the dar

St. Teresa’s AcademyKansas City, Missouri

History of senior pranks ›› pg. 4 | Star spotlight: Sara Jane McQuaid and Caroline Strader ›› pg. 11 | Senior bucket lists ›› pg. 15

After four years as Stars, the STA class of 2015 is graduating May 17. The girls of this 149th graduating class are attending 22 colleges across the nation.

waving Goodbye

2

CONTENTSthe Dart vol. 74 senior issue 14 May 2015

perspectives12-13 // Senior Columns

bits and pieces14 // Senior Social Media

last look15 // Senior Bucket Lists

in the DNO16 // Senior Prank Photos

sanem seniors |Seniors Sara Jane McQuaid and Caroline Strader talk in the Sanem advisory. They plan on rooming togerther at the University of Missouri next year after meeting in advisory freshman year. photo by LAUREN ZASTROW

friends to roommates| Seniors Bridgie Auckland and Caroline Crockett pose on the quad May 1. The girls are rooming together at the University of Missouri next year. photo by LINDEN O'BRIEN WILLIAMS

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15a last look | Seniors Anna Bauman and Leigh Campbell enter the paint room May 1. The paint room is one of the spots on many seniors' bucket lists. photo by CLARE KENNEY

selfie statue | Alumna Natalie Nuessle takes a selfie as a statue in 2014. The seniors posed as statues for 45 minutes in the quad. photo courtesy of THERESA WALLERSTEDT

features4 // History of Senior Pranks

5 // Students taking gap year

6-7 // Roomate Selection Process

cover story8-10 // College Destinations

star spotlight11 // From friends to roommates

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3the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Clare Kenney, cover design by Mary Hilliard

From theEditors

This special issue of the Dart gives us a chance to take a deeper look at the legacy left by the STA Class of 2015. Whether you laughed at their pep rallies, admired their artwork, cried when they sang, marveled at their athleticism or appreciated their innate leadership, it’s easy to see that these seniors deserve a round of applause. We hope to show-case them throughout this last issue of volume 74 of the Dart. In this issue, learn about the history of senior pranks, a student taking a gap year, the process of choosing a roommate and, of course, where our seniors are attending college.

Speaking of seniors, more specifically, we’d like to thank this year’s Dart editors-in-chief, Libby, Emma and Siobhan. We had our fair share of stressful publica-tion nights, adventures in Washington, D.C. and food-themed jokes along the way. Thanks for an awesome year on staff--and we’ll be lucky if we can lead the Dart next year with the same poise you guys did.

And to all you juniors, sophomores and freshmen, hang in there. We’ll be seniors before we know it, enjoying the

perk of dressing down on Fridays, being the first in line for food at advisory par-ties, wearing the infamous kilt, passing the legacy to freshmen and celebrating our sisterhood.

Seniors, thank you for the example you have set for all of us underclassmen. We hope to carry out your legacy, and we wish you the best of luck in all of

your future endeavors!Your new editors-in-chief, Mary Hill-

iard, Maggie Knox and Torie Richardson

Staff

Lis

t CopyOpinion Editor Torie RichardsonSports Editor Leigh CampbellFeatures Editor Mary HilliardNews Editor Anna Bauman

PhotographyWeb Editor Hannah BredarPrint Editor Jessie CulverJournalism Projects Editor Arinna HoffineStaff Photographers Lauren Zastrow, Meg Thompson, Maddy Medina, Katherine Mediavilla, Amy O'Leary, Siobhan Miller, Maria Donnelly

PrintProjects Coordinator MaryMichael HoughCultural Correspondent Emma WillibeyBreaking Local News Editor Meredith MulhernGraphics Illustrator Mackenzie O’GuinPage DesignersMary Hilliard, Clare Kenney, Maddy Medina, Alexandra Frisch, Mackenzie O'Guin, Maggie Knox, Helen Wheat-ley, Bridget Jones, Linden O'Brien-Williams, Meg Thompson, Anna HafnerStaff WritersLinden O’Brien-Williams, Alexandria Davis, Alexandra Frisch, Elsa Feigen-baum, Molly Bird, Helen Wheatley, Clare Kenney, Anna Hafner, Libby Hyde, Emma Willibey, Gloria Cowdin, Christina Elias, Anna Bauman

WebCopy Editors Audrey Carroll, Madi WinfieldSocial Media Manager Katherine Green

Editors-in-Chief Mary Hilliard, Maggie Knox and Torie Richardson Adviser Brad Lewis

QuestionMonthly

What are you most nervous for in college?

“Being away from my family that long. The longest I have been away from my whole fam-ily is when the choir went to LA this year. I didn't even go the whole time without facetiming them."Senior Maggie Hutchison

"Making friends for sure and making it through rush would probably be my biggest nerves right now."Senior Gretchen Schloegel

compliled by CLARE KENNEYckenney16@stastars.org

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DartNewsOnline and the Dart will publish corrections as soon as possible after the

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features

4

In 2006, art teacher Theresa Waller-stedt drove to school like she did every day. However, today was different.

“I was driving down Main Street, and I just saw little pink things sticking up everywhere,” Wallerstedt said.

These “pink things” turned out to be 5,000 stuffed pink flamingos.

“[The flamingos] were everywhere,” Wallerstedt said. “They were on the marquee sign, on the sign at the cor-ner, they were everywhere. [Seniors] had thrown them above the doors in the ledges, they were in the trees.”

All of this was thanks to alumna Frannie McShane.

McShane had done her service week at local charity Operation Break-through. The company that produced the flamingos donated 10,000 of them to the charity. The sisters at Operation Breakthrough gave many away, but still had 5,000 flamingos left.

“The sisters [at Operation Break-through] said, ‘We have all these flamingos and we’ve given a lot out but we still have 5,000 left. Do you want them?’ And Frannie went ‘Yes I do,’” Wallerstedt said.

Although Wallerstedt loved the prank and “wanted Channel 9 News to come and fly a helicopter over the school,” administration wasn’t as pleased.

“Administration whacked out and started grabbing [the flamingos],”

by MEREDITH MULHERN and VICTORIA RICHARDSONmmulhern16@stastars.orgvrichardson16@stastars.org

so long, farewell | A banner hangs above the entrance to the Music and Arts Build-ing. For their last day of school, the 2015 senior class rode their bikes and scooters to school. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

Seniors have celebrated prank days with everything from flamingos to bikes.

Wallerstedt said. “Then the girls started grabbing them too, so everyone was carrying around their little flamingos all day.”

In 2015, senior Rachel Scheffler arrived at senior Anne Nulton’s house at 6:30 a.m. and gave Nulton’s mom her backpack so she could retrieve it from her before going to class. She and other members of her senior class then “congregated in the street and started riding through Ward Parkway,” accord-ing to Scheffler. Once at school, se-niors who had driven to school parked in the sophomore lot or blocked the junior/senior lot from underclassmen.

According to Scheffler, seniors Lily O’Neill and Anne Nulton coordinated and planned the event and hung a sign above the Music and Arts Building that proclaimed “it’s been a fun ride, STA!”

According to Scheffler, students did not get in trouble with administration, unlike some prank coordinators in past years. Seniors only received an email that asked students to “stop rollerblad-ing around the school.”

Before the prank’s execution, Shef-fler wasn’t sure how it would turn out.

“At first I wasn’t really sure what I thought of it, but it was really fun,” Scheffler said. H

Past Pranks

2010: Plastic silhouettes2011: Caution tape2012: Chapel fliers and scattered shoes2013: Water guns2014: Living statues

compiled by CHRISTINA ELIAScelias15@stastars.org

Academy Antics

5the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Maddy Medina and Alex Frisch

Planning for a gap year

gap girl | Senior Quinn Kernell plans on taking a gap year abroad before starting college. photo by MADDY MEDINA

High school graduation is usually the time of year where family and friends come together and say their final good-byes as the seniors head off to college. At STA, the senior class is attending more than 50 different colleges across the United States. But this is not the case for all of them. Senior Quinn Ker-nell has decided to take a gap year, the only senior to do this from her class, before taking the trip to college.

“I’ve wanted to take a gap year since middle school,” Kernell said. “I decided junior year that it wouldn’t be really reasonable [or] realistic to take one so I dropped the idea.”

In 2013, a study done by the Higher Education Research Institute showed that only 1.2% of college freshmen de-clined admission to college in order to take a gap year, which roughly amounts to about 35,000 students. However, the interest of taking a gap year has grown in recent years.

Kernell decided to officially take a gap year after her dad suggested it to her again, placing her in the small per-centage of students who take one.

"From everyone who has taken a gap year, I've only heard positive things," Kernell said. "They would recommend [taking a gap year] to everyone. They've said that it was the best year of their life and that they feel so much more independent and have gained a better understanding of themselves."

However, Kernell has heard some negative feedback about the decision to take a gap year.

"People in passing have expressed their distaste for gap years," Kernell said. "They think you won't go back to school or that you're going to waste a year and then be behind all of your classmates"

But thankfully, Kernell's family and friends have been very supportive of

Senior Quinn Kernell will be waiting a year for college and will possibly go abroad. by ALEX DAVISadavis17@stastars.org

her decision and are not too worried. Kernell believes that if someone "plans out [their] year," then taking an actual gap year will be much smoother and less worrisome.

"I'm really open to what I'm going to get out of [the gap year]," Kernell said. "I think we go through [years of] school ... and we don’t get a break. I think we need to take time for ourselves."

Kernell stressed that the gap year not only should be about taking time for ourselves, but also about getting a chance to better the lives of other people and make a difference some-where else.

So what is Kernell doing during her gap year?

"I'm [hoping] to be an au pair for a family in Europe with a kid with special needs," Kernell said. "There aren't a lot of people who are open to helping families with a child who has special needs and that is something I'm really passionate about."

Kernell has some other plans in mind as well.

"If I don't do that then I'm think-ing about teaching English in South America, Cambodia or Thailand. I've also been looking at some internships in Dublin or London for journalism or at a publishing company or for law."

And if she doesn't go abroad, Ker-nell would like to work on a national

campaign. But no matter what she decides to do, Kernell is glad to be taking a gap year.

"I'm really, really excited. I mean, I'm a little anxious

because I don't know what I'm doing yet and I don't know what I'm going to do after my gap year either," Kernell said. "But I think that it'll all work out, so I'm not too worried. I definitely think I'm going to get a lot out of [taking a gap year]."

After her gap year is over, Kernell plans to reapply to her top colleges and major in English Literature and Classical Language. H

We don’t get a break. I think we need to take

time for ourselves.“ “

— Quinn Kernell

THE SEARCH FOR THEprofiles

PERFECT ROOMMATEVarious STA students describe how and why they chose their college roommate.

by KATHERINE GREEN and MARYMICHAEL HOUGHkgreen16@stastars.orgmhough16@stastars.org

deciding so late that if I had ended up go-ing to one of my other choices I would’ve been finding someone last minute and finding someone I liked last minute would’ve been really tough,” Zastrow said.

Zastrow believes this process eliminates drama that can occur when finding a roommate on your own. Hoeser experienced a bit of this drama when a last minute switch left her searching for a new roommate. Although Hoeser is relieved to have found someone with the same interests as her, she would not have minded going potluck.

“I personally was really terrified of the fact that I might have to go potluck but all my cousins did it and they told me it actually was a really good experience,” Hoeser said. “I guess I was just really wor-ried I'd be so on my own not even know-ing who my roommates were going to be. If I did end up going potluck, I would not be that upset anymore just because its very common to do and those horror stories are pretty rare.”

According to Hoeser, although her experience has been stressful, she now feels comfortable being the only girl from STA at USC.

“I definitely regret putting off finding a roommate but I ended up meeting a lot of girls via facebook messaging and roomsurf because of it all which will be nice to have when college starts up,” Hoeser said. “It really isn't as bad as you'd think, finding a roommate and all. I've just learned you've gotta be open to every-thing and something good with come out of a total mess of a situation.” H

6

For seniors leaving STA, there are many different options when it comes to finding a roommate in

college.Many students attending the Univer-

sity of Missouri Columbia are rooming with other students from STA. MU offers students the ability to choose their own roommate or "go potluck,” which means being paired with a random roommate.

According to senior Caroline Crockett, she and senior Bridgie Auckland decided to room together a while ago. They were not in the same "friend groups" but still knew each other and felt comfortable enough to live together, according to Crockett.

“As of last year when we went to the college meeting, we said it in passing and joked about ‘let’s room together,’” Auck-land said. “When it came down to it, we actually decided to room together.”

When it comes to rooming with a friend, Crockett is not concerned about damaging her and Auckland’s friendship.

“I think it’ll work out well because we are going into different majors and will have different schedules,”Crockett said, “so we’ll have personal space but also when we’re with each other I think we will have a lot of fun together.”

Other students used different methods to find a roommate. Accord-ing to Crockett, some girls posted in the Facebook class page to find roommate matches or go through others' mutual friends to find someone to live with.

Students attending other colleges also chose to room with a friend who did not attend STA to find new experiences, ac-cording to Amy O’Leary, who is attending

the University of Kansas in the fall.“I didn’t necessarily choose to avoid a

STA person,” O’Leary said. “But I’m room-ing with a grade school friend that goes to Sion that I used to be really close with and I chose someone [else to room with] from Austin, TX, because I think it would be fun to have a friend from out of town.”

Although O’Leary, Crockett and Auckland are rooming with people they are familiar with, some STA students are rooming with complete strangers.

Senior MaryKat Hoeser, who is at-tending the University of South Carolina, decided to avoid going potluck and searched for a roommate on Facebook pages and other websites.

“I was looking for someone who shared the same interests as me and who I thought I could be most comfort-able with,” Hoeser said. “I didn't want to be picky but I felt a lot of the time that's what I was doing because I was so wor-ried about having someone similar to me to room with. Going to a college where no one else is going to is terrifying to me, but it’s pretty much impossible to find someone just like you because no one its going to be just like you. I just told myself I have to stop being so comparative and just be social and find someone I'd like to be friends and live with.”

Similarly, senior Lauren Zastrow will attend University of San Diego in the fall, where students do not choose their own roommates. Students at USD have the ability to choose what kind of room they want to live in and take a compatibility test, but then are assigned a roommate by the university.

“I like [this process] because I was

7the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Mackenzie O'Guin

ROOMMATE ROULETTEThere are many methods and strategies to pick a college roommate, all reaping mixed results for different students.

by ELSA FEIGENBAUMefeigenbaum17@stastars.org

H very satisfied 47.9%H somewhat satisfied 21.7%H somewhat dissatisfied 14.3%H very dissatified 11.6%H don't know/no answer 4.5%

will you hate your roommate?

A study compiled by the Brown Herald analyzes how satisfied 6000 undergrads were with their roommates.

STA students pose with their roommates

1. Senior MaryKat Hoeser displays a photo of her roommate on Instagram. Hoeser found her roommate through the University of South Carolina Facebook page.2. Seniors Caroline Crockett, bottom, and Bridgie Aukland, top, pose together. Crockett and Aukland will be roommates at the University of Missouri this fall. photos by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS

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2

centerspread

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BAKER UNIVERSITYCarolyn HornbeckBENEDICTINE COLLEGEMackenzie RoachJOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGEAllie DoddKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITYKatie Grasse

Anna MeagherKathleen NicelyUNIVERSITY OF KANSASCaroline AnglesMegan BloskeyHayle BrownSydney EdmondsAnna Marie FiorellaSuzie FissRachel FosselmanGigi Gray

Abby HaakeLibby HydeElaine KerrWhitney KlumpMadeline MullenAnne NultonAmy O’LearyGrace RedaKathleen SchraderGreta SmithmierAverie StappJenny Tilson

making STATEmentsThe STA class of 2015 will be attending college in 22 different states. compiled by BRIDGET JONESbjones16@stastars.org

graphics by MAGGIE KNOX and MACKENZIE O'GUINmknox16@stastars.orgmoguin17@stastars.org

Check out the infographic "Oh the places we go..." on DartNewsOnline!

NORTHCAROLINA

ELON UNIVERSITY Christina EliasTHE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILLDorian Bailey

OHIO

OHIO UNIVERSITY Siobhan Miller

BARNARD COLLEGEEmma Willibey

PACE UNIVERSITYSophia Hall

PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGNKaitlin O’Brien

SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGEGloria Cowdin

ST. FRANCIS COLLEGEMireya Ramirez

NEW YORKSC

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINAMary Kat Hoeser

NEBRASKA

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITYAnna HuberUNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLNKylie CeriottiLauren DufresneVictoria Miller

9the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Maggie Knox

MIS

SOU

RI

HENDRIX COLLEGEJourney Eubank

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSASBrogan CaffarelliMegan Ehrnman

Maria FloresEmily Godfrey

Sara McKnightMolly A Mullen

Gretchen SchloegelTaran Smith

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITYNatalie Behnen

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGOLauren Zastrow

DCAMERICAN UNIVERSITY Grace Sly

AVILA UNIVERSITYMary SommerhauserKANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTEEllen WeitkampMISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYJessica FavrowMarita HutinettLizzie SandersMISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITYDaisy CalderonROCKHURST UNIVERSITYEmily CobleSydney HunterRachel SchefflerAbby TarwaterSAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITYAbbey CurranGretchen DudleyViridiana HernandezCeci IsmertMarie SarsonGrace Wilmot

TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITYAbigail ElliasHaley SirokmanUNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIABridgie AucklandHannah BredarAllison BresetteMary BurkeCaroline Crockett Meghan DanielsCourtney DidierLindsay FiolaKatie HansonLizzy KellerWilla KnightHayden LeeAmelia LesterAnya MateskiMaggie McClainSinead McGonagleSara Jane McQuaidMolly C Mullen Sumin Nam

Maddie NiemuthLily O’NeillShannon O’RourkeFee PauwelsGine PtacekClaire RebouletMadi SageMarley SchmidtleinJacqueline SmithCaroline StraderCatherine WhitmerUNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITYAlly DrummondAnne GravinoZoe RoyerWEBSTER UNIVERSITYMarie GreenMonica StanleyWILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGEShay CummingsSabrina Saleh

INDIANA UNIVERSITY AT BLOOMINGTONCecilia Zanone

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAMELeigh CampbellEvelyn HeckMolly HeckMadalyn Schulte

INDIANA

MASS.

BOSTON CONSERVATORYMicah Welch

OREGON

UNIVERSITY OF PORTLANDClaire Zahner

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

centerspread / star spotlight

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COLORADO

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINESEden KreighbaumREGIS UNIVERSITYAlex AmeyUNIVERSITY OF DENVERCarson BeinemanArinna Hoffine

ILLINOIS

MINNEAPOLIS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGNBetsy Lehr

MINNESOTA

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMAMonica McGrawBriana Wells

UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO Jessie Culver

ALABAMA

DEPAUL UNIVERSITYGracie Fleming

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGOAlexia Arrieta

MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY

Olivia BellatinEllie Shorter

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITYSydney Wimes

UNIVERSITYOF OKLAHOMAAnna BaumanTurner ConwellOlivia Migliazzo

UNIVERSITY OF TULSAMaria DonnellySam Smith

TEXASTEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITYMaddie Thompson

BELMONT UNIVERSITYBasil BurnetteMegan FaberMaggie HutchisonHillary Talken

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITYMadeline Meloy

GAP YEARQuinn Kernell

UNDECIDEDKennedy BrightMeghan McCalla TENNESSEE

PENN

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITYAnn Campbell

Sara Janeand Caroline

the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Maggie Knox and Helen Wheatley

How did you two meet?

Caroline: Well we are in the same advisory, so we met at Star Night our 8th grade year.

Sara Jane: So yes as Carol said, we met in 8th grade when we both came to Star

Night.

What made you want to room together next year?

Caroline: We decided to room together because our personalities work very well

together and although we are pretty close friends, we are in separate "friend groups" so we are not constantly with each other now which will be good for us next year.

Sara Jane: We are two completely different people but somehow, our personalities just work together. I knew I didn't want to room

with someone from my friend group and since Caroline and I are in different [friend groups], she was the perfect option. I never

thought I would be rooming with one of my best friends but she is the exception

because I really wouldn't want to room with anyone else. I’m already scared enough for

college as it is so it will be comforting to have her with me all the time, just like she has been for the

past 4 years.

How do you think your high school experience would have been different if you

hadn't met?

Caroline: If I hadn't met Sara Jane I would not be as close with a few other people,

because I became closer friends with them through Sara Jane. Also I would have less memories without meeting her, because

we have a lot of memories together. Advisory would be very different without

her and overall my high school experience would have still been great but knowing her has been part of the reason why my

years here at STA have been not just great but unforgettable.

Sara Jane: If it wasn't for being in the same advisory, I doubt Carol and I would

be as close as we are. We have so so many memories together so it's really hard to

imagine high school without her right next to my side the entire time. She is usually the first person to say hi to me in the mornings and the last person to say goodbye to me when I leave school so she impacts my day more than she

knows. H

Seniors Caroline Strader and Sara Jane McQuaid met during their freshman year at STA and will be roomates this fall.

by MOLLY BIRD, photo by LAUREN ZASTROWmbird17@stastars.org, lzastrow15@stastars.org

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perspectives

12

A sisterhood of love

Before coming to St. Teresa’s, I had always desperately wanted to have a sister. I imagined how great it would be to braid each others’ hair and practice doing makeup, share secrets and talk about boys, wear each others’ clothes and be best friends.

Coming to STA, I often heard about this concept of “sisterhood,” whether it was splashed across the front of some recruitment magazine or talked of by older girls as if it was some secret soci-ety, coveted and mysterious.

In my first years at STA, I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical. Of course I wanted to be part of this sisterhood, but no matter how hard I tried to be a part of it, it was an ever-elusive idea that I just couldn’t grasp. I thought it must be a myth, a trigger word the school used to recruit students to come to an all-girls school.

I realize now that this idea of enter-ing the sisterhood is not something that happens overnight or at one mo-ment in time. While I was expecting a light bulb to suddenly go off, what I was experiencing was the gradual accumu-lation of days and months and years worth of memories that evolved into my own definition of the sisterhood.

If you are like me, maybe you're still a bit skeptical about sisterhood. But it is my prayer that you will find it in the simple, day to day happenings of the beautiful community around you.

Maybe you'll see it when your friend makes a silly face at you in the halls, or when someone screams your name across the bustling quad during pass-

by ANNA BAUMANabauman15@stastars.org

Teachers, staffleaving STA

ing period. Maybe you’ll feel it when you’re

cramming for a test with classmates, or commiserating with the same girls when you “know that you all failed,” but you feel better because you know they all have your back.

Or when you realize that each of your classes forms its own little fam-ily, and the girls who sit next to you in class understand you better than anyone in the world.

Maybe you'll see it in the exchange of a knowing look of exasperation be-tween you and the girl who had to park across the street when it’s just one of those mornings.

Or when you're shamelessly stuffing your face with mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, sur-rounded by the girls you sit next to in advisory everyday.

I hope you’ll feel it as you’re doubled over with laughter during the teacher skit when your teachers do and say things you thought they never would.

Or when your teacher asks how you’re doing, and you know they’re ask-ing because they truly care.

Maybe you'll hear it when the choir sings it’s hauntingly beautiful rendition of the alma mater.

Or when a group of girls randomly breaks into a proud chant of the same song amidst the confused glares of everyone else around you.

You might see it in the crowd at a packed Sion game, as you scream "WHAT DO WE EAT?" at the top of your lungs, dressed in some ridiculous-look-ing get-up, but knowing that no one will judge you because they look just as ridiculous.

Maybe you’ll hear it in the voices of hundreds of girls screaming “Party at STA” at every school dance, and you realize that it really is.

I know you'll experience it when the school comes together in prayer and love in the face of pain and tragedy.

You might feel it when you finally

slip your class ring onto your finger, and don’t ever take it off for the next year because you know it connects you in a special way to a network of amaz-ing women of all ages across the whole world.

Maybe you’ll feel it when it’s finally your turn to explore the infamous M&A tunnel, and leave your mark next to the names of all those who have come before you.

I hope you feel it on your last day of school as you look down at the colorful scribbles on your old, yellow-ish polo, and know there are 141 girls who love you like a sister.

I know I did. Sisterhood is experienced differently

by everyone, but there is no denying that it is very real. Sisterhood is an all-encompassing word to describe the love and support that can be found in the hallowed halls of STA.

Class of 2015, thank you. Thank you for all the laughs, all the tears, all the memories, all the love.

If I could, I would tell my younger self that one day her wish would come true. But it would be greater than she ever could have imagined. Instead of one sister, she got 598.H

The following staff members will not be returning in the

2015-2016 school year.

TeachersKatie Dolan English teacher

Pat Sirridge social studies teacherGreg Monsma choir director and

music teacherMegan Warr math teacher

StaffMary Beth Compton

Principal of Student Affairs

13the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Bridget Jones

Several weeks ago, seniors were asked to submit their senior confessions to the yearbook. We were only allowed to submit one. So I thought I would use my last column in the Dart to elaborate on some confessions I have to get off my chest.

I cried freshmen year when I got a detention for accidently dropping my badminton racket.

Ok, I am still bitter about this one. Let me set the scene for you. I was just a little innocent freshman, scared of authority and fearful of breaking any rules. I was flourishing in the badminton tournament with my partner Caroline Crockett. Winning the tournament was a hallmark achievement for me at STA. However, during one class I made a fatal mistake. I felt the grip of the racket slip between my fingers. The metal rim barely touched the ground before I grabbed it quickly. Nope, too late.

I remember Mrs. O’Rear calling me to her office for a detention. Not only did I cry at school (the most embarrassing thing I have ever done) I also went home and cried to my mom. To this day that detention is the only form of punishment I have ever received at STA. If there is anything I could change about STA, it would be that ridiculous badminton rule.

For four years now, the word I’ve heard most is “sisterhood.” We all talk about its strength and closeness and kindness and acceptance, but how exactly does one define this amor-phous and omnipresent “sisterhood?” Well, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately, and here’s what I’ve come up with…

Sisterhood is the smiles in the hallway from ten different people between classes; it’s the awkward but memorable advisory parties; it’s the girl who sends you the notes from a class you missed; it’s someone holding a door open when you’re dragging four bags of food inside; it’s when your class sings “It’s a Party (at STA)” as loudly as they can; it’s the wildly loud cheers at sports games; it’s the two slices of Waldo Pizza for a dollar; it’s candy from every administrative office and sneaking food from the teachers’ lounge after school (sorry, y’all); it’s driving the five minutes to school (and still being late) with my carpool every morning; it’s seeing my actual sister in the halls and at lunch; it’s knowing that she, and my 550 other sisters, are always there for me, on good days and bad; it’s the combination of every experience I’ve had here and the knowledge that even though I won’t be part of the sisterhood next year, it will always be a part of me.H

How to define sisterhood

by LEIGH CAMPBELLlcampbell15@stastars.org

by GLORIA COWDINgcowdin15@stastars.org

Confessions of a boring seniorI went to a free instead of newspa-

per class sophomore year. This one is not embarrassing on principle, I know many people that have done this. However, it was not the beginning of the semester. It was not like I didn’t know my schedule. This was well into second semester. I had gone to silent study in windmoor. As I sat working on homework my schedule fell out of my netbook. My heart started to race. I started to sweat. I doubled checked my schedule. Yep, I should be in newspa-per. I grabbed my things and literally ran out the door leaving my account-ability and sprinting across the quad. I was so embarrassed to face all the juniors and seniors in my newspaper class - I tried to laugh it off but I think the pit stains gave away my anxiety about the event.

Some not-to-be-named classmates and I snuck into the dome room in M&A.

Just last week in our final Friday at STA, some friends and I decided that we needed to explore the unknown parts of our school. Naturally, we headed to fourth floor M&A. After find-ing the Harry Potter room (a KCYA office decked out in Harry Potter paraphernalia) we found a door. I don’t want to reveal the location of the

room and the thrilling way we got there (it involved climbing through a window) but the room was circular with gravel floors. Really not that interesting, but the thrill of finding the room was excit-ing enough to make for a fun time. Being honest, my fear of punishment from freshmen year is still a part of me, so I really hope I don’t get in trouble for writing this. H

Just last week in our final Friday at STA, some friends and I decided that we needed to explore the un-known parts of our school.

“ “

bits and pieces / last look

14

Here, a student shares a moment that really made her cringe.

“I woke up and stood up too fast and got really light headed and next thing I know I'm on the ground of my wood floors. I didn't feel it at first but I saw a bunch of blood gush out

from my chin. My mom heard a loud thump from downstairs and ran up and we went to the hospital. I had to get 10 stitches and my tooth is cracked. I can't chew food for the next two weeks."- Emily Godfrey, senior

InstagramsOF THE ISSUEEach issue, the Dart high-

lights students’ Instagrams. This month’s theme:

senior year.

Photo by senior Elaine Kerr@ekerr30

Photo by senior Lily O'Neill@loneill72

Next theme: summer#dartnewsonline

by AMY O'LEARYaoleary15@stastars.org

by MARYMICHAEL HOUGHmhough16@stastars.org

My life sucks My life rocks

Each issue, the Dart shares entertaining student tweets.by BRIDGET JONESbjones16@stastars.org

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

My life sucks // My life rocksHere, a student shares an especially exciting experience.by MARYMICHAEL HOUGHmhough16@stastars.org

Photo by senior Bri Wells@bri1596

That’s whatshe said

come together| Seniors gather to take a selfie on their last day at STA May 5. They pranked the school by riding their bikes to school and blocking off the senior lot. photo by MEG THOMPSON

Senior Marie Sarson@msars97There are two things I will never forget from my time at The Academy: realizing I have 600 amazing sisters and hugging Mr. Sanem. #bubble

Senior Meghan Daniels@meghanxo_15peace out high school, hello summer

Senior Ceci Ismert@CCIzzyThink I'm gonna celebrate my last weekend of high school homework by not doing my homework

“At the end of classes on Tuesday I had a 92.91 in Honors Physics and I went back in the next day to pick up my notebook to study with for the final. I found out that

there was a bonus problem that I could complete to get my grade up. So the entire class helped me finish it and it got my grade up to a 93.1. We all cheered because now I'm exempt from the final! It was wonderful. - Lizzie Sanders, senior

15the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Linden O'Brien-Williams and Meg Thompson

1. Sign your name in the tunnel2. See the fourth floor in M&A3. Go on the roof4. Go in the dome5. See the paint room

Dress in theme for a sports game.“ “

— Fee Pauwells

Definitely try to reach out more to the under-classmen.“ “

— Mary Kat Hoser

[Go] to class day and [have][your] shirt signed.

“ “ — Averie Stapp

Have a decent conversation with someone in your class everyday. You will feel closer to all of your classmates.“ “

— Jessie Culver

Become friends with the ladies in the development office. They'll give you more candy and life advice.“ “

— Hannah Bredar

Figure out where all the weird doors go in STA.“ “

— Ameila Lester

[Be] a KAIROS leaderbecauseit's awesometo see theexperience from theother side.

“ “

— Caroline Crockett

Wha

t sho

uld you do before you graduate?The Dart asks seniors "what

should be on an STA bucket list?"

Humans of STA

16the Dart // dartnewsonline.com // 14 May 2015page design by Anna Hafner

In the

Take a look at the current coverage on DartNewsOnline

Gallery: Riding Out With Style

soarin', flyin'| Senior Gracie Fleming catches some air on her scooter May 5. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

collar ID| Senior Sydney Edmonds smiles after having her shirt signed by fellow seniors. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

#selfie| Seniors gather to take a selfie on their last day at STA May 5. photo by MEG THOMPSONan advisee embrace| Senior Mireya Ramirez embraces friend

and fellow senior Sydney Hunter. photo by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA

The senior class of 2015 celebrated their final day of school with a prank May 5.photos by KATHERINE MEDIAVILLA and MEG THOMPSON