![With the AISD rank and GPA discrepancies, some students had significant changes to their stats. College and career counselor Camille Nix worked with students to appeal their college decisions if they got rejected from schools depending on their previous stats before getting updated. Students worked with Nix to update schools on their new stats in order to fully get their appropriate decisions. “Those who already were accepted [won’t be affected], but it could factor in if a student appeals their initial decision,” Principal Andy Baxa said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/53674616658_18d367e00f_o-1200x676.jpg)
![Junior Mia Milicevic practices her forehand at tennis practice with the WJ girls tennis team. “Sometimes I don’t like [tennis] because you’re alone but most of the time, I do like it for that reason because it really is just you out there. I do experience being part of a team at WJ but in tournaments and when I’m playing outside of school, I like that rush when I win a point because I did it all by myself, Milicevic said. (Courtesy Mia Milicevic)](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/c54807e1-6ab6-4b0b-9c65-bfa256bc7587.jpg)
![The Jaguar student section sits down while the girls basketball team plays in the Great Eight game at the Denver Coliseum against Valor Christian High School Feb. 29. Many students who participated in the boys basketball student section prior to the girls basketball game left before half-time. I think it [the student section] plays a huge role because we actually had a decent crowd at a ranch game. I think that was the only time we had like a student section. And the energy was just awesome, varsity pointing and shooting guard Brooke Harding ‘25 said. I dont expect much from them [the Golden Boys] at all. But the fact that they left at the Elite Eight game when they were already there is honestly mind blowing to me.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_7517-e1716250578550-900x1200.jpeg)
![BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS: Dressed by junior designer Kaitlyn Gerrie, senior Chamila Muñoz took to the “Dreamland” runway this past weekend. While it was her first time participating in the McCallum fashion show, Muñoz isn’t new to the modeling world.
I modeled here and there when I was a lot younger, maybe five or six [years old] for some jewelry brands and small businesses, but not much in recent years,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz had hoped to participate in last year’s show but couldn’t due to scheduling conflicts. For her senior year, though, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass her by.
“It’s [modeling] something I haven’t done in a while so I was excited to step out of my comfort zone in a way,” Muñoz said. “I always love trying new things and being able to show off designs of my schoolmates is such an honor.”
The preparation process for the show was hectic, leaving the final reveal of Gerrie’s design until days before the show, but the moment Muñoz tried on the outfit, all the stress for both designer and model melted away.
“I didn’t get to try on my outfit until the day before, but the look on Kaitlyn’s face when she saw what she had worked so hard to make actually on a model was just so special,” Muñoz said. “I know it meant so much to her. But then she handed me a blindfold and told me I’d be walking with it on, so that was pretty wild.”
Caption by Francie Wilhelm.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/53535098892_130167352f_o-1200x800.jpg)
ADM’s own Wesley Royer recently competed in the Skills USA State Carpentry Competition on April 26 and went home one state title richer.
He competed in the individual carpentry category and was tasked with building a structure in seven hours. Participants were given all the materials, plans and a side of stormy weather during this competition.
Royer prepared heavily during class time with Industrial Tech teacher Alex Reams for the intensity of the day.
“I put a lot of effort into it,” Royer said. “I prepared by studying the plans a week in advance with Mr. Reams and him walking me through the steps I didn’t understand. When we got there, all the lumber was there and we just had to build it as best as we could.”
Royer revealed he didn’t have much of a strategy walking into the competition; he just knew he had to follow the building plans to his best ability in order to tie down a first-place win.
About 40 minutes into the competition, storm clouds rolled in and cast a downpour on all students competing. Royer admitted this was a test of toughness for him, but he felt the need to persist.
“They even asked us if we wanted to take a break until the rain stopped, but I said no,” he said. “It was a challenge because it made me very wet and cold.”
Another thing that brought adversity to Royer in this competition was how precise the angle cuts on the wood had to be in order to get a good rating from the judges. This required time and patience to make sure even the slightest details were executed to perfection. During the lunch break, Royer and others were able to communicate to their mentors and troubleshoot and problems that were arising for them. Reams was present throughout the competition and was ready to give advice whenever needed.
Seven hours of continuous work later, Royer was awarded the first-place title and a chance to take a trip to Nationals this summer in Atlanta, Georgia.
“When I won, all I could feel was joy,” he said. “I was really, really excited.”
Royer had words of wisdom to give to students partaking in this opportunity next year.
“Study the plans and build similar things in advance for practice,” he said.
In an effort to raise money for his trip to Nationals, Royer started advertising homemade cutting boards and coasters made of walnut and maple on various social medias and flyers posted around the school. The boards are embellished with a laser-engraved ADM Tiger logo in the corner.
“They’re crafted by a State Champion,” Royer said. “They’re awesome.”
This story was originally published on Black & (Red)gister on May 16, 2024.
