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The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

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MWHS Wildcat News
MWHS Wildcat News 05.22.25
Shibu Sharma and Hayden Strine • May 21, 2025
Chemistry Qual
May 21, 2025
Wildcat retirees
May 20, 2025
Journalism Seniors (Class of 2025) Full-length Sign-Off
May 19, 2025
News
Assassins record themselves eliminating their targets, hoping to collect the prize money for themselves. Seniors had to do their best to get a clear video alongside their elimination, making for some amazing clips. Seniors were given two weeks to eliminate their target, making for plenty of time to plan. Purge days were randomly announced, meaning that wearing swim goggles would not save you from elimination, Senior Breck Osborne being a victim of such. “She just snuck in, my friends kept telling me to run and I didn’t know what they were talking about,” Osborne said. “It sucks that I got out, I would’ve gone far.”
Shots fired, clothes soaked
Luka Pashia, Staff Reporter • May 16, 2025

Starting March 21, a handful of 99 seniors were joined into the annual Senior Assassin, where each student is given a target and two weeks to eliminate their target. Despite the game seeming like the wild west, there are a handful...

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Catching the snap cleanly, senior David James Schiemann searches for an open teammate to pass to. Schiemann played a handful of different sports in his Wildcat career and got the opportunity to thrive in many ways on the field, court, or lanes. “Throughout my high school career, I've played football all four years, basketball for three years, baseball for two years, track for a year, and bowling for my senior year,” Schiemann said. “My coaches and family helped push me through all the seasons and helped me become the athlete I am today.”
As hard as iron
Corgan Perry, Staff Reporter • May 12, 2025

At the end of every school year, Millard West gives the IRONCAT award to any senior who has competed in at least 11 NSAA sports seasons at any level throughout their high school career. In the class of 2025, six senior boys received...

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The updated 10-point grading scale adopted by the school district in 2025, where an A ranges from 90–100, B from 80–89, and so on, aiming to standardize grade interpretation and reduce student stress. “I think this new grading scale would be a welcome change,” English teacher Jack Spady said. "I think standardizing high school with college would make the transition between them easier."
Stepping up the scale
Caden Reynolds, Uproar Radio-Station Manager • May 8, 2025

In the upcoming 25-26 school year, the Millard school district will switch from a 7-point grading scale to a 10-point grading scale. A growing number of school districts across the country are adopting a 10-point grading scale, a growing...

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Opinion
Ellie impacted so many lives and made so many friends. She will always be remembered. “She was one of my best friends since kindergarten and was the most loyal and kind person I could ever ask to grow up with,” sophomore Haven Dalke said. “She always put others before herself and lit up my days with her giggles and happiness.”
A light never dims
Natalie Fink, Managing Editor • May 20, 2025
ChatGPT’s convenience comes at a cost to the Earth and its inhabitants.
Digital genius, ecological disaster
May 5, 2025
While some choose to attend Prom with a date, still others take the opportunity to make it a fun outing with their friends.
Meet me at midnight
April 30, 2025
Now more than ever, it is necessary that we are proactively staying informed in the world around us. This practice not only helps us out in our daily lives but also prepares us for our future and teaches us how to consume information.
We listen and we do judge
April 28, 2025
Procrastination has become a huge issue among high school students, and if its not taken care of now, it’ll have negative effects on them in the future.
More than just a delay
April 28, 2025
Feature
Meeting a teacher in the United States Naval Academy, Hansen and Casey Olson, both future members of the Naval Academy are ready for what’s yet to come. “I'm gonna go into the Navy and go to the United States Naval Academy,” senior Hansen said. “I’m going with another one of my peers at Millard West, Casey Olson, and that's pretty cool. We're gonna go there to fly, and I want to major in chemistry.”
Beyond the diploma
Peyten Pruitt, Photo Editor • May 20, 2025
The 2014 journalism classes gather for a photo following their state championship advised by Lisa Lukecart and Mark Hilburn. Millard West dominated the Class A competition, winning the title by 42 points. “I've seen students grow tremendously over the years of teaching them,” Hilburn said. “For some, it's just gaining the confidence to allow others to edit and view their work, and for others, it's getting in front of the camera, behind the microphone or taking on leadership roles on a publication staff. Even if students aren't interested in going on to study journalism in college or pursue this as a career, the skills they learn here will benefit them in whatever they do. I've had many former students return or reach out thanking me as they felt more prepared than many of their college peers during their freshman and sophomore years because of the skills they learned at West with writing, editing, broadcasting, etc.” Photo courtesy of Mark Hilburn.
Headlines to hallways
Sam Whittaker, Editor-in-Chief • May 19, 2025
Around six years ago, senior Marfa Kolesnikova-Cherenkova moved from her hometown to Millard. When she still lived in Ukraine, she would go to a specific park with her grandparents. “We had a lot of friends back in Ukraine,” Kolesnikova-Cherenkova said. “I attended school while I still lived there. I can even remember some of the teachers, it was fun, I loved my town, I wish I could go back.”
Perseverance pays off
May 16, 2025
Houser is getting ready to play his song in front of a full house at the last choir concert of the year. He is excited to perform his song in front of many of his friends and family. “I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to perform something I had been working on for so long with people I love,” Houser said. “I can’t wait to continue composing and arranging.”
Rustling leaves and harmonies
May 12, 2025
Junior Jaxon Easdale collects his cap and gown a year earlier than his peers. "I want to get a head start in the IT world," Easdale Said.
Early out
May 9, 2025
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Entertainment
'Little Nightmares III' is "expected to be a great hit," according to IMDb.
Third time’s the charm
Alex Elgert, Staff Reporter • May 14, 2025
“The Price of Admission” is Turnpike Troubadours newest album and was released to the world on April 11, 2025.
“The Price Admission”
May 14, 2025
An artistic representation of the album’s release, including Ken Carson to the left and the “More Chaos” album cover to the right.
More chaos
May 9, 2025
Netflix released “The Twister caught in the storm” on March 19th, 2025.
Caught in the storm
April 21, 2025
The Chicken Jockey makes a monstrous face before fighting Garrett Garrison. (Jason Momoa)
Chicken Jockey!
April 18, 2025
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Ellie impacted so many lives and made so many friends. She will always be remembered. “She was one of my best friends since kindergarten and was the most loyal and kind person I could ever ask to grow up with,” sophomore Haven Dalke said. “She always put others before herself and lit up my days with her giggles and happiness.”

A light never dims

2
The 2014 journalism classes gather for a photo following their state championship advised by Lisa Lukecart and Mark Hilburn. Millard West dominated the Class A competition, winning the title by 42 points. “I've seen students grow tremendously over the years of teaching them,” Hilburn said. “For some, it's just gaining the confidence to allow others to edit and view their work, and for others, it's getting in front of the camera, behind the microphone or taking on leadership roles on a publication staff. Even if students aren't interested in going on to study journalism in college or pursue this as a career, the skills they learn here will benefit them in whatever they do. I've had many former students return or reach out thanking me as they felt more prepared than many of their college peers during their freshman and sophomore years because of the skills they learned at West with writing, editing, broadcasting, etc.” Photo courtesy of Mark Hilburn.

Headlines to hallways

3
Gene Wilder had extensive input into the design of his costume. He even wrote to the movie director Mel Stuart to express his raw and unfiltered thoughts after viewing the early costume sketches.

50 years of Willy Wonka

4
High-school athletes can be severely demoralized after going down by large margins

The mercy rule

5
Cancel culture is detrimental to Gen Z’s mental health. It is important to reshape digital punishment to leave room for the inevitable mistakes that come with being teenagers.

Cancelled in a click

Polls

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  • Millard West High School
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    Jan 17 / Boys Basketball
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Sports
Zooming towards home, Junior Jake Daniel sprints home to score the teams first run of the game. “It felt great to finally get on the board after we were struggling to get runs in when bases were loaded,” Daniel Said. “We needed a spark to get the team going even though it was late in the game.”
Survive and advance
Landen Swift, Staff reporter • May 21, 2025
Freshman Lilian Headley has dealt with other lacrosse teams and coaches; however, Millard West did not fail to stand out. Now her team is fighting for the State Champions. The Cats’ first game was against Omaha Central, which ended with a crushing victory. “I have in past experiences, but with this team we always believe in ourselves and work hard,” Headley said. “Our coaches lead our practices and always strive for us to be better as a team.”
Winning from the beginning
May 14, 2025
Jumping for joy, junior Leah Pugliese celebrates as the Wildcats defeat the Papillion-La Vista Monarchs in the A-7 district final. The Wildcat’s knew they needed to bring their A game to have success throughout the game. “We were so happy with the performance that we had for the game,” Pugleise said. “We just want to keep our season going so the seniors get more opportunities.”
Prevailing to state
May 12, 2025
The Wildcats come into this year’s state tournament on an incredible six game winning streak. “Having won six of the last seven games we’ve played gives us so much momentum and motivation to keep working hard,” senior defender Kennedy Moore said. “We have proved so many people wrong in the last couple of games, so we are ready to make a statement in the state tournament.”
Start of the ride
May 12, 2025
Checking out, senior guards Neleigh Gessert and Norah Gessert leaves a legacy on the basketball court not only for Wildcat basketball but for female athletes as she shows playing at the highest level is possible. “It definitely is difficult at times being a female athlete just for the fact that we don’t get as big crowds as men's sports do,” Neleigh Gessert said. “The level of respect that we get compared to men is different too because people look down on women's sports even though we put in as much hard work and effort as men do.”
Leveling the playing field
May 9, 2025
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Podcasts
Logan's Sport Takes: Nebraska Episode
Logan’s Sport Takes: Nebraska Episode
Logan Moseley, MWHS Wildcat News Editor-in-Chief • December 1, 2022

Logan's Sport Takes: NFL
Logan’s Sport Takes: NFL
November 22, 2022
AC Podcast 2
AC Podcast 2
May 5, 2022
AC Podcast 1
AC Podcast 1
May 5, 2022
Logan's Sports Takes: Episode Four
Logan’s Sports Takes: Episode Four
March 31, 2022
Photography
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