The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack

After running 5 kilometers, senior Sanil Desai finishes his cross country race at Vista Ridge. Desai will be attending Brown University in the fall to pursue an education in medicine. “The feeling of finishing a race is so rewarding,” Desai said. “Being involved in a variety of extracurriculars has taught me how to balance my time and be well rounded. These activities have also allowed me to be involved in my interests and the school.
Photo by Mai Cachila
Time to Scrub in
Mai Cachila, Reporter • May 24, 2024

His cursor hovers over the email...

Crossing her fingers tightly, senior Sophie Triche smiles proudly for her senior photo. Triche plans to attend Kilgore college and is hopeful to continue high kicking with the Rangerettes in the fall. “When I first saw the Rangerettes, I was enamored by how professional they were,” Triche said. “It made me absolutely fall in love with them and everything they do. I knew I wanted to dance after high school and the Rangerettes to me, feels like home. I could not be more excited when I made the official decision to try out and let my friends and family know that I was committed to be a hopeful for such a world renowned dance team.” Photo Courtesy of Sophie Triche
Kicking into History
Morgan Nabi, Guest Reporter • May 24, 2024

The hours of training, listening...

Instructing his students, tennis coach Randy Ballenger gives feedback on the dish in front of them. Ballenger has been teaching at Cedar Park for 19 years and just took on the introduction to culinary course this school year. “For the most part its been just a unique amazing work,” Ballenger said. “It’s the community that keeps me here, the people that I work with and just the encompassing school. Its just an amazing place and Im definitely rooted here for a while.”
Photo by Mai Cachila
Much More than a Coach
Mai Cachila, Reporter • May 23, 2024

After having coached tennis, taught...

Standing with his guitar during Garage Band practice, senior Trevor Von Wupperfeld smiles for the camera. Von Wupperfeld was a founding member of the club, along with a long line of other activities at Cedar Park that earned him the title of Most Involved. “All of the music programs at our school are very, very dedicated, Von Wupperfeld said. Its kind of an all or nothing type of deal. And I am not a big fan of the all or nothing. So I kinda found a garage band to house all of the musicians who didnt have a place in the school or people who didnt have a traditional instrument they played. We take guitarists and basses and all kinds of stuff.  Photo Courtesy of Trevor Von Wupperfeld
Rockstar President
Arav Neroth, Guest Reporter • May 23, 2024

From making music with his club...

Holding her debut novel Lorida, senior Lilly Stone poses with her self-published novel for her senior photos. Stone said that she is optimistic about what her future holds in the literary world, and is proud of how far she has come despite the odds. “It doesnt take a special skill set to write a book, and you don’t have to be anyone special to do it,” Stone said. “If you have the drive and motivation, you have to just keep pushing yourself to write even when you don’t feel like it, because, in the end, you will be proud of what you’ve accomplished.” Courtesy of Lilly Stone
Fresh Face in Fiction
Gaby Coutts, Guest Reporter • May 23, 2024

Starting by picking up a journal...

Waterloo swim instructor, Emler swim instructor, and Camp Hope leader are just some of the jobs available for students over the summer. Junior Clara Rabago will be working as a small group leader at Camp Hope for two weeks over the summer where she will be taking care of the children there and participating in activities such as church services, games, art, and science. “I’m excited to have my own kids this year,” Rabago said. “I like seeing how a kid will come in and be super shy, but then they come out all being friends. They’re so happy and energetic and it’s just cool to see how much these kids grow within a week.”
Free At Last... Or Maybe Not
Kaydence Wilkinson, Reporter • May 23, 2024

A blaring wake-up alarm rings out...

Time to Scrub in

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Parking Lot Attendant Describes His Role
Parking+Lot+Attendant+Alan+Gallagher+poses+next+to+his+sign+notifying+that+students+can+no+longer+purchase+parking+passes.+Students+without+passes+will+not+be+able+to+park+in+the+school+parking+lot%2C+and+if+they+do%2C+AP%E2%80%99s+will+be+notified.+%E2%80%9C%E2%80%9C%5BWhen+I+catch+people+skipping%5D+I+notify+the+students+AP+and+from+there+Im+not+sure+what+happens%2C%E2%80%9D+Gallagher+said.+%E2%80%9C%5BI+can+also+stop+people+for%5D+speeding+through+the+parking+lot+%5Bsince%5D+the+speed+limit+is+10+mph+on+campus.%E2%80%9D
Heidi Williams
Parking Lot Attendant Alan Gallagher poses next to his sign notifying that students can no longer purchase parking passes. Students without passes will not be able to park in the school parking lot, and if they do, AP’s will be notified. ““[When I catch people skipping] I notify the students AP and from there I’m not sure what happens,” Gallagher said. “[I can also stop people for] speeding through the parking lot [since] the speed limit is 10 mph on campus.”

Once school gets out, it starts. Students rush to their cars to try to get out first, and parents block up spaces, annoying others. People hurry and speed off, ignoring everyone else, yet somehow avoiding accidents. Some people think they’ll get off the hook with this villainous mindset, however they never know who’s always watching. Sitting in class thinking nobody witnessed their actions the day prior, when suddenly, a few seconds later, they’re sitting in the AP office.

The younger students  know him as the “golf cart guy,” or the one that always wishes good mornings as students walk by the side gate. The older students affectionately call him Gally. His name is Alan Gallagher. Gallagher makes sure that the students and staff are safe when arriving and departing the school, watches for students skipping and makes sure only students with parking permits are parking in the school parking lot.

“[When I catch people skipping] I notify the students AP and from there I’m not sure what happens,” Gallagher said. “[I can also stop people for] speeding through the parking lot [since] the speed limit is 10 mph on campus.”

Gallagher was the School Resource Office for 2.5 years and retired in a year. He took over the Parking Lot attendant job because he had ties to the school. Gallagher ensures safety over all people with his background in law enforcement. 

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“I was a Deputy Sheriff for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department for 14 years and then I was a Police Officer for the City of Cedar Park for 14 years,” Gallagher said. “Out of the 28 years in Law Enforcement, I was a Motorcycle Officer for 14 years.”

Gallagher attended and graduated from Leander High School in 1983. His family moved to the Austin area in 1976, where he has lived here ever since with his high school sweetheart. Compared to the other jobs he has worked for, he said CPHS stands out. 

“I enjoy being at CPHS and want to be a part of all the traditions that are here,” Gallagher said. “[The best part of my job is] interacting with the students and staff.”

Every year, the senior class comes with their class mottos, as well as a picture. These then get hung up in the library hanging on the middle wall. Students are advised to choose wisely, however, the Class of 2023, decided to honor someone they all loved. 

“[My best memories have been] mentoring the students,” Gallagher said. [Another memory was] seeing the senior class motto from the class of 2023 [be], ‘Run from Gally.’”

Gallagher plans to stay the Parking Lot Attendant until he is able to retire for a second time. He enjoys the amount of student interaction he receives from students and staff, which allows him to enjoy his job, as well as being in the sun all day, but the only downside is working in all weather conditions.

“[The most rewarding part is] seeing students who have graduated and then telling me, ‘Thank you for being here’,” Gallagher said. “Also seeing the smiles on students’ faces when I tell them good morning or have a nice day.”

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About the Contributor
Heidi Williams
Heidi Williams, Reporter
Heidi is a junior and a second year reporter. Along with newspaper, Heidi races her Ninja 400 with CMRA and plans to do so all throughout high school. Her free time is always dedicated to anything motorcycle related. She tends to write mostly about sports and hopes to be either a Sports Reporter or racer in the future. Heidi enjoys doing the most exciting things and lives for going on long rides with her boyfriend and family on the weekends.

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