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The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon
The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

Courtside Conversations: Shrishti Mahajan ’25

Shivani Kondubhatla, Horizon Editor-in-Chief
October 14, 2024

Music by Ahjay Stelino (Mixkit)

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More in Campus
Watching the field, Souren Uchat ’26 and Viktor Nguyen ’26 from Team Slingshot practice driving their robot. Nguyen drove team Slingshot’s robot for the first time at this competition, and Uchat spent much of the time between matches teaching Nguyen the intricacies of operating the robot.
Robotics FTC Teams Persevere At Second FIRST in Texas GEMS League Meet
Reading the barcodes of the books, Lulu Szeto '26 checks the bookshelves in the Library Great Room. Szeto was highly engaged in the event, organizing many books in this Outreach tradition. "I liked how we were able to organize and make it easier for people to find the books that they want to find," Szeto said. "I also just like organizing in general."
Contributing to Campus Community
Preparing new signs and posters for the tournament, Ethan Chen '27 and Amogh Badrayani '25 draw out careful directions for competition locations. The Westwood Bowl was run by student volunteers who helped from early morning to late in the night.
Speech and Debate Hosts Annual Tournament
In a deep state of concentration, Mrunali Rajiv ‘28 calmly smooths out the pinched edges of her pinch pot. Other members’ creations included jewelry dishes and mugs. “Making what you want and not having anyone telling you what to do is very therapeutic about art,” Rajiv said.
Molding Minds and Hearts
Decked out with neon clothing, the cheerleaders energize the crowd. Cheer was one of the first performances to be spotlighted during the pep rally.
Blacklight Pep Rally Sparks Show of School Spirit
Smiling, Zeren Johnson '25 and Nina Jovanovic '25 socialize and reminisce on their EE experience while eating dinner. The dinner was catered by Chick-fil-A and there was a wide array of other food such as fruit, chips, and sheet cake.
IBSO Hosts EE Party to Celebrate Seniors' Acheivements
More in Humans of the West
Blending her bilingual skills and journalistic abilities to share the stories of American culture, Lena Boas ‘25 crafted a video package documenting American life for German audiences. “[A German TV station] wanted me to do this video diary so that I could show my personal life and what it's like going to school here [US].”
Through Two Lenses
Aiden Wen '26 serves as the DECA president of one of the largest chapters in the state. Throughout his term, he's had to navigate many changes regarding chapter operations due to budget cuts.
Beyond the Blazer
With a heart for teaching AP Environmental Science and a commitment to inspiring future educators, Ms. Mihealsick was honored for her service by being awarded the Texas Teacher of the Year position.
Awarded for Excellence
Aiming to foster engaging communities at Westwood, Ms. Lowery also strives to promote finding unity in the diversity of the student body.
Unity In Diversity
Courtside Conversations: Kayla Padilla '25
Courtside Conversations: Kayla Padilla '25
Courtside Conversations: Isabella D'Alessandro '25
Courtside Conversations: Isabella D'Alessandro '25
More in NEWS
A prominent festival in Indian culture, Diwali holds a special importance in the hearts of people across the world. But for children living in the United States, the celebrations hold a deeper value; many students note that Diwali is a time for them to express their bicultural backgrounds.
Living in the Melting Pot
With the upcoming district election fast-approaching, students express feeling concerned and disoriented regarding their minimal role in the democratic process. Many of these individuals point out that the Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) election in particular holds the potential to affect them the most, however only a fraction of them are allowed to vote and actively take part in it.
Students Comment On Role In Democratic Process
Smiling brightly at a fundraiser, Ms. Linnie LaMaster stands with her teen volunteers for ATX Kids Club. Ms. LaMaster emphasizes how important fundraising is when running a non-profit. “People don’t think about how expensive it can be to run a camp. We rely a lot on fundraising and donors so we can continue to give it back to the kids,” Ms. LaMaster said.
Adventures in Austin
Robotics Kicks Off Competition Season
Robotics Kicks Off Competition Season
Standing behind their decorated booth at the Spooktacular, Fiber Arts Club members entertain a customer during one of their sales. The club sold a variety of personally-crafted plushies and key chains during the event.
YMCA's Spooktacular Event Promotes Student-Led Initiatives
All watching with anticipation, the members of the Westwood PIC club gather round as one of the Trick or Treaters spins the wheel at their stand to determine what prize they would get. If the Trick or Treaters landed on the orange slot, they won a Mr Beast chocolate, a prize attracted many eager kids.
No Tricks, Just Treats: IB and PALS Host Annual Trunk or Treat
About the Contributor
Shivani Kondubhatla
Shivani Kondubhatla, Horizon Editor-in-Chief
Class of 2025  Feeding my ardent love for journalism, I am beyond excited to serve as the Horizon Editor-in-Chief to not only give a voice to the students of Westwood but also to those in our buzzing community. Outside of the newsroom, I am most likely spending time with friends, watching sit-coms (probably Modern Family), or sustaining my unhealthy coffee addiction. Welcome to the Horizon!