Issuu

Opinion | 2

Seniors! | 4-5

Saadi’s take: Backlog of immigration cases feuls border crisis; legal counsel is the answer

Class of 2021 college decisions; take a look to see where our seniors are heading in the fall

Murals, paddles | 6 and giraffes, oh my! Ease into fewer restrictions by staying and playing outdoors

Vanguard College Preparatory School, 2517 Mt. Carmel Dr., Waco, Texas 76710

May 2021, Volume 48, Issue 6

The Vanguard Review A VCPS Publication

On the year that

EVERYTHING CHANGED

COVID-19: Current Stats Active Cases

Recovered

McLennan County

147

26,536

Vanguard

Source: McLennan County Health District; VCPS

Masks FEAR injustice lockdowns isolation VIRTUAL SCHOOL loneliness STRENGTH 20-21 resilience

Emily Coleman ‘21 business manager

How we persevered during a year of uncertainty and fear

eing alone. The loss of special times with friends and family. Violence in city streets. The real presence of racism and inequality. Losing a loved one to the virus. Things never being the same again. High school memories that could’ve been made being taken over by Zoom calls and sleeping in. Fighting and never giving up. Finding out what’s really important. These are just a few of the heavy thoughts that went through students’ minds over the past year — a year that seemed to change everything we knew. “In the beginning of the pandemic in March, I struggled a lot with the thought of the pandemic, and I was very scared about what would happen to my family,” Haydin Davis, junior, said. “As the year passed by and when it was time for us to go back to school, I was less afraid. I knew that I could control who I am around and do what I was supposed to do so that I would reduce the risk my family and I would face.” Between a global pandemic, the death of George Floyd, the protests that followed and a bitter presidential election, the school year 202021 changed how we view life and death, how we socialize, how we care for and respect each others and how we see our place in the world. With those changes, we were faced with fear and loss, wrestled with issues of justice, found a strength we never knew we had and experienced the power of resilience. Nearly 65.6 percent of students said the past year has been a mix of both awesomeness and disappointment, according to an April 2021 VR student poll. Dozens shared their personal thoughts and insights. Flashback to a year ago, April 2020. With hourly news reports about the deadly pandemic spreading across the country, fear and uncertainty was on everyone’s minds. Schools closed their doors and that left us wondering: How contagious is the coronavirus? Could we get it from touching something or just going outside? Was it just a matter of time until we caught the disease ourselves? Would we survive? Katylu Offill, sophomore, felt that firsthand when she and her family were some of the first to test positive for COVID-19 at VCPS. “There was so much fear surrounding the pandemic in March of last year, which did not help my family’s situation when we all tested positive,” Offill said. “My mom and I are very close, and she had the worst symptoms. Seeing her be so sick and not being able to do anything to help her was very hard for me. There was still so much unknown about the virus at that time, so there was a sense of being helpless and not being in control of our situation was also difficult.” A sense of heaviness set in for many of us.

“The thing that scared me the most about this past year is how overwhelming it was,” Rebecca Hobbs, freshman, said. “The mask requirement was like a constant reminder of how many people are dying.” When the stay-at-home order came down, Charlotte Livesay, freshman, said that she was afraid of being alone. “I was scared of being by myself and not getting to see loved ones,” Livesay said. Luke Williams, freshman, said he was not afraid of getting the virus himself. However he did not want to pass it on to his family members. “I was really afraid of getting it and passing it on to my grandparents,” Williams said. Many people isolated themselves from their own family to keep everyone safe. “What scared me the most was not being able to see my family,” Avril Maldonado, sophomore, said. “My mom kept us in the house most of the time because she didn’t know how to handle it. So this was the longest I had ever gone without seeing my grandparents and other extended family.” Parker Howard, sophomore, had his own fears and concerns about his high school experience. He said he was afraid that he would not be able to have a normal experience in school and sports. As the months dragged on, many teens wondered if things had changed forever. “The thing that scared me the most is the uncertainty of if it was ever going to end,” Courtney Wiethorn, junior, said. Facing fears became a way of life for many teens and we seemed to grow from it. “I used to be afraid of the unknown and uncertainty, but I feel like the pandemic has helped me conquer those fears,” Wiethorn said. “The entire year has been completely uncertain, from not knowing just how deadly the virus will be for me or those I love to not knowing if we would go back to school or if life would ever be normal again.” Dory Gonzales, junior, said she turned her thoughts to becoming a better person. “I focused a lot on working out and just bettering myself because it took my mind off of all the negative things happening to the world while improving myself,” Gonzales said. Delaney Trepinski, sophomore, decided to seize the day. “I learned that I have one life,” Trepinski said. “I don’t get to choose if there is a pandemic or not and if I really want to savor my youth, I need to learn to love every aspect of it before it is gone.” Landri Wheeler, freshman, turned to her faith. “I learned in my life I have to turn to God and believe that things are in his hands,” Wheeler said. As hard as we tried to make life seem normal by overcoming our fear, we all experienced loss in one form or another, whether it was loss of time, loss of family income or even loss of life. Many

students expressed missing special events, parties and gatherings and even just being able to hang out. “I lost a lot of time that could have been spent with my friends,” Williams said. Some said they felt like they lost a part of themselves. “I just felt like at times I lost myself,” Wheeler said. “It was hard to be myself when everything

“The thing that scared me about this year is how overwhelming it was.” — Rebecca Hobbs, freshman

was turned upside down.” Trepinski agreed. “I didn’t lose any people, but I lost myself for a while,” she said. “I became unaware of who to be because I had always based my personality around the people I was with, so when I was alone I became confused and unsure of who I was.” By far the greatest loss is that of a loved one, which impacted one of VCPS’s own. “I lost my dad during the pandemic, and it has been really hard coming back to school and just trying to be normal again,” Sage Suchecki, junior, said. “Seeing people is nice, but it’s hard to talk to people I have not seen in a long time, and just making small talk is kind of awkward. It has been really hard, especially at night just crying with my mom and seeing old photos.” On the day Suchecki’s dad passed away, the student body came together at break for a moment of silence for Sage and her family and it hit very close to home for everyone. With the brutal death of George Floyd last May, the issue of racial justice came to the forefront and sparked a wave of protests and counter protests that further divided the country. “I think the protests were painful to see, but in all honesty the more embarrassing part is that it had to get that extreme before the government decided to notice the civil issues,” Trepinski said. “I hate that businesses were lost and lives as well, but the saddest part is that people had to do that in order for equal rights that they should already have had.” While everyone agreed that Floyd’s death was a tragedy, there were mixed reactions to the violence that occurred afterward. “In general everything was and still is hurtful to see,” Maldonado said. “I remember watching the news after Floyd was killed, and I sat there just thinking to myself, ‘What is this world becoming?’ It’s really just sad to see and that’s when you just start feeling bad for the families who have been af-

fected.” Karissa Kuhl, freshman, said she was glad to see people stepping up in protest. “So much has happened with the BLM movement,” Kuhl said. “Their progress has taken such significant steps, but their work will never be over because of all these preconceived notions on race and fears, and belief in supremacy of one race over another.” Some students who answered the survey, but did not give their names, mentioned their concerns about law enforcement not being able to do their jobs and how violence in the streets and burning and looting businesses was the wrong response to ending violence. All this, while in the middle of a pandemic, was a heavy load for teens to carry. But it also gave us an opportunity to find strength in ourselves. “Because of this past year, I was able to learn how strong I am and have become,” Hobbs said. “Even in all the stress and fear, I was able to find happiness in doing things like FaceTiming my friends. Personally, doing homework and studying was something for me to do to keep my mind off of everything happening around me. In this way, my grades improved.” Livesay made an effort to surround herself with people who had uplifting outlooks on the virus. “Being with positive people can really impact your life,” Livesay said. Kuhl found strength in physical activity. “Tennis, I think, really changed my life during the pandemic,” she said. “I hit constantly with my best friend. It was safe and well within the guidelines of COVID-19. It was very much my sanctuary.”

“I used to be afraid of the unknown and uncertainty, but I feel like the pandemic has helped me conquer those fears.” — Courtney Wiethorn, junior

With strength comes resilience, the ability to get back on our feet and recover from difficulty. That’s a quality that surely will serve teens well as they head into the future. Resilience has a different meaning to everyone. For Hobbs, resilience is being able to find strength within yourself and overcome challenges. Wiethorn said resilience is being able to get back up again and keep going after a defeat in anything, from sports to life. For Wheeler, it is adapting to hard times. “[This year] taught me that resilience doesn’t mean you have to be strong,” Trepinski said. “It means you have to persevere. It means you have to keep going. You don’t have to be happy and productive, but you have to keep going.”

STOCK MARKET CHALLENGE: The Myriad Market Masters — Elisabeth Rollins, Faith Regan and Aubrey Roberts — claimed victory with picks of Tapestry, Southwest Airlines and RingCentral. The Real Portfolio earned a total of $1100, $250 of which will be set aside for the Economics Scholarship to be awarded to one senior.

2 opinion

The Vanguard Review May 5, 2021

Backlog of immigration cases fuels border crisis; legal counsel is the answer

ust after the Biden administration signed a bill that would grant amnesty to undocumentIsaac Saadi ‘22 ed immigrants, photos guest columnist surfaced showcasing ICE detention centers that are packed due to the increase of unaccompanied migrant children to the border. While I had the privilege of being a child of immigrants before our system seemingly collapsed, seeing the plight of immigrants today showcases how far back we have progressed as a country. People who are trying to escape famine, hunger and war are barred from entry to this country while human traffickers still find ways — and our government is complacent. The solution to the current immigration problem does not start with the border but rather in the courts. By reforming how judicial processes take place, we can ultimately fix this border crisis. The fundamental reason there is a crisis at the border is in part due to a court backlog. The reason that court backlog grew exponentially was that undocumented immigrants were not showing up to their court dates in part due to the fear of being deported, according to an article in The New York Times (June 2018). With a growing backlog and

cases not being processed, there are now atrocities immigration judges because there are 1.3 million at the border. Instead of our elected officials taking cases pending, with only 465 immigration judges to a look at the wider perspective to evaluate the issue, ultimately decide their fate. That is years of backlog it seems that they have been stuck in a vacuum with waiting in either horrific detention centers or danno real solution. Enter the solution: legal counsel. gerous, war-torn countries. Because these judges Immigrants are more likely to show up to their have so many cases to go through, they often don’t court cases when they are provided with govern- reach a verdict at all, which breaks the immigration ment legal counsel. process Only 14 percent “Instead of our elected officials taking a look at altogethof detained immier, as the the wider perspective to evaluate the issue, it grants go to court legal way with lawyers, but seems that they have been stuck in a vacuum is no lonthat access to legal with no real solution.” ger the counsel has been fair way. empirically shown to boost success in the court- By increasing the number of immigration judges, room because they are 11 times more likely to pur- the current judges in the system no longer face as sue relief when they have access to legal counsel, big of a burden, and they are now able to determine according to UCLA law professor Ingrid Eagly the adequate asylum route for those coming from (Univ. of Pennsylvania Law Review, Vol. 164, No. the southern border. 1). This means more immigrants are inclined to go For nearly a decade, the lack of priority from to their court cases, making sure we are able to get our government stirred up a recipe for disaster with through as many cases as possible without the buf- our immigration processes. The already-privileged fer in the status quo. Ultimately, the process gets get priority while the poor are left in the dark to sped up, and immigrants are no longer forced into face these hardships. It is time for our government the inhumane conditions present at our border. to actually evaluate this issue beyond the scope of Legal counsel helps to speed up the process, their party because it is not an issue of red or blue; but right now America is facing a crisis regarding it is an issue of human life.

Why are VR student polls important? As the voice of the student body, the Vanguard Review strives to be a source of accurate and timely news and information, as well as a sounding board for the views and opinions of our readers. By filling out the monthly student poll, you are helping us gather data for stories that we hope will impact you and also shed light on what issues are important to you. Sometimes we have serious questions about politics or the pandemic — and other times, we just want to know everyone’s favorite candy. Either way, we thank you for taking part in our work.

The Viking student body extends its condolences to seventh grader Brian Neel and his family upon the loss of his mother,

Robyn Neel

Editor’s Note: Three Years in Review Elizabeth Watson - Editor-in-Chief

I’ve always thought there to be something wondrous in the act of creation - putting words to your thoughts and holding their weight in your hands. That feeling has been one of my favorite parts of working on the staff of the Vanguard Review. Three years of copy editing and catching Oxford commas, dozens of PDFs and InDesign files, and countless ink stains from pressing mailing stickers onto the corners of newly-printed papers. I wouldn’t change it. Not for anything. I’ve learned so much during my time as editor-in-chief of this newspaper. Stepping into this role challenged me to grow as both a leader and a writer, certainly, but it also taught me the importance of expressing my voice for the topics that matter most and helping my peers to do the same. When I first became editor and made the choice to start over with new templates and policies, I had the task of writing our new mission statement. The final version of that statement, the one printed on page two, establishes our goal of acting as a public forum for the voices and perspectives of the student body. I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to help this newspaper achieve that goal. Thank you to Mrs. Gretchen Eichenberg for being such a wonderful and supportive adviser and to the staff for all of their hard work and imagination. And of course, thank you to all of you, our readers, for letting me be part of your VCPS community.

Things to

Consider

May 2021 poll results are in! Do you think not being able to use your phone at break and lunch is a reasonable phone policy for high school students? No. It’s not reasonable. 82.7% Yes. We should stay off 17.3% phones during these times. How do you feel about the lift on the mask mandate? Bad idea. It’s too soon! 49.2% Good idea. Let’s move on. 36.9% I’m not sure. 13.9% In general, how was your school year, with regard to everything that went along with COVID-19? It was awesome! 18.9% It was disapppointing. 15.6% It was a mix of things. 65.5% What COVID-19 restriction do you most hope returns to normal next year? Open campus/hour lunch. 65.8% Wearing masks. 21.7% Grade level restrictions. 12.5% With a vaccine in place and many restrictions lifted, does your family plan to travel this summer? Yes! 55.7% No. 5.8% I don’t know. 38.5% Where do you stand on the COVID-19 vaccine? I got mine! 6.6% Getting ASAP. 55.7% Not right now. 37.7% Are you getting a summer job? Yes! 51.6% No. 48.4% Cool treat: Ice cream or shaved ice? Ice cream. 59.5% Shaved ice. 40.5% The above results reflect the VCPS student body of 219 students. The poll reponse was 124. Polls were distributed electronically through Google Forms.

The Vanguard Review Volume 48, Issue 6, May 5, 2021

The Vanguard College Preparatory School Student Newspaper 2517 Mt. Carmel Dr., Waco, Texas 76710 vanguard_review@vanguard.org (254) 772-8111

Staff Listing Elizabeth Watson editor-in-chief Emily Coleman business manager Walker Nall sports reporter Delaney Trepinski reporter Gretchen Eichenberg adviser

Distribution and Printing Process The Vanguard Review prints 300 copies of each issue. The paper is made available to students and faculty at several locations across campus. The paper is sent through the mail to individuals, including parents and alumni, on the official VCPS mailing list. It is also available online.

Mission Statement

Demographics

It is our mission to be the voice of the students of Vanguard College Preparatory School. We will endeavor in our roles as journalists to create a paper that students can read to be educated and informed.

Vanguard College Preparatory School has a total population of 251: 219 students and 32 faculty members.

Our Policies

Where’s Vegard?

Editorials & Content The editorial board, comprised of newspaper staff members, determines by consensus the content of the paper. The Vanguard Review staff has elected to use this editorial policy to govern the activity of the paper throughout the 2019-2020 school year. We reserve the right to refuse any content. No offensive material will be permitted to print, and submissions may be edited for grammatical purposes.

Advertising The Vanguard Review is funded through the student sale of advertisements to local businesses and re- serves the right to refuse ads based on the discretion of the editorial board and adviser. Advertisements that are considered inappropriate or support any form of illegal activity, as well as any unethical or offensive ideologies will not be permitted to run in the paper.

Corrections If any misinformation or errors are found in a story, the staff can be alerted through vanguard_review@ vanguard.org so that the appropriate correction may be made.

Bylines Bylines will be determined based on the contributions from each writer or individual. Contact the staff for the full policy.

Be the first to find our viking inside this issue, and win a prize! Email us at vanguard_review@vanguard. org

Have an idea? Talk to us! Email us at vanguard_review@vanguard.org to talk to us about sharing your opinion in the paper or submitting a letter to the editor! If you’re interested in submitting artwork or other pieces of writing, send us an email - or stop by the newspaper room in Brown 112.

Remember to wash your hands and wear a mask!

people

The Vanguard Review May 5, 2021

Student Spotlight: Kaitlyn Phillips Grade 7

Kickin’ it with Kaitlyn Fun Stylish Humorous Emily Coleman ‘21 business manager

f the three adjectives used to describe Kaitlyn Phillips didn’t already give you a vivid impression of her, then her favorite genres of music just might. Phillips says that she enjoys listening to R&B, hip hop, pop and jazz because “they give flavor and encourage me throughout the day.” If Phillips could only eat one meal for the rest of her life, it would be spaghetti. “Spaghetti is my favorite because I never get tired of it,” Phillips said. “I could literally have it everyday. If a restaurant has spaghetti, I order it.” A recent book that Phillips read was “A Sweet Nothing” by Richard Luke. A quote that stuck out to her was “without rain nothing grows. Learn to embrace the storms in your life.” Phillips’ dream is to be an OB/GYN, or obstetrician-gynecologist, when she is older. “I did a project on OB/GYNs last year and became very interested in the occupation, like helping women and delivering beautiful children into the world,” Phillips said. “My mother’s best friend is an OB/GYN, and she took me into the office with her and explained lots of things that OB/GYNs do and things that they deal with on a day-to-day basis.” One thing that Phillips will never do again is go through her friend’s search history. “I found lots of anime characters, and they are low key scary to me,” Phillips said in a joking manner. “You never know what you may find in your friends’ search history.” Phillips’ favorite family vacation was to Progreso, Mexico. “It isn’t an annual trip, but we did go twice due to a baby’s birth,” she said. “We took our uncle and

(Top) Photo by Charlotte Livesay / Bifrost Staff (right) Phillips and her teammates aunt’s newborn ba- celebrate a victory in volleyball with her friends. (bottom) Phillips and her bies to Mexico, and I friends are all glammed up before the Winter Glitter dance. Photos provided got stuck babysitting. by Phillips. The locals ended up loving the babies, canned food drive was very important to Phillips and overall it ended up being a great trip.” because she helped a lot of people who are less forAs she aspires to travel the world, “and I mean tunate than her. the whole world, Phillips’ bucket list consists Not only does Phillips participate in the food mainly of places to go. drives at school but also at her church. “I would like to travel to the Maldives for the “Every year we do a canned food drive at my bungalows because I watched a couple on You- church of which my grandfather is the pastor of Tube that traveled there and it looked so pretty,” Toliver Chapel Missionary Baptist Church,” she Phillips said. “I would also love to go to Greece said. “So every year we collect food and when sumbecause of the aesthetic there.” mer, Thanksgiving and Christmas come around we Lastly, Phillips would like to travel to Milan, hand out food to all of the families of Waco, partic“the city of fashion,” as she calls it. ularly families that live in East Waco. I’ve personal“I’m all about fashion, photos and fame,” ly been in those neighborhoods and they definitely Phillips said. “I heard from my uncle, celebrity need a place such as Toliver or Caritas.” stylist Ty Hunter, that it’s awesome, and if you Phillips holds the position of student council want to get great fashion inspiration and tips, you representative for her 7th grade class. definitely want to go there.” “I ran for that position because I felt that I was Phillips has a passion for photography as well, a good representation of Vanguard and some of its so going on these trips would give her great photo core values,” she said. “I will be running again, but opportunities. this time I will be running for vice president along “If you know me, I love taking photos,” Phil- with the current president William Lindsey.” lips said. If she could watch one movie for the rest of her An accomplishment that she is most proud of life, Phillips would watch “Madea’s Witness Protecis consecutively winning 1st Place in UIL 4 years tion.” in a row when she attended elementary school at “I love Tyler Perry and Madea because she alParkdale. ways keeps it 100 percent,” she said. “I was the youngest contestant every year,” The last time Phillips laughed so hard that she she said. “It made me feel great that I was the cried was at the movie party for the class that had youngest and I could beat a bunch of people older 100 percent participation in the VCPS annual fund than me.” drive. As a young activist and involved person, the “Bella [my friend] was talking too much at the

movie party,” she said, “and it was hilarious.”

How far we’ve com

Designed and compi

me:

class of 2021

iled by Elizabeth Watson

6 feature

Murals, paddles and giraffes

The Vanguard Review May 5, 2021

Ease into fewer restrictions with outdoor activities all around WACOTOWN

oh my!

Delaney Trepinski ‘23 reporter

All on board. Need a cool break from the Texas heat? Look no further. Our Brazos River provides a fun water getaway. Paddle-

boarding is a great way to stay cool under the sun. There are two rental companies, located downtown near the river, where you can grab a paddleboard, kayak or canoe and head out on your adventure. Waco Paddle company and Pura Vida Paddle both have great choices for your experience. Erin Ward, owner of Pura Vida Paddles, said she was inspired by a calling from God to move home to Waco and open a paddleboard and kayak business. “So we set a budget and started researching and purchasing equipment, and the insurance needed to operate,” Ward said. “God then opened a location up on the river for us. Within six months we had moved back to Waco and opened the dock.” Ward says her company isn’t in it for the money; she says they are faith-based.You can rent a single kayak for an hour for $19 or two hours for $29 and half a day for $40 or a full day for $60. See website,www. puravidapaddle.com, for kayak pricing and other information. Ward said her favorite part of her business is meeting the people and seeing what the peace of the water does for them. They recently opened a storefront at 3332 Franklin Ave. Go and visit them and follow their Insta-

Market driven. Craving some freshly squeezed juice or a yummy Nutella crepe with some fruits or veggies for snacking? Then don’t sleep your Saturday away — go out to the Waco Downtown Farmers Market which is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “The farmers market is so fun,”Charlotte Livesay, freshman, said. “You can find Waco’s best local agricultural producers and artisans. You get to see cute dogs, little kids and the atmosphere is lively.” Livesay said she has many recommendations for people visiting the farmers market. “Every time I am there I always get Oh My Juice and these puntas,” Livesay said. “They are so good.” The Waco Downtown Farmers Market is located at 500 Washington Ave. You can visit their website at https://wacodowntownfarmersmarket. org for more information and a list of all the vendors.

Paint the town. Waco’s artists can turn your walk around town into an emotional masterpiece with use of many colours.

Waco’s many murals can be enjoyed by tourists and residents of our WacoTown. There is a beautiful Starry Night mural by Jenny Jameson at the corner of 10th St. and Columbus Ave. Go check out a special message to Waco on 926 La Salle Ave. on the side of Bolto Buffalo and is visible from the street. You can go see aliens at Twisted Root Burger co. , 801 S 2nd St. There are so many more, so get dressed up and go take your friends on a mural tour. You can find more information about our local murals at wacoheartoftexas.com.

It’s a zoo out there. If you haven’t wandered the winding paths of the Cameron Park Zoo since you were a kid, there’s

no better time to revisit this gem and meet its newest addition: Zeke, the baby giraffe. The zoo’s Masai giraffe, Penelope, gave birth on January 22 at 4:02 p.m., according to executive director Terri Cox. He weighed 135 pounds and was 6 feet tall. His name, Zeke, means strength of God. Cox says he is quite the excited little one and is fun to watch. “His mom is very attentive to him,” Cox said. “He is very rambunctious, but all the giraffes, including his dad, Dane, are patient with him most of the time.” The Masai giraffe is the largest subspecies of giraffe and can be found in Central and Southern Kenya and in Tanzania, Cox said. They have distinctive, irregular, jagged, star-like blotches that extend to the hooves. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the conservation status of wild animals and plants, lists Masai giraffes as endangered, primarily due to poaching and habitat fragmentation. However, Zeke isn’t the only new addition. Back in November of last year, about 66 percent of Waco voted in favor of a new penguin exhibit. It

top: AC Tillinghast, sophmore, enjoys posing in front of the mural on the wall of Hey Sugar, a local candy and ice-cream shop. Bottom Left: Cuddling a baby goat, Amelia Livesay, Katieleigh Livesay, Charollete Livesay, and Elle Morrison check out the animals at the Waco Farmers Market.Bottom right: The zoo’s Masai giraffe, Penelope, gave birth on January 22 at 4:02 p.m. to new baby giraffee Zeke of Cameron Park zoo says hello to a furry friend, named DJ. Photos submitted by students and staff of Cameron Park Zoo

will cost $14.5 million. The little critters will be an amazing addition and they are also currently endangered. “The Zoological Society is contributing an additional $1.2 million in private donations to these projects,” Cox said. “The hoofstock barn construction will begin this summer. An architect has been chosen for the Education/Veterinary complex, and we have submitted a Request for Qualifications to architects/ contractors for the Penguin project. All projects are expected to be complete by 2022-2023.” Cameron Park Zoo opened in 1993 and currently has 1,731 animals on 52 acres. The Zoo is the second-most-visited tourism attraction in Waco and has welcomed a little over 4.9 million guests since opening in 1993. Fifty-one percent of these guests travel from over 50 miles and generate more than $13 million to the local economy.

The days ahead APRIL PLAYLIST The 2020-2021 school year is coming to a close. Here’s a playlist for whatever adventures you decide to pursue this summer, whether it’s bicycling in your neighborhood or the roadtrip to college. Elizabeth Watson The Nights / Avicii King and Lionheart / Of Monsters and Men You and I / Barns Courtney Ho Hey / The Lumineers Soldier, Poet, King / The Oh Hellos Laughter Lines / Bastille Kids Again / Artist Vs Poet Follow Your Fire / Kodaline Hello My Old Heart / The Oh Hellos Rivers and Roads / The Head And The Heart In the Unknown / Volunteer Float / KT Tunstall Dog Days Are Over / Florence + the Machine Are You Ready (On Your Own) / Distant Cousins Counting Stars / OneRepublic Small World / Idina Menzel Where Do You Run / The Score Heart / flor

The Vanguard Review May 5, 2021

Upcoming Games HS SOFTBALL April 1 vs. TX Wind at 5:00pm April 8 @ Reicher (DH) at 4:00pm April 12 @ Holy Trinity (DH) at 3:00pm April 14 vs. CTCS at 5:00pm April 19 @ Austin Hill Country April 26 @ RR Concordia at 5:30pm HS TENNIS April 9 @ Waco Regional MS TENNIS April 16 vs. Waco High at 4:00pm April 20 @ North Belton April 27 @ Belton April 30 @ Lake Belton HS GOLF April 13 @ WildFlower CC at 8:00am April 26-27 State Golf @ Cottonwood MS GOLF April 6 @ South Belton at 3:30pm HS TRACK April 12 @ Live Oak 3:30pm April 14 @ Riesel at 8:00am MS TRACK April 12 @ Live Oak 3:30pm *Bold indicates home games STATE TENNIS Team Results: 2021 Boys’ Team State Champions 2021 Girls’ Team State Runner Up Individual Results: Karch Knoll - State Champion, Boys Singles Aldo Ibarra - State Runner-Up, Boys Singles James Merchant & Zach Henry, Boys Doubles McKenna Lowrey & KK Horner - State Champion, Girls Doubles

Committed to the team Athletes and coaches discuss what it means to be committed

sports 7 Walker Nall ‘22 sports reporter

s a member of a sports team, those around better. Gary Bowdoin, VCPS track coach, strives to and other members of their team. However, when it you begin to feel less like teammates and help his athletes become better. However in order to is clear that those surrounding you are not putting in more like family. Spending countless hours become better an individual must have a strong will as much effort, it can be irritating not only for playtogether over the year causes a special bond to be to improve, he said. ers but also for coaches. formed between everyone involved. The bond “You have to have the desire to do your best and “It shows that they don’t really care about the formed between teammates is the result of every- be the best every day.” Bowdoin said. “You have to team they are on. Honestly it can be frustrating at one’s commitment to a common goal. Committing have the determination to complete your workout times,” Marsh said. to a sport is no easy task and requires hard work and every day, You have to be driven. You have to be able Later into the season, thoughts of quitting and a constant striving to do better. to do what it takes to succeed at a high level without fatigue often creep into student-athletes’ minds, but Being committed does not simply mean show- someone constantly telling you to finish your task Dory Gonzales, junior basketball, soccer, softball ing up to practices every now and then, but rather it assigned to you that day. Dedication is being able to and track athlete, said that her teammates keep her means putting in extra effort to be better at the end go out on those days you feel sluggish or less than accountable. of the day. 100 percent or just tired and finish your workout.” “Being close with teammates and coaches moti“Being committed to a vates me to play and to do better because I don’t sport means showing up to want to let them down,” she said. practice every time, on time, In school or work, having to work with othand ready to give your best ers is guaranteed, and watching others slack off no matter the drill,” said is detrimental to themselves but also yourself. Ethan Marsh, senior tennis Being committed to yourself is directly related to player, who is in the final commitment to a team. When an athlete fulfills a season of his high school promise to better himself or herself, they inspire career. “Commitment is others to be better and improve as a team. a sacrifice for something While commitment in sports teaches many greater than yourself — a lessons for athletics they often carry over into evteam.” eryday life as well. Marsh’s definition de“Relays mimic work outside of school,” scribes that being able to Bowdoin said. “You must perform at your best commit to a sport requires to give the team an opportunity to succeed. If hard work and dedication. you don’t give each race you compete in your Having the personal motibest effort that day, the team suffers.” vation to be better at a sport Clearly participating in a sport with teamis easily spotted by others mates around allows an athlete to learn lessons whether it be other teamthat otherwise would have remained hidden. mates or coaches. Having the ability to carry life skills out “Commitment is shown of sports further exemplifies the importance of through giving your best commitment. Gonzales said that being active in effort no matter your talent sports has improved her life in many ways. in the sport,” Marsh said. “It teaches me to have patience at times,” “Showing up to practices Gonzales said. “It builds up leadership skills and matches play an importand improves my ability to have good time ant role in showing your management.” Clockwise from top left: Ethan Marsh and Zach Henry play together in a competitive douteammates and coaches bles match to improve their record. Greta Knoll, tennis coach, gathers her players and gives that you are appreciative of an inspirational speech in order to prepare them for their upcoming matches. Dory Gonzales the work they put in and it returns to the dugout while her teammates offer encouragement while cheering loudly. / Phoshows that you are ready to tos by Bifrost Staff. work.” Coaches hold an important role in an athlete’s decision on whether or By committing to a team, athletes show all of not they will take time to focus on their sport and get those around them that they want to help themselves

Athlete Spotlight: Zach Henry

VR: What motivates you in tennis? ZH: My motivation mostly comes from just enjoying the sport and competing in general. Tennis is a lifelong sport, so I can have fun with it well past high school or college.

VR: How do you get excited before a match? ZH: I usually do a little bit of running beforehand, and I listen to hype music to get me in a sort of competitive mood for my match.

Photo by Katylu Offill / Bifrost staff

VR: How do you mentally prepare? ZH: Lots of sleep is super important the night before, so I usually go to sleep an hour early. I tell myself that I’m lucky to have the opportunity to play and that usually gets me motivated to give maximum effort. Also, I usually scout out my opponents before the match too, looking at their records or what strategies can be used to beat them.

VR: Does the weather impact your performance, if so how? ZH: In tennis, the weather is extremely significant to the outcome of the match. Windy conditions completely change how each player needs to play. Humid conditions cause cramps. Hot conditions cause heat stroke, and cold conditions make it nearly impossible to feel your hands. What it boils down to is whoever makes the adjustments wins the match. Extreme weather conditions really test the mental strength of the players. Even if one player is significantly more skilled than another, if they aren’t mentally strong enough to fight through the tough conditions, then they will not win matches. Of course, preparation beforehand like hand warmers or making sure to hydrate helps too, but the most important factor in weather conditions is mental strength.

Walker Nall ‘22 sports reporter

VR: Why did you start playing tennis? ZH: I started playing because a couple friends of mine did, and I wanted to join in. It ended up being a great decision though because I love playing it. VR: How do you stay positive during a match when things aren’t going your way? ZH: I tell myself that I’m lucky to be there and that if I go out there with a negative attitude, there’s no way I can get any better, let alone win the match. Also, the great thing about tennis is that the match doesn’t end when a clock hits zero. You can be losing 0-6, 0-5, 0-40 and still make a comeback. The match is never over until it’s over.

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The Vanguard Review May 5, 2021

May Junior Staff Features

Ready for lift off

Classic VCPS tradition: bottle ROCKETS

Madlenne Braus ‘26 junior reporter

ven through these difficult times, eighth graders built and launched bottle rockets, a Vanguard tradition. After being delayed by the snowstorm, the bottle rockets were launched on March 23 during break, 3rd mod, 4th mod and lunch. Some went high, some spun, some had parachutes and some flew sideways. All the rockets were fun to see, and the eighth graders should be very proud. The bottle rockets, thankfully, continued although the pandemic prevented other activities, and we are grateful to Mrs. Patty Flowers for letting it happen.

Willow Alexander Madlenne Braus Aria Cleveland Hope Hamblin

Aria Cleveland ‘26 junior reporter Top Left: Adam Melveney and Boyd Estepp, 8th grade, show off their rockets. Bottom Left: Eighth grader Aiyana Pettes holds her project. Top Right: Boyd Estepp and Mrs. Flowers launch a rocket into the sky. Bottom Right: A bottle rocket shoots into the air with a spray of water. Photos by Madlenne Braus and Aria Cleveland / VR Junior Staff

Soaring to new heights

Junior Staff 2020-2021

ven though Boy Scouts of America has only allowed girls to become part of Scouts BSA for two years, numerous girls have earned the highest rank in scouting: Eagle. Kaylee Cooper, a senior and part of Troop 308G at the First United Methodist Church, has almost attained her Eagle rank. To get Eagle, a scout needs to earn a total of 21 merit badges, camp a total of 20 nights and earn the Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star and Life ranks, which teach skills like first-aid, camping and how to work with a group. Cooper has earned all the badges and has done her Eagle project. All that is left is her final Board of Review, which is scheduled for April 15, 2021. Cooper defines scouting as “perpetuating the camaraderie of Scouts and teaching yourself how to be the best person you can be.” Her favorite thing she did on her way to Eagle was earning different types of merit badges. Cooper said that she was interest-

ed in participating in Scouts because she had seen her older brother, who earned his Eagle rank, do high adventure camps and had learned about new topics, and she wanted that expeWillow Alexander ‘26 rience too. Her tip to junior reporter future scouts is to “try to get involved in everything as much as possible.” The path to Eagle is not the easiest path and requires a lot of hard work. After Eagle, there is a list of other activities that scouts can do, like becoming a Venture Scout, Assistant Scoutmaster or being part of the Troop Committee. Cooper has not only given her personal time and strength but she has also shown courage to do what boys have done since 1908.

Hutson Harper Toni Mickleburgh Marcus Offill Aiyana Pettes Jordan Young

Cooper is set to perform her final Board of Review on April 15, 2021. Her final Eagle Scout project involved the Waco Mammoth Site. “In my Eagle Scout Service Project, I lead Scouts in the mulching and planting of plants in the front garden beds,” Cooper said. “It was a very successful project. Both the boy and girl troops came together to help each other, and lots of hard work was done quickly because of the great teamwork of the Scouts that I led.” Photos by Willow Alexander / VR Junior Staff