A Year In News A Year In NewsB2C PROGRAM COMMENCES
ANIRUDH CHATTERJEE, STAFF WRITERP
ali’s optional Back
to Campus (B2C)
program launched
April 12, bringing students
back to school grounds for
the first time since last March.
The enrichment program
will continue until May 27 and
offers activities meant to foster
engagement and restore so-
cial interactions among peers.
Participators must observe
social distancing guidelines,
adhere to mask-wearing proto-
cols and pass a three-pronged
health check — requiring a
weekly negative COVID-19
test, daily temperature checks
and symptom screenings.
To minimize health risks,
students have been grouped into
cohorts of 14. Cohorts are led
by teachers and meet biweekly.
Biology teacher Julie Benke,who is leading the Hiking and
Outdoor Education cohort and
the Conversations with Nature
cohort, said that she’s excited
to participate in the program.
“I came up with the idea
of nature hikes in Temescal
Canyon because I’ve taken
classes before and know it is
safe, gorgeous and really fun to
chit-chat while observing na-
ture,” she said. “I signed up for
both cohorts because I teach
all grades and would love to
be able to spend the afternoons
with my present and former
students, as well as new ones.”
Benke said that she sees the
program as a “chance to make
some new memories... with old
friends and make new friends”
and as a “fun reason to get out of
the house and back on campus.”
Students participating inthe program are also looking
forward to what it has to offer.
Sophomore Talia Davood,
who signed up for the Hik-
ing and Outdoor Education
cohort, said she hopes the
program will give her the
chance to talk to her peers.“I am excited to simply
see people and meet other
students,” she said. “School
pushed me to cross paths with
others through my classes and
I hope that experience can be
somewhat restored through
returning for these activities.”PALI WINS BIG AT ART CONTEST
A
t the seventh an-
nual 33rd District
Congressional
Art Competition, Pali ju-
niors Ethan Azari and Tier-
ney Smith won first and third
place, respectively. Azari’s
piece titled “The Persistence
of Love” earned him $2,000
as well as a place in the Unit-
ed States Capitol building.
Smith took home $500, and
her work titled “The Other
Side” now hangs in the office of
state Congressman Ted Lieu.
Students from 21 local
schools submitted 154 pieces
of artwork to this year’s com-
petition, according to a press
release from Lieu’s office.
Azari said that he sought
to portray the scene of a wom-
an waiting for her husband
while holding a cigarette,an image he says was popu-
lar during the ’80s and ’90s.
Currently, Azari is taking
AP Studio Art 2D with Pali
teacher Catherine Villagran,
who encouraged him to en-
ter the competition. He said
that he welcomes the oppor-
tunity to participate in all art
competitions that offer recog-
nition and monetary prizes.
Smith said she draws in-spiration from the work of
filmmaker and photographer
Tyler Mitchell. “I have always
loved Mitchell’s concepts
and execution in his fashion
photography,” Smith said.
Although the photo it-
self took less than a second to
take, Smith said that she spent
the majority of the time “ad-
justing the colors and light to
find the right tone.” Throughthe image of her sister, Smith
said she sought to portray “the
concept of someone crawl-
ing through a window while
it is unclear whether they
are going in or going out.”
Azari and Smith agree that
their success in the competi-
tion has inspired them to invest
more time in their art. “[The
competition] was a way bigger
deal than I thought,” Azari said.
“It didn’t really hit me at first
until everybody helped me un-
derstand what I had achieved.”
In regards to competi-
tions and her future, Smith
said: “Even if everyone hat-
ed my photography, I’d still
want to pursue it, but this
competition has definitely
added to the notion that my
ambitions are legitimate, val-
id and worthy of support.”DOHYUN (ANDY) JU, STAFF WRITERPainting by Ethan AzariCourtesy of Skylar Ball