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There’s still over 6 months until the 2024 presidential elections, but headlines, campaigns, and family dinner tables across the country are already filled with discussions about the state of American Democracy today. However, regardless of how one feels about either 2024 presidential candidate, another existential threat to democracy is growing, buried beneath the campaign messages; a growing decline in civic knowledge and participation. A study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that less than half of Americans can name all three branches of government. According to the World Economic Forum, only 30% of people born since 1980 consider it “essential” to live in a democratic country. That’s why education programs, such as East High School’s Constitutional Law class, are so important for students today. In East’s Con Law program, students are given three sets of questions as part of their panel, made up of 4-5 people. They study each one carefully, creating short opening statements responding to the question and gathering evidence to respond to follow up questions. Students spend the first semester preparing for the state competition, held in December. In the second semester, if East wins at the state competition, students then prepare for the national competition, held in Washington DC in April. The workload is intense; according to Mandy Hostetter, the teacher who runs the program, “I feel bad knowing how much work you have to put into it if you want to be successful and sometimes it feels like it is too much, but that’s what we have to do in order to be competitive, it’s like a catch 22. It’s too much but we have to do it.” The high workload pays off; This year and last year, East won 4th place out of the 48 teams from across the country who competed on the national level. East has won the state competition 9 years in a row, and in total, East has won the national competition 5 times since the program started in 1987. Overall, the amount of effort students put into the program is well-rewarded. Fiona MacDonald, a junior in the class this year, feels very positively about the class. “It's my favorite class I've taken at East, it's been really amazing and I highly recommend the program.” Ms. Hostetter agreed that students overwhelmingly enjoy the class overall. “No one regrets it. Once you get through the experience, you would not regret doing it. It’s going to be hard, you’re going to want to quit, but if you persevere and push through it it’s gonna be super rewarding.” There are numerous other benefits to the class as well. For example, as MacDonald said, “The biggest thing I got out of Con Law was definitely the base of knowledge- I really feel like I learned so much and retained a lot of information that's going to be useful in the future.” Ms. Hostetter also pointed out the opportunities for students to learn to collaborate with others, improve writing, and learn public speaking skills. “Writing skills and your ability to articulate responses to complex ideas and thoughts using evidence and explaining why you think something exists, that is such a huge skill” The class offers students interested in government and civics the opportunity to engage with the subject in an exciting way, with the opportunity to visit Washington DC. Con Law is available to anyone who is interested and is willing to take on the challenge. Given the benefits for students of the class, it will hopefully continue to be a popular class and grant students the chance to learn about the American government through such a unique competition.

Head Angels are a sacred tradition at East; every year students elect someone who will lead the school for the next year. All candidates must make a video and write a speech about how they will make East better in the following year. The candidates then make a presentation to every grade to encourage students to vote. The videos that candidates make are designed to show the creative side of the person and demonstrate their dedication to the role. Head Angels have many roles to play as members of the student council. Some responsibilities include saying the announcements every day, planning school dances, planning pep rallies, and more. Next Year’s Head Angels are Ali Sitteseri and Darius McGregor. Here is what they have to say about being the new head angels. Ali Sitteseri: How was the process of getting elected? “While the election process was challenging as anyone could imagine, it was made easier through the dedication I have put into my classes, clubs, and the relationships I have made with my teachers because I knew I had support. I also had a lot of fun running with all of the other candidates.” What are your plans as Head Angel for  East next year? “Next year, I plan on working with Darius to strengthen our school spirit and build stronger relationships with the student body, and with the teachers. With that, I want to work on communication within our school so that all groups, no matter how big or small, are recognized. There are so many wonderful clubs at East that I believe are often overlooked. I want to make sure everyone is getting the acknowledgment they deserve. This also ties into keeping up the school spirit. While our sports are amazing, I would also love to shine more light on other groups.” How did being in STUCO in previous years impact your decision to run? “Being in student council, I have seen a deeper look at how East runs. From my time working on student council and seeing what the current head angels do, I felt confident that I could contribute to East’s community and assume the position of head angel, and all the responsibilities that come with it.” What challenges do you expect to come up next year? “Something that I believe will remain challenging is student and admin relationships. I plan on creating a safe environment where students feel comfortable speaking to administration about school and other things. I want students to feel comfortable seeking help at East without fear or consequences.” Darius McGreggor: How was the process of getting elected? “The process of being elected head was exciting and challenging. It required me going around, introducing myself to people, and getting 200 signatures. There was also a written questionnaire, an interview portion, and teacher evaluations.” What are your plans as Head Angel for East next year? “My plans for being head angel at East next year are to make sure that East has the best year possible. I hope to continue building upon the work done by previous head angels and ensure East is as inclusive an environment as possible.” How did being in STUCO in previous years impact your decision to run? “I have been on student council for the past 2 years, and observing the significant impact that head angels have in advocating for the student body, as well as their responsibilities in planning events, reinforced my decision to pursue this role.” What challenges do you expect to come up next year? “Ideally, I hope to encounter very few challenges in the next school year. However, whatever may arise, I look forward to problem-solving and addressing any issues that may occur.” History of Head Angels at East: As many of you may know, head angel used to be called head boy and head girl until a few years ago when a non-binary person got elected; so East changed it to be more inclusive. The tradition started in 1910 at Old East in downtown Denver (20th and Stout). Thanks to Mr. Fulford, The Spotlight got access to a yearbook from 1910. On the page about the very first head boy and head girl, this is what it read: “Head Boy and Head Girl are to set an example for the rest of the school. and must have all the qualities that make the right kind of men and women. and the right kind of citizens: they must do good class work; they must stand for honesty in school and in school work; they must take an active interest in athletics; and they must be popular among their fellow students.” A lot goes into being a head angel whether it be the high-stress election or busy schedules. Luckily East is in good hands with the determined students who take pride in their roles as head Angels. The 2025 class is in luck with head angels Darius McGregor and Ali Sitteseri.

Denver East High School had a tumultuous 2023-24 school year. The building was swatted, a student’s life was violently taken, and two deans were shot inside the building. As a result, the greater body of East was left to piece their community back together. Additionally, East was placed on lockdown many times and the fire alarm became a normal occurrence. The beloved and historic high school rapidly turned unsafe and deadly. Leaving the year, students weren’t simply happy to be on summer break, but to have survived. The Spotlight covered all of the traumatic events and pledged to provide the student body with accurate, efficient information. The lasting effects of East’s unsafe environment last year have resulted in a lawsuit. East deans who have since parted from the school, Jerald "Wayne" Mason and Eric Sinclair, who were victims of the shooting, announced their intent to sue in early March. The Denverite explains that “both notices of intent cite ‘negligence, recklessness, and willful and wanton conduct’ on the part of the district, school board, and East High School.” More specifically, “The notices allege that several DPS employees, including assistant principal Shawne M. Anderson, principal Terita Walker, three other student safety coordinators, DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero, and district board members, failed to follow proper protocols for conducting threat assessments, and failed to initiate reasonable safety plan protocols to protect staff from foreseeable harm.” One thing was made abundantly clear after the shootings in 2023: East needs to implement serious and effective safety measures. East junior Mattison Nunez depicts the various safety protocols put in place since last year's events in an article written for The Denver Post on March 12, 2024. “At East there are two permanent Student Resource Officers, or SROs: Officer Casey Staples and Officer Matt Wolfe, whom many students feel safe around and have built strong relations with. We’ve had zero lockdowns or lockouts this year (only drills). Finally, the adoption of Cherry Creek School District’s Red Bag.” The Red Bags were installed in every classroom at East, each containing a first aid kit and tourniquet, as well as a QR code that would establish a line directly to the DPD. Although, students have noticed that the bags appear half-full and one can’t help but wonder what a single tourniquet and small first aid kit would do in a mass shooting. Granted, the increased safety measures have contributed to a school year free of shootings at East, yet one might wonder if it is a direct result of East’s efforts, or simply a coincidence. Requiring students to flash their IDs at the front door of the building is an additional measure East administrators have reinforced since the events of 2023. If students don’t have their ID, they pay ten dollars for a replacement. This policy has been advertised as not only a safety measure but a way to hold students accountable for their tardiness and attendance. If a student is late to two fifth period classes (the period after lunch) in a week, they are required to attend Saturday school. Notably, Senior Tatum Blakesley expresses that there seems to be “more emphasis on attendance and tardiness this year, which is odd considering East’s vocality on prioritizing safety.” The ID policy was originally advertised as a safety method, however, it has since been reframed as an attendance policy. Often, the announcements and weekly Friday update emails contain information on the attendance policy instead of new, perfected safety measures. One might infer that East has put safety on the back burner in comparison to attendance. However, the attendance at East continues to show no improvement and all measures set in place have been discontinued or altered because they were deemed ineffective. Inherently, every East student will be leaving high school with a great burden; the long-lasting effects of school shootings and general safety apprehension aren’t easy to forget. However, if East students, faculty, and administration have proven anything, it is that the community is resilient. Despite imperfect safety measures and attitudes, East shows great improvement in comparison to the 2023-24 school year. Dismissing the lack of shootings and minimized violence at East would be negligent. One can simply hope for a future student body that is unfamiliar with the trauma, as well as graduated students that move to advocate for gun safety in their futures.

With a prestigious athletics department, Denver East remains a popular topic of discussion. Throughout History, Denver East has called home 110 state championship teams, all of which were led by outstanding student athletes. Following their tenure as an Angel, many East athletes have looked to continue both their academic and athletic careers at the next level, taking their talents to a vast array of colleges around the country. The graduating class of 2024 is no exception; many Angels are taking their game to the next level as they look to start the next chapter of their lives. Of the many East Athletic programs, the soccer program has seen tremendous success. The girls program, who has defended its DPS title and makes its push into playoffs, coincides with the boys program who have made two consecutive trips to the state championship, taking home a win in the 2022 season. This year, the soccer program sees four players reach the college level, including standout Jamuna Williams. Reflecting on her time at East, Williams says that East has prepared her for the college level by teaching her “to let go of stress and just have fun.” Williams will be attending Washington State University in the fall, where she is “looking forward to new experiences, new people, and learning the way of being a college athlete.” Despite leaving family, friends, and teammates behind, Jamuna is “excited for this new chapter with bigger responsibilities and opportunities.” This year, the East Girls lacrosse team is proud to have called their captain Vivian Leuthold. Leuthold has been a part of the Angels Lacrosse program for the last two years and has been an exemplary role model both on and off the field. Having recently reached 100 goals for the Angels, it is no surprise that she has committed to play lacrosse at the University of Southern California this fall. Despite her limited time at East, Vivian acknowledges how much she has learned as an Angel. “East lacrosse and field hockey have both prepared me for the time commitment college athletics is going to take, and how to continually show up for you my teammates,” Vivian explains. As for her future, Vivian is looking forward to “competing at the next level” and the opportunity to “learn under some of the best coaches in the country.” While Vivian will be dearly missed here at East, everyone is certainly excited to see how her next chapter will unfold in L.A. Led by coach Ruempolhamer, the football team concluded a very impressive season with a 75 percent win rate, reaching the second round of playoffs following a decisive victory over Mullen. Senior Captain Landen Holloway has greatly contributed to the recent success of the Angels. During his senior season, Holloway racked up a total of 177 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 3 touchdowns, all of which helped East in one of their most successful seasons in recent years. Landen has decided to stay in Colorado and represent Colorado State University Pueblo which competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Also graduating this year will be Mia Henninger, who represented the Angles dive team. Mia reflected on her time at East, recounting how the “dive team instilled important values in me on how to be a successful and productive athlete”. Mia, who will be continuing her academic and athletic career at the University of Missouri is looking forward to “bonding with a new group of people for the next 4 years” and “growing with them as athletes and adults”. While Mia certainly leaves behind quite the legacy as an Angel, she will certainly shine on the grand stage of the SEC come this time next year.

Here, Leah Goodman sits down with an editor from The Spotlight to explain her experience in the world of art in high school. She vocalizes her profound liking of the art classes and community at East, while stressing the vital impact they have had on her passion. After all, as a senior, Goodman is leaving East later this year with a significant resume in the art world. She has completed an AP art portfolio, assisted in creating a mural in Denver, and had her art published in The Spotlight previously. Goodman has also played a critical role in East’s stagecraft department as a lead painter and artist for the sets; her light-up re-creation of an anatomical heart stole the very hearts of all audience members of Urinetown: The Musical. It is easy to examine her accomplishments at the mere age of 17, but Goodman accredits part to East. Goodman has taken Drawing and Painting 1 and 2 as well as AP Drawing and Painting. The vitality of the classes proves significant, “This is the first year I haven’t taken an art class, and it’s made me realize how much classes really do encourage me to make more [art].” While some kids are forced to take the beginning art classes as an elective, others make a conscious decision to take them. It might seem redundant to take a class about a concept that isn’t inherently academic, but Goodman has found them beyond critical. “This year has brought to light the real inspiration and creativity that the art classes at East, and in general, nurture artists. I do wish I had taken the opportunity to continue exploring that at school.” Students, especially underclassmen, should take Goodman’s comments as an awakening. East has and will continue to provide an art community—take advantage of it. When prompted on why she likes art, Goodman responded, “I like art because it’s fun. Because it feels good to just make stuff knowing it doesn't have to mean anything or look good or matter at all. Just making art to play with fun textures and colors and weird ideas is enough. I love seeing what I can put together.” This light-hearted and pure passion is apparent in her work. She explores a variety of “themes surrounding instinct and evolution, as well as situational humanity, intimacy, and math in nature.” Although, she notes that “plenty of my art really has no meaning at all.” If there is one takeaway from Goodman’s insights, it is that freedom can be found in art, even in art classes. There is a natural and organic aspect of the community and process that should inspire all, even if one only has a small wondering, to try art out. East High School has historically taken pride in their art class and program offerings. For instance, the music program has existed since the 1970s and has produced artists like Judy Collins and Hattie McDaniel (who also won an Oscar for her role in Gone With the Wind). The fall plays and spring musicals are also consistently popular and seeked-out among the surrounding community. However, many other schools have since lost funding or interest in pursuing them. According to the National Endowment for the Arts, “Among all public high schools, 88% offered at least one arts course in any discipline. While 12% of public high schools offered no arts instruction, 12% offered only one of the four arts disciplines, 28% offered two arts disciplines, 31% offered three arts disciplines, and 17% offered all four major arts disciplines.” This refers to four of the main art disciplines: visual art, dance, theater, and music. Between prioritizing their core classes or GPA, students have fallen victim to an academic culture. Hustling after a pristine transcript, littered with AP Biology and other honors classes, has become the norm. Athletics and academic clubs have also become the forefront; some students face pressure from their parents to “think of profitable careers,” in other words, refrain from the arts. The NEA also notes that “In the public high schools, as the proportion of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch increases, the likelihood of offering arts education decreases.” This infers that lower-income households have also started to view arts as a frivolous endeavor—a variety of people view art as a luxury. While acknowledging the privilege of pursuing art, it is important to denote that art does not cut one off from other academics. Luckily, there are a plethora of student artists at East who have embraced their passions. They are actively proving how art and academics can coexist by succeeding at both; Goodman is a prime example.

Following last year's state championship, the Angels basketball team has undergone a complete makeover. Having lost 12 seniors, the door has been left wide open for new players to make their mark on East’s Storied basketball history. The Angels began the season just as they had left off, winning each of their six opening games, including a win over Fort Collins who made the elite 8 of last year's state tournament. However, the team has since faced a poor run of form, only winning one of the last 8. While the Angels record has taken a hit, there are many positives to be observed. The team has shown many signs of dominance, taking control of many periods throughout the game, only missing the decisive edge in the fourth quarter. Last year's title clinching team was led by Mr. Colorado Basketball, D’Aundre Samuels. Samuels, who led the team in points, assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks could always be relied upon to perform, no matter the circumstances. D’Aundre was accompanied by incredibly reliant teammates, including Gil Gonzalez, Austin Mohr, Sam Scott, and Jack Greenwood who capped off the championship run scoring 27 points against Fossil Ridge. This year without the likes of Samuels, the Angels have had to turn to the new faces that fill the roster to perform in the difficult moments. Leading the charge is Junior James Murray, averaging 15.2 points per game, Fabian Morris with 5.4 rebounds per game, and Ehud Tesfoye who leads the team in assists and steals per game. Despite a drastic change in the players themselves, the program is still under the control of Head Coach Rudy Carey. Carey himself has quite a storied coaching career, having recently reached 900 wins, and most state titles in the state of Colorado with an individual total of ten. James Murray, who joined East in October has certainly made his presence felt on the court. Prior to the new season, the team set a goal which Murray says is “to get better every game, and that is because no one is named champion until march.” Averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, it is clear that he will be a pivotal asset should the Angels continue to reach their goal and defend their title. Murray attributes this year's struggles to the mentality of the opponents, saying “the teams that we play, if they beat us that's their state championship.” Yet despite the various challenges the season has presented, the team still feels they are in the running for yet another state championship. “I think we still have a good chance of defending,” said Murray, “I'm excited for the next 30-40 days.” With few games remaining in the season, it is make or break time for the Angles. Only three of the thirty two teams in last year's playoffs held losing records, making it pivotal that the Angels win at least half of the remaining games, the majority of which are league games. The Angels will conclude the regular season with a home against Omaha Westside on February 10th, before they will hopefully look to defend the state championship with a long run into the playoffs. With a record of ten and eight, the team will have their work cut out for them, should they look to follow last season's historic victory with another state title. However, under the guidance of legendary coach Rudy Carey and a team full of young potential, the future of the Angels Basketball program is certainly bright.

This March, East High’s Poms Dance team will be attending the National Dance Alliance Competition in Orlando Florida. This is the first time East Poms will be competing nationally since before the pandemic with a new team and head coach. With only four returners on the team this year, the Poms team is trying to establish a reputation as a competitive hip-hop team once again following their finalling at nationals in 2020. This year the team has competed at 3 regional competitions and placed 12th at State. While that may not seem like a great feat, East was amongst the top dance teams in the state and qualified in two categories to compete nationally (Poms and hip hop). Coach Angelina Morell will be leading the team for her second year as coach and comments that she is most excited “to see all the hard work that everyone on the team has put in to get where we are. It has been four years since East has attended nationals and I decided to take the team because the determination coming up to state was impressive. Although many of the girls have not competed in dance prior to this year, with all of the talent, I thought we should go to show what East is about.” Coach Morell further explained that the competition is not only a chance to place but for the school to be highlighted. She says “the competition is held in a huge hotel with over 100 teams ranging from intermediate to varsity, in small, medium, and large categories.  If we place we will win a trophy, banner, and national title. NDA is also judged by the best dance judges in the nation and the feedback is amazing.” For most East angels it is impossible to get there but the entire competition will be broadcasted on Varsity TV. East will be competing in the hip-hop and Poms categories performing two days in a row. While the Poms dancers are at every home football and basketball game, and perform at pep rallies there is little recognition for the sport. So leading up to this competition what should East students know about Poms? Senior Captain Vicky Erazo comments that one thing she wishes people knew about Poms is “ How much work we put into these dances, it takes dedication, exhaustion, and workouts. We practice year-round and practice multiple times a week but are not seen as athletes. We have worked out with Boys Baseball, Girls Soccer, and Boys Swim but many don’t know.” Vicky says she just wants people to “see what we are capable of as strong women in the sports world because dance is a sport.” Poms training includes weight training once a week, 3 additional practices, choreography camps over the summer, technique practice for tricks and leaps, as well as 6:30 AM practices in the gym for games and competition. First-year sophomore member Jada Pulsipher corroborated saying, “Poms is not cheer, it is dance. It is a different sport and whenever I tell people I do poms they ask about cheer because of the pom poms. However, we are dancers and perform hip hop, it is different from what you would expect.” Poms dancers love their sport and art form and want the East community to appreciate dance as well. Next basketball game be sure to stay for halftime to watch the team shine and tune in online for Nationals!

78 percent of students face some variation of senioritis. With the second semester right around the corner, students have begun to lose motivation. Sleeping through alarms and turning in assignments two weeks after the due date has become a stressful reality for most students, especially East seniors. Is there a way to reverse the second semester blues? Here, East seniors report on their favorite methods to stay motivated throughout the second semester, especially the brutal months of January and February. East seniors Elli Busam and Avery Spreeuw spoke on early senioritis and rituals they use to delay the inevitable lack of motivation towards the end of the school year. Spreeuw started the conversation by stressing the importance of organization. Spreeuw has “notebooks for every one of my classes and a planner that I embarrassingly pull out mid-class that really helps me stay on top of my assignments.”  Spreeuw swears that “staying organized and trying to enjoy the small parts of school is definitely a huge help.” Busam and Spreeuw see eye to eye on the importance of finding winter hobbies to push them through the long three months of winter. Busam spoke of her love for “staying home and watching a festive movie. It's definitely one of the things that helps me enjoy winter and unwind from the long school day.” Spreeuw also began touching on the exciting parts of the second semester. Spreeuw is especially “excited to start planning my future. I’m definitely terrified but excited to finish up the tedious high school work we all have to do at some point.” Second semester is a stressful time but an incredible opportunity to bond with your teachers. Similarly, Busam can’t wait to “get to know my teachers better and create relationships with them.” These seniors have incredible ways to stay motivated and have a rewarding second semester. Whether it be looking forward to things like Prom, which Spreeuw is “really looking forward to,” or finding ways to connect with those in one’s community, especially teachers. With the inevitable procrastination and all-nighters, second semester has a lot to provide both academically and socially. Spreeuw thinks that “finding things that you like to do can really help the second semester be a good time.” Students who have hobbies are “15 percent more likely to be optimistic, 14 percent more likely to be happy and satisfied with their life, and 10 percent more likely to be able to regulate their emotions”. The second semester is a difficult time, but finding hobbies and enjoyment within school is possible and can easily help students stay on top of their work, along with having a positive outlook on the daunting last few months of the school year.

East High School takes pride in its diverse programs by offering dozens of courses; whether they are academic, electives, or the arts, East has it all. There are few greater feelings than taking a class that not only knocks out credits but also piques interest. If students are struggling to find a class that gains college credit but also sparks interest, Serendipity comes highly recommended. Serendipity is a writing course that allows students to be creative in any way that interests them whether it be art, photography, or writing. This course encourages all types of creativity. Serendipity has been offered at East since 1986 and is currently led by East English teacher Jonathan Clark. Clark has taught at East for eight and a half years and takes pride in the beauty of Serendipity. He loves that the class is a “flexible creative space with a lot of different voices, doing a lot of different things but we all gather together.” This describes the class perfectly. The balance between a variety of ideas and constant concepts being tossed around allows students to learn from their peers and provides benefits that go much further than the class itself. After speaking with Clark, The Spotlight was eager to gather different perspectives and hear directly from the students. To begin, a staff writer spoke with East Alumni Elin Lawrence (who graduated in 2023). Lawrence couldn’t get enough of this class and was quick to talk about how this course “prepared me for other writing classes and gave me a deeper meaning of what writing is.” She went on to discuss the opportunity this class gave her to “express myself better through writing. It has also helped me feel good at something in school,” which Lawrence thinks is important in a learning environment. Francesca Vela, a current senior at East, had similar feelings about this program explaining that she loves “doing something that I’m passionate about and working with others that have the same love for writing.” Vela also touched on the comfort this class provides to the students who feel like “family and a safe space where you will never be judged.” Serendipity allows students to express themselves academically and personally, making it an incredible program worth trying out. The diverse ideas, incredible teachers, and involved students make this one of the many incredible classes East offers.

Attention all Swifties and football fanatics: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially dating. The crossover event of what some may say the century, is finally happening. Even with Taylor’s worldwide fanbase and Kelce’s outstanding career, both have gained a much larger audience. The stereotypical football fan (a middle-aged man) and Swift fan (a teenage girl), are beginning to look past their respective communities and find fulfillment in a new one. Forbes writer Brad Adgate details how there has been a 400 percent increase in Kelce’s jersey sales, placing him in the top five players in the NFL. He has also gained at least 383,000 new followers on his Instagram account and an increase in Chiefs ticket sales. Additionally, as of October 2, Kelce’s podcast New Heights is ranked first on Apple’s charts. Similarly, Taylor Swifts “Welcome to New York” has been recently used in an NFL ad starring Travis Kelce. As the chorus echoes Kelce stares longingly up to the stands (inferably, the VIP box where Swift has been seen multiple times with his mother). Additionally, her music and documentary Miss Americana have alluded to her incessant need for advocacy. Seems she's determined to give voice to young women and serve as an admirable icon. Considering how many daughters are now choosing to watch Sunday football with their dads, Swift's relationship is only furthering her mission to create empowered women. Even as a “girlfriend,” Swift has proven her impact and influence on Americans. Senior Fiona Holland notes how she “loved how Taylor Swift jumped up and down after Travis Kelce scored a touchdown—it was adorable. It makes me more interested in Chiefs games, even though I am not a Chiefs fan.” Swift’s “halo effect” has even boosted Kelce from bad boy to husband material. His questionable past of cheating scandals and dating 50 women at once (seen on TV in Catching Kelce) have seemed to dissipate in the glow of Swift. Although some fans are rooting for a breakup (in hopes of catchy break up songs), the majority seem to be rooting for Swift and her newfound beau. The couple was more recently spotted after an evening together in New York City, walking out of a Saturday Night Live after party. That night, SNL humored America with a skit about how football has turned into a pop-culture phenomenon—many are focused on Swift instead of the game. The skit starred Kenan Thompson and Pete Davidson, resulting in an uproar of laughter and heightened status of the already famous couple. On a different note, senior Leah Goodman tells The Spotlight that she “doesn’t believe they will last, especially with all of the publicity on them.” But let’s face it, the odd pairing has so far proven to be nothing but positive. Here’s hoping for a prosperous future marriage—or at least a hit breakup single from Swift. Either way, the combined fan bases will be reactive.

For the first time since the fall of 2007, the East Angels Football team is 3-0. The Angels opened the season with an impressive 55-19 victory over league rivals Westminster followed by a 36-0 shutout victory over Smoky Hill, setting the Angles up for a showdown with bitter rivals Denver South. In last year's game against South, the Angels were taken off guard by multiple factors away from the field. Merely 10 minutes before the team was set to depart for the stadium, Coach Ruempolhamer was informed that two starters, as well as another key player had been suspended. The team was then forced to confront a cyber bullying incident occurring the day prior disrupting the team mere minutes before taking the field. In this year's meeting with the Ravens, the Angels dominated every aspect of the game, resulting in a 31-13 victory to keep their perfect start to the season. On the defensive front, East pulled off an impressive 8 turnovers, including four interceptions and four recovered fumbles holding the Ravens to under 200 yards. Coach Ruempolhamer praised the players' recognition that “Glamour doesn’t take care of business” and the collective buy in “to go down into the trenches and do the work”. Coach Ruempolhamer attributes the bright start to the immense strides the team made over the summer. On a daily basis, the team is reminded to “Do the work, do what it takes, and eliminate shortcuts.” With a collective understanding that talent is not enough, the team had the opportunity to attend a camp at Colorado State University, where many of the younger players from last season's team were given the opportunity to mature on the field. Led by Senior Landen Holloway, the defense made significant improvements in defending the run game. Four games into last season the Angels had given up 13 rushing touchdowns, while this season they have only conceded 3. The ability to stop the run has allowed the team the chance to compete on both sides of the ball, getting the defensive unit off the field, and the ball into the hands of rising star Declan Macdonald. Though he is only a sophomore, the young quarterback has already embraced his role as leader and a trustworthy passer. Declan attributes his leadership abilities to those around him, and in particular “the help from my coaches and the help from the quarterback last year”. The important figures around Declan have taught him “what it means to be a leader, and how you have to keep your head up in all the situations that are pretty tough”. Despite the struggles in recent weeks, Declan is confident in the team's ability to regain their early season form. “Little things stopped us from playing to the level we should have. We know that it all comes down to discipline and working harder week after week.” Following the game at Pine Creek, the Angels have their bye week where they will re-evaluate themselves and look to finish out the season on the front foot. Despite the positive start to the season, the Angels still have much to prove. As the season grinds on, the Angels will focus on a long awaited return to the playoffs, having not appeared since the fall of 2018. By focusing on each individual game, the team has set their sights on winning the conference, as well as a deep run into the playoffs. As expectations continue to rise, the Angels will turn to themselves for positive results. Knowing not every game will be easy, Coach Reumpolhamer emphasized the team’s understanding that “the way we compete, and understand that the games will be dogfights, we will be coming out victorious.”

As Seniors head into their fourth year of high school, they realize that Senior year is not just fun and games. There are countless tests, homework assignments, and classes ahead of them- not to mention college applications.” It seems like I'm always behind on something” Senior Sofia Savedra confesses. “I enjoy being out of school more than being in school and it's hard to make myself go home and do homework.” Saavedra is not alone. Seniors tend to forget that the Common App is not their only responsibility. They also have to deal with the classes they signed up for last spring. As we begin our fifth week of school and with college deadlines coming up, Seniors' stress levels are at an all-time high. So how are Seniors coping with anxiety? Some students have found healthy ways to deal with their stress…while others have not. Saavedra explains that her coping strategy is developing a serious Starbucks addiction. “I get a chai and I switch up what I put in it right now it's pumpkin, in the winter it will be peppermint, and in the spring: vanilla.” One has to wonder how much money Sofia spends per week on Starbucks, and her answer:'' around 20 dollars a week”. Anna Boyle on the other hand copes with her anxiety in another way. “ I do yoga once a week at Carla Madison. It helps to center me.” When asked what her favorite part of the yoga class was she responded saying “ I like the meditation at the end.” Seniors are faced with extreme pressure. “It feels like there is not enough time in the day” Ashylne Barringer complains. Seniors are often trying to balance a bulk load of work at once. Classes, athletics, work, college, family, and countless other activities can lead a senior to feel overworked and overwhelmed. Hazel Harp has developed her strategy of keeping herself grounded “I create digital planners on Google Sheets so I don't get overwhelmed, it keeps track of all my deadlines.” She believes that by following her planner she can get herself through the year. “As long as I follow my deadlines I will be fine, '' she says. Nathan Taylor recommends “staying focused in class and clearing up any questions with teachers at school so you can use time outside of school to finish college apps.” It seems that the best way to get through the year is to use your time wisely and keep yourself organized. However, that is easier said than done. Some of the seniors have had a harder time than others getting through the year. Amelia Birner confesses that she has been staying up until two in the morning to finish all her homework and common applications. As stress and homework trek upward, sleep is her last priority. A student who would prefer not to be named confesses that they “have been smoking weed daily and it's been great.” Whatever helps I suppose. Other seniors like Tatum Blaksley are less confident in handling senior year. “I'm not going to get through the year.” While it can feel as if you are the only one struggling, it's helpful to remember that all seniors are in the same situation. We are all trying to make it through the year. So as we look towards graduation, remember that while stressful, Senior year will come to an end so we must make the best of it.