The Hawk Eye Senior Edition Class of 2020

Someone loves math, writing, music, engineering and theater. See page 14 to find out who

Drive on over for a Q&A with Mac Tierney. See page 12

White coats won’t just keep you warm—editor in chief Samantha Gitlin reflects. See page 3

THE HAWK

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The Student Newspaper of Charlotte Latin School

Vol. XL No. 2 9502 Providence Road Charlotte, NC 28227 June 2020

Pics or it didn’t happen—share some nostaligia for senior year with photographs and memories. See page 15

Profiled in their own words— find out what the Humans of 2020 are all about. See page 5

EYE

Letters

June 2020

THE SENIOR EDITION 2020

The power of conversation

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Student leader speaks to the truth behind authenic communication

By Andrew DeWeese

To speak well and to listen well are two incredibly important abilities and ones which we have rehearsed thousands of times hitherto throughout our pre-collegiate academic careers. From as early as the kindergarten years, we are taught, in a very controlled setting, when it is necessary to speak and when it is necessary to listen. As we mature, the instructional emphasis shifts not merely to these questions of temporality but of content: we learn what is and is not appropriate to say in various circumstances, and we develop various tones and styles. But the most magnificent power we wield is the conversation, the seamless integration of speaking and listening, and the ability to do so unmoderated, unregulated, and without dominating purpose. True conversation is not an interview or a display of a power complex. It is

not the teacher talking down to the student, nor the applicant talking up to the potential employer, nor the friend talking to the friend for circumstantial reasons only (merely to have a friend); these are pseudo-conversations. True conversation may transcend these differences so long as they are not made the intent of the conversation. It does not have to be anything dramatically philosophical, enlightening, or serious, but it is a genuine sharing of experiences between people seemingly similar or disparate. Our lives are filled with pseudo-conversations; as we live in a complex society, we must have these sometimes hundreds of times within a day merely to conduct ourselves: we chat with our family members, greet fellow classmates, talk with teachers after class, make inquiries of the store clerk, talk to our grandfather’s

Be open to serendipitous encounters— expand your conversational circles

Pre-convocation with Head of School Chuck Baldecchi and Head of Upper School Lawrence Wall. Photo by Courtney Oates.

primary fuel. Excellent conversations provide much more: companionship, energy, vitality, and an appreciation for life. While success may improve the quality of life, conversations preserve the passion for it. Even a life filled with luxuries becomes boring if there is no way to revitalize an appreciation for it. There is no better time and place to strike up conversations than in college, as thousands of various individuals from

all over the world come together for a shared life experience. Don’t take this article the wrong way; certainly don’t approach people with a “Hello! I can’t wait to have a life-fueling conversation with you!” or you will find an unfortunate shortage of those very conversations and a great number of people weirded out. The most fascinating part of true conversation is that it is almost entirely natural, and any attempts

friend of fifty years when roped unwillingly into a phone call. But among all these pseudo-conversations are true conversations, and most shocking for me has been that they often arise in the most unexpected places. Many of the best conversations I have had arose from people to whom I rarely talk, from people at an entirely different stage of life, or with friends who had not been on my radar until accidentally meeting during some shared event. As we all depart our separate ways for college and beyond, I want to charge everyone to seek these conversations, as they really are the fuel to keep living with a special passion for life. For a long time, I operated under the illusion that it was prestige and success, both academic and social, that primarily fueled happiness and passion for life (and I do still believe that they contribute to this), but they are not the to unnaturally force an initiation often kill it before it even begins. But our lives, especially those of us who are extremely busy, are structured with a remarkably easy yet unfortunate ability to cast aside conversation for work: do not! The greatest error I have learned, and fortunately, I have sought to correct, is how easy it is to dismiss a potential conversation in order to “get work done.” Almost instantly, that “one conversation” becomes hundreds, and “getting work done” becomes a way of life, not an occasional necessity. Resist the urge to prioritize tasks over people, for it is people who run the world and people who make it interesting. And lastly, don’t forget to balance the thousands of

Share your truest experiences, regardless of similarities or differences new people entering your life with everyone before this great transition. Stay in touch with Latin’s Class of 2020, other school friends, teachers, and do not let

Final day of Spirit Week: Fantasy Day.

After the last performance of Charlotte Latin’s musical “Beauty and the Beast.”

graduation mean a loss of some portion of your identity as a Hawk. I, for one, have had so many great conversations with this class and would hate to see them stop just because high school is over. The party’s not over; it’s just begun.

THE MOST MAGNIFICENT POWER WE WIELD IS THE CONVERSATION, THE SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF SPEAKING AND LISTENING...” DeWeese will be attending Yale University. He plans to concentrate in classics and in ethics, politics, and economics, then hopes to attend law school. This summer, he was selected as a member of the 2020 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Letters.........................1,2,3 Senior Voices...5-7, 10, 13, 14 Class Picture..................8-9 Profiles...................4, 11-12 Photos & Memories...15-16

Letters

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Letters

June 2020

The look back challenge

Social distancing shouldn’t separate us from valuable Hawk memories

By Alex Lapuente

Friends gather together in caps and gowns at convocation. Photo by Della

Lapuente

Lapuente performing with his band Thought Police.

It’s hard to dance around the elephant in the room while still allowing the CDC-recommended six feet of social distancing, so let’s talk about it—I feel like it would be kitschy or disingenuous for this

article to treat our current situation without the oncein-a-lifetime gravitas it deserves. This isn’t the grand finale to our high school careers any of us wanted. So many things we had been looking

forward to have been tabled or (ominously robbing us of the closure of a swift yet merciful cancellation) ‘delayed indefinitely’— vacations, parties, concerts and recitals, and spring season sports; it didn’t really hit me until I started getting calendar notifications I had forgotten to cancel for events which circumstance had canceled without my input or approval. Worse still, so many things we still are looking

forward to are entirely up in the air—senior OneActs, Concert in the Quad, spring sports, Mosaic Night, graduation— their likelihood of ever happening dwindling by the day. And worst of all, I don’t think there ever will be a dashing prince that comes to our isolatory towers to announce that, overnight, everything has miraculously changed back to normal, we can go out and immediately rejoin

Appreciate our shared experiences, the big and the small

Focus not on what we have lost— instead, remember what we had

society, and that we should probably—no, definitely— get a haircut after being locked up so long. This situation will likely putter on, our lives returning gradually to their preapocalyptic states gradually and hesitantly rather than with the swift edict we wish we could hear, once again denying us closure. So don’t waste time listening for the sound of an approaching steed on the horizon; just, I don’t know, read a book or watch TV or something. We all watched this year’s fuse slither ever bomb-ward, never suspecting that the bomb was a dud that would leave us with only the pale

of us such that we all hit a low simultaneously, resulting in this anchor point dipping; the effect of seeing not just ourselves, but our whole community succumbing to the same ennui, disillusion, and Academic WorldQuest 2019 first place victory. boredom is Photo by World Affairs Council of Charlottes jarring. not from the performer’s Yet we often popularity (nor, forget that occasionally the planets align and grant sometimes, from their being in key), but from us all a shared acme, a this often-forgotten shared unanimous peak. Look back. Think of the maximum. So don’t look back on student section at a senior our time at Charlotte Latin night varsity game, people of every sort locked in arm as marred by an ill-timed minimum; don’t look back and voice. Think of the at it as only our average glass-shattering shrieks of experience (a horizontal “Blue!” and “White!” at a line); look back on our pep rally that you loved time for what it was, at its as an innocent Lower best, at its worst, and at its Schooler, loathed as a bigaverage-est. boy Middle Schooler, and now have a secret nostalgia Lapuente will be attending the University of Chicago. He plans to for as an Upper Schooler. major in applied math or physics with Think of the roar of a possible minor in linguistics. He applause at Concert in enjoys practicing his the Quad, heard across instruments (piano, campus, after the timid cello, guitar and bass), hoarding and Freshman just finished occasionally reading their anxious performance; books, and spending this joint propulsion of time (now virtually) with his friends. positive energy results

OUR YEAR’S LESS THAN IDEAL ENDING HAS NO RIGHT TO ROB US OF THE COUNTLESS SMILES, LAUGHS, PEOPLE, PLACES AND MEMORIES THAT SHOULD DEFINE OUR TIME AS HAWKS.”

spectre of the senior spring we always assumed we would have. It sucks. But our year’s less than ideal ending has no right to rob us of the countless smiles, laughs, people, places, and memories that should define our time as Hawks. Look back. What have our childhoods been but an alternating series of maxima and minima? (Nota bene: Yes, this is about to be an extended math metaphor. Please bear with me and/or get over it, your choice). Sometimes vacations, parties, or just general ‘good vibes’ drag out our maxima until we forget its height; sometimes

concussions, family struggles, or depressive episodes stretch the minima much longer than we wish. More importantly, think of our community’s instantaneous well-being as a sum of our individual states-of-well-being, maxima, minima, and everything in between. Because each of us is affected by a myriad of external forces, we often experience our highs and lows at different points, resulting in a net community well-being that averages out around a static basis, the norm, comprised of hundreds of people at their highs and hundreds of people at their lows, yet hovering around some normal anchor point. Rarely does it happen that something so monumental affects each Lapuente on a family vacation in Manhattan. and every one

Letters

Letters

June 2020

3

On talismans & open arms

Editor in chief shares importance of melting down walls and letting others in By Samantha Gitlin

Gitlin and her two brothers in front the their driveway hockey goal in Connecticut.

Gitlin, her two brothers and her parents enjoy a birthday celebration in West Hartford, Connecticut.

snow topped pines in our yard like white coats beside my dad shoveling the icy driveway so my brothers can shoot on the hockey goal. This powerful candle is a talisman; it takes me home and warms my soul, igniting my love for all things seasonal, the spirits of the holidays and my family. The scent brings my outside world inside me. I can truly smell the pines from my childhood. The outside,

As my parents and I strolled the streets of Blowing Rock, we came across a magical shop. Wafting scents of pumpkin, evergreen, rose, mint and any other seasonal delight you can imagine swirled through the air and rushed through me. I sniffed the varying aromas until I found the

one that fed my soul: Fraser fir. The combination of musky pine and fresh winter snow transport me back to snow days in Connecticut, baking muffins with my mom as we watch the white

continued from above

Find your my candle Fraser fir and and I am take it with you open to new next year to outside air. college. Seniors, You may be before you afraid that the are exposed Gitlin and her parents, David and Stephanie, and brothers, Jack and Joe, enjoy time on the beach. new air will to new air, It can be something feel frosty and rigid on your what is your Fraser fir? tangible, like a photograph skin if you open up. What brings warmth or playlist, or something But if you wear a and comfort to your soul white coat, you will feel and takes you home to your less tangible, like a nature suffocated, stressed and values and your memories? walk or card game.

Don’t be afraid to let the oustide world inside life will be too bitter and crisp to bear. So I smile and do not open up, insulated by my protective exterior. However, when the snow melts and the branches are bare and exposed to the air, the pine can finally breathe. Much like when I breathe in the soothing fragrance of my Fraser fir, the outside air warms the bare branches of the pines when their coats melt. I am learning to open up without fear of the outside. I find that when I am vulnerable and open my arms to new experiences, I feel more warmth and and solace in connecting with my home, family, peers and world around me than by wearing a white coat. You cannot connect with anyone or anything if you do not unzip and open up. When I breathe in the cool Connecticut air, I feel the smoke of the flame wrap around me like a hug. My loving family. The values I was raised on. Memories. Nature walks. The free spirit of my younger self. My home. My soul feels the most warmth when I both smell

flakes fall outside the kitchen window. I can just smell the pine trees I pass at the reservoir with my grandfather and picture the

however, can be cold and unforgiving. To protect their branches from the cool and brisk air, the Connecticut pines wear heavy coats with several layers of flakes. Sometimes I feel like a pine in a white coat. Stressful thoughts and decisions weigh me down, but I fear that

Continued below

Everyone needs a talisman, a symbol of home & family

Gitlin’s Fraser fir candle.

lonely. Find comfort and warmth in your soul in both taking a whiff of your Fraser fir and embracing your new classes, peers, and opportunities with bare and open arms, being vulnerable and authentic with people. If you smell your candle and open your arms to the new air, both the flame and your new outside world will wrap around you and hug you extra tight. Next year, be a bare pine. You never know what you will let in. Gitlin is editor and chief of “The Hawk Eye” newspaper and has been on staff for four years. She will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and plans to study psychology.

Profiles

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Profiles

June 2020

Abby Adams: A voice for change Swastikas. She knew she might witness more than one displayed in public on her trip to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, but she did not realize how terrifying it would be to see tattoos of them covering the chests of a group of old men gathered in the street. Her companion told her these skinheads were always there. For someone with a strong Jewish faith and a passion for human rights, social justice, inclusion and diversity issues, this was a difficult sight for Abby Adams. Adams witnessed this tableau last summer while on a trip through Bulgaria and Israel with B’nai B’rith Youth Organization Inc. (BBYO), a Jewish teen movement that builds the identity of Jewish teens and offers diverse leadership development programs. Through her experiences she has learned an unfortunate truth: anti-Semitism still exists in the world today, along with other prejudice and discrimination. However, through her faith and desire to unite the community, Adams does all that she can to make a difference. In thinking about what constitutes a strong Jewish faith, many people might say the Torah, G-d

Senior strives to repair the world, one challenge at a time By Samantha Gitlin

Adams with a friend in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Photo bu Abby Adams

andtemple services. These elements do play a role in Adams’ faith; she attends and is heavily involved in Temple Beth El, where she work as a Madricha (teacher’s assistant for the Hebrew school class), as well as a B’nai Mitzvah tutor helping students study for

Promoting messages of peace through community Continued from above

in her faith, rather than about violence and degradation. “We wanted to find a way through social media that we could spread something more positive instead of focusing on the negative things happening, like another shooting, stabbing or swastika on campus.” Adams recalled when she first felt called into action. It was after reading the poetic prose piece, “First They Came...” by Martin Niemöller. The famous final line, “Then they came for me—and there was no oneeft to speak for me,” reminded Adams how important it was to take responsibility for the community, especially after an incident like the Chabad shooting. “If something is happening, we can’t expect that if we don’t help other people.” Adams also feels motivated to become heavily involved in the Jewish community because Charlotte has a very small Jewish population; she wants to maintain this part of her identity and share it with others. “It’s nice to feel you’re like everyone else and have things you can relate to.”

However, being one of the few Jewish students Adams at WCNC before her at Latin, Adams makes Charlotte TODAY interview. Photo by an effort to unite the Abby Adams student body and faculty a Jewish student alliance by encouraging openness at Latin, I wanted to find to all religions and ethnic another way to talk about it groups and pushing for at least one of the meetings, change. To further her which we did accomplish,” participation in the school community, Adams became Adams said. Adams additionally a leader in Mosaic Club, the participates in various Upper School diversity and inclusion group at Charlotte other service and social justice events around Latin. Previously she loved Charlotte. Her deepattending meetings and participating in discussions, rooted passion and drive are heavily inspired by the but her interest grew in Judaistic concept, tikkun leadership last year. After olam. “Tikkun olam means the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the leaders asked repair the world. I’ve Abby to help plan a meeting always loved that phrase since I was younger doing about anti-Semitism, and she liked the dynamic of the leadership team: working together, being interested in planning meetings, and teaching others about it. “The Mosaic mission statement includes diversity of religion, and in past years, I hadn’t seen Adams after interviewing Brittany Packnett, a famous much about activist and Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand that. Without Action. Photo by Abby Adams

their bar and bat mitzvahs. countries have shared more However, for Adams faith is than 100 personal stories to a broader context. “My faith date. They have thousands stems from a connection of Instagram and Facebook to holidays and traditions, followers and they host like being with my family and talking about aspects of Judaism that don’t have to do with beliefs but have more to do with bigger aspects of Jewish values.” Adams uses this faith as motivation to spread positivity and unite the community. When a gunman opened fire inside the Chabad of Poway synagogue last April, it was a catalyst for Adams. Adams created and Adams with a friend at a march for immigrant justice. co-founded an Photo by Abby Adams international campaign with a friend international programs as from BBYO named well. Sammy Gabbai called Adams started “Why “Why I Wear My Star.” I Wear My Star” because They create educational she wanted to redirect programs online to combat the conversation about anti-Semitism through Judaism and growing up positive storytelling. Jewish to one of pride, selfPeople of different ages and confidence and self-worth Continued below backgrounds and from 25

Giving voice to the voiceless

Adams in the Negev Desert in Israel.

Photo by

Abby Adams

mitzvah day, a day every year in May where the entire community comes together to complete over 30 different service projects. I’ve always been in charge of the Jewish Family Service Food Pantry project so that Freedom School families can put them together for themselves. That’s what’s resonated most with me, in every aspect of my life,” Adams said. Adams has been offered opportunities to use her strengths to help others in the future. She plans to attend the honors program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received the Pogue

Scholarship, an award given to students committed to educating others about diversity. Adams is also a semi-finalist for the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, which is for any Jewish teen who has embodied tikkun olam. Adams turned her fear at seeing the skinheads into a catalyst for change. The irony in hate is it ignites a flame in people like Adams to unite and educate the community. As she sets on her path and pursues her interests, she will continue to repair and enlighten the world, fully embodying tikkun olam.

Adams and friend at “Why I Wear My Star” booth at the Women’s United March. Photo by Abby Adam

Senior Voices

Profiles

June 2020

5

Pursuing our passions: We asked seniors why they do what they do time and having empathy and compassion for their Service and community circumstances. Through service you can define Gracie Colombo touch the lives of so many By Jessica Clover & Hailey Kim people and have a better understanding of what’s going on in our community. I love how service can bring everybody together. No matter who you are, you can have empathy and compassion for others. My favorite service memory would be when the committee went to the Lower School to read a book about food insecurity. It has helped the younger Hawks better understand what our goals are and created a bond between fellow Hawks. When I came to Latin Colombo shares an exuberant bonding moment with her lax girls. Photo by Angel Trimble as a freshman, I looked up to To me service means the leaders before me for doing what’s right in guidance and learned so our community. It does much. By becoming a not have to be a grand leader of the spirit club and gesture. Service means our school service project, helping those who are I knew I could make a going through a rough difference.

A graceful heart:

From gridiron to stage lights:

practice for three hours everyday in the summer and usually hang out all day Jackson Edwards learns after. I have great friends in the value of brotherhood theatre and football that keep me wanting to play and love of theater football and do theatre. I By Connor Little also like having this sort of balance. I’m neither afraid to perform on the field nor on stage. Sports has taught me two things about life. First, a sense of brotherhood. I would do anything for my teammates. Second, working for something bigger than myself. Growing up, my idol was my dad. He walked me through every step of my young athletic career and taught me many life lessons along the way. I chose Alabama because my parents went there and have always taken me down there to watch football games. I’ve Edwards on the field for Latin’s Hawk football. met amazing people at the games, frat houses, and on my I knew I wanted to play tour. football when I was very I suffered a concussion young and my dad and I during my freshman season would watch Alabama and of football during practice the Panthers play every from a Senior. After that, weekend. I’ll always remember the my parents and I were football summer workouts. unsure of my future in football. But I knew I had We would lift, run, and

Sports have taught me to be extremely determined. If you get knocked down, you always have to get back up twice as fast. Sports have taught me hard work and valuable leadership skills. I try to excel in everything I do on and off the field. I set high goals for myself and do everything I can to achieve them. In addition, lacrosse is my passion in life. It gives me an outlet to have fun and hang out with my friends. When I first started lacrosse, I wasn’t a big fan. I was more of a soccer girl and wanted to quit. Fortunately, my parents kept me in a sport. They recognized my talent and

Colombo reads to a Lower School class during a school service project.

Lax powerhouse legends: Colombo and her sister, Cece ‘19.

wouldn’t let me quit. I’m glad they didn’t, because it is now my passion. The most memorable moment in my lacrosse career was winning the lacrosse state championship last year. It was truly a team effort and to have all of our hard work finally pay

off meant the world to me. Holding the trophy at the end of it all was a really emotional moment. I’ll never forget the feeling of pure joy at the end of the game. And I can’t wait to play with my older sister, Cece (‘19), again.

homework and we just had to keep going the best time laughing and because I love the playing games in there. game. I love performing on Theatre has the stage in the PAC. I really helped love the feeling of starting to broaden my with a cast and working network around together to produce Latin. I’ve had something we are all the pleasure of proud of. I love to sing—I meeting fantastic always have and I always people. Theatre will. There is something has also helped my about it that really relaxes ability to speak/ me. Concentrating on my perform publicly breathing and the notes and and my selfthe words—it is so easy to confidence. get lost in it and forget the I did two musicals rest of the world. I find it when I was Jackson makes a stellar play for the Hawks. fun to try and create a new younger, but I quit that is different because I wanted Coloring her world: personality from my own. to play Middle School Kate Stenersen paints It is fun making the basketball. Once I decided decisions of having new to quit basketball after with music and lyrics mannerisms and cadence JV sophomore year, Mr. By Jessica Clover & Hailey Kim in your voice and just Estep convinced me to give new little things about the theatre another try, and I I have been going to personality that bring it am forever grateful for that. Latin for 13 years, and together as a whole. I have enjoyed all the memories that I have made Continued on p. 6 with my friends in the SAT Building. I think walking into that building brings back so many funny memories and also some of my favorite classes are in that building. My friends and I used to meet in an art Stensersen posed after convocation with friends as they Edwards shares a backstage room before moment between scenes of celebrated the beginning of senior year. Photo by Nancy Charlotte Latin’s “Beauty and the school to hang Stenersen. Beast.” out and do

Senior Voices

6

Profiles

June 2020

Pursuing our passions: We asked seniors why they do what they do with singing and acting and pursue it in college. I am planning on

I’ve always loved forensics in general, but I’ve always been more of a debate kid. The event I primarily do is congressional debate, which

but in Congress, it’s you versus everyone. Even if your own teammates from same chamber (room) as you, you still have to argue against them. It’s all kinda complicated, but in the end, the goal is to make a well articulated speech that provides a bunch of evidence from good sources (New York times, government sites, research studies, experts, et cetera) and out it together in a way that convinces you understand and defend it in cross examination. On the South Africa exchange/service trip, Stenersen posed with (bad row) My friend Stenersen speaking at the Tri-M (National Music Audrey Cobb, Craig Estep, Emma Gatrell and Adam Manuel. Front row: forced me into Honor Society) induction, of which she is president Stephanie Caddell, John Luke Farah. debate. Daniela chapter. Photo by Nancy Stenersen Williams, who Stenersen, continued from p. 5 either double majoring is exactly what it sounds graduated last year, started I have been synesthetic or minoring in musical like. It’s essentially a mock congressional debates my whole life and I express theater. congress session: each kid early in high school and my synesthesia through participating is called a quickly became very good singing and playing piano. Senator or a Representative, at it, eventually becoming For me, I see colors when I one of the captains of the There’s no debate: we receive packs of 12 hear sound and also when pieces of legislation (bills, debate team. We were and I feel intense emotion. It Audrey Cobb argues the constitutional amendments, still are best friends, and strongly relates with my she dragged me along to importance of mentors, or resolutions), and we singing as I see the colors debate whether to pass enough practices to get when I sing, but not so role models and or fail the legislation. In me hooked. One other much for my acting. Over almost every other debate thing that made me really inclusivity the years, Mr. Estep, Dr. event, it’s you (or you passionate about debate is Grant and Mrs. Witte have By Connor Little and your partner) versus the gender aspect. In the inspired me to continue another person or pair, decades-long history of Cobb, continued from above

like Daniela to help me learn the ropes was a bonding experience. She taught me a lot about how to write a speech, and how

what the heck I was doing, but she was always there to FaceTime with me at 2:00 a.m. the night before a tournament (probably because she was already

Cobb spends time with Mosaic Club members and adviser Maria Klein.

to write in general, but also about how to be a good friend. As a baby debater, I struggled a lot with managing my time and figuring out

AS TEENAGERS, WE TEND TO THINK OF THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE.... THE WORLD DOESN’T ACTUALLY WORK THAT WAY...”

awake herself) and help me write and practice speeches. A lot of Congress also centers around being friendly with people in your chamber so they’ll vote in the legislation docket or vote for the P.O. you want, so it’s taught me how to make friends, too. Debate has definitely taken me outside of my comfort zone and changed me as a person. I’ve always been fairly stubborn in my views, but I was never comfortable enough at school to express them. Debate changed that. I was forced, almost every

Latin’s debate team, Daniela was the first girl to do Congress. Ever. I was the second. There’s a fair amount of sexism that happens in chamber and in general in Congress, and as someone who is a very passionate advocate for equality, that fueled me to keep showing everyone how amazing I could be, and everyone can be, regardless of gender. Both of my parents are incredible lawyers who worked a lot in real Congress in Washington, so they were VERY supportive of me doing debate as well. There’s a sharp learning curve in congressional debate, so having a friend Continued below

Cobb and fellow debaters at a tournment.

predominantly with it ever since. white, Christian, As teenagers, we tend to and upper class think the world is in black institution, and white. There’s a clear Latin isn’t super line between what’s wrong diverse. I came and what’s right, good from a public elementary school where I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of people, and coming Cobb shares a backstage moment with fellow from that thespians from “Into the Woods.”. Cobb and “Crazy for You” cast and crew.. environment to Latin was and bad, justice and evil. weekend, to get up in front a bit of a shock. It made The world doesn’t actually of a chamber of super me even more passionate work that way, and Mosaic smart kids, when we were opened my eyes to that. all running on less I learned so much than 4 hours of sleep about the struggles of from doing prep the other people that made me night before, and question my own beliefs argue something I over and over, especially didn’t necessarily at the Student Diversity agree with or even Leadership Conference in understand much.That Seattle this last year. I hadn’t experience of forcing faced much discrimination myself to be confident in my life prior to high eventually made me school/growing up, so more confident in finding my way through reality. Ever since I sexism and homophobia was young, my parents while learning about the have supported me incredible struggles that having my own others face for different beliefs. reasons really gave me a I’ve been Cobb with her debate mentor, Daniela different perspective. I don’t passionate about Williams ‘19. even know where to start people being treated about educating people in with how much Mosaic equally regardless of diversity and inclusivity Club has inspired me. I’ve race, religion, gender, issues, and because of that, always loved diversity work, sexuality, class, and I joined Mosaic freshman but everything else for as long Continued on p. 7 year, and I’ve been in love as I can remember. As a

Senior Voices

Profiles

June 2020

Cobb, continued from p. 6

7

Pursuing our passions: We asked seniors why they do what they do

but seeing how much education can make a difference at places like Latin has been incredible. I have no idea what I want to do after college but am confident it’ll involve diversity and inclusivity work in some way. Mosaic and its leaders have constantly shown me a different way of thinking about the world and my own issues, and I can only hope that I’ll have the same impact on others as a Mosaic leader, and after I leave Latin. Absolutely.

Mentoring by the numbers:

Blake Kiefer gives back by sharing passion for math By Tanner Willett

During the summer before my junior year, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a nearby school. I have always enjoyed working with kids especially since I have a younger brother. I worked with the kids playing sports and assisting the camp leaders in making sure the kids were learning their math and reading. After the summer, I realized that I wanted to continue working with

Kiefer monitors a tutoring group.

them, and in a bigger way, so I connected with the Boys and Girls Club coordinator and Mr. Boice and Dr. Collins to see if a math volunteer program could be supported during the school year. They have not only been a huge help in getting this club off of the ground, but also they have been a huge inspiration. Dr. Collins has been my swim coach for the past four years and he swims with us everyday in practice. He is at school everyday early helping students and has become

a model to me for working hard. Mr. Boice, likewise, is an incredibly selfless, hard-working person who takes time out of his day to help to help with service clubs and drove the bus every week the first year so Latin students could tutor. He continues to be an example of the importance of helping others and the truth that you always can make time for others. It is a fantastic opportunity to help kids once or even twice a week for just an hour. Underclassmen, the program has room to

grow and improve, so take advantage of the chance to change the way someone looks at math and give them someone to look up to. I came from a school that was behind in math, so the transition for me to Latin was not as easy as it could have been, and I would have appreciated being more prepared. I saw a lot of students at Starmount that were going to experience the same thing as they transitioned to middle school and high school. I decided to help these students so they might not face this same situation. I have never minded helping others, and before coming to Charlotte Latin, I attended a Christian school that put a huge emphasis on service. We took time out of our week to do things like write letters to those in nursing homes, read to inner-city elementary students, and do seasonal things like making meal boxes for families during the Thanksgiving season and prepare and eat dinner with our homeless neighbors. When I came to Latin I was just continuing what I had been taught in middle school. I came up

with the idea for tutoring after I worked over the summer going into my junior year. In addition to math, I enjoy economics, English, and physics. Outside of the academic realm I enjoy finance, investing, and fitness. My interest in the stock market started with my grandfather talking to me about the economy during the recession. Whenever my grandfather comes over he asks me where the DOW is, and we have good conversations about how the economy is looking. I will be studying business in the future so I see the application of economics, and I appreciate the ability English has given me to write and communicate more effectively, while also impressing the importance of human truths and values that Continued below

UNDERCLASSMEN, THE PROGRAM HAS ROOM TO GROW AND IMPROVE, SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANCE TO CHANGE THE WAY SOMEONE LOOKS AT MATH...”

A group of grateful students show their thanks for the help Kiefer provided in tutoring. Kiefer, continued from above

have shaped the way I want to live my life. Finally, I have gained an appreciation for physics because it is based on the principle that you can take a very complicated problem and break it down, which is something that I believe is a very valuable lesson to take forward in any subject. When I was young, I read a biography on the life of Warren Buffett and the front cover was filled with numbers, and Warren Buffett stressed the importance of math

in being able to invest well and determine which companies would be good investments. I knew from then on that math was going to be important for me and as I have gotten older, I have enjoyed the numerical approach math offers in terms of a benchmark for improvement and effort so that I can challenge myself to do better. I will be majoring in finance and possibly economics, so I will definitely be using math, and I also plan on pursuing

Tan on the ice. Photo by Daielle Woods Photography

a career in either consulting or investment banking, so I am sure that math will play a prominent part in my career.

Viral courage:

Maxine Tan skates courageously through life-threatening health scare with help of family and friends By Hailey Kim

I’ve been skating since I was six. I’m a Triple Gold Medalist, which means I’m the highest level skater in three different skating disciplines. I’m ninth in the South Atlantic Regional and although I did skate competitively, my goal has never been the Olympics.Those athletes almost always start being homeschooled and don’t attend college so they can train practically all day. High school seniors

often “retire” after the last competition of their senior year in October, so I did the same. Regionals were two weeks prior to me getting viral meningitis, so I guess the timing wasn’t the worst thing ever. I was out of school from mid-October to midNovember because of it. Since meningitis causes inflammation in your head, I had extreme headaches to the point where before I Continued on p. 10

Charlotte L 20

*As of May 27, 2020 Abby Adams The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Caitlin Ahearn Denison University Olivia Aldridge The University of the Arts Katie Aljian Texas A&M University Dilan Amin Wake Forest University William Atwell Wofford College Carter Barlow University of South Carolina-Columbia Anna Barnhardt The University of Alabama Sophie Bellavia The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adel Berhe The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Ryan Bonner Clemson University Dolan Brasser University of North Carolina Wilmington

Reid Brownlow Sewanee: The University of the South

Emma Conley Southern Methodist University

Catalina Erwin Southern Methodist University

Emily Harris Florida Institute of Technology

Raegan Burrell Louisiana State University

Daniel Cunnane Clemson University

John Luke Farah Elon University

Conner Davant University of North Carolina at Charlotte

David Felkner Auburn University

Elizabeth Helweg Washington and Lee University

Gaby Cacheris University of Colorado Boulder Stephanie Caddell The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Mack Carpenter Clemson University Thomas Cashion Clemson University

Jackson Davis University of South Carolina-Columbia John Davis Auburn University Alexis Delobelle Clemson University Charley Denny Miami University-Oxford

Zoe Claytor The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dominick DePaola North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Grayson Clements High Point University

Daniel Derraik Vanderbilt University

Audrey Cobb Davidson College Elizabeth Cobb-Curtis University of North Carolina Wilmington Gracie Colombo The University of Tampa

Andrew DeWeese Yale University

Cassie Figueroa Wofford College Brooks Finby Duke University Michael Finke Virginia Tech Lauren Foley The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Emma Gatrell Washington and Lee University Michael Giftos College of Charleston Samantha Gitlin University of WisconsinMadison

David Hendrick Auburn University Taylor Henry Boston College Worth Hinshaw Denison University Robert Hull Clemson University Gabby Johnson American University Randy Johnson College of the Holy Cross Thea Karlsson University of North Carolina Wilmington

Harrison Grams Auburn University

Ana Kenefick University of Pennsylvania

Sarah Eastridge Purdue University-Main Campus

Will Gray Virginia Tech

Sara Kenefick University of Pennsylvania

August Haldeman Florida State University

Blake Kiefer Boston College

Jackson Edwards The University of Alabama

Alexander Hall Middlebury College

Emma Landry The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Marion Donald University of Virginia-Main Campus

Latin School 020

Lauren Langley The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Alex Lapuente University of Chicago Andrew Lewis The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Jakob Lucas Denison University Matthew Mackey East Carolina University Connor Mackey Southern Methodist University

Evan Mitchell Clemson University

Nikki Reinhardt University of Notre Dame

Kate Stenersen Lehigh University

Charles Watson Furman University

Dawson Nash College of Charleston

Gracie Reynolds University of South Carolina-Columbia

Carter Stockwell Middlebury College

Sarah Watson University of Georgia

Tiana Sullivan University of Notre Dame

Masie Wellons Clemson University

Andrew Sumichrast University of Georgia

Kemp White Southern Methodist University

Isabella Nashbar University of South Carolina-Columbia

Drew Robelen Clemson University

Julia Nielsen University of Virginia-Main Campus

Christopher Saba Furman University

Brooke Norman Clemson University Paige Nurkin Columbia University in the City of New York

Victoria Sagasta Pereira The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Matthew Schwarz Vanderbilt University

Chickie Swiler University of North Carolina at Charlotte Maxine Tan University of Notre Dame Lane Tayloe The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Franceen Obeng Villanova University

Spencer Sharrett Washington and Lee University

Bela Marcus Washinton University in St. Louis

Christopher Oster Undecided

William Sharrett The University of Alabama

Charles Thigpen Washingon and Lee University

Abby Owens Furman University

Sam Shumate Auburn University

Payne Thrift Auburn University

Abby Matthews Kenyon College

Braden Panther Wake Forest University

Mac Tierney Undecided

Ben McCarter Clemson University

Evelyn Peters Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kendall Slayton The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Henry Smith University of St. Andrews

J.B. Meanor Sewanee: The University of the South

Delaney Phillips Southern Methodist University

Bennett Smith University of Pennsylvania

Adam Manuel Wake Forest University

Assem Mendygaziyeva American University

Luke Picciola McGill University

Anna Snyder The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Sean Minnig Clemson University

Mary Catherine Pope Vanderbilt University

Izzy Song University of Georgia

AJ Tolber Campbell University Isabella Troni Wake Forsest University Virginia Troutman The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kai Vincent University of Southern California

Jackson Willett Virginia Tech Thomas Young University of North Carolina at Asheville Laura Zielinski University of Chicago

Senior Voices

10

Profiles

June 2020

Pursuing our passions: We asked seniors why they do what they do

Tan spends time with fellow Hawks in Uptown Charlotte. Photo by Brooks Finby

Tan shares a smile with her father. Photo by Malu Tan Tan, continued from p. 7

was diagnosed, I stood up and I started to cry from the pain of changing my head position. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was under a lot of heavy, pain-killing drugs during that time.

I obviously had to stop working out and figure skating, and my entire body atrophied because of my month spent in bed recovering. I was amazed how quickly my muscles deteriorated. I was sent

home and told to continue to rest, but one week later, I had to return to the hospital because my extreme headaches continued. The second time I went to the hospital, I had to have another spinal tap when I arrived, and I suffered through a lot of complications because of it. I missed a lot of work since I’m in four AP classes, and my teachers were really understanding, so I’m extremely thankful to them. My parents, friends, and teachers helped me a lot. My parents tried to make the best of a bad situation through little things, like randomly bringing me bubble tea or bringing me

a home-cooked meal when I was sick of hospital food. My friends would call me just to chat and update me with everything going on outside of the walls of my hospital room, and those conversations always cheered me up. Some even sent me flowers and a note, and I was super thankful for that. My teachers and other Latin people were also supportive of me; when I returned, I never had a free period where I didn’t have a meeting scheduled with a teacher to go over material or make up an assignment that I had missed, and my teachers were always flexible regarding deadlines

and spacing out my work. After being discharged from the hospital, I was amazed at how much freedom a person has when she isn’t sick. Freedom felt like such a luxury after being stuck in the same room while I recovered. Even when I got home, I wasn’t able to move around a lot, but I still loved the freedom that I had to walk around my house. Being tied to an IV really puts things into perspective: every time I went to the bathroom, I had to unplug my IV and heart monitor and reconnect everything once I got back. When I slept, I couldn’t sleep on my sides because I would crush my IVs. However, when I got home, I didn’t have to deal with any of that, and I felt so free. .

FREEDOM FELT LIKE SUCH A LUXURY. BEING TIED TO AN IV REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.”

Encouraging unity through diversity Adel Berhe offers a challenge to break the bubble and rise above it

Adel Berhe had been part of Mosaic Club since freshman year and felt excited yet nervous— although Ms. Klein encouraged her to share her piece at Mosaic Night, she wasn’t sure how it would be received. Berhe thought no one would be able to empathize with her experiences of feeling conflicted with her identity.“The piece was just about the identity crisis that comes with being a first generation African and being a black student at Latin. Feeling not black enough or white enough or African enough but then also feeling too much of all those things,” Berhe said. However, when she finished she saw positive reactions from her classmates of color and from faculty, parents and other attendees. “I saw what sharing and educating about diversity could do and how it could make a difference. That’s when I decided to apply to be a leader,” Berhe said. Since Berhe has been a member of Mosaic, she has felt supported in exploring her own identity. Berhe’s parents immigrated from Eritrea

Berhe and family members at a wedding in Stockholm.

and were granted access to the United States by political asylum. Consequently, Berhe enjoyed a childhood immersed in her native culture—instead of eating Chick-fil-A, Berhe feasted on African cuisine. Her parents’ native language was spoken in the home. This appreciation for her own culture taught Berhe to accept others, develop a strong work ethic and take advantage of every opportunity. “Their

perspective and our culture today, there wouldn’t be has taught me to strive to very many differences in work hard for what I want terms of how students go to accomplish, value family about their lives. I think and tradition first, and be Latin students could benefit appreciative of everything from some differentiation. that’s available to me as To allow this to happen, an American and here at I’d encourage students to Latin,” Berhe said. separate themselves from Berhe has attended Latin their identity as Latin since the seventh grade, students and focus on and she recognizes that Charlotte Latin students definitely prioritize competition in most aspects of their lives. “Students here are hardworking, stressed....happy in our bubble,” Berhe said. It is from within this “bubble” that Berhe believes some progress can be achieved and Latin can work to create better balance, particularly for the emotional health of Berhe poses with her group at a SDLC its student body. While conference in Seattle. community and unity can build strength and harmony within a group structure, it can also themselves as individuals make it challenging for rather than just parts of a individuals to be seen whole. If this happened, and heard. “In terms of student life would have everyday student life, more vibrancy and would Latin has not changed allow students to see and very much despite all appreciate different types of the administrative and people,” Berhe said. constructive changes. If As a Mosaic leader, you looked at Latin 10 Berhe has been honest years ago and look at it in discussions about her

experiences as a student of color at Charlotte Latin School. She believes that by addressing and communicating with the community how they can experience growth in this area, it will lead them to reflect on their own individuality and selfidentity. “Mostly it’s microaggressions. Little things about my appearance or critiques about the way that I exist (walking or talking) that stack up. While I think sharing experiences is important, an open dialogue between students and faculty is more important than me exposing situations or wagging my finger. What you need to know is, yes, they do happen, and, yes, there is a way to fix it. Have that dialogue within the friend group, at the lunch table, and feel free to share your perspective at all times to have honest conversations. I do want to say, Latin is not an intentionally racist place. I think a lot of the racism I feel is not intentional, but rather subconsciously learned from a young age, or from an ignorant place. While these are not Continued on p. 11

Profiles

Profiles

June 2020

11

This Hawk soars like an Eagle

Senior serves school & community through tech & creativity

Vincent at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor adding his signature to a banner signed by every Eagle in his troop. Photo by Gina Vincent

“Theater definitely unites humans, bringing audiences together to share art and consider human nature and the world around us. While technology can be used maliciously, our ability to do good is bolstered by

the capabilities of modern tech.” —Kai Vincent For Kai Vincent, technical theater has provided him with a creative outlet, allowing Vincent to be himself while working on musicals and

Vincent, continued

Florida Sea Base, one of the Boy Scouts of America’s High Adventure bases,” Vincent said. According to Jay Scott, Horne Performing Arts Center Manager and Audio-Visual Technical Director, Vincent has been a wonderful asset to the theater program for the last four years. “His strong suit is his ability to program lighting in the Black Box for various events from One Acts to the Blue Review launch,” Scott said. Vincent also helps set up for events such as Concert in the Quad and all-school assemblies, and he has a great deal about audio and visual technology. “I am so excited for Kai to move on to college; however, I am sad that he will be leaving our program. He has been a great mentor to the younger students and he will definitely leave a lasting legacy,” Scott said. As for his future after Charlotte Latin, Vincent has decided to attend the University of Southern California Iovine and Young Academy, an undergraduate program where young entrepreneurs, engineers and creators join together to invent the future.

Serving the Latin community and beyond for the shelter employees. Overall, Vincent contributed upwards of 180 service-hours and obtained over $2,000 in donated goods and services for the shelter. Upon reflection of the benefits of his Scouting career, Vincent affirmed his appreciation for what he gained from the program. “I have learned countless skills throughout my Scouting career, most notably being leadership, project planning and resource management, as well as opportunities to go outside my comfort zone, such as when I learned how to dive and became a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified, Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Open Water Diver at

other productions. “I really enjoy being able to design lighting for a production and watching the show come together during tech week as the actors and techies work together to prepare for opening night,” Vincent said.

Similar to technical theater, Vincent has been able to express himself through the Fab Lab, an engineering workshop at Charlotte Latin that offers many digital fabrication programs. “I have learned a lot about design through my work in the Fab Lab and I love seeing a design take shape in CAD software and then fabricating tangible objects like circuits or furniture based on those designs,”Vincent said. Vincent first began working with the theater program when he registered for the technical theater class offered at Charlotte Latin his freshman year. He immediately came to love it and after learning so much in his first semester, he decided to tech for the all-school play. Vincent began taking classes in engineering in Middle School where he found his love for coding and building. When he arrived at Charlotte Latin in his freshman year, Vincent became involved in the engineering classes connected to the Fab Lab offered at Charlotte Latin. Vincent recently developed and worked on a concept that focuses on servicing leisure and business air travelers. Passengers who have

encountered flight delays or cancellations would have access to alternative itineraries and support to get on their way just minutes after their flight is delayed or cancelled. “I have been an aviation enthusiast for a long time and I hope to be able to work on this concept in the near future!” Vincent said. In addition to teching behind the scenes for almost every community meeting, school play, all-school musical and being heavily involved with the Fab Lab, Vincent has somehow managed to find time in his schedule to become an Eagle Scout. Eagle Scouts must earn at least 21 merit badges and carry out a service project that benefits the community. For Vincent’s service project, he decided to renovate the outdoor garden at a local domestic violence shelter, Turning Point, as well as the construction of shelving units in their building. Vincent first began with the restoration of the garden and replacing picnic tables with those donated to the shelter. He then installed an automated drip line system to water the plants, conserve water and save money and reduce the work continued below

Vincent working in the Fab Lab, soldering a board for his senior engineering project. Photo byTom Dubick

Vincent plans to major in arts, technology and the business of innovation. Looking past college, Vincent is interested in a career in commercial aviation but there are a lot of possibilities with his majors. No matter what career Vincent chooses to pursue, his ability to do good will be bolstered by the capabilities of modern tech.

Utilizing theater and technology to “unite humans” and “bring audiences together” is quintessentially Kai, and there is no doubt he will one day use his interests to facilitate human needs. Berhe, continued from p. 10

excuses, I think Latin students have the ability to learn and grow as a collective,” Berhe said. Berhe’s journey to

understanding her own self-identity began as a brief presentation on Mosaic Night; it continues as she leaves the Latin bubble for UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall. Berhe hopes her legacy inspires a challenge of open dialogue and of future Hawks building a community of individuals as unique as the campus in which they thrive.

Profiles

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Profiles

June 2020

Riding shotgun with Mac Tierney Q & A on wheels, gears and truckin’ around

I hear you are very good with car parts and building things. How did you first start getting into cars? I began with just remote control cars. It slowly shifted into dirt bikes and then I got my license and it shifted into cars. It’s actually pretty funny because no one else in my family is really a car person, but I’m always under one tinkering. Besides repairing and rebuilding cars, what other projects do you use Tierney, coninued from above

what age would that be? What is so special about that age? 17, because I can get away with always messing around and not having to pay a mortgage so more money for car parts. If you could choose one place to go on an adventure, to where would you go and why? I just like to mess around locally, but I love just adventuring around in rural areas. What’s your ideal way to spend your weekend? Just messing around with buddies working on cars and probably a huge bonfire on a Friday night. What’s one personality rait that you admire and what’s one that you wish you didn’t have? I admire patience. I am stubborn and sometimes wish I wasn’t but other times it is what makes me who I am and pushes me to do some people think is impossible. I definitely lack patience, though, and open my mouth—which usually gets me in trouble. Is there another decade or time period you wish you were born in? Probably more like 40-50 years ago when car designers actually cared about their jobs and made cars that were to be enjoyed to drive not just to get from A to B.

car parts for and why do you find repurposing the parts fun/ interesting? I actually used a worn hub assembly from my truck to use a nucleus for my project in biology last year. I have definitely “rigged” many situations but if you got a welder and a grinder, you can make almost any part work for any situation. Was there someone that inspired you or introduced you to your interest? Honestly, no. I just always had to tinker on something and it just happened to be that my interest was cars. What else do you like to do in your free time? I also love to hunt and ride dirt bikes along with run a chainsaw. What’s the most daring thing you’ve done? Why

did you choose this activity? The most daring thing I’ve done is take a perfectly good clean-titled, lowmileage pickup truck and decide to ruin that clean title and convert it to 4x4. I did that the summer before my senior year and it required a lot of custom fabrication and some interesting stuff. Let’s say my dad was not thrilled but in the end, I made it all work. If you ever had the opportunity to experience city life, would you? why or why not? And if so where? I would. My best friend actually lives off of Fairview Road so I’m not always a “right turner.” On many Friday afternoons you can catch me heading right up to his house to tinker with cars. I like the convenience but also love the freedom of living out not near anyone. I actually live in a subdivision now and only on a third of a acre, so I have neighbors all around me. So living up in Charlotte wouldn’t be too different. I just probably wouldn’t have the connections to go further out in Waxhaw than I do now. What’s your biggest

fear, and what is the root of it? Honestly, my biggest fear is not making my projects work. I will just keep tinkering and not leave anything alone til it is exactly how I like it. Probably comes from my dad—he’s the same way. In the future, what kind of person do you want to be remembered as? I want to be remembered as the one who always was good with his hands and could make almost anything. If you could turn back time to revisit a memory, which memory would it be? Why is this memory one that you would return to? I would probably go back to when I made my truck 4x4 just because it took many fun late nights of turning wrenches and welding with my closest friends. Do you have a favorite type of car? Why does that one car stand above the others? My dream car is a 1969 Camaro Z/28, but that would not be at all practical for me because I would have to have a truck too. I do too much work that requires a truck just to have a car like that

If you could choose a famous person, dead or alive, to have lunch with, would it be? What meal would you order? Why? Probably Dale Earnhardt, Sr., and a cheeseburger because why not? That sounds like a good meal to me. If you could choose a moment that was your “claim to fame,” which moment would you choose? What was so special about this moment? My claim to fame moment was probably also the 4x4 conversion. Everyone told me it wasn’t possible, even friends who are mechanics and have been in the trade for many years, but being the stubborn turd I am, I had to prove them wrong. What skill, other than building, would you like to master? When and where do you think that skill would come in useful? I would love to master aluminum TIG welding. I’m not sure where it would come useful. I just know it is very, very hard and I have lots of respect for people who can do it right. If you could choose an age to be permanently,

Continued below

Brooks Finby: Master of satire Senior wields his pen with ironic wit and thoughtful depths By Ryan Lupfer

“Writing provides me an a Netflix standup special nonfiction, as well. outlet to express my ideas, for a college application Although writing longer thoughts, emotions, and and plans to continue with pieces has definitely been humor.” comedy writing in college an outlet for Finby, he has —Brooks Finby through joining or starting also been able to express Although he still has a satirical newspaper like his more serious feelings to write essays for through poetry. class, Brooks Finby “Poetry helps has turned towards me express my satirical writing as feelings in a a way to convey his spontaneous and opinions, ideas and authentic way humor. “Between that is hard to essays, poetry, and do when writing humor pieces, I an essay. I really feel as though I enjoy writing can express the full poetry because range of who I am,” I feel free to Finby said. express ideas Finby’s biggest in the moment, Finby bonds with other Governor’s School attendees at one of the summer without worrying inspirations are “The Onion,” the functions. about revision,” show “South Park,” and a “The Onion.” Finby highly Finby said. YouTube channel called recommends writing for “SuperMega,” which have the enjoyment of it instead all influenced his writing. of just writing to impress. “I love satire because when Finby was the only it’s done well it conveys national award-winning all that a critical essay senior this year in writing. could in a more funny and He is also considered the entertaining way, while still honorary “Poet Laureate” being just as meaningful for the 2019-2020 school and hard-hitting,” Finby year for his poetry said. collection that earned Writing satirically allows national distinction in this Finby during his Governor’s School experience Finby to communicate year’s Scholastic Writing with fellow attendees. his opinions, ideas, and Awards with a Silver Medal. Finby has also found humor, allowing him to Finby is a repeat Scholastic performing in and writing become a more developed winner, with multiple Gold one acts a huge inspiration. writer. Finby recently Keys and other recognition His most recent character, wrote an essay about in his high school career Doreen, was a drunken Jesus’s second coming as not only in poetry, but in soccer mom who falls

in love with Anderson Cooper before realizing he is gay and she will never be able to marry him. Finby had so much fun in his crossdressing role as Doreen that he wrote his Common Application college essay on the experience. His essay was obviously very effective because Finby was accepted to, and plans to attend, Duke University. In what he could only describe as a lifechanging experience, Brooks attended The Governor’s School of North Carolina. The educational opportunity focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts regarding current events. “It was the most open environment I’ve ever been in as you could be yourself fully without any fear of judgment, no matter your race, sexuality, economic status, or background,” Finby said. Finby returned with newfound passions for issues he explored while he studied at Governor’s School and was excited to begin talking about his viewpoints and findings at Charlotte Latin. “I studied social science there and Continued on p. 14

Profiles

June 2020

Senior Voices

13

Tumbling towards greatness

Ana & Sara Kenefick are going for the gold in academics and on the gymnastics floor As you walk throughout the halls and classrooms of Latin and hear the words “model students” and “star gymnasts in the same sentence, it is most likely in reference to the Kenefick twins, Ana and Sara. This unstoppable duo grew up with an incredible work ethic and have trained extremely hard to compete in their sport and academically. Both Ana and Sara are

Above: The Kenefick family on vacation. Surrounding images: Ana Kenefick competes in various gynmastics events.

Bonded through sisterhood Continued from above

achieved much during their academic careers at Latin. Sara hopes to be a successful engineer (although she is undecided regarding the type), while Ana aspires to work extremely hard in college and decide what she wants to do from there. Although both girls have had challenging days in the gym, they have always

Sara will miss the strong connection they built with their teammates and hope to continue that with their new teammates. “I truly have the best teammates ever, and having them by my side at every practice has given me so many

Ana and Sara Kenefick celebrate signing day with friends, family and coaches.

headed to the University of Pennsylvania next year to compete on their elite gymnastics team. Despite having to face many challenges and hours of practice weekly, they have come out on top and learned many life lessons along the way. “In the beginning, I loved swinging on the bars, jumping into the foam pits, and running around, but now I appreciate the friendships it has given me and the lessons it has taught me in addition to the physical aspect of the sport,” Sara said. They have fun nearly everyday and always stay true to their goals. “The daily challenge I encounter in gymnastics motivates me to keep grinding,” Ana said. Although excited for college, both Ana and powered through them and their goals have kept them motivated. “There is no better feeling than overcoming a difficult obstacle, and it is this satisfaction that helps me get through the rough days,” said Ana. These girls share a special twin bond with each other that is unique to twins. “I don’t believe we have telepathic powers, but there are many times when Ana says what I’m thinking or vice versa,” Sara said. Aside from their

COLLEGE WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE LIVING APART, BUT WE ALSO SEE IT AS AN EXCITING ADVENTURE...”

The Kenefick sisters at one of their first gymnastics competitions. Sara and Ana Kenefick prepare for a gymmastics tournament.

unforgettable memories,” Ana said. When the sisters were debating which colleges they wanted to attend, both knew they wanted schools with topnotch academics and athletics but that also provided a balance between the two.. They found that in the University of Pennsylvania. Although excited to share the college experience together, they are equally excited for the opportunity to explore the next chapter of their lives. “I think we’ll discover our differences more in college when we have different classes and

Sara Kenefick defies gravity as she flies through the air.

Ana Kenefick gets ready for the Junior Olympic National Championships.

sisters have been competing in gymnastics since they were five years old. Aside

more ways than not, we are individuals and like to have separate identities. We don’t like being compared, so just like any other two people, we are who we are without having to qualify it in relation to the other person,” Sara said. Gymnastics The Kenefick sisters pose in Penn tees. helped to spark change for both girls’ personalities. “Based on first impressions, most people would probably think of me as more timid, but my sport has helped me embrace and cultivate my competitive spirit,” Ana said. “In my floor routine,

Sara (left) and Ana (right) Kenefick in their gynastics uniforms before a meet.

athletic success, the twins support each other in their academic endeavors. These two girls may often be mistaken for each other throughout the campus, but they are definitely different individual people.. “Although we are alike in

are not rooming together,” Sara said. The sisters find it extremely important to develop their own individualism, although they have many of the same interests. The Kenefick

from gymnastics, both Ana and Sara are extremely hard-working students and

continued below

Ana and Sara Kenefick wear matching smiles and matching outfits as they get ready for another day of practice and look forward to the challenge of yet another competition.

Writing their next pages together these differences while still being together. “For us, college will give us an opportunity to practice living apart, but we also see it as an exciting adventure, an important chapter in our life journey, that we will get to experience with each other,” Ana said. For Sara and Ana Kenefick, being each other’s twin has provided them the gift of a built-in best friend. They head off to college in the fall with a unique support system in place, but their well-known work ethic. For these twins, their future score in life is certainly predictable: they will strive for their usual excellence in all that they do.

Berhe poses with her group at a SDLC conference in Seattle.

Sara Kenefick shows off her flexibility from a young age.

I get to showcase my graceful side in my dance and my powerful side in my tumbling,” Sara said. Beyond the physicality of gymnastics, both girls illustrate their competitive natures in other ways. College will be a great chance for them to explore

The Kenefick sisters are all smiles as they celebrate their commitment to the University of Pennsylvania.

Senior Voices

14

Profiles

June 2020

Cracking the code to success:

Hats off to Laura Zielinski, who’s solving the equation of life Zielinski isn’t just academically-oriented; she enjoys balancing activities in athletics and the humanities in addition to her love of all-things STEM. She has played Latin and club volleyball since seventh grade. Additionally, Zielinski has played an important part in both the Spanish Club and Civic Awareness Club. Zielinski logged countless hours in blackout, teching for Latin’s theater productions. “I’ve done tech theater for 2-3 productions a year since freshman year,” Zielinski said.

Since freshman year she has participated in yearbook (as editor in both junior and senior years) and with “Blue Review” beginning her sophomore year (in editorial roles all three years). As a lead layout editor for the magazine, Zielinski learned to apply many of the skills she honed as a yearbook editor, both with the software and in graphic design. “I genuinely enjoy the process of reading submissions and using my creativity to pair works and design spreads,” Zielinski said.

Zielinski at work on layout for Charlotte Latin publications, surrounded by previous year’s award-winning editions.

Laura Zielinski is comfortable wearing many hats: there’s the backstage hat, where she helps on every theater production. Or the creative hat, when she leads the yearbook and literary magazine teams in her role as editor on both publications. She also wears a tech and engineering hat—you can find Zielinski

volunteering with Girls Who Code and in the Fab Lab working on a variety of projects. Academically, Zielinski enjoys math, English, and computer science. Zielinski helped to inspire other students to start computer science when she volunteered for Girls Who Code once a week.

Additionally, as one of the leaders of Math Club, Zielinski is very motivated to work towards her academic goals. “I really like the problem-solving aspects of math and computer science, even when there isn’t actually a real-life application,” Zielinski said.

Zielinski, Latin’s 2019 homecoming queen, and her father, Robert Zielinski.

Creative problem solver

Reaping benefits of friendship

Zielinski and her sisters Margaret and Allison in New York City.

Although Zielinski plans to major in mathematics and computer science, she is glad to have had this creative outlet. “It allowed me to develop my journalism, photography, teamwork and design skills, and I’m grateful for all it has taught me over the years, though it has been extremely stressful at times,” Zielinski said.

I REALLY LIKE THE PROBLEM-SOLVING ASPECTS OF MATH AND COMPUTER SCIENCE, EVEN WHEN THERE ISN’T A REAL-LIFE APPLICATION.”

Zielinski and fellow Hawk friend Kate Stenersen ‘20 share a smile and a hike.

As Zielinski heads into the next chapter of her life, she considered the life

lessons she has learned. “I think the most important thing I’ve realized in my life is that you really can’t do anything without friends by your side, and that good relationships with others is what makes the difference between a fulfilling Zielinski with Paige Nurkin ‘20 and Evelyn Peters ‘20 at life and an their last Sadie’s dance. unsatisfying

one,” Zielinski said. Zielinski’s hat collection will likely continue to grow while she is in Chicago next fall; it’s a good thing she has a head for so many different disciplines. She won’t have to choose just one—they’re all going to look good on her. Finby, continued from p. 12

and really grew passionate about a lot of issues, such as mass incarceration, which I’ve tried to be more vocal about at Latin through groups like Mosaic, Model UN, and Spanish Club. I want to make Latin a place as open and accepting as

Governor’s School East,” Finby said. For Finby, Charlotte Latin has had a large impact on his writing style and skill. “I started out very anxious and insecure about my writing, but my teachers have helped me become confident in my writing abilities and find my personal voice when writing,” Finby said. He cannot be more grateful for all that his teachers have done. “My teachers have been a massive encouragement for continuing with my passions like acting, writing, and poetry,” Finby said. Looking towards the future, Finby has become extremely interested and passionate about psychology and neuroscience; he went as far as to say that he is “psyched about an opportunity to join their respective fields.” He really wants to be able to give back to society through his research in those fields. As for life after college, we may see Finby’s work in “The Onion” — perhaps Queen Doreen will make another appearance. Regardless of the goals he sets for himself, it is clear Finby will achieve them.

Senior Voices

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Photographs and memories

“This picture was taken moments after our football team beat Providence Day on a last second touchdown thrown by quarterback Charles Watson and caught by sophomore Daniel Haughton. As the students began

“The cast of ‘The Servant of Two Masters’ striking a silly pose on opening night. As the lead character of a hilarious, memorable production, playing Truffaldino was one of my proudest and fondest memories of my senior year.

storming the field, the football players joined in celebration of their hard work and sacrifice that led to a victory.” —JACKSON EDWARDS

I forget who took this picture, sadly, but seniors in the photo, from bottom to top, are Audrey Cobb, me, and Elizabeth Cobb-Curtis. —AUGUST HALDEMAN

“Every Wednesday in the fall (affectionately referred to as Hawaiian Wednesdays), our squad dressed up in Hawaiian shirts together. It was always fun to see each other in festive attire and we have taken plenty of fun

“Winning our 9th state title as a wrestling team.” —TAYLOR HENRY

“Spending time with “There is no other memmy favorite people ory like the ones I have on my favorite under the Friday night beach.” lights.” —STEPHANIE —RYAN BONNER CADDELL

photos together. Although we may not have a chance to do it in person again, we have instead shown up to a few mid-week office hours sessions in our colorful shirts.” —KAI VINCENT

L-R: Stephanie Caddell, Alex Lapuente, Kai Vincent, John Luke Farah, Adam Manuel, Worth Hinshaw, Chris Oster, Christopher Saba

Photo by Christopher Saba

This photo is of my friends and me downtown right before the Hola Charlotte festival. We were so excited to meet up with more friends, practice speaking Spanish, and try delicious foods like pupusas! This was one of my favorite senior memories because I enjoyed experiencing something new with my friends and the festival was amazing! —ANNA SNYDER Photo by Brooks Finby

Little did we know this would be our last school dance ever; I got to spend it making memories with my best friend.” —ABBY ADAMS L-R: Abby Owens, Abby Adams

“This photo was taken on signing day (November 14, 2019). It marked a day where I could celebrate everything Latin has given me while starting to look towards the future and get excited about the college where I would be continuing my gymnastics career. I appreciate how Latin recognizes athletic achievement

as well as academic. The best part of the event was having all my friends there supporting me!” —SARA KENEFICK “While this picture represents the day I saw all of my hard work of the previous four years pay off, what stands out most was the support I felt from my friends, teachers, and Charlotte Latin as a whole. The event was organized so well, and the Black Box was filled with people who were so genuinely happy to celebrate the athletes’ accomplishments. My favorite part was when my friends showed up in headbands with the Penn logo on one side and the Columbia lion on the other as a symbol of their support for me, my sister, and my friend Paige (Nurkin). Without my friends there, this moment wouldn’t have been as fun nor memorable. It is worth mentioning that although this event highlights how great my friends are, looking back at all of the years at Latin, my friend have always been people I can depend on to encourage me and stand by my side. Senior year is the last year before we go our separate ways (at least temporarily), so I cherish these moments when we are all together. —ANA KENEFICK Photo by Joy Kenefick

“My best friends at senior year Sadie’s!” —GRACIE REYNOLDS

“This picture captures a memorable moment because it was a little Christmas party some friends put on, having dinner, doing a white elephant gift exchange, and spending time with each other. It was great to just relax and enjoy each other’s company!” —GABY CACHERIS L-R bottom: Marion Donald, Cassie Figueroa, Nikki Reinhardt, Reid Brownlow, Mary Catherine Pope, Abby Matthews, Gaby Cacheris, Lane Tayloe, Emma Gatrell, Elizabeth Helweg.

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Senior Voices

Senior Voices

June 2020

from the class of 2020

“This was a big moment for not only Charlotte Latin’s basketball team but our community as well. To win the Final Four and advance to the state championship for the first time in 16 years after losing here last year was my

favorite moment of my senior year. I’ll never forget the team we had and how much fun it was even outside the game of basketball.” —RANDY JOHNSON

My most memorable moment is definitely when the varsity field hockey team got to go cheer on the football team in their game against North Raleigh Christian Academy. Our team was in Raleigh for an overnight trip playing field hockey games. We arrived at

Hawks Fly Together! My favorite moments from all of high school come from the sports teams I’ve gotten to be a part of, and the cross country team became a family to me. This

the football game just after kickoff, and of course we made a grand entrance! Mr. Lucas parked our bus and dropped us off on the home team’s side. We might have been a small group compared to the home team’s fan base, but we made our presence known! We cheered and shook our pom poms and

cow bells all the way around the track to where the Latin football parents were watching the game. They couldn’t help but laugh when they saw us coming around the track. —LAUREN LANGLEY Photo by Heather Bonner L-R: Emma Gatrell, Gracie Colombo, Sarah Eastridge, Lauren Langley

was the last cross country race I ran, and I will always remember the support and cheering from all my AMAZING teammates. “Football tailgate.” —LANE TAYLOE —WILLIAM SHARRETT “Our last Sadie’s dance with the best friends in the entire world!” —CAITLIN AHEARN

“This photo is the finale of cross country for me, and overall the entire cross country season was a blast. It was great to be appreciated by my

teammates with the warrior Hawk nomination, the senior night poster, and the notes on the senior poster. Overall, this picture reminds me of what my cross country family was, and how without it I would not be who I am today.” —ALEXIS DELOBELLE L-R: Alexis Delobelle, Luke Picciola, Coach Weiss and Worth Hinshaw Photo by Lane Tayloe

“I will remember Panthers pre-season games.” —SPENCER SHARRETT “This photo was taken on a Friday night this winter, when my friends and I went to a church to watch Kate Stenersen perform with her choir group. We went to the bathroom before it started, and I took this quick picture in the mirror. I can’t decide on the most significant memory of senior year, but this is one

moment that reminds me of how lucky I am to have friends like mine and enjoy wonderful nights like this one.” —LAURA ZIELINSKI L-R:Tiana Sullivan, Laura Zielinski, Paige Nurkin, Bela Marcus Photo by Laura Zielinski

STAFF Editor in Chief............................................Samantha Gitlin Staff Reporters................................................Jessica Clover, Hailey Kim, Connor Little, Ryan Lupfer, Tanner Willett Faculty Adviser......................................................Lori Davis