• Follow us on Instagram @MWHS.Catalyst
  • Follow us on Twitter @MWHSCatalyst for Breaking News
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

Annabelle Harshbarger

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor

Annabelle is a senior and is returning for her third year on the CATalyst staff. She enjoys writing opinion and news stories as well as filming and editing broadcasts. This year Annabelle is looking forward to finding new stories to share with Millard West students. Outside of journalism she enjoys reading, hanging out with her friends and anything outside.

All content by Annabelle Harshbarger
Senior Peyton Overman stands at attention during the military fitness training. He has spent the past year preparing for enlistment both physically and mentally. “I’ve been working at General Store Company to help with my supplement knowledge and sales experience,” Overman said. “Hearing that Marine Corps boot camp is the hardest has really motivated me to go to the gym and make healthier lifestyle choices. I have been studying Marine Corps history and basic knowledge to help me at boot camp.”

Future serviceman

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor
May 24, 2022
Senior Adam Mar works hard in his advanced pottery class to create a bowl on the wheel. Throughout the semester Mar has become more confident in his abilities as he learns new techniques and gains a new skill set. “I’ve seen Adam progress just in the way that he opens up more to the material that we work with,” advanced pottery teacher John Kirke said. “Now that he seems more relaxed and invested in it, Ive seen him laugh and smile this semester more than I have the entire four years.”

Sculpting a new standard

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor
January 20, 2022
Missing from the media

Missing from the media

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor
November 19, 2021
Sophomore Logan Moseley works to create a graphic for the STRIV TV live stream.  The graphics are important to the live stream as they provide stats and information about the players.

STRIVing for success

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor
October 12, 2021
The Oktoberfest display in the hallway set up by German club members shows off a unique holiday celebrated in Germany. The display not only gave a visual representation of the holiday but also stated facts to give more information. “We want to spark interest in our German programs and expand students’ knowledge of the world outside our country,” German teacher Andrea Turner said. “And we want to share some fun and create community with the rest of the school. Many students at West have family connections to Germany.”

A week in Germany

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor
October 12, 2021
As STEM Academy students start off the year junior Grace Tsogbevi works to learn the basics of design. The academy utilizes many different software programs to give students a hands-on experience.  “We have been working with the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to start to learn the basics of design,” Tsogbevi said. “I am most excited to learn more about the program and be able to shape things and work off the program a little bit.”

New opportunities in STEM

Annabelle Harshbarger, Online Editor
September 10, 2021
Junior Michael Boehm tosses his trash bag into the dumpsters after spending time cleaning up the campus. “I think it is immensely important to celebrate Earth month at West because it gives us time to focus on the planet for at least a month out of the year,” Boehm said. “If we are able to keep the momentum from Earth Month going forward, it can launch into a whole year of celebrating our planet by keeping it clean and habitable. It becomes a domino effect of one upstanding student inspiring another student to save our planet.”

One piece at a time

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
May 5, 2021
Raising the bar

Raising the bar

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
March 29, 2021
The fight for 15

The fight for 15

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
March 10, 2021
Senior Luke Skrabal filmed his video for All-State, with the changes this year, he had no do-overs.

All state all star

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
January 6, 2021
As we enter the holiday season it is important to learn about and include all holiday celebrations.

Diversity during the holidays

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
December 10, 2020
The Millard West Forensics team gets hyped up for their first meet of the 2020-21 competition season. Although the team did not get to attend the meets in person they still worked hard to prepare for their first virtual meet. “Preparing for the first competition of the season was definitely different than any other year,” Cavalier said. “Instead of practicing looking at an audience I had to get used to looking at one focal point.”

Competing in a pandemic

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
November 12, 2020
8 Passengers is a popular YouTube family. The Frankes post videos centered around their 6 children and have gained almost 2.5 million subscribers. The family has been called out by multiple Youtube and TikTok creators for using their children for clickbait and showing neglect in their videos.

A new age of child stars

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
October 13, 2020
Junior Zachary Neesen and volunteers work to paint the room numbers used during fire drills on the sidewalks outside of Millard West high school. “On the day of the project, I assigned areas for the volunteers and gave them the needed supplies,” Neesen said. “Then during the project, I checked in with my volunteers repeatedly and offered any help I could.”

Painting the path

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
October 7, 2020
This infographic talks about ways to safely throw a party during a pandemic.

Pandemic Parties

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
October 5, 2020
Cars lined up and distanced from each other at the new outdoor venue in Denmark show another way people can safely enjoy live music. People at the concert are able to connect to a private FM radio station so that they can hear the performer in their car.

The future of live music

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
September 14, 2020
Sophomore Emmi Gilbert works to repair her gravel bike. She has been working towards becoming a bike mechanic and has been learning to repair while in quarantine. Gilbert hopes to soon turn her passion for cycling into business repairing bikes for people in Omaha.

At home hobbies

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
April 17, 2020
With remote learning in full swing, sophomore Ava Fisher is able to continue her learning from home. “Remote learning has overall made me a more organized and responsible student,” Fisher said. “Although it is hard to stay motivated when not in a traditional classroom setting.” Students are working hard to have a successful school day from the comfort of their homes.

A new way of learning

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
April 10, 2020
Junior Jasmine Hermosillo-Padilla poses in front of a background at the Arnold Clark studio. Hermosillo-Padilla has been modeling for Arnold Clark since she was little and hopes to continue her career with them. “I have taken pictures with them since I was little for cheer,” Hermosillo-Padilla said. “I plan on doing more modeling with them in the future.

Strike a pose

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
March 9, 2020
This graphic shows the countries with an abundant amount of reported cases of the virus.

COVID-19 in Omaha

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
March 6, 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

Sophomore Eva Gould performs their exhibition show. Uptowns theme of this years show is the goddess of vegetation and the wild. “My favorite part of the day was our exhibition performance,” Gould said. “ It can be stressful performing in front of so many people but is still enjoy it.”

Show choir showdown

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
January 31, 2020
This infographic talks about the measures taken to ensure vaccine safety. Before vaccines can be released to the public extensive clinical trials take place. All vaccinations are tested and approved by the FDA and vaccine manufacturers.

Truth about vaccines

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
January 16, 2020
This info-graphic shows three popular forms of renewable energy and how they are harnessed.

Energy of the future

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
December 20, 2019
Freshman Ellie Gorman rehearses with American Midwest Ballet for their production of The Nutcracker. Gorman has been dancing for a majority of her life but began dancing with AMB one year ago. Throughout that year she has improved greatly and learned new skills. “Dancing with AMB has taught me so much,” Gorman said. “The most important thing is patience. AMB helped me understand that I am not the only one performing so I have to wait patiently”

Nuts about ballet

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
December 13, 2019
During the Kindness Retreat, Reagan Elementary fourth graders learned about the importance of kindness through a day of singing, dancing and fun. “The fourth graders are able to easily learn about such an important topic through activities, games, and group discussions,” Vontz said. At the end of the day I am positive each fourth graders left with more kindness in there heart and eager to help others.”

Teaching kindness

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
December 10, 2019
When scrolling through Brandy Melvilles website the thing that stands out most is that lack of diversity. All the models look the same, they range from a 22’ to 24’ waist and 5’7- 5’9.

One Size Fits Small

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
November 8, 2019
Junior Trey Frazier donated blood on Friday. This is Frazier’s third time donating for the HOSA blood drive. “I donate blood because I want to help people who need it,” Frazire said. “I also really enjoy it.”

The Gift of Life

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
October 11, 2019
At her second meet of the season Sophomore Peyton Busteed benches 110 pounds. At the Central High School meet she placed fifth and lifted a total of 568 pounds. “Bench press is the lift I need to improve on the most,” Busteed said. “I have been working really hard and I am starting to improve more and more each week”

Heavy Lifting

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
September 5, 2019
Sophomore Addison Smith, her younger sister and Cassy Milward pose in front of the Arc de Triomphe, on of the most famous monuments in Paris.

A Trip to Remember

Annabelle Harshbarger, Staff Reporter
August 27, 2019
Load More Stories

Comments (1)

All The Catalyst Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest