Aquila
May 28, 2015
Volume 4, Issue 3
University Preparatory Academy
Photo courtesy of Karen Bennett The varsity girls soccer team shows off their numbers. From left: Sitara Bellam, Jamileth Lomeli, Samantha Cardoza, Gabriela Munoz, Eliana Batrez, Laney Gutierrez-Nieves, Juli Rendler, Maryssa Osorio, Angel Ortiz, Emily Butler, Diana Rendler, Naderah Zarel, Jasmine Gomez, Selena Razo, Brenna Bennett and Ileana Bautista.
Soccer Cancellation Frustrates Students
By Paj Thao
To the frustration of UPA athletes, soccer will not be offered as a sport during the 2015-16 school year. This decision was especially upsetting for students who had already been passionate about playing soccer. “To me, soccer is a chance to learn how to work together as a team, to get to know people who share your interests, and to have fun,” said junior Brenna Bennett, one of the girls team’s co-captains. “I also love the sport itself because I have been playing it for many years.” Bennett and the two other co-captains, Eliana Batrez and Sitara Bellam, knew each other before attending UPA through soccer, and the sport means a lot
to them. It also creates lasting friendships and shared experiences. Freshmen Laney Gutierrez and Emily Butler said the same. “Soccer is really significant to me; it's my way of calming down,” said Gutierrez. “It lets me forget about my problems. I enjoy every minute of it because I get to spend time playing with my team and friends and have a good time. Whether we are winning or losing, we have the pride of doing our job and playing the game.” The sport and team experience is unlike any other for players, especially when players can get closer to fellow schoolmates that they might not have met otherwise. “I'm sad that this change is going to take place because I
was looking forward to playing throughout high school and getting the experience of participating in a school sport,” Butler said. “My previous schools didn't have any actual soccer teams, so I was excited to have the chance to join and play for the UPA team.” “Many girls on the team, including me, are disappointed that soccer will not return next year,” Bennett added. “I personally would love to have the experience working with the girls again because this season was so fun.” The girls aren’t the only disgruntled ones. Junior and athlete Taiyo Hokari passionately disagrees with the administrative decision. “Soccer is truly the only international sport,” he said. “It's the most widely played sport in
the world, yet UPA is canceling it. If we are to create students who are capable of functioning in the real world, it is important that we have the opportunity to play soccer.” Hokari added, “I view UPA’s decision to cancel soccer as a failure on the part of our administration, and hope intensely for its imminent return.” However, according to athletic director William Fowler, the school board and athletics department have thoroughly looked over the circumstances. They have not seen any other possible solution. “There are two main reasons that we can’t have soccer,” explained Fowler. “The first is financial. The soccer funds for field leasing have been overwhelmed.” Because UPA is based
on the Cathedral of Faith’s property, the school does not have its own sports field. If UPA teams wanted to practice field sports they would have to lease either another school’s field or a city-owned field. This is an expensive investment that this year’s soccer teams have tried to no avail. “Even if we did have all the money for soccer, or went over our budget, which we’re willing to do, we don’t have a guaranteed field,” Fowler said. Due to discrepancies with the city, many of this year’s games and practices were cancelled. “If we had a field guaranteed for the right price for the next ten years, we would have soccer,” Fowler concluded.
Nuit de Monsieur Returns By Selena Razo
Miss America ain’t got nothing on UPA’s Nuit de Monsieur. OK, that was terrible. But at least that’s what sophomore Biren Rama, A.K.A the winner of Nuit de Monsieur, would like to think. That’s right. On Friday, April 24, University Preparatory Academy held its third annual male pageant, Nuit de Monsieur. Since its debut in 2012, Nuit de Monsieur has earned a reputation as a favorable event of UPA students. “It was pretty cool and unexpected,” winner Biren Rama said. Every year, Nuit de Monsieur is organized by a previously chosen head coordinator with the help of junior/senior counselor and teacher Sandra Trotch. With tickets priced between $8 and $10, the event itself is a fundraiser to raise scholarships for seniors heading off to college.
As another way to raise money, attendees of the pageant were also able to purchase concessions. The contestants weren’t the only ones that showed off their skills during the pageant. The pageants also consisted of a cover the song “American Boy” by Mattaniah Aytenfsu and a mini concert from UPA’s very own rap stars Brando Steel and Venom (seniors Brandon Ramon and Avinash Singh). If this event sounds like a lot of work, it was. Luckily, senior and head coordinator Makda Berhe was able to pull off a fabulous pageant. “I'm really proud of all the work I put into this because now I know I raised a lot of money to give back to other seniors as scholarships,” Berhe said. “Watching the show go smoothly and entertaining a crowd of people is such a satisfying feeling.” Had Makda not been able to pull of the show, winner Biren Rama would not have been given the chance to win the title
of “Monsieur de Nuit.” “I remember it was a good way to be on stage but not be taken too seriously,” Rama said on why he decided to be in the pageant. Rama also expressed his regrets on not giving a shoutout to sophomore Rachel Zody for lending him her shorts and junior Meklit Moges for lending him the stuffed animals used as weights in his talent portion. Junior James Hophan came in second place with senior Brandon Turcios in third place. Along with the talent portion, the contestants had a fashion portion, a Q&A, as well as a welcoming dance number. A notable talent seen at the pageant was Tiernan McMahon’s rendition of one of Jonah Hill’s monologue from the film “22 Jump Street.” May Cynthia rest in peace. An equally memorable, if not more, moment of the pageant was Biren Rama’s entrance in which he used the previously mentioned shorts. My eyes.
Photo courtesy of Jasmine Gomez Senior Brandon Turcios celebrates winning third place at the Nuit de Monsieur on April 24 in the Horton Auditorium. They still burn. Other snapshots include Brandon Turcios serenading senior Destiny Huitron, senior Ramsee Chand’s impromptu dancing, James Hopham’s rendition of the song “My Girl”, a slow dance between seniors Joshua de la Paz and Ravi Chachad, junior Collin Thrower’s cover of the song “Moon Dance”, brothers Biren and senior Amar Rama sharing an intimate sibling moment, and confusion at the randomness of senior Nerayo Tekie’s talent
portion of the show. The introductory dance number was likely the most popular favorite of audience members as it was requested to be performed a second time. “It showed a sense of unity between the boys of UPA because those who twerk together stay together,” junior Morgan Luu said. As its second year in the running, many students hope it will return again in coming years.
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News
A Holocaust Survivor’s Heartwarming Tale By Juli Rendler On May 20, Holocaust survivor Lily Robinson, age 76, spoke to UPA sophomores as part of English 10’s Holocaust unit. Many of the students mentioned they were very excited to hear her speak, as it correlated to what they are learning in their English classes. Born in Bulgaria to a Jewish family, Robinson was two months old when Hitler invaded Poland in June 1939. Her father was able to get documents to leave Bulgaria in 1940; unfortunately, the papers were only for one person. Soon all travel was shut down and the protests started. There were “rallies all over Bulgaria with the cry ‘We are all Bulgarian,’” said Robinson. Robinson began to talk about how her life changed once the war started and how much worse it became. “My grandmother used to tell Uncle and Grandfather that they weren’t hungry so we could eat,” said Robinson when describing the food shortage. In 1942, Bulgaria joined the Axis Alliance and 12,000
In-Brief:
By Lucy Yepiz
Cheerleading Championship On March 1, UPA’s cheer team attended the Cheer Sport Grand Championship at the University of Pacific and came in 1st place among 8 competitors. They are highest placing sports team in the school. Washington D.C. Trip UPA’s eighth grade class left for Washington D.C. during spring break, April 3 to 10, to learn more about our nation, see the sights, and grow closer as a class. Among many landmarks, they saw the White House, Vietnam War Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial. Asian Art Museum Trip Students from various UPA art classes took to the San Francisco streets on April 16 to visit the Asian Art Museum with teacher Mrs. Crump. The paintings the students created using the museum’s works as inspiration are being displayed in the office. Girl Up Day of Silence The Girl Up Club obseved a Day of Silence, April 17, to both raise awareness and stand in solidarity for gay rights. GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) hosted the movement. Be sure to check out the organization.
Jewish people from surrounding areas were sent to concentration camps. At this point, Robinson had the students guess how many people came back. The correct answer was 12. “One of the most shocking things that the speaker today said was how when 12,000 Jews were deported to the camps, only 12 made it back alive.” said Sakshi Hegde. The Jews from Bulgaria were soon ordered out of large cities to small riverside towns. Robinson’s Family had four days to settle their affairs and pack their belongings, before moving to a new and unknown place. Robinson’s grandfather was very sick at the time. “ We never did see him again… we just don’t know what happened to him,” said Robinson. “The story of how she was never able to see her grandfather ever again was really sad.” said Chelsea Edwards. Her family boarded a train and left to southern Bulgaria where they were ordered to live for the duration of the war.
Earth Week Challenge UPA’s Eco Squad hosted the Earth Week Challenge April 2026, urging all students to download the SJ Environment app and help rack up points for the school. We competed against Independence and Leadership High School. We won 2nd place, with Independence coming in first. Remember to stay green, we’ll get them next time! Dance Showcase UPA’s annual Dance Showcase was on Friday, May 8 in the Horton Auditorium. All of the various dance classes proudly performed a multitude of numbers to show off what they’ve learned throughout the year. ASB Elections On May 26, ASB speeches and elections took place in the gym. There were three candidates for the two vice-president positions, but only one for the position of president. Everyone except the eighth grade class, which was on a trip to Great America, voted within their few choices for class representative. Results as of press time: 8th grade class representative: Meghana Bellam 10th grade class representative: Lisa Bizuneh 11th grade class representative: Jordan Miller 12th grade class representative: Akeiylah DeWitt
Editorial
Misconceptions of the Feminist Movement feminism are misconceptions, so let’s clear the air.
By Meklit Moges The obscene idea of “feminism” has attracted plenty of negative attention ever since the late 19th century. It’s purpose is equal rights and opportunities for both genders. Equality. How vulgar. Many problems with Photo courtesy of Daisy Adin Sophomores gather in the Horton Auditorium on May 20 to hear a message from Holocaust survivor Lily Robinson. From left: Barkot Moges, Rachel Zody, Lily Robinson, Sitara Marathay, Hilda Mendoza and Daisy Adin.
The Nazi’s stopped the train and tried to send them all to concentration camps, but the train was eventually allowed to continue. The Robinson family lived on a small farm for three years until their father sent for them from America.
During the ship ride, the family “lived on apples and bread” and were very excited to see America. Robinson got emotional as she told the audience about seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. Her family moved to
San Francisco after hearing of the large Bulgarian community there, and that’s where she had been ever since. The students were very grateful that she was able to speak at UPA and liked hearing about a happy ending during a horrible time period in history.
Marching Band Students Continue Toward Success By Biren Rama The UPA Golden Eagle marching band was formed last year, and is gradually maturing into its final form. Led by band teacher Jemal Ramirez, they serve as UPA’s ambassadors to other schools. The band includes drum major and junior Carissa Borrego, a multi-instrumental talent, whose music resumé includes saxophone, flute, guitar, piano, bass drum, trumpet, and trombone, while also tinkering in others. She got involved in the band when it started as part of the recruitment that Ramirez did with his Advanced and Intermediate bands. “Marching band just started at UPA last year,” said Borrego. “It was the first year we did it, and we didn’t have a drum major, and I was already doing a lot in band, so Mr. Ramirez asked me, and last summer I went to camp to be a drum major.” This is how many others joined as well, such as freshman Sven Kuhne, right after he moved up from beginning band.
“Two years ago when I started, I was fresh into Intermediate band, and then it got announced that, ‘Hey, we’re doing marching band.’ I was like ‘okay,’” said Kuhne, who plays the sousaphone, a smaller version of the tuba.
comparison to that, I feel like we really got a lot of rest.” This is most likely due to the great difficulty that comes with marching. “Marching is pretty hard because you have to memorize what you have to play,” said Kuhne. “You have to memorize loads of music, you have to stay in step, you have to make sure you are playing at the right tempo with the right dynamics, and of course you have to hold your instrument up as well.” One aspect that makes band special is “the middle school cooperation with the high school,” Kuhne said. “You have your middle school students that are already engaged in marching band and it’s really a mentor basis. [Middle school students] look up to those people and that gives you a lot of people with a lot of band experience and few people with no band experience, which enhances everyone’s experience.” The integration of many UPA student members in the band program provides an enduring, unique unity not often found in other student groups.
“One aspect that makes band special is the middle school cooperation with the high school.” Marching band is an immense time commitment as well. “I really like playing my instrument, however, sometimes it really stretches out and you’re like ‘aw, man, I just want to be playing right now,’ or ‘I want to be doing something else,’” said Kuhne. This is a tendency among all marching bands, said junior Blong Thao who plays baritone, “A lot of marching bands practice every week; they practice a lot over summer; they may have up to twelve hour practices, so in
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UPA’s AQUILA
Feminism is only for women. Why should men care about feminism? Whether it’s a relative, wife or friend, feminism applies to men who value female relationships. All feminist supporters are radical. Why should I support crazies? Radical feminism, according to Education Portal, is defined as “a movement that believes sexism is so deeply rooted in society that the only cure is to eliminate the concept of gender completely,” which to most peo-
produced and student-edited high school newspaper. It serves as a designed public forum for student expression.
Sydney Harder Managing Editor Eliana Batrez In-Depth Editor Juli Rendler News Editor Melissa Drews Nicholas Castillo Editoral Editor Biren Rama Features Editor
By Nicky Castillo Though they appear to be picture books, graphics novels should be considered literature. For many people, the graphic novel can never be a serious style of literature, since most comics books are far from serious. Still, graphic novels and comic books are not the same.
A&E Editor Meklit Moges Campus Life Editor Sahana Bhargava Copy Editor Web/Social Media Editors Lucy Yepiz Flavio Quintero Staff Writers Neha James, Sabeeq Karim, Albert Lam, Emily Massiello, Natorie Moreno, Diana Rendler, Jimmy Sran, Fetwti Tekie, Nerayo Tekie, Selena Razo Advisor Laura Gordon Reska Contact (408) 723-1839 2315 Canoas Garden Ave. San Jose, CA 95125 aquila@upatoday.com www.upaaquila.com
Nobody does anything for feminism anymore. Why should I care? Recently, Congress and many celebrities have celebrated and/or advocated for gender equality. In the midst of the 2014 mid-term elections, a record of more than 100 women won seats in Congress, an acknowledgment to increased female involvement in politics. Beyonce recently put out an album in which made a huge feminist statement for the world to empower girls.
Feminists only fight for women. Feminism and feminists constantly fight for men that are victims of abuse, proving feminism advocates for all genders. Celebrities such as Kanye West continue to advocate for gay rights while being a huge supporter of feminism. UPA’s very own empowering Girl Up Club participated in the National Day of Silence in support of the LGBTQ community facing bias. Feminism is not the horrid, radical uprising society portrays it as, it is a peaceful, fair movement aiming not only help women being deprived of their rights, but all oppressed humans.
Where the comic is usually a collection of funny short stories with barely any plot, graphic novels are lengthier and tell a complete story, just like an ordinarily written book. Though they contain a story, some may say that graphic novels have more pictures than words, so instead of literature, they should be art. However, graphic novels do have a plot, protagonist, climax, and other features exclusive to literature. Poems, which consist of words, are considered art, by the same logic, graphic novels, which mainly use images, should be able to be considered literature as well.
Often, the use of several pictures in a novel may make it seem to readers that the author is unskilled, since it looks like the author cannot describe his or her thought without an image. However, properly using the right image to fit the mood of the story requires skill. Graphic novels can also be studied like literature. You can find a lot of symbolism, messages, and other messages in graphic novels, like in Maus by Art Spiegelman, which is a required reading for sophomores. Each race is represented by an animal, and each animal contains a truth about that race. One other aspect of the
traditional novel that many people like is the fact that you need imagination to put together the descriptions into images. In a graphic novel, the pictures do not allow this interpretation, but they still can be literature. There are also many benefits to having pictures instead of descriptions. For people with reading problems, graphic novels could be the solution, since they are are much easier to read, but still are literature. Although graphic novels are not the same as most books, they are still literature and should be considered as such.
Levine, Ph.D., and Jim Lobdell, M.A., created a program called Challenge Success. The program works with schools and their families to reduce stress and create a healthier -- yet equally successful -- education, based on youth brain development research. Challenge Success said, “The current hyper-focus on grades, individual achievement and rote answers gets in the way of healthy emotional development and a real love of learning.” Challenge Success could end excessive homework at UPA. Excessive amounts of homework result in late nights that become not only detrimental, but also habitual over the extended school year. In some cases, the repetition of, homework is necessary for students to solidify comprehension, but in many cases, homework is seen as a normal, standard expectation, especially in AP and honors classes. There is a fine line between comprehension and busywork, but that line is crossed by extraneous homework that can be avoided, or done in class.
The quality of work is degraded in the face of the quantity, but is passed off as productive “hard work” due to the time consumption it takes. As a result, students have no time to do a thorough job, or express creativity; all they can do is cram one assignment after another. Challenge Success, claims, “Schools have forgotten ...exploration and reflection, and meaningful contribution.” Students lack interest in academic careers, and learning if they associate it with hours upon hours of monotonous busywork. One more cause of burnout to note is the academic year and weekly schedule. Challenge Success has collaborated with teams of Bay Area students to make changes to academic life, including projectbased learning, non-traditional assessments, tutorial periods, modified college counseling, and the addition of block schedules. UPA has enacted some of these, but the use of these supplements could be bettered. For example, the block schedule should be used to delve
deeper into a subject, and utilize alternative teaching methods, such as labs, that won’t fit in a regular day, instead of a day to cram more information and material into a class period. And while traditional tests should not be completely eradicated, new styles of assessing learning should be utilized, styles adapted to the updated research on how the brain learns. According to Challenge Success, “[Schools have] knocked the resilience out of ...kids with excessive demands with trivial concerns. Academically inclined kids feel only as good as their last performance. Kids with strengths in other areas end up feeling marginalized and undervalued.” In response, Challenge Success partners with school boards and the students themselves, allowing the students, to make a change for the better.. Challenge Success solves UPA’s burnout, and if allowed to visit UPA, they’ll surely make changes for the better.
UPA and the Demise of Downtime
Kim Do
Paj Thao
Feminism does not matter because it is only needed in Third World countries. Whoever agrees with this ignorant statement is obviously oblivious to the rapes on American college campuses, and the fact that in the last 35 years, the
pay gap between men and women has only decreased by 20 cents.
Graphic Novels Join The Classics Shelf
The Aquila is a student-
Editor in Chief
ple sounds over dramatic. Feminism should not be categorized based on a couple of radicals in that movement. Most feminist-activists advocate an open heart and mind. Angelina Jolie is an example of a famous feminist. She has worked in various places around the world helping underprivileged people in the name of feminism.
By Melissa Drews Everyone understands the purpose of UPA: A rigorous academic schedule that prepares students to both enroll in and thrive at elite colleges in the nation, a commitment supported by both the staff and students. However, part of this drive to success includes a long school day and a prolonged academic calendar, leaving students worn out, stressed out, and at their wits end. Isn’t there another way to help students successed without high school burnout? Researchers from Stanford University solved the problem. Denise Pope, a Senior Lecturer at Stanford University with a Ph.D. in curriculum and teacher education, along with Madeline
In-Depth
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Prom Enchants Upperclassmen By Neha James
You know it’s prom season when department stores designate a special section for dresses, promposals seem to be a normal occurrence, and a sudden flood of glamourous pictures invade your Instagram feed. Girls begin to search for that perfect dress while simultaneously booking appointments for hair, nails, and makeup. Prom is considered the highlight of the school year, aside from graduation. It is the one special night where girls in gorgeous gowns and boys in tuxedos awkwardly pose for photos they will cherish (or despise) for the rest of their lives. On May 16, UPA seniors and juniors attended the Enchanted Garden themed prom. The much awaited arrival of this formal event marked freedom from AP testing, which had been ongoing for the last two weeks. Students began arriving at the Coyote Creek Country Club in Morgan Hill around 6 pm for pictures, food, and other fes-
tivities. Students emerged from limos and sauntered into the hall in elegant dresses and sleek suits. “I loved seeing everyone looking all dolled up since we wear uniform all the time,” junior Akeiylah DeWitt said. “Everyone looked classy.” The students weren’t the only ones decked out in glamorous outfits; the teachers also dressed to impress. “Mr. Dhillon and his wife are goals,” said junior Jessica Kapi. “They got each other a matching corsage and boutonniere.” Thanks to the hard work of Ms. Tillim and the prom committee, the walls were decorated with wreaths and the tables were brightened with vases of flowers. Each table consisted of potted succulent plants which students could decorate and take home in memory of the special night. The night started off slow but gradually students began to migrate to the dance floor. Soon even teachers began to join in on the fun. “I liked when Mrs. Padilla and her husband danced to
So Long, Class of 2015!
Photo courtesy of Neha James A group of UPA students takes prom pictures at Hayes Maison before hitting up the dance. From left: Lauryn Lewis, Analise Medina, Sophia Chacko, Emily Chou, Hannah Cooke, Elizabeth Wallace, Carissa Borrego and Neha James.
a high tempo song on the dancefloor,” said senior Natorie Moreno. “I enjoyed pulling teachers onto the dancefloor,” said Senior Makda Behre Unfortunately, it was also the last chance to spend time with some teachers, one being Mr. Weitzel, since he will not be
returning to UPA next year. “It was a bittersweet moment knowing that this was our last prom with Mr. Weitzel,” said Kapi, “because he will be missed.” The hype continued throughout the night, as students danced the night away. “Thankfully the dance-
floor was outside so it didn’t get too hot,” junior Lia Bizuneh said. For some, prom was a night that meant more than just wearing fancy attire and dancing. “It was a big stepping stone,” said senior Natorie Moreno, “I realized that my high school experience is coming to an end.”
University; Liberal Studies (teaching credential) Raquel Guadalupe - West Valley College; Fashion Rebeca Guadalupe - West Valley College; Teacher Credential Betty Gualle - CSU East Bay; Undeclared Ryan Hamamoto - UC Santa Cruz; Computer Engineering Megan Holland - San Francisco State University; English Laura Houck - Sonoma State University; Business Destiny Huitron - Monterey Bay State University; Behavioral Sciences Nathan Kamm - Sonoma State University; Business Smitha Kashi - UC Merced; Psychology Josh Leary - Willamette University; Computer Science Jessica Li - UC Berkeley; BioEngineering Saameh Malik - Cal Poly; Computer Science Sanya Mann - Cal Poly; Animal Science Emily Massiello - UC Merced;
Undeclared Shane Maze - Sonoma State University; Business Economics Saron Moges - De Anza College; Pastorical Studies Natorie Moreno - Azusa Pacific University; Human Biology Shubham Naik - UC Merced; Computer Engineering/Science Huy Ngo - UC Santa Cruz; Biochramatics Brandon Nguyen - UC San Diego; Molecular Biology Gianna Ochinero - UC Santa Cruz; Undeclared Amar Rama - CSU Chico; Computer Science Kassandra Ramirez - Sonoma State University; Early Childhood Development Maria Ramirez - University of Nevada, Reno; Business Marketing Raul Ramirez - San Jose State University; Undeclared Brandon Ramon - West Valley College; Music Sasank Sakhamuri - UC San Diego; Human Biology Nico Sarabia - University of Nevada, Reno; Computer Science
Suhani Shankar - Boise College; Biology Avinash Singh - University of San Francisco; Kinesiology Jimmy Sran - San Jose State University; Computer Science Fetwti Tekie - Saint John’s University; Political Science Nerayo Tekie - Vanguard University; Business Marketing` James Teso - CSU East Bay; Child Development Anmoljot Thandi - UC Merced; Undeclared/Biochemistry Brandon Turcios - San Francisco State University; Business Administration Raelene Wolfe - University of Arizona; Business Administration/ Marketing Jeremy Wong - UC Riverside; Political Science Sabrina Zamora - Foothill College; Undeclared Naderah Zarei - Oregon State University; BioHealth Sciences
Photo courtesy of Consuelo De La Torre
From left to right: (Top) Steven Chacon, Leo Fernandez, Esteban McDonald, Luis Guevara, Joshua Teso, Andrew Fragala, Beruke Negussie (Bottom) Sitara Marathay, Elena Cervantes, Meklit Moges, Angel Ortiz, Eliana Batrez, Consuelo De La Torre, Sophia Pappas, Diana Garcia, and Emily Trujillo. Students take pre-prom pictures at a garden in Gilroy before heading off to enjoy their night.
Life Beyond High School Imminent for Seniors By Fetwti Tekie
Jessica Abraham - Sacramento State University; Nursing Esmeralda Aguilar - Evergreen Valley College; Undeclared Heriberto Alcantar - UC Merced; Computer Engineering Anum Aslam - University of Texas, Austin; Aerospace Engineering Alexis Atwal - UC Santa Cruz; History Mattaniah Aytenfsu - Azusa Pacific University; Engineering/Music David Banik - De Anza College; Engineering Adrielle Barcibal - University of Arizona; Biology Daniel Basilio-Jimenez - San Jose State University; Mechanical Engineering Makda Berhe - San Jose State University; Child/Adolescent Development Antonio Bronner - San Jose State University; Biochemical Engineering Maria Camacho - Undecided; Political Science Aaron Caprino - San Jose State University; Mechanical Engineering
Alejandro Cardenas - San Jose State University; Nuclear Engineering Bianca Cardoza - Gavilan College; Animation Ravi Chachad - UC San Diego; Biochemistry/Cellular Biology Gulshan Chahal - University of Southern California; Computer Science/Business Ramsee Chand - New York University; Film Jacqueline Contreras - Notre Dame de Namur University; Communications Joshua de la Paz - UC Berkeley; Biochemistry Parmeet Dhillon - CSU East Bay; Biology Julianna Flores - Master’s College; History Lukas Fleiner - Undecided; Undecided David Flynn - Monterey Bay State University; Biology Jason Ford - University of Kansas; Political Science Jasmine Gomez - Mission College; Biomedical Sciences Lanisha Grider - William Jessup
“Have fun because time flies and don’t be close-minded.”
“Enjoy your friendships.”
Raelene Wolfe
Antonio Bronner
“Even if you aren’t successful now there are still opportunities in the future.”
Maria Camacho
“Know how to balance work and relaxation.”
Jackey Contreras
Jason Ford
Jasmine Gomez
Squawk Talk: What advice would you give to future seniors?
“Try hard in all your classes.”
“Apply to more colleges than you think you need.”
Photo courtesy of Andrew Yau Seniors pose for photographer Linda Luna at prom. From left: Joshua De La Paz, David Flynn, Ravi Chachad, Jeremy Wong, Ramsee Chand, Amar Rama, James Teso, Ryan Hamamoto, Sasank Sakhamuri and Gulshan Chahal.
Undeclared Majors: A Future Riddled With Uncertainty By Emily Massiello
Time is running out for UPA’s senior class of 2015. The seniors have submitted their college registrations and are readying themselves for graduation, thoughts of their future careers looming overhead. For many students, however, the road ahead is hazy; they are unaware of what major or career they want to pursue, and rising college tuition rates encourage students to graduate with their degrees in as few years as possible. As a result, entering college without a specific major or career in mind can be distressing for students, especially when their classmates all seem to know exactly what career they are pursuing and how they will
achieve the necessary degrees. Currently there are sites available to UPA students, such as Naviance.com and MyMajors. org (founded by Dr. Fritz Grupe), that can assist students in narrowing potential options through the use of personality quizzes. However, the sheer volume of feedback given on these rather vaguely-worded questionnaires can often be overwhelming and leave students just as unsure as before. Fear not, undecided students, for in 2005, “80% of college-bound students [worldwide had] yet to choose a major,” according to Grupe. In addition, “...50% of those who [did] declare a major, change[d] majors‒ with many doing so two to three times during their college years.” More recently, a 2012
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study of Penn State students revealed that “80 percent of freshmen ‒ even those who [had] declared a major ‒ [said] they are uncertain about their major, and half [changed] their minds after they declare[d], sometimes more than once.” The main recommendation college advisers give to these uncertain or undeclared students is to begin by taking general education classes and avoid abandoning core subjects that may meet requirements necessary for later classes. For example, popular majors among students in the United States, such as psychology, social work, and business, all require basic courses in math and science. It is also important to research which majors are im-
pacted, or have more students applying for the major than the school can accommodate, leading to the major having higher standards for admission. For impacted majors, such as engineering, it is easier to transfer out of the major than into the major. One recommended option is for students to pursue their interests and/or hobbies in the first few years of college to see if it could possibly translate into a major and career later on. Regardless of individual situations, undeclared students should know that they are not alone, and with the increasing numbers of majors and minors available at colleges it is likely they will eventually find something that appeals to them, even if it is not immediately apparent.
Working students balance life By Nerayo Tekie As the class of 2015 end the chapter of their life at UPA, many have already embarked on a new journey: first jobs! Many seniors have already started their first job this school, or will be this summer, and these odd jobs that range from a number of random occupations Fellow senior, Nathan Kamm, is a local Piano salesman by Santana Row. Nathan first played the piano as a young child and has been playing ever since. Nathan said “well I realized I liked making money and I wasn’t fond of working with food or other generic jobs you usually get as a teenager.’’ “I’ve always loved pianos, so I went to this local piano store, told him ‘I’ve been playing piano for nearly a decade’ and he told me to play and he was amazed and offered me a position as a sales associate.” Nathan is extremely lucky, but for the most of us, we’re not as musically gifted as Nathan and able to find a job without even applying. He says he’s been happily working there for over seven months and is sad for his inevitable leave when he attends Sonoma State later this fall, but he plans to work there over the summer after his spring term when in college. “Honestly I’m just so happy I didn’t end up working at a place I would hate, this was by far the best first job I could ever ask for” Nathan said. He welcomes all visitors at the Yamaha Peninsula Music Center located in West side San Jose by Santana Row, so go on out and visit our own Nathan Kamm! Another Senior, Jackey Contreras, also received her first job this year as a baker at a pastry store called Beard Papas. “My parents were getting annoyed with me constantly asking for money, and Martin (her brother) asked if I wanted to work with him at a nice dessert cafe in the middle of Cupertino, so I just said ‘oh what the heck I guess it’ll be fun’ and here I am eleven months later still making cream puffs!” Jackey said She loves working there, but says she hopes for a more interesting part-time job when she goes off to college. “Yeah this place is pretty boring, but hey who doesn’t enjoy spending money on random things you don’t need, am I right?” Jackey has said numerous times that she presents an air conditioned restaurant to eat, so if you’re ever close enough, stop on by!
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Leo Fernandez: Show Stopper, Rising Teen Soccer Star By Sahana Bhargava “My knees were shaking and my blood was pumping. I jogged to the penalty spot and placed the ball to my liking. The ref blew the whistle. I took a deep breath, and looked left but shot right”. Goal. Leonardo Fernandez reminisces his proudest moment from the 2012 Surf Cup quarter finals in San Diego. Fernandez, a junior and soccer fanatic, made his debut as a five-year-old when he started playing for his team, PAC (Portuguese Athletic Club) Atlas. He clandestinely hopes his sweat and toil will pay off and that he will have the opportunity to play for Division I in college, and ultimately land a career in the sport. Even before he embarked on his journey with PAC Atlas and placed first in his club soccer bracket, Fernandez recalls being strongly influenced by
Photo courtesy of Mr. Fernandez Leo Fernandez, #99, resets after his scoring a goal at the San Diego Surf Cup.
Messi, Bravo, Ronaldinho, Bofo, and Carlos. These famous soccer professionals, helped him realize that it is not necessary to be the fastest or strongest man on the field in order to succeed; instead, colossal motivation and dedica-
tion are confirmed success factors. Fernandez’s garage, stacked with trophies, testifies to the rigor of his training schedule and winning spree. Slightly superstitious, Fernandez follows a special lucky routine before big games; miracu-
Growth Mindset: A Desire to Achieve
lously, it has always worked. “The night before the game I have to eat pasta. On the day of the game, I have a thirty minute playlist of my favorite music at the time and I play my music as loud as possible, so I can start getting into a different mindset,” said Fernandez. This different mindset helps the goal-driven athlete establish a one team, one dream environment for the game. Sophomore Alan Martino has played on the UPA soccer team with Fernandez for the past two years and notes the improvements in Fernandez’s skills, particularly his leadership skills. “We played as strikers once against another team, with two captains against him and me. The other team had no chance
against us,” Martino said proudly. Outside of school, Fernandez also shines. Frankie Cisneros, the PAC Atlas coach, regards Fernan-
Freshmeat Fears
By Diana Rendler
Photo by Reid Wilson from the Noun Project A growth mindset is characterized by self-motivation to improve one’s self.
By Natorie Moreno The desire to achieve your dreams must incorporate motivation, determination and commitment; followed by the unrelenting pursuit of your goals which enables you to attain the success. As a senior, I have been traveling down the road to college for a while. I cannot convey the importance of being open-minded. Most think there is only one perfect way to get to college and find a career, when in fact, there is no perfect way. An individual who has a growth mindset understands that the consistency in developing ideas and bettering his or her ability to pursue their goal, will not be the individual who will brittle when facing adversity. By embracing the ramifications of our own incapabilities and pushing ourselves to improve, we create an alternative motive to push for high grades. Everybody has strug-
gled in their academic studies one way or another. In those moments, they have become engulfed in emotions, struggling to make any sense.Or they have pushed and researched ways to receive assistance in order to help better their understanding. When speaking at a conference in April, I was able to grasp a true understanding of the well-known phrase “Just Do It”, a motto Nike uses all the time. The symbolism behind those three simple words possess a lot of meaning. Similar to an athlete or even someone who is just beginning to work out, the process of making a choice to exercise or eating healthy takes place because of a made up mind to achieve the goal. A made up mind can change the current predicament and can create more opportunities than ever before. Instead of giving up on that math class because you cannot seem to pull your grades up...
stay and do everything you can to understand the concepts. Maybe for you, it is not math. It might be english, chemistry, or physics. The grade is important. Do not get me wrong, however, it is not everything. In fact, it only asserts a better understanding of the material in the end. By looking back at history, influential people like Thomas Edison, Bill Gates, Michael Jordan or Steve Jobs, influential people not once, not twice but over a thousand times have failed before they have ever succeeded. Yet, they realized the repetition of enhancing their performance, capabilities, and ideas would one day have a grand effect. Everything is a season in times and has a purpose. So since we are eagles, let’s expand our minds to soar through adversity by having a fearless spirit of a conqueror.
dez as one of the most humble players on the team, always improving himself as a family member, student, friend, and athlete. “Leo is a veteran leader on his team. He always comes through for his team at clutch moments,” said Cisneros. Fernandez modestly believes there is always room for improvement. “I live by the cliche ‘don’t practice until you get it right, practice until you don’t get it wrong’,” said Fernandez. Recently his hard work was awarded when he received the All League 1st Team Award for being the best player in the league for the right forward position. It can be safely concluded that Fernandez’s eleven years of sweat, happiness, and joyful tears will continue as he pursues his aspirations to be a professional soccer player.
The worst parts of freshman year are the “what if” questions and the insane answers the brain invents. High school is a major transition for freshmen. For the last year in middle school, they were top dogs, but now they are thrust back to the bottom of the social hierarchy. This intense change creates a multitude of worries for freshmen. “I think their fears are everyone’s fears,” said Kristin Tillim, former freshman English teacher. “Things like, am I making the right choices in my life? What do people think about me? Am I going to be able to succeed?” While some students have a smooth transition into high school, while others have a harder time. “I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to handle the homework load,” freshman Kimmy Tran said. At some point, everyone wishes life had a rewind button. “I would love to restart high school so that I can have a fresh new start on everything,” freshman Ria Vashishat said. On the flip side, some students master high school and have no desire to relive the past. “I would not start high school again because I like what has happened during my high school experience so far, and I wouldn’t want to change anything,” Tran said. One main cause of distress, the one that will challenge every high school student at some point, is friends—how to make
them and how to keep them. “I’m afraid of being rejected by my friends,” said freshman Harry Haessner, “and instead of being the first choice when choosing to be in a group project, or being told something important, I am their second choice.” Sometimes, it is necessary to break through fears. “I just learn to let go of what I dislike, and hold on to what I love about it,” Haessner said. “I love the relationships I make with friends, teachers, and others in the school. I love learning more about the subjects I want to pursue after college and even learning about topics I never knew existed, and experience what it is like controlling my own life and taking on responsibilities.” Even if a student loves high school, warming up to the new experience can take a while. “Freshmen are always quiet and timid on the first day; there is something intimidating about being in high school for the first time,” Tillim said. “Of course, by week two, the freshmen get much more talkative.” Once freshmen find their comfort zone, many of them shine. “Freshmen are more open about their curiosity and ideas,” Tillim said. “Freshmen are typically willing to take more intellectual risks.” Overall freshmen fears are short lived and ultimately “everyone has something unique to offer the world,” Tillim said.
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Volume 4, Issue 3
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6 Feat ures
May 28, 2015
Is It Really ‘All About that Bass’? By Kim Do
Photo courtesy of Issac Brekken/Getty Images Megan Trainor performs at the iHeartRadio Festival last September.
Renowned for her hit singles, “All About that Bass”, “Lips are Moving”, and “Dear Future Husband”, 21 year-old Nashville songwriter Meghan Trainor has been shining in the spotlight, hitting radio stations all over the nation and even Billboard’s Hot 100. Her most popular song, “All About that Bass”, promotes a body-positive image among curvy girls like Trainor herself, empowering them to feel confident and beautiful. Props to Ms. Trainor for still being able to “shake it” without being a size two! But if she does so at the cost of shaming “skinny bitches,” what kind of message is the pop sensation really sending? In the five past months, Trainor has been lauded as an in-
spiration among teen girls. She emphasizes selflove within all women in “All About that Bass”, reminding her fans that “every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top”. She does so with commendable intentions. “My crowd was all the skinny, beautiful, popular girls, and I was their, like, thicker friend. This one dude I was in love with in seventh grade said, ‘You’d be so much hotter if you were 10 pounds lighter.’ It crushed me”, she revealed to Glamour Magazine. Simply put, Trainor lived a nightmare that every teen would be haunted by, but she put her grudges to use. Her negative childhood experiences motivated her to compose the song, winning her worldwide recognition.
Trainor also wrote to the Huffington Post, “I wrote this song because I myself struggle with this concept of self-acceptance. It was written from a real place so I’m glad the other people can relate to it”. But of course, the “other people” do not include the “silicone Barbie dolls” that she debases in her song. Her song is targeted at only those who can physically relate to Trainor and entirely neglects those who do not. Her passion for female empowerment is certainly admirable, but her portrayal of other figures illustrates a negative perception of body-image, idolizing curvy girls as superior and an ideal for what men truly want. While her music may have great bass, she realizes that it really is not “all about that bass”.
Life Behind the Curtains By Paj Thao It’s 7 P.M. on a Friday night and last-minute hair pinning continues backstage as we’re plunged into the darkness of the curtain except for the dim glow of the backstage flashlights. Actors and stage crew members anxiously whisper to each other in the blackness, stumbling over set pieces and rechecking their cues. I stand on the righthand side of the stage, feeling confident and excited. Opening night. With all of our efforts we were sure to succeed. “Please welcome the cast and crew of Once Upon a Mattress.” The meager audience applauds.and our four-person so-called orchestra strikes up the musical’s prelude. In a group, we quietly sing and dance (and attempt to beatbox) along to the music backstage. When you’re in a musical, there’s no escaping the songs, they play repeat and over in your head. What else is in a play? Though put on in March, the process began “many moons ago” -- flashback to December, before break, when auditions were held. We had to face the nerve-wracking song solo before director and teacher Ms. Catherine and the vocal and dance directors who were former strangers to me. There were not as many enthusiastic actors willing to audition as there had been in the school’s previous productions, so the cast was rather paltry. (Thinking back on it, I
was still grateful to even have received a named role with speaking parts -- the knight Sir Studley gender-bent into Lady Sarah.) After spring break came the rehearsals; lines, blocking, movement, gestures, expressions, songs, dance. It’s all a part of putting on a production, more time and effort than the audience would know. As we rehearsed, we learned to love the parody of the Princess and the Pea, with its demanding queen, mute king, childish prince, and bold princess. Then came tech week— or H-E-double-hockeystick week, as they call it. We stayed after school from four to nine in the days leading up to the production. Changes into costumes, overdone stage makeup, hair curling, and annoyed audio technicians kept us busy. But in between the hectic practices, leisure occurred in the form of light conversation, drawing pictures on the whiteboard in the French classroom, homework, singing Disney songs, sharing food, and wishing we could sleep. Perhaps now you can begin to see that a play isn’t just some silly skit without meaning. (It doesn’t even have to be about the story. Our cast also struggled to understand the end of the plot.) What truly mattered were the endeavors, the laughter we shared— all of the toil leading up to the night when the minstrel began to sing, and ending not with the final bows on the last day, but with the cleanup afterward. So, what’s in a play? Maybe now you know.
Photo courtesy of Enrique Espinoza Professional “Call Of Duty” and eSports team, OpTic Gaming, takes first place in the Electronic Sports World Cup 2015 Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare on May 3 in Paris, France.
Debate Over Video Games Continues
By Albert Lam Playing video games have become drastically popular as an interactive form of entertainment. Many parents believe that video games are a hindrance to the brain and frown upon them as a waste of time. Other parents believe that they provide healthy brain workouts that requires thinking skills. According to Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. association representing companies that publish computer and video games, and their article, “Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry,” approximately “59% of Americans play video games.” More than half of the U.S. population plays video games therefore raising the question, is half of America wasting their time playing video games or are they enhancing their mental skills? Raise Smart Kids, an
online guide for parents on how to raise a bright, intelligent child, provides an article, “The Positive and Negative Effects of Video Games” by Chacha Tumbokon, that mentions how playing violent video games are to blame for the violent behaviors of players, but are also beneficial to the brain by enhancing thinking skills. “Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial helping, according to a scientific study” wrote Tumbokon. Such violence can influence the habits that children acquire as they develop. Spending a majority of time on video games can lead children to “spend less time in other activities such as doing homework, reading, sports, and interacting with the family and friends.” according to the article. Social isolation can damage the mental and physical health of players by causing “obesity, video-induced seizures, and postural, muscular and skel-
etal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome” wrote Tumbokon. With such harmful effects of video games, how can there possibly be positive effects? Tumbokon claims that video games require abstract thinking skills in order to win. Video games enhance thinking skills that are not usually taught at school such as situational awareness, logic, hand-eye coordination, strategy, accuracy, etc. “Video games introduce your kid to computer technology and the online world” wrote Tumbokon. The world revolves around technology and children can adapt to the high-tech society to grow accordingly. Video games allow submersion into the basics of technology that supports our advanced society. A variety of parents have contrasting opinions about video games as it is embedded into society and will continue to appeal to many players as time goes on.
8 Campus Life
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May 28, 2015
Dashing Ditmore Departs
spective physics teachers and he seems like a good guy,” Ditmore said. “I’m going to leave behind all my documentation for big projects, so hopefully [students] will be able to make medieval siege weapons and zombie electric fences [in Physics].” Ditmore is devoted to both the classroom and the school, taking full advantage of the freedom UPA gives him in innovation such as the idea of clickers in the classroom and PLTW courses. He also utilizes extensive group projects that both entertain and enlighten, such as the bottle rocket project that teaches students how to work as a team. “I think that’s the main thing that characterizes him as a teacher,” Tillim said. “He’s always trying new
things to make his classroom a better place. Some teachers find something that works and stick to it, but he’s always trying something new.” Freshman Kate Mackessy herself has benefitted from Ditmore’s passionate teaching method, feeling comfortable working with others and with the teacher. “I learned a lot about working in groups to get a project done because in engineering that’s something you have to do a lot,” said Mackessy, “you have to work together to get a project done and rely on people around you.” Teachers and students alike note the radiant positivity Ditmore brings to his classroom, a result of his relaxed demeanor, listening skills, and love of teaching. Noah Sanborn, a sophomore at UPA who Ditmore taught for three years, observed his sense of humor and said that he is, “a cool guy who you can talk to often and ask ‘How are you doing?” as well as the fact that “he likes his job and that’s all that matters.” A prime example of Ditmore’s positivity in any situation occurred on one particular backpacking trip with the staff; he forgot his shoes before the fourto-six-mile hike with plenty of rocky and hilly terrain, but never lost the smile on his face. “Instead of not going or complaining, he just walked the trail barefoot,” said Tillim. Ditmore applies this philosophy to his teaching as well. Despite the occasional rowdiness of his students, he always tries his best to support them. “I get such a kick out of you guys and I think you guys so are funny; I’ll miss working with kids,” Ditmore said.
team is the top eleven players in the league and soccer second team is the next eleven best players in the league. Having UPA athletes honored in the first year makes students feel accepted into the league. Most teams in their first year “normally get 1 or 2 awards,” athletic director Billy Fowler. The athletes who earn these awards are the top players in their sport for the league which includes Downtown College Prep, Kipp San Jose Collegiate, and Summit Prep. Even after they earn their coaches’ approval, the athletes are reviewed by all the athletic director and the coaches vote on the top athletes. “I feel honored to have received this award,’’ said junior
Jonathan Gong-Guy, who received first team varsity basketball award. UPA’s athletes know the teamwork and dedication it takes to have a good season. “I wish our whole team would have been given an award due to the amount of work we all put in together to actually make soccer happen this last year,” said junior Leo Fernandez who won first team varsity soccer. UPA’s athletes are also humble. “Our team worked hard together,” said senior Natorie Monero, who won first team varsity basketball. Despite winning this award, some athletes felt their whole team should be honored. Here a team sport is
Photo By Neha James Jake Ditmore completes his fourth and final year as a teacher at UPA.
By Flavio Quintero Jake Ditmore will be following his wife to Rochester, New York, at the end of the school year, where she will be doing a one-year internship at the University of Rochester Medical Center to finish her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He has taught at UPA for the past four years, showing an impressive range in the courses he has taught, including physics, physical science, math support, two PLTW courses, and advisory. Students taking Principles of Engineering and Physics will not have to fret about his departure, for those classes will be covered by a replacement for the time being who will have access to Ditmore’s extensive curriculum. “I met one of the pro-
Athletes Awarded All-League
By Diana Rendler
In honor of UPA’s first full year in the Private School Athletic League, some of the top performing athletes were formally awarded the PSAL All-League award this year. Thirteen of UPA’s athletes—Sanya Mann, Emily Chou, Melissa Drews, Melanie Chou, Katey Holland, Alexis Atwal, Natorie Moreno, Leonardo Fernandez, Eliana Batrez, Sitara Bellam, Diana Rendler, John Gong-Guy, and Kyle Jones—were awarded first or second team to recognize their athletic talents. First team is the top court or field of players and second team is the next top court or field of players. For example, soccer first
PLTW Grows By Sabeeq Karim
The Project Lead The Way (PLTW) program initially began with two classes that were taken as extracurriculars. Over the last three years, the program has developed higher level classes that have attracted students schoolwide. Recently, the classes of Principles of Engineering and Biomedical Sciences started labs and projects that target the research aspect of the courses. The research is intended to give students an image of what to expect in actual careers. The PLTW programs helps students “work better in groups to create projects, learn how to manage time with deadlines and how to question complex situations” said PLTW teacher Chris Weitzel. The main goal of the PLTW program is to get students interested in the medical or engineering field a precursor to the college courses that they are interested in for the future. “If you have a growth mindset, anything can be done,” said Freshman Hephzibah Dedala. For engineering specifically, students try repeatedly and test their projects before completing them. The concept of trial and error is a key part of learning. “What PLTW engineering provides is a different kind of education, one in which failure is a natural part of designing, innovating, building, experimenting, etcetera, “ said Jake Ditmore, teacher for the PLTW Engineering courses.
Although students meet challenges, they find the classes to be great experiences. “The most exciting parts of this course are the hands on projects that we do after learning the material, “ Dadala said. The real world applications provoke students’ interests, helping them build their goals for their future. The best part of Biomedical Sciences are, “The labs and the excitement of the students finding out why our bodies work the way they do, “ said Weitzel. The projects help students familiarize with concepts about of biology and engineering. “They understand the complexities of diagnosing and caring for the body” said Weitzel, explaining the most important takeaways for when students move onto higher courses. Although the PLTW program has brought in an influx of interested students for some time, the engineering courses have known to be mainly taken by boys. Recently, after an open house for girls to get interested in the program, there’s new hope into eliminating the gender bias seen in the engineering classes. “We have made a lot of progress with the number of girls, but we still need more in these courses, Dadala said. “There are companies and colleges that specifically look for girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).”
Photo courtesy of Sakshi Hedge Diana Rendler, Melissa Drews, Melanie Chou, and Katey Holland received the first or second team PSAL All-League Award. Sanya Mann, Emily Chou, Alexis Atwal, Natorie Monero, Leonardo Fernandez, Eliana Batrez, Sitara Bellam, John Gong-Guy, and Kyle Jones also recieved awards but were not photographed.
truly about the victories of the team; UPA’s athletes are proud of what they and their team have achieved. “What I plan to do with the award is put it in a place where
every time I look at it, I would be reminded of the memories I created during my sophomore basketball season” said sophomore Kyle Jones, who won second team varsity basketball.