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Ladue High School's student news site

Ladue Publications
Ladue High School's student news site

Ladue Publications
Ladue High School's student news site

Ladue Publications
Mac Huffman

Mac Huffman, ID Editor in Chief

Chronic mispeller, usually outdoors, photo obsessed and founding ID Editor in Chief. When Mac's not editing, they're typically designing infographics or writing stories about identity, food and harm reduction. This is their 3rd year and final year on publications staff.

All content by Mac Huffman
Junior Yueheng Wangs piece, “Of Mountains and Seas,” is played by Ladue High Schools top orchestra and band classes April 4. He wrote it in June 2023, drawing inspiration from an ancient Chinese novel titled “Classics of Mountains and Seas.” Wang’s parents and compositional teacher sat in the audience to support him throughout the performance. Many of Wang’s friends, who played the piece, also showed their encouragement. “A lot of my friends were really enthusiastic — [especially] the wind players,” Wang said. “A lot of them would come up to me, [would] want me to help them and would come to seminar every day. It was such a group effort, and it felt like a relief that [the piece] was in good hands.”

[Photo] Melodrama 2024

May 11, 2024
Years after diagnosis, Drew is officially cancer-free, but some effects live on. Its just your new normal, Drew said. You kind of live with it forever.

[Photo] Rise Above

Frank Chen, Staff
May 2, 2024
Junior Phoenix Jegel is embraced by vibrant lights, illuminated in bold colors. Jegels unconventional physical presentation has been a direct reflection of their hard-won autonomy. My life hasnt been the most straightforward, Jegel said. But realizing [that] I dont have to live by other peoples standards has made me recognize who I actually am, even when its uncomfortable for me and those I surround myself with.

[Photo] From the Ashes

Katie Myckatyn, Associate Editor
May 1, 2024
Senior Ella Hamlin hangs lights during her technical theater class. Hamlin first enrolled in an independent study in order to further her knowledge of engineering and design. She knows the sound system and the lighting system in the theater better than anyone in the building, Greg Kendall said.

[Photo] Guiding Light

Ella Braig, Staff
April 30, 2024
Sophomore Sahasra Mandalapu practices bharatanatyam choreography in class. These new dances will be performed in an annual show in February. Mandalapu found that practicing in class helped her overcome stage fright during her performances. “When [I] get on stage, Im nervous Im going to forget, even though Ive done it for so long,” Mandalapu said. “Theres still that little bit of stage fright [when] I second-guess myself that I dont know it enough, but I do because Ive been practicing for a whole year.”

[Photo] Step by Step

Ira Rodrigues, Staff
April 29, 2024
April 4, Twinda Murry conducts her last formal concert at the Ladue Performing Arts Center. However, her pursuit in music did not stop there. I think most musicians dont retire for real, Murry said. Although [I am] technically [going to be retired], this is kind of another one of those career shifts.

[Photo] Changing Tunes, Changing Lives

Grace Kweon, Staff
April 29, 2024
Water polo coach Jacob Jagodzinski claps while watching Ladues girls swim team compete at Senior Night. He enjoyed watching his players progress over the season. “Im a pretty patient person outside of the pool, in both my career and just my regular life. Jagodzinski said. But Im a lot more aggressive in water.”

[Photo] Wavebreaker

Ishaan Pandey, Staff
April 29, 2024
Teacher Robert Snidman grades papers after school. Prior to teaching at Ladue, Snidman faced unexpected adversity at Hazelwood. “[There was] open drug dealing in the bathrooms and in the back of classrooms, Snidman said. I did my best for five years.

[Photo] A Lieutenant Colonel, a Teacher and a Lawyer Walk Into a Bar

Will Kodner, Staff
April 29, 2024
Junior Yueheng Wangs piece, “Of Mountains and Seas,” is played by Ladue High Schools top orchestra and band classes April 4. He wrote it in June 2023, drawing inspiration from an ancient Chinese novel titled “Classics of Mountains and Seas.” Wang’s parents and compositional teacher sat in the audience to support him throughout the performance. Many of Wang’s friends, who played the piece, also showed their encouragement. “A lot of my friends were really enthusiastic — [especially] the wind players,” Wang said. “A lot of them would come up to me, [would] want me to help them and would come to seminar every day. It was such a group effort, and it felt like a relief that [the piece] was in good hands.”

[Photo] Crescendo

Arti Jain, Website Editor in Chief
February 23, 2024
Sawyer Bland (12) celebrates a point after a hard rally. He played against one of his friends in a practice game. Pickle ball is great, Bland said. Anyone can play against almost anyone regardless of their skill level and have a decent game.

[Photo] Passion for Pickle

Luke Lochmoeller, Associate Editor
April 27, 2024
Screen Shot 2024-02-20 at 6.35.27 PM

[Photo] Missouri Legislators Must Stop Weaponizing Anti-Transgender Legislation for Their Own Political Gains

February 22, 2024
April Dalton cooks Bananas Foster, a dessert consisting of bananas sautéd in butter, sugar and cinnamon. The bananas were cooked over a fire with rum and served atop a scoop of vanilla ice cream. “[Cooking] is not just like reading a piece of paper and making it happen, Dalton said. Theres a lot more involved and I dont think people realize that when they get into the kitchens.

[Photo] Turn Up the Heat

Kelly Zhang, Staff
April 29, 2024
Taylor practices with teammates in the Nielson Gym. Taylor was given the position of backspot, the cheerleader who braces the ankles of fliers and calls counts for stunts. “[Cheer is] more of a mindset than a physical aspect because you can gain strength,” Taylor said. “For the mindset, you just need to realize that youre not going to hit it every time. You have to work for it.

[Photo] Full Out

Celina Zhou, Staff
April 29, 2024
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[Photo] The Age of AI

Katie Myckatyn and Celina Zhou
January 24, 2024
violin

[Photo]

Senior Gabe Bernstein works in the school greenhouse. This past summer, Bernstein explored various research opportunities to finally recognize what science fields he would like to pursue. [Research in the summer] helped me narrow down my focus for what I wanted to go into, Bernstein said. I know which sides of plant science and ecological studies I didnt like and which ones I did.

[Photo] In the Lab

Marie Demkovitch, Staff
December 28, 2023
Senior Lizzie Esther works in Ladues film studio developing her film Nov. 20. Lizzie fell in love with the exploratory part of videography: telling peoples stories. [I like to] learn about different perspectives, stories and learn empathy for the world around you, Lizzie said.

[Photo] That’s a Wrap

Mason Eastman, Staff
December 28, 2023
Junior Jack Finney practices the piano in his living room. He possesses perfect pitch, a rare musical talent that roughly only 1 in 10,000 people have. Jack commits at least an hour most days to perfecting his piano skills. “Through music, Im able to show off some skills that Ive been practicing,” Jack said. “I can also connect with my audience emotionally.”

[Photo] Off-Key

Grace Huewe and Ryan Snyder
December 28, 2023
Sophomore Jin Zhang performs his routine at the start of class, which can take up to two minutes. Zhang has performed at many cultural events like the Festival of Nations in preparation for upcoming competitions. Zhang utilized the skills and his experience from the cultural events, he feels more prepared for the upcoming competitions. “I am taking more private classes with my coach instead of a big class,” Zhang said.

[Photo] Kickin’ It: Kung Fu Style

Nitya Nara, Staff
December 28, 2023
Gray Baker works on one of her recent pieces, Untitled so far,” in Mr. Raedekes room for AP Studio Art. She studied her work, continuously making small, almost imperceptible changes, as she worked to build out the piece to fulfill her vision. Her eyes are fixed, completely immersed in the process. “I love being engrossed in something so intensely,” Baker said. “Creating is such an emotional and thoughtful process. I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else.”

[Photo] Paint the Town Gray

Alzhraa Mahmoud, Staff
December 28, 2023
Brinker takes a lap around the track to warm up for her workout. She had just begun working out with her team after a short break preceding the off-season. “I just started working out two weeks ago, but when I was on my break, I realized how much I missed running,” Delaney said. “Like, wow, that was such a big part of me.” (Photo illustration by Mac Huffman and Vincent Hsiao)

[Photo] On the Run

Grace Huewe, Staff
December 4, 2023
Holding her most prized possessions, Talya Weinstein presents her sashes, gear and award pins from various National American Miss competitions over the course of the year. Talya first won Miss Ladue, then continued on to win Miss Saint Louis, and finally earned her spot to go to the national competition. Talya was excited to present herself in front of a national panel and got to see her pageant friends that shes made along the way who make the long pageant days easier. “Miss Missouri Teen USA was my favorite because I bonded with these girls on a different level,” Talya said. “Most of the girls are very friendly and easy to talk to, and I have a lot of friendships with the girls from the pageants I compete in. I communicate with my pageant friends weekly.”

[Photo] Pageant Princess

Madeline Awad, Staff
December 28, 2023
Cabbage rolls simmer in a pot. The Anton family Immigrated to the U.S. in 1904 and has maintained their Lebanese recipes. “Knowing I’m cooking for family and friends always adds extra love to the pot,” Sophia said.

Sophia Anton’s Cabbage Roll Recipe

Mac Huffman, ID Editor in Chief
November 1, 2023
Madison Davidson prepares and plates her Nana’s famous dump cake, known as pumpkin stuff. Despite the simplicity, the recipe has been one of Davidson’s favorites to make as it came from her grandmother. Although her skills leveled up beyond dump cake, her family still has a large influence on the food she makes. “It was my Nana’s recipe so I feel like it connects me to my family,” Madison said.

[Photo] The Dish On Davidson

Sara Rohatgi and Alzhraa Mahmoud
November 1, 2023
Tarek Al Husseini puts his bake-off apple crisp into the oven. He was attempting to recreate Macs version without the directions. The original crisp was flakey on the bottom, so I approached it like I would a pie crust, Al Husseini said.

Mac Huffman’s Apple Crisp Recipe

Mac Huffman, ID Editor in Chief
October 30, 2023
Junior Adam Ye performs the violin in the Performing Arts Center. He has practiced and performed in many orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, Community Music School’s Preparatory Program, and the Missouri All-State Orchestra. Through his numerous performances, Ye has found an outlet for self expression through the violin. “The instrument shouldnt be a prison,” Ye said. “It should be a key, a tool for you to explore yourself.”

[Photo] Serenading Strings

Aaron Lin, Staff
December 28, 2023
Evgueni Tsygankov puts his kotletas on a paper towel to let them cool off before digging in for dinner. Evgueni enjoys making the kotletas and teaching the recipe to his kids. “From my dads side, I really like the kotletas.” Martin Tsygankov said.

[Photo] Evgueni Tsygankov’s Kotleta Recipe

Josh Devine and Lathan Levy
October 23, 2023
Freshman Amelie Lock rehearses in the high schools Performing Arts Center. She has acted in various environments, from massive open-air theaters like the Muny, to competitive audition rooms in New York City, to her own bedroom on tape for send-in auditions. No matter the environment, she strove to perform at her best—to treat acting as the art form that it is instead of a job in an industry. There were are a lot of auditions that Im super proud of, and I think that any actor that youll talk to will say the same thing because so often we get really close to a role, Lock said. I think that any actor that youll talk to will say the same thing. Tens of thousands of people submit for every single call that we get, so there are so many auditions that Im proud of my performance for, even if I dont get the role.

[Photo] Setting the Stage

Celina Zhou, Staff
December 28, 2023
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Mac Huffman