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Senior Andy Maddox smiles while talking to teacher Steven Appier. Photo by Annakate Dilks

By Annakate Dilks

Posted February 16, 2019

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The award-winning, student-run news publication of Shawnee Mission East High School.

Journalism is my enemy. They say keep your friend

Journalism is my enemy.

They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer — at least I’ve done that.

Dow Tate would say that’s cliché, trite, overused. I can hear him hissing, “that’s all you could think of for your senior column?” But it’s true. My enemy is so close to me we’re practically inseparable by now.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybyaveryanderson
#phtotbyameliewong
#socialmediabylylaweeks

The SM East theater department announced its 2025-

The SM East theater department announced its 2025-26 season at its annual banquet on May 17. The upcoming season includes the Musical Revue theme as “The Best of Broadway,” the Fall Musical “Bye Bye Birdie” and the Winter Play “Silent, but Deadly.”

To choose which shows the department will perform, English teacher Brian Capello read a plethora of musical scripts and assessed what other schools have done in the past.

“We just kind of talk about it one way or the other, and then get into what we feel is best fit for the season for the students we have,” theater teacher Tom DeFeo said.

To read more, click the link in bio.

#storybylucystephens
#socialmediabylucystephens
Photos courtesy of @b.closephotography

Sisters Evan and Lilah Platz have plenty of differ

Growing up in the town of Cremona, Italy, senior M

Navy blue and bright yellow floats rode the street

Navy blue and bright yellow floats rode the streets of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Trumpets were blaring, students were cheering, cheerleaders were tumbling and senior Claire Rogers was standing on the sidewalk beaming.

Augustana University was hosting their annual Viking Parade — their version of a homecoming parade. Rogers was thrilled her soon-to-be college would have a similar tradition to “Lancer Day.”

Rogers committed to Augustana University for what the National Collegiate Athletics Association refers to as a newcoming sport— acrobatics and tumbling. Currently, only 50 NCAA colleges offer this program in all divisions.

To read more, click the link in bio.

#storybylucystephens
#socialmediabylucystephens
#pagedesignbyaddiemoore
#photobyameliewong

The boys varsity golf team will be playing in the

The boys varsity golf team will be playing in the regional tournament at 9 a.m. at Heritage Park.

#socialmediabybellabroce
#socialmediabyprestonhooker #photobytylerrussell

Forty girls in pastel and floral sundresses filled

Forty girls in pastel and floral sundresses filled six rows of black chairs inside Mission Hills Country Club. The girls all faced forward and listened as SM East parent Sara Stein stood at the front of the room explaining what various “sorority slang” words meant.

Stein, the owner of Modern Etiquette Made Easy — a company that offers numerous etiquette classes, ranging from preschool lunchroom etiquette to tips for landing a job — was teaching a Sorority Savvy class to East and St. Teresa’s Academy seniors. After teaching a cotillion class three years ago, her interest in working with kids in a classroom setting grew, inspiring her to launch Modern Etiquette Made Easy last year.

With the pressure of first impressions and perfectly worded conversations during rush season, Stein created her Sorority Savvy class to help seniors feel confident and prepared for the process.

To read more, click the link in bio.

#storybyavnibansal
#designbylucyswope
#photobycarolinehoffman

It’s the end of the school day in April, then-fr

It’s the end of the school day in April, then-freshman Isabel is daydreaming in her World Regional studies class to avoid studying for finals. She looks over and sees her friend and desk partner, Lucy Wolf, editing a social media post for The Harbinger on her computer.

Fast forward to the fall of sophomore year, Isabel is making her first social post, now holding her own spot on staff. Nudging Lucy — together again, but this time in the J-room. Help! She whispers as Lucy looks at her off-centered, ugly post that’s far from the Harbinger Instagram’s standards.

Many late-night deadlines, calls filled with tears and Lucy’s assistance on quite literally every very rough post later, and Isabel is suddenly offered an Assistant Social Media Editor position.

To read more of this column, click the link in bio.

#storybylucywolf
#storybyisabelbaldassaro
#socialmediabysydneyeck
#photobycarolinemartucci

The boys varsity tennis team will be playing in th

The boys varsity tennis team will be playing in the state championship at 8 a.m. in Junction City.

#socialmediabyclaraburdick
#photobyfrancescalorusso

Congratulations to next year’s amazing staff!

Congratulations to next year’s amazing staff!

#socialmediabyaveryanderson #socialmediabyaddiemoore

Girls gymnastics district-wide will have its final

Girls gymnastics district-wide will have its final season next fall after Sunflower League announced the sport’s retirement in an email sent to coaches on May 1. The decision will affect 12 active teams in the league, including the Lancers.

“This decision reflects several years of challenges, including declining participation numbers, difficulties in finding enough qualified coaching staff and logistic challenges in consolidating practices and competitions,” the letter read.

According to the letter, participation in gymnastics fell from 108 to 70 athletes in the past season. Another factor in the decision was the growth in participation of other girls sports, such as wrestling, cheer and dance.

To read more of this story, click the link in bio.

#storybymichaelyi
#socialmediabyashtyningram
#photobyemmaweidman

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