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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

The Catalyst
Senior Ethan Valencia plays his viola during orchestra class. Valencia hopes to attend college on a music scholarship. “What I learned from doing all these activities is that hard work and dedication defeats all.”

Finding Strength in the Strings

Tenley Wright, Chief Photographer
March 5, 2020
Junior Delaney Aikins’s painting titled “Barney” earned a Gold Key. Because of this, the piece will be entered into a competition in New York City. “For the portrait we were supposed to use acrylic paints and then I went to Hobby Lobby and got gold foil,” Aikins said. “I wanted to mess with the foil and that’s where the latter in her shawl came from.”

Expressing visual success

Michelle Zhang, Opinions Editor
March 4, 2020
Senior Sarah Fueker works on her Bachelor Bracket during yearbook. Fueker is a huge fan of the show, and watches it every Monday night with her mom and sister. "I love being able to spend quality time with them," Fueker said. "It's our girls night."

The Bachelor brackets

Jenna Reynolds, Staff Reporter
February 17, 2020
Spanish teacher and soccer coach, Juan Agurrie poses in an indoor soccer complex for his club team in the United States. He played indoor professional soccer for the Witchita Wings, in Witchita Kansas. “When I first moved to the United States in 1991 the soccer league was much less developed than it is now,” Aguirre said. “Back then soccer was just starting the develop”

From field to classroom

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
February 12, 2020
Working on her current project in her current class, sophomore Abby Gilreath is learning to use a variety of materials. Students in the program are encouraged to try art forms that aren’t offered everywhere else. “She is very driven and has a big desire to be successful, she doesn't want to fail, that motivates her to put in the extra work, especially when it comes to art,” art teacher Jennifer Hoss-Miller said.

Guided into new arts

Logan Berggren, Features Editor
February 12, 2020
Showing off her latest project, Junior Carlie Kottich models a red overall dress she made in a textiles and clothing design class. “I was able to have as many pattern pieces and fabric as I wanted as I made this dress,” Kottich said. “It was a really easy project, I just needed to make it very neat. I ended up getting a good grade.”

Needles and thread

Brenna Batchelder, Staff Reporter
February 7, 2020
Filmmakers and actors are working together to produce a film. Caleb Eschliman,(left) Haden Batchelder, Sydney Skierka, Michael Frandolig and Stella Ehrhart. They were the actors Eschliman’s that work with him to create a short film at Nebraska Thespian festival. These students work in Filmworks the whole weekend.

Filmmaker in the making

Haden Batchelder, Staff Reporter
January 31, 2020
Junior Eric Wu kicks through a board at his latest Tae Kwon Do practice. Board breaking is a common practice in the martial arts, and is used to test students for higher belts. “Tae Kwon Do has a lot to do with technique,” Wu said. “A smart student never stops practicing the basics.”

Just for kicks

Dana Summers, Staff Reporter
January 31, 2020
Holding the result of her hard work, Senior Brianna Nelson showcases her scholarship. Having auditioned a few days prior, the accomplishment was huge in Nelson’s dreams of performing. “The experience of auditioning has taught me that anything and everything is possible if you put your mind to it,” Said Nelson. “Now the experience of the Broadway Intensive? That’s to be determined. But I’m sure it’s going to be everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more.”

Audition of a lifetime

Brenna Batchelder, Staff Reporter
January 24, 2020
A poster featuring one of the koalas up for adoption, Oxley “Kenny” Twinkles, hangs at the Scooter’s Coffee senior Olivia Oeth works at. Made by Oeth herself, it provides information on what her friends and co-workers have worked together to contribute for. “Olivia has always cared about the environment,” senior donor Logan Berggren said. “She’ll always find ways to help it in anyway she can.”

Local push to save the bush

Emma Baker, Staff Reporter
January 15, 2020
The alumni display hangs next to room 203. Social Studies teacher Tim Royers intends to cover the entire wall by the end of the year. “I’ll keep expanding as much as I can,” Royers said. “I figure the more examples the better.”

Wall of fame

Morgan Weir, Staff Reporter
December 20, 2019
Pictured above is Gavin Christiansen with his unusual pet which is a chinchilla.

Creepy, cute critters

Anna Blumenthal, Staff Reporter
December 18, 2019
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