raven report issue 8 2012-2013

string of consecutive wins.However, the team’s most difficult loss

came during its second game in a series against crosstown rival Woodside High School. Having beaten the Wildcats just two days before, the team blamed the loss on its overconfidence.

“We took the Woodside loss as a les-son. It was a wake-up call,” junior Chris Ortiz said. “If we were going to win and go to CCS, we just couldn’t come out flat any-more.”

The team then regained its focus and ral-lied around the goal of a CCS run.

“We all knew our roles and we [filled] them well. Being that pinch running, be-ing a cheerleader on the bench, doin’ work, going 4 for 4—everyone just knew their role and we wanted to win,” junior Carson Parodi said.

“We started off 0-5, and ended 10-2 in league, tied for first place. If that doesn’t scream success, I don’t know what does,” se-nior Connor Grossman said.

By CAROLINE LEMPERTOnline Editor

Raven ReportVolume vi, Issue 8 1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062 May 24, 2013

Sequoia High School

Special Features:

Number of schools the Class of 2013 will attend

By the Numbers

By CARMEN VESCIAStaff Reporter

By LAUREL DEARBORNSports Editor

Seniors inspire and lead baseball team to Ocean League title

Most people would be worried about submerging themselves into a new culture for nine months. Most people wouldn’t dream of missing Christmas with their family or even attempt to take care of 12 chil-dren who speak a foreign language.

This may sound like a nightmare, but senior Skye Picker is just glad she doesn’t have to encounter scary Stanford pro-fessors just yet.

In September, Picker will de-part for Costa Rica until May instead of starting her freshman year. Because Stanford is a private school, she was able to defer ac-ceptance for a year and do something completely dif-ferent.

“I’m so burnt out from school,” Picker said. “I thought a gap year would be a good idea. I could re-fresh and figure out what to do with my life by work-ing on another aspect of who I am.”

Picker will be splitting her time between two orga-nizations: Hogar de vida and Roblealto. Both will al-

Picker defers from Stanford for a year and embarks on Costa Rican adventure

Sequoia’s campus will host the first International Festival Saturday May 25. An estimated 3,000 peo-ple will crowd in front of Carrington Hall while the smells of Lebanese, Mexican and Chinese food waft through the air.

Hawaiian ukuleles and Tahitian drums will play as children and adults alike laugh as they race through an obstacle course, toss bean bags and test their strength by trying to ring the bell on the High Striker. Vendors will sell their wares, and Sequoia clubs will also be present. The festival will last from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) created the event to showcase and share Sequoia’s cultural diversity. The money made from selling food will help pay for senior graduation activities. “There’s a really diverse population that attends Sequoia High School,” PTSA President Shoko Barnes said.

“We’ve always been hopeful we could have an event that involved the families and the community.”

Diversity celebrated with first International Festival

2013 College Map School Report Card Pages 4-5 Page 7

low her to live with children, help them with homework, play sports, cook and clean.

“My main passion is working with children and learn-ing about educational issues,” Picker said. “Part of the reason that I’m doing this gap year is to see if I want to continue to do this work with kids.”

While on her trip, Picker will be able to practice her Spanish and hopefully become fluent, something that she has wanted to do since she started learning the language

in elementary school.Rebecca Stark, a good friend of

Picker, believes that the trip will be just what Picker needs to reach her goal.

“It’s difficult to sit in a class three days a week, and become fluent in a language,” Stark said. “I think she’ll

definitely be fluent when she was comes back.”Picker is aware that the language barrier may be an ob-

stacle in the beginning, but she believes she is prepared to overcome it.

“I think the first month will be challenging because [everything] will be in Spanish,” Picker said. “It will be at a much faster pace than I’m used to.”

See PICKER, page 2

Aiming to repeat its 2012 success, the baseball team entered the spring ready to win league and earn a place in CCS.

“It feels good to reflect back on the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year and say ‘Hey, we got there,’” head coach Corey Uhalde said. The team finished first in the Ocean League with a season record of 12-2.

Despite its overall success, the team got off to a somewhat rocky start with nine juniors transitioning to the varsity team’s higher level of play.

“It was a step-by-step process—first get-ting [the juniors] acclimated, then getting them to learn how to compete, and finally learning how to win,” Uhalde said. “Through those growing pains, things started to come together and our strengths showed up.”

The team quickly built a strong connec-tion and eventually got into a rhythm after a

Photo courtesy of Craig Silverman

Sequoia defeated Jefferson 32-2 in the Senior Game to advance to CCS.

“I’m so burnt out from school. I thought a gap year would be a good idea where I could refresh and figure out what to do with my life by working on another as-pect of who I am.”

—Senior Skye Picker

106 colleges

News2

By JENNA PALIUGHIStaff Reporter

By DALIA JUDE and CARMEN VESCIAStaff Reporters

Confused about applying to colleges?

Peninsula Young Writers offersCollege Consultation and Personal Statement

Coaching

Call Beth Harrison for personal statement coaching 650-743-1959 or email [email protected]

We are proud to support the Raven Report

Sequoia’s leadership class attended the California As-sociation of Student Leaders conference in San Jose on April 26-27 where they attended workshops and listened to key-note speakers Craig Kielburger and Alvin Law.

Kielburger, the founder of Free the Children, came to discuss his project, an interna-tional charity and educational partner that works to provide children in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the proper education, skills and opportu-nity to get themselves out of poverty.

Law, another speaker the students heard, was born with no arms. He talked about his life struggles, and he even played the piano with his feet.

“He really inspired all of us to never give up on our dream,” sophomore Lily Leib said.

“If he could overcome his disability then it proves that, as long as we stay strong and nev-er give up on ourselves, noth-ing is impossible.”

This fall, senior Jessica Jacobo will at-tend University of California, Berkeley with the help of the Incentive Awards Program, which funds Berkeley-bound first-generation college students.

She will be going to UC Berkeley for only $4,000 (instead of the full $33,522 for in-state students living on campus) per year. She is the only Sequoia student to receive the scholarship this year. Jacobo believes that community service, such as tutoring through Project Read, helping in an English Language Development class and assisting students with homework through Citizen Schools helped her at-tain the scholarship.

“I guess they’re looking for someone

The Sequoia art show took place on May 5 in the gallery annex near The Old Spa-ghetti Factory, featuring several pieces from students enrolled in different levels of art.

“It’s exciting because you get to see ev-erything everyone else has done,” senior Chloe Borison, an art show participant, said. “[I’m] always excited to have people look at my stuff, but it’s a little nerve rack-ing having it be judged,” Borison said.

who’s going to go out there, do something and then give back to their community,” Jacobo said.

AVID teacher Teresa Yeager encour-aged Jacobo to apply and believes that being well-rounded is what made her a strong candidate for the Incentive Awards.

“I thought she would be really good [for the Incentive Awards] because she has an outstanding commitment to her community,” Yeager said.

At first her parents were hesitant to let her attend UC Berkeley; they wanted her to follow in her elder sisters’ footsteps and attend California State University, East Bay, but they eventually agreed to let her choose for herself.

“If you don’t try, then you’re obviously not going to get it,” Jacobo said. “But if you actually try to turn it in, you never know what’s going to happen.”

IB Art senior Rebekah Steiner placed second in painting and Borison placed third in her category.

“It’s fun to see finished pieces, they look different in a show, versus just sit-ting on your shelf,” Steiner said.

The students were allowed freedom when choosing a piece to submit. They were given an opportunity to express themselves in their art.

“My favorite piece [I submitted] was using wire and eggs shells,” senior Mara-chel Leib said.

By SABRINA VILLANUEVA-AVALOS and LORNA WAKEStaff Reporters

ASB pushes students to get involved

Artists display their creativity

Berkeley-bound senior receives Incentive Award

Jacobo is the only Sequoia student to receive the Incentive Award this year.

Junior Amir Amerian has been cho-sen by the Redwood City American Legion to attend the California Boys’ State program at CSU Sacramento on June 22 to learn about the functioning of local and state government.

“I’ve heard really great things about the program,” Amerian said.

American Legion Boys’ State is a se-lective nationwide program which takes place during the summer after the stu-dent’s junior year.

They visit the State Capitol in Sacra-mento and form a “mock government” to learn how governments function.

They are assigned a city and elect city officials, a city council and a mayor.

“I am really interested in govern-ment and politics, so it’s a really cool opportunity to stimulate that because the program is all about stimulating different levels of local county and state governments,” Amerian said. Although he has grown a love for de-bate over the years, Amerian hopes to go into law as a career.

He feels that the Boys’ State program will help his future in the civil service and really teach him about what it is like to be part of the government.

At the end of this two-week session, two boys are chosen to attend a similar program called Boys’ Nation in Wash-ington D.C., which is where all of the boys chosen from their state programs attend.

They will engage in similar activities as Boys State, and they will get the op-portunity to stimulate Congress.

During their time in D.C., the boys will also have the hon-or of meeting the President.

Amerian prepares for boys’ state By SABRINA VILLANUEVA-AVALOS and LORNA WAKEStaff Reporters

Photo Courtesy of Lisette Espinoza

PICKER,from page 1

“[The trip] will change the way that I view the world and the way I feel about a lot of issues,” Picker said. “I will see how other people live and how they interact with each other and where they come from. I think that’s the main takeaway.”

Feature 3

By GLENN BILLMANStaff Reporter

Band and orchestra promote student growth

Hiding behind American accents, after-school activities and Redwood City addresses, sophomores Isabella Huber and Lina Landgraf could pass as native Californians.

Huber and Landgraf, hailing from Austria and Germany, are exchange stu-dents at Sequoia, happily soaking in the culture of their new school.

“It’s been really fun getting to know more people, and experiencing all the fun activities. I love comparing the two cul-tures,” Huber said.

Huber has been staying with friends Frances and Alice Mylod-Vargas, for the spring semester.

“My mom and their mom were best friends in high school, so I’ve known the family for a long time,” Huber said. “It makes it easier, because if something [doesn’t] work out, I [can] go home and [have] support,” Huber said.

Landgraf spent her fall semester in

From Europe to Sequoia: the life of an exchange student

Texas with another family before moving to California.

“I love California, and I’ve always been a California girl,” Landgraf said. Both Landgraf and Huber spent time in Amer-ica as children and speak English. While the lack of a language barrier has made adapting to life in California easier, the girls still faced some challenges.

“The hardest part [was] finding a good group of friends. Finding [my] way around school was hard for me in the be-ginning since everything is just so differ-ent and big,” Huber said. Still, Huber has found her time in California to be very enjoyable, as well as educational.

“All the after-school activities, and the rallies, it’s just so different from Austria,

and the teachers are so nice here,” Huber said. Landgraf has also found the experi-ence to be positive and different.

“I’m not that homesick. Sequoia is re-ally nice. It has a beautiful campus com-pared to my school in Germany, which looks like a prison,” Landgraf said.

Based on their experiences, Huber and Landgraf would both recommend trav-eling to another country as an exchange student.

“You just learn so much being away from home. I learned [about] two cul-tures that cannot be more different from each other,” Landgraf said.”

“I would recommend it to anybody, even if it’s only for a few weeks.”

Leaving their new lives in California will be difficult, but both girls must return to Europe.

“I’ll have mixed feelings [about going back],” Huber said.” “I’ll be excited to go back home and see my family and friends, but it’ll be weird because I built up this new life here and then suddenly, I just leave it,” Huber said.

Lina Landgraf (far left) and Isabella Huber (second from left) joined the swim team among other activites during their time here at Sequoia.

Photo by Martin Bittner

A highlight of the performances at the annual Sequoia Dance Show was freshman Myles Mitchell’s powerful choreography honoring his mother’s life. The show, held the weekend of Sat., April 20, gave Mitchell a sense of closure through the powerful choreography of his dance.

“I was pretty nervous right before [the dance show]; I felt like I was going to cry,” Mitchell said.

“I just had a lot of emotions going on. I missed my mom, I wished she was there, but she told me right be-fore she passed that she was she was going to be there at the show.”

Mitchell’s mother, Connie Kitto, passed away due to cancer Dec. 6. The choreography was well received by the crowd, bringing the packed auditorium to an uproarious applause.

Mitchell found solace and expression in dance, and felt compelled to choreograph this piece.

“I needed it done. My heart was set to that,” Mitchell recalls. “I’m like ‘I’m doing that dance. I don’t care about school work, I’ll worry about that later.’ I just needed to get it done.”

By ANNA DAGUM News Editor

Annual dance show achieves new level of depth“When my mom passed away I started dancing to get

all my emotion out,” Mitchell said. “That’s how I deal with it all. I just dance. That’s what makes me happy.”

Mitchell and his team prepared for months prior to the dance show.

“I feel like the people I picked for my dance knew how to express that emotion that I had,” Mitchell said. “They knew how to do the dance, what it meant to me and how that feels.”

In addition to giving Mitchell ardent support after his mother’s death, the dance team played a fundamen-tal role in helping the Mitchell family as a whole. A donation account was set up and advertised via Facebook to support the Mitchells financially.

Overall, the donations amounted to $2240 from friends, family and teachers.

“The success of the campaign was amazing,” said one of the campaign’s ini-tiators, advanced dance member Alsace Patrone.

“I was so impressed by the Sequoia community’s re-sponse as every day I was handed dollar bills or quarters by complete strangers who wanted to donate what they

could to help a Sequoia student’s family through a dif-ficult time,” Patrone said.

Mitchell recalls checking the page frequently, often in disbelief at the amount of support his cause was receiv-ing.

“I can’t believe that so many people were there for me when I needed them,” he said. “I appreciate them taking their time out of their lives to help me out. It really meant a lot.”

Mitchell’s gratitude evidently reflects that of his mother.

“My mom told me that she wasn’t gonna give up,” Mitchell said. “She kept positive for us and never wanted to admit that she was dying.”

Mitchell’s love of dance and love for his mother all embodied this pow-erful dance that night, and through the fluid, aesthetic movements of himself and his team, Mitchell found

a sense of closure.“Sometimes I feel her, I feel her next to me,” he said.

“That night I felt her there and I knew she was there watching me.”

“I want my students to think of music as a lifestyle and I hope they

continue it for forever. Music is important for becoming a

well-rounded person.”—Danny

Broome, orchestra teacher

“We’ve had great opportunities to perform in many music festivals, concerts and community perfor-

mances, like at the farmer’s market,”

—Eamon Carson, sophomore violin

player

“Music is a creative outlet, a way to learn teamwork and to have commu-

nity. As we have grown, we have increased our humanity and

that is one of the things I am most proud of.”

—Jane Wood-man, band

teacher

“Everyone has different interpretations which makes all the music we perform

special. We all love band and put our feelings into the music.”

—Kaitlyn Schmidt, sophomore flute

player

Over the

years, the orchestra has

progressed to play increasingly difficult

music and is continuing to advance its technical and musi-

cal abilities.

This sense of compassion and com-munity is highlighted in the many

concerts the bands participate in, and the assistance band

students provide to the McKinley and Northstar music

programs.

—Written by Paul Kiraly and compiled by Anna Dagum

Oth-

er events the bands

participate in outside of Sequoia are

at Hometown Holidays in downtown Redwood City and at the San Carlos Hometown Days.

“I missed my mom, I wished she was there, but she told me right before she passed that she was she was going to be there at the show.”

—Freshman Myles Mitchell

University of California, Santa CruzNatalie ClarkLeticia Soto

University of California, Los AngelesNicholas PauleyJulia PokornyRebecca Stark

University of RedlandsAlexander Merian

University of San FranciscoCinthia Segovia-Sosa

University of Southern CaliforniaJeremy Smith

University of the PacificRebekah Steiner

Whittier CollegeSofia Duena

Santa Barbara City CollegeGabriel De Los Reyes

Santa Clara UniversityJoselyn Juarez

Santa Monica CollegeCarolina Gastelum

Santa Rosa Junior CollegeMariana Arellano

Skyline CollegeTyler Leary

Stanford UniversitySkye Picker

Tnt AgencyJennifer Gonzalez

University of California, BerkeleyMaddie ChongEli DuganJessica JacoboAshley Killmon

University of California, DavisJulian Bertero

University of California, IrvineAureliano Davila

University of California, MercedKristal Padilla

University of California, San DiegoJudy Pham

University of California, Santa BarbaraChristian CruzEmma Duncan

Special Feature4

CheerWhat better way to move into the next chapter of your life than with a little pop of pink?

Quill and ScrollThis is only the best accessory in the history of high school. You laugh in the face of AP style and know how to write a mean headline.

CSFGold and shiny in the light, this sash will tell your peers “Yeah, I turned in a packet of forms nearly every semes-ter, watch out.”

All data based on a survey of 300 graduating seniors.

Boise State UniversityAnnika Galliani

Oregon State UniversityKendall Aozasa

Reed CollegeKarla Velarde

University of OregonMatt BrothertonMichael MuirMikayla Wilkes

University of PortlandKayla Parolari

Brigham Young UniversityAubrey Westerlind

Westminster CollegeJazmin Hernandez

Seattle UniversityTiffany Ah Tye

University of Puget SoundAngie CalderónSarah CiambroneRory JacobsFrances Welsh

University of WashingtonErin RalstonCaitlyn Yao

Washington State UniversityMatt Maldonado

Art Institute of San FranciscoNancy Avila

Biola UnivesityDanielle Meija

Cal Poly San Luis ObispoStephanie FovenyessyJordan BaxterJulia MelmonPaolo Salvoni

Cal Poly PomonaPaige Bonwood

California State University, FullertonAmanda Willett

California State University, ChicoMariana FreyEmma MartinoStephanie Ochoa

Califronia State University, Dominguez HillsAlejandro Castro Pena

California State University, Long BeachMireya DorantesJulie Flores

California State University, Monterey BayJulie Flores

California State University, NorthridgeShelby EscobedoAngel Lopez

California State University, SacramentoRossmeri Ramirez

California State University, San DiegoKayla Beard

California State University, San FranciscoJennifer AquinoBriana ArandaRyanna BaldomeroIrving BeltranMarcelo CadenesViviana GarciaAlex HannanNatalia HardenSilvia Hernandez

California State University, San JoseFrancisco CeballosSammi GembalaCullen KuhlowSelene LopezKatherine Ruiz

California State University, SonomaJaden BriesachSteven FrazierAlicia LozanoMartha Revuelta

Cañada CollegeMilvia AlvaradoXiomara AlvarezLaura Yarely AlvarezJenny AlvarezGabriela AquinoTanya ArevaloPeter ArteagaAshley AtkinsonAlex BastidasDavid Botello

Suzette LopezHector LorenzoNick MaffeiErick MillanSandro MoralesBreanna PalomarezTania PartidaNicole PavisBenjamin PhamDaja Price

Alex HilbertNestor MartinezMorgan MecchiVictor PerezMaria ReyesElisa SolisJuan ValdezWarren Van Velkinburgh

Frances Mylod-VargasRebecca SoundKamron Nafarieh

Marisa SteckCynthia ValenteCynthia Valle

Alejandro ValenciaWillem BurnsAaron JacobsonBryan Young

Juan ReyesKylie RinaldiClayton SilvermanAshley Jacobberger

Jamyl Delgado

Ariel Vega

Mario MoraCarlos Ramos

Quynh Tran

Benjamin BrydonJose CamachoJohn CardarisStephanie DuranPilar GonzalezTina HaddadAnahi HernandezTry Khov

Chapman UniversityAlex BlissAlyssa BlissSami Mast

Claremont McKenna CollegeKevin Castro

College of San MateoSydney AlbinAlyn AmesBeatriz AndradeAlejando Arreola FloresAaron AustinKarla AvilesWilliam BellAlexa BunkerJesus CamachoGustavo ChavezClayton DuvalJennifer EnbomBruin FentonMaria GalvanLaura GonzalezVeronica Gonzalez

Columbia CollegeMaritza Patino

De Anza CollegeDiego Medina

Evergreen UniversityMichael Grieves

Fashion Institute of Design and MerchandisingUbaldo Arredondo

Foothill CollegeVictor AguileraHumberto FelixVanessa TinocoOscar BenaventeBrandon BrumbaughDamon FrazierKatherin GuzmanJairo Hernandez

Lake Tahoe Community CollegeDominique Stone

Loyola Marymount UniversityMaddie Sillivos

Notre Dame De Namur UniversityJessica ForestiNereyda Guzman PradoEmmanuel Lazo

Pacific Union CollegeValerie Macias

Pomona CollegeNia McAllisterAlaina Woo

Saint Mary’s College of CaliforniaLiam Cotter

Sharon JimenezRicky MattusJoselin MerlinGuillermina MichelAnahi Montes VergaraAmanda OntiverosJose PinedaSteve Alexander PradoEduardo RamirezJordan RobinsonDaisy RosalesAlexa TapiaZachary WhitingMaria ZavalaMaria ZamoraJennifer Zaragoza

Michael Taylor

Bian JabariStephen LangiMerlin MajanoMyra OropezaVictor SolorzanoVanessa TinocoAylin Villegas

Pablo MartinezLauren Newman

Michael Wucher

Bianca Miani

Samantha Toscanelli

Zé MartinhoHannah SinghDanny YanHelen Mylod Yee

Ty GroveJeremy McIntyre

Leonardo QuezadaFavian RenkelRoman SanchezRobert SandstromUriel TorresLeslie VelazquezCarlos Zepeda

Charles Simmons

Brittney WickDerek Vargas

Andrew Tweedy

University of California, Santa CruzNatalie ClarkLeticia Soto

University of California, Los AngelesNicholas PauleyJulia PokornyRebecca Stark

University of RedlandsAlexander Merian

University of San FranciscoCinthia Segovia-Sosa

University of Southern CaliforniaJeremy Smith

University of the PacificRebekah Steiner

Whittier CollegeSofia Duena

Santa Barbara City CollegeGabriel De Los Reyes

Santa Clara UniversityJoselyn Juarez

Santa Monica CollegeCarolina Gastelum

Santa Rosa Junior CollegeMariana Arellano

Skyline CollegeTyler Leary

Stanford UniversitySkye Picker

Tnt AgencyJennifer Gonzalez

University of California, BerkeleyMaddie ChongEli DuganJessica JacoboAshley Killmon

University of California, DavisJulian Bertero

University of California, IrvineAureliano Davila

University of California, MercedKristal Padilla

University of California, San DiegoJudy Pham

University of California, Santa BarbaraChristian CruzEmma Duncan

Special Feature4




Where are they going?

All data based on a survey of 300 graduating seniors.

Boise State UniversityAnnika Galliani

Oregon State UniversityKendall Aozasa

Reed CollegeKarla Velarde

University of OregonMatt BrothertonMichael MuirMikayla Wilkes

University of PortlandKayla Parolari

Bringham Young UniversityAubrey Westerlind






Art Institute of San FranciscoNancy Avila

Biola UnivesityDanielle Meija

Cal Poly San Luis ObispoStephanie FovenyessyJordan BaxterJulia MelmonPaolo Salvoni

Cal Poly PomonaPaige Bonwood

California State University, FullertonAmanda Willett

California State University, ChicoMariana FreyEmma MartinoStephanie Ochoa

Califronia State University, Dominguez HillsAlejandro Castro Pena

California State University, Long BeachMireya DorantesJulie Flores

California State University, Monterey BayJulie Flores

California State University, NorthridgeShelby EscobedoAngel Lopez

California State University, SacramentoRosmeri Ramirez

California State University, San DiegoKayla Beard

California State University, San FranciscoJennifer AquinoBriana ArandaRyanna BaldomeroIrving BeltranMarcelo CadenesViviana GarciaAlex HannanNatalia HardenSilvia Hernandez

California State University, San JoseFrancisco CeballosSammi GembalaCullen KuhlowSelene LopezKatherine Ruiz

California State University, SonomaJaden BriesachSteven FrasierAlicia LozanoMartha Revuelta

Cañada CollegeMilvia AlvaradoXiomara AlvarezLaura Yarely AlvarezJenny AlvarezGabriela AquinoTanya ArevaloPeter ArteagaAshley AtkinsonAlex BastidasDavid Botello

Suzette LopezHector LorenzoNick MaffeiErick MillanSandro MoralesBreanna PalomarezTania PartidaNicole PavisBenjamin PhamDaja Price

Alex HilbertNestor MartinezMorgan MecchiVictor PerezMaria ReyesElisa SolisJuan ValdezWarren Van Velkinburgh

Frances Mylod-VargasRebecca SoundKamron Nafarieh

Marisa SteckCynthia ValenteCynthia Valle

Alejandro ValenciaWillem BurnsAaron JacobsonBryan Young

Juan ReyesKylie RinaldiClayton SilvermanAshley Jacobberger

Jamyl Delgado

Ariel Vega

Mario MoraCarlos Ramos

Quynh Tran

Benjamin BrydonJose CamachoJohn CardarisStephanie DuranPilar GonzalezTina HaddadAnahi HernandezTry Khov

Chapman UniversityAlex BlissAlyssa BlissSami Mast

Claremont McKenna CollegeKevin Castro

College of San MateoSydney AlbinAlyn AmesBeatriz AndradeAlejando Arreola FloresAaron AustinKarla AvilesWilliam BellAlexa BunkerJesus CamachoGustavo ChavezClayton DuvalJennifer EnbomBruin FentonMaria GalvanLaura GonzalezVeronica Gonzalez

Columbia CollegeMaritza Patino

De Anza CollegeDiego Medina

Evergreen UniversityMichael Grieves

Fashion Institute of Design and MerchandisingUbaldo Arredondo

Foothill CollegeVictor AguileraHumberto FelixVanessa TinocoOscar BenaventeBrandon BrumbaughDamon FraizerKatherin GuzmanJairo Hernandez

Lake Tahoe Community CollegeDominique Stone

Loyola Marymount UniversityMaddie Sillivos

Notre Dame De Namur UniversityJessica ForestiNereyda Guzman PradoEmmanuel Lazo

Pacific Union CollegeValerie Macias

Pomona CollegeNia McAllisterAlaina Woo

Saint Mary’s College of CaliforniaLiam Cotter

Sharon JimenezRicky MattusJoselin MerlinGuillermina MichelAnahi Montes VergaraAmanda OntiverosJose PinedaSteve Alexander PradoEduardo RamirezJordan RobinsonDaisy RosalesAlexa TapiaZachary WhitingMaria ZavalaMaria ZamoraJennifer Zaragoza

Michael Taylor

Bian JabariStephen LangiMerlin MajanoMyra OropezaVictor SolorzanoVanessa TinocoAylin Villegas

Pablo MartinezLauren Newman

Michael Wucher

Bianca Miani

Samantha Toscanelli

Zé MartinhoHannah SinghDanny YanHelen Mylod Yee

Ty GroveJeremy McIntyre

Leonardo QuezadaFavian RenkelRoman SanchezRobert SandstromUriel TorresLeslie VelazquezCarlos Zepeda

Charles Simmons

Brittney WickDerek Vargas

Andrew Tweedy

Survey says 4 out of 10 graduates will be attending community college this fall,

and 3 out of 10 graduates will be attending college out of California.

Survey say 4 out of 10 graduates will be attending community college this fall, and 3 out of 10 graduates will be attending college outside of California.

5Special Feature


Valedictorianand Salutatorian

MedalsYou’ve been called a nerd and

a smarty pants since the beginning of hig school. You deserve this medal.

AVIDThe blue and gold scarves demonstrate the determination to go to college of the AVID family. Plus, they keep their necks extra toasty, which is always nice under the

blazing heat of the sun.

BSUThere’s nothing like

honoring your culture with a traditional multicolored kente cloth on this special day.

Flowers, Candy and Money

Not only do they make you smell good, they serve as a snack during the never-ending name reading; not to mention the amount of college memora-

bilia you can buy with your extra two dollars.


IB TasselAll of those late

night homework sessions and crying over your extended

essay will be worth wearing a purple and white tassel, right?


Compiled by Araceli EfigenioGraduation is one of the most

important moments in life, so graduates might as well look good with these

exhilarating acessories.

Graduates dazzle in sashes and tassels

Carnegie Mellon UniversityMegan Bartoshuk

Duquesne UniversityLilly Nelson

The breakdown:53 percent: Merit33 percent: Need6 percent: Sports8 percent: Other

What about work?6 percent: Full Time

75 percent: Part Time19 percent: Not at All

Arizona State UniversityMichael McClodenChandler Womack

Northern Arizona UniversityRosina MacDonaldVladimir Mikhailov

Colorado CollegeSunil Butler

Colorado State UniversitySamantha Leeper

University of Colorado, BoulderKimberly Preston

Brigham Young University, HawaiiTulimi Tuitupou

University of HawaiiGarret Weishaar

North Park universityEvan Foss

Northwestern UniversityHanna Bolaños

Grinell CollegeTristan Knoth

Xavier UniversityEmanie O’Neal

Berklee College of MusicJared Solomon

Boston UniversityCaitlin CastagnolaAndrea Vidal

Northeastern UniversityCarly Hwang

Carleton CollegeJosh Pitkofsky

Washington UniversityWill James

American Musical and Dramatic AcademyJohn Murphy

Fordham UniversitySherry Sanders

Ithaca CollegeGaia Bouchard-Hall

New York UniversityHagop NarkizianAlsace Patrone

Pratt InstituteChloe Borison

Syracuse UniversityConnor Grossman

University of RochesterMadeline Hermann

Duke UniversityMarina Poole

College of WoosterAlexander Gould

Brown UniversityNickie Pucel

University of Rhode IslandClaire Morrison

Brigham Young UniversityAubrey Westerlind


University of VermontViktoria Sjolund





Georgetown UniversityMariah Driver

American UniversityWilliam BakerLogan BillmanKelly Dell

Marquette UniversityJerod Woo

Nørre Gymnasium, Brønshøj, DenmarkLaurits Aabye

Guadalajara State University, Guadalajara, MexicoArmando Sanchez

Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico Daisy Avalos Ramirez

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoIliana Leon

—Compiled by Simon Greenhill and Lily Hartzell

5Special Feature


Valedictorianand Salutatorian

MedalsYou’ve been called a nerd and

a smarty pants since the beginning of hig school. You deserve this medal.

AVIDThe blue and gold scarfs demonstrate the determination to go to college of the AVID family. Plus, they keep their necks extra toasty, which is always nice under the

blazing heat of the sun.

BSUThere’s nothing like

honoring your culture with a traditional multicolored kente cloth on this special day.

Flowers, Candy and Money

Not only do they make you smell good, they serve as a snack during the never-ending name reading; not to mention the amount of college memora-

bilia you can buy with your extra two dollars.


IB TasselAll of those late

night homework sessions and crying over your extended

essay will be worth wearing a purple and white tassel, right?


Compiled by Araceli EfigenioGraduation is one of the most

important moments in life, so graduates might as well look good with these

exhilirating acessories.

Graduates dazzle in sashes and tassels

Carnegie Mellon UniversityMegan Bartoshuk

Duquesne UniversityLilly Nelson

$2,605,845

The breakdown:

53 percenT: MeriT

33 percenT: need

6 percenT: SporTS

8 percenT: oTher

whaT abouT work?

6 percenT: Full TiMe

75 percenT: parT TiMe

19 percenT: noT aT all

Arizona State UniversityMichael McClodenChandler Womack

Northern Arizona UniversityRosina MacDonaldVladimir Mikhailov

Colorado CollegeSunil Butler

Colorado State UniversitySamantha Leeper

University of Colorado, BoulderKimberly Preston

Bringham Young University, HawaiiTulimi Tuitupou

University of HawaiiGarret Weishaar

North Park universityEvan Foss

Northwestern UniversityHanna Bolaños

Grinell CollegeTristan Knoth

Xavier UniversityEmanie O’Neal

Berklee College of MusicJared Solomon

Boston UniversityCaitlin CastagnolaAndrea Vidal

Northeastern UniversityCarly Hwang

Carleton CollegeJosh Pitkofsky

Washington UniversityWill James

American Musical and Dramatic AcademyJohn Murphy

Fordham UniversitySherry Sanders

Ithaca CollegeGaia Bouchard-Hall

New York UniversityHagop NarkizianAlsace Patrone

Pratt InstituteChloe Borison

Syracuse UniversityConnor Grossman

University of RochesterMadeline Hermann

Duke UniversityMarina Poole

College of WoosterAlexander Gould

Brown UniversityNickie Pucel

University of Rhode IslandClaire Morrison

Bringham Young UniversityAubrey Westerlind


University of VermontViktoria Sjolund





Georgetown UniversityMariah Driver

American UniversityWilliam BakerLogan BillmanKelly Dell

Marquette UniversityJerod Woo

Nørre Gymnasium, Brønshøj, DenmarkLaurits Aabye

Guadalajara State University, Guadalajara, MexicoArmando Sanchez

Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico Daisy Avalos Ramirez

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoIliana Leon

—Compiled by Simon Greenhill and Lily Hartzell

ToTal ScholarShip Money graduaTeS are receiving To Finance Their educaTionSTotal scholarship money graduates are receiving to finance their educations

Sequoia High School

Raven Report2012-2013

Editor in Chief Hanna BolañosOnline Editor Caroline Lempert Sports Editor Laurel Dearborn

Feature Editors Lily Hartzell Araceli Efigenio News Editor Anna Dagum

Page Editors Erick Castro Jarrett Crowell Ty Dewes

Staff Reporters Angie Calderón Becca Melmon Brianna Escobedo Cam Rebosio Carlos Garcia Carmen Vescia

Claire Bugos Dalia Jude Glenn Billman Jenna Paliughi Kyle Shea Lorna Wake Matvari Maharaj

Paul Kiraly Sabrina Villanueva-Avalos Simon Greenhill

Adviser Kim Vinh

6 Opinion

and pursuing your interests is also facilitated for you. Teresa Ignaitis and the counselors have information about sum-mer programs and paid or un-paid internships at a variety of places including Kaiser Perma-nente and Boys & Girls Club and for organizations such as the Jerry Hill campaign.

Choosing the alternative route of looking for work or volunteering will also broaden your experiences before col-lege. You do not have to wait until after you graduate to earn your own money, get involved in your community or pursue what you enjoy. Acting now will help you focus your inter-ests, become even more inde-pendent and display initiative, which are all wonderful results of this and which are noted by college come application time.

Now, I’m not saying that you need to save lives, build orphanages, spend 30 hours a day with a charity or work 17 jobs.

It doesn’t matter how much you do or where, as long as you go out and actually do some-thing worthwhile with your summer, it’ll be enough.

Staff EditorialMake summer productive

With summer approach-ing, people always seem to be asking questions like “What can I do to entertain myself ?” or “How many hours can I re-ally sleep?”

While it might appear im-portant to escape school and its accompanying stress at the end of the year, keep in mind that enriching yourself after high school and giving back to the community is equally as important as grades or test scores and will do more for your own being than home-work or worksheets do.

Finding volunteer and work opportunities is easier than it appears, thanks to the magical powers of the Inter-net and on-campus resources. Plenty of schools, businesses and organizations are looking for capable individuals and a quick Google search will bring up local results for these plac-es. Currently, Panda Express, Johnny Rockets, Cinemark Theaters and other local busi-nesses are hiring, and many other stores will gladly hand over a job application if you ask nicely.

Applying for internships After a highly successful year for the Raven Report, the Bolaños Regime is coming to an end.

Come graduation, I will pass my journalism wisdom on to the next ruler of room 300—I mean, the next Editor-in-Chief.

Journalism is the only class I’ve taken in which the subject matter is the world. My homework is to investigate and observe. My responsibility is to shed light, inform and criticize. Journalism con-stantly challenges me and the work the Raven Report does is always impactful.

Contrary to popular belief and numerous internet rumors, I don’t produce an incredible issue of the paper each month by myself. I’ve been blessed with an amazing staff of editors and reporters, all of whom have things to contribute, whether it be InDesign prowess, interview fortitude or swag to the max. They fully accept my snarkiness and skepticism, and only judge me occasionally when I re-write everything on the board. Messy handwriting bothers me. I’m going to miss my journo family, but I know they will keep striving for excellence even without the presence of my OCD.

So, here we are at the end of my farewell. Please try to refrain from sobbing. Room 300 is my sec-ond home, but it’s time for me to leave Cali for the Illinois arctic. I have only the utmost confidence that the Raven Report will continue to shine as a beacon of Sequoia pride and overall jouralistic awesomeness.

All my love, stay golden, Sequoia.

Editor’s Note

No one was there to stop the countless shootings, bombings, and tragedies making headlines every day. No caped crusaders swooped in and grabbed the gun, stopped the fighting, or helped the victims. Our mod-ern world is part carnage, part aftermath, and empty of super heroes to save the day, everyday.

All the great superheroes that like Batman and Ironman don’t exist in our world. They

By CARLOS GARCIA and KYLE SHEAStaff Reporters

No powers, no problem:how to be a modern day hero

are works of fiction, yet us ev-eryday humans can be heroes.

People are bullied all over the workd with no one there to stop it. When most people see bullying or someone get-ting hurt, they just watch and gaze upon what’s happening.

People feel left out, afraid, and sad everywhere. All it takes to be their hero is a smile, a hug, or kind words.

You may not be super strong or have a suit that shoots lasers, but you have control of your actions with both the ability and responsi-

bility to use them. We are not super beings from

another planet, but we can be super in our own ways. You can be a hero not by just protecting your fellow man, but also help-ing your community. Helping the environment, reading to kids, or even giving money to the homeless can make you a hero in a special way.

You can strive to be a hero, even momentarily. We can help countless lives if we take ac-tion. Like a wise man said once, “be the hero that your city de-serves.”

To the Parents of:Sequoia High School1201 Brewster AvenueRedwood City, CA 94061

0526052012-2013 School Year Report Card Student ID#

Counselor(s)Erick Castro and Matvari Maharaj

Dances: Prom and winter formal are off-campus, but the vibes haven’t improved with this.

BathroomsBathrooms quality is plummeting. The girls have successfully clogged the six sinks in the main building bathrooms, thanks. Guys, you need some target practice.

Having a zero period: More students have zero periods this year. Late start at 7:30, anyone? No.

Dress code enforcement consistency: We’d like to stop hearing our administration use the word “cheeks”

Teacher/tutor availability: All of the teachers and tutors at Sequoia deserve a round of applause. Keep on doing what you’re do-ing.

School appearance: Unlike the prison-esque appearance of Carlmont, M-A and Woodside, Sequoia actually resembles a high school campus.

New building and portables: The new building and portables have added more classrooms to Sequoia and improved the quality of many students’ learning. Thanks FDR!

School spirit: Problems with spirit week scheduling have not de-terred some students from representing Sequoia with their purple gear.

Parking: Parking is still somewhat of an all-out brawl. Friends betray friends and enemies ruin you. The Hunger Games have never been so relevant.

Rallies: It’s great to see teacher participation in the rally, but bring the performances back; we need to be entertained. Throw water balloons in the crowd, release a lion or the Kraken, have sumo wres-tling. Do something.

GPA:

Be Sequoia’s hero, with or without a cape. Scratch that. Preferably with a cape.

B

A

A

C

C

A

C

C

B

A

Xoxo, Hanna

Feature 7

Nickie Pucel: School / Major: Brown / Computer Science or “something math-y.”Best known for: “I’m known for my good looks and modesty.” Funniest memory from class: “In band we clucked our concert pieces and that was probably the hardest I’ve ever laughed in class. Everyone legit was like ‘cluck cluck cluck, cluck cluck.” Favorite memory: “It was a quad [basketball] game. Basically we were down by one with four seconds left. I inbounded the ball to this kid, he was at the freethrow line, and he dribbled up to half court and launched it up. And it [was]sailing, and he air-balled, but Jaden saw it and jumped up, caught it, and threw it in.”Changed since freshman year: “I’ve probably become more outgoing.”

Tristan Knoth:

School / Major: Grinnell College / PhysicsNickname: “A newspaper writer once compared me to Poseidon;

it was probably the greatest moment of my life.”Funniest memory from class: “TOK is a gold mine of

hilarity from Kispersky.”Embarrassing moment: “At a swim meet at Aragon I forgot to tie my speedo before I dove in and it was around my knees. It was pretty cool.”

Most excited for college: “Living in Iowa! Just kidding. I would say just general independence and going elsewhere. Corn, I love corn.”

Changed since freshman year: “[I have] more facial hair, unlike Zé.”

Jeremy Smith:School / Major: USC / Linguistics and Public PolicyNickname: DukeFunniest memory from class: “Definitely just conversations in TOK.”Favorite memory: “Senior guys’ dance was really fun.” Embarrassing moment: “Freshman year, when I was running for vice president, my legs could not stop shaking. I don’t think people could see it, but the ASB president and vice president were behind me, and they were laughing at me.”Most excited for college: “I’m just excited for the professors, because here the teachers are great, but the professors [at USC] are literally one of the best in the field. Having some-one who’s actually in that field talk is interesting.”Changed since freshman year: “Our voices. Intelligence. Global view. Street smarts.”

Zé Martinho:School / Major: UC Berkeley / Electrical Engineering

Best known for: “I’m known for being better than Nickie. I’m [also] known for being most likely to succeed. Most people have bets on

me and Nickie, and I obviously won the bets.”Funniest memory from class: “Anything Ton-Tho says is always funny. My heart

melts every time [he] speaks, I just fall in love.”Favorite memory: “Doing the campaign speeches for

class president taught me a lot.” Embarrassing moment: “I make too many non-word sounds during classes like ‘hmmm’ and ‘ahhh” [while] class is completely quiet.”

Photo courtesy of Harrison Smith

BeFOUR and after: This year’s four valedictorians, Nickie, Zé, Tristan and Jeremy, have been good friends through taking challenging courses and juggling being president, playing sports, doing community service and trying to maintain a social life. Here, get to know your Class of 2013 valedictorians better.

The age-old, daunting question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” starts to bear more meaning as you grow older, as life af-ter high school and college becomes the near future.

Sequoia High School alumnus Eric Dane, who first came here in 1987, always knew he loved act-ing, but getting from Carrington Hall to Hollywood was easi-er said than done.

He moved to Los Angeles after high school where he started out acting as an extra and had many small roles in shows such as Saved by the Bell before his break-out role as Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan in ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. During his pursuit of fame, he tried to steer clear of a result-oriented mindset but also was not a fan of backup plans.

“You do what is directly in front of you,” Dane said. “It’s difficult to see how you’re gonna get somewhere if you are

Good things come to those who graduatejust looking at the horizon.”

Dane regrets not going to college, though focusing in the classroom and on schoolwork did not come easily. He also credits high school as the time where he learned a lot about how life works and les-

sons that helped him as he faced the real world head-on.

“I was pointed in the direction but not given a blueprint,” Dane said. “I really re-spect the kind of kids who can buckle down and do what they need to do in high school to get

where they want to go.”Dane has run into a lot of young adults

who went to medical school because of TV dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy. Find-ing something that interests you could be as easy as sitting on your couch watching television, and the next step is finding the passion to follow through with it.

Dane’s junior year school photo, ‘89

We always hear news of outstanding athletes committing to top universities. Some may become the pitcher for the Giants or a sensation on ESPN. What if your classmate won the Heisman trophy? Gary Beban, class of 1964, turned out to be that guy.

When he came to Sequoia, Beban was a scrawny f r e s h m a n , worried that he wouldn’t be big enough to play football. In his sopho-more year, he jumped in and joined the frosh-soph team. When he became part of the varsity squad in his junior year, the team was holding onto one of the longest winning streaks in the nation of 29 wins.

“There were lots of people in the stands that had never seen the football team lose, or couldn’t remember the last time it did

Beban, class of ‘64, received the Heisman award in ‘67

lose... we [took] it another five games be-fore we lost to Carlmont,” said Beban.

Beban also played on the baseball and basketball teams all four years, but knew he could get a scholarship for football, so he made the hard decision between UCLA and Cal.

“I think most of us thought about go-ing to college, graduating and getting a degree, and going off into real life. If you happen to be good enough to get drafted,

or to play pro ball, that was a bonus in life.”

Beban was recruit-ed and sat with the Washington Redskins for three seasons.

“I never antici-pated that I would be a professional athlete at that level. I’m not sure that anybody can plan on that ... because there are very, very few that ever get a chance to really do that, re-gardless of how good

you might be in high school, or even on the college level.”

From Carrington Hall to Hollywood

—By DALIA JUDEStaff Reporter

Heisman recipient springs from Terremere

—By CLAIRE BUGOSStaff Reporter

Freshman photos courtesy of Eileen Bray

—Compiled by Ty Dewes and Lily Hartzell

Sports8

The tireless hours of gasping for breath, stretching for the wall, and furiously kicking have resulted in 18 swimmers qualifying for CCS, including a freshman for breaking the school record for the girls 100 fly.

Freshman Michael Ma, juniors Mark Ledbetter and George Arch-bold and senior Tristan Knoth, are the only boys out of the 18 swim-mers who qualified.

“It was very relieving to get to CCS because we’ve been so close and we’ve been trying and trying and we made it,” said junior Mark Ledbetter, who swam breastroke for the boys 200 medley relay team this year.

Ledbetter attributes most of the relay team’s success to freshman Michael Ma, a new addition to the team.

“Michael was the difference this season. We’ve never had a backstro-

Swimming dives into CCSBy JARRETT CROWELLPage Editor

ker before and he is phenomenal. He took that spot and carried our team,” Ledbetter said.

In addition to the boys 200 med-ley relay members, Freshman stand-out Abby Hartzell broke the school record for the 100 butterfly and qualified for three individual events at CCS. Fellow freshman Alison Yanacek also qualified for the 200 free.

This being their first year on the swim team, both Hartzell and Yanacek lean strongly on the sup-port of their teammates and the up-perclassmen.

“Seniors are always coming up to me and encouraging me and giving me hugs and that just makes me so happy. I am talented and the seniors are really accepting,” Hartzell said.

Hartzell has been part of a club swim team since she was young, and is enjoying the newfound sense of collaboration on the high school swim team.

“It’s so much fun, I like it bet-ter than club. Your whole team is

focused on swimming and every-one has to do well in order for the whole team to do well. You’re so pumped up to beat the other team,” Hartzell said.

The varsity girls team finished in third place in the PAL Bay divi-sion just behind Menlo-Atherton and Burlingame.

Much of the team’s success can be accredited to senior Lilly Nelson who was named the PAL individual champion for the 100 breaststroke.

She achieved PAL all-league honors and also qualifed for two individual events at CCS. She will attend Duquesne University and swim Division 1 for the school.

The team performed well over-all, with the girls 200 free relay finishing 13th, and Lilly Nelson finishing 9th for the 100 breast-stroke.

It was her last race as a Chero-kee and a good way to conclude another successful season for the team.

Nick PauleyUCLA

“I love [dance] because of the way it makes me feel. Being

onstage is awesome.”

Alaina WooPomona College“I knew Pomona was a place I wanted to be academically and being able to stay in-volved athletically makes it exponentially better.”

Lilly NelsonDuquesne University

“The bigger part of swimming is swimming for your team. It’s

so great to always have your team behind you.”

Megan BartoshukCarnegie Mellon University

“Soccer is one of the lowest scoring sports, so the feeling of scoring is just the best.”

Photo by Alsace Patrone

Photo by Kirk Eppler—Compiled by Becca Melmon

and Brianna Escobedo, Staff Reporters

Passion for sports propels seniors to collegeUsing their athletic abilities to pursue their passions, these seniors were accepted to their dream schools.

Photo by Martin Bittner

Photo by Robin Nelson

Photo by Robin Nelson

Freshman Abby Hartzell broke the school record for the 100 fly and qualified for three events

raven report issue 8 2012-2013

Documents

private school

senior skye picker

high striker

international festival

woodside loss

gap year

freshman year

sequoia clubs