. Bartaco 160 N Gulph Rd Suite C110, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Price: $$ Rating:
T/E Life
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The SPOKE
Soaring in Style
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By Lily Chen, Jeffrey Heng and Nolan Talley, Co-News Editor, Co-Opinion Editor and Staff Reporter
Before the Super Bowl, Student Council held a spirit week to raise excitement for the game. Following the win, students and staff wore green and Eagles gear to celebrate the team’s second-ever Super Bowl victory. Gear ranged from jerseys and hoodies to hats and scarves. ’Stoga spirit (right): Juniors Lucy Weber, Lexi Lenehan and Maggie Neary wear Eagles jerseys on Feb. 7. The week before the Super Bowl was a Spirit Week with different themes each day. Fly Eagles Fly (below): Music teacher Christopher Nation and Wind Ensemble perform the Eagles’ fight song on Feb. 7. They performed around the school during eighth period. Nolan Tallley/The SPOKE
Lily Chen/The SPOKE
Pregame hype (above): Student Council members pose for a picture wearing Eagles-themed outfits. Throughout the season, Student Council held various Eagles-themed Spirit Days. Marching in support (right): Junior Josh Jacob (left) and sophomore Jack Lutz (right) perform with Wind Ensemble during eighth period on Feb. 7. At the end of the day the Eagles’ fight song played on the announcement system. Jeffrey Heng/The SPOKE
Nolan Talley/The SPOKE
Former Conestoga TV aide directs, produces independent movie Mary Wolters Design Editor
The Media Theatre in Delaware County often captivates audiences with performances depicting adventures from outer space and fantasy worlds, but a movie directed by former Conestoga TV aide Christopher Pierdomenico focused on something much closer to home. “Delco: The Movie,” an independent film solely shot in Delaware County, played from Jan. 17-19 to sold-out shows. Large crowds
packed The Media Theatre’s crimson hallways to watch the 70-minute journey of three high school classmates navigating life in Delaware County in 2004. Pierdomenico first drafted the story 20 years ago for a school project at Sun Valley High School. He had recently watched the hit indie film “Clerks,” which inspired his passion for filmmaking. “I was always a storyteller, but that was the first time I realized it was possible to make a film,” Pierdomenico said. “Before that, films were
too supernatural, too big. Only people in Hollywood can do that.” During the summer of 2021, Pierdomenico rewrote the film’s script and enlisted help from former colleagues and students. Leah Cevoli, a television actor and high school friend of Pierdomenico’s, joined the project as a producer for the movie. “For me, Chris inviting me to be a part of this movie about Delco and seeing how the community turned out is this crazy, surreal, full-circle moment,” Cevoli said. “Here I am producing the biggest
Mary Wolters/The SPOKE
Origin story: Former Conestoga TV aide and director Chris Pierdomenico (left) and the cast and crew of “Delco: The Movie” discuss the inspiration behind the film at The Media Theatre. Pierdomenico wrote the script in high school 20 years ago for a class project.
film of my career so far (with) the absolute support of the community, and I came back to Delco to do it.” The story follows three friends’ adventure over one day. Themes of religion, rebellion and living in the county all play an important part in the plot. The movie features numerous witty jabs at Delaware County and its surroundings. Paul Marturano, a comedian and singer-songwriter who contributed to the movie’s soundtrack, enjoyed the lighthearted quips at the community.
“It’s like your family. You love your family, but I like to poke fun at them too,” Marturano said. “So, I thought that is what some of the digs were on Delco. It’s all love.” The Delaware County community rallied together to help fund the project. A crowdfunding campaign from business owners and community members raised $60,000 for the movie’s production during the summer of 2023. The movie featured some of these business owners and recognizable stores around the county, like the local Wawa, Ro Lynn’s Delicatessen and Springfield Presbyterian Church. “If you are a Delconian, this is perfect for you because you
Mary Wolters/The SPOKE
Local advertising: Posters for “Delco: The Movie” hang around the entrance of The Media Theatre in Delaware County. The movie premiered from Jan. 17 to Jan. 19 to sold-out shows. are going to see places you recognize,” Pierdomenico said. “I love seeing places I recognize (in movies). I wanted to give that experience to Delaware County, the only place (Delaware County residents) recognize, with people they recognize.” In the future, Pierdomenico looks to get the movie on
AmnestyxStoga runs letter-writing campaign Erin Zhang
Staff Reporter AmnestyxStoga, a human rights advocacy club that runs the Amnesty International chapter
at Conestoga, ran a month-long letter-writing campaign to contribute to Amnesty International campaign called Write For Rights. From mid-November through mid-January, stu-
dents wrote letters to international political authorities, advocating for the liberation of political prisoners. During Cornucopia, the club hosted a letter-writing workshop for
Conestoga students to participate in Write For Rights. “I think (the Cornucopia letter-writing event) was very successful in terms of how much letters we got,” junior
Jeffrey Heng/The SPOKE
Letters for liberation: Juniors Hannah Vu (left) and Annabel Reeder (right) write letters at AmnestyxStoga’s Write For Rights Cornucopia event. Students wrote lettters during the campaign to liberate politial prisoners around the world.
and co-vice president Zara Baig said. By the end of the campaign, AmnestyxStoga met its goal of writing 80 letters. Sophomore Kate Gennarelli, an AmnestyxStoga board member and issue representative for women’s and reproductive rights, believes that each individual Write For Rights campaign can have a positive impact. “It seems really small scale when we do it as just a club or a school, and we have maybe 100 letters that we send. Once you take into account the fact that it’s thousands of schools and thousands of groups and clubs doing this, it’s really a largescale thing that makes really meaningful impacts on so many people’s lives,” Gennarelli said. “It’s releasing people from prison, and it’s getting people the lives that they deserve back, and it makes so much impact.” Pressured by the efforts of Write For Rights participants, the Angolan government freed Ana da Silva, an Angolan TikToker known by the name of Neth Nahara, from prison. The Angolan government had convicted and imprisoned her for criticizing the Angolan president. The campaign helped liberate her, alongside four other people. “Not only (does Write For Rights) broaden your aspect on what’s happening around the world, but it also allows you to look at people’s personal stories,” Baig said. “People can combat (these challenges) themselves.”
a streaming platform and expand the story’s universe into other films with new casts of characters. He has also created merchandise and film posters featuring classic Delco jokes. Still, Pierdomenico believes that there is something for everyone in “Delco: The Movie” no matter where they are from.
“There is that local flair where it is a little bit extra, but it is my hope that (the movie) is a broader coming-of-age-story that anybody can enjoy,” Pierdomenico said. “I think everybody has their own Delco. Everybody has this weird place they’re from that nobody really understands, except for them.”
T/E Life
6 The SPOKE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Conestoga hosts its first-ever robotics competition Rowan Chetty
Co-T/E Life Editor
Milan Agarwala/The SPOKE
Navigating the field: Senior Asish Nakka, sophomore Anton Lalwani and junior Ethan Zhang work together during the skills competition at the Conestoga Qualifying Robotics Tournament. The two-division event hosted 80 schools.
Students cheered as their robots navigated competition fields, picking up rings as part of the Conestoga Qualifying Robotics Tournament. On Jan. 25, Conestoga hosted its first-ever robotics competition that hosted both high school and middle school divisions. Forty-four high schools and 36 middle school teams attended. Competitions took place in the large and small gyms. Seeing the high membership of Conestoga Robotics, junior Milan Shah had the idea for Conestoga to host its own competition. Shah began planning for the event in October, working alongside other Conestoga students to organize the event’s logistics. “We’ve wanted to do a competition for a while. One of the biggest reasons is because Conestoga hasn’t hosted a competition, and with our large
teams, it’s hard for other schools to host us because they look at Conestoga and they see us coming in with large teams taking up all of the space, and we’re not giving anything back,” Shah said. To prepare for the event, Conestoga Robotics partnered with Vexmen, a division of Brandywine Robotics, which helped supply materials for the tournament, including competition fields and scoring equipment. Additionally, Shah worked with Robotics Club adviser Noah Austin and school administration to plan the setup of the event at Conestoga. “One of the major issues when we were planning this event was finding all the outlets in the cafeteria and gym because we need power for the fields and for the teams,” Shah said. The day before the event, members and parents helped set up for the competition, assembling equipment for the competition area and tables in the cafeteria for
teams to collaborate in between their events. Parents and National Honor Society members volunteered as scorekeepers. “It feels surreal. I walked into the cafeteria, and there’s so many people. Then I walked into the gym, and it’s unrecognizable,” junior Venu Dhanabal, a member of team 6121A, said. “I’ve been to many competitions before, but here at ’Stoga, it feels different because I’ve been here and I’ve never seen it like this before.” The competition offered awards based on the team’s match performance and judge interview. Based on the awards earned at the Conestoga tournament, teams could qualify for the HS Eastern PA State Championship at Norristown. Alongside helping plan the event logistics, junior Will Scheidt designed and created the awards for the event. “Those (awards) were designed custom in the Fab Lab using acrylic name plates that were garnet or white, and they
were engraved (using a) laser cutter and then mounted to the base,” Scheidt said. Having worked with robotics for over seven years, Shah hopes that Conestoga’s robotics competition will become an annual event. “One of my favorite parts about being on such a large team is that when you delegate work correctly, everything feels really smooth,” Shah said. “There’s not too much work placed on any one person, and when everyone knows what’s happening, it’s a lot of fun to work together as a team.” Scan the QR code to watch an accompanying package
T/E Life
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The SPOKE
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Mastershot Aerials: Senior runs drone videography company Sadie Chronister Staff Reporter
In August 2023, then-junior Mason Garcia founded Mastershot Aerials, a drone videography business specializing in aerial footage. Since then, Garcia, now a senior, has captured footage of various local events, in-
cluding the Devon Horse Show, Reagan’s Run and Give T/E. Garcia founded the company after seeing a gap in the local drone industry. He felt that there was an increasing demand for drone photography and videography services. As he developed his business and talked to poten-
tial clients, he faced challenges with communication. “I was inspired to create my business because of the opportunities the industry has for drones since they are so unique. But when the business was getting started, getting clients to pay for what we were doing was challenging because it was
Courtesy Mastershot Aerials
Skyline view: Senior Mason Garcia captures Philadelphia at dusk with his drone. The drone took off as the sun was setting and filmed the scenic views of the city. Garcia hopes to expand his business as he heads to college.
so unfamiliar to them,” Garcia said. “I faced a lot of uncomfortable situations with clients.” Garcia became determined to endure the challenges of owning a business. His resilience taught him to be more assertive and has changed the way he manages his clients. “Owning and managing a business takes a lot of grit. You have to continue even through times of no business. You just have to keep going,” Garcia said. “I try to keep a good track of time and make sure I always follow up with emails while constantly keeping good communication with clients.” Garcia’s uncle, Luke Rafferty, inspired his mindset. Rafferty owns his own videography business and played a major role in the building of Mastershot Aerials. Throughout the process, he advised Garcia and shared wisdom from his own experience. “I’ve encouraged Mason to continue pursuing his passion and to always be looking for the next opportunity,” Rafferty said. “My biggest advice to him at this point is to pursue what fulfills him within the industry and film things that both challenge and excite him.”
Courtesy Luke Rafferty
Business owner: Senior Mason Garcia flies a drone on a fall day. He started Mastershot Aerials with the help of his uncle. With Rafferty’s guidance nesses. Garcia looks forward to people will be willing to pay a little more for the service,” Garand Garcia’s determination, the future of his business. “I want to continue (the cia said. “I think people should Mastershot Aerials has expanded. Their customers consist of business) into college and grow keep a lookout for drones. I community members and busi- into bigger clients. Hopefully, think they have a bright future.”
Lingua Link club connects with Ukrainian students Tvisha Jani Staff Reporter
The new Lingua Link club at Conestoga provides students the opportunity to tutor a Ukrainian student in the English language. Members participate in weekly sessions ranging from reading an article about travel to discussing food and music preferences. Through Lingua Link, Conestoga students are able to create a bridge of learning and friendship thousands of miles long. “A big inspiration is that I feel people don’t really talk about the war between Ukraine and Russia as much in the news,” junior and Lingua Link vice president Angela Wang said. “It’s still happening right now in Ukraine, and it’s been a few years and the situation has worsened.” Junior and president Jessica Joseph created the club in December. Close to the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Joseph started volunteering to teach English to Ukrainian students through an organization she saw on Instagram called ENGin. “I started around freshman year.” Joseph said. “Now as a junior, I thought I should let all these other Conestoga school kids also have that opportunity.”
Lingua Link is a chapter of ENGin, an international nonprofit that has connected 48,000 U.S. volunteers to Ukrainian students for English-speaking practice. The club hopes to help with ENGin’s volunteer shortage following an increase in the number of Ukranian students participating in the program. “Lingua Link is simply a club that helps connect you to ENGin,” Joseph said. “Essentially we’re just helping (Ukrainian students) develop their English skills by communicating, practicing informal language and also building their vocabulary and grammar, and that’s through a very flexible schedule.” Club members independently attend weekly Zoom sessions with one or a small group of Ukrainian students. In these sessions, volunteers teach skills the student is having difficulty with or wishes to improve on with lesson plans customized by the volunteer or created by ENGin. “English is a really big part of our culture around the world. A lot of these kids want to move to the U.S. or English-speaking countries,” freshman and club member Anna Lee Anderson said. “Learning English is important because you can read
books and be on the internet and TV shows and also for general communication.” Through the sessions, the students can connect and share their experiences. Volunteers and students build bonds that extend farther than the lessons, creating strong friendships. “We have great conversations, and it’s nice to see how we can have lasting friendships. I still connect with my first student through Telegram, and we still talk about daily habits or anything that we have in school and that’s really nice,” Joseph said. “My favorite part about Lingua Link is being able to share that experience with all the students in Conestoga.” In the future, Joseph and Wang envision planning fundraisers to support ENGin. The club is continuing to expand so they can reach as many Ukrainian students as possible and help reduce the language barrier that holds many back from new opportunities. “They (Ukrainian students) will be able to communicate with the English audience on the internet about what is happening right now in Ukraine because the spotlight has been removed from this war,” Wang said. “They’ll be able to divert attention back to it.”
Tvisha Jani/The SPOKE
Bridging the gap: Lingua Link president Jessica Joseph (right) and vice president Angela Wang (left) hold an informational meeting. Members of Lingua Link connected with Ukrainian students to teach them English virtually.
Shrija Krishnan Business Manager
English teacher and department chair Karen Gately knew since childhood that she wanted to teach. While she originally aspired to become an elementary school teacher, her passion for literature led her to pursue a career in teaching high school English. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University, Gately began teaching in 1999 and joined the Conestoga faculty in 2001, where she has taught ever since. In addition to teaching the AP Literature & Composition and Comparative Literature: Science Fiction and Dystopia courses, Gately is one of the assistant coaches for field hockey. Q: What is the best part about teaching at Conestoga? A: I’ve been here so long that (Conestoga) is just a part of me. I love my colleagues, and over the last two-anda-half decades I have made some very special friendships. Teaching at Conestoga is amazing because our administration trusts and treats us as professionals, so we have a lot of autonomy in our class-
rooms and can share our passions with our students. Q: What is your favorite topic to teach? A: I love teaching Shakespeare. That’s what I studied when I was placed at New College in Oxford for a graduate experience. I wound up writing a series of essays about various Shakespeare plays, and the dons there require you to read your paper to them one-on-one. That experience of having to defend my writing in person really helped me learn what it meant to be truly interactive with literature. I always tell my students that if they are unsure, that they should read their papers aloud because hearing your own voice is really important. Q: As an English teacher, what do you like to read? A: I was always a big reader. Mystery is definitely one of my favorite genres to read for fun. Right now I’m reading a book called “College Girl Gone.” It’s a true crime. A lot of people think that I’m a reading snob, but I’ll read anything. Q: What do you like to do outside of the classroom? A: I have a really close-knit group of friends that I spend
a lot of time with. I also love watching a lot of movies and TV shows. I’m a Netflix junkie — I’ll watch anything from horrible, cheesy reality TV like “Love is Blind” to “American Primeval.” I also spend a lot of time with my family — I have a daughter who’s 19 and a son who’s 16. My daughter and I are very similar and share a passion for field hockey. Q: What do you enjoy about coaching field hockey? A: I’ve played field hockey since fourth grade. Coaching is something that brings me a tremendous amount of joy. It is a huge time commitment, but I love everything about it — my team, atmosphere and the program. Winning the state championship has been 20 years in the making for me, so to see it happen is really one of the best experiences. Q: Why do you think reading is important? A: For us as citizens, to be educated is to be a reader in one way or another. I think that most of my students do love reading — they just don’t have time for it or don’t make time for it. So even if I plant the seed now and then they become a reader when they’re out of college, that’s okay.
Courtesy Keiji Uehara
Determined Democrats: Members of the Young Democrats club pose with a cutout of Kamala Harris at the Pennsylvania Young Democrats headquarters. They spent the 2024 presidential campaign season supporting and canvassing for Harris. In the future, they hope to expand the club and connect with other schools through the High School Democrats of Pennsylvania.
Young Democrats club revamps, joins High School Democrats of Pennsylvania
Sosi Sengal Staff Reporter
This year, the Young Democrats club revamped by creating initiatives to broaden the club and joining the High School Democrats of Pennsylvania (HSDPA), a statewide organization of high-schoolaged Democrats. In 2024, senior co-presidents Aashita Singh and Arlo Naiva revived the club to discuss politics and encourage Democratic initiatives. One of the main reasons for the revival was to campaign during the 2024 presidential election season and raise awareness for the Democratic Party. The club is a space for students to discuss politics and democracy outside of an academic
setting. They hold meetings twice a month, during which they reflect on current events and participate in activities such as letter writing. “The meetings are very student-run, so they come up with different topics that they want to talk about,” history teacher and club adviser Kathleen Walter said. “The students outside of those meetings were involved in campaigning and canvassing.” The club provides a place for students to come together and be open-minded toward political opinions. They work to create a safe space to speak on their views and embrace community. “I never really get to discuss politics with my friends. Being a part of this club helps me be able to have a space to talk
about politics,” Singh said. “It also allows me to hear about different perspectives about politics and democracy.” To get more information on how to canvass effectively, the club decided to join the HSDPA. The organization aims to amplify young voices and support a learning environment in politics. Membership in this organization allows Conestoga’s Young Democrats club to create more opportunities to engage with the community and enhance the current club. To join the HSDPA, the club members had to fill out a form and send it back to the organization. “The process of becoming a recognized chapter of the HSDPA was relatively easy because we already had an active
membership,” sophomore club member Keiji Uehara said. “It was only a matter of applying.” The organization provides opportunities and connections with High School Young Democrats clubs around Pennsylvania. By joining, the club has access to resources and tools to broaden its mission. “We reached out to further our connection with them, and they responded by giving us the opportunity to bring forward our agenda for election season and our school,” Singh said. “While school initiatives are meaningful, we realized that to bring about change in the political process, we needed to join organizations that could support and strengthen our efforts at a state level.”
Teacher Feature: KAREN GATELY Shrija Krishnan/The SPOKE
Book lover: English department head Karen Gately poses with “College Girl Missing” by Shawn Cohen, the book she is currently reading. She had aspired to be a teacher since she was young. Gately will complete her 24th year teaching at Conestoga this year.
OPINION 8 The SPOKE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Jeff’s Gist: ICE terrorizes undocumented immigrants
Jeffrey Heng
Co-Opinion Editor and Columnist In my Spanish class, I watched “30 Days” and “Which Way Home,” two films part of the AP Spanish Language curriculum that followed the grueling journeys of Mexicans who risked crossing the Mexico-U.S. border to make a living for their families. But with the difficulties of obtaining U.S. citizenship and the Trump administration’s plans of mass deportation, this dream becomes nearly unattainable. “There’s always the argument of ‘Is it right? Is it wrong?’ We hear about that in the news of
immigration,” Spanish teacher Stacy Katz said. “But I think sometimes living in the United States, especially if you were born here, it’s easy to take for granted some of the opportunities that we have and be unaware of how other people are living. And so that movie, that documentary I think they show the human side of the story and why people fight so hard to come here.” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the U.S. agency under the Department of Homeland Security responsible for upholding “counterterrorism,” a term defined by the agency’s website as ‘protecting people by combating unlawful violence.’ Through enforcing restrictive immigration laws undocumented immigrants (UIs) — those who have no documentation or legal status to live in the U.S. — ICE officers can detain those who are undocumented. According to its website, ICE deported more than 270,000 UIs
in 2024, the highest number observed in the past decade. With President Donald Trump revoking an October 2021 policy that
Strikingly, an October 2024 report by the American Immigration Council, a non-profit advocating for immigration reform,
timespan, it would cost the U.S. nearly one trillion dollars — money that would be equivalent to building 2.9 million homes.
prohibited arrests at “sensitive locations” such as schools and churches, this number is likely to spike in upcoming years.
found that in the time it would take to deport the estimated 13.3 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. in a decade-long
Yet, an April 2024 poll conducted by the news organization Axios found 51% of Americans supported mass deportations of
Juliana Yao/The SPOKE
UIs. When respondents were asked about their concerns of illegal immigrants, the most cited reasons were increased crime rates and violence (21%), additional costs to taxpayers (18%) and risk of terrorism and national security (17%). But, these are misconceptions: Data from the Cato Institute, a public policy research organization, shows that in 2015, UIs have lower homicide conviction rates (2.4 per 100,000) than native-born Americans (2.8 per 100,000). Likewise, a 2024 report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that UIs paid $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, revenue that would go towards funding public services and programs. Instead of feeding into the deportation machine, policymakers must take action by protecting all their residents — even those who may not be authorized to be here but have been vital to America’s economy and identity.
“We saw in class how you obtain a visa, and the long process that you have to go through having a sponsor in the United States: I think it’s very hard to be able to get through those steps,” Katz said. “And although I understand the laws surrounding immigrating to the United States, there’s the humanity side of it as well.” On Jan. 28, ICE agents detained seven undocumented North Philadelphia residents, the first of many raids we can expect in the city. To say ICE counters terrorism when it deters those looking for sanctuary contradicts its promise to protect the people. When undocumented families are torn apart and are not provided reparations to find a clear path towards citizenship, it’s obvious that this country fails to be united. For us in Philly, you can’t help but question the prestige of being nicknamed the “City of Brotherly Love” when that love is not reciprocated to the neighbors we claim to protect.
Review: ‘The End of Burnout’ reimagines work Rating:
Lauren Pinheiro Photography Editor
In a society plagued by competition, economic greed and an unhealthy work culture, burnout is inevitable for many. Published in 2022, “The End of Burnout,” a book by Jonathan Malesic, introduces a new perspective regarding the spectrum of burnout, a term that scholars are constantly redefining and reinterpreting. Its 230 pages deeply analyze scientific and historical research on burnout, framed through the author’s personal experience as a burnt-out theology professor. Malesic concludes that burnout isn’t mere workspace stress but a deep-rooted cultural emergency stemming from over-dignifying our careers. According to a 2022 Yahoo Fi-
With that said, the main takeaway from the text is that the many aspects of burnout show there is no single solution for this inherently human experience. Rather, it is a collective and societal problem that should not be dealt with alone. However, the author could have conveyed his message about the need for society to collectively reverse toxic work culture to combat burnout in fewer pages. Despite its advanced language, the book offers insight into how people can reflect on their relationship with work and productivity. While high schoolers may not yet face the demands of a fulltime career, many still experience academic pressure and the stress of their unpredictable futures. Malesic’s work emphasizes how burnout is a personal experience meant to be shared in order to Jessica Li/The SPOKE find support. By it has grown. An issue so deeply recognizing this early, sturooted in human nature cannot dents can develop healthier simply be avoided in the idealis- mindsets to avoid burnout before entering the workforce. tic society Malesic envisions. nance finding, about 45% of Americans wouldn’t wish their job on their worst enemy. Furthermore, Malesic argues that Americans are largely unfulfilled in their careers, as societal pressures compel them to exhaust their passion for work in pursuit of materialism and higher salaries. Changing the way humanity views the purpose of work is nearly impossible. Burnout has long existed, even if awareness of
Hannah Gupta/The SPOKE
Tesla Cybertrucks hurt more than feelings
Milan Agarwala Staff Reporter
Last month, a Tesla Cybertruck parked at the front entrance of Conestoga. Discreetly, students raised their phones to capture the controversial angular design while the truck sparked conversation. The Cybertruck’s appearance achieved Elon Musk’s intended spectacle, but Tesla’s
latest offering unfortunately represents more harm than just polarizing aesthetics. Tesla’s pattern of prioritizing shock value over safety begins with the Cybertruck’s design. Wired magazine reports that the Cybertruck’s sharp, stainless steel body has raised international pedestrian safety concerns. When combining this exterior with a curb weight of over 6,000 pounds and an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, Tesla manufactures a dangerous presence for both drivers and pedestrians. Regardless, these statistics sustained Tesla fans during the Cybertruck’s deployment, which began with the vehicle’s unveiling in 2019. According to MotorTrend, Tesla promised a 500-mile maximum range, 14,000-pound
towing capacity and 3,500-pound payload capacity at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $39,000. Instead, Cybertruck fans received an MSRP of $79,990 and with a 5% smaller exterior. This overpromising and underdelivering, compounded by a two-year release delay, resulted in disastrous sales: According to Business Insider, Tesla sold 39,000 Cybertrucks in the U.S. by the end of 2024 compared to two million paid reservations. Many Cybertruck fans may claim that the Cybertruck’s “bulletproof” design with its stainless steel exoskeleton provides unprecedented safety. While they may be right about driver safety, Cybertruck consumers either consciously or subconsciously fail to consider pedestrians and oth-
ers on the road. The Cybertruck is a consequence of a street-legal arms race where drivers seek out the biggest cars to feel safer, unintentionally fueling a cycle of larger and more individually safe cars that threaten outsiders’ safety. The Cybertruck’s release signals a problematic shift among auto consumers, where spectacle and status overshadow safety and practicality. In the past, Tesla’s innovations gave us the industry-defining Model S and mass market-focused Model 3. However, the Cybertruck epitomizes Tesla’s prioritization of pageantry over progress. As electric vehicles become the mainstream, we must rethink our purchasing decisions so that car companies focus on substantive innovations instead of dangerous publicity stunts.
Be honest about your hatred for dynasties
Eshan Singh Co-Copy Editor
On Feb. 9, football fans rejoiced at the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-22 dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, denying the Chiefs their third straight Super Bowl win. We as fans despise Kansas City (just look at any social media platform) but must stop doing mental gymnastics to explain our loathing. Our hatred of dynasties isn’t complicated. We simply grow
tired of seeing the same team win again and again. We hope such teams lose, and when they keep winning, our hatred grows stronger. It’s a feedback loop of hatred that only breaks when the team finally stops winning: Few people hate the New England Patriots now that they’re one of the worst teams in the NFL. Some may claim that there are reasons why they hate the Chiefs other than them being so good, but those “reasons” are just the result of confirmation bias. When we hate something, we find reasons to justify that hatred. A big “reason” that Chiefs haters use to justify their contempt is their belief that referees favor Kansas City — some even claim that the NFL rigs games to ensure the Chiefs’ success, even though doing so provides no benefit to the league: Super Bowl LVI between
the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams drew about 10% more viewers than Super Bowl LV between the Chiefs and Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Do referees often make bad calls that favor Kansas City, like the questionable pass interference call against Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in this year’s Super Bowl? Yes, but they make many other poor calls that don’t favor the Chiefs, including some that go against Kansas City, like the suspect unnecessary roughness penalty against Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie that led to the Eagles’ first touchdown of the game. We don’t notice these calls as much because we don’t look for them. Maybe Kansas City does tend to get more calls, but that’s only due to chance. And don’t try to say you hate the Chiefs because they’re lucky — there was no dis-
gust toward the 2022 Minnesota Vikings, which in the regular season went 11-0 in their one-score games and finished with a 13-4 record despite having a negative point differential. People also say they hate the Chiefs because of the attention given to pop star Taylor Swift, Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce’s girlfriend. But a woman on screen for less than a minute of a game that lasts longer than three hours doesn’t justify such strong hatred and neither does that woman supporting her boyfriend’s team even though she’s originally from Pennsylvania and used to be an Eagles fan. Ultimately, Kansas City is a good football team that will probably return to the Super Bowl yet again. It’s fine to root against them — just be honest about why you’re doing so.
The Spoke is published seven times a year by School Paper Express. It consistently receives a Gold rating from the Pennsylvania School Press Association and is a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker award-winning publication. The Spoke serves as a public forum for student expression.
The
Staff
Editors-in-Chief: Aren Framil, Howard Kim Managing Editors: Raima Saha, Zara Samdani News Editors: Lily Chen, Faith Zantua T/E Life Editors: Mareska Chettiar, Rowan Chetty Opinion Editors: Jeffrey Heng, Juliana Yao Sports Editors: Abby Chong, Vaishnavi Sriadibhatla Copy Editors: Miya Cao, Eshan Singh Design Editor: Mary Wolters Photography Editor: Lauren Pinheiro Webmaster: Rohan Anne Appmaster: Sowmya Krishna Multimedia Editors: Bailey Kreszswick, Riddima Pandey Social Media Editor: Lexi Lin
Staff Development Directors: Madeline Pulliam, Hannah Simon Business Manager: Shrija Krishnan Cartoonists: Ethan Barker, Anjali Chand, Niki Chen, Hannah Gupta, Karen Hang, Jesssica Li, Lia Piccoli, Emily Wang, Mary Wolters Staff Reporters: Milan Agarwala, Alex Carder, Vanessa Chen, Sadie Chronister, Sophia Cui, Ryan Ding, Ashley Du, Gabe Eisenberg, Isabelle Emmanuel, Saktisri Gowrishankar, Divit Gupta, Grace Hu, Tvisha Jani, Audrey Kim, Anvita Mohile, Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti, Rajan Saha, Sousanna Sengal, William Simon, Nishta Subramanian, Nolan Talley, Paige Vachris, Ashley Wang, Emily Wang, Alexa Willrich, Sophia Wu, August Zangrilli, Erin Zhang Faculty Advisers: Laura Howard, Miriam Terman, Nicole Zakorchemny
Ethan Barker/The SPOKE
SORRY, WE MISSPOKE
In the second issue, on page 9, Karen Hang’s vertical cartoon of third parties is misattributed to Niki Chen. In the third issue, on page 1, The Spoke incorrectly stated that the third issue is part of volume 74. It is part of volume 75. On page 3, the field hockey team’s season record and national rank is incorrectly stated as 15-1 and 24th, respectively. The team ended the regular season with a record of 22-3, and ranked 4th nationally.
Non-staff contributions: Non-staff contributions from students, the community, graduates or other interested parties are welcome. Editors will decide which contributions are published based on space and relevance to the community. All contributions must conform to journalistic practices, including accuracy, timeliness, purpose and writing conventions. The Spoke reserves the right to work with the contributor to meet these standards. All outside contributions are bylined. Letters to the editor: Letters to the editor may be submitted to Co-Editors-in-Chief Aren Framil and Howard Kim at aframil@spoke.news and hkim@spoke.news, respectively, or advisers Laura Howard, Miriam Terman and Nicole Zakorchemny. Editorials: Unsigned editorials represent the views of The Spoke Editorial Board, not those of the school administration, student body, community or advertisers. The opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of The Spoke. Paid advertisements: The Spoke accepts paid advertisements. Email hello@spoke.news.
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Opinion
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The SPOKE
SATIRE
Spend more time on that darn phone!
Juliana Yao
Co-Opinion Editor Hello, valued customer! If you are like me, I am sure you have seen adults, the media or “academia” harping on and on about the effects of spending too much time on your phone and social media. Rest assured, for I am here to quell these fears. In fact, here at Keep Scrolling LLC, we believe that spending the most amount of time possible on your phone is what’s best for your satisfaction and quality of life! You will never feel bored! Unlimited entertainment is yours to claim — how could you ever let your mind wander when you have an infinite number of reels to watch and Block Blast
high scores to beat? Boredom is a thing of the past, and as such, you will never have to worry about concepts like “curiosity” or “innovation!” The best selling fiction author of all time, Agatha Christie, cited boredom as the spark for her creative flow when writing, and my, doesn’t that sound dull! Why wait around to develop creative ideas in your own mind when you can just look at other people’s on Instagram? Leave the innovation to us and enjoy every second with your beloved apps. Everything is easy! You will never have to feel challenged with the abil-
ity to use ChatGPT or the internet at your fingertips! Who ever said that intellectual challenges are necessary
for learning and growth? As you slowly lose the ability to refrain from turning to your phone because of its immedi-
ate accessibility, you can live academic life on easy mode without having to carry baggage like problem-solving
or resilience out of school! There will be no consequences to this — that’s a Keep Scrolling Guarantee!
Feel awake without caffeine! We often need a sip of coffee on the go to wake us up for the day ahead, requiring preparation and work. What if I told you there was an easier and more enjoyable way? Sleep medicine physician Kimberly Truong so kindly pointed out that the blue light LEDs from phone screens interfere with the ability to fall asleep, especially among younger teens and children. This means that you can feel nice and awake at 3 a.m. Niki Chen/The SPOKE during your crucial developmental years, maximizing your screen time and how much your phone can influence your mind!
More personalized ads! The ultimate point of spending the most time possible on your phone is not only for your personal enjoyment but also so that you can support our corporate community. We can mine more personal data from your continued use and share that with other business conglomerates. Backed by a 2024 Reuters report, this creates more personalized ads for you and allows us to train AI models on your data. We encourage you to buy our carefully curated products and services to fund our wonderful, hypercapitalist future. So, Keep Scrolling today — the happiness of your life is just one swipe away! Possible side effects include headaches, drowsiness, loss of concentration, demotivation, social isolation, polarization, addiction, privacy and data breaches, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Keep Scrolling LLC is not liable for any harm or damage caused by adverse reactions. After all, we’re not phone-y!
“I think it's really dumb because we're probably gonna find another app. I think we had something that looked like (this) in Brazil. We had a ban on Twitter, and I think one or two months later (the Brazilian government) came back with a decision, and then Twitter's back. So, probably gonna have something like this in TikTok.”
“It’s really dumb. I deleted it and now I can’t get it back until they release it on the app store again, so I feel like it’s really annoying. It’s the best social media app, in my opinion.”
- Shrav Wani, freshman
sophomore
Q: What are your thoughts on the TikTok ban? “I think it's good because TikTok is messing with our brain and our attention span.”
“I think that it's not a good thing that Tik Tok is getting banned because there's a lot of communities that have been built on that app, and you would be destroying those communities.”
Staff Reporter
Have you ever found yourself scrolling for hours on TikTok? Or have you ever compared yourself to the people in the videos who seem to be the epitome of beauty? These are just a few examples of the harm that TikTok causes to its hundreds of millions of users. On Jan. 18, ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns T i k To k , shut down the app for American users before the ban went into place. Less than 12 hours later, the company restored the app for current users. The TikTok ban then went into effect on Jan. 19, and the app is still unavailable for download on any device in the United States. Since the app is unavailable to download, it is also unavailable to update, which will cause the
senior
the TikTok ban
to become addicted to the social media platform in less than 35 minutes. This leads to doomscrolling, where users spend obscene amounts of time on TikTok, depriving users of real face-to-face human contact. “I think (the TikTok ban is) good because TikTok is
B
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Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis trade
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A
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Editor Recs
messing with our brains and our attention spans,” junior Nicolas Garcia said. Not only is the algorithm addictive, it is also promoting unrealistic beauty standards. Creators on TikTok can use beauty filters that enhance their appearance. NPR recently revealed that TikTok’s algorithm intentionally promotes people who the company deems more beautiful, which can lead to self-esteem and body image issues. Though TikTok is a way for people to make social connections and creates a sense of community, there are other platforms that have fewer negative effects and also create a sense of community. One example of this is Instagram, which took away many of its beauty filters. “I’m in favor of the ban because it prevents me from spending countless hours scrolling on short-form entertainment and distracting me from other juKaren Hang/The SPOKE activities,” nior Rufei Tang said. “It also leads to the promotion of other social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and RedNote.” Hopefully, the harmful effects of TikTok, from doomscrolling to warped expectations, coupled with security risks, are enough to keep the ban in place.
Editors: Sowmya Krishna & Shrija Krishnan, Appmaster & Business Manager
“The cast is incredibly talented and the multinarrative storytelling is full of captivating twists and turns. You can stream it on Max, Hulu or Prime!”
- Aashita Singh,
junior
Alexa Willrich
Deepseek enters AI scene
TV Show Rec: “Game of Thrones”
- Nicolas Garcia,
app to degrade due to no bug fixes or improvements. Due to China’s National Intelligence Law, which requires organizations and citizens to cooperate with national intelligence work, the Chinese government could pressure the company for any of the data it has collected. This could lead to the Chinese government having information on millions of Americans, which is one of the main concerns of the United States government at this moment. According to NPR, TikTok’s algorithm causes users
Report Card
- Gabriel Souza,
STUDENTS SPEAK OUT
For...
9
Audrey Kim Staff Reporter
Lia Piccoli/The SPOKE
When the Trump administration proposed banning TikTok in 2020, it framed the ban as a national security measure, bringing up the app’s Chinese ownership under ByteDance. Officials claimed TikTok’s data collection practices could allow the Chinese government to access sensitive information about American users, presenting the ban as a way to protect U.S. citizens from foreign surveillance. But let’s call this what it really was: a political stunt. On Jan. 20, Donald Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban for 75 days. This decision raises questions about the urgency of the Trump administration’s concerns. If Americans’ data were truly at risk of being leaked to the Chinese government, why delay the ban? The app itself glorified Trump, with the statement “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” appearing on
Against... users’ screens after Trump’s executive order, creating the impression that he had saved the app, even though he was the one who called for its ban in the first place. The reality is that many apps, both foreign and domestic, collect and store vast amounts of user data. Take X, formerly known as Twitter, for example. In 2022, the Department of Justice fined the app $150 million for misusing its user data for more than six years. The next year, more than 200 million X users’ data was leaked online. Despite TikTok’s Chinese ownership, experts like Pellaeon Lin from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab have noted that it
app. According to Reuters, more than 700,000 new users joined RedNote within a span of two days before the TikTok ban. Banning TikTok wouldn’t prevent the flow of U.S. data — it would only redirect the flood of personal data to another platform. Without actual reform, Americans’ data will remain at risk, regardless of which app they use. Critics of TikTok argue that the Chinese government could use its algorithm to influence U.S. public opinion by suppressing or promoting certain content. However, there’s no evidence to support this. The algorithms that TikTok and most other platforms use prioritize engagement, not ideology. Viral trends and popular content drive the algorithm, not orders from governments. If policymakers were truly concerned about outside influences, they’d focus on federal legislation rather than targeting one app. Ultimately, the debate over TikTok isn’t about protecting Americans. It’s a distraction Mary Wolters/The SPOKE from the government’s lack of doesn’t “exhibit overtly malicious data privacy protections. Worse, behavior similar to those exhib- it became a tool for self-promoited by malware.” The app was tion and political gain, turning singled out because of its ties to an alleged security concern into China rather than any proven se- a propaganda victory for Trump. curity threat. The real motivations were politEven if the U.S. banned Tik- ical, not protective. TikTok is not Tok, users would simply move just an app — it’s a platform for to other platforms like RedNote, our expression, and any attempt a popular Chinese social media to silence it should concern us all.
Anjali Chand/The SPOKE
10
Sports
The SPOKE
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
The road to victory: Students, staff keep up with Eagles Continued from page 1. Eagles change lineup, break conference record Last year, the Eagles started strong during the first 11 weeks of the season, with a 10-1 record. However, the team lost five of its six remaining games and got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Following the end of the season, longtime center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox retired, leading to an adjusted lineup this season. This year, the Eagles signed former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, drafted cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell and hired new offensive and defensive coordinators. Health and Fitness teacher John Jones, an Eagles fan, felt that the team’s performance last season left uncertainty for the future. “Last year, they looked confused, disjointed and lost a lot of games towards the end of the season,” Jones said. “The offseason with Saquon being signed, there was excitement, but we didn’t know how good he was going to be.” Despite starting the season off slow with a 2-2 record, the team regained momentum toward the middle of the season. The Ea-
gles won 12 out of their next 13 games, finishing the regular season 14-3. Sophomore Krish Mudaliar, who attended two games this season, was impressed by the addition of Barkley. “It was really just the way we ran the ball, specifically with Saquon. He’s just a really game-changing player,” Mudaliar said. “He completely changed the season and transformed our team.” On Jan. 26, the Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship Game, advancing to the Super Bowl. On the same day, the Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29, securing their ticket to the game, mirroring two years before, where the Eagles faced the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Although the Eagles lost 38-35, social studies teacher and freshman football coach Aaron Lockard feels that the team has improved since. “Even though they lost Kelce, they still have a really strong offensive line. If you combine dominating the line of scrimmage with one of the best running backs in the game (and) two fantastic receivers that would be starters on any other team, you have a much more balanced offense than you did in the past,” Lockard said. “I think this is a significantly better
team than the one that met the Chiefs two years ago.” At the NFC Championship game, the Eagles scored the most points in conference championship history. The Commanders gained an early lead, but the Eagles quickly responded, ending the first half up 27-15. Throughout the second half, the Eagles continued to expand their lead with touchdowns from Barkley, quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown, ending the game 55-23. “I was ecstatic. I love watching the Eagles, but it stresses me out like crazy. I’m on the edge of my seat the whole time. But in this case, it was so nice to get to the third quarter and just be happy,” Lockard said. “They were scoring all the time, and I knew the Commanders were out of it. I felt amazing.” The team’s win at the conference finals marked its fifth Super Bowl appearance. Junior Kaitlyn Parson attended the NFC Championship Game and said it was an unforgettable experience, with fans screaming and crying in celebration. “At the game, there was confetti coming down and fireworks in the stadium. Everybody around me was yelling, ‘We’re going to the Super Bowl. We’re going to
The Eagles’ 2024 Season
Yards
500
Information taken from Pro Football Reference Super Bowl LIX
Designed by Aren Framil, Co-Editor-in-Chief Buccaneers
Packers
Rams
Falcons
400
300 Rams
Bengals
Saints
Back for revenge: Swoop, the Philadelphia Eagles’ mascot, celebrates the team’s win against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Eagles’ victory parade on Feb. 14. The Eagles lost 38-35 to the Chiefs two years ago in Super Bowl LVII.
Chiefs Cowboys
Commanders
Browns
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Eagles’ total yards Opposing team’s total yards Winning team Giants
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New Orleans,’” Parson said. “A guy in front of me was talking to a guy behind me saying, ‘I’ll see you in New Orleans.’” Students, staff foster Eagles spirit within Conestoga Throughout the season, Student Council held spirit days before major games to build excitement in the school. On those days, students and staff wearing Eagles gear or green could win prizes. Leading up to the Super Bowl, Student Council hosted a Spirit Week, presenting a new theme for students and staff to
20-16
28-3
7
W
8
37-17
W
28-23
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26-18
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24-19
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27-13
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follow each day. The themes were Black Out, White Out, Green Out, Jersey Day and Eagles Day. “We like to try to get some school spirit and bring everyone together to show that we’re all rooting for, hopefully, the Eagles,” student council adviser Elizabeth Gallo said. “It’s fun to get pumped up about something.” English teacher, head football coach and longtime Eagles fan Scott Gee appreciates the spirit days. “It’s good to see a sense of community in the building, and it’s good to see kids get involved and rally around something,”
Jeffrey Heng/The SPOKE Rowan Chetty/The SPOKE
Commanders
Ravens
Flocking together: (From left to right) Seniors Margaux LePage, Hadar Miller, Annie Carson, Skarlett Beck and Jasmine Scorzetti pose for a photo at the Eagles’ victory parade. Many students took early trains into the city for the parade.
37-20
22-16
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Gee said. “As a teacher, you can kind of relax (with) whatever you would normally wear that day and wear something a little bit more fun and more comfortable. I spent money on a decent amount of Eagles gear, so it’s nice to be able to wear it.” Alongside the spirit days, world language teacher Ann Karcewski enjoys fostering Eagles spirit in her classes. Before each Eagles game, Karcewski and her students sing the Eagles’ fight song for good luck. “We (the Eagles) have been to the Super Bowl a couple times. There’s electricity in the air, and I want to share that with my students. I want them to get excited about it,” Karcewski said. “They also should see the importance of identifying with something that’s a communal thing.” Throughout the season, students have also shown their support for the team at tailgates outside of games at Lincoln Financial Field. Maganti, who tailgated earlier in the season, enjoyed seeing Conestoga students’ Eagles spirit away from school. “The energy at the games is amazing. Everyone’s so excited. Fans are always dressed up, and it’s always really fun,” Maganti said. “A lot of kids (at Conestoga) are Eagles fans and go to the
20-13
28-22
40-22
tailgates. It’s a way to bring the ’Stoga community together.” On the Friday before the Super Bowl, students prepared for the Sunday game by wearing merchandise for Eagles Day. Good Morning ’Stoga (GMS) also held an Eagles-themed show with special trivia. Later, during eighth period, Wind Ensemble performed the Eagles’ fight song around the hallways. Parson, a GMS anchor, appreciated the inschool excitement leading up to the game. “It (school spirit) just brings up my confidence. I’m very superstitious, so seeing everybody wearing green just gets my mind going, ‘Okay, everybody’s here, everybody’s supporting. We’re gonna win,’” Parson said. Lockard appreciates the energy surrounding the Eagles’ recent successes. He is happy about the team’s performance in recent years and the tone it set for the future. “As a fan who’s experienced mostly the 2000s, it’s been really nice to see a lot of success now, especially post-2017 with their first Super Bowl win, it’s been really awesome,” Lockard said. “They’re no longer a franchise that gets beat up on by everybody else. Instead, they’re the franchise that everybody wants to beat because we win a lot, which is awesome.”
Senior trains tennis in Florida William Simon Staff Reporter
After two years of intense training in Florida, one year at Evert Tennis Academy and another year at International Management Group (IMG) Academy, senior and California Institute of Technology tennis commit Michael Gao has returned back to Conestoga. At age six, Gao started practicing tennis in Indiana. At age 11, he moved to Pennsylvania and began practicing at High Performance Tennis Academy (HPTA) in Bala Cynwyd. After attending ‘Stoga for his freshman year, Gao decided to move to Florida to train in the summer before his sophomore year. “I had the idea (to move) literally the summer before I went,” Gao said. “And I chose to go there because I wanted to pursue my goal of playing college tennis.” From early morning wakeups to late-night practices, Gao followed a schedule that balanced both his academic and athletic careers. “I would wake up at 6:30, gym from 7:00 to 8:00, tennis from 8:00 to 10:00, school from 10:30 to 2:30 with lunch in between and then practice from 3:00 to 5:00,” Gao said. Kellen Thomas, who has coached Gao since he first joined
HPTA, was involved in Gao’s decision to train in Florida. Describing Gao’s departure as a bittersweet experience, he was happy to see Gao push himself as a player but also sad to see a player leave. “He’s a fierce competitor, and you can’t be a fierce competitor without integrity or passion,” Thomas said. “I think he exemplifies all those things.” Many of Gao’s favorite moments of training in Florida do not only come from the academies he attended but also from the memories he made during this time. “My favorite times I would say would be traveling, especially internationally for tournaments,”
Gao said.“Nicaragua and Barbados were two fun trips.” Gao grew as a player, climbing into the top 2,000-ranked players internationally and into the top 175 of the Class of 2025 nationally. His tennis journey allowed him to learn valuable life lessons about resiliency and grit. “Tennis is a lonely sport, so just dealing with adversity and basically (being) on my own and being by myself in Florida taught me how to be independent and deal with those challenges,” Gao said. “I think (tennis is) a great way to grow. Tennis is very similar to life in a lot of differenr ways and you can definitely improve by playing tennis, on the court and off the court.”
Courtesy Andrea Tian
Traveling for tennis: Senior and California Institute of Technology tennis commit Michael Gao practices his serves on court. Gao returned to Conestoga for his senior year, after training abroad for the past two years.
Courtesy Alex Weiss
Mobile midfielder: 2024 alumnus Ryan Zellefrow steals the ball from a defender. Zellefrow committed to the University of Vermont in the fall of his senior year.
Alumnus wins 2024 DI NCAA championship
Vaishnavi Sriadibhatla Co-Sports Editor
Pandemonium erupted from the stands of WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina as the soccer ball rolled into the net. Fans, staff and players, all decked in yellow and green garb, rushed out onto the field to rejoice in their newfound victory. On Nov. 13, 2024, 2024 alumnus Ryan Zellefrow and the University of Vermont (UVM) men’s soccer team won the NCAA Division I Soccer Championship game against the Marshall University Bisons. The UVM Catamounts won the game by scoring in the first overtime period, breaking the tie and finishing the game with a final score of 2-1. This win marks the
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first NCAA title for both the soccer program and the university. “When you think of athletic powerhouses in college sports, you would never say Vermont. So, it was crazy to just see all the big schools like Pitt and San Diego that we knocked off on the way,” Zellefrow said. “And then, after the final whistle blew in the final, it just felt unreal. Still to this day, it hasn’t fully hit me that we won the whole thing.” The team’s training for its season and its NCAA championship journey started during its preseason. During this time, the Catamounts focused on fitness and conditioning to improve their endurance. This prepared them for the intense match schedule that lay ahead of them during their regular season and their playoffs. They
tried to approach all of their games with a positive mindset. “As the underdog, you kind of start every game with the mentality of we have nothing to lose, right?” Zellefrow said. “So, it was just game after game (where) we were just focused on that game and just thinking to ourselves: ‘We have nothing to lose — let’s go out there and show everyone what we have.’” Zellefrow was a vital part of both the Catamounts’ undefeated season and their NCAA championship, starting in 18 of the team’s 24 matches. As a midfielder, he helped support the team’s offensive and defensive plays during the championship game win. He attributes a large part of his collegiate success to ’Stoga soccer and believes that it prepared him well.
“I think college is a good mix of both of physical players who are just big — really fast and strong — and technical players,” Zellefrow said. “So, I think ’Stoga definitely helped me prepare for some guys that may be much bigger, stronger, faster than me.” With this win, Zellefrow becomes one of the first players in Conestoga boys soccer history to win an NCAA championship. Conestoga soccer head coach David Zimmerman believes that Zellefrow was one of the most talented players he has ever coached. “His overall skill and talent level was off the charts,” Zimmerman said. “There were things he would do that I’ve never seen before. So, it was the kind of thing where he was able to start on a national college team.”
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Sports
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
: Aiming for the bullseye
The SPOKE
Boys swimming achieves 100 consecutive wins Rohan Anne and Gabe Eisenberg
Webmaster and Staff Reporter
Mary Wolters/The SPOKE
Intense concentration: Senior Raima Saha pulls back her arrow as she prepares to shoot. Saha initially found it challenging to aim her arrow at the target, but tips from senior and Conestoga Archery Club president Kyle Xu helped her hit her mark.
Raima Saha
Co-Managing Editor When I thought of archery, I used to imagine my distant ancestors perched behind shrubs, hunting for food to make it through the day. They must have been strong and poised to secure their target, knowing very well that the fine line between success and failure often meant the difference between life and death. The setup that greeted me at Conestoga Archery Club practice at Advent Lutheran Church in West Chester immediately dispelled my assumptions. The church building’s gymnasium was transformed into an archery range, with purple insulation boards protecting the walls from arrows and targets lining the far end of the building. Friendly smiles from those I knew and didn’t greeted me. Junior and Design Editor Mary Wolters, an avid archer herself, helped me set up my gear while club president and senior Kyle Xu patiently instructed me on the anatomy
of the bow and the technique needed to shoot. There was so much to remember. From adjusting the placement of arrow fletchings — little tabs on the end of the arrow — to ensure the arrow didn’t veer off to the side to confirming that I was holding the bow correctly, I felt my mind working in overdrive to make sure I didn’t miss anything that could hinder my shot. I aligned my sight — a circle used to guide placement of the shot — to my target, keeping my goal in mind: hit the bullseye. My first round was a failure, with my arrow missing the target board completely. Considering that my target was five yards away from me and everyone else’s targets were 20 yards away, I felt discouraged. The second round was better — my shots actually hit the target, and I managed to achieve clusters of arrows on my target board. However, I felt farther away than ever from my goal of a bullseye. I asked Wolters and Xu what made an archery session productive and learned that the goal was
to achieve groupings of arrows in the same spot rather than hitting a bullseye. Precision and consistency took precedence over accuracy, a fact that astonished me as someone conditioned to prefer accuracy above all else. I eventually learned that it takes skill to strike the same spot over and over again and that it was easy to change the location of where the shots landed by adjusting the sight. However, sporadic shots meant that you weren’t aiming at the same spot, a fundamental discrepancy that yielded inconsistent results and hindered the potential for accuracy. I realized that I wasn’t failing as catastrophically as I originally thought. Yes, I was still trying to aim for the bullseye, but I was no longer concerned if I didn’t hit it, instead focusing on how consistent my shots were relative to each other. With this new goal in mind, I realized the importance of technique in achieving consistent results. Keeping your hand pulling the string of the bow close to your jaw is imperative to keep the ar-
row straight, which I learned as Xu kindly gave me tips to improve my precision. I became hyperaware of every part of my body, mentally scanning for technical inconsistencies (or trying to, at least) to give myself the chance to hit the best shot possible. I did not end up hitting a bullseye. However, I did hit a balloon placed on top of the bullseye, proof that I had some semblance of accuracy after the hour-long practice. While I may not become a Division I archer, I now have a new resolve to strive for consistency rather than perfection, a mindset applicable to other areas in my life.
On Dec. 17, 2024, the boys’ swim team won a meet 103-82 against Haverford. This marked not only another win for the boys’ swimming team in the Central League but also a milestone: the team’s 100th consecutive win. For senior and boys swimming co-captain Brandon Bacani, this goal is one that he has been striving for with the team since freshman year. “I remember starting out my freshman year with our consecutive win record around the 70s, and one of the seniors at the time told me that it would be my senior year if we reached 100 backto-back wins,” Bacani said. “It’s still crazy to think about how we’ve never lost during my high school career.” Each season consists of several dual meets, which are competitions between two teams. The two teams in each meet are ranked by how well individual members perform in their own events for an overall score. “It’s really just based off a points system with each event,” sophomore Liam Haas said. “Getting first in an event gets you the most amount of points, second gives you the next most, and so on.”
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Along with practices involving the entire team, several members of the boys’ swimming team are involved with other competitive club swim organizations. According to Bacani, the biggest strength the team possesses is its swimmers’ work ethic. “Conestoga is in a great spot, with a lot of great talent coming from clubs like the YMCA,” Bacani said. “The outside work that our swimmers are putting in with other clubs is what really separates us because every member is practicing around 10 hours a week both in the pool and with workouts on dry land.” Even with team members putting in effort outside of team practices, Bacani feels that one of the most important factors that led to the team’s success is the tight-knit community that the swimmers have created. “Outside of the pool, we’ve had a lot of social gatherings together, including a pasta party before some of our meets at my house,” Bacani said. “It’s really shown me that swimming is not about the speed of the team, but the supportive framework we’ve tried to build up so that even if you don’t have a great swim at the start of the meet, you’re feeling great going into your next event.”
Senior and field hockey co-captain Shae Wozniak became MAX Field Hockey’s 2024 High School Pennsylvania and National Player of the Year. During her time on the Conestoga field hockey team, Wozniak scored 139 goals and had 60 assists.
RUNS Sophomore Sarah Crill became the female champion at the Clearwater Marathon in Clearwater, Florida. on Jan. 26 with a time of 3:07:19. She finished eighth overall out of 569 runners.
WRESTLES On Jan. 25, the wrestling team competed at the Battle of the Bucks. Senior wrestler Pavel Chernousov placed fourth while senior Abijah Hines and sophomore Ted Akimov placed fifth in their respective weight classes.
SHOOTS On Feb. 1, the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams hosted a social to raise money for their upcoming seasons.
Scan the QR code to watch an accompanying package
Nolan Talley/The SPOKE
Swimming success: The boys’ swimming team faces off against Upper Darby in its first home meet after securing its 100th consecutive win against Haverford one month earlier. The team became the first team from Conestoga to reach the win streak.
Richard Hawkins named Daily Local News’ Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year Divit Gupta and Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti Staff Reporters
Cross-country coach and math teacher Rick Hawkins received the Daily Local News’ Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year award for the 20242025 season. He won the award because of the girls’ cross-country team’s performance during the season. Under his coaching, the team placed fifth at the 2024 PIAA Cross Country Championships this year. “I think it’s a reflection of the team, not just of the coach,” Hawkins said. “The fact that I was able to get that award is the result of the entire team and the coaching staff.” Hawkins has been coaching cross-country at Conestoga for 21 years after coaching for four years at Watkins Mill High School. Hawkins works to improve the cross-country team constantly, which con-
sists of runners with diverse skill levels. “There’s over 100 kids on the team with all varying levels of ability and training background, so coming up with different training plans for each individual is very challenging,” Hawkins said. “Coming up with the appropriate training for (the team) is probably the biggest part of my preparation process.” Every year, he enjoys coaching his students, not only because of their dedication to cross-country, but for the discipline and character they display throughout the season. He has seen his students grow throughout their careers and believes they are great learners. “They are great human beings. Not only that, they’re great students, and they learn very quickly,” Hawkins said. “They’ve studied those training programs for a couple years now, and so they know what’s expected of them and
how they should prepare for each race.” Junior Laura Traineau has been a member of the cross-country team since her freshman year. She appreciates Hawkins’ unique coaching style, which motivates team members to explore new areas and improve. “He’s very good at challenging us and getting us out of our comfort zones, which is what helps make us so much faster and so much tougher,” Traineau said. As a coach, Hawkins enjoys working with the team to reflect on previous games and discuss new strategies. While he hopes the team will place first in the state championship next season, Hawkins ultimately seeks to develop the runners into better individuals. “I don’t want to be top five in the state. I want to be top in the state,” Hawkins said. “And I can’t wait to start training with them in May so we can move towards that goal.”
Vivaan Krishna Ponugoti/The SPOKE
Commended coaching: Math teacher and cross-country coach Richard Hawkins poses in front of Conestoga cross-country jerseys in his classroom. In 2024, he won the Daily Local News Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year award.
Karen Hang/The SPOKE
Sports opinion: Conestoga empowers women and girls in sports Maddie Pulliam and Hannah Simon
Co-Staff Development Directors Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run a marathon in 1967. She was met with adversity from the start to the finish line as people questioned whether a running race was a place for a woman. Women were told athletic events, including marathons, were too “long and grueling” to physically endure. In 2016, 45.91% of Boston Marathon participants were women according to RunRepeat. Was it too grueling for them? Clearly not. Women have been breaking barriers in sports for years. From starting the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II to the Women’s National Basketball Association in 1996, women have been breaking through the glass ceiling to make it over the sidelines and onto the field. February is an especially important month for these female
athletes. In 1987, former President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5606 to declare Feb. 4 as National Women in Sports Day. The goal of this proclamation was to recognize how women have impacted and added to American sports, as well as push for even more growth in female athletics. For example, in the present, Comcast is working to bring a WNBA team to Philadelphia. Just this year, the Conestoga girls’ lacrosse and field hockey teams won state championships. Girls ice hockey and rugby continue to represent at the club level. The crew team sent athletes to nationals. Members of the girls’ basketball team are breaking records, and the girls’ golf team is reaching new heights. Alumni are dominating the NCAA. 2023 graduate and University of Virginia women’s lacrosse player Kate Galica is ACC Freshman of the Year, and 2021 graduate and Boston College women’s lacrosse player Rachel Clark is
an NCAA champion. Beyond sports, they are trailblazers. 2008 alumna Megan Deakins Roche played field hockey and raced on the cross-country and track teams before graduating with a degree in neuroscience from Duke University. She then received her medical degree from Stanford University in 2018. 2008 alumna and University of Virginia women’s basketball standout Chelsea Shine Wilson now works in basketball broadcasting, and 2018 alumna Kiley Allen recently became
the assistant for Harvard field hockey, her alma mater. These women have taken their love for their sports and turned it into careers. Conestoga’s girls’ athletic teams are producing athletes that are ambitious to win on the field but also excel in life. Walking through the halls, their accomplishments are proudly displayed, an indication of the school’s commitment to developing and supporting their students’ right to participate in sports then, now and in the future.
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Alumnus wins 2024 DI NCAA championship Page 10
Boys swimming achieves 100 consecutive wins Page 11
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Tryoneer Pioneer: Aiming for the bullseye Page 11
Sports opinion: Conestoga empowers women and girls in sports Page 11
Courtesy kbrphotog on Instagram
Full speed ahead: 2016 alumnus Daquan Perry dodges a tackle from an Old Glory DC player during a game at Starfire Stadium in May 2024. Perry played for the Seattle Seawolves for their 2024 season and for the New York Ironworkers for their 2023 season.
boys rugby alumnus plays in major league rugby Aren Framil
Co-Editor-in-Chief Nine years ago, 2016 alumnus Daquan Perry played his first season with Conestoga Rugby as a senior. The team won the state championship for the first time in school history that same year. In 2024, he signed with the Seattle Seawolves, the second professional Major League Rugby (MLR) team he has played for since deciding to make rugby his career. “At the beginning, I didn’t want to play (rugby) because I was playing football for Conestoga. That was my big thing. And then my senior year came,” Perry said. “I finally gave it a shot. All of my friends have been playing
since middle school, so the transition was easy.” Perry committed to Kutztown University to play Division II rugby. Former boys rugby assistant coach Marsh Pennington coached Perry at Conestoga and has crossed paths with him throughout his collegiate and professional rugby career. “We would run into each other all the time. He’d always had the biggest smile on his face, and we’d give each other a big hug,” Pennington said. “He’s a very pleasurable man to be associated with”. After four years playing for Kutztown and an almost undefeated senior season, Perry could not finish his final year of collegiate rugby due to COVID-19.
“I didn’t know where I was going to go. Then, I had a friend that lived in New York, and there was a sanctioned rugby game in New York,” Perry said. “I played really well in that game and had a hat trick. And then this is when it gets pretty crazy: RUNY (Rugby New York) staff was watching. They were like, ‘Okay, we want to bring you on.’” RUNY, an MLR team based in New York City, signed Perry in 2021 with an associate player contract. After two years of competing for club rugby teams in New York and Texas, RUNY officially signed Perry for the New York Ironworkers’ 2023 season. “I always wanted to be a professional athlete. Ever since I was
a kid, that’s all I’m talking about,” Perry said. “But it was for the NFL. But then when I switched over to rugby, I was like, ‘Being a professional athlete is still a great achievement, no matter what craft you’re in.’ It’s only a few people that can say they did it.” Later that year, RUNY folded after a failed attempt to sell the team. In 2024, Perry signed with the Seattle Seawolves, and the team placed second in the MLR after losing the championship game to the New England Free Jacks. This December, Perry competed under the coaching of Pennington once again for the Grenada World Sevens tournament. “An example like Daquan is why I coach, I gotta be honest with you,” Pennington said. “He stuck with rugby, and he’s
still playing rugby. He’s a true role model.” Perry occasionally visits the Conestoga boys’ rugby team to help coach or run training sessions. Currently, he has returned to New York and plans to continue playing with a club rugby team in New York called Old Blue Rugby Football Club, as well as working a separate job in the offseason. Though Perry describes his rugby career as a tough journey, he believes all of his hard work has been worth it. “When I come home, I try to go back and give back to ’Stoga,” Perry said. “It has not been an easy road whatsoever, but you grind. A lot of those sayings are ‘We do it because we love it.’”
Decades in the making: Girls basketball celebrates 50+ years Abby Chong
Co-Sports Editor On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Conestoga girls’ basketball team celebrated more than 50 years of the team with a halftime celebration. During the celebration, alumnae from various girls’ basketball teams were honored, recognizing their contributions to the program and the growth of girls basketball at Conestoga over the decades. The event gave former players a chance to reconnect, share memories and reflect on how the sport has changed overtime. “It (the celebration) was really very nice. It brought back a lot of memories,” alumna Susan Benton Clover said. “I was able to go back to my memorabilia and find newspaper articles, things I hadn’t thought about in many decades, and then get back in touch with some people who I haven’t seen since graduation.” Benton Clover was a senior on the 1973-74 Conestoga girls’ basketball team that won the Central League for the first time for Conestoga. She recalls the competition and strong
friendships she made on and off the court. “I was just so fortunate to be on such a talented team, and we played really well as a team,” Benton Clover said. Juliet Corderio, a 2000 graduate, was among the alumni in attendance at the event. Corderio played on the girls’ varsity basketball team for four years, was the team captain her junior and senior year and became the third girl in Conestoga history to score 1,000 points. “I love how much basketball has grown. Many years ago, it was like women didn’t play basketball. And then they started playing,” Corderio said. “Now WNBA, women’s rights and women’s sports came about. How much it’s grown is really beautiful.” David Schmidt, a parent of a current player on the team, played an essential role in organizing the event. He first began planning the idea of a halftime celebration after reading an article by Ted Dahlberg, a local sports writer. This article detailed the 1973-74 season where girls basketball won the Central League Championship.
“I thought to myself, how neat it would be for the current team to walk down a little bit of history and meet the true pioneers of girls basketball at Conestoga,” Schmidt said. Schmidt then contacted Dahlberg and together they began reaching out to former coaches and athletes. Schmidt’s idea came to life through a halftime celebration that was hosted Feb. 4. “Giving women the opportunity to play sports and encouraging them and allowing them to excel and shine is important,” Dahlberg said. “That’s a big part of this whole event. It’s a great source of pride for Conestoga High School, not just for basketball.” Scan the QR code to watch an accompanying package
Abby Chong/The SPOKE
Heartwarming halftime: The Conestoga girls’ basketball team hosts a halftime recognition ceremony to celebrate more than 50 years of the team. The ceremony took place in the large gym on Tuesday, Feb. 4 during Conestoga girls basketball’s game against Haverford.
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