SENIORS
Alyssa Moncure
Olivia Neal
American University
Sarah Lawrence College
Major? African American and African Diaspora Studies/Political Science. Funniest Pink Slip? Mrs. Koehler told us to move. I told my friends at the table, “Come on guys let’s stage a sit-in. It’s like Civil Rights all over again.” Needless to say I got a pink slip for “Disrespect to Mrs. Koehler.”
Major? Acting. Funniest Pink Slip? Wearing a red fur coat to class. Freshman Year Memory? Kathleen Watz fixing my dress on stage in Oklahoma after it ripped open. Favorite Place at Sion? The Music Room because all the shenanigans start there.
Sophie Nedelco
Kate O’Keefe
University of Missouri
University of Kansas
Freshman year memory? Watts’ promise to straighten her hair for our graduation. Finals Horror Story? I dreamt I got a G on Sra. Schendel’s final. Less than an F... Best outfit for a Sion event? Tie between Shawn Watts (freshman) and Mel Wilcox (senior). Favorite senior year memory? Le Journal.
What teacher would you take with you? Mrs. Dreas to tutor me in math and go to the KU basketball games with me. Song that sums up Sion? "Sanctuary." Favorite senior year memory? Leading Kairos. Best outfit for a Sion event? Zombies for the STA/ Sion game.
Chioma Okuagu
Stephanie Ostrander
St. Louis University
Rockhurst University
Major?Neuroscience/Spanish(Pre-med) Funniest Pink Slip? Wearing floral shoes... I don’t own floral shoes. Favorite Place at Sion? The parking lot because my car is there and that means I’m going home. Song that sums up Sion: "Bet You Can’t Do It Like Me" by DLOW.
Major? Nursing. What teacher would you take with you? Conaghan because he’s the total package. Funniest Pink Slip? “Acting out another student’s injury” from Norberg because Mary Beth was limping down the hallway and I was mimicking her.
Claire Magsamen Senior singer learns life lessons and earns valuable experience through years of choral singing. BY PAIGE DUSSOLD REPORTER
She’s been all around the world, she can memorize information right away, she’s always driven to be outstanding. This is the life of senior Claire Magsamen, and she has a strong disposition and a decade of choral experience to thank for it. It’s astonishing to think that such an integral piece of Magsamen’s life was discovered serendipitously by her mother, Christy Magsamen, through simple word of mouth. When Christy heard about Allegro she knew she must remember it for her daughter who had always loved singing as a young child. “I knew that kids could join the Allegro choir in the third grade, but I panicked when I saw a sign at school about tryouts because the kids actually had to try out at the end of second grade,” Christy said. When her mother asked her if she would like to sign up for the choir Magsamen replied with almost no hesitation; “sign me up,” she said. “I got a letter in the mail saying I’d made it and I felt
really proud of myself because it was the first thing I had ever done on my own,” Magsamen said. Allegro Founder and Artistic Director Christy Elsner has seen Claire grow in the decade she has been a member of Elsner’s choir. “We have seen her develop from a fidgety third grader into a confident, secure, strong young woman,” Elsner said. Allegro has been a positive influence on her life in more ways than ever expected. Not only does the rigorous memorization make her an ace at remembering information for school, it also teaches life lessons that are applicable to any situation. “Our directors always push us to go above and beyond to not be the 99 percent of high school students that don’t try,” Magsamen said. “She always says go the extra mile and be the 1 percent that is outstanding.” The stage presence Magsamen learned through a decade of choir will carry into her college experience where her planned major is broadcast journalism. “Claire will have an incredible collegiate experience,” Elsner said. “We need more women sports broadcasters. She will fight for what she wants and hopefully break down any gender barriers that remain.”
LE JOURNAL May 2016
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