Aquila Prom
June 2, 2014
Volume 3, Issue 3
University Preparatory Academy
time once again By Gabriela Munoz
Salons are fully booked a month in advance, girls are at the mall shopping vigorously for dresses and shoes, accessories and makeup, and everyone is talking about who was going with whom. In high school it is easy to tell when it’s prom season. It’s one of the most memorable events of a high school career, perhaps the last big bash before graduation. The dress, the hair, the limo, the friends, the photos—little things that will make the special night memorable. Out of the many traditions University Preparatory Academy has built over the years, prom might be one of the strongest school events here. On May 17, the Great Gatsby-themed prom took place at the Coyote Creek Golf Course
Photo courtesy of Steve Guevara Prom attendees pause for a picture before a lovely dinner. From left to right: Corianna Wong, Erin Wilson, Dallas Manson, Eve Wilson, Joseph Torres, Laura Houck, Raul Ramirez, amnd Alec Grubb. Prom 2014 was held at Coyote Creek Golf Course in Morgan Hill on May 17. in Morgan Hill from 6 to 11 p.m. Prom was a special night students won’t soon forget. “A lot of things exciting happened at prom,” said junior Jessica Abraham, “like when we got Mr. Bell to the dance floor.” Throughout the night, shimmery and sparkly dresses lit up the dance floor. Sophomore Kim Do and junior Nathan Kamm were the couple to start the night off, being the first two on the dance floor. “I enjoy encouraging people to dance and I loved being called a ‘party animal’ by the DJ,” Do said.
The song that really got everyone moving was “Soulja Boy.” “I honestly didn’t like the music all that much since they were pretty outdated,” Senior Neelina Chand said, “but I didn’t really mind since everyone was having a great time dancing anyway.” Although many of the 140 students who showed up believed prom was a improvement from last year, some noted it could be improved next year by having better music and decorating the venue a bit more. Regardless, prom is a
high school event in that leaves students with a night to never forget, and some students said prom meant more to them than just dancing and hanging out with friends. “It was a time that signaled the end of the year,” junior Ramsee Chand said. “All of my AP classes are over and the only thing I need to worry about are two finals. It was a good end to a school year and it was well worth the wait.” Do agreed it was a night to remember. “Although it was a different experience, since I couldn’t
enjoy it with my best friend— as I was invited by an upperclassman—I still enjoyed it regardless,” Do said. Prom is especially important for seniors at UPA, not only because it is their last dance, but because it is also a big bash before graduation. “Since this was my senior prom, I wanted to make the most of it and have as much fun as possible,” Neelina Chand said. “This prom was all about having fun and not getting stressed out about silly things.”
Dance Show ‘All That Jazz’ By Selena Razo
For the third year in a row, University Preparatory Academy’s dance department held its annual Dance Showcase for all to see on Friday, May 2, in the Horton Auditorium. The showcase is a compilation of dances the middle and high school dance classes have performed in class over the school year. They also dance to pieces that were created exclusively for the showcase. For every few dances, director Ms. Catherine Dietrich walked on stage and introduced the numbers, including the title of the dance and the dancers in the performance. While there are two separate middle and high school classes, the two classes performed in several wonderful numbers together including the eerie “Thriller” and the classy “All That Jazz”. The showcase included
not only choreography taught in class, but also student-choreographed dances. “My dance students have grown in work ethic, in technique, and in the belief that they can set out to accomplish any piece, no matter how challenging it might seem at the beginning,” Dietrich said. One popular performance was sophomore Blong Thao’s solo to the viral hit song “What Does The Fox Say?” by Ylvis. “I loved Blong’s dance,” sophomore Priyanka Karunakaran said enthusiastically. “His costume was so cute. He had a lot of energy which made it fun to watch,”. The dance was almost no sweat for Thao. “I was a little nervous, but you just have to forget the crowd. Feel free and focus on the dance,” Thao said. But this wasn’t Thao’s first time performing the solo.
Photo courtesy of Steve Guevara Members of the high school dance class perform a routine for the Dance Showcase on May 2. “I already choreographed the solo before the dance showcase, for my dance final, so I just added a few new moves,” Thao said. One particularly emotional dance was the self-choreographed performance to Lana Del Ray’s “Young And Beautiful” by freshmen Joy Montes de Oca and Brieanne Scott. The duo’s
dance was previously performed at the recent UPA Talent Show but at that time it included the accompaniment of sophomore Erin Wilson and senior Dallas Manson interpreting the lyrics into sign language. “It gave me chills,” senior Claudia Sanborn said. “It was so beautiful and it embodied
the meaning and the spirit of the song almost brought me to tears.” “If I can I will definitely come next year,” said senior Ashley Akau regarding the dance showcase. “The dance showcase was absolutely wonderful and I would just love to see it again.”
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June 2, 2014
Contestants for ‘Nuit de Monsieur’ Take to the Runway for Annual Event By Emily Manley
On the night of April 25, 12 boys participated in the “Nuit De Monsieur” pageant, which consisted of three portions: talent, questions and fashion. After contestants were done the audience got to pick the winner. In first place honors went to senior Robert Hernandez, while senior Arihan Shah took third place, and in second place went to senior Jake Spikes. When questioned Hernandez on why he wanted to be in the “Nuit De Monsieur” and Hernandez said, “I thought it would be fun.” Spikes had a similar reason. “It’s an opportunity to
dance around like an idiot with friends,” Spikes said. After the event was over, Cayleigh Coester and Kassandra Ramirez both said that they knew Hernandez would win. “It was expected that Hernandez would win when I saw that he was the crowd’s favorite,” Coester said. “And it was interesting to see that all of the winners were seniors.” Hernandez’s saxophone performance was also well received. “Robert played an amazing song on his saxophone and it was a crowd pleaser,” Coester said. “Some of the other acts that did not win were either seen before or not very interesting.”
Hard Work Pays Off: Seniors Bound for Colleges Nationwide
• Southern Oregon University • UC Santa Cruz • UC Davis • BYU Idaho • BYU Provo • UC Irvine • Loyola Marymount University • Northern Arizona University • Georgia Tech • San Jose State University • UC Riverside • University of Redlands • UC San Diego • Seattle Pacific University • Saint Mary’s College • USC • University of Nevada, Las Vegas • Santa Clara University
• UC Santa Barbara • University of San Francisco • UCLA • Liberty University • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Evergreen Valley College • Berkeley • Mission College • Christ for the Nations Institute • Cal State Long Beach • Allegheny College • San Francisco State University • St. John’s University • University of Oregon
Photo courtesy of Steve Guevara Contestants in the “Nuit de Monsieur” pagaent show off their fashion presentations before the show begins on April 25 at University Preparatory Academy.
Mansfield says Goodbye to UPA By Nico Sarabia
UPA is experiencing a loss at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. History teacher Mike Mansfield is transferring to Monte Vista Christian School in Santa Cruz to be closer to his family. Mansfield teaches two AP classes: AP World History to sophomores and AP Government and Economics to seniors. Mansfield has taught at UPA for six years and during that time he has also taught Geography and World History. His favorite course was a speech and debate class he taught during the 2009-2010 school year because it had a perfect balance of teaching, learning, and fun. “There is something I liked about every class,” said Mansfield. “With AP Government and economics teaching seniors shaped competition, and in World History teaching the people who didn’t think they belonged and seeing them do well,
and teaching speech and debate about four years ago was because it was both fun and we learned a lot.” “Mansfield was one of the best history teachers I’ve had since coming to UPA freshman year,” said Heriberto Alcantar, junior. “He worked the WHAP kids like dogs, but in the end we crushed the AP test.” Mansfield has really made a difference in the lives of some of the students he has taught. Going through the halls you hear about students having either family problems, or just needing advice, and some of them turn to Mansfield. While at UPA, Mansfield has worked on countless activities that have impacted the school, but one of the most prominent was being the first person to teach an AP class, and thus setting the standard for teaching AP classes. Mansfield’s drive for teaching AP classes is competition. He likes seeing the students
who are prepared to take on the test and crush it, but even more so he likes seeing students who thought they didn’t belong do better than they expected. He is also one of the teachers who has worked hard on the Intervention program that has grown increasingly important on steering students on the right path, as well as improving communication between parents, teachers, and students. To his current sophomores in his WHAP classes, he believes that with him or without him they will be fine, and that they are rockstars. “I’m going to miss Mr.Mansfield next year for AP Gov. He was an amazing teacher in past years and I was looking forward to having him one last time” said junior Raelene Wolfe. After his six years here, UPA taught him that relationships matter. He said, “when you can connect with people and have a mutual goal, you can do amazing things.”
“Magellan because I want to hit him with a stick.”
“Jaco Pastorius so we can play bass together.”
Aly Suleman, Senior
Shubham Naik, Junior
Billy Edwards, Sophomore
“George Washington to see how it was like to fight for freedom.”
Nicole Darvin, Freshman
“My grandma because she’s really nice and sweet.”
Ian Francis, 8th Grade
Belen Ortega, 7th grade
If you could spend a day with anyone (dead or alive, real or fake) who would it be and why?
“Hitler because I’d want to see what’s going on inside his mind.”
“Cleopatra and ask her how she started a war by herself.”
3 Sound the Alarm: Code Khaki Alert quency and decadence of morality of a significant minority of its students. To remedy this devastating malady that is slowly bringing the school to its knees, the already stringent dress code will be tightened next year to combat slipping adherence to established rules. However, sincere requests from the student body were taken into consideration, and modifications to the dress code addressing such
desires will be integrated as well. One of the most significant changes to the dress code next year will not be in the dress code itself, but in the way it is executed and disseminated. UPA personnel will begin more actively enforcing the new rules, and the student handbook has been revised to allow for easier perusal. Coupled with many students’ resolute will to
“UPA’s dress code is hurtling toward radical change.”
By Taiyo Hokari Next year will be a revolutionary year in UPA’s short, yet intriguing history. Although the school enjoys high API scores, it languishes in recurrent delin-
Don’t Dig E-Cigs, Future Effects Still Unknown
By Sydney Harder Out of the aggravating vendors in the mall that chase down shoppers so they can show a product that will make skin silky-soft or hair absolutely perfect, there is one salesman that stands out. He does not need to pull potential buyers toward his stand or majestically wave a sample in front of passersby. In fact, he hardly says a word as he sits in his high chair in front of the simple display case. So how does this vendor at-
tract any customers with such a pacified demeanor? Perhaps it is because the product does not need further publicity. After all, e-cigarettes have rapidly gained popularity among adults and teenagers. E-cigs might as well be added to the collection of vodka and red plastic cups for the next house party. A d v e rtised as emitting only “harmless water vapor” and boosting swag for the consumer, e-cigarettes appeal to pseudo-smokers, especially those in the teenage realm seeking to follow a trend. Our generation is composed of bandwagoners. Remember Kony 2012? However, unlike that failed campaign, the e-cig fad has not waned, and
frankly, users are indifferent toward possible health concerns. To begin with, many do not even know how e-cigarettes work. E-cigarettes are battery-operated. A heating element converts
University Preparatory Academy
AQUILA
Managing Editor Morgan Luu In-Depth Editor Vincent Garcia News Editor Lizzy Wallace Editorial Editor Sydney Harder Features Editor Taiyo Hokari Entertainment Editor Selena Razo Copy Editor Brooke Headley
hardly unanimously supported. Freshman Serena Quezada blasted the school’s policy: “The dress code is horrible; it makes want to throw my uniform out the window.” Students argue the constrictions of the current dress code are too repressive, but lax discipline provides reprieve from the otherwise atrocious law. University Preparatory Academy dress code is hurtling toward radical change and will remain for at least one more year. In the midst of a new dress code, change will permeate the atmosphere of this educational establishment; for better or for worse remains to be seen.
is true. They fail to enlighten the masses of the consequences of using their product. After the FDA decided to research the side effects, they found a flaw in the seemingly perfect alternative to actual cigarettes. A study conducted last April at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute discovered that when high voltage is applied to the heating coils in the vapor-conversion mechanism, nicotine levels increase and substances associated with cancer, like formaldehyde, are present. However, this information has not made the headlines and even if it does, e-cig manufacturers will brush off the findings and consumers will continue to not care. It all sounds reminiscent of the smoking fad that permeated American culture in the 1920s. The young veterans of WWI, defiant women, and politicians incorporated smoking into everyday life and un-
derground clubs promoted the consumption of cigarettes. Politicians sat in dimlit rooms discussing policies amid a cloud of smoke. Hardly anyone was aware of the selfinflicted damage to their lungs. Sans flapper girls and jazzy music, 21st century vaping clubs provide a community for smokers of all types of e-cig and vape pens. These clubs offer a sense of exclusiveness; no wonder more attendees show up every week. So as that seemingly harmless vendor pulls customers even closer, remember that flawless products often cause side effects even if they do not appear immediately. According to the Connecticut Post, e-cig sellers purposely forget to include a “Warning” label to save the local e-cig industry. Until further research is conducted and their findings are publicized, e-cigs will continue to pervade society. But it will not come as a surprise if people develop fatal symptoms in a few decades. After all, history does repeat itself.
Teen fashion magazines, like Seventeen, display various summer outfits that include short shorts. Seventeen even published a workout routine called the “Short Shorts Workout” for teen girls who thought they wouldn’t fit in them. With summer right around the corner, everyone seems to think short shorts will cool them off, but is that the only reason to wear them? “Short shorts are ideal mainly for summer, but girls tend to wear them to show off their amazing legs—if they have them,” freshman Diana Shetterly said. Admit it, ladies, most of us do not wear short shorts just because of the weather. Short shorts are the first clothing item a teenage girl will pull out of her closet on a hot day, but what if she is going to school? Statistics show that most public high schools have strict dress codes regarding the length of shorts, dresses and skirts; however, some students do not follow the rules because they believe administrators don’t
care enough to enforce them. “More than 90 percent of female high school students wear short shorts to school more than twice a week between the months of April and July,” according to Linda Lumsden of the U.S Department of Education. There have been various occasions on Free Dress Days when students were asked to change out of their “booty shorts” and into something more appropriate so they would not distract male students who are trying to receive an education. “[Wearing short shorts] appears to be happening on the hotter Free Dress Days, and if it’s not due to the excessive amount of heat, then it’s for the guys,” Shetterly said. So there we have it. Short shorts equals fashionably comfortable and fashionably appealing, especially to the guys’ wandering eyes. But remember, ladies, short shorts are not appropriate for school and should only be worn in the summer.
Short Shorts: Improper?
The Aquila is a student-produced and student-edited high school newspaper. It serves as a designated public forum for student expression.
Editor-in-Chief Akeiylah DeWitt
unquestionably follow set rules, this plan, if executed as planned, should reduce the amount of excessive nudity and insurgency that currently plagues the school. In addition to adjustments to conventional UPA dress code, the collar clause has expanded to include shirts sponsored by on-campus groups. This means all club and event shirts cannot be worn on campus during school hours, except during the single week immediately following the event. Although UPA hierarchy claims to be installing the new dress code for the good of the school, it is
“Until further research is conducted and their findings are publicized, e-cigs will continue to pervade society.” liquid nicotine into a vapor and some e-cigs come with a flavor cartridge. Manufacturers might as well throw in fun flavors if it turns out that maybe, just maybe, e-cigs present health risks. What? E-cigarettes aren’t safe? Yes, unfortunately not everything advertisers say
Staff Writers Heriberto Alcantar, Sammy Cardoza, Akeiylah DeWitt, Vincent Garcia, Sydney Harder, Brooke Headley, Taiyo Hokari, Morgan Luu, Emily Manley, Gabriela Munoz, Serena Quezada, Selena Razo, Nicolas Sarabia, Lizzy Wallace Adviser Laura Gordon Reska Contact (408) 723-1839 2315 Canoas Garden Ave San Jose, CA 95125 aquila@upatoday.com We encourage reader participation through comments to Aquila. Please keep criticism constructive, avoid offensive behavior, and keep feedback relevant to the paper.
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Editorial
Volume 3, Issue 3
By Serena Quezada Short clothing seems to be burning up summer fashion these days. Everything from short dresses, skirts, and our main topic, short shorts. Short shorts date back to 1979, when the hit TV show “Dukes of Hazzard” first premiered. Lead character Daisy Duke wore the tiniest jean shorts until the TV network made her wear flesh-colored tights underneath her shorts. And that was the beginning of the Short Shorts Plague. “Short shorts are in style now because they are everywhere on TV and fashion magazines,” freshman Hiwot Kassaw said.
In-D
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June 2, 2014
Bound for Greatness: The Extraordinary People of UPA
Jessica de la Paz: Personality Powerhouse
By Lizzy Wallace
Jessica de la Paz, a seemingly normal sophomore, is much more than meets the eye. She may not be an undercover superhero, but with the amazing balancing act she pulls between school and musical theater, having superpowers might seem more realistic. Since seventh grade, De la Paz has performed in eight shows, shows both in school and outside it at Children’s Musical Theatre (CMT). Her absolute favorite is also the most recent: “Shrek.” “It’s not so much that it was a fantastic show, but it was the people,” De la Paz said. “With this show especially, I was able to bond so well with the cast, and compared to all the other shows I’ve done, the people I worked with in ‘Shrek’ were so professional and affable and talented and just generally great to be around.” With the amount of talent she possesses, it isn’t surprising that she has learned some of
the tricks of the trade. De la Paz has only been doing theater since seventh grade, but she has already developed a deep passion for acting and singing. One might think that this amount of talent may go to her head, but that isn’t true. Her best piece of advice to those aspiring to theatre is to stay humble. “Never think that you’re the best because once that happens you get worse,” De la Paz said. “When you get a big head, you forget doing all the little things that you initially worked so hard to achieve, and it just goes downhill from there.” One could argue, however, that De la Paz has the right to admit how talented she is; she’s a triple threat, since she has participated in dance, singing, and acting—all important for anyone wishing to pursue any kind of future in theater. Despite her talent, though, De la Paz said she cannot see herself doing theater for a career.
“Like any performer, Broadway, or being famous, is an idealistic goal, but realistically I’m thinking about going into medicine,” she said. “I find physiology super interesting, just because it’s one of my future aspirations, not to mention that I love explaining things and how things work.” With a full UPA course load, including both AP World History and Human Body Systems, it is surprising De la Paz can possibly still have time for herself. “Normally, I spend most of my day doing homework, preparing for the AP exam mostly. And I run. I do a good deal of that,” she said. She also hopes to participate in a half marathon or the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon next year. Even in her downtime, De La Paz doesn’t spend much time being idle, and enjoys giving back to the community. “If I can, I volunteer. Lately it’s been making sandwiches and feeding the homeless
Photo courtesy of Jessica de la Paz Jessica de la Paz, left, dances with confidence during the 2012-13 UPA production of “Once on This Island.” downtown,” she said. Even with all of her time spent up to her ears in extracurriculars, De La Paz still finds the motivation to continue theater. “It’s what I love doing, and when I perform people can see that,” she said. “I have a lot to learn, but knowing that people recognize your talent is an amaz-
ing feeling.” Despite not seeing a future career for herself under the spotlight, she is definitely an enthusiast and isn’t picky about which shows she participates in. “If you give me an audition date and a character list, I’m all for it,” De la Paz said.
Natalie Tracy: Triple Threat in the World of Entertainment By Vincent Garcia
Heat cascades down onto a stage and captivated onlookers witness a story unfold as actors and actresses bring their characters to life in a dramatic fashion. This scene is typical for senior Natalie Tracy, who has been involved in productions with UPA and CMT. Like other entertainers, Tracy has her reasons for choosing to embrace the life of a character and spend tedious hours remembering lines and stage placement. “I like making people laugh,” Tracy said. “I like the applause. I just like standing up there and portraying somebody different.” Her interest in theater arts began three years ago when senior Maddie Hartrich introduced her to the Children’s Musical Theater (CMT) in downtown San Jose. She has performed in nine different plays, including “Grease,” “Aida” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” This year Tracy earned the main role in UPA’s “Hairspray” as Tracy Turnblad. Though
she has only been acting for a few years, her ability to portray characters and animate herself on stage makes her unique. “She stole the show, even when she wasn’t singing, solely with her facial reactions to Link singing a song just for her,” said Catherine Dietrich, UPA’s drama instructor. “Once she learns her role, she goes beyond and lives it.” Although Hairspray is the first production where the two have worked together, Dietrich thoroughly enjoyed having Tracy on set. “I enjoy that no matter what is happening outside, Natalie is always positive and genuinely happy to be present. It is contagious to those around her,” Dietrich said. Dietrich said the qualities that make Tracy stand out as an actress and person include her kindness, professionalism and work ethic. Tracy fully invests herself into the work she does and it has brought success on the stage and in her academics. Tracy has been commended for her positive attitude, whether in the classroom or backstage during a play. Everyone
Photo courtesy of Steve Guevara Actress Natalie Tracy takes the stage for a solo in UPA’s 2014 production of “Hairspray.” knows that they can count on her to be supportive. “I can go to her for anything and she can always make me laugh,” said Jeanna Ramirez, friend and fellow senior. “She’s like a sister, I can always depend on her for anything.” At the end of the day,
Tracy is like any other student with dreams and aspirations to pursue once she graduates. She has attended UPA since she was in middle school and in six years she has made a mark on her friends. Tracy has forged strong friendships with those who have
been around her throughout her stay at UPA, which she hopes will remain close even as classmates move away to follow their own academic dreams. “She’s good with people,” Ramirez said. “She would be good at helping them become [better people].” Despite her experience with acting, Tracy has decided on a specific career path that she would like to see through. She has developed important people skills that will allow her to chase these aspirations. “I actually want to be a pediatrician,” Tracy said. “Anything involving kids I definitely want to be in. I love working with kids.” She chose to spend time working with children in her community service ventures and enjoyed working with them. Tracy has a goal in mind and if the work ethic she displayed in theater is an indication of her ability to succeed, she is poised to achieve her goals. Even though Tracy may have stepped off the stage for the last time, her future still holds the opportunity to bring delight to those in need of a little encouragement.
Do you know someone extraordinary at UPA? E-mail the Aquila at aquila@upatoday.com to recommend a student you would like to see profiled next year!
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Ramsee Chand: Young Filmmaker Headed for Hollywood By Selena Razo A teenage girl is just casually waiting at a stoplight, as usual, and begins to squeal. Why? Next to her car in his black Nissan 370Z with a trunk full of Oscars is ever so famous director Ramsee Chand. Well, maybe one day. For now, aspiring director and UPA junior is just trying to get to graduation day while also pursuing his passion for film. Chand first became interested in film during his middle school years when he watched youtubers create videos on YouTube. He even considered making YouTube videos himself, but his interest eventually died down. Freshman year, however, Chand’s interest started up again when he edited a music video as a project for Celina Padilla’s Spanish 3 class.
“Anyone can watch a movie,” said Chand explaining his interest in film due to it being an easy medium. Chris Weitzel notes that he has seen growth in Chand over the last few years and he has become more focused, especially in his passion for film. “He’s taken lots of strides to get better,” Weitzel said. He also runs the Image Manipulation and Creation Club (IMC) at school. Chand said that this year was a trial run for the club and next year he plans to do more. Along with his own club, Chand also owns his own company called “Chand Cinematics.” Essentially, if there is an event that needs a videographer, he’s the guy to call. “I use my eye as a camera,” Chand said. He teaches himself cinema quality programming and tries
to do this almost everyday. Not only does Chand have his own club and company, he is also creating his own movie focusing on the effects of gang violence. The film is based on the experiences of a friend of his, though his friend never did drugs and alcohol during this time. It is estimated to be 20-30 minutes long. Chand decided to make this the topic of his issue as he feels it is a pressing issue in today’s society. The film aims to shed light on gang violence and how to stop it. “It’s my baby,” Chand said regarding his film. It is Chand’s first big project with elements such as strict budget and gear. Production of the film, however, was postponed due to AP testing but should be starting up again soon.
Vincent Garcia: Sophisticated Artist By Nico Sarabia Passion drives some of the greatest artists of today, and Vincent Garcia is one of them. Next year at Long Beach State University, Garcia hopes to pursue his passion for art by taking classes in color theory, life drawing and basics of animation. “[So far] it has been a lot of self teaching and practice; I have checked almost every art book out from the local library to use as resources.¨ Garcia believes that aspiring artists should ¨just keep practicing, and focus on anatomy first. Focusing on stylization early on will inhibit your growth as an artists.” You have to nail down the basics before you can improve on your skills. Garcia continues to pursue his career in high school though he has never had any formal training. The most he has done was take 3-D art and drawing and painting classes last year with art teacher Karen Crump. He picked up his passion for art in elementary school, and has been drawing ever since he can remember. Garcia was paid for his art both online and in person. He hopes to open a PayPal shop to start selling his masterpieces to a larger consumer group. His passion for art, Garcia said, started because he was never great at sports or had any special talents when he was growing up and he really wanted to be good at something. Art became his passion and he fell in love with it after practicing and getting better. Nathaniel Enriquez,
Photo courtesy of Rohit Godbole Senior Vincent Garcia works on a piece of art at UPA. Garcia’s best friend, said that, “Art is a pretty integral part of his life; he is always talking about new art ideas and people are always asking him to draw things for them and with a gracious heart, he always accepts.” Garcia’s dedication to art is shown on a daily basis as it drives him forward towards new and bigger ideas. His dedication to drawing was demonstrated when he asked a girl to prom: he drew a jaguar with the word prom hidden in the design. The idea and drawing itself was absolutely beautiful. It is the subtle parts artist do that make them well known and allow them to advance in careers channeling that passion. Garcia’s sister Angelique, 13, said that, “Vincent is one of the most talented artists I know. His drawing skills are better than I could ever achieve and is partly natural talent, but also, he uses his free time to just sketch a quick picture here and there and it improved his skill.”
The talent in drawing will carry him far in life as he continues to pursue it; but he has another very interesting talent that includes heavy hitting, and agile movement. That’s mixed martial arts. He also has been training mixed martial arts for three years, and one of those years has been spent formally training at an MMA gym. Garcia was inspired to start MMA by his love for “contact sports, and something about the determination and heart in the athletes that participate in combat sports.” His passion for fighting, although interesting, is dangerous work. Luckily, Garcia hasn’t been hurt much past a black eye. Thankfully he knows his limits when fighting and hopes that when he turns eighteen to get a fighting license which allows him to fight in amateur fighting competitions. “Art became that passion and I fell in love with it after practicing and getting better,” Garcia said.
Chand’s passion for film is very apparent to those around him. “His eyes simply light up when he discusses his projects,” said the friend Joshua de la Paz, of the future director. Speaking of friends, there’s a lot more to Chand than just film. He’s UPA’s version of “the cool kid on the block”. Chand is apparently known to be someone that everyone wants to be friends with. ¨I don’t think I’ve ever had a person that said they don’t like Ramsee,¨ Mr. Weitzel said. Joshua de la Paz wrote a haiku to describe Chand’s personality: “Perseverant, yes, / He
cares what he does each day / But always laughter.” Chand is well-known as someone to create quality memories with. “My favorite memory? I can’t say that I have a ‘favorite,’ so to speak, but there is a rather fond memory that almost immediately comes to mind involving rose petals, an electric saxophone, a wooden door, and a number of letters spoken in a very specific order. I’ll leave that to your interpretation,” de la Paz said. Ramsee Chand is your typical, cool, all-around guy who just wants to be a director. ¨I think Ramsee will be successful in whatever he chooses to do,¨ Weitzel said.
By Morgan Luu
Lewis creates small plastic figures using a 3D printer in his free time, even making commission for friends and sells his work. “Depending on the request, the price can range from $50 for the smaller ones or more,” Lewis says. Making each little model is no easy task; Lewis must program his computer to what he would like to print, then wait for the printer to create the model with heated plastic. “It can be tedious but it’s fun and I like to do it,” Lewis says. Passionate about his work, Lewis goes to teach classes occasionally, such as one at Stanford Splash, a program that brings high school and middle school students to Stanford for two days to take wide variety of classes. One class is 3D Printing, taught by Lewis. “It’s hard to manage [a class], but with the right rewards and amounts of flexibility, it becomes easier over time,” says Lewis. Despite his talent in engineering, Lewis’s true colors show when he shares a surprising secret. “I used to want to become a gymnast,” says Lewis. As a child, he always admired acrobatic gymnasts and dreamt one day of performing onstage as they did. However, Lewis never attempted to learn gymnastics. His doubts of becoming a gymnast overpowered his great admiration. Instead Lewis began to learn how to fence but his appreciation for gymnastics still exists today. With Lewis as his teacher assistant, Ditmore works with Lewis and discusses his qualities that will aid him in his journey to success. “Riley knows what he’s doing and how to lead. I believe that can help him in the future to become successful,” Ditmore states.
Riley Lewis: Engineer Heaps of papers and little figurines pile on a desk. Sitting in front of a computer screen full of programs that most do not understand, Riley Lewis types away on a keyboard with the sounds of a 3D printer running in the background. And it all started simply because he was bored. Lewis’s interest in engineering began after meeting his sixth grade science teacher, Elise Mosoca, and began looking into technology at the Tech Museum. But Lewis’s teacher is not the only person who has help him to expand on his interest in technology. “I’ve always been into 3D printing,” Vernon Bussler, Lewis’s friend, said. “So when Riley started, I tried to help him out.” Being as good as he is with programing and 3D printing, Lewis is passionate about what he does. “I think they’ve all helped me mature and gain skills for real life jobs,” he said. Jake Ditmore teaches the Engineering class where Lewis is the teacher assistant. “He’s very knowledgeable at what he does. Very professional work. He always has something to say and ready to help students when they need it,” he said. As a Teacher Assistant, Lewis helps teach the class material as well. “He’s also very precise. He’s isn’t afraid to point out mistakes and says what’s on his mind.” Ditmore says. Virginia Cater, a friend of Lewis, recalls meeting Lewis and remembers thinking how rude he was. “I thought he was a know-it-all,” she recalls. Despite her first impression, Cater and Lewis became friends. “He’s interesting and I’m closer to him than most. I know about his 3D printing thing, which is cool,” Cater said.
6 Feat ures
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June 2, 2014
The Senior That Could Following Dreams By Sydney Harder
In a society where youth are generally labeled self-centered and inconsiderate, Pablo Lopez is something of an anomaly. His compassionate nature and unstoppable optimism reflect his enthusiasm for living a life dedicated to serving others. At only 18 years old, Lopez has already demonstrated his decision to lead a life of humility. Last summer, he traveled with his church to Nicaragua, where he built homes for disadvantaged children. “The fact that we were kids from America, willing to help them out, was foreign to them,” Lopez recalled. Witnessing the poor living standards and lack of basic necessities in Nicaragua dramatically changed his outlook on life. “I was reminded of how blessed I am, how lucky I am to have the life that I have,” Lopez explained. His natural proclivity toward giving is reinforced by the morals his parents and Christian faith taught him to uphold. “Christian values are the backbone upon which Pablo has built his life,” his father, Gerry Lopez, said. “His sense of service to others, his love and joy for life,
as well as his pursuit of passion in everything he does, exemplifies these values.” Above all else, the goal of impacting others’ lives is one that Lopez is wholeheartedly committed to achieving, whether it be through spreading the same Christian principles he remains steadfast in or through sharing his love for music. He is an active member in Church on the Hill’s worship team and the founder of Riff Raff Giraffe, a ska-reggae band that includes fellow classmates Jesse Doña, Robert Hernandez and Carson Lewis. Nearly every UPA student is familiar with Riff Raff Giraffe after the band’s talentshow winning performance last year. “It’s basically just a cool thing where we can jam together,” Lopez said. He has even made covers of songs such as “Treasure” by Bruno Mars on his own. Though it might come as a surprise, Lopez wasn’t always a natural extrovert. “[He] was painfully shy as a child,” Lopez Sr. said. “But a good dog was able to bring him out of his shell and then the journey out of shyness that his dog led him onto was completed
when he discovered drumming.” Even as a child, Lopez seemed to lead an examined life, spending time on his backyard swing set and ruminating. “He always had a serious and resolute look on his face. When I asked him what he was doing, he’d say ‘I’m thinking,’” Lopez Sr. recalled. Now, a combination of a love for music and commitment to his values serve as the foundations for Lopez’s solid sense of self. While most seniors are overwhelmed by the uncertainty that lies ahead post-high school, Lopez refuses to let that influence his carefree attitude. “I just don’t want to be paying off school loans my whole life,” he said with a chuckle. The future is inevitably unpredictable, but there is no doubt that Lopez will continue to strive toward making a difference for those around him and find a silver lining in every challenge he encounters. To Pablo, success is measured in inspiration and encouragement, and with his firmly established confidence, there are no limitations with who he can share his contagious passion for life.
Means Medicine
By Akeiylah DeWitt
People always ask if her parents are forcing her to become a doctor. In fact, Smitha Kashi is choosing to follow what she most desires, maintaining the undying aspiration to become the doctor she has always wanted to be. She finds happiness in helping others, and being a doctor fit perfectly in that part of herself. Medicine and Psychology are the two majors in particular that she wants to find work later in, becoming a specialist in either field. Although a career in medicine is Kashi’s main aspiration, she also seeks to find experience in Special Education and Foreign Languages. She believes that having a multilingual background will be useful in the future. In particular, she thinks that Spanish is the language she is most likely to minor in. Based on the demographics of California (where she is most likely to work in the future), Kashi knows she can find more value in speaking Spanish, a language
Global Warming Gets a Warning By Serena Quezada When freshman Isabella Clark first came to UPA, she did not expect to become so attached to her educational career, both as a student and a young environmentalist. Since Clark was in the seventh grade, she has been involved in various activities, such as our very own Green Team. The Green Team is a student organized program based on environment awareness. Members of this club meet during Smart Choice on Wednesdays to discuss and brainstorm ideas on how to preserve the environment. They also create a variety of different posters and flyers informing students on ways to help, such as recycling plastic bottles and paper. Clark wants to inform everyone about the serious consequences that can occur and how they can potentially harm the Earth. She was not quite sure of how to get this idea across to other people until she found out about this environmental program. “[I joined the Green Team as] I feel this world is messed up in many ways, and the environment is one of them. I feel
it is my duty to undo the damage done by people,” Clark said. The decision to join the Green Team was not a hard one because she was already motivated to make changes to students’ poor decision making. UPA’s Green Team was just one of the many things Clark dedicates her life to, she also works hard in school. Clark would like to study at either Tufts or Stanford University following graduation. “I would like to major in biology, zoology, literature, humanitarian sciences, marine biology, and philosophy,” Clark said. It looks like Clark has her future mapped out already. “She is a bit of a dreamer,” ninth grade ASB President Catlan Tran said. Clark loves to listen to other people who want to make a difference as well. “My favorite class would definitely be Ms. Tillim’s English 9 class. She teaches me different perspectives of how to view the world and what I can do to impact this society,” Clark said. Apart from helping the environment, Clark loves supporting animals and wildlife that are taken advantage of by humans. “There are a lot of prob-
Photo courtesy of Isabella Clark Isabella Clark at one of many beach cleanup events hosted by the Green Team. lems I want to fix in this world, but don’t have the ability to [fix], so I try to help out the best I can to try and encourage people to help out too,” Clark said. As a result, she decided to take personal life changes herself. “I decided to become vegan last summer,” Clark said. Clark was already a vegetarian before she turned vegan, but she felt veganism was more effective than simply not eating meat. “I officially became vegan when my YMCA counselor gave us a lecture on veganism,” Clark said.
Clark is a self-motivator, but she always receives encouragement from her close friends and peers. “She is a very smart, strong-willed, and an overall very confident person,” freshman Corina Pham said. Preserving the earth and helping the animals are just a few of the many activities Clark is dedicated to. She also works to her fullest ability on schoolwork. Clark’s “over-achiever” qualities are demonstrated whenever a test rolls around the corner. “I look at study guides and my notes. If it is for math, I look at homework. I also do extra practice problems...I guess I would call myself an overachiever as I like to do everything to my fullest ability, not to the standards of others but my own,” Clark said. Aside from helping herself succeed, Clark is always willing to help anyone who asks her questions. “I love to mentor the little sevies and give them advice on how to stay alive while at UPA,” Clark said. “She is one of those people who always has that “twinkle” in their eye, if you know what I mean,” Pham said.
being spoken more commonly in California day by day. “I know this seems corny, but I would want to help someone less fortunate than myself, especially since they may not seem like they have a future, but I know with the right tools, they do”, said Kashi. She is also interested in Special Education work as a potential profession in the future. Already, Kashi has done much to ready herself for the future she has set up. Every Thursday, she attends a hospital to do volunteer work, where she is able to experience what a doctor does on a daily basis firsthand: “I don’t understand how she can do so much with the little time we have after school..sometimes it worries me that she is doing TOO much”, said Julianna Flores, a close friend of Kashi’s. Her 10th grade summer, Kashi attended a medical program for students in Europe, where she shadowed doctors and got to participate in some of the doctor’s work. This summer, she plans on participating in a special education program, opening up more areas of expertise for Kashi. While her main goal may be to find a career in medicine, Kashi also hopes to continue pursuing the extracurriculars she already has. She has practiced Tae Kwon Do and played traditional instruments from a very young age. Although she may go through life as an American regularly, she believes that her extracurricular activities help her in her conscious effort to maintain a unique culture. Since she was young, her culture has been the basis of her family and life, and she believes that it’s teachings have made an impact in her life for the better. Realizing that college and medical school may make both these activities difficult, Kashi hopes she can continue them in the future as best she can. “I would love to be able continue Tae Kwon Do especially, since it helps me to relax and it is nice to take time with myself every now and then”, said Kashi. Kashi is already on her way to a bright future, and equipped with the proper knowledge to deal with the problems she will inevitably face, she will find her path to happiness in becoming a doctor. Aspiring to make change in the world, she wants to fulfill her goals, both in life and in her profession, while still finding time to do the things she loves to do.
Entertainment 7
Volume 3, Issue 3
PAGE
The Fault in Our Movie Adaptions
By Morgan Luu What could possibly go wrong with a beautiful story between two cancer patients who fall in love with one another? Judging from the massive amounts of fans anxiously awaiting the upcoming movie, “The Fault in Our Stars”, it is safe to say the film could possibly be summer’s biggest hit. Young adult novel “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green became an instant bestseller as soon as it hit the shelves in 2012. A year later, Green revealed a movie adaptation to be release in 2014. “The Fault in Our Stars” follows the story of a 16-year-old
cancer patient named Hazel Grace Lancaster, who falls in love with the charismatic Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor. Together they embark on a journey and take the world by storm. History teacher Ariana Rodriguez has read the novel. “It was a real tear-jerker,” Rodriguez said. “I even prepared myself for it but what do you expect from a story about two terminally ill characters in love?” Many students have also read the book. “It’s definitely the best book I’ve ever read!” sophomore Katie Hartrich sid. “I can’t wait to see the movie.”
As a book lover, Hatrich is thrilled about the movie, but conveyed her concerns with the cast. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort have been cast as the protagonists of “The Fault in Our Stars” and both were also cast in the recent hit film, “Divergent,” as siblings. “I think they should have casted other people or just a different person,” Hatrich said. “Not because they’re bad actors, but it’s just weird seeing them as lovers instead of siblings.” Aside from the casting, Hatrich’s only other concern is the book-tomovie adaptation. “I really don’t know what to expect because books are
always better and I don’t know how it’s going to turn out,” she said. In an interview for the Huffington Post, Green mentioned his hesitation to allow his novel to be adapted to a movie. He did not believe the producers would be able to recreate the novel accurately, yet he took a chance and sold the book’s rights to create “a movie with a female heroine that had tubes in her nose” with a “teenage male romantic lead who is an amputee.” “I cried every day during the filming of the movie,” Green said in the Huffington Post interview. “It was so special.”
Dutton Books Official cover page for John Green’s “The Fault In Our Stars”
Summer Recipes Bucketlist Busts Boredom By Samantha Cardoza
By Serena Quezada
Can’t afford to go to an amusement park? There are plenty of other activities to do. If you are a computer person, make a music video. Invite some friends over, put on some sunglasses and bust a move. Or do it alone and take some selfies. Not everyone works well with computers, so if baking is your talent be sure to check out “Summer Recipes” by Serena Quezada on page X and eat a raspberry icebox with a cold
In a 2 quart pitcher mix cooled sugar water and lemon juice together. Pour over ice and serve.
It’s 100 degrees outside, your parents are at work and you have nothing to do. Have no fear, this is the ultimate survival guide to the most epic summer. If you thought the summer of 2013 was good, get ready for the all nighters, trips to the beach, and the all-time favorite: movie marathons. A lot of teens say summer is fun, but there is nothing to do or it’s too hot. Well, nothing a little sunscreen and some ice-cream can’t fix. Since you are going to have the best summer ever, you must have something to remember it by. What better way than to take pictures? Take a picture everyday of the summer and by the time the season is over, you will have a whole scrapbook full of pictures of your epic summer vacation. Not everyone is a beach person so here are a couple ways to have fun and stay fresh. Go to a nearby water park, or try an amusement park, like Great America or Raging Waters.
glass of refreshing lemonade. Alot of people camp during the summer,and you do not have to go far to do so(unless you consider your backyard far). Set up a couple tents in your backyard with your friends or family, make some popcorn, and tell scary stories or watch a movie on your laptop. Depending on how tired you are, you can even have a bonfire after setting up the tents. Be sure to roast marshmallows and hot dogs while you enjoy the warm fire.
If you are up for a challenge, try the Cinnamon Challenge, just pour cinnamon onto a spoon and try to swallow the cinnamon without spitting it out. Be careful not to choke on the cinnamon and have a glass of water handy. If you prefer something safer, try “Ellen’s Dance Dare” where you quietly dance behind strangers in any public area while your friend records. For the baby food challenge, buy several of baby food jars at the nearest store (make sure to get a variety of flavors), blindfold your friend,feed them one of the flavors and see if they can guess the ingredients. When your friend is done, you try it. If all else fails, use chalk to write on the sidewalk, buy balloons and give them out on the sidewalk, make tie-dye shirts, eat frozen grapes and watermelon, or sleep on a trampoline. To make this summer count, do one activity from the list or all of the above. This summer is sure to be a scorcher, so whatever you do, stay cool, drink a lot of water, and most importantly have fun.
By Brooke Headley Her feet are buried under a pile of warm sand, the sound of ocean waves and the feel of the sun shining on her Vitamin-D deficit skin. So far, she has been to space and lived hundreds of years before her time. She holds the world in her hands because she holds a book. During the school year, books are assignments. During the summer, books are the definition of fun. The best books are the ones recommended by a friend or randomly picked off a shelf at the library. Whatever way you find it,
get a book that makes you happy. If you want a fun, quick read with a 500-year-old cult and a mystery that needs to be solved, “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan is for you. The book takes place in San Francisco and combines old books with modern technology. If you are looking for an adventure that spins reality, “The Game” by Terry Schott is the book for you. “The Game” is a virtual reality simulation where people play the game of life. It starts off as a dystopian society novel and turns into a philosophi-
cal read about the purpose of life. If historical fiction suits your interest, try an interesting turn of events with pirates and a feminine heroine, which are found in the “Bloody Jack” series by L.A. Meyer. Consisting of twelve books, starting with “Bloody Jack” and ending with “Wild Rover No More” (to be released November 2014), the series follows Mary “Jacky” Faber on her travels around the world. The series starts slow, but you do not have to start at the beginning. If you want assassins, “Poison Study” by Maria V. Sny-
der is for you. When Yelena becomes the new food taster, a fight to survive occurs and unexpected romance blooms. In “Under the Jolly Roger,” book three in the series, Jacky becomes a pirate after a bad runin with an evil captain. In “My Bonny Light Horseman,” book six, Jacky evades death as a spy on the move in France. And remember, ladies, summer flings with single books are the best part of summer. Go to the library and pick up anything by Jill Mansell or Nicholas Sparks and enjoy.
MrFood.com
RASPBERRY ICEBOX CAKE
Original recipe makes one 13x9 inch pan 24 graham crackers, crushed 1/3 cup butter 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 (6 ounce) package of raspberry flavored Jell-O® mix 1 cup boiling water 15 ounces frozen raspberries 20 large marshmallows 1/3 cup milk 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix graham cracker wafer crumbs, butter and brown sugar until well combined. Set aside 1/4 cup of this mixture for a topping and press the remainder into one 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool. Dissolve raspberry gelatin in the boiling water and add the frozen raspberries, stirring until melted. Chill until partially set and spread on wafer base. Melt marshmallows with the milk. When cool, fold in whipped cream and spread on top of raspberry mixture. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Chill for 3-4 hours before serving.
Yummly.com
NEVER BITTER LEMONADE
Original recipe makes 8 servings Ingredients: - 6 cups water - 1 cup white sugar - 1/8 teaspoon salt - 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice Directions: In a pot combine water, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 2 minutes. Chill the sugar water for at least 60 minutes in the refrigerator.
“...summer is fun, but there is nothing to do...”
A Reader’s Guide to Fun in the Sun
8 OnCampus
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June 2, 2014
Themed Dress Days Rally School Spirit By Lizzy Wallace
UPA held its final spirit week of the school year from April 28 through May 2, giving students a chance to show their spirit before the year is over. The dress-up theme for Monday was “A Night in New York”, so students came dressed in clothes fit for a night in the Big Apple. On Tuesday, “Tropical Day,” the school was filled with hawaiian shirts and tribal prints galore. Wednesday, deemed “International Day”, created a collage of world cultures represented in the student body. Thursday was “Twin Day”, and Friday was class color day and hosted the year’s final rally. “The spirit weeks are a
great way to show school spirit and just have fun expressing ourselves,” sophomore Jessica Kapi said. “I love going over-the-top with them because it’s one of the only times we really can.” The rally also served as a good-bye to the senior class, who performed a self-choreographed dance routine to a medley of popular songs. The high school dance class performed to “Feel This Moment,” then the middle school dancers danced to “Halo.” Both dances were also later performed at the dance showcase held on Friday evening. “The rally was a great opportunity for the dance students to exhibit their dancing, and practice for the dance showcase,” said Catherine Dietrich, dance and drama teacher. “It’s really fun to
see their energy directed toward performing and entertaining their peers.” At the rally, all in-season UPA sports teams received recognition, and an arrangement of games and contests took place. Some of them involved wrapping teachers into toiletpaper mummies, putting makeup on male students, looking for gummi worms in pie pans of whipped cream, and tug-of-war. As always, a sweet candy incentive was provided to keep students’ energy and excitement up throughout the rally. Overall, the rally was an event to raise school spirit and give students the extra energy and excitement needed to push through both the upcoming finals and the rest of the year.
Photo by Lizzy Wallace The middle school dance class dances to “Halo” by Beyonce on May 2 during the Spirit Week Rally in the gym.
Photo by Lizzy Wallace Dressed in its class color, blue, the senior class performs to a self-choreographed dance routine at the Friday rally during April’s Spirit Week.
Yearbook Update Forgot to order a yearbook or make custom pages? Want to order another yearbook? You still have a chance! Sign-in to TreeRing to customize and buy your yearbook and customized pages. Or, take a survey on what you think about the yearbook at http://tinyurl.com/yearbookreviewsurvey. Questions? E-mail sguevara@upatoday.com or pthao@upatoday.com Photo by Sydney Harder Sophmore girls get fancy for Monday’s theme, “A Night in New York.” From left to right: Nivi Lakshminarayanan, Sydney Harder, Christina Wei, Ariana Kotlier, Neha James, Sitara Bellum, Brenna Bennett, Eliana Batrez and Sahana Bhargava.