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Ruchi Sankolli

Ruchi Sankolli, Assistant Editor

Ruchi Sankolli is a senior, this is her third year on staff, and her first year as the Assistant Editor of the Wolfpack.  She mainly enjoys writing opinion pieces about current events. In addition to the Wolfpack, she is also involved in the 4-H Youth Toastmasters Gavel Club, HOSA and NHS. She enjoys listening to music, watching anime, reading horror novels, writng stories, and playing with her dog. She plans on attending either UT Austin or Texas A&M to major in the healthcare field.

 

All content by Ruchi Sankolli
While the Devious Lick Challenge is now seen as a threat that encourages theft and vandalism among students, not all of the stunts involved encourage theft and vandalism. A list shown above shows a positive side to the challenge, encouraging giving instead of taking; promoting these kinds of acts are much more professional and have an overall positive impact on students and teachers alike.

Helpful Vs. Harmful

October 7, 2021
Marvel really impressed audiences with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The movie is a perfect blend of every element, from humour to sadness, and also included amazing scenery. This, combined with a compelling storyline, is what truly makes it one of Marvels finest works.

Ten “Rings” Why You Should Watch This

September 14, 2021
Actively engaging in a conversation with her students, AP English IV teacher Michelle Iskra teaches her students about the importance of reading multiple stories to get proper context. Iskra is one of the teachers who implemented an approach designed to prevent academic dishonesty, and said she believes everyone should work together to ensure an honest academic policy for students. “I think everyone [plays] a role in minimizing academic dishonesty,” Iskra said. “I’m very straightforward about it. But, I also give students many opportunities to show me what they can do, to be successful in their own way, and to work with other students collaboratively in terms of thinking and ideas, and then to prepare their own work.”

Are You Cheating on Me?

September 5, 2021
Eyes on his target, senior Rahul Kannam prepares to hit incoming tennis ball at the match against Leander on Oct. 2. Alongside his involvement in tennis, Kannam also wants to get involved in the process of business, particularly the financial aspect of it. “I would like to work in the finance area for business and understand companies’ finances and logistics,” Kannam said. “I would like to start a business, and I have tried to start one about t-shirts with a friend which ultimately fell through. I still had fun planning and designing it with him, though. In the future, maybe starting a business is very possible, but I would like to rather join a startup so I can learn more about the growing process before starting my own business.”

Getting Down To Business

May 20, 2021
Jasmine Cooper sits on the steps of her house, dressed up for the ACDA After Party. Cooper was one of the students who participated in the ACDA and was proud of the effort that the team put in. “For the people who wanted to view our recorded concert in-person, [which had] limited seating, just choir students and their families and friends [were allowed],” Cooper said. “We had an ACDA watch party in the PAC ,because us seniors, who were juniors last year, didn’t have a prom, and we had a great idea to make the event formal. Our recording and video, our concert, was amazing. To see our hard work and our choir directors’ efforts pay off was truly a sight.”

Fa La La Through Life

May 7, 2021
Junior Hemani Goje poses in front of a classroom with a HerDrive donation box. Donation boxes like these are available for students in front of classrooms throughout the school, and the items will be donated to womens shelters to provide hygienic support. “I really hope that we, the community of Cedar Park, donate and impact the betterment of the community, Goje said. “By giving resources to the women in shelters, I want to be able to empathize with them and support the often understocked shelters.”

Her Needs Come First

May 6, 2021
New Theatre Tech teacher Colin Falk faces the camera smiling while wearing his Disney Fantasmic Cast and Crew Jacket. Falk is an alumnus of Cedar Park High School who used to work for Disneys Fantasmic before joining the staff. “I worked with the fireworks team to produce the nighttime spectacular,” Falk said. “It was, really and truly, a magical experience. I tell people all the time that my favorite part of working there was that moment right before the show, when I could look out at the audience and see a crowd of 8,000 cheering people, and it was a new crowd every night, with another group of people waiting to be amazed by what we do.”

Hello From the Happiest Place on Earth

April 19, 2021
Participants of the HOSA Trivia Night, including HOSA members, smile at the camera over Zoom. HOSA hosted this Trivia Night as part of a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and collected close to $170. President Aashna Ravi is grateful for the support and to those to participated. “I would definitely say that the Trivia Night was a success, seeing that this was not only the first time we were doing it, but given that it was held virtually,” Ravi said. “As a team, we feel that this is a great event that we can continue to build upon in years to come, as we transition back into person, and one that will be successful in raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We appreciate all of the students who supported and donated their time to the event and also wanted to thank the organizations that offered hours to make this event a success.”

Giving Back Together

April 1, 2021
As classes get harder and the learning environment shifts online, students are increasingly losing motivation to work. Whether it is a lack of structure or engagement, students are struggling to find ways to get motivated again. Having said that, there are many ways to renew motivation, and that starts with pushing through.

There’s Still Hope

March 23, 2021
Two years ago, the state-bound DECA members stand together, smiling as they show their medals. President Suparna Swaroop , one of the advancing members, has expressed happiness and pride at these members for their work and advancing to state. “I am so proud of all the DECA members’ work and successes this year,” Swaroop said. “Especially with COVID-19 and the new virtual competition, our DECA members have really done an excellent job of working hard and staying motivated. I know that we are all going to do really well at state because our chapter is filled with passionate business students that are determined to compete.”

Fruits of Hard Work

February 18, 2021
Varsity cheerleaders pose in Cowboy Stadium as they cheer for the football team at the state football championships on Jan. 15, just one day after the they competed in the Spirit Championships in Fort Worth, placing fifth. Senior Captain Emma Vorndran expressed pride at the teams work and said she is grateful for her time with them. I would not want to be on any other team,” Vorndran said. “I feel as if this is the best team I have ever been a part of in regards to both talent and friendships. The relationships that have been made on this team are meaningful to each and every individual, and I am so proud of how far this team has come. The best part about being a senior captain is watching the younger classmen grow in skill and their love for cheer.”

With High Spirits

February 16, 2021
COVID-19 cases arent the only things that are increasing. The stigma surrounding the disease is also expanding, leading to discriminatory actions and even violence. This stigma causes division among society, something which is unnecessary at this moment. Therefore, it is important to address this stigma and learn to overcome it.

The Shame of a Disease

February 2, 2021
Junior MJ Kelly and Freshman Aidan Cox launched the On Your Left podcast on Jan. 15. This podcast covers political topics and aims to educate the public on political and social theories, topics, and issues through a leftist perspective and hopes to help people gain a better understanding and use it to their benefit. “I think the most important aspect to me is the social rights aspect,” Kelly said. “Yes, reading foundational literature by [people] like Marx and Engels is important, but I’d rather have people take other things away from this. I hope somebody listens and starts to make a difference in their life when it comes to being a better ally for others.”

An Auditory Education

January 20, 2021
The Crucible is an insightful story that provides an interesting perspective on the Salem Witch Trials. It closely follows a cynical theme and understanding of the Trials in order to highlight the harm that comes from such hysteria.

“The Crucible”: A Deeper Insight of Humanity

December 17, 2020
Racism is a serious issue in our society, and can have seething effects on the victim. Helping and speaking out against racism is what we, both as students and human beings, should do. Having that said, there are many ways for students to help fight racism in their environment.

Students Against Racism

November 26, 2020
Madison Cherry has taken her first step towards the world of business. The junior student has become an influencer for American Eagle and has started her own jewelry business, and has gained a lot of advice from her experience. “Being an influencer teaches me how to run Instagram, and see what my audience likes the most, when they are most active, etc,” Cherry said. “When I do get more serious with my jewelry business, I can see what my audience likes and what they don’t like, so that I can promote my product more and sell what [is] more popular. Definitely, being an influencer has given me a lot of advice, whether that be from business partners or my own experience.” 

An American Influence

November 20, 2020
Key Club Sponsor Amy Durden shows off some avocado pits that have been donated to her as a part of Harvest for Healing. Durden and the clubs goal for Harvest for Healing is to spread positivity throughout the senior community. “[Our goal] is to try and bring joy and hope in watching the seeds grow into seedlings and then plants,” Durden said. “With so much depression, despair, isolation and sickness, [we figured that] its a way to have a small [amount of positivity].”

Botanical Joy

November 13, 2020
Among Us is the most played game this year. This makes it the most popular and trendy game of this year. It is a game of secrets and sabotaging, and makes for a fun and thrilling experience. I have recently started playing this game, and enjoy every bit of it.

A Game of Sabotage and Guessing

November 2, 2020
Giving A Ray of Hope is a newly founded organization that strives to help children in hospitals, and are responsible for, not only participating in service projects, but also educating the community on diseases that infect children. The organization provides many opportunities for members to explore the medical field and contribute to their community. “I would say that this organization really helps you have that role in your community and trying to help others,” junior member Jillian Lach said. “Not only does it help build responsibility, but it [has also] helped me meet new people and research and educate myself on a lot of things that I didn’t know about before.

Seeds of Hope

October 21, 2020
Wrestling Booster Club President Jason Malmquist directs cars to the paper shredder and supervises the event. Malmquist considers the paper shredding fundraiser to be beneficial to both the wrestlers and the team, as personal connections are strengthened. “Other sports tend to do things a lot as a team,” Malmquist said. “In wrestling, we do have a team, such as team scoring. But this gives them a chance to bond, spend some time together, and it’s always fun to do something like this together. We think it’s important that the wrestlers are the ones raising the money. When they are here themselves, they actually have to come out and do something, and we think that [it’s] great that they put in [effort]for their own team.”

Shred for a Buck

October 19, 2020
Social media has become an essential tool for students to express their opinions and spread awareness about certain issues. As of today, it is the main source of current information for a majority of the students. While this is a benefit to the student population, it is also important to be kind on social media and respect the opinions of others, especially at this time.

Spare My Feelings

October 16, 2020
During the course of quarantine and online schooling, there have been reports of increased levels of stress and anxiety for students. This anxiety can develop into depression and other health issues. Addressing these feelings is highly recommended

Self-Health Check

September 22, 2020
Senior Alison Dye smiles for the camera. Dye has been a member of many organizations in school, from playing the role of Mary Poppins in Princess Tea, to being a member of PALS and the Spanish Club, and reflects on her experience in these activities. “All of these activities have helped me come out of the shell,” Dye said. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been blessed with, [and the chance] to meet so many awesome people.”

Best of Both Worlds

May 26, 2020
With changes due to COVID-19, students are now expected to complete a series of virtual assignments and attend meetings as needed. Given the status quo, academic learning has been modified to better fit the variety of situations students are in. “For the most part, and for the majority of the students I would say [that they are meeting expectations],” AP Human Geography and AP Seminar teacher Cassandra Gray said. “I teach both AP Human Geography and AP Seminar and AP Exams are still happening, so there is a lot of review and prep work going into the next few weeks. For the most part, [the] majority of the students are completing the assignments as they are intended and are trying their best on them in order to get accurate feedback.

Teaching Blues

May 22, 2020
Junior Celebrities captain Rylee Tonacao (last from left to right), poses and smiles with fellow participants at the Colon Cancer Walk. Tonacao and her teammates wish to continue giving back to the community and helping to resolve community issues. I think this event has definitely inspired myself as well as [the] celebrities organization to keep continuing to serve our community,” Tonacao said. “This event, particularly, has such a special meaning for us as a team as it relates to our late director, Stacy Danielson. The important thing about this event is it taught us, not only to give back, but to raise awareness for different issues, and different things that we need to solve. So, I think, as well as helping out the community, participating in events like this has showed us that we need to raise awareness for certain things, as that is an important factor to solving problems.”

Giving Back One Step At a Time

March 13, 2020
Many high school students suffer from sleep deprivation. Whether it be from stress or the downright lack of desire to sleep, depriving yourself of sleep is dangerous, especially at this age. Learning to adopt better sleeping habits is advised.

You’re Gonna Need Some Extra Zzz…

February 20, 2020
Sophomore Barbara Sylvester smiles at the camera as she designs the drive train of the robot. The robotics team is working on a new robot for this build season. Our goal for this build season is to create a working robot, Sylvester said. As we go through the building process, we create small goals to keep the process moving steady, but the overall goal is to have a working and moving robot that the whole team contributed on by our first competition.

The Robolobos Are Back

February 12, 2020
A few birds nests that Debby Barnes Crochet group had made. Barnes had started a crochet group in order to help the displaced wildlife in Australia. It just breaks my heart to see these poor, little animals [suffering] Barnes said. Some of them are being burned. I saw a video last month on Facebook of this poor, little koala that was just crying because he was being burned.

Crafts For Lives

January 20, 2020
Anatomy and Physiology teacher, Nancy Matthias supervises a kidney dissection. Matthias believes that dissecting real organs and specimens enhances the learning abilities of the students. Live dissection gives [the students] an opportunity to actually feel the tissue, Matthias said. When the live specimen is 3D, they can see it, manipulate it, and [this makes it] a much better way to dissect and learn about the different organs and the body.

Would You Rather Do it or See it?

January 3, 2020
CPHS Librarian, Debby Barnes poses with a copy of Radical Element. Barnes got selected to be a member of the TAYSHAS Reading Program. “I think its great and I think it is an honor to get selected,” Barnes said. “I’m kind of feeling overwhelmed that I have too read over a hundred books in a year, but I am proud of being selected.”

Booked for a Lifetime

December 9, 2019
As high schoolers, our lives are constantly busy and we find little, to no, free time. Our busy schedules often result in the increase of our stress levels. This can result in a lot of health issues, from thyroid diseases to asthma to gastrointestinal disorders. Stress isn’t a good thing for either our body or mind, but how do we prevent it?

How to De-Stress

November 19, 2019
An excerpt of Lighthouse by sophomore Ireland Weaver. Weaver often writes things that tell stories that highlight the pain and emotional experiences in people’s lives.  “For me, talking about great tragedies, like losing people, losing yourself and then getting that back, struggling, finding out who you are, that’s what its about,” Weaver said. “For a lot of people that have read my stuff, this seems kind of sad to them, but for me, its like surviving. Telling the stories of people persevering.” 

Words of Wisdom

November 6, 2019
Junior choir student Zain Jabbar (third from left to right) sings in the fall concert. The varsity mixed choir had prepared extensively for their TMEA performance, dedicating every minute to preparation. Jabbar reflects on this work. “For four months, every Wednesday after school, we practiced for an hour and fifteen minutes on the four songs,” Jabbar says. “And these weren’t easy songs. Ms Holt made sure we chose really hard songs that the professional choirs do. I was really happy that all the hard work was recognized.”

Leaving a Mark on the Nation

October 23, 2019
“Challenger Deep” will take you through a portal and switch you back from normal school life and adventures among the unforgiving sea.

Book Review: Challenger Deep

September 26, 2019
The front office overlooks the streets, displaying its newly added extensions. The construction of these extensions began in May of the previous school year, and was completed in the beginning of this school year. Principal John Sloan explains the intentions behind this change, as well as the way the front office now functions. When people come in, there is a secure vestibule, and they have to check in with the receptionist and make sure they have a good purpose for being here, Sloan said. We have to make sure we are letting people in who are here for a good reason.

A Fresh Start

September 13, 2019
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The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School
Ruchi Sankolli