Vol. 11, Issue 3

THE

CHARIOT

TROY HIGH SCHOOL TROY, MI.

VOL. 11 ISSUE 3 MAY 2026

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SENIOR ISSUE THE CHARIOT STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jiwoo Park PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Henry McBrien DESIGN EDITOR Shae Howard PUBLIC RELATIONS EDITORS Michelle Fedosseev Gabby Shaya BUSINESS EDITOR Isela Mulcahy COPY EDITORS Maria Papalois Julia Triculescu Simar Kaur Chudda ADVISER Morgan Carlson STAFF REPORTERS Sabrina Ahmed Manasvi Mummaneni Lexi Benedict Roberto Nicolas-Pina Vildan Carsancakli Dayana Ochoa Delgado Sara Gonzalez Ivy Qin Yusra Mohammed Giada Sherrill Robin Monroy Sofia Varela Almaguer COVER BY Jiwoo Park OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Chariot is Troy High School’s newspaper, made for the students, by the students. The content of The Chariot varies from article to article, however, each article is based on a wide area of research. The Chariot staff and editorial board selects stories based on their relevance and emotional value to our community. The Chariot prioritizes covering stories from a wide range of perspectives and aims to report with accuracy and impartiality. The Chariot staff and Editorial Board take responsibility for selecting stories that are relevant to our community.

The Chariot operates under a process of administrative review. Although the process of finding, writing, conceptualizing and designing belong to the students, administration has the final say before publishing. The process of review never leaves Troy High School before publication.

Expressing the view of the entire diverse student body of Troy High School has always been its focus.

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When Worlds Collide

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Omar Atasi reflects on his time juggling football and theatre through high school.

Ivy Qin // Staff Reporter Troy High School senior Omar Atasi is no stranger to living a double life. By day, he’s a kicker on the Varsity Football team, scoring goals and crossing yards on the field. And by night, he stars in the yearround productions from the Troy United Theatre Company, including most recently, the lead role of Jean Valjean in the sold-out musical “Les Misérables.”

“If I was really busy, what it would look like was football practice right after school for about an hour, until let’s say, 3:30,” states Atasi. “And then I would go straight to Theatre and do that until five. And that would be every day.”

“He pushed himself,” states Chris Frasier, Head Coach of Troy High School’s Varsity football team. “He really wanted to perfect his craft.”

Atasi brings that same commitment from the field to the stage. “He gives it his all,” states Marc Vickers, Director of the Troy United theatre Company who has worked with Atasi since his freshman year. “We’d do rehearsal and the kids would go home. He’d stay with the crew kids and work on set or he’d be working on his number. He’s very focused on his performance.”

“Just watching him grow has been amazing,” Vickers concludes.

“You’re in the presence of something quite great.”

Frasier recalls his awe at seeing Atasi perform, “standing up and singing in front of thousands of people.” “You’re able to take that persona with you on the football field: that idea of courage.” After, “we talked about how having confidence in your life in multiple fields can only make your life better or your performance better.”

And in bridging that gap, Atasi has found a unique synergy across the different spheres of his life. “In both theatre [and football], they are very close. They treat each other like a family,” Atasi notes. “[It] grew to make me a better person, because I feel like I can adapt to a lot of situations now and a lot of people and I’m very open.”

Atasi adds, “The teamwork required is the main [similarity] people wouldn’t realize. In football, it’s at the end of the day, there’s 11 people at a time on the field and you need all 11 to succeed. And for theatre, it’s the same thing. You can’t rely on one person to carry the show; it’s a whole ensemble.”

Photo courtesy of Thomas Butcher.

Duty After Diploma A profile on two seniors off to the military.

Julia Triculescu // Copy Editor

While most seniors are scrambling to find alumni community as well as their athletic stana roommate or anticipating course lists, two dards of being a very strong [Division 1] school.”

Troy High School seniors are bypassing typical Another senior, Jude Rhey Sagliba, has enlistpost-graduation plans and joining the military. ed in the United States Air Force (USAF) and will Jeanne Park will be attending the United States begin Basic Military Training in Texas this July.

Military Academy (USMA) at West Point studying Sagliba states that what inspired him to join the biology and psychology. What attracted her to the military was “all the benefits and experience that USMA was that it was a place where she would be the military gives you.” Among these are free edathletically and academically challenged; “I wanted ucation, medical and dental care and home loans. to do something different and also serve my country.”

Sagliba also “[wants] to have the ability to travel In return for a free education and other benefits the world, experience and do things that normal ciof attending a military academy, at least five years vilians can’t do.” While in the USAF, he plans to be in of active duty after graduation are required. Park the Special Warfare Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) is planning on attending medical school after grad- which is charged with “calling in an air strike on the uating from the USMA which will also be covered. right target at just the right time,” according to the Park states that she will be required USAF website. After the Air Force, to serve 13 to 18 years of active duty he will attend Bowling Green service afterwards which she hopes State University for aviation. to serve in a military hospital.

Congratulations to these sePark remarks that the post-gradniors and all those choosing to serve uate community of West Point their country after graduation! is what solidified her decision: “They have a very strong Photo courtesy of Jeanne Park

Photo courtesy of Jude Rhey Sagliba

SENIOR ISSUE

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The Colt’s Coco Chanel

A deeper insight into a young fashion designer’s rewarding journey.

Manasvi Mummaneni // Staff Reporter In elementary school, an 8-year-old Peyton Herron, now a senior at Troy High School, discovered her love for fashion. “When I was younger, my grandma put me in pageants,” Herron says. After winning a pageant, and having the opportunity to model for a fashion show, Herron emphasizes that it was her grandma that introduced her to fashion design. “The morning after, my grandma was like, ‘Is this something you want to do? Do you want to do fashion designing?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ So I started designing stuff that morning,” Herron states.

Now, Herron is an established fashion designer with her own brand called Belange Couture. Her talent and deep passion for fashion design has led her to showcase her work at many well-known fashion events. From showcasing multiple lines at New York Fashion Week, sponsoring a line of bathing suits in Italy and finally showcasing her work at Paris Fashion Week, Herron’s professional fashion experience stretches far. “Paris Fashion Week was just so rewarding, because it’s been my

dream ever since I was little to go to Paris in general,” Herron joyfully expresses.

While fashion shows often steal the spotlight, there is actually a lot of thought that is put into the whole process behind the scenes.

Herron highlights that the process of designing clothes includes a lot of attention to detail.

After Herron and her grandma choose a theme to base their line around, she designs the garments. Once the designs are made, she casts models via Facebook, and assigns them to one of her designs. “Then my grandma and I order the fabric and we either make patterns or we buy patterns online and manipulate them to how we want them,” Herron claims. When it comes to the day of her shows, Herron mentions that the in-person fittings of the designs on her models are one of the biggest challenges she has to overcome.

Herron has her models self-measure themselves for her designs before-hand. However, the measurements aren’t always perfect.

Bound to Last

Long term friendships that will not end after graduation.

Vildan Carsancakli // Staff Reporter High school friendships people build along the way become some of the most meaningful, especially long-term friendships. For many seniors, they have become a defining part of the high school experience.

Seniors Swathi Jeeda and Varsha Rajesh shared that their friendship started long before high school.

“Our parents were friends before we were born,” they say.

“We definitely had arguments but nothing like friendship ending,” they explain that conflicts never seriously affected their bond.

When asked what they appreciate about each other, they point to personality traits that balance their friendship. Rajesh describes Jeeda as “really hardworking,” while also adding, “If I’m stressed, her craziness is like a nice break from everything.”.

They share memories from PKK, a cultural singing and dancing organization they participated in together.

Looking ahead to life after graduation, both are confident their friendship will continue after high school, describing it overall as “very long lasting.”

Seniors Arielle Yoffee and Emily Bultnyck share that their friendship didn’t start off instantly. They first met in second grade, but describes the beginning of their relationship as “very rocky,” even saying they didn’t really like each other at first. It wasn’t until middle school, when they lived closer to each other, that they naturally became much closer.

The two say that over the years they’ve had small disagreements, “We have a bunch of little conflicts but it’s always solved,” Yoffee explains that nothing has ever been big enough to cause distance between them.

When asked what they appreciate about each other, they point to small but meaningful actions.

Yoffee says she can tell the other cares a lot, just doesn’t express it, while the other mentions appreciating the little things she does that make her feel valued and supported.

They describe their favorite memories as the everyday moments

they’ve shared over time. “Inside jokes are the best,” Bultnyck says, adding that even trips and activities stand out most because they experienced them together.

Both also share that their friendship helps them grow. Bultnyck says she learned how to speak up for herself more, while Yoffee says she learned how to stay calmer and handle situations better through their dynamic.

Looking ahead to graduation, both believe their friendship will continue. They emphasize a bond that has grown over years and stayed strong through every stage of high school.

Cameron Gillespie and Michael Helinski, seniors at Troy High School, shared that their friendship began about five years ago in middle school through football. While they first met as teammates, they say that they became much closer when they later wrestled together.

They point to qualities they may not say often.

Helinski describes Gillespie as someone who follows through, saying if he puts his mind to something, “he’s going to do it.” The other describes his friend as fun to be around, with a big personality that makes spending time together exciting.

They share favorite memories through sports, especially recalling homecoming football during junior year as one of the moments that stands out most.

Both also highlight that their friendship has taught them the importance of being themselves without fear of judgment. Gillespie says he learned how to joke and be fully himself around someone he trusts, while the other emphasized the value of having a friendship built on honesty and comfort.

Looking ahead to graduation, both believe their friendship will continue. They also describe their friendship as “an extremely large friendship.”

“Sometimes it doesn’t work because they [the models] grow by the time the show comes,” Herron adds. Fashion lines and shows are often planned for, months before the actual date. “It takes so long, especially the more intricate pieces. So, that’s definitely one of the biggest challenges,” she expresses.

Herron says that her favorite part about being a fashion designer “is meeting all my models and the people I’ve met.” Herron claims that she has met many nice people from different parts of the globe during her journey as a fashion designer. While Herron highlights that she loves the social aspect of fashion design, she also expresses her love for the art itself.

“Seeing my designs come to life, and them [the models] wearing them on the runway is insane.

And then also obviously traveling because I’ve gone to so many cool places,” Herron adds.

When asked about what

advice she would give to her fellow students that have a passion they want to grow and explore, she answers with, “just jump on it. Even if you think it’s unreachable.” Herron continues with emphasizing the importance of starting small. “Just start little, and as you keep going, you’ll progress and you’ll get bigger and bigger,” Herron conveys. Finally, Herron touches on the importance of perseverance, saying, “keep going because there will be bigger and better things as you progress in whatever you want to pursue.”

Herron plans to attend Michigan State University next fall and study a curriculum related to business and/or design, specifically with packaging. Nevertheless, the young designer plans to pick up fashion design again in the future. “I’m definitely going to pick up fashion again and go back to the show and start making stuff for models again. That’s not something I’m going to stop,” Herron expresses.

Roommate Matching 101 What is the ideal method for finding a roommate?

Isela Mulcahy // Business Editor

Since college decisions have come out, seniors have flocked to Instagram and other social media platforms as an attempt to find roommates for those not living at home next year. This has been quite a frequent trend due to the increase in social media prominence in the past decade.

Although Instagram has shown to be a helpful tool for those finding roommates without going in random, it also brings complications. Complications such as miscommunication in personal characteristics, talking to multiple roommates at once on the app and directly lying to others. Senior Makena Tanafranka comments that while it’s “a bit difficult” to find a genuine roommate that one can match with right away on Instagram, she “like[s] that [she] can see different people, what their interests are and what they’re involved in.”

In addition, senior Aubrie Bruining, who will be attending Florida State University in the fall, states that her process was “effortless” due to Florida State’s Instagram account to find roommates. She continues by stating one does “not have to do a whole ton of initiation because for [her], a lot of girls will reach out easily.” Therefore the Instagram page has become a stepping stone to help find roommates especially for out-of-state students.

On the other hand, some seniors find more disadvantages to Instagram roommates than just rooming with a personal friend from school. For example, senior Cameron Gillespie attending Michigan State University finds multiple advantages to rooming with an already existing friendship. While he does acknowledge the cons of possibly losing an existing friend-

ship if something goes wrong, he believes the advantages outweigh them. He states that some advantages, including “knowing what you’re getting into before you get to college” and “understanding the type of person they are” helps the selection process, which is something Instagram can lack. Building off of this, senior William Dong, who will be attending Yale University comments that on social media, one “sees a persona of them exemplified on their page,” and this can create a struggle between one’s personal expectations versus the reality of living with said person.

However, Dong continues to state that “it’s quite the gamble, but it can pay off,” and this is the year to “go out and experiment.”

While the seniors at Troy High School might not know what they’re getting into yet, those who have graduated from the school have some comments from their personal experiences. Ava Watson, a 2024 Troy High School graduate attending Michigan State University comments on her roommate experience. In her expert opinion, she advises future underclassmen to room with someone they knew in high school but weren’t close with, creating an environment which is stable in two different ways. The first being: one does not inherently get stuck to the comfortability of rooming with a close friend, and they’re able to experience new things easier.

The second being: one is not overwhelmed by a random roommate where they don’t know much about the unrealistic details of one another.

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SENIOR ISSUE

Class of 2026 Favorite Senior Events of the Year Manasvi Mummaneni // Staff Reporter

Water Wars

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Football Games Senior Sidekick Graduation Prom Senior Clap Out 0

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SENIOR ISSUE Cultivating Change

Three Green Space Club seniors share their experiences as club members.

Robin Monroy Shaydurova // Staff Reporter

Over the years a variety of students, members of the Green Space Club, has worked out together into making Troy High School a greener school with projects such as the bottle caps collection and the composting during lunch time. Three seniors from the Green Space Club share their experience of doing so.

As a member since sophomore year and director of sustainability, Jyotsna Shivakumar, although heading into politics and pre-law, her passion for the environment can not be denied. She states “Once you deep dive into it, you realize there’s a lot of problems that need immediate attention.”

Additionally, Anusha Gupta, another club member who joined during her sophomore year, looking to take action on food waste loss in the community, she says “being in Green Space Club has definitely opened my eyes to environmental science more than I would have otherwise.”

Besides her enthusiasm with food waste, she shares that music and science have been a big part of her life, knowing how to play the piano and the flute. And eventually heading to study molecular biology, looking to be on the pre-medical track.

An older club member, Victoria Bernal, participating since freshman year, is the director of communications. She explains that the eye-opening effect the club does made her interested in the environment, although none of her devotions have anything to relate with it.

These are three different students, with different passions and goals in life. But share the same desire of making from the world a greener place, as explained by Bernal, “everyone just wants the world to be a little bit greener, a little bit more conscious of our intake, our mass consumption, our over-consumerism.”

This collective desire allowed the Green Space Club to create awareness and to be able to run projects such as the bottle cap collecting and the lunch composting, that last one being a bigger success to the members of the green space club, “We just got nominated for an award for being a degree of school in Metro Detroit,” states Bernal. Additionally, since April 22nd, the lunch composting collected 127 pounds of food waste out of landfills.

As Gupta also adds to the importance of awareness “a lot of the climate use these days is really pessimistic, and it can be hard to see the long-term impact that you as an individual can have. But I think it’s really important that we raise everyone to be more environmentally conscious and make sustainable choices.”

As the seniors in the Green Space Club leave, the club will be continuing growing as it has been doing before, “any underclassmen, like reading, this is definitely going to get bigger as the school continues on.

And this is definitely something that extends beyond students.

So definitely join,” shares Shivakumar.

Under It All, Including the Creators

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A spotlight on The Gladiator editors-in-chief’s friendship and leadership.

Jiwoo Park // Editor-in-Chief

Seniors Soumya Mahendrakar and Andrea Lopez Fernandez started in the yearbook, The Gladiator, as sophomore staffers. Now they serve as the editors-in-chief, holding the responsibilities of choosing the theme, making the cover, creating layouts and “basically everything you can think of,” according to Mahendrakar.

Although really close now, the two didn’t meet until approximately two years ago, on a trip to Kansas City, Missouri through the JEA National High School Journalism Convention. Afterward, they spent a lot of time together at the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, or MIPA Summer Journalism Workshops as well as the trip to Seattle, Washington through the 2025 JEA convention.

In their junior year, Lopez Fernandez served as lead design editor and Mahendrakar editor-in-chief for the first time, where they started working closely together. Both agree that they have a lot of similar ideas, but also complete what each doesn’t think of. “We both think of lots of different ideas so whatever one of us doesn’t think of the other one does so it’s like we always balance each other out,” Lopez Fernandez says.

Mahendrakar adds, “We just know what’s going on in each other’s head.”

“Andrea is literally my favorite person in the entire world. She is my best friend in literally every way possible.”- Mahendrakar The two editors-in-chief recall fond memories within Yearbook, such as the JEA trip to Seattle, the two MIPA workshops and “all the Panera late days” where they would “spend the entire day at Panera just working on Yearbook.

And it was exhausting, but it was really fun, because we just got to have fun and talk,” according to Mahendrakar. However, Lopez Fernandez considers being camp counselors with Mahendrakar at the Hamilton Elementary School 5th grade camp her favorite shared memory. It was Lopez Fernandez’s first camp experience, where they took care of the kids, and she loved getting to spend it with Mahendrakar.

Both have been impacted positively by the yearbook. “Yearbook is somewhere that you can grow a lot from,” Lopez Fernandez says about stepping out of her comfort zone for interviews, conversations with others and creative problem solving.

Mahendrakar agrees, especially when stepping into leadership positions to stand their ground.

“[Soumya]’s the sweetest person ever, and whenever I see her in that yearbook room there’s always a smile on my face.”- Lopez Fernandez Their growth is apparent from each other’s perspectives as well. Mahendrakar comments, especially this past year, “It’s been cool to see [Andrea] grow as a person and as an EIC this year, because I love her.”

Lopez Fernandez similarly says, after Mahendrakar’s first stint as editor-in-chief, “I could really see her definitely grow a lot more into her position,” she adds, “She’s always making sure that everything gets done but also in a way that still lets everyone have fun in the yearbook environment.”

Their time in The Gladiator will soon come to an end, and both believe they are leaving the publication in a good place with Kayla Kaiser, who is currently the junior editor-in-chief.

Lopez Fernandez comments, “[Kayla] has an advantage to know about everything that goes into being an EIC, so going to MIPA with Kayla I think definitely was such a fun experience.”

Mahendrakar says similarly, “She is so hardworking, and I think she’s going to do amazing things.”

As graduation approaches, both are left thinking about continuing the yearbook experience in college. Lopez Fernandez says, “I already have all this knowledge about Yearbook so I feel like it’d be such a waste if I didn’t continue. So I think that it’d be really fun to continue in a different environment, just kind of test the waters.”

According to Mahendrakar, college yearbooks are rare, so she plans to join the newspaper to continue what she loves.

She says, “If a college I do end up going to has a yearbook, then I will join them. But if not, the newspaper will be just fine.”

The staff’s work is essentially a year-long project to del i v e r to students who will then look through memories and achievements, but it also fosters a close-knit community within the staff. Lopes Fernandez says, “Everyone’s always collaborating with each other even if they’re not in the same group.

Everyone just has a super strong bond and I think that’s what honestly makes the class so enjoyable.”

As editors-in-chief, their goals include creating that special community. Mahendrakar comments, both her and Lopez Fernandez “try to make that same environment for our staffers, so that they can feel the love for Yearbook that we got to feel.”

Faces of Leadership The Mount Rushmore of Troy High School’s club presidents.

Yusra Mohammed // Staff Reporter

Sanika Atmakur - DECA Shreyan Maini - DECA Aarush Kulkarni - Model United Nations Iniya Kumar - National Honor Society Leah Bosman - Student Government

SENIOR ISSUE

Capturing the moment Two seniors turned their passions for photography into businesses.

Giada Sherrill // Staff Reporter

Two Troy High School seniors, Alex Jarbow and Jack Becks, have turned a shared interest in photography into something more than just a hobby. Both students have created their own businesses, capturing moments at school events, sports games and more.

Jarbow said he “started for Yearbook” where he discovered his enjoyment for taking photos for others. Over time, this small interest turned into photographing opportunities, often when his “friends invite “ him to any school events or the ones he chooses to attend. Jarbow states that he specifically enjoys photographing football because of its “slower pace” which allows for more time for his camera to adjust and get the perfectshots.

One of his

most memorable moments was the Troy High School versus Troy Athens High School basketball game because they won in overtime after a previous loss. Jarbow found it to be a memorable moment to capture.

Jack Becks shares the same passion for photography. He says, “My long term goal is to just have fun taking pictures,” and he wants to encourage others to “just have fun while doing it and connect with other photographers.”

Through their work, both seniors have turned photography into a meaningful way to capture memories during their final year at Troy High School.

Eggroll Patrol

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The famous eggroll patrol car and it’s history.

Henry McBrien // Publications Editor The Eggroll Patrol car of Troy High parking lot fame has met it’s untimely end. The 2014 Chevrolet SS, in it’s unique police style wrapping, was involved in an accident on I-75. No one was injured.

Owner and operator Wa San Ling, a Senior at Troy High School, shared details about the car. “I had the car for about three months before I decided to wrap it. I think it’s pretty neat, it’s the only one in the United States.” The car was made to look like a highway patrol car with checkerboard siding and a functional light bar. “I’d take it to the Dream Cruise on occasion,” added Ling. Utilizing a bespoke wrapper in St. Clair Shores, the process of converting

it “only took a few weeks.” According to Ling, the car itself is a 2014 Chevrolet SS with a 6.2 LS engine, full exhaust system, and kitted out pursuit and police style accessories. The car is similar to a Camaro in performance.The “Eggroll Patrol” moniker stemmed from Ling’s family’s chain of Chinese restaurants. “I wanted to put the restaurant name, Chinatown, on it, but my mom wouldn’t let me, so I rolled with eggroll patrol.”

He also owns a 2019 Chevy Camaro that he intends to alter.

Ling is currently driving an Acura SUV, and looks to further his automotive shenanigans in his future career.

Photo courtesy of Wa San Ling

Masquerade Is Back Yet Again

As Troy High School introduces the 2026 prom theme as Masquerade, students are thrown a little nostolgia based on common Masquerade themes shown in films.

Gabby Shaya // Public Relations Editor, Graphic by Jiwoo Park // Editor-in-Chief

This school year, Troy High School’s Student Government is proud to announce the 2026 prom theme as masquerade. Inspired by 15th century Venetian carnivals, students are expected to wear the commonly recognized masquerade mask and the extravagant attire that goes with this mysterious theme. Will Troy High School’s prom theme compete with the two most iconic masquerade balls seen in movies?

In first place is Gossip Girl, Season 1, Episode 6: The Handmaiden’s Tale. Every girl who aspires to live the Upper East Side, New York City life has watched Gossip Girl. In this episode, the mischievous Blair Wal-

dorf plans a big masquerade ball where she plans a romantic way to reveal her identity beyond her masquerade mask to Nate Archibald, by the end of the night. However, as usual, chaos strikes the Upper East Side. Nate gets sidetracked as he discovers his father’s drug stash, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Archibald legacy. Does a masquerade ball bring mayhem or just reveal the truth?

In second place is A Cinderella Story, with Chad Michael Murray and Hilary Duff. Duff, who played Sam, showed up to their masquerade themed prom unrecognizable, in a beautiful white gown. However, when Michael Murray who

played Austin encountered Sam, he had no idea it was the girl he had been texting because of the masks.

Throughout the night, the two characters connect.

Suspense continues to build because she knows it’s him, but he does not. In the original Cinderella movie, Cinderella has to rush out at midnight but leaves her glass slipper, foreshadowing a moment when Cinderella and Prince Charming might eventually

reunite. But in this modern spin off, Sam dropped her phone while rushing out at midnight, revealing her identity to Austin who had not known it was her the entire time The masquerade theme dates back centuries, and will remain as a popular one, especially for this year’s prom at Troy High school.

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SENIOR ISSUE

Pickle Sunday

An insight into the entrepreneurial exploits of a Troy High School senior.

Maria Papalois // Copy Editor

Follow the sharp aromas of brine, salt and fresh cucumbers on a summer’s day and you’ll be led to a pickle stand run by Aaron Stinson, a Troy High School senior. With his partner, Caleb Regner, a senior at Deerfield Academy, Stinson has been operating this business for five years, and it has grown exponentially in both popularity and revenue.

“The very first day of when this whole pickle thing started,” recalls Stinson. “I called [Regner] to come and sell with me on the side of the road, and he’s been in it with me ever since.” Stinson and Regner have been friends and neighbors for most of their lives and decided to go into business together the summer before their 8th grade year. “He’s helped a lot with advertising and marketing and overall he’s been really good to help me co-run the business,” says Stinson about Regner. “He’s helped me grow a lot with it.”

“I have a lot of cucumbers that grow in my garden every year,” Stinson says, regarding how the idea came about. “It just started as something fun to experiment with, but then as time went on, people started to like what we were doing and we started to develop a brand and that’s when I decided to name it Pickle Sunday.”

“Pickle Sunday,” named for the day of the week Stinson and Regner sell their pickles, happens once annually during summer break; however, the partners

also operate an annual pickleball tournament. “I already developed such a brand and a following through the pickle selling and the entrepreneurship part that I decided that I wanted to expand and grow it into something more,” says Stinson.

Along with the business, the pickleball tournament has increased in exposure and participation. “The first year we had 16 teams in the tournament and then the second year it grew to like 30 teams in the tournament,” Stinson explains. “Because it was growing and people liked it, I decided to continue doing pickleball tournaments.”

In reference to the revenue accumulated by the Pickle Sunday operation, Stinson says, “it grows every year.” Stinson, however, regards the business as successful “not because of the money, but the recognition I’ve been able to grow and the people I’ve been able to bring.” Stinson finds the community aspect of his business to be gratifying, especially those who have stuck around through the years. “I have people that have been there since day one,” says Stinson. “The reward of seeing all the people come and have a good time is basically what keeps me going.”

In the fall, Stinson plans to attend Michigan State University, specifi-

cally the Broad School of Business to pursue his passion in entrepreneurship. “I aspire to be an entrepreneur in the future and create my own business one day, aside from Pickle Sunday,” states Stinson. In terms of the future of Pickle Sunday, Stinson has no intention of halting the business.

“I’m going to try and keep doing it every summer,” he says, “but if not, I’ll still be pursuing business in other ways.”

Stinson recommends to those wanting to pursue their passions to “just jump on it,” as the possibilities are endless. Stinson says, “Pickle Sunday is not just a business or a chore for me. It’s just me and my friend pursuing our passions.”

Photo courtesy of Aaron Stinson.

Smiles in Color

A non-profit organization made for the world.

Dayana Ochoa Delgado // Staff Reporter

Iris Mou, a senior at Troy High School, on top of her already rigorous academic schedule, with her/ including classes at Troy High School, mixed with volunteer tutoring, her work in the Troy High Orchestra, and fiddlers.

Iris Mou has been an artist throughout all of this, but 2 years ago Iris Mou began to expand her artistic abilities. Transitioning from regular art into the world of face painting.

While Iris always loved art, she was first introduced to face painting through volunteering opportunities where she would do face painting at different events. She said “It just became something that we thought would be really worth investing in.” Iris Mou began her non-profit organization called “Smiles in color” a group that “uses art to bring joy, unity, and inspiration to the heart.” She expanded

this company to not only other artistic high school students from all over the metro Detroit area, but also to participate in other non profits. For example, recently went to North Carolina to support Amy’s Rays of Sunshine, a group that writes cards for cancer patients awaiting bone marrow transplants. That same organization was also collaborating with a food lounge. Iris alone made over 100 cards on this mission. Although the cards weren’t “Something for the sake of building up Smiles in Color at the time, but just to give some love and encouragement to people.”

Throughout being president of a non-profit, and her adventures at Troy High School, Iris participated in a two week long stay at Yale where she took college classes in LPC (Literature, Philosophy, and culture), an “eye opening experience”.

Photos courtesy of Iris Mou

Senior Year, On Screen A list of must-watch movies for seniors.

Simar Kaur Chudda // Copy Editor “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” Known for their high-energy and nostalgic films, the “High School Musical” franchise is one that is popular among people of all ages. From navigating college decisions to prom, the third movie in this franchise details the journey of the East High Wildcats as they celebrate their last year of school together and prepare for their future. This is a bittersweet movie that encourages enjoying the final moments of high school with friends as well as highlights the anxiety of post-high-school expectations. An incredibly relatable movie, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” is definitely a must-watch for graduating seniors.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” As a coming-of-age drama, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” discusses themes of friendship, self-acceptance

and making the most of your last moments in high-school. Another classic, the movie is centered around the main character Charlie, an introverted freshman struggling with his mental health, who is taken under the wing of two fun, easygoing seniors. It’s a great movie to watch as it captures the feeling of being an outsider in a community and struggling to fit in. As a senior, it’s incredibly nostalgic towards one’s highschool journey and acknowledging how far you have come.

“Lady Bird” The film “Lady Bird” is a bit of a nontraditional one in the sense that it is not the upbeat, exciting movie you may assume to be watching before graduation. Instead, “Lady Bird” is a much more personal film that details Christine McPherson’s rocky relationship with her mother and struggles in the highschool social circle. Facing the pressure of applying to college along with a fervent desire to leave her hometown, “Lady Bird” showcases the

delicate balance between a desire for independence as well as appreciation for family. The film captures the anxiety of applying to college and the complex relationship between a teenage girl and her mother perfectly, highlighting the struggle of finding your personal identity.

“Booksmart” “Booksmart” captures the challenges associated with high-school social hierarchies and focuses on the friendship between two high-achieving seniors Molly and Amy. On the eve of graduation, Molly and Amy have a realization that they spent their entire four high-school years studying and never letting loose to have fun. Faced with this bittersweet realization, they decide to make up for all their lost time in one night. This movie is an important movie for high-school seniors to watch as it showcases the importance of balancing your study and hard-work with relaxation and fun. It offers a fresh and fun take on teenage life, showcasing the multifaceted-ness of individuals as

well as the importance of friendship.

“Grease” Another must-watch film, “Grease” is a romantic-comedy and musical that tackles the trope of a “bad boy” character and a “good girl” character falling in love with each other. In the film, innocent Sandy and greaser Danny fall in love during vacation over summer. Although they share fond memories, they are from two completely different worlds and don’t expect anything to truly happen between themselves. Life has different plans, however, when Sandy’s family decides to stay in town past the summer and Sandy ends up enrolled in Danny’s school. This movie showcases the pressures of high-school cliques and social pressures, while capturing the drama and uncertainty of life as a senior. It is a nostalgic look into the last stretch before the official end of one’s childhood.

Photos courtesy of IMDb.

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Senior Playlist Songs that represent the class of 2026.

Michelle Fedosseev // Public Relations Editor

Check out the senior playlist on Spotify!

Night Changes - One Direction Landslide - Fleetwood Mac The Spins - Mac Miller Vienna - Billy Joel Ribs - Lorde Breathe (In the Air) - Pink Floyd Champagne Supernova - Oasis Cool for the Summer - Demi Lovato The Less I Know The Better - Tame Impala White Keys - Dominic Fike

Kids - Current Joys Forever Young - Alphaville Bennie And The Jets - Elton John Starman - David Bowie Risk It All - Bruno Mars Right Here - Justin Bieber 20 Something - SZA Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) - Train Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Hold On, We’re Going Home - Drake Love Me Like You - Little Mix Uptown Girl - Billy Joel Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners Dancing Queen - ABBA Piano Man - Billy Joel Die With A Smile - Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars Graduate - Third Eye Blind 8TEEN - Khalid

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Senior Survey The results of the 2026 Troy High senior survey.

Shae Howard // Graphics Editor, Michelle Fedosseev // Public Relations Editor, and Sabrina Ahmed // Staff Reporter *All percentages are out of the 204 anonymous respondents.

SENIOR ISSUE

SIBLING DUOS Sarah Bajwa (12)

Kanzah Bajwa (10) Calvin Price (10)

Amelia Murphy (9)

Megan Hatto (10)

Lauren Hatto (12)

Compiled by Sofia Varela Almaguer // Staff Reporter

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Three of a Kind

The Johnson triplets prepare for separate futures.

Lexi Benedict// Staff Reporter For most of their lives, seniors Zaria, Patrick, and Elijah Johson have done almost everything together. Between sharing classes, going to track meets and spending most of high school around each other, the triplets have rarely had to experience things alone. Now, with graduation getting closer, the three are preparing to attend different colleges for the first time.

Growing up in the same grade meant the three were constantly surrounded by each other, both in and outside of school.

The Johnson triplets spent most of their childhood side-byside. In elementary school, they often ended up on the same sports teams.

Zaria described being a triplet as having a “built-in best friend” because no matter what was happening, they always had each other

to rely on.

Even after spending most of their lives grouped together, the siblings said they each developed different personalities.

Zaria described herself as more relaxed and “go with the flow,” while calling Elijah sarcastic and intelligent and Patrick caring, but nonchalant. Elijah said being a triplet sometimes made individuality difficult, especially when people grouped them together instead of seeing them separately.

Having siblings in the same school also meant always having someone nearby. Zaria and Elijah help each other in AP English 12, while she and Patrick sit next to each other in a Leadership Lab. Whether it was helping each other in class, sitting together during school or talking after track practice, the triplets said they al-

ways had someone to turn to.

Patrick said having siblings in the same school gave him “people [he] can always trust and confide in.”

Track became another experience that brought the siblings closer together during different events, the time spent traveling to meets and practicing together gave them even more time together outside of school. Zaria said some of her favorite memories came from simple moments like riding the bus to meets together, while Elijah said it was nice having people at home who understood the sport and never got tired of talking about it.

Now, as the triplets prepare for college, they are beginning to separate for the first time. Even though the siblings considered some of the same school, all three decided to go in different directions based

on their interests and future plans. Zaria said separating could help them “build [their] own characters” and experience something different from the life they had always shared together.

Even with the excitement of new experience and independence, the triplets said leaving each other behind will still be an adjustment. Zaria said she will miss the “little simple things,” like spending time together at home, eating together and watching TV after long days. After spending nearly every stage of life side-by-side, the Johnson triplets are now preparing to experience who they are on their own. Although the siblings are headed in different directions after graduation, Zaria said that they all know “they are still only a phone call away.”

Photos courtesy of Patrick Johnson.

Twin Power

Senior Twins Jisoo and Jiwoo Park reflect on their journeys through music and journalism.

Ivy Qin // Staff Reporter

For Jisoo Park, Principal Cellist for Troy High School’s Symphony Orchestra, there is no greater “thrill” than “walking onstage” to a full audience awaiting his performance. One such moment was during Park’s concert as student soloist with the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, having won their prestigious Youth Artists Solo Competition in October 2025. But behind his unanimous selection by the audition panel and behind the applause is nearly a decade-long story with his craft. “[Music] is one of the few majors that starts from day one,” states Wendy Stuart, who has taught Park through four years in the Troy High School orchestra program, where Park has “ c o n sistently push[ed] himself to a higher technical and musical ability.”

Park’s journey with the cello began at 8 years old and has flourished since then. From 20232024, Park was nominated two years in a row as Outstanding Soloist by the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA).

“My favorite part is that I get to express myself, and I get to have a voice musically,” Park states. He notes “the amount of perfection the field [of music] requires,” where, during his year-long audition process at nationwide music schools, “one wrong note can decide if I get accepted or not.”

Park’s decision to pursue music professionally came while attending a music camp at the Interlochen Center for the Arts the summer after his sophomore year. “I saw a lot of

people, like me, who also wanted to do music,” Park recalls.

“I could see myself doing that more than anything.”

From beginning as a staff reporter at the beginning of sophomore year to leading the editorial board as a senior, Jiwoo Park, editor-in-chief of The Chariot, has played no small part in the growth of the publication.

Park recalls seeing an “opinion piece on Taylor Swift’s new album at the time” on The Chariot’s website that “caught [her attention],” sparking her to choose the class during sophomore year. “The newspaper is really important for the school, especially for the students. It represents their voices,” she explains. “It’s important to know what’s going on in your community a n d in your environment.”

“My favorite part is holding the papers when it first

gets printed,” Park continues.

“It’s really cool to see your name in print, and [seeing] conversations being sparked from your work.”

Reflecting on her growth, Park’s biggest lesson leading The Chariot’s editorial team is “not being afraid to be passionate.” “Leadership comes from confidence first,” Park reflects.

“Always have confidence in yourself.”

In the fall, Park will attend Northwestern University majoring in journalism. “Time flies by fast,” Park states. “I would encourage underclassmen or students in general to join that club that you’ve been thinking of joining or that seems even a little interesting to you.”

Photos courtesy of Jiwoo Park.

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SENIOR ISSUE

Captain Everywhere

Oliva Jasniewicz leads on the soccer field, basketball court and beyond Roberto Nicolas-Piña // Staff Reporter Oliva Jasniewicz, a varsity captain for both soccer and basketball, has built her name as one of the area’s most versatile athletes with multiple All-State nods and breaking Troy High School’s single season steal record. But behind the expansive list of accolades lies a story of personal sacrifice in attempts to position herself for success.

During Jasniewicz’s sophomore year, she moved from Canada to Michigan to pursue greater academic and athletic opportunities.

In doing so, it meant leaving much of her family behind at home. “My family decided that we wanted to move to Michigan to give me more opportunities,” Jasniewicz says. “That was definitely a big sacrifice…

I’ve been living with only my dad for the past three years.”

Being limited to only seeing her brothers and mother from once a week

to a month, Jasniewicz explains how: “It’s definitely been hard…But the sacrifice was worth it, because it’s given me so many more opportunities to play soccer at a college level.”

Sports have always held a constant presence in her life. After being introduced by her family at a young age, she’s experimented with everything before finding her personal footing, and she still continues to try new sports. “Ive tried everything, skating, basketball, soccer, skiing.” she says, adding: “I fell in love, for sure, with soccer.”

Rather than specializing, she admits, “I don’t like being focused on one.” While embracing the challenge of being a multisport athlete, it came with the demands of a sprawling schedule.

“I would have school in the morning. Then right after school, we would have school soccer fitness. And then I would be going to

basketball practice for two hours. And then I had club soccer practice for another two hours,” she says. “I would get home at 10 p.m.”

Jasniewicz’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed though, as she has earned multiple regional, league and district honors, along with two Division I all-state selections (MHSAA) in soccer. Along with that, she has also received all-league recognition in basketball and recently a recognition of being Lions Player of the Week for flag football.

Even with her expansive statistical prowess, her impact reaches beyond as an established leader across her sports. As a team captain, she explains, “I like to get close with everyone,” emphasizing the importance of individual conversation “to push them to be their best.”

Looking ahead, Jasniewicz considers multiple offers from schools and

2nd Boys 400m

KRISH GUPTA 50.17 seconds

whittling them down for a good fit for both her athletic and academic goals, considering medical school. “It wasn’t just about soccer,” she says, “but also about the science program.”

Photo courtesy of Olivia Jasniewicz

r rte epo rter ff R Repo a t ff /S a / / Sta / tuz Ma augk y l y A ace H r db pile d by G m o e C ign s De

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Senior Spring

A quick overview of the senior spring break trip to Punta Cana.

Shae Howard // Graphics Editor

For nearly 70 Troy High School seniors graduating in 2026, one small resort town in the Dominican Republic seems to have been the perfect spring break vacation destination.

Ben Gonzalez, a senior at the school, shares that “it’s kind of a tradition” that every year, a large group of seniors goes on a trip to a different location. Everything is organized by a group of parents at the school, who gather on FaceBook to partake in the planning process. Planning for this trip began as early as last fall, though most students don’t decide that early whether or not they’ll be attending, nor how long: some students stay for only a few days, while others may stay up to the full week of spring

break.

Several different groups of seniors go; for instance, most members of the TC Line went to Punta Cana.

This year, many students stayed at a beachfront resort called the Barceló.

When it came to the trip itself, vacationgoers had similarly positive experiences.

“There were no low points, there were just high points,” senior Nash Howard says.

“It was just a great time hanging out with my friends and meeting new people all around the island and hotel.”

Fellow senior Ellie Sivier had the same experience, sharing the positives of the trip in detail. “I got to go on this fun boat and we got to go in the ocean and dive and jump off the boat, and that was fun, but going out to eat

with my mom and Hope, that was so much fun, and I got to go into this spa, and that was amazing,” she shares.

Gonzalez comments that a significant part of the trip for him was getting to meet new people from other parts of the country. “We met some people from Grand Blanc, and one friend I made, her name was Tammy. She’s really cool, and really funny, and it was awesome to get to know people from different states and different areas in Michigan.”

“If you’re a senior, I’d go on the trip, it’s a lot of fun,” Howard recommends, a sentiment echoed by each of his peers. Next year’s planning is likely to begin soon, so keep an ear out for updates.

SENIOR ISSUE

Second Semester Senior Schedule

A satirical interpretation of the average classes taken after college applications are finished.

Roberto Nicolas-Piña // Staff Reporter

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16 Senior Year Crossword Puzzle

Start to Finish

Events from the late 2000’s versus now.

Jiwoo Park // Editor-in-Chief

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, launches the first iPhone.

Author J.K. Rowling publishes “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the final book of the popular series. It sold 8.3 million copies on the first day.

Stephen Colbert, writer and television host, ends presidential campaign after South Carolina removes him from the primary ballot.

Writers Guild of America goes on strike after the stalemate with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The U.S. undergoes a financial crisis caused by the housing bubble.

Miley Cyrus goes on the sold out “Best of Both Worlds” tour to perform as Hannah Montana and herself.

Barack Obama is elected as the 44th president of the United States.

COOKED

MAXXING

aka tough/cool

to do the most of

either “i'm doomed” or “i did amazing”

Kendrick Lamar performs at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in bootcut jeans.

Musical artist Katy Perry travels to space on the Blue Origin NS-31 flight.

Anna Wintour, former Vogue Editor-in-Chief leaves the position, and remains as the global editorial director and Condé Nast’s global chief content officer.

Thieves break into the Louvre Museum during the day and steal nine treasures worth over $100 million.

Musical artist Bad Bunny performs at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. His performance includes “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” and “Baile Inolvidable.”

Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen successfully go on a 10-day expedition to the moon.

LARP copying or pretending to have something/be someone

Senior Slang

SLIME OUT doing someone dirty

TUFF

Married co-workers Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot get caught affectionately cuddling at a Coldplay concert.

AURA FARMING doing something to gain aura

Made by Simar Kaur Chudda

GLAZE praising someone excessively

FADE

LOWKENUINELY

“nah never mind that”

genuinely and lowkey

CHUD aka chopped/stupid