![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
News briefs: National Merit, biscuits and NSPA Photo Exchange
Head of Upper School Butch Keller prepares a biscuit for students after school meeting last week, launching an initiative.
March 5, 2020
62 Harker seniors named National Merit Scholarship finalists
62 seniors were named National Merit Scholarship finalists. Students entered the contest by taking the PSAT/NMSQT® in October 2018 and received their scores in mid-December of the same year.
Those who met the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s program requirements were named as semifinalists last September. The finalists were selected after an application process that consisted of an essay and transcript submission.
“It’s nice to have the opportunity to participate in something that’s country-wide and to be recognized for something universal,” senior Jeffrey Fung, a finalist, said.
Student council cooks up biscuits and new sandwich station
Head of School Butch Keller dons his apron in a collaboration to create Carley’s Cafe, a food truck. The truck opens during office hours after each school meeting and features three types of biscuits: a ham, egg and cheese biscuit; an egg and cheese biscuit; and ‘The Eagle,’ a honey butter biscuit.
A soy butter, jelly and bread station was opened in Manzanita as well for students to make and eat after school.
NSPA launches Campaign 2020 Photo Exchange
The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) launched their Campaign 2020 Photo Exchange, a database of student-produced photos of the 2020 national candidates and their campaigns, making them available free of charge to student journalists whose school is a member of NSPA.
Harker Journalism adviser Ellen Austin, along with six other high school and collegiate journalism advisers, helped lead the initiative last summer and fall.
Since launching the archive, student journalists from Harker and from programs across the nation have populated the archive with nearly 800 photos as of Feb. 27.
