![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
By the power of a gift from the Pohlmann family, Esports Director Ryan Sextro, with the assistance of a few seniors, has reinvented the Pohlmann Center. Not only will the Pohlmann Center remain a classroom, but it now is the long-term home for the esports program.
President Fr. Ronny O’Dwyer S.J., along with the Blackrobe Society and esports team members, held a dedication ceremony on Dec. 8 for the new facility.
“Because of [Greg Pohlman] and the many other generous benefactors who envisioned a space for a unique learning environment, where our students are provided the competitive edge they will need in the global context, this hands-on learning will inspire and prepare our young men to transform the world,” Fr. O’Dwyer said. “The Pohlmann Esports Room will be the anchor of an ambitious plan to put our school on the forefront of innovative leadership in the next generation of Jesuit education.”
The center will provide a place for the esports team to compete as part of the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation, which has over 100 schools and 2000 participants from all over the state.
One esports team will play multiple games, including NHL and Halo: Infinite during the winter season, and Super Smash Bros, Valorant, and League of Legends during the spring season.
“It makes esports kind of unique,” Mr. Sextro said. “You play soccer, and you’re just playing soccer, but in e-sports, you specialize in a game to play [per season].”
Mr. Sextro believes that the addition of an esports team will be significant for the school as a whole, allowing those who are not inclined to sports to have a chance to develop a competitive side and improve the academic achievement of the players.
I think it’s going to end up being a huge net positive for the school and for our whole community. I’m looking forward to the stuff that happens in the next eight to ten months, it’s going to be a really exciting time for the school as a whole.
— Esports Director Ryan Sextro
“Academic esports has been shown to increase general student positivity about school,” Mr. Sextro said. “[Students] don’t miss school as much, and they’re more engaged in their classes when they know they have to keep grades up. Not to mention the coolness of the program itself and how good that’s going to be for admissions.”
Many seniors helped Mr. Sextro with the program, including Will Schiller, Kalle Evjen, Henry Anyimadu, Even Scanlon, JT Depke, David Breuer, Ben Niebruegge, and Jason Wetter. Henry was part of the original planning of the program and pitched presentations to the admissions team.
“I’m pretty excited,” Anyimadu said. “I think it will not only bring a lot of people to De Smet, but the people who are already here will enjoy it a lot.”
The 12 computers are using powerful components, including 11th gen Intel i7s and Nvidia 3070 GPUs. In addition to PCs, several gaming consoles including Nintendo Switches will be installed in the room.
“I think it’s going to end up being a huge net positive for the school and for our whole community,” Mr. Sextro said. “I’m looking forward to the stuff that happens in the next eight to ten months, it’s going to be a really exciting time for the school as a whole.”
This story was originally published on The Mirror on December 9, 2022.
