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The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

Juniors Mahi Kolla, Phil Han and Sid Dudyala pose with awards after the conference. The conference took place at Orlando, Florida.

Harker DECA team garners awards at annual ICDC competition

by Eric Fang, News Editor May 4, 2019

Qualifying DECA members competed in Orlando, Florida from April 27 to 30 for the organization’s annual International Career Development Conference (ICDC), which hosted over 18,000 other students worldwide....

Conductor Dr. David Hart leads the upper school orchestra in a performance of Stravinsky's "The Firebird Suite" during tonight's concert, which was the last orchestra performance of the school year.

Upper school orchestra celebrates seniors in annual spring concert

by Kathy Fang, Managing Editor May 3, 2019

Wrapping up a year of concerts and performances, the upper school orchestra played their final concert of the school year in the Patil Theater tonight, honoring senior musicians in an expansive collection...

"I think of myself as caring about being feminist. It’s not necessary saying ‘hey, I’m feminist!’ or going to all those feminist rallies. I just never want anyone to think that I can’t do something just because I’m a girl, or that I’m worse than someone just because they’re a guy, or that guys are more capable. Making it clear to everyone that I’m not lesser, or no girl is just because they are a girl, is really important to me," Ria Gupta (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Unconventional resilience

by Devanshi Mehta, TALON Editor-in-Chief May 3, 2019

As the captain of the varsity girls soccer team and a softball enthusiast, it’s no secret that Ria Gupta (12) thrives and grows in athletic settings. “I absolutely love soccer,” Ria said. “Being...

Teresa Cai (9) plays the guitar during the annual Quadchella. Both students and faculty performed at the event.

Second Quadchella of the year features student and faculty performers

by Nicole Tian, Reporter May 2, 2019

This year’s second Quadchella, organized by student council, was held in the quad during long lunch today and featured performers from all grades as well as from faculty. The goal of this event is to...

A yellow kuda seahorse swims vertically. Their ability to swim is not as developed as other fish, so seahorses rely on camouflage as a defense technique.

Seahorse tank emphasizes importance of conservation

by Nicole Tian, Reporter May 2, 2019

With their mottled tails curled around a vibrant green and yellow sea fan, two 3-inch seahorses with beige speckles peek out from behind the veins of artificial coral. The newest additions to the tank...

"In my experiences, not just in the classroom, but also teaching other students, I've learned that you can learn a lot of things like empathy, and that's helped me build stronger relationships with people, including my teachers, because when I teach my students they know that they're learning from someone who's been through it before. When I tell them about my personal experiences, I know that that can be really helpful," Sumantra Banerjee (12) said.

Humans of Harker: To teach is to learn

by Saurav Tewari, Reporter May 2, 2019

Poised and ready, Sumantra Banerjee (12) executes multiple taekwondo moves with a focused look in his eyes. His movements come off as lasers, unpredictable yet laser-focused on the target. Sumantra’s...

All upper school choral performers finished last Friday's concert with a closing song, Carly Simon's "Let the River Run." The concert, which was the ensembles' senior night, honored senior vocalists after this final performance.

Upper school vocal ensembles celebrate nature in eco-music choral concert

by Alysa Suleiman, Reporter May 2, 2019

Colorful lights illuminate the wide stage as a flood of students briskly step to their places on the multi-leveled risers. With a precise flick of her hand, Susan Nace, upper school vocal teacher and director...

"I feel like [my art] sort of reflects me in that it’s really disparate in what it's about. There’s a wide spectrum of things that I enjoy working on. I feel like that sort of reflects me in that I’m not just artsy, edgy, whatever, but I’m also not just carefree and humorous. I have a little bit of both, and so does my art," Karan Gupta (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Evolution

by Delaney Logue, TALON Photo Editor April 30, 2019

On a cool February afternoon, Karan Gupta (12) sits in a relatively quiet corner of Manzanita. His fingers drum against the table, lips upturned in a thoughtful smile. He runs his fingers through his slightly-overgrown,...

Junior Delaney Logue dances with friends at prom on Saturday. Prom was held at the Silicon Valley Capitol Club in downtown San Jose.

Juniors and seniors make memories at “Frozen in Time” themed prom

by Irina Malyugina and Kathy Fang April 29, 2019

Seventeen floors above the lights of downtown San Jose, upper school students spent the night of April 27th "frozen in time" at this year's prom, hosted in the Silicon Valley Capitol Club from 7:30 p.m....

“I want everyone to have their own memory of me. I feel that I can’t even characterize myself in one way. But because there are so many things that I participate in, I want everyone to have their own idea and reflection on what I meant to them," Cameron Zell (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The octopi within

by Julia Amick and Kathy Fang April 29, 2019

Cameron Zell’s hand reaches up towards her ear and fidgets with her earring. The light catches the stud as she spins it around. A timid smile forms on her face, and she lets out a small laugh. Despite...

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke addresses a crowd of supporters and voters at a town hall event in San Francisco this afternoon. O'Rourke announced his bid for the presidency on March 14 and made his first stop in the Bay Area today.

Starting from the bottom: Beto O’Rourke builds momentum at town hall in San Francisco

by Kathy Fang and Eric Fang April 28, 2019

Presidential candidate and Democratic rising star Beto O’Rourke traveled to the Bay Area to host a town hall at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco this afternoon. Introduced by Rep....

“The most effective thing for me to be doing is probably just inspiring people. It's a very small chance that I'd be able to do something to change the world, so maybe I'll help that if I inspire a thousand different people," Ryan Adolf (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Sense and serenity

by Michael Eng, Reporter April 28, 2019

Emblazoned on many students’ laptop screens is CheckPCR, an application that improves the user friendliness and overall functionality of the PCR system by allowing students to customize settings and...

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