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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

An illustration of a can of "Harker's Condensed Tomato Soup." Harker Aquila's assistant opinions editor Jessica Wang shares a ranking of the best five soups.

Friday Five: A definitive soup ranking

by Jessica Wang, Assistant Opinions Editor January 20, 2023

It's believed that the first bowl of soup was prepared around 20,000 B.C. However, my most poignant memory regarding soup is closer to 2022 A.D. It was a fateful Tuesday. For lunch that day, we were served...

"The Secret History," a 1992 novel by Donna Tartt, carries one theme throughout: Beauty is terror, and the incessant pursuit of beauty, whether through constructing a certain persona or chasing a sensory experience, leads to evil. The characters’ descent into madness and subsequently, ruin, illustrates the consequences of pursuing a glamorous, hedonistic existence and reminds us to appreciate the good, not the beautiful.

Book Corner: ‘Beauty is harsh’

by Alena Suleiman, Co-Arts & Entertainment Editor January 19, 2023

An onslaught of white as far as your eyes can see. Freezing, you trudge your way through heaps of snow. Yet the blindingly beautiful scene masks a treacherous murder, as you and other Vermonters discover...

Performers unveil work in the arts during Student Directed Showcase productions

by Sidak Sanghari, Hima Thota, Alison Yang, and Sally Zhu January 18, 2023

A misshapen blob of students, dressed in costumes ranging from floral shirts to ski boots to construction vests, gather onstage. Wrapping their arms around each other, they squat down, heads bowed in anticipation....

“What I felt being on stage used to be nervousness. Now, when I'm on stage, I’m empowered, especially when there’s an audience — it's motivating. I enjoy having many performance opportunities, because I get to experiment with different musical choices. A good performance is almost cathartic, and I get very carried away on stage, lost in the moment. And when it ends, it feels like I have released my burdens," Alan Jiang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The beat goes on

by Shareen Chahal, Asst. News Editor January 18, 2023

The distant chatter of students hustling around the middle school echoes in the background as Alan Jiang (12) taps his microphone, rehearsing the choreography and music in his head. He hums the opening...

FTX Meltdown — Sam Bankman-Fried’s meteoric fall

by Jonathan Xue, Humans of Harker Profiler January 18, 2023

FTX, previously the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange internationally with a valuation of 32 billion, declared bankruptcy in November 2022, prompting an FBI investigation into its founder Sam Bankman-Fried...

“I used to think that I shouldn’t try if I’m not already good at it, which hurt me because I didn’t put my best effort into some things. If I go in with an ’all or nothing’ mindset, it helps motivate me to try my best at the things that I do," Ananya Bammi (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Pinpointing passions

by Claire Su, TALON Conservatory Editor January 17, 2023

Colored thumbtacks dot the wall, piercing through the fabric behind them. White, jagged outlines trace around labeled regions of land and water: North America, Europe, the Atlantic Ocean. Thinner lines...

International Physics Olympiad Gold Medalist and Harker alumnus Rishab Parthasarathy (‘22) delivers a keynote speech virtually to attendees of the inaugural Harker Physics Invitational (HPhI). The inaugural contest took place on Nov. 19, gathering over 100 participants virtually.

Inaugural student-run Harker Physics Invitational draws over 100 attendees

by Arjun Barrett, Managing Editor January 17, 2023

The first-ever Harker Physics Invitational (HPhI) took place virtually on Nov. 19, gathering over 100 participants from both inside and outside Harker. The event featured an individual physics competition...

Public Health Club Vice President Justin Chen (11) leads attendees through a discussion question at the club's meeting in Main 2 on Friday during long lunch. The meeting started with a presentation of background information before moving into a discussion period.

Public Health Club holds meeting about China’s reopening, COVID-19 outbreak

by Emma Gao, Co-News Editor January 17, 2023

The Public Health Club conducted a community discussion about China’s lifting of its “Zero-COVID” policy in Main 2 on Friday during lunch.  Co-president Fiona Yan (11) started the meeting at...

The nation observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, named for the late activist who pioneered the American civil rights movement, as schools, including all Harker campuses, and businesses closed to create time for community service today. Born on Jan. 15, 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pioneered the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s through nonviolent protests and described his vision in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.

Nation commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with service

by Desiree Luo, Co-Features Editor January 16, 2023

The nation observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, named for the late activist who pioneered the American civil rights movement, as schools, including all Harker campuses, and businesses closed to create...

Public Health Club officers Fiona Yan (11) and Johnathan Mo (12) speak about China's newest COVID-19 policies. The Public Health Club held a discussion about these topics on Friday during long lunch.

School meeting recap 1/11/23: Pasta Party, Make Our Schools Safe and Winter Instrumental Concert

by Vika Gautham, Assistant Features Editor January 16, 2023

Content warning: This article mentions gun violence. We advise readers who may be sensitive about these topics to reconsider reading this piece. Associated Student Body (ASB) Vice President Gordon Chen...

Abhi Namala (12) pushes past Basis players to shoot. The team fell to Basis 51-60 on Jan. 5.

Varsity boys basketball team loses to Basis 51-60 in hard-fought game

by Emma Milner, Assistant Sports Editor January 12, 2023

The varsity boys basketball team fell to BASIS Independent Silicon Valley 51-60 during a home game on Jan. 5. Basis started off strong, with Harker trailing behind 4-11. The Eagles struggled to keep...

Harker Robotics members gather around a computer to discuss robot design plans on Monday for FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). To improve from last year, the members aim to create a design that is achievable yet challenges them.

Robotics kicks off build season after annual competition announcement

by Kinnera Mulam, Co-STEM Editor January 10, 2023

Harker Robotics began its build season after FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) announced the 2023 game details at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Around 30 members gathered in upper school robotics advisor Dr....

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