Downbeat, the upper school’s show choir group directed by teachers Jennifer Sandusky and Laura Lang-Ree, competed this past weekend in the quarterfinals of the International Competition of High School A Capella, placing fourth in ICHSA’s West region. Samvita Gautham, grade 12, was awarded for Best Student Choreography for Downbeat’s performance of No Doubt’s “Just a Girl.” Downbeat competed against 200 other schools to reach this stage of the annual competition. Held by Varsity Vocals, the ICHSA and its collegiate-level counterpart attract thousands of singers every year. The competitions were made famous by the “Pitch Perfect” series of films, in which the collegiate-level competition is prominently featured.
Pieces by senior Claire Kampmeier (left) and junior Maya Cheshire (right) were selected to be featured in the 2023 ArtNow exhibit hosted by New Museum Los Gatos. This annual exhibit features pieces by Bay Area high school students, giving them the opportunity to gain real-world experience by featuring their work in a juried exhibition. The theme of this year’s exhibition is “Unarmed Truth,” showcasing original pieces that “reveal a personal or universal truth.” The exhibit will be on display at New Museum Los Gatos from March 13 to June 25.
Recently, CareerConnect hosted a mock interview event designed to help individuals improve their interviewing skills by providing a simulated interview experience. During the event, participants were paired up with business professionals who were the interviewers. The interviewer asked a series of common interview questions, and the interviewee responded as they would in a real interview. After each interview, the mentor provided feedback to the student on what they did well and what they could improve upon. The event also included tips for successful interviews, such as how to prepare for an interview, how to answer common interview questions and how to make a positive impression.
“I think this event helped me get a sense of how to improve my answers to typical interview questions, as well as grasp what the typical process looks like,” said Lucas Chen, grade 9. “This way, I have a better understanding when I’m actually being interviewed and will perform better.”
Interviewers and interviewees were both engaged in the process, making it a beneficial experience for all students. “I really enjoyed this experience, passing down tips and my knowledge down to students,” said interviewer Grace Wu. “It also gave me a sense of what kids are up to these days, and I had lots of fun listening and learning about each students unique aspirations and goals”.
Overall, the goal of the mock interview club event is to provide participants with a safe and supportive environment in which they can practice and improve their interviewing skills, ultimately increasing their chances of success in future job interviews.
Competitive fencer Ishani Sood, grade 11, won the bronze medal last month at the USA Fencing Junior Olympics in Denver. She was one of 199 competitors in the Women’s Cadet Foil Fencing category. Sood had a busy and successful season leading up to last month’s event, qualifying for the U.S. Cadet team and representing the United States in four events in Europe. She placed fifth at the Cadet World Cup in Budapest, Hungary, and won bronze at the Cadet World Cup in Germany, which featured 240 participants from more than 20 countries.
Last week, Harker students attended a guest lecture by cardiologist Shalini Bhambani ’02, who provided insight into her profession with a series of case studies of patients she had helped.
In one case study, a patient required an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device that monitors the heart for irregular heartbeats and delivers an electric shock to restore a normal rhythm. Another case study involved a patient suffering from endocarditis due to a staph infection, and needed a heart valve replaced. She described two types of synthetic valves and their respective pros and cons. Bioprosthetic valves use bovine, porcine or equine biological material that do not form clots but need to be replaced every 10 to 15 years, while mechanical valves made from titanium and carbon can last for the rest of the patient’s life but are prone to forming clots.
Yesterday, the Journalism Education Association awarded Harker’s journalism programs its First Amendment Press Freedom Award. Harker was one of just 16 high schools nationwide to receive the award, which is given annually to high schools that uphold First Amendment rights for students and teachers through student-run media. Awardees are chosen by representatives from the JEA, National Scholastic Press Association and Scroll International Honorary Society. Harker received the award for the first time last year.
“The three-month-long application process incorporated two rounds and required statements from publication advisers, student editors and administration,” said journalism director Whitney Huang. “We believe that this award validates Harker Journalism’s commitment to civic engagement hand-in-hand with the embodiment of Harker’s mission statement.”
All of the schools that received the award will be recognized at the Spring JEA/NSPA High School Journalism Convention, which will take place April 20 in San Francisco.
Last month, Harker middle and upper school students received 256 regional awards in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, comprising 107 awards for art and 149 for literature. All of Harker’s 30 Gold Key winners are eligible for national awards, which will be announced in March. A national ceremony to honor all of this year’s national award winners will take place in June.
The full list of winners (some named multiple times to denote the number of awards they received) is as follows:
Art
Gold Key
Iris Cai, grade 10
Iris Fu, grade 11
Ramit Goyal, grade 11
Angelina Hu, grade 11
Siddhi Jain, grade 11
Raeanne Li, grade 8
Yueyao Li, grade 10
Sydney Ling, grade 11
Sophia Liu, grade 10
Ashley Mo, grade 9
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12
Teresa Song, grade 7
Claire Su, grade 11
Alena Suleiman, grade 11
Cynthia Wang, grade 11
Benjamin Xia, grade 9
Austina Xu, grade 12
Connie Xu, grade 9
Selina Xu, grade 11
Alison Yang, grade 10
Albert Yao, grade 9
Linda Zeng, grade 9
Elizabeth Zhang, grade 8
Silver Key
Iris Cai, grade 10
Jillian Cheng, grade 8
Laurel Davies, grade 11
Iris Fu, grade 11
Ariana Goetting, grade 11
Ramit Goyal, grade 11
Joy Hu, grade 9
Trisha Iyer, grade 11
Siddhi Jain, grade 11
Ally Lee, grade 12
Catherine Li, grade 11
Colin Li, grade 8
Raeanne Li, grade 8
Yueyao Li, grade 10
Sydney Ling, grade 11
Desiree Luo, grade 11
Ashley Mo, grade 9
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12
Julie Shi, grade 11
Teresa Song, grade 7
Alena Suleiman, grade 11
Brittany Tsui, grade 11
Cynthia Wang, grade 11
Michelle Wei, grade 11
Isabella Wu, grade 7
Vivian Wu, grade 8
Austina Xu, grade 12
Celina Xu, grade 9
Selina Xu, grade 11
Alison Yang, grade 10
Audrey Yang, grade 9
Albert Yao, grade 9
Linda Zeng, grade 9
Evan Zhang, grade 9
Sophia Zhu, grade 10
Honorable Mention
Ananya Bammi, grade 12
Iris Cai, grade 10
Shareen Chahal, grade 11
Jessica Chen, grade 8
Karina Chen, grade 12
Nanxi (Nancy) Chen, grade 8
Keren Eisenberg, grade 10
Mirabelle Feng, grade 10
Iris Fu, grade 11
Ariana Goetting, grade 11
Ramit Goyal, grade 11
Angelina Hu, grade 11
Trisha Iyer, grade 11
Siddhi Jain, grade 11
Ally Lee, grade 12
Catherine Li, grade 11
Emma Li, grade 9
Raeanne Li, grade 8
Yueyao Li, grade 10
Helena Liang, grade 8
Sydney Ling, grade 11
Sophia Liu, grade 10
Claire Luo, grade 11
Desiree Luo, grade 11
Ashley Mo, grade 9
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12
Smrithi Sambamurthy, grade 12
Julie Shi, grade 11
Teresa Song, grade 7
Claire Su, grade 11
Alena Suleiman, grade 11
Kurtis Tong, grade 12
Cynthia Wang, grade 11
Michelle Wei, grade 11
Isabella Wu, grade 7
Vivian Wu, grade 8
Austina Xu, grade 12
Celina Xu, grade 9
Connie Xu, grade 9
Olivia Xu, grade 11
Selina Xu, grade 11
Alison Yang, grade 10
Cecilia Yang, grade 11
Chloee Yang, grade 9
Albert Yao, grade 9
Linda Zeng, grade 9
Elizabeth Zhang, grade 8
Katelyn Zhao, grade 11
Sophia Zhu, grade 10
Literature
Gold Key
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Emma Gao, grade 11, Critical Essay
Helen Gu, grade 9, Poetry
Helen Gu, grade 9, Poetry
Helen Gu, grade 9, Poetry
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Ashley Mo, grade 9, Poetry
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Writing Portfolio
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Poetry
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Writing Portfolio
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Poetry
Ananya Pradhan, grade 9, Poetry
Jessica Wang, grade 10, Flash Fiction
Austina Xu, grade 12, Poetry
Alison Yang, grade 10, Poetry
Albert Yao, grade 9, Journalism
Linda Zeng, grade 9, Personal Essay & Memoir
Linda Zeng, grade 9, Short Story
Ariel Zhang, grade 9, Poetry
Ellie Zhou, grade 8, Short Story
Silver Key
Tyler Beede, grade 12, Short Story
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Felix Chen, grade 10, Flash Fiction
Jillian Cheng, grade 8, Short Story
Emma Gao, grade 11, Journalism
Helen Gu, grade 9, Short Story
Helen Gu, grade 9, Poetry
Helen Gu, grade 9, Poetry
Joy Hu, grade 9, Critical Essay
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Humor
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Short Story
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Journalism
Eden Kelly, grade 9, Critical Essay
Catherine Li, grade 11, Critical Essay
Catherine Li, grade 11, Critical Essay
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Poetry
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Poetry
Desiree Luo, grade 11, Journalism
Anaya Mandal, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Katerina Matta, grade 10, Critical Essay
Edis Mesic, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Poetry
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Poetry
Ananya Pradhan, grade 9, Personal Essay & Memoir
Ameera Ramzan, grade 8, Critical Essay
Ameera Ramzan, grade 8, Critical Essay
Ashley Ruan, grade 12, Short Story
Tanisha Singh, grade 11, Humor
Kairui Sun, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Cynthia Wang, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Jessica Wang, grade 10, Flash Fiction
Jessica Wang, grade 10, Poetry
Selina Wang, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Selina Wang, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Michelle Wei, grade 11, Critical Essay
Austina Xu, grade 12, Critical Essay
Selina Xu, grade 11, Poetry
Alison Yang, grade 10, Personal Essay & Memoir
Tiantong Yang, grade 9, Short Story
Albert Yao, grade 9, Critical Essay
Medha Yarlagadda, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Ella Yee, grade 11, Critical Essay
Linda Zeng, grade 9, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Ariel Zhang, grade 9, Poetry
Evan Zhang, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Honorable Mention
Varun Bhupathi, grade 10, Critical Essay
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Iris Cai, grade 10, Poetry
Ainslie Chen, grade 10, Flash Fiction
Varun Fuloria, grade 11, Critical Essay
Varun Fuloria, grade 11, Critical Essay
Emma Gao, grade 11, Critical Essay
Emma Gao, grade 11, Critical Essay
Cyrus Ghane, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Ariana Goetting, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Ramit Goyal, grade 11, Critical Essay
Helen Gu, grade 9, Poetry
Shayla He, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Critical Essay
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Humor
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Trisha Iyer, grade 11, Poetry
Siddhi Jain, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
David Jang, grade 11, Journalism
Ally Lee, grade 12, Flash Fiction
Catherine Li, grade 11, Critical Essay
Catherine Li, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Poetry
Lindsay Li, grade 9, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Raeanne Li, grade 8, Poetry
Raeanne Li, grade 8, Flash Fiction
Raeanne Li, grade 8, Poetry
Jingjing Liang, grade 9, Flash Fiction
Daniel Lin, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Poetry
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Critical Essay
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Critical Essay
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Critical Essay
Sydney Ling, grade 11, Poetry
Claire Luo, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Spencer Mak, grade 11, Personal Essay & Memoir
Katerina Matta, grade 10, Poetry
Katerina Matta, grade 10, Journalism
Katerina Matta, grade 10, Critical Essay
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Poetry
Sarah Fathima Mohammed, grade 12, Personal Essay & Memoir
On Feb. 11, Harker students Jeremy Ko, Ethan Liu, Jason Shim, Rohan Bhowmik and Arnav Swaroop took second place at the U.S. Department of Energy Regional Science Bowl, held at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University. The team was coached by upper school chemistry teacher Mala Raghavan.
Although the team didn’t win, it was victorious over defending national champions Lynbrook High School, which Harker chemistry teacher Robbie Korin called a “major accomplishment.”
On Wednesday, junior Trisha Iyer was named a finalist in The New York Times Student Review Contest, receiving an honorable mention for her review of an exhibit at the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco. In this annual competition, teenagers review creative works in any discipline covered by The Times.
Iyer’s piece analyzed the exhibit featuring the works of Chinese Fashion designer Guo Pei. “When I was deciding how to fill my days last summer, visiting the exhibit honoring Guo Pei at the Legion of Honor museum was a no-brainer,” she said. “Of course, I’ve watched runway shows on YouTube and admired the couture whipped up every season from afar, but this exhibit was my first time up close and personal with anything high fashion.”
The sight of Guo’s work juxtaposed with the other works featured at the museum was a major source of inspiration, and she felt compelled to write about her experience. “Seeing Guo Pei’s designs in real life, placed next to the museum’s oldest paintings, prompted a shift in my thinking: outfits like these weren’t just clothes, but fully-realized, embroidered, wearable works of art,” she recalled. “I was so in awe that I had to write down my impressions about the exhibit once I got home.”
Iyer later heard about The Times contest and “chose to dust off this piece and submit it because I felt proud and confident about my ability to share my enthusiasm for this exhibit with readers. It’s a lovely surprise to know that others enjoy reading this review as much as I enjoyed writing it.”
On Feb. 4, Harker’s Student Diversity Coalition organized the Student Diversity Leadership Gathering, facilitated by Rodney Glasgow and Priyanka Rupani. Students from more than 30 Bay Area schools attended the gathering, which included group discussions, activities and keynote speeches on topics relating to diversity and inclusion at independent schools. Head to Harker Aquila to see Harker student journalists’ full coverage of the event.