Throughout Placek’s career, he has recieved numerous awards and accolades including:
• Nebraska Music Education Association Educator of the Year (2004)
• Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Director’s Fraternity (2015)
• Director - Wind Symphony selected to perform @ Nebraska State Bandmasters Convention (2016)
• Conn-Selmer VIP (2019)
• MPS Caryl & Katherine Brown Award of Excellence in High School Teaching (2020)
• Director - Wind Symphony selected to perform @ Nebraska State Bandmasters Convention (2020)
• Donald Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award (2023)
• School Band & Orchestra + magazine “50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference in America” award selection (2024)
• Director - Wind Symphony selected to perform @ Nebraska State Bandmasters Convention (2025)
Meet Mr. Mathis
MN’s next Band Director
Full Name: Craig Mathis
Worked Here For: 12 Years
Teaches:
Jazz Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, Basketball Pep Bands, Elementary School Band
Primary Instrument: Trombone
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Candy: Sour Gummy Worms
Favorite Vacation Spot: Breckenridge, Colorado
Craig Mathis
Drum Majors’ Minds
Hobbies: Watching College Football
Accomplishments:
Nebraska Music Teacher of the Year (2023) Jack R. Snyder Young Band Director Award
2025-26 Marching Band Drum Majors’ thoughts on Placek’s retirement
I’m very sad about Placek leaving. I was very excited when I got to do band here, and he was an amazing director. I wish him all the best for his next years He’s been an amazing director. He’s always been fun and very welcoming of everybody
I’m sad because I’ve known him for a while, my older brothers were in band and so I’ve known him for over 10 years. It’s going to be weird without him
He’s a really great teacher and has a pretty good legacy at Millard North. He’s impacted a lot of students
Natalia Martinez Sophomore
Isaac Schade Sophomore
Lucy Kitchen Junior
Emma Schlick Junior
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
The class of 2025 prepares to participate in nostalgic senior activities, reminisce on elementary and middle school days
RHEA JAIN Staff Writer
s seniors begin to check items off their to-do lists, each check mark is a step towards the end of their journeys at Millard Public Schools.
From finalizing college or work commitments to delivering graduation party invites, seniors are caught in a whirlwind of responsibilities.
However, amidst the chaos, they often reminisce about the time when the hardest decisions were what games to play at recess or who to sit next to at lunch.
dents about their elementary experiences and their high school experiences as well.
“This is a great way for our previous students to relive their best lives,” Harvey Oaks Principal Erin Gonzalez said.
She emphasized how meaningful it is to see former students reconnect with their roots, so they can continue to work toward making their younger selves proud.
This emotion was voiced by former Harvey Oaks student and current senior Elsa Podoll. She recognized this event’s impact.
Yet now, they have the opportunity to take a walk down memory lane as every Millard Public Schools Elementary School is holding a Senior Elementary Walk.
These walks have started in recent years, allowing elementary school alumni to walk the halls that were once theirs.
The seniors can find their old classrooms, meet with previous teachers and staff, and have the chance to speak to the elementary stu-
Attention Seniors!
Make sure to check your emails for information regarding elementary and middle school graduation walks and other events! Most schools have sent out information to inboxes by now.You don’t want to miss out on these celebrations!
Upcoming Senior Walks
• Harvey Oaks Elementary: May 21, 8:00 AM
• Cottonwood Elementary: May 22, 3:00 PM
• Montclair Elementary: May 21, 1:15 PM
• Abbott Elementary: May 22, 2:50 PM
• Cather Elementary: May 21, 1:00 PM
• Cody Elementary: May 21, 1:30 PM
• Ezra Elementary: May 21, 9:00 AM
• Morton Elementary: May 21, 1:15 PM
Senior Spotlight
Name: Daniella
Zastrow
Alumna of Aldrich Elementary School College: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Major: Biology
Favorite elementary school memory: Olympic Day
Photographs contributed by Daniella Zastrow
“I thought that it would be super exciting to be able to reconnect with the people that I grew up with,” Podoll said.
• Millard North Middle: May 21, 1:30 PM
“Getting to experience life with my friends from elementary school has been super rewarding,” Podoll said. These moments are more than nostalgic because they serve as a reminder of who they once were.
For many, the event is not just about walking the halls again, but about revisiting the people and places that shaped their early years.
Although the senior walks bring back memories for MN students, another piece may also bring back memories: the 8th-grade letter.
In 8th grade, some students wrote letters to their future selves regarding their future goals, dreams, and pieces of advice for the next 4 years and beyond.
“I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think I told myself to enjoy high school and all the experiences I could have, ” senior Lia Rilantono said.
Senior Spotlight
Name: Lauren Smith
The growth and development from their first day of kindergarten to their last day of senior year is vast, and walking the same halls brings those changes into sharp focus.
Both the senior walks and the letters go hand-inhand, serving as unique opportunities for students to reflect on the past, present, and future.
Even though graduation can be a symbol of the end, it also represents the beginning of something new for all students moving forward in their lives, no matter what the next chapter brings for them.
As they count the days till graduation, the class of 2025 takes time to honor their past while building for the future.
For every one step forward, one must take one step back and remember where it all started.
Alumna of Harvey Oaks Elementary School
College: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Major: Elementary Education
Favorite elementary school memory: playing in the snow during recess
Trying to recollect memories from elementary and middle school seems like an impossible task. However, for the seniors at Millard North, these experiences are all they can remember.
Photographs contributed by Lauren Smith
PAPER OR PIXEL?
Switching to digital or hybrid AP testing brings both backlash and support THE HOOFBEAT Staff Editorial
AS technology advances, it’s essential to change with it; we must embrace newer formats as past ones become obsolete. But sometimes, we try to implement these switches before we are prepared for them.
This may be the case with the upcoming shift in AP exams: 28 of the 40 exams are switching to fully digital or hybrid digital-paper formats this May. While this change does have some benefits, such as increased security, it has sparked concerns that it may be too abrupt a shift.
Until now, only nine exams offered a digital option. The sudden switch to digital-only formats has been inelegant and possibly too hasty. It’s received major backlash from students, teachers, and administrators alike nationwide.
“I wish [going to digital exams] wasn’t such an abrupt change and that we could have eased into it… as a coordinator, I have questions and concerns, and it’s a pretty severe change in a short amount of time,” Matthew Starks, MN’s AP testing coordinator, said.
The switch to digital brings plenty of logistical concerns for the test administrators, but there are also concerns for the test-takers and the scores themselves.
“There is pretty compelling evidence that for two students who are otherwise similar, if one took the test on paper and one took the test on a computer, then the student taking the test on paper would score higher,” an article by Future Ed said.
Many students report that testing online feels far more arduous than testing with paper and pencil. Sitting for hours working on one test, repetitively filling out question after question, trying not to let your mind wander- it’s hard enough on paper, but it’s all made worse when faced with a glaringly lit screen.
Not only this, but research studies by Macquarie University found that when we read text on a screen, we understand less than if we read the same text on paper.
It isn’t just the loss of concentration affecting students, though; some may not understand the test layout or the tools available to them, whereas on paper, annotating and writing notes is far more intuitive.
Furthermore, many students are not as proficient at typing, and this may put them at a significant disadvantage during the timed writing portions of the tests.
Although practice and becoming familiar with the tools available can help, technology is still notoriously unreliable. You never know what may go wrong at the worst times.
Are all the students going to remember their chargers? Will there be enough outlets? What if a computer malfunctions mid-test? For the larger exams, will the internet be able to support all the test takers at once?
While there are measures in place to minimize and prevent these issues, such as testing the internet’s bandwidth and ordering more power wheels, technology remains unpredictable. With all the test-takers and administrators accustomed to paper-and-pencil tests, the sudden switch to digital is challenging.
A more graceful transition would have been ideal,
but because of advancements in technology, going paperless was bound to happen at some point. There are definite benefits to switching to online testing, especially from an administrative perspective.
Online testing gives an added level of security, such as the lockdown browser, which restricts access to external websites or applications for the exam duration.
Fewer paper tests to keep track of and less organization required to submit them could potentially lead to quicker score turnaround time and lower testing costs in the future, although the online infrastructure likely has a cost as well.
Additionally, editing the essay portions of many of the exams will be easier when taken digitally. Online platforms allow students to go back, revise, and reorganize their work without needing to rewrite sections or cross things out entirely. It also simplifies grading, as teachers will not have to decipher students’ messy handwriting.
So, is the switch to digital ultimately beneficial for the future of the exam? From the administrative side, it seems promising, but only time will tell.
If only the switch had been integrated more smoothly, such as starting with more widely advertised online testing options, this change may have been received better.
As it is, it remains a controversial decision. The students taking the exam online will be some of the first to do so in many subjects, so it remains to be seen how online testing will affect scores and the overall testing experience.
What’s your favorite memory of high school?
Evelyn Tucker
My favorite memory was playing tennis for the girls’ team junior year.There was a great sense of community, and we all bonded a lot.
Raylie Hollingsworth Senior
My favorite memory is probably my junior year of DECA. It was very fun and all of my best friends were there, and we all competed very well.
Logan Pessini Senior
School sporting events, especially Friday nights, and just being in the students’ section and having a good time with my friends.
Adam Gotschall
During junior year, it was the Gretna vs Millard North game, we started the quarter, and it was fun.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
A FAST FOOD FRENZY
Examining the marketing strategies of fast-food companies their long-term consequences
KATELYN JUDD
Co-Front Page Editor
veryone has heard the familiar jingles of “I’m lovin’ it”, “finger-lickin’ good”, or “have it your way” from well-known fast-food companies. Their tunes are often displayed on billboards or in the background of commercials.
A business’s success is nothing without its marketing, and this applies to the familiar fast food industry’s marketing methods.
Nevertheless, the style and thinking behind their marketing go deeper than fun songs and silly commercials. What happens under the surface and who they are targeting in their methods can even be considered dangerous.
According to “Yale News”, fast-food companies focus their marketing strategies on children and adolescents for a few reasons, as for the most part, children and adolescents have some sway over their parents’ purchasing decisions.
Many companies capitalize on these kids by offering kids’ meals and collectible toys to accompany them, encouraging families with children to buy from them. As a result, the family’s spending increases the company’s profit, and they harbor a suitable reputation for being kid-friendly.
In addition to kids’ meals, these companies also present combo deals, where you can receive more food and pay less. However, this encourages overconsumption because people may end up ordering more food than they would have originally, under the pretense of saving money.
As technology advances and the usage of the internet becomes more normalized in today’s society, fast food companies additionally utilize social media and mobile apps as some of their main marketing mechanisms.
Adolescents and teens are the major social media users and are the main recipients of those marketing tactics. This gives companies the chance to take advantage of the vulnerability of the younger generation, and can often promote unhealthier options to those who don’t know better. They are the next adult generation for the future, and can supply in
Loyalty apps, making it easier to order, deliver, and earn rewards, also encourage fast food consumption. Oftentimes, they use a point system structure, where you earn points from ordering, and those points then offer additional rewards, which consequently bring you back to their store.
Further, fast-food companies partner with third-party delivery companies to make food quite literally available at the click of a button. These companies offer a higher convenience for the consumer to be able to order food without ever stepping past their front door.
Moreover, fast-food companies invest in different methods to promote their products, such as using preservatives, food dyes, and artificial flavors to look more visually appealing. Often catering to the smell, texture, and taste to draw consumers in.
The problem is the long-term consequences of constantly consuming unhealthy ingredients. The role that junk food plays in individuals’ lives goes deeper than just reacting to marketing strategies; it’s necessary to consider the underlying psychology behind it.
As stated by the Harvard Gazette, fast food is loaded with ingredients that effectively trigger the dopamine reward pathway in the brain, and follow the same path that drugs, like cocaine, travel down.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter the brain produces to reinforce certain behaviors viewed as beneficial to survival, delivering the feeling of pleasure and
influencing mood and behavior.
When an individual consumes ultra-processed foods, which contain high amounts of sugar, dopamine causes temporary comfort, and therefore pushes the individual into a cycle of desiring to eat it again to feel that satiation, causing oblivion to the long-term consequences while relishing in the temporary pleasure of the short-term effects.
Whether it’s the dopamine rush, the marketing tactics, loyalty programs, or even the colorful billboards and jingles, the fast food industry knows how to target its growing audience; however, the consequent health results could have the consumer saying they are not “lovin’ it.”
• Forward Integration: Manufacturer distributes
• Backwards Integration: Company buys another now grows
• Balanced Integration: Involves a combination panies control a wide range of components, from
What are the advantages
• More control over the creation of products, leading to overall
• Elimination of “middle man” components allows for better pricing
• Increases the strength and resilience of a company, as it is harder
TREKKING THROUGH THE DESERT
Exploring the growing health consequences of food deserts, which are fueled by socioeconomic status
MIRA MUKHERJEE
In-Depth Editor
Deserts, particular terrains of the world that are typically associated with minimal vegetation, scarcity of water, and dry, hot temperatures. Mention the word desert, and one can almost feel the blistering, hot sun on the back of their neck. Known for their harshness, many cannot inhabit these landscapes.
Although deserts are seemingly not related to Omaha, Nebraska, a type of desert-- one characterized as harsh and difficult to thrive in-- is becoming more interconnected to the population in the current socioeconomic climate: food deserts.
Vertical Integration?
one company owning supply chain in order efficiency and profits the Subtypes?
According to Food Empowerment Project, a non-profit dedicated to educating the population on ethical food choices, food
deserts are defined as lower-income regions where people have limited access to fresh, healthy food due to a lack of grocery stores.
“With a lot of different population mixes in this area [Omaha], access to specific types of food are limited,” school social worker and community counselor Peggy Breard said.
Breard has been the social worker and community counselor for fifteen years, dealing with all non-academic aspects of student life, including food insecurity.
“Food insufficiency is growing, and it’s just a matter of grocery prices being too high,” Breard said.
The Omaha-Council Bluffs area has a significantly higher percentage of food deserts, particularly concentrated in northeast and southeast Omaha and western regions of Council Bluffs.
9% of these populations are living in food deserts compared to the national average of 4%, according to the Omaha Community Foundation, a non-profit created in 1982 and centered around philanthropy; these conditions directly impact diet.
distributes their own products (ex. Farmers’ markets) another company in charge of key resource (ex. McDonald’s grows its own potatoes) of forward and backward integration in which comfrom raw materials to retail (ex. Tyson Foods) advantages associated with this strategy?
“Healthier foods create the opportunity for healthy growth, and for people who are using the higher processed foods or the fast foods, it does create more fat in your diet, which creates obesity, which causes health problems,” Breard said.
The impact of food deserts are not only seen at a health standpoint; they also contribute to racial disparities.
better quality in goods and decision in marketing strategies pricing and increased efficiency of company resources harder for other companies to compete due to increased market share
Vertical Integration
companies extend their influence production industry
The typical demographics of a food desert are Hispanic and African-American communities; on average, Caucasian-majority areas have four times as many grocery stores as predominantly African American communities.
Not only are African Americans more likely to live in food deserts than Caucasians, but they are more likely to die from heart disease.
In Douglas County, African Americans 35 and older succumb to cardiovascular disease at a rate of 546.4 per 100,000 compared to 369.1 per 100,00 for Caucasians of the same age cohort, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke.
Consequently, low-income populations and minority groups typically have higher rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease associated with living in these areas.
Food Empowerment Project states that annually, heart disease contributes to 2.4 million deaths in America. Elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which can clog arteries when in excess, and unhealthy fats are commonly associated with living in food deserts, contributing not only to heart disease but a wide range of cardiovascular implications, such as strokes, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.
Understanding the implications of food deserts and acknowledging areas in which they are most prevalent have led to the creation of organizations dedicated to mitigating inaccessibility to nutritious food.
Grassroots organizations-- establishments focused on volunteerism-- such as Black Men United, have opened food pantries specifically in north Omaha, a region particularly inundated with fast food and scarce in grocery stores, to provide quality food to thousands.
Whether one lives in a food desert or knows community members suffering from the impact of food insecurity, the consequences of food deserts are becoming increasingly evident. Getting involved in the community, supporting food pantries and charities, and encouraging healthy food consumption can make a long-term difference and eventually instill connotations of abundance, not scarcity, in these
Source: Capstone Logistics
THE ART OF PROCRASTINATION
Unpacking the benefits behind procrastinating and how it can be
used
to maximize success
Mira’s Mind
In-Depth Editor
rocrastinator. A term not typically used to characterize motivated individuals. As a self-identified procrastinator, I have felt the onslaught of shame, worry, and feelings of inadequacy that are coupled with the activity. But procrastinating is a universal experience, so why do we demean ourselves when we partake in it? What if instead of viewing procrastination as a threat, we can hone it as a skill?
Looking up “procrastination” will prompt slight variations of the same basic definition: “Procrastination is the intentional act of delaying or postponing something.” This key word is intentional, as procrastinating is a conscious act. Whether choosing to click on a random video about the power of introverts that spirals into a YouTube rabbit hole, or having to wait until it’s 5:00 p.m. to start homework--because starting at 4:46 p.m. would obviously be ridiculous-- I know exactly when I procrastinate.
Now, as with everything, there is an optimal range for procrastination. I am not encouraging extreme procrastination, in which one exclusively relies
on the habit, causing undue stress and anxiety.
Tim Urban, author and co-founder of the blog Wait But Why, stresses the perils of extreme procrastination if left unchecked, describing his own experiences in his TED Talk, “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator”.
Urban argues that a procrastinator’s mind differs from the rational decision maker due to the presence of an “instant gratification monkey”, which serves as a basis for the mechanism behind procrastination, leading to great unease, poor habits, and unhealthy stress.
While I do believe the instant gratification monkey is an example of procrastination’s consequences, I do believe minimal procrastination has its role in the productivity sphere.
In a New York Times article titled “Why I Taught Myself to Procrastinate,” the writer, organizational psychologist and author Adam Grant, details an experiment performed by a former student, Jihae Shin. She took a group of individuals and asked all of them to generate new business ideas, but some were told to start brainstorming right away, whereas others were told to play Minesweeper or Solitaire for five minutes. The results? The latter group’s propositions were 28% more creative than the group that was told to start right away.
The increase in creativity in the procrastinator group makes sense, for usually the most novel ideas don’t come to most people’s minds immediately. I will attest, I don’t immediately think of solid article angles the second we start brainstorming for the newspa-
Positives of Procrastination
MORE EFFICIENCY:
We tend to get the low priority tasks done first when we procrastinate, setting us up for completing major tasks later.
PEAK PERFORMANCE:
Studies show that optimal stress levels can lead to best performance. Whne you procrastinate, typically, you are
per, but instead ideas pop up sporadically on random nights throughout the year.
Utilizing procrastination, contrary to popular belief, is particularly beneficial to those with higher workloads. Being in multiple AP classes, writing for the newspaper, and playing an instrument has kept me on my toes, and it would have been even more difficult to handle without the help of procrastination.
When crafting my daily to-do list, most days the amount of work feels overwhelming. But keeping track of deadlines and knowing what needs to be done that day helps break up my workload and make it more manageable.
Yes, this might mean delaying that English essay until tomorrow and instead focusing on studying math in study hall for the quiz that afternoon, however, it allows me to prioritize assignments and delegate tasks for certain days, increasing my overall efficiency. I’ve noticed many students, including myself, stress over the fact that their study habits aren’t “perfect”, feeling engulfed in the volume of work to complete that it all seems to be too great an obstacle to conquer. Instead of focusing on perfection, allow yourself some grace and understand that some “imperfect” habits, such as procrastination, can actually be the gateway to achieving goals.
At the end of the day, procrastination is a tool. It’s not the be-all and end-all to success, but it is a component of innovation, time management, and goal-oriented behavior. Don’t fear procrastination-- we all do it, it’s part of human nature. Starting now, allow yourself a little procrastination, and watch the benefits unfold.
Source: LSE Blogs
INSPIRES CREATIVITY:
Procrastination allows you to think creatively by exploring the task you are on to a much deeper extent
IMPROVES DECISIONMAKING:
By delaying the time in which we make our decisions, we may select a more educated choice
MIRA MUKHERJEE
STRIKING A POSE
From being scouted at a Taylor Swift concert to walking the catwalks of New York, senior Faith Decker’s modeling career is taking off
ARGYRENIA PIPINOS
Lifestyle Editor
The hallway mirror catches a last-minute outfit check. A duffel bag packed with makeup, hair ties, and extra outfits waits by the door. Soon, studio lights will flicker on, or a runway will glow under dim overheads. For senior Faith Decker, this routine is second nature. She’s spent the last seven years building her path in the modeling world.
Despite her current ease in front of the camera, Decker’s journey into modeling began unexpectedly, sparked by a chance encounter.
Decker’s modeling career began after she was scouted at a Taylor Swift concert at 11 years old. Her career took off only a year later.
“I landed my first paid job at 12 with Oriental Trading Company, modeling Halloween wigs and bat ears,” Decker said. “It was so much fun, even though I was really nervous.”
In recent years, her resume has grown fast. She’s modeled for major brands like Nike, Shein, Forever 21, and Pajar. However, one of her most intense experiences was in Montreal, where she spent 11 hours outside in the snow modeling outerwear for a shoot. She handled it all alone, flying solo to Canada for the job.
high school,” D. Decker said.
Modeling hasn’t always been easy. COVID took a toll on Decker’s confidence and made her question her passion for the industry. It took time—and the right people—to help her get back on track.
Fierce Finale
Striding down the runway in a dramatic black dress and oversized hat, Faith Decker brings bold energy to the end of the show. Designed by Tiffany Brown for Omaha Fashion Week, the look represents “fierce beauty.”
Photograph contributed by Faith Decker
“That shoot was intense—we were outside in the snow for 11 hours modeling coats and boots,” Decker said. “But it was all worth it.”
Decker’s mother, Diane Decker, helps manage her schedule, reviews contracts, and ensures clients understand that Decker is still a student. She’s traveled with her to jobs across Nebraska, the metro area, and Los Angeles.
“My role in Faith’s modeling career is mainly to keep her safe and humble,” Diane said.
Back in Omaha, Decker balances a packed schedule. She works three days a week at a beauty salon, takes classes at Metro, all the while she is still in high school, and still finds time for creative outlets like painting, drawing, and pottery.
“The beauty salon I work at is a great fit for me because they’re super flexible, which allows me to continue working there as I pursue modeling, college, and
“Rebuilding my love for modeling took time, but I’m incredibly grateful to the supportive people in my life who helped me find that spark again,” Decker said.
One of those people is art teacher Jon Austin. After every job, he’s always the first to ask how it went. His consistent support has stuck with her.
“By keeping up to date with how she is doing, what her goals are, cheering her on from afar, and writing letters of recommendation, is what helps her the most, just knowing there is always someone there and rooting for you,” Austin said.
Decker has always treated her career as something separate from her everyday life—something that belongs just to her.
“Sharing about modeling is difficult, but when people want to listen and ask me about it, I find it way more exciting,” Decker said.
Some of her biggest wins include signing with Women Management New York and traveling for brand meetings. Those trips were early steps toward a long-term dream: being featured in Sephora.
“One of my biggest career goals is to have a giant poster of my face in Sephora because it means I finally made it,” Faith said.
The cosmetic industry is where she hopes to grow next. Her favorite model, Juliette Andrews, works with the same Omaha agency and recently did a Maybelline campaign.
“She [Andrews] recently did a campaign for Maybelline and continues to inspire me with her work ethic and success,”
Faith said.
Even with years of experience, the job still brings challenges. The runway show for Enspire Couture pushed her limits—she modeled 45 prom dresses and walked up and down stairs between each one. It was physically demanding, but it taught her a lot.
“It was physically exhausting but a great learning experience,” Faith said, “Modeling for Enspire couture taught me that modeling jobs aren’t all easy, some can be hard on your body and your mind.”
The lessons Decker takes from experiences like the Enspire Couture runway show are not just about physical endurance but also the resilience and communication skills needed to succeed in the industry. It’s those moments of challenge that have shaped her approach to modeling and life in general.
Now, as she finishes high school, she’s thinking about what comes next. She plans to continue classes with Metro while she travels. In a few years, she’ll decide whether to pursue college full-time or keep building her modeling career.
“After the next couple of years, I’ll evaluate where modeling is taking me and I’ll make my final decision,” Faith said.
Bridal Bliss
Wearing an elegant white gown, Faith Decker walks the catwalk with grace and poise. The dress is part of a bridal collection by designer Arial, featured during Omaha Fashion Week.
Photograph contributed by Faith Decker
D. Decker asserted that the decision is up to Decker, but she’s proud of how far her daughter has come, emphasizing Decker’s strength.
“I have been so proud of my daughter and how far she has come from Omaha Fashion Week to going to casting rooms across the country,” Diane said. “Seeing how much she loved the diversity, outfits, and her friends she made along the way made all the lights and glamour of the runway a bonus.”
For Decker, modeling isn’t just a job—it’s personal. It started with one unexpected moment and became something she’s carried with her through good days, bad days, and big wins.
“Modeling is something I’ve always loved,” Faith said. “It’s personal, and it will always be mine.”
FROM NORTH TO WEST
Teacher, Football Coach David McEnaney
LYDIA HARLOW Co-Front Page Editor
or the past 13 years, Coach David McEnaney has been a cornerstone of the MN football program. From his initial roles as the freshman and reserve coach to more recently being the head JV coach, special teams coordinator, and the running back position coach, McEnaney has interacted with countless athletes across the football program.
But now, McEnaney is shifting gears and embarking on a new, exciting journey: taking over as Millard West’s varsity head coach.
“Being here for so long and [being a part of] this community has always been special to me,” McEnaney said. I’ve made Millard North my home… I’m going to miss it.”
He has always been a strong presence on the team, and his bond with his athletes extends beyond the playing field.
“He was my freshman coach, and he’s always been the guy I could talk to. He’s been one of my favorite coaches I’ve had,” senior Spencer Phillips said.
Throughout his high school career, Phillips has been a linebacker and long snapper, and has worked closely with McEnaney, developing and fortifying his skills.
“He really helped [me develop] my liking for long snapping, and he’s just a good coach… everybody loves him,” Phillips said. “He brings some energy, brings a little fun, but [he] can also be very serious.”
McEnaney has been a consistent presence in the football program, always bringing enthusiasm and
Magnetic Mentor:
Football Coach Dave McEnaney poses with former head football coach Fred Petito. Petito helped McEnaney begin his career at Millard North and the two worked together for many years.
Photograph contributed by David McEnaney
named head coach at Millard West, leaving behind a legacy of relationships
motivating the team to greater accomplishment.
“During practice, he’s always nice and giving encouragement to the team,” junior Brady Andersen said. “Most of the time, he’ll be cracking jokes and stuff like that… he always brings up the energy a lot.”
Having a bond with the team he coaches and the school he works at has always been exceedingly important to McEnaney, and he hopes to create a similar dynamic at Millard West, while putting his own spin on things.
“I’m excited to be able to lead a group. I feel that relationships have always been one of my strong suits, and being able to bring that energy and bring a different style and vision to a building with a great storied success [is a great opportunity],” McEnaney said.
Charismatic Coaching
Football Coach David McEnaney converses with two players during a game. Players report that McEnaney has proven to be an invaluable coach in games, practices, and team meetings. Photograph contributed by David McEnaney
Millard West is special to McEnaney; his wife works there, he lives nearby, and his kids go to a Millard West feeder elementary school, so his attachment to the school runs deep.
“Millard West has always been the one other place I could see myself being connected to, one of the only other places it would be more than just a job,” McEnaney said.
While the football team will certainly miss one of its long-term, staple members of the coaching crew, athletes and coaches alike are excited for McEnaney as he steps into this new role.
“Coach Burrell has been great through this whole thing. He and I have talked about it several times. He is in full support of me going and kind of fulfilling my dreams,” McEnaney said.
His departure will certainly take some getting used to the shift in the team dynamic, and his absence will be felt throughout the program.
“[McEnaney leaving] sucks for us, but it’s his decision and it’s a great job for him. I’m going to miss not having him for a fourth year,” Anderson said.
His close relationships with the athletes, and the bonds built in McEnaney’s Biology and Zoology classrooms, will be missed on both sides.
“I’ve built a lot of relationships here in the past 13 years, whether it’s seeing siblings of former students or seeing former students walking the halls… those relationships are what I’m going to miss the most,” McEnaney said.
McEnaney’s transition to the opposing sideline will
certainly be a big switch, but both he and the athletes are eagerly anticipating competing against one another in the first game of the upcoming season.
“Obviously, you want to win every game, but getting to play the kids that I know here is going to be a lot of fun,” McEnaney said. “I’ve told them it’s going to be the longest handshake line they’ve ever gone through because I’m going to give them all hugs. I can’t wait to see them from the other side of the field.”
Though his absence will be felt, it will also open up a new spot in the coaching lineup, allowing new talent and perspective to enter and instituting a space for reconstruction and growth of MN’s football program as well.
“I have total faith in Coach Burrell. It was kind of hard to hear, but I have already been replaced,” McEnaney said. “When one door closes, another door opens. Me getting my opportunity over at West will give somebody else a new opportunity here, and I fully believe that Coach Burrell will do well regardless of who fills my spot.”
It is certainly a bittersweet moment for all involved. Coach McEnaney will surely be missed, but the future’s looking bright. Perhaps, his departure could bring in an opportunity for new thoughts and help grow an already glowing program.
“I’ve honestly been really lucky to be a part of a lot of very special communities here. Everywhere I’ve gone has had a different feel to the program, but all of them have been vital to supporting each other,” McEnaney said.
