Aquila
March 31, 2015
Volume 4, Issue 2
University Preparatory Academy
First-Ever Rockin’ Sadie Hawkins By Selena Razo
Photo Courtesy of Andrew Yau Students pose at the Sadies’ Dance photo booth. From left to right: Gerardo Gallardo, Luis Guevara, Consuelo De La Torre, Hailey Allen, Sophia Pappas, Emily Trujillo, Alan Martino-Murillo, and Angel Ortiz.
Photo Courtesy of Andrew Yau From left to right: Bubbles (Jami Lomeli), Blossom (Jacalyn Trujillo) and Buttercup (Adrienne Lee) crusade at Sadie’s.
Photo Courtesy of Andrew Yau Kimberly Meza and Josh Richardson attend dressed as Superwoman and Superman.
During the early days of March, some male students sweat with anxiety over whether they would be asked to UPA’s Sadie’s Dance, held at Willow Glen Community Center on Saturday, March 14. Fears were alleviated when some UPA girls got creative with ways to ask someone to Sadie’s. “I decided to ask [sophomore] Tiernan McMahon to Sadie’s by being a flyer in a cheer stunt while holding a sign that said ‘Will you tackle Sadie’s with me?’” freshman Olivia Foreman said. The use of puns was an idea of another UPA freshman. “To ask [freshman] Noah Flores, I made a poster that said, ‘I NOAH girl who wants to take you to Sadie’s,” freshman Lauren Hernandez said. Although the idea of having a date is usually associated with romance, many students went with friends as their “dates” instead. “I asked Josh Bronner because we both know how to party, so I might as well party hard with someone ‘bootyful,’ you know?” freshman Connie Liu said. Even though it was a Sadie’s dance, not everyone sought the need for a date. “Whenever people would use the excuse ‘I don’t have a date,’ I always mentioned the fact that I was going single as well, and it worked,” senior and ASB President Jessica Abraham said about encouraging students to attend. While some attendees went to the dance as Superman or the Powerpuff Girls, others dressed as Doctor Fuzzy Pajamas — but at home. Not having an interest in “saving the day,” some UPA students declined to attend to dance. “I didn’t like the superhero theme,” sophomore Lorna Haworth said. “We aren’t in preschool.” Still, those who did attend were in for a new treat. Literally. Rather than the usual sole option of pizza, one particularly interesting food option was the addition of chicken wings to the available food choices. However, unfortunately, there was no pie to be eaten on Pi Day. Sadie’s also sparked elation for the upcoming Junior-Senior Prom for some upperclassmen. “This dance was super important to me because this will be the last dance I’ll get to plan since it’s the last casual dance I’m going to have in high school,” Abraham said. “After attending Sadie’s, I am more excited to attend prom since it will officially be my last dance of my senior year of high school, and with my senior class,” senior Gianna Ochinero said. “It’ll be an opportunity to create more memories before we all walk the stage together on graduation day.”
The End of an Era: UPA Says Goodbye to Hophan By Eliana Batrez At the beginning of second semester, Director of Student Services Phil Hophan accepted a principal position at Taylor Middle School in Millbrae in order to have a shorter daily commute and be closer to his family. He worked at UPA since its opening in 2007 and was the first employee hired. After having worked at UPA for so long, Hophan hoped to go on to do bigger and better things at Taylor. However, Hophan knows that leaving UPA will be a big change. “My last UPA memory is my drive in from home [and] realizing that I would no longer
be doing that drive that I had done for so long, [there were] mixed emotions for sure between leaving a place I had come to consider a second home and [going] on to new things.” One of Hophan’s biggest contributions to UPA was the experience he brought to creating the ASB program. “[ASB] was a big item of his,” Executive Director Daniel Ordaz said. “He made sure to have a lot of student activities to offset the school’s academic rigor, and it was something that he championed.” “He really worked on bringing the whole school together- not just students to students but with faculty and admin
as well” said Robert Hernandez, UPA’s first ASB president and class of 2014 alumnus. Hophan’s positivity, encouragement, and organization are the attributes ASB President Jessica Abraham will miss the most. Common to other students, Hophan also mentored Abraham. “Whether it was answering constant emails, giving me academic advice, or just helping me with anything that I needed, I knew I could count on him,” Abraham said. The UPA community of parents and staff will not soon forget Hophan either. “Mr. Hophan was always very on top of being open
Photo courtesy of Sydney Harder After eight dedicated years at University Preparatory Academy, Phil Hophan reflects on his career. He was hired as one of the first staff members on campus. and responsive to both parents and students,” said Attendance Clerk Dorene McClung, who has played an active role within the UPA community the last eight years. As for his parting message to the school, Hophan advises “not to lose sight of [the]
attitude of “you don’t need to be sick to get better” to continue to push forward toward greatness for all students.” “UPA will forever be etched in my heart and mind as the place that I became the principal I always wanted to be,” Hophan said.