The Harbinger Issue 11 2025

IMPACT CHAMBERS of her

Sophomore Zella Handzel, a Kansas Teen of Impact, spreads heart health awareness after the loss of her father

THE HARBINGER

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

online preview

political cartoon

PRINT EDITORS

Sophia Brockmeier

Libby Marsh

ONLINE EDITORS

Luciana Mendy

Lucy Stephens

ASST. PRINT EDITORS

Avni Bansal

Michael Yi

ASST. ONLINE EDITOR

Christopher Long

Caroline Beal

HEAD COPY EDITORS

Libby Marsh

Luciana Mendy

ASST. HEAD COPY

EDITOR

Grace Pei

PRINT PHOTO EDITOR

Paige Bean

ASST.

Addie Clark

Ava Towner

Tyler Russell PHOTO MENTORS

Molly Scott

Sophia Cicero

Sylvie DeGalan

Zac Russell

Anastasia Flower

Vivien Glenski

Francesca Lorusso

Molly McDermed

VIDEO EDITORS

Preston Hooker

Emma Weidman

DESIGN EDITORS

Bella Broce

Sydney Eck

Evelyn Bagley Lucy Swope DESIGN MENTORS

Lyla Weeks Miranda Liberda Tillie Paisner

Ashtyn Ingram

Hannah Rosemann

Julia Campbell

Francesca Lorusso PAGE DESIGNERS

Madeline Glasier

Devon McFadden

Ella Slicker

Kennedy Moore

Eisley Foster

Elena Hull

Katie Cook

Lainey Hunter

Claire Troutwine

Abigail Baltzell

Lucy Cattano

Emily Enger

Jack Fitzpatrick

SECTION EDITORS EDITORIAL

Eisley Foster NEWS

Kennedy Moore OPINION

Bridget Dean

Henderson

Rosemann

Glasier

Cooper

Terreros

Eisley Foster

Fitzpatrick

Evelyn Geheb

Emma Weidman

Lexi Madden

Maggie Rogers

Layla Love

Avra Welling

Liv Ruecker

Bella Thompson

Charlotte Walton

RJ Kordalski

Allie Beaulieu

Sadie Jolicoeur

Graham Geheb

Welling

Geheb ASST.

Douglass

Schaefer

Vanessa Blades

Sienna Williams

Bridget Dean

Hannah Rosemann

Effie Roper

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Bella Broce

Lucy Stephens

SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF

Abigail Baltzell

Allie Beaulieu

Emily Enger

Libby Fitzpatrick

Evie Lewis

Rowan McGill

Adyson Cooper

Madeline Glasier

Devon McFadden

Sydney Eck

Lyla Weeks

Lucy Swope

The Harbinger is a student run publication. Published editorials express the views of the Harbinger staff. Signed columns published in the Harbinger express the writer’s personal opinion. The content and opinions of the Harbinger do not represent the student body, faculty, administration or Shawnee Mission School District. The Harbinger will not share any unpublished content, but quotes material may be confirmed with the sources. The Harbinger encourages letters to the editors, but reserves the right to reject them for reasons including but not limited to lack of space, multiple letters of the same topic and personal attacks contained in the letter. The Harbinger will not edit content though letters may be edited for clarity, length or mechanics. Letters should be sent to room 400 or emailed to smeharbinger@gmail.com.

NEWS

stories

by ELIOT HIGGINS

Where Young Leaders Rise

Youth and Government will bring four state legislators to the SM East commons in early April for its annual panel

Youth and Government will host its political panel in the Commons, bringing state and local politicians to SM East in early April.

The panel typically features four elected officials, with the club aiming to have two Democrats and two Republicans, depending on who’s available, according to YAG secretary and senior Adeline Clifford .

Students submit questions for the panel in advance and these are then given to the politicians to answer, according to Clifford.

“People can learn more about local politics and get their questions and concerns answered,” Clifford said.

Clifford helps connect YAG to potential speakers.

“We have a huge spreadsheet of all the state and local politicians, and we delegate different reps to email them,” Clifford said.

The group will announce the final list of attending politicians once confirmations are final.

One of the main reasons students should attend is that it counts as extra credit in social studies classes, which is especially helpful leading up to finals, according to Clifford.

The panel is designed to make politics more accessible to students, especially those who are not yet eligible to vote.

“Only about half the senior class is 18,” Clifford said, “It’s hard to feel a responsibility to get involved when you can’t vote yet.”

Clifford also said that politics can feel “taboo” for students, which is why they tend to avoid the subject.

According to YAG sponsor and social studies teacher Robert Bickers, the event aligns with the group’s goal of increasing awareness of their political surroundings.

“One of the biggest things is getting students aware and active,” Bickers said.

“Whether it is getting students registered to vote or just knowing who represents them.”

Practice Makes Progress

you need to know about the ACT and the different

Why you should take the ACT

- After taking the ACT it gives colleges your score which gives them the level of classes you should be in.

A Day Of Giving

The SM East cafeteria will host a blood drive on Feb. 28 where SM East community members can donate

Community Blood Center will bring mobile blood donation units to the cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 28. The SHARE planned event will be open to students, staff and community members to donate blood.

Donors are encouraged to sign up in advance on the CBC’s website, savealifenow.org.

Students as young as 16 may donate with parental consent, and anyone 18 or older can donate independently.

“People check in, [CBC] takes your iron levels, and then they take you over to the beds for the actual draw,” SHARE coordinator Erin Billingsley said

According to Billingsley, the blood draw itself usually takes about ten minutes for each person.

hydrated and get enough sleep. Donors will be turned away if they do not meet iron or height‑and‑weight requirements.

IT’S A GREAT way to give back. [Donating blood] isn’t as scary as people think, and once you do it, you tend to keep doing it.

ERIN BILLINGSLEY TEACHER

Students planning to donate are encouraged to eat iron‑rich foods the night before, stay

SHARE chair and senior Lila Kimmel said the event encourages young people to donate blood.

“[For] the younger generation, it’s not as normalized to give blood,” Kimmel said. “One donation can save three lives.” SHARE has been promoting the drive by posting flyers, sharing on SHARE social media and putting signs on Mission Road. Kimmel has been putting up flyers around the school and signs on Mission Road.

“It’s a great way to give back,” Billingsley said. “It’s not as scary as people think, and once you do it, you tend to keep doing it.

Chance To Save A Life

WHEN: Feb. 25

- The new digital ACT has shorter testing times and fewer questions

- Students get to choose whether they want to take an online or paper version of the test, and they also get to choose if they want to add a science and writing section

How to prep for the ACT

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

Tomahawk Elementary’s LEED FEATURES

Tomahawk Elementary has different features in the school that are specific to being LEED certified

CONNECTION TO NATURE

The design of the school utilizes nature in the building replicating each season in four different parts.

LEED-ing

LEED-ing

to sustainability

story by AYNSLEE DOUGLASS

TOMAHAWK, PAWNEE AND Rushton Elementary were silver certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design on Jan. 14.

UNIQUE LEARNING SPACES

Tomahawk has “cozy corners” to give students places to learn outside of the classroom with environmental aspects.

LEED is a global standardized framework for a green building.

It’s a standard for a sustainable building that recognizes the effects a building can have on the surrounding environment.

The certification is calculated through a point system. Each point is earned through passing different assessments, including carbon footprint, water efficiency and energy efficiency. The three elementary schools reached the silver certification by earning 50-59 points.

“Sustainability has been a focus of the project [Tomahawk] in terms of water, and how we use the land[and] indoor air quality,” Tomahawk principal Erin Aldrich said.

According to Aldrich, the LEED certification showed that the effort to be sustainable during construction was worth it from the start to finish.

A key asset to the LEED accreditation is the Greenwood Consulting Group, due to their experience in choosing sustainable materials and methods of construction. GCS is a national group that advises the construction of a building to meet LEED certification.

NATURAL LIGHT

Windows in every classroom let in natural light to boost the students’ overall demeanor.

The group is brought in for every school SMSD rebuilds. This includes the earlier elementary rebuilds, Westwood View, certified in 2025 and John Diemer, certified in 2023.

LEED fellow Sarah Greenwood worked closely with the district through the whole rebuilding process. She was recognized as a LEED fellow in 2020, which is a credential that shows proficiency, excellence and impact in modern sustainable design. This allows her to give well rounded advice through the whole construction and design process.

“You’re just making good decisions that are going to enhance a learning environment by leaps and bounds,”

Greenwood said.

design by ANYA HUDSON photos by SADIE JOLICOEUR

Tomahawk, Pawnee and Rushton elementary schools are LEED certified as green buildings

With 20 years in the business, Greenwood has been able to see the progress in sustainable buildings. Specifically with K-12 schools, as The Collaborative for High Performance Schools was her first project throughout California.

“There’s more attention to bring the best learning environment to students,” Greenwood said.

When sustainable and intentional choices are made, the learning environment improves, according to Greenwood.

“A rattling HVAC in the background can be a distraction,” Greenwood said. “With glass that’s installed, whether that’s a window pane to the outside or an indoor corridor, and same with doors need to be a certain STC rating so that each classroom is acoustically productive.” Greenwood said.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design a widely used green building rating system and provides a framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving green buildings.

According to Aldrich, having a green building correlates to better student behavior. At Tomahawk, the administration has seen a 50% decrease in office referrals and suspensions since moving into the new building.

“It automatically uplifts the mood when you have access to daylight,” Aldrich said. “We had classrooms in the old building that didn’t have windows. Going from that type of facility to a school where every single space has access to natural light.”

The design process was led by DLR, which closely collaborated with Tomahawk. Through both community and staff design teams, they were able to create the ideal building for teachers and the environment. One way to become more green is through utilizing natural light, according to Oxford University. By increasing natural light, one’s carbon footprint is reduced because there’s not as much energy being used to power light bulbs.

DLR was able to accommodate the needed elements for a green building, such as outdoor learning areas, natural light and preservation of nature and outdoor spaces.

“[Tomahawk has] a common area outside for the kids, and a big, grass field for kids to play,” Tomahawk alum and senior Lucinda Hendrickson said.

Nature is brought into the building through a tree house theme and themed flexible working spaces in each area of the building.

“Each of our four quadrants of the building is a different season with a pod correlating with the season and what the trees look like when they’re in season,” Aldrich said.

The two-story building allows for better and more adaptive learning,according to Deputy Superintendent, David Stubblefield.

The new building’s outdoor space is for more than just a certification point; it allows for collaboration and community, according to Aldrich.

“We have opportunities for community events in our outdoor learning area,” Aldrich said. “[It] creates a great space to bring the community together, whether it’s a Friday night and they’re playing on the playground, right after school hours, or we’re doing our Tiger trot and the whole community is coming together to work towards a goal.”

LEED Ranks

The LEED certification has four, point based, levels of sustainability

points

A

MENTAL

parent’s signature for a student to receive school mental health resources

*Name changed to protect identity

HOUSE BILL 2420

recommended to the Kansas House of Representatives after being amended by the Kansas House Committee on Education on Feb. 16. If passed in both branches, it would require written consent from a parent before their child receives mental health services from their school district.

The term “mental health services” includes programs or strategies applied in a school setting that address a student’s emotions, social interactions and behavior. At SM East, this would include meeting with a counselor to talk about personal issues.

Senator Megan Steele, the senator who introduced the bill, did not respond to a request for comment, but in her supporting testimony, she stated that parental consent is already required for some school surveys, educational evaluations and medical care, so it would make sense to require consent for mental health services.

WHEN I’M feeling stressed or if I feel like there’s something that I do want to talk about that is impacting my mental health, it’s great that I can go in there, I can email [my counselor].

*RACHEL SMITH SOPHOMORE

Dr. Michael Schumacher, the Shawnee Mission School District superintendent, does not fully agree. According to Schumacher, the district values the trust that parents put in the schools and understands the need to communicate with them. However, he is also concerned about the risk of creating roadblocks to school counselors providing support.

As a parent, Schumacher understands why parents may support the bill and feels that parents need to be kept “in the loop” with their child, which comes from communication from everyone and the district trying to be as transparent

like there’s something that I do want to talk about that is impacting my mental health, it’s great that I can go in there, I

negative impact on the services that we can provide and frankly should be providing,” Schumacher said.

SPREADING

Tonight’s student-led district-wide worship night aims to unite the community

story by AVNI BANSAL

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

leaders from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes — the world’s largest non-denominational Christian sports ministry, according to the FCA website — are hosting a districtwide worship night tonight, Feb. 23, from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. in the SM West choir room.

The event is entirely student-led, organized by SM East FCA student leaders, juniors Christian Tippie and Jacob Lien, along with junior Alayna Danbury and senior Felipe Pulgarin. Around 15 other FCA student leaders from across the district also helped plan the event.

“When people see that there are so many others who believe in Jesus, it’s really cool,” Tippie said. “[The worship night] promotes community. I get to make friends with someone from SM South, SM West, SM Northwest — it’s just singing together, praising God together.”

CORE VALUES

Four traits that the FCA values and Bible verses that correlate

Serving

FAI H

and about six other students from other high schools will play and sing worship music.

Tippie and Danbury will also help lead a 30-minute lesson, or “message,” alongside two other students. The lesson will cover life before Christ, how Christ died on the cross and forgives sin and living in response to Christ’s love.

“Our message [centers around] the whole idea of ‘lukewarm,’” Danbury said. “Lukewarm is [when] you know about Christianity, but you don’t directly follow it. Our theme is to get out of that. We want people to really know and understand what Christianity is and how to follow it out and live it in our day-to-day lives.”

WHEN PEOPLE SEE that there are so many others who believe in Jesus, it’s really cool. [The worship night] promotes community.

CHRISTIAN TIPPIE JUNIOR

The night will end with a “call to the altar,” where Tippie and other leaders will stand to the side of the choir room to answer questions and offer prayers. Tippie hopes for 200 to 300 attendees in total, as anyone interested in the worship night is welcome.

Connecting students in faith continues through SM East’s FCA. Lien and Tippie meet with members of the 40-person SM East FCA GroupMe every Thursday at 7:50 a.m. in the weights room to discuss who Jesus is and read gospels — accounts of what Jesus said.

Feb.23 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Tippie and Danbury run another faith-based club, Club of Christ. While both clubs center around Christianity, Club of Christ, according to Tippie, takes a more in-depth approach, focusing on longer Bible passages. Unlike Club of Christ, which meets after school, FCA gatherings are held in the morning so that student-athletes can participate

F C A

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes — a non-denominational Christian sports ministry

before their afternoon practices and games.

Chicago a month ago, hopes to bond with students from the district at the worship night.

“I want to know a million people,” Pulgarin said. “I love knowing people. I love knowing people so I can help them in the future, and just open doors for them.”

During the 90-minute worship service, testimonies — life stories of how Jesus saved them — will be shared.

Danbury, Pulgarin

Tippie drew inspiration from a Mill Valley FCA worship night held last year. After he and Danbury attended, Tippie contacted Mill Valley FCA student leaders for tips on organizing their own event.

Tippie believed it was time to bring a worship event back to SMSD, as it had been five years since the district had held a “worship anything.” The last event was SM West’s Fields of Faith, which only involved SM West rather than all five high schools.

Proverbs 11:3

“We will model Jesus’ example of serving.”

Excellence

Colossians 3:23-24

“We will honor and glorify God in all we do.”

Teamwork

Philippians 2:1-4

“We will express our unity in Christ in all our relationships. “

Integrity

Proverbs 11:3

“We will demonstrate Christ-like wholeness, privately and publicly.”

Both clubs have been working together — and with other district FCA student leaders — on advertising the event through posts on their respective Instagram pages. The group also held worship night planning meetings at restaurants like Strang Hall and Mi Ranchito.

“It’s definitely been cool to have someone who shares your faith, and it’s really nice that it’s not necessarily something that you have to do alone,” Lien said. “There are people to bounce ideas off of and plan what we’re going to read.”

Pulgarin, who moved to Kansas from

He stresses that the most meaningful aspect of the event is creating a judgment-free space for everyone.

“I don’t want anyone to judge anyone at all who’s there because there are people who worship differently,” Pulgarin said. “People are quiet, people sit down, people raise their hands, people sing. Even if they can’t sing, it doesn’t matter. It’s still worship, and it’s still angelic to the Lord.”

OPINION

hot take

story by KATIE COOK

STV shows shouldn’t have more than three seasons

impact and realism starts to fade.

HOWS SHOULD ONLY have three seasons.

If there’s anything worse than your favorite show ending too soon, it’s watching it stay on the air long enough to become a completely different show. Instead of having to suffer through season after season, shows should end after three seasons or less.

As creators run out of ideas, writers, producers and other creative minds try to keep the show afloat, especially if it’s a cash cow. This causes storylines to become trite quickly and, in some cases, just utterly ridiculous.

Take “Grey’s Anatomy,” for example. For any diehard fans out there, I know this might sting a bit, but the first couple of seasons felt grounded and character-driven. But as the seasons went on plotlines became more dramatic and over-the-top. Instead of developing naturally, conflicts felt forced just to keep the story moving.

And this isn’t about just one show. The longer a series runs, the more pressure there is to outdo previous seasons. Writers feel like they need bigger drama, higher stakes and crazier twists to keep audiences interested.

But bigger doesn’t always mean better. Eventually, when every season tries to top the last, the emotional

Limiting a show to three seasons would improve the overall quality. With a clear endpoint in mind, creators should map out a strong beginning, middle and end. Relationships wouldn’t be dragged through unnecessary breakups and scandals or shocking twists just for ratings.

Instead of milking a storyline for as long as possible, writers need focus on telling the best version of that story.

“Outer Banks” is another example of a series gone wrong. Even though it only has four seasons, the most recent one drifted far from the original treasure hunting theme, which was what made the show interesting in the first place. By season four the writers changed everything from characters’ romantic relationships to the setting of the show, which made it obvious the writers were stretching the story just to create more drama — and make more money.

we asked you...

*Instagram

Viewers responded to recent Instagram polls reflecting this issue’s opinion stories

EVERY

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GETTING A JOB THAT APPLIES TO YOUR MAJOR AFTER YOU GRADUATE COLLEGE?

Ending at three seasons would also protect a show’s legacy. People would remember it as consistently strong rather than “good at first but terrible later.” It’s better to leave audiences wanting more than to have them hate-watch out of loyalty.

Sometimes, stopping at three seasons isn’t quitting early; it’s knowing when to end on top.

Harbinger staffer share a few of their favorite items

Favorite blanket - Lola Blanket

Staffers love the feel of this brand’s ultra-soft blankets, and while they can be a bit expensive, they’re worth the investment.

Favorite water bottle - Owala

The most favored water bottle of the year, is staffer’s long lasting, multi-colored Owalas.

Favorite soda - Coca Cola

An ice cold Coca Cola is the perfect pick me-up for a staffer, especially when trying to stay up late to finish their work during deadline.

‘GREY’S ANATOMY’ HAS too many seasons. The episodes just get super repetitive and the plot lines started repeating. You can tell they’re just trying to drag the show on.

Celebrate these little known holidays

Feb. 24

Tortilla Chip Day

Feb. 26

Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Feb. 27

Polar Bear Day

March 2

Old Stuff Day

March 6

Dentists Day

A HOVERING THREAT

W RLD? WHERE IN THE

Six cities, other than Kansas City, that have started using drones for mail delivery

Phoenix, Arizona

Dallas, Texas

Waco, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Detroit, Michigan

DELIVERING

PACKAGES via drone seems to be a logical progression as society moves further into the future of technology.

Amazon and various other private delivery services are continually advancing drone delivery technology.

As of Feb. 11, Amazon has begun using unmanned drone delivery for packages weighing five pounds or less within a 7.5mile radius of its fulfillment center in Kansas City, Kansas, according to KMBC.

Yet, if this technology continues to advance, it sets a dangerous precedent of companies replacing entry-level jobs with machines without providing former employees with replacement jobs.

This could devastate the job market for students coming out of high school looking to work, beyond mail service.

FOR: 3 AGAINST: 9

The members of the editorial board who agree with the viewpoint of the editorial are represented by for, and those who disagree with the viewpoint are represented by against.

Amazon’s usage of drone delivery in KC areas harms future job security for mail carriers and foreshadows a continuation of machines replacing entry-level human jobs

Before the drones arrived in KC, Amazon had already announced it will lay off another 16,000 workers this month, after laying off 14,000 in January, according to CNN. These are in fulfillment centers, where they select and package products, so non-delivery workers are already threatened by advancing technology.

25 % DECREASE

of workers at Amazon fulfillment centers from 2022 to 2024

The precedent that companies can lay off workers and replace them with machines, with no guarantee of a new job, is being set. So, as Amazon moves to automate delivery, all workers have everything to worry about.

The ball is already rolling.

Amazon will continue to push the weight limit and delivery radius as technology advances because it’s more profitable and efficient. That’s why they’re expanding to KC and beyond: it works. Other companies will see their profit and follow in their footsteps. This is basic business and economics.

Any jobs created by drones require technical knowledge of software and engineering to operate and build them.

A high school student searching for a way to work through college won’t have a bachelor’s degree in computer science to fill these positions.

Any U.S. citizen with a driver’s license over the age of 18, or 16 with a high school diploma, can work for the U.S. Postal Service. Those are the requirements for a $46,000 minimum salary, with upwards of $66,000 as a starting salary, according to USPS. No degree. No diploma.

Jobs like this are luxuries that are fading ever more as drones and other technologies advance.

Moreover, less jobs are needed after replacing the mail carriers, only those to command, repair and package the drones, which could all fit into one job.

It’s simple: companies need to either

guarantee a job replacement for workers or provide one helluva severance package that lasts until they find a new job. This might seem harsh, but with companies worth trillions like Amazon, it’s necessary to ask this for our working class.

Even if you aren’t worried about the possible 2 million jobs lost in mail service, you should be worried about those in food service, sanitation and manufacturing, who could all be replaced by automated servers, garbage collectors and assembly lines.

“I’ll just use the drone delivery so my package comes faster” is a catalyst for “I can’t find a job without a $100,000 degree.”

Yes, there are other ways to achieve a cheaper degree through community college or scholarships. But those prices are still rising, and you can’t pay for college if there aren’t any jobs to work without a degree. Even if you get loans, daily living is dependent on income.

A third of Americans age 16 to 19 work in food service, according to the National Restaurant Association. Those are our SM East students. Obviously, food service as a whole isn’t jeopardized like mail service. But with McDonald’s using automated voices to take orders, the next step is making and packaging the food, something robots are already capable of at certain small restaurants.

So, when people hear about drones being used as alternatives for people, and no one can stop them, they should be worried if a robot can feasibly do their job.

It’s easy to talk in hypotheticals and of the future, but for now, it’s important not to select that drone delivery option and encourage businesses to provide nondegree-required jobs as an alternative for all the jobs they’re either getting rid of or going to get rid of.

I hope I’m wrong, or we’re f*****.

A MATTER OF

Staffers debate whether the internet trend of “slowmaxxing” is a healthy mindset

story by EFFIE ROPER

IT WAS NEVER-ENDING.

SPEED SPEED THE TORTOISE

The social media term “slowmaxxing” encourages healthy mindsets and habits

Rather than trying to “max out” your looks, success and productivity overnight, slowmaxxing promotes small habits and patience.

Productivity hacks that promise straight A’s.

Fitness plans that guarantee dramatic changes in one week.

On social media, there’s always a constant goal to dramatically change yourself. And with thousands of different looks spreading all over the media these days, people want drastic changes in their physique, personality, grades, and more in a matter of seconds

But recently I found a new side of TikTok — slowmaxxing.

BREAKING IT DOWN

This could mean reading a few pages of a book a day instead of trying to finish a whole school reading assignment in one night.

It could also mean building a short and consistent workout routine rather than training for hours a day to get immediate results, or even decreasing screen time each day rather than quitting social media entirely.

The constant pressure to upgrade leaves people feeling behind or even degraded in their looks and overall mindset. When improvement is framed as

Explaining the origin of “slowmaxxing”

The term “slowmaxxing” originated from a 2022 tweet

1. 2. 3.

“Maxxing” comes from gamer slang and it means “optimize.”

story by CAROLINE BEAL

“YOU NEED TO slow down.”

Five words I can’t stand.

As a junior in high school, being busy is my entire life with homework, ACT tutoring, nannying, volunteering and countless extracurriculars taking up every ounce of my time.

So when the term “slowmaxxing” appeared on my TikTok For You Page, time and time again, I was, of course, annoyed that the internet had found a way to glamorize being unproductive.

Sure, in theory, “slowmaxxing,” or taking time to slow down your life, sounds nice. Cooking dinner instead of warming up leftovers, sitting outside

Now, “slowmaxxing” is a TikTok trend which means “slow living.”

*information courtesy of Northwestern College & The New York Times

while enjoying a cup of coffee instead of chugging it before school, taking a long walk in the park instead of a quick jog on the treadmill — but not only is this lifestyle unattainable, it’s also very unrealistic.

It’s recommended that students have less than two hours of homework each night, according to the National Society of High School Scholars.

But clearly , schools couldn’t care less about recommendations — not when two hours of homework is what I consider a lighter night of work.

And honestly, I don’t mind running around from one activity to another or staying up past midnight; in fact, I enjoy it.

SLOW MAX XING

A mindset and social media trend of deliberately slowing down daily life to resist hustle culture and reduce burnout

urgent and dramatic, normal growth isn’t seen as normal .

The trend of slowmaxxing not only sets a positive mindset but also reduces burnout. When people try to change everything at once, they often give up after not seeing an immediate result. Motivation fades, especially when schedules become busy and unrealistic expectations only lead to disappointment.

Getting into the habit of “slowmaxxing” is especially useful for students. With busy schedules, this trend reminds them to take things one step at a time and balance a day filled with classes, sports and extracurriculars.

Academic success doesn’t come from one night of studying before a unit test. It comes from paying attention, doing

homework and reviewing regularly. The same applies in sports and music. Skills develop gradually over time with consistency, not in mere hours.

A study by Phillippa Lally and her team at the University College London found that it takes an average of 66 days for a new form and behavior to visibly show and become automatic.

Does this sound familiar?

Social media will always have fastmoving trends. But if more of them encouraged patience, consistency and balance, results will actually show and online culture might feel less overwhelming. Slowmaxxing reminds us that sometimes the best way to improve is moving one step at a time rather than trying to run up a mountain.

THE HARE

The concept of “slowmaxxing” is unrealistic and misleading

Because not only am I learning dedication and hard work, but I’m also preparing to join the corporate workforce that thrives on late nights, around-theclock calls and missed vacation days every year.

In fact, almost half of workers globally feel they’re being left behind in the workforce, according to LinkedIn Corporate Communications, and I don’t plan on being one of them.

If I have to stay up a few extra hours to complete all my homework after an already packed afternoon of nannying and math tutoring, I know it’ll be worth it in 10 years, when I’ll already be used to a busy schedule.

And what really bothers me is when

“influencers” who’ve never had to work more than two hours a day think it’s okay to normalize an easy and laid-back life when, for many, that will never be attainable.

I’m not saying taking a relaxing evening to enjoy a book or see a movie with friends is bad, but “slowmaxxing” takes those moments to another level, one that is only practical for influencers. So, why make impressionable audiences think that slowly going through life is the way to live, when most people need to learn how to keep up with the pace?

23, 2026

NO JOBS,

story by MYA SMITH

IGRADUATED FROM Boston “I graduated from Boston College and I’m working at Starbucks.”

“I got a degree in computer science at UC Berkeley, and I’ve applied to hundreds of jobs with still no reply.”

After seeing recent college graduates make posts like this on social media, I

30% of 2025 college graduates reported that they had secured a full-time job in their field of study, and only 41% of the Class of 2024, according to CNBC. And , according to PBS, job opportunities are down 15% compared to last year, but applications are up by 30%.

Reading these articles about the job market and seeing college graduates have online meltdowns about not being able to find jobs is incredibly discouraging

anyways, because “that’s the way to get your foot in the door in the corporate world.” Young adults usually start working in a company as a secretary drafting emails and answering calls, and then work their way up.

But now, these entry level jobs are either being taken over by technology and AI, or requiring the experience that you learn in an entry level job for an entry level job. Companies are advertising to

In order for young adults to prosper and grow, they need to have a starting point after they graduate to advance in the real world. Making jobs difficult to attain for new graduates makes college seem less worth it in the long run.

Jobs for new graduates either need to be more accessible or the expectation for students having to attend college should be less rigid.

JUSTICE

JUSTICE

Students walked out of class in protest of ICE on Feb. 17

Sisters senior Vivian and sophomore Alexandra Fraley hold signs saying, “I hope the next viral trend is empathy,” and “Immigrants built America,” to AVA TOWNER

this week in PHOTOS FEATURE

A look inside student life over the past two weeks

meet the

JEFFREY BRAXTON

Meet junior Braxton Jeffrey, the International Baccalaureate student of the

His Classes

IB History IB Spanish

IB Psychology IB Environmental Systems in Society

Math representatives

Get to know SM East’s Enrollment Representatives and what they do to help

*To read more about the representatives go to page

LEIGHTON FULGHUM SOPHOMORE

WE HELP THE counselors with enrollment because it’s such a busy time and they have a lot to do. We tell [students] who to get next, or if one of the counselors is gone, we help [students] with any questions they have. Sometimes we help alphabetize the forms, just whatever they need to help with.

IB English

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IB CLASSES?

I REALLY LIKE IB because when the students gave the presentation during English class sophomore year, they were talking about how it’s a lot of work, but it’s work that you’ll like doing. I feel like that’s definitely what it is. I like learning about the things I’m learning about and doing the assignments and experiments I’m doing.

WHEN WERE YOU TOLD OF THE AWARD?

THE IB COORDINATOR Ms. Landry came into my first hour, and her and my teacher, Mr. Brogren, were talking. Then Mr. Brogren was talking about how a student had been a good student this month and he went on this little mini speech and obviously at first I wasn’t thinking it was about me because I was like, ‘It’s probably about someone super smart.’ Then he said my name, and I was very surprised.

AINSLEY AGNIEL JUNIOR

I THINK IT’S important because it really helps the counselors out. I couldn’t imagine being a counselor during this time. It seems so stressful just from what I’ve seen and I haven’t seen a lot. Giving them the help that they need I think makes a difference for them.

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

INSIDE

Anatomy students performed their first dissection of the year, dissecting a sheep brain for their nervous system unit

LAB

A COMMUNITY OF PALS

Pack of Pals has helped special education students connect with their peers

story by GRACE PEI

SPECIAL EDUCATION

STUDENT and junior Owen Hill kept thinking about what his mom told him this school year.

“You’re almost done with high school, and you need to get out there. If you want to meet new people, this is not the way to do it.”

So instead of taking a nap or playing Mario Kart and Wii Sports, Hill decided to go to a Pack of Pals event, organized by the chairs of the SHARE project.

Pack of Pals is dedicated to organizing events for special education students and has become a way for students, like Hill, to bond with other students and establish a community.

out there in the world is more fun.”

The six Pack of Pals SHARE chairs immediately greeted him, making sure to acknowledge him by name.

[PACK

OF Pals] means that I’m part of [a] family,” Hurt said. “And that’s what I always remember. When they all love me, and I love them back.

Hill told himself, This is good for you. This is something that you desperately need. It’s scary, but you can power through it.

Dressed as Doctor Doom from the Marvel Universe, Hill attended his first event, a Halloween party.

“I usually prefer being inside, which now that I come to terms [with], I kind of don’t really want to do that,” said. “I feel like getting

“We were always checking in with [the special education students] throughout the entire time and we just make them feel that we want them to be here, and we want to be here with them,” Pack of Pals chair junior Vada Walsh said. “We just get very excited to see them, and they get very excited to see us.”

Senior Margot Hawes became a SHARE chair after her three older siblings were chairs for Pack of Pals in previous years.

FITU HURT

“My main goal is always to make the kids and the special needs students feel like a part of [SM] East and a part of something normal and included and all just welcome,” Hawes said. “I don’t want them to ever feel like they’re different, or an outcast.”

and a bowling event. During the monthly events are smaller moments where Walsh got to braid a special education student’s hair in the bowling alley so they could have matching hairstyles, or when Hawes would cheer on junior Spencer Thornhill as he pulled out a dance move.

“At the events, we just really push how everybody’s always welcome and that you don’t have to come,” Pack of Pals chair senior Allie Hartis said. “But when they come, we just try to do as much as we can, to really have a fun environment that’s not based around it being Pack of Pals. It’s based around it being a fun outof-school hangout with friends.”

Students have been able to find other communities through Pack of Pals. Special education student and freshman Fitu Hurt found an interest in bowling after attending the bowling event, and now he’s on the Unified Bowling team.

Some information about the SHARE chairs for Pack of Pals FRESHMAN

This school year, the chairs have organized several events, including a Chiefs watch party, a Halloween party

MEET THE CHAIRS

IT MAKES ME feel like I’m doing something bigger than just myself I guess. It’s made me feel like I’m making an impact even if it’s just on a couple of people.

“[Pack of Pals] means that I’m part of [a] family,” Hurt said. “And that’s what I always remember. When they all love me, and I love them back.”

here are two shiny, red pins on sophomore Zella Handzel’s red shirt as she’s sitting in her first hour chemistry class.

One’s a red dress that reminds her of her nomination as a Kansas Teen of Impact.

The other’s a red ribbon for her “hero.”

For Chris.

He was a volleyball fan, food connoisseur and college athlete. He worked diligently for his “second family” — the Howard Needles Tammen and Bergendoff architecture firm. Chris didn’t seek attention; he sought to lift others up, according to Zella.

heartbeat LI A

After the loss of her father, sophomore Zella Handzel keeps his story alive and spreads heart health awareness as a Kansas Teen of Impact

is a nine-week program that started on Feb. 6, raising money and awareness for the AHA.

Over the nine weeks, Zella, along with a “team” of her closest supporters, hopes to raise $10,000 for the AHA. Apart from donations from family, friends and local organizations, she’ll also lead school and community leadership activities, such as CPR training and fundraisers.

“Zella is just such a personable, joyous person,” Spar said. “She’s just a joy to be around. She really wants to bring honor to her dad and her family. And I think that’s a really, really touching reason for wanting to do this.”

Chris was the kind of person who attended heart walks to raise awareness for heart disease.

Chris collapsed at Zella’s older sister, Emaline’s, volleyball tournament, from a cardiac arrest resulting from atrial fibrillation. His family had a history of heart conditions, and Chris had the recessive trait. Days later, on April 29, 2024, he passed away.

But Zella’s not letting this be the end of his story. She’s keeping his story alive by using her platform as a Teen of Impact to raise awareness around heart health and the life-saving technique of CPR.

“There’s so many ways that I see him,” Zella said. “I’ll just think, ‘I miss you so much’, but then I think about, ‘Look at what I’m doing now. I wish you could have been here to see all of it.’ I wouldn’t have been as connected if I didn’t see it as such a big issue in my life. So, I think it’s something negative that turned into such a positive impact.”

Zella was nominated to be a Kansas Teen of Impact by American Heart Association Development Director

Natalie Spar. The Teen of Impact program

The kind of person who wore AHA T-shirts everywhere he went.

The kind of person who attended every one of his daughter’s volleyball matches, and made up cheers and dances with the other spectators.

“My mom just broke out in tears,” Zella said. “I couldn’t believe this all happened, and that he really made such a big difference.”

Then, they received the letters.

Coupled with hand drawn from children, in the following Handzel family sat down to open of gratitude addressed to organ recipients.

“He wasn’t even thinking hero], but it was just such a directly affected people’s lives,” when we received those letters, ‘Wow, this is real, him a hero. Yeah, didn’t even know

ZELLA IS JUST just such a personable, joyous person. She’s just a joy to be around. She really wants to bring honor to her dad and her family. And I think that’s a really, really touching reason for wanting to do this.

NATALIE SPAR

AHA DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

And the kind of person who, unbeknownst to his family, was an organ donor.

In fact, Zella’s mother, Carissa, and Chris had discussed his hesitation to be a donor in the past, but he had just quietly changed his mind. It wasn’t until Chris passed that the Handzels found out he was a donor.

So when Zella received her driver’s she proudly checked donor” box, because her father, was a

Several days passed, Emaline collapsing on the gym at her Baltimore tournament. In moments after he the first responders Emaline performed father. It was this allowed Zella to be able to spend few more days with her father.

Yes, Zella had taken basic school, but after the process became she wanted to honor her father others this potentially life-saving

On Feb. 18, Zella led a hands-only at SM East in partnership with — the first of her many official events.

A breakdown of Zella’s nomination Kansas Teen of Impact candidate

heartbeat IVES ON

letters. drawn illustrations following months, the open up the notes them from the about [being a difference that lives,” Zella said. “So letters, it was like, real, they called he was, and you him.”

Zella turned 16 and driver’s license checked the “organ because her “hero,” donor too.

before Chris remembers him the floor of the Baltimore volleyball In the critical he fell and before responders arrived, performed CPR on her

measure that spend a precious father. basic CPR during became personal, father by teaching life-saving skill. hands-only CPR course with the Heart Club official Teen of Impact

Six girls, humming “Pink Pony Club” to stay on beat, all crowded around three plastic, tan dummies. They diligently watched Spar demonstrate how to conduct hands-only CPR.

With more than a dozen members of the Future is Female Club, Zella leads monthly meetings on woman empowerment and health. She started the club in 2024, after Kamala Harris lost in the election. The Feb. 18 meeting was a collaboration with Heart Club.

Zella invited Spar and her three mannequins, and kicked the meeting off with a presentation about empowering women in the heart health field.

As the founder of the Future is Female club, Zella raises awareness for these differences in research and equality. She’ll prepare a women’s heart health slideshow to present at other meetings or print off heart anatomy worksheets to color.

“Instead of withdrawing or getting angry and lashing out about [Chris’s death], I’m really proud of her, because she’s chosen to take this and find a new meaning for her life to where she can educate and support other people,” Zella’s grandmother Lynn Vandolah said.

Sitting in her first-hour chemistry class on Feb. 6, Zella’s jaw drops.

A notification lights up her phone: “Happy Kickoff Day! You just received your first donation.”

Zella clicked on the Heart Association app and saw that her great aunt was her first donor. Zella had been attending preparation workshops and meeting with Spar for weeks, but now the reality of the campaign began to set in.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is official,’” Zella said. “You hear this is

what you’re going to do in this campaign, this is who you’re going to reach out to, and then knowing that I actually started, I looked at my watch and I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s 9 a.m., it’s time.’”

Zella came home from school that afternoon to a new addition in her front yard — a red sign that says: “A Kansas Teen of Impact lives here.” The sign was a congratulatory present from Spar, signifying the kickoff of Zella’s campaign, complete with a QR code to access her donation page.

As of Feb. 18, she has 53 donors and 14 team members. But she hasn’t reached her end goal.

“I wanted to find a way I could honor [my dad] that will actually make a difference in our communities,” Zella said. “[Kansas Teen of Impact] was one of the ways where it was something that is unknown and I might not know what to do at first, but it will be such a great opportunity.”

The AHA funds more heart research than any other organization in the U.S., except for the federal government, according to its website. All the money Zella raises will contribute to this research. The Handzels view these small, instrumental tips, such as how to perform CPR, as necessary to extend their time with Chris. To extend his story.

“I think that this bad experience honors her father because she is teaching other people and making other people aware of heart health,” Vandolah said. “That’s done as his legacy. He would be so proud of her.”

art by SYLVIE DEGALAN

SHARING THE TORAH

Seniors Alex Benditt and Wheeler Sullivan are leaders of the Jewish Student Union, a club that welcomes all students to celebrate Jewish culture

story by LUCY STEPHENS

THE TORAH WAS read as a group of students gathered outside the commons to celebrate the guest of honor. The Jewish Student Union was hosting a bat mitzvah, complete with a ceremony, a Hora dancing circle and snacks.

But this mitzvah wasn’t for a boy or girl who just turned 12 or 13. It was for a dog.

Despite not having Jewish owners or even comprehending that she was at a mitzvah, Piper, senior Sage Lickteig’s dachshund mix, was having her own bat mitzvah. She had just turned 13 in dog years and the perfect age for a mitzva.

“I talked to [Sage], I said, ‘Hey, your dog is really great. Can I borrow her?’”

JSU President and senior Alex Benditt said. “She said, ‘Yeah, that’s weird, but sure.’ So then we stole that dog and bang.”

They shared the traditions of a typical mitzvah. Club members hoisted senior Jack Stratemeier up in a chair as Piper sat in his lap — a tradition for the guest of honor to symbolize having the support of others.

A bar or bat mitzvah is a rite of passage for a Jewish boy or girl when they come of age — around early teenage years. An actual mitzvah takes nearly two years of planning and prepwork, and Alex says ceremonies can last two to three hours. But this “Bark Mitzvah” took three months of planning and around 40 minutes of celebration.

Alex wanted the “Bark Mitzvah” to educate JSU club members about a mitzvah, as only half the club members are Jewish and had experienced a mitzvah.

SM East’s JSU is open to all students to learn about Judaism. In fact, the club’s vice president, senior Wheeler Sullivan,

isn’t even Jewish.

Alex and Wheeler both applied for their respective positions after their sophomore year, submitting applications to the national JSU office. Alex’s sister, Eve Benditt, served as the JSU president until she graduated in 2024.

“My family and I have been joking that [JSU] has been kind of a Benditt presidency for about four years now,” Alex said. “Kind of a whole generation of SM East folks have just been a part of Benditt-led clubs.”

members who show up to meetings. The club has an SM East English teacher sponsor, Samanatha Feinberg, but is mostly run by the Midwest Chapter Director, Shira Brudole.

“There aren’t that many Jews in the world, and it’s not always easy to learn about and to connect to Judaism,” Shira said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for others, Jewish or not, to learn more, and that’s something that I’m really happy about and really passionate about.”

After Eve graduated, Alex spent hours on his JSU presidential application, but later found out he could’ve just written his name on it and still received the position — no one else applied. That was when he recruited his friend, Wheeler, to apply for vice president.

WHAT

I CAN do [to combat Antisemitism] is take 15 some people a week and try and give them a positive experience with Jewish teens.

Alex, a proud member of the Jewish religion, and Wheeler, someone who hadn’t attended his first mitzvah until last year, serve as a productive team when running the club. Wheeler recommends what non-Jewish students may want to learn during meetings, while Alex serves as a discussion leader to emphasize Jewish voices in the club.

Meeting every other Monday after school in room 510, the club is usually centered on the next Jewish holiday, including Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and Yom Kippur. Usually, they will learn a lesson and play Kahoot or complete crafts to explain what they learned.

ALEX BENDITT SENIOR

Alex and Wheeler, who are also in charge of recruitment, say one of the main reasons students show up is because the club provides free food, primarily donuts and bagels. There aren’t many Jewish students at SM East, according to Alex. But as long as the club can get students of any religion in the door, they’ll usually show up for future meetings.

According to the JSU website, their mission is to have more teens in public high schools participate in something Jewish. From “Bark Mitzvahs” to Kahoot games, that’s exactly what happens every other Monday on the fifth floor.

Alex hopes that in the future, when club members see harmful posts or statements about Judaism, they can reflect on their time in the club and realize those comments might not be true.

“I’m not going to combat 2000 years of anti-semitism with a couple boxes of Krispy Kreme,” Alex said. “What I can do is take 15 some people a week and try and give them a positive experience with Jewish teens, and

Club member and senior Sarah Reardon mentioned some of her favorite meetings were when Alex prompted discussion about living as a Jewish teenager.

“[Those meetings] were less theological and religious and more just general thinking on how we, as Jewish students, all go about our daily lives,” Sarah said.

The JSU is a nationwide organization with about 11 chapters in Kansas alone. SM East’s JSU has a consistent 10-15

LEARN ABOUT JUDAISM

Quick facts about Jewish culture and holidays

THE MEZUZAH

- A Mezuzah is a scroll with verses from the Torah inscribed on it.

- It’s stored inside of a decorative case and put on the right side of a doorpost.

- Its purpose is to fulfill a commandment in the Torah that says to mark Jewish housing.

“I think food brings a lot of people into it, and that’s kind of like what drives people to go,” Wheeler said. “But every week we see so many new people show up.”

The JSU club takes pride in its delicious, customary Jewish snacks like gelt and pomegranate juice, but also, in the way it educates a group of teens about Jewish traditions that aren’t taught in public schools.

THE MENORAH

- The menorah is a multi-branched candelabrum.

- It represents divine light and the Tree of Light.

- It’s used during Hanukkah. During the holiday, one candle is lit per day to represent the miracle of oil.

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

reen

Freshman Elena Green sings in operas and choirs

WHAT GOT YOU TO START SINGING?

I started singing when I was nine after taking piano lessons and have sang ever since. Both of my parents like to sing choir at my church and they also both have their masters degree [in music].

WHY DO YOU LIKE SINGING AT THE OPERAS?

You have to try out to be in a kids chorus and when I first did it I obviously got in and I loved it so much. So, I kept auditioning and my dad is also close and really close with a lot of people there so I got to keep doing it.

WHAT IS SINGING AT THE CHURCH LIKE?

We practice every Sunday night for two hours and on Christmas eve we have an 11:00 service at night and it’s our tradition to sing at that service and bring alumni from the past to come sing with us and we always sing these same two songs.

Elena’s timeline

A timeline of Elena’s singing career

3-Years-Old

TREASURING

DEFINING ANTIQUES ANTIQUES

Discover what makes something an antique and the benefits of buying antique pieces

An antique is a collectible object that is typically at least 100 years old, valued for its age, rarity or historical significance.

Benefits of antique pieces

Unique pieces with historical character

Superior quality and durability

Sustainable and prevents waste

story

NINETEEN-FIFTY’S dresser or a factory-made IKEA build-ityourself set?

For freshman Daisy Rowland, the answer is about more than style or price - it’s about the stories.

Many students spend Sundays sleeping in or finishing homework, while Daisy grabs a ring of keys and steps behind the front counter for her next shift at her mother, Kristen’s, store, Glenwood Antique Mall.

“I won’t call myself a manager,” Daisy said. “But I kind of do a little bit of everything.”

Balancing dance rehearsals and school, Daisy works at the register, helps rearrange booths and answers customer questions about the history behind the many antique pieces throughout the space.

unique finds and a connection to the past.

Long before the antique mall was filled with shoppers and more than 275 vendors, Daisy remembers when it was nearly empty. Kristen opened the store in 2020 with big dreams and very little inventory.

The store started with two chairs and a table, and slowly transformed into the destination it is today.

At the time, Kristen had experience running estate sales, so antiques were already part of her family’s life. Daisy often tagged along as a kid, walking through strangers’ homes packed with decades of memories. She sorted through old dishes, framed photos and boxes of records, listening to people explain where each piece came from.

I WON’T call myself a manager, but I kind of do a little bit of everything.

DAISY ROWLAND FRESHMAN

Daisy and Kristen are captivated by the personal stories that connect the items in their store to the lives of their former owners.

Knowing that a bar stool was once owned by “Aunt Sally from Alabama” or that a china cabinet originated from Poland gives each piece its own narrative.

“I enjoy meeting people, because I’m a very talkative person,” Daisy said.

Daisy’s fondness for golden watches and the eclectic booths that shape the aisles, are all part of her passion for the mall. She has even decorated her bedroom with treasures from the shop, including a 1960s bed frame and various vintage music posters.

Located in a previous TJ Maxx building, the antique mall, positioned at Metcalf and 95th, has transformed into a treasure-hunting spot for those seeking

These early connections with vendors were vital. The rise of the pandemic, however, forced Daisy and Kristen to adapt quickly. For several months, they operated through curbside pickup.

They created a website listing antiques from their vendors, allowing customers to buy online and employees would deliver purchases to their cars. Business was slow because part of the magic with antiques is seeing them in person to understand the little details, according to Kristen.

Slowly, vendors moved in, and the place became more crowded. Boasting an array of booths lining the aisles, shoppers can find everything from mid-century dressers and sofas to tiny, sentimental treasures, like vintage baseball cards, framed concert posters and velvet jewelry cases that carry perfume.

One landmark of the mall is an ornate, dome-shaped chandelier that hangs near the entrance. It came from an opera house

in Nebraska and was converted from gas power to electric. It’s deeply embedded in the mall’s identity and has been there for three to four years. It’s also Daisy’s favorite piece because it is so unique and not something people see every day.

The Rowland family, whose love for antiques predates the establishment of the mall itself, is the true center of the business.

Many of the initial vendors were familiar faces from her work in estate sales and trusted friends who relied on the Rowland family to showcase their items. Several of these vendors have remained in the mall since those first uncertain months six years ago, largely due to the location and size.

The novelties available at Glenwood Antique Mall do more than fill a shopping bag; they bring a piece of history into customers’ homes and lives. Knowing that your new end table was used by a WWII general, or that the book on your shelf was signed ‘Merry Christmas John1912’, adds a special touch to each item.

Regular shoppers often return, seeking that special object that will connect them with the past and transform their living spaces, according to Kristen.

“It’s not something that is going to fall apart tomorrow. It’s made it this far, so probably going to last,” Kristen said.

Walking through Glenwood Antique Mall is a vivid reminder that things crafted with care and intention can outlast fleeting trends, according to Kristen.

Right in the middle of it all is Daisy, keys at her side, greeting strangers like old friends and guiding them through the past one booth at a time.

For her, Glenwood Antique Mall is so much more than her mom’s business. It’s where she grew up and discovered a passion, and where hundreds of other people come to find a little piece of history to take home.

QUICK

THURSDAY

22 FEATURE

FEBRUARY 23, 2026

A group of students were selected to be enrollment representatives and help incoming freshmen with enrollment

REPRESENTATIVES

ENROLLING REPRESENTATIVES

story by BRIDGET DEAN

ANOTHER BLUE

cardstock enrollment paper was shoved in junior Ainsley Agniel’s face by an Indian Hills eighth grader. Though she’d already spent the past hour helping students in the Indian Hills library, she was happy to help yet another student finish filling out their course request card for the 2026-27 year — their freshman year of high school.

Agniel was selected to be an SM East enrollment representative — part of a group of ten students started by Student Services this year. After seeing the application posted on a Canvas announcement in December, Agniel filled out the Google Form, hoping she would get the chance to work with eighth graders, including her younger sister.

Sophomore Leighton Fulghum also filled out the form for similar reasons, though she didn’t know quite what an enrollment representative’s duties would be.

“My sister’s about to be a freshman, and it just seemed really fun to be able to help all the incoming freshmen with enrollment,” Fulghum said.

When an email appeared in their inbox from academic counselor Susan

Fritzmeier, both Agniel and Fulghum were thrilled they had been chosen. Fulghum was excited to have a leadership position as an underclassman with fellow sophomores Hannah Rosemann, Alex Medley, Chloe White and David Williams.

Started by the counselors this year to help make both middle school and high school enrollment smoother, five sophomores and five juniors were selected to be of aid to the counselors throughout the enrollment process during late January and early February.

“They helped out with distribution of materials, checked in on advisories, and did eighth grade presentations,” Fritzmeier said. “[They] helped with the flow of getting students to come up to the library, and then we would have them set up a little table if students needed help entering course alternates.”

cards are filled before meeting, there’s countless friendly faces happy to advise their peers on course choices.

The representatives’ help was much appreciated by teachers and counselors, and the group will return next school year. Not only did they make enrollment easier for counselors, but the representatives enjoyed helping other students, advising them from a high schooler’s perspective rather than just a counselor’s.

I ALWAYS ENJOYED when I was in middle school when the high schoolers would come and explain a little bit about [SM] East. I just wanted to do the same for the eighth graders.

COLLIN STROUD JUNIOR

Counselors are no longer frustrated to see a student come to a meeting with a blank blue enrollment sheet. Rather than having six counselors be in charge of giving speeches, directing students in the library and ensuring enrollment

“I always enjoyed when I was in middle school when the high schoolers would come and explain a little bit about [SM] East,” enrollment representative and junior Collin Stroud said. “I just wanted to do the same for the eighth graders.”

The representatives had the opportunity to choose whether they spoke to students at Indian Hills or stayed at East, though almost all were eager to help the eighth graders. They also had the opportunity to choose what classes they’d be excused from to assist

the counselors in the library, so as not to miss too much class time.

It was also strategic to have nonseniors as representatives so they could potentially keep the same group of students for next year’s team.

“If we get to assemble a team as seniors [next year] we get to choose [who is a representative],” fellow representative and junior Avner Crafton said. “We have a meeting next Tuesday where we’ll talk about everything [that went well this year] and what we can do better next year.”

Agniel, Fulghum, Stroud and Crafton were all excited to learn they would likely remain representatives next year, finding the opportunity very rewarding. New students will be added to the group next year, though, returning representatives will already have the skills and knowledge to help the counselors efficiently.

For now, the counselors and the representatives see this group as a great opportunity for growth and improvement in the enrollment system. While they all applied for similar reasons, each representative acquired skills they’ll carry with them regarding enrolling, met new people and had a great time.

“I really enjoyed making a lot of new friends the most,” Williams said.

MEET the REPRESENTATIVES

Two of the enrollment representatives and their favorite parts of the job

COLLIN STROUD JUNIOR

I ENJOYED HELPING the kids when they had questions about how to fill out their schedule, and being there for them when they had questions about high school.

AVNER CRAFTON JUNIOR

[MY FAVORITE PART] is talking to new people and meeting freshmen.

A&E

local spotlight

story by EVIE LEWIS

OURHOUSEKC IS THE type of place that makes you feel at home the second you walk in the door. Located on 39th street in downtown Kansas City, the restaurant is filled with warm lighting, friendly staff and amazing smells. Owned by freshman Tulie Zahner’s family, it’s a must-visit spot for home-cooked-inspired meals.

The blackboard sign with “Bob’s Burnt End French Dip Sandwich” written in colorful chalk was the first thing that caught my eye when I walked in, so I knew I had to try it. When the sandwich came out smothered in caramelized onions, my mouth started watering. The burnt ends were juicy and smokey. The toasted baguette was crunchy enough to retain its shape throughout my drive home. Chipotle mayo added a tangy and creamy feeling to the sandwich. Despite the large amount of meat, the sandwich was surprisingly not too dense and the flavors created a balanced profile.

As a self-proclaimed picky eater, I make it a mission to order mac and cheese at every restaurant no matter the menu size and depth, so naturally I gravitated to the designated menu section for the dish. OurHouseKC uses cavatappi, which is one of my favorite pasta

OurHouseKC offers comforting, homestyle food and a cozy atmosphere

shapes because its spiral shape allows it to latch onto sauce. Their house-made cheese sauce was possibly the highlight of my entire meal. It incorporated various cheeses and spices, while making such a simple dish with so much flavor without overcomplicating. Despite it only being a side dish, the rich noodles were enough to satisfy my hunger.

For dessert, I chose a skillet cookie topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate shavings. After digging past the rich toppings, I reached the chocolate chip cookie. It was humongous at about 6 inches in diameter and an inch thick. The cookie was soft without being underdone, and was warm enough to slightly melt the chilled toppings, forming a creamy sludge of ice cream and chocolate at the bottom when I finished. The cookie was the perfect sweet treat without making my stomach hurt.

OurHouseKC has an undeniably cozy feeling and even better food. The menu has dozens of options to match even the pickiest eaters’ preferences. OurHouseKC can definitely be a favorite spot for any meal of the day.

After finishing the word search head to page 25 to read about the analogue lifestyle

not so

story by BELLA BROCE

I DIDN’T IMAGINE that bringing home six doughnuts would require a blanket, a lawn chair and a Starbucks run. The Slow Rise sourdough-filled doughnuts are the new rave in Kansas City, but as I waited

three hours in line, I kept wondering — are these doughnuts really worth it?

And the answer is yes.

IN LINE I noted reviews from other customers who agreed that the chocolate doughnut was too smoky.

Eager to see if they were right, I took a bite and it tasted like I inhaled a bonfire.

Disappointed, I gazed at the cute presentation of the doughnut with colorful sprinkles and a creamy chocolate filling, but I truly could not finish the rest. The smokiness literally blew me away from the doughnut and to the trash can.

While the wait is long, everyone should try Slow Rise doughnuts for a unique take on the classic treat

The combination of unique flavors and the cozy, family-like environment make for an unforgettable experience that everyone should try. Jessica Dunkel, owner and founder of Slow Rise, has recreated the classic American doughnut into a sourdough-filled delicacy with a mystery box of flavors. The business sprouted at the Lawrence Farmer’s Market and now has spread to the Overland Park farmer’s market and the brick and mortar store off of 135th St in Overland Park, Kansas. Currently, they are still in their soft opening phase — only open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — but that’s only increased their demand.

While others may enjoy the strong taste, I felt as if it was overpowering to where I couldn’t even taste the chocolate or the cream itself. Don’t let the cute sprinkles and chocolate love fool you to waste $5 on a doughnut that won’t be finished after the first bite.

ube coconut

T HE SIGHT OF the lavender purple filling with coconut flakes sprinkled on top caused my stomach to rumble with anticipation. Everything about the doughnut looked delicate and the taste matched. As a coconut lover since birth — blame it on my Panamanian heritage — I was hoping my taste buds would

sour (dough) behind the bubbles

blood orange raspberry smoked chocolate and sea salt

TRULY NOTHING WENT wrong with this doughnut. It was simple — in flavor, texture and appearance — and left me feeling warm and full. This doughnut will prove the jelly-filled haters wrong with its homemade blood orange and raspberry filling that had a dull sweetness paired with a light

strong coconut notes that melted into a coconut milk taste and a deeper flavor that I couldn’t put my finger on. Was it sweet? Maybe some dull hints of vanilla?

Finally I came to the conclusion — the ube — a purple yam from southeast Asia. Its nutty, vanilla flavor compliments the coconut and all-together ties the doughnut together with a flavor that confuses the palettes.

The silky cream filling was sweet, but not overwhelming, as it was counterbalanced with the fluffy — and almost chewy — sourdough with hints of tang that Dunkel nailed. After consuming the last of the dough and licking off any remaining filling, the coconut left a subtle sweetness on my tongue, making me eager for

The doughnuts were nicely filled — not bursting at the seams or lacking enough jelly

— but perfectly in the middle with a well-rounded subtly sweet and tangy flavor, and the dough sponging up any remaining sweet or tartness in my mouth.

With the title blood orange, I was expecting more citrusy flavoring, but blood orange has a deeper flavoring that tastes more like berry compared to the classic orange. With the combination of raspberry, after I swallowed the doughnut, a subtle berry-like taste nestled in my mouth. I heavily recommend this doughnut to anyone who will be guaranteed satisfaction.

Bella’s tips for those who plan to visit Slow Rise

11228 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66221

Know how many doughnuts you’re getting:

About 15 minutes before the store opens, employees will ask the guests waiting in line how many doughnuts they want to ensure Slowrise can serve everyone in line.

Arrive early: Guests will arrive as early as 6 a.m., and by 9 a.m., the line will wrap around the strip mall.

Wear layers:

Especially in winter months the weather will require blankets and coats to stay warm in line.

OLD IN WITH THE

The trending “analogue” lifestyle reduces reliance on technology and promotes positive mental health

story by LIBBY MARSH

WHILE 2026 marks the revival of 2016 trends, it also marks the revival of the analogue lifestyle. Radios rather than AirPods, textbooks over computers and crafts instead of social media.

This trend, popular among Gen-Z and millennials, is an effort to reduce phone addiction, reject the rise in AI usage and spend free time in a more meaningful way. Analogue literally means not involving the use of technology.

As someone who’s constantly checking her phone and loves the excuse “I just need a break” to justify hours of mindless scrolling, I decided to give the analogue lifestyle a try. I managed to reduce my screen time by over an hour a day and spent my limited free time away from devices.

After a week of going analogue, I felt less anxious and addicted to my phone. However, it also proved to be hard with my packed schedule and lack of free time.

I downloaded a screen time app, put my phone out of sight when working and spent a week reading, crafting and most importantly, being productive — a contrast to my four hours of screen time a day and stressful cramming.

During school, rather than checking my phone every chance I had and ending up, once again, on Instagram, I left my phone in the depths of my backpack. Rather than using Spotify, I listened to the radio in the car and reached for my physics textbook before opening my computer. Without the option to scroll or respond to random text messages, I was left with only one option — productivity.

And, rather than starting the morning off by blinding my eyes with blue light minutes after waking up, I stayed off my phone for at least an hour after my 6:45 a.m. alarm. I also left it in the kitchen an hour before turning the lights out before bed and used an alarm clock to wake up in the morning.

Looking at a phone right before bed keeps the mind engaged and the blue light mimics day time keeping the brain more alert, making it harder to fall asleep, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And not checking my phone right before bed

lessened the feeling that my entire life was tied to my phone.

When waking up, the body starts a natural process to transition the brain slowly into being fully awake and alert. Looking at a phone first thing in the morning disrupts this process and can create anxiety, according to the Daily Wellness Institute. School already generates enough anxiety and there’s no need to add to it with a habit that can be easily fixed by going analogue.

Beyond the attempt at fixing my sleep schedule, I also utilized the AI side of this trend.

One of the driving factors of the analogue mindset is a rejection of the use of AI, so I avoided it at all costs. This means avoiding programs like ChatGPT but also not using other features like AI suggestions for writing emails — I’m perfectly capable of writing an email myself. I also didn’t use Grammarly, and deliberately scrolled right past the AI summary that every internet search generates.

Purposefully avoiding AI helped me to realize just how many websites, apps and search engines use it.

However, the point of going analogue isn’t just to reduce screen time and AI usage but also to use free time in a more meaningful way.

I dug through the craft corner in my basement that’s been collecting dust and cobwebs over the past few years to find bracelet-making supplies and scrap fabric. A half hour of sorting through beads and stringing bracelets while listening to music on my speaker is far more relaxing than the hours I would have spent on social media.

Additionally, I went on walks with my dog and spent more time with friends just talking, instead of staring at my screen.

Despite the benefits, I wasn’t able to reach the ideal version of the analogue lifestyle. In my mind, this would be locking my phone in a closet, never using a computer again and spending hours learning to crochet.

But this just isn’t plausible. The majority of my homework is on my computer and I get upwards of 300 notifications a day. Not all of these are vitally important, but I still need to respond in a timely manner. And, especially as a female, I need to take

my phone with me in public for safety reasons.

Still, no one is expected to travel back to the early 2000s to fully experience the analogue lifestyle. Technology is a part of everyone’s lives and a flip phone isn’t a necessity of going analogue. Rather, take smaller steps and adopt the pieces of the analogue ideology that work for your life.

Download a screen time app. Read a book instead of scrolling. Start crafting

HOW TO START:

1

Identify times in your day when you use electronics unnecessarily Steps to take to begin an analogue lifestyle 25

2

Gradually reduce your reliance on electronics in your daily schedule

3

Integrate new non-electronic habits into your routine

4

Practice these new habits consistently until they become automatic

WHAT’S THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING YOUR YEARBOOK THEME?

CLARA BRENEMAN SENIOR

THE EDITORS WENT to Theme Development Day at the [Johnson County Museum], and they gave us brainstorming time where they’re like, ‘what kind of book you want to make?’ Like, ‘do you want to make a book for your school, or do you want to make a book that wins awards?’ That’s where you kind of have a general idea of where your theme is going.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO COVER FOR PROFILES?

CLAIRE ROSEN JUNIOR

WE SENT OUT a brainstorm sheet and had [the staff] fill out a couple people that they thought would be interesting. And then we went around and we asked teachers about it, and to email us if they had a student we should cover. And then we figured out our senior profile by asking Mr. Peres. We’re like, ‘who’s someone that has, like, a special story?’ And he was like, ‘I know exactly who it should be.’

HA E dissecting UB RK

A deep dive into the yearbook staff and their yearly schedule

process of writing

Receive assignment

Brainstorm an angle

Get in your interviews (3+)

Finalize rough draft

Have adviser Dow Tate revise draft

process of designing

Receive assignment

Get all your content

Arrange your sidebar

Figure out photo package

Have another set of eyes check your page

DEADLINES IN THE SCHOOL YEAR where Hauberk staffers finalize their respective spreads for that period of time. 512

PAGES IN THE YEARBOOK filled with division pages, end sheets, index and title pages, portraits, profiles, clubs, senior ads and more.

STAFF MEMBERS separated into designers, writers and photographers.

Head editors revise draft

Final draft

Turn in at deadline

Editors make necessary changes

Paste in final story

Turn in at deadline

quoting their roles

BRENEMAN “creative” Hauberk editors describe their position in one word

SPORTS

VARSITY BASKETBALL

The girls varsity basketball team celebrated senior night on Feb. 16 and won 53-37, and the boys team played right after and lost 53-40

TOP MIDDLE Senior Paxton Ochs drives down the lane to attempt a layup during the first quarter against Lawrence Freestate. The Lancers finished the first quarter leading the Firebirds 9-8, but lost the game 53-40.

SHARES

ABOVE Senior Pearson Konold looks for a teamate to pass to during the third quarter, while the Lancers trail Lawrence Freestate 23-18.

GAME RECAP

Senior varsity bowler Sophia Maggard shares her favorite moment of the season

SOPHIA MAGGARD SENIOR ATHLETE

I’VE MADE A a lot of new friends, so that’s nice. I’ve gotten a lot of really high games, like when we went to Lawrence and I got my 192 game. It has been really fun.

by SADIE JOLICOEUR

SM EAST’S C Team boys basketball team faced off against Rockhurst on Feb. 14, ultimately falling 66-54. It was a close game with the score at halftime tied 2626.

However, after halftime, Rockhurst came back, making multiple threepointers. At the end of the third quarter, it was 46-39, Rockhurst leading by only

seven points. However, East struggled with their fouling when Rockhurst was in the bonus at the end of the game, giving them some easy points to jump ahead for the win.

Sophomore Benon Kusiak was the leading scorer for SM East with 21 points, almost half of SM East’s total points. The scoring was evenly divided between the other players.

NO DAYS OFF

Lancer Dancers juggle long practice, schoolwork and social lives while also doing competitive dance at Starstruck Performing Arts Center

story by VANESSA BLADES

AFTER SPENDING around five hours a day switching back and forth between drill team and company dance, junior Hannah Klumpp takes any break she can get at dance to sit in her white Mazda in the Starstruck Performing Arts Center parking lot. Whether she is sitting in silence or listening to her music, it’s a break from her coaches telling her to point her toes and hearing the song “Turn to Stone” by Ingrid Michaelson that played constantly in the studio.

Many of the Lancer Dancers, like Klumpp, balance both school, dance and company dance, the majority of them dancing at Starstruck. With all of these responsibilities, they still have to stay on top of their academics and keep their friendships. Even just one of these burdens can become overwhelming.

The school dance team is where they learn three routines and work all year to perfect them, according to Grecian. They also do a few dances for fun.

“I really love dance team and the people,” Klumpp said. “And Starstruck is good for the soul, I know that sounds stupid, but it trains me to be a good person and both [benefits] so I wouldn’t quit either.”

Usually, Klumpp gets home from dance at 9:30 p.m and that’s

when she will eat dinner and begin her homework. This could last until around 12:00 a.m., giving her only six hours of sleep before she has to wake up at 6:30 a.m. for school and do it all over again.

Klumpp isn’t the only one dealing with little free time; freshman Ella Emmott, who is a first-year varsity Lancer Dancer figuring out how to balance her life. For Starstruck, Emmott is a part of around 16 dances this year compared to the three dances she is in for the Lancer Dancer team. Having 19 dances to balance can quickly become challenging.

The dance team is more team-oriented compared to company dance, according to Emmott. Company dance focuses more on technique and training with more variation in styles. Every dancer is very different as they get to choose from a variety of dance categories, such as jazz, ballet, contemporary, modern, compared to the dance team having game day, pop, hip-hop and jazz.

day, there’s more pros than cons.”

Some pros for Emmott include working super hard in class and rehearsals, making memories that will last a lifetime and achieving goals she has been working on with her teams.

Some of the main differences between Starstruck dance and Lancer Dancers

STARSTRUCK DIFFERENCES

After moving into the district this year, Emmott has had to adjust to meeting new people, but close friends at both dance team and Startstruck which has helped her stay positive and continue to enjoy the experience.

SO WHEN I do I usually have to go sit in my car and be alone when I have a break at dance, I try to think and plan the rest of my night after dance

MACI GRECIAN JUNIOR

Emmott has had to adjust to the new schedule dance, team from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and then going to Starstruck from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This rigorous schedule ended up being harder than she expected, as she doesn’t have much time for homework or hanging out with

“I definitely underestimated how much of a change it would be,” Emmott said. “It’s a lot more stressful to do both, but at the end of the

“I feel like dance is a sport that is hard to have selfconfidence with,” Emmott said. “But when you’re surrounded by all those girls we can all bond over [dance] and make memories you’ll always love.”

Like Emmott and Klumpp, junior Maci Grecian has danced at Starstruck since seventh grade and learned how to prioritize her schoolwork. During any free time she has throughout the day, she’s usually pulling out her Mac Book to avoid staying up all night.

There are definitely times the girls have asked if it’s worth it when they come back from dance at 9:30 p.m. and have loads of homework, they also know they love what they do, so it’s worth it.

Technique

Competitions

Solos/ Duos/ Trios

More demanding

Many styles

Cleaning and Perfecting

Nationals

Sports games

One group

HipHop/ Jazz/ Gameday

Grecian’s love for dance comes from her love of preforming, whether it’s in front of the whole school or thousands of people at a dance competition.

“I personally love performing and always having something to do,” Grecian said. “I don’t know what I would do with myself if I didn’t have a really strict schedule and also perform for the school and get involved.”

But it also comes with sacrifices, having this much dance limits availability to participate in other things like other sports, SHARE, Pep Club Executive and social time.

With long hours every day, taking care of their bodies is a huge priority to ensure they can keep up with daily life. They all strongly focus on eating healthy to nourish their bodies and trying to get as much sleep as possible, even if that means missing out on things.

For the dancers, 30 hours weeks, intense practices and late nights have become a routine, but even with sacrifices and pushing through the exhaustion is just a part of doing what they love.

A RUN TO

Spanish teacher Abra Scanlon became one of the cross-country and track coaches at SM East and has connected with many of the athletes

CONNECTION

story by REESE DUNHAM

IT WAS 5:30 P.M., and sophomore Elizabeth Beltrame was scanning past the bleachers to the track parking lot for her ride.

She had just finished her twohour cross-country practice, where she ran to Harmon Park with another sophomore, Elin Guenther.

While she was stretching on the blazing turf field, the new JV coach, Abra Scanlon, approached her, asked her name and how her day had been.

From then on, Scanlon stopped her in the hallways at school and occasionally would run with Beltrame.

“She definitely brings a very friendly [energy to] the team,” Beltrame said. “She gets a lot more [athletes] talking to each other, and it’s not just like a [separate] girls’ and guys’ team. It feels like we’re more mixed because of her. The biggest thing is a friendly atmosphere [with Scanlon] coaching.”

Scanlon doesn’t only coach cross country and track, but she also teaches Spanish 1 and 2. Scanlon didn’t even run in high school, but began running half marathons after college while traveling with friends at the time.

She made running as many half marathons as she could a goal of hers throughout the 2010s, so far she has run nine races, all in different cities around the U.S including the Portland, the Ventura Lace Up and the Seawheeze half marathons.

In 2021, when Scanlon started teaching Spanish at Blue Valley Middle and High School, she decided to use her experience in running to apply for an open cross-country

coaching job there.

“Once I left [Liberty High School], I realized, ‘Oh, I might enjoy coaching,’ and honestly, I could see myself eventually, probably giving up teaching and maybe continuing to coach,” Scanlon said.

Scanlon is now an assistant crosscountry coach and the JV track distance coach.

She has only been at SM East for two years, but she has added a positivity and sunshiney spirit to both sports, according to head cross country coach Mallory Dittemore.

As well as bringing positive energy to the team, Scanlon has also made an effort to get to know all the athletes on a personal level during their runs on easy days or while stretching on the turf after practice.

“I think it’s cool to be able to run with them, and then they see me running,” Scanlon said. “I think it speaks volumes when you see your coach doing the activity that you do, too. And that’s why I really like running.”

When Scanlon joined the track coaching staff after coaching cross country at SM South for a year, there was only one distance coach, Rikki Hacker. Scanlon came on during the 2025 spring season and filled in during practices when Hacker was at his other coaching job at Park University.

Last track season, which was her first time coaching track, Scanlon organized distance runners’ race entries and she also stayed on top of talking with them throughout the season to check in, according to Hacker.

“She was awesome last year in track, and then with cross [country], obviously, we’re all together [Hacker, Scanlon and Dittemore], but track is just a different animal,” Hacker said. “There are a lot more athletes in different events, and just having someone for support is great.”

The most rewarding part of coaching track and cross country, according to Scanlon, is being able to see the athletes’ hard work pay off in a personal record, or even a bad race for them that shows their effort.

JV track and cross country runner, sophomore Elin Guenther, stops by her classroom before school to chat because she doesn’t have Scanlon as a teacher, but still wants to check in.

From running to Starbucks together while chatting, to even something like pickles, Guenther has numerous stories from track.

“The last day of track, she brought my two friends, pickle juice at the end, because Grace Sharkey, [another track athlete], would bring the pickle pouches [to practice], and share [the juice] with all of us, so [Scanlon brought us some] on the last day,” Guenther said.

Scanlon treasures building relationships with students outside of school and seeing their personalities come through in a different and less controlled environment, through coaching.

“She’ll help me out through all of it as I’m going back and forth, and she connects well with athletes, whether you’re out there, for the fun of it, or if you’re one of the top athletes, she’s good at just sharing moments with everybody,” Hacker said.

retro

retro EAST EAST

The stories behind retro SM East merchandise

1950s JACKET

This is a vintage 1950s SM East jacket that was found at a thrift store. It has a Lancer patch on the front and says “SM East” in white text on the back. The jacket is made of blue corduroy and has white silk on the inside.

2011 TRACK SHIRT

This is a shirt from 2011 that was made

1978 PEP CLUB UNIFORM

This is a 1978 SM East Pep club uniform. It was worn by an alum and Pep Club Executive during assemblies and other events.

STATE QUALIFIER T-SHIRT