Students
New Paltz High School is full of bright minds throughout the school. While many of them are writing for The Maroon, we also wanted to showcase some of the many students at NPHS. This page is full of NPHS students, from profiles to college essays. Check it out!
A Summer in Portugal
By Joshua Quinn, Staff Writer “Você fala inglês?” The woman seated behind the counter stared at me, paused, and responded “Yes,” politely. These were the first words I spoke in Portugal as I arrived alone in a country in which no one knew my name for at least three thousand miles. However, the story really…
It’s Finally Here – The Outdoor Club at New Paltz High School
By Dylan Friedman, Writer The Outdoor Club is a brand-new club at New Paltz High School this year! Started by senior Hannah Ettinger and supervised by Mr. Ulrich and Mr. Urrico, the group plans to go on mini-adventures to local…
Senior Spotlight: Meet Addison Macdonald and Riley Burdick
By Josh Quinn, Staff Writer On August 21, the New Paltz High School girls’ varsity soccer team began training, and leading the way were two of their four team captains: Addison MacDonald and Riley Burdick. This is not Addison MacDonald…
Emily Inga: A Passion for Diversity
By Lindsey Clinton, Co-Editor-In-Chief Navigating high school and the life that follows is no easy feat. We all strive to immediately find a place that suits us whether it be a club, sport, or a group of friends to always rely on. Emily Inga, senior at New Paltz high school, is no exception to this…
Laura Hovey: Finding Inspiration
By Julia Demskie, Co-Editor-in-Chief Whether it be with colorful paintings adorning the walls during this spring’s art show, or the beautiful sound of her flute during third block band rehearsals, senior Laura Hovey has made her mark on the community of New Paltz High School; and it’s made a mark on her, too. “I think…
Normalizing Seasonal Struggles at New Paltz High School
By Olivia Urrico, Staff Writer Featured Image by Tierney Reed As we enter Spring, the halls of New Paltz High School are becoming filled with laughter and excitement once again. But why was this vibrant energy so much harder to come by just a couple months ago? Winter months bestow a variety of hardships…
Jewelry That Tells a Story
The jewelry that shapes the lives of students at New Paltz High School By Parker Reed, Staff Writer Tragically, as many people learn, time cannot be delayed, and the memories we create eventually fade. And yet, despite the inevitable that is time, inanimate objects such as jewelry can pass on those memories and moments through…
NPHS Students Are Inspired by the Past
The 90s are making a comeback in fashion and music By: Aili Zissu, Staff Writer The 90s are new again. Signs of the decade are everywhere, especially in fashion: crop tops, platform boots, and cargo pants. Music is on repeat–playlists are dominated by Radiohead, Nirvana, and Nine Inch Nails. “I don’t think it [music from…
A Beginner’s Handbook in Applying to College
By: Taylor Kane, Staff Writer Applying to college is a daunting process. It’s a minefield of deadlines, due dates, and random acronyms you’ve never heard of, and it seems as if no one else knows what’s going on either. As someone with a platform that’s been through it all by now and survived, I have…
The Power of Music at NPHS
By Olivia Urrico, Staff Writer The students of New Paltz High School are frequently found listening to music. Throughout the day, it is a common occurrence for teachers to ask their students to disconnect from their airpods, headphones, or whatever other device they are listening through. But students are never asked what they are listening…
The Three S’s of a Student Athlete – Sports, School, and Self
By: Shelby De Jong, Staff Writer Many students at New Paltz High School participate in extracurricular activities, whether it be to earn scholarships, improve their resume, make new friends, or explore their interests. Out of these extracurriculars, many students gravitate towards sports offered at the high school, for reasons ranging from personal health to aspirations…
Dismantling of the Myths Around AP Classes
By Trey Nitza, Staff Writer AP classes. They can seem like one of the most common and controversial talking points in highschool sometimes. The amount of times I’ve asked or been asked, “What APs are you taking?”, is impossible to count. In case you’re completely out of the loop on what I’m talking about, AP…
A Freshman’s Perspective
By: Sam DePoala, Staff Writer During my first few weeks here at New Paltz High School I’ve gotten increasingly interested in the school facilities like the wellness center and lockers, but one more obscure facility caught my eye: the locker room shower. The locker room shower, however, is a place often looked at with disgust…
NPHS Senior Artist Spotlight: Nikola Salvestrini
Standing at 5’4 and brown haired, Nikola, a senior here at New Paltz High School, may blend into the group of countless artists in New Paltz, but this is anything but the truth. As a child, Nikola struggled with speech and writing, and turned to art as a form of expression. Armed with countless stories…
The Faces of the Junior Class
By Aili Zissu Sarah Cunningham “ I know that junior year is supposed to be the hardest and most work intensive year, so initially I was a bit nervous that the workload would be too much, but as I’ve been developing my routine, it’s been getting a lot easier to conceptualize the rest of the…
An Insight Into the Seniors of Science Research
By Sage Rochetti, Staff Writer Brandon Sirof Why did you decide to join science research? I’ve always been interested in STEM and science, and it’s just a very unique opportunity to study something I’m interested in versus just the subjects we have to learn in school. Also, the opportunity to work with professionals and really…
NPHS Senior Artist Spotlight: Matan Ziv
by Phoebe Eis, Staff Writer 18-year-old photographer Matan Ziv– the only AP Studio Art student concentrating in the medium this year– is a testament to the roles commitment and diligence play in artistry. He’s spent much of his high school years honing his skills with the camera, but it wasn’t always so prominent in his…
NPHS Senior Athlete Spotlight: Alex Barbato
By Sophie Gallo, Staff Writer On February 22, 2022, the last senior standing on the NPHS varsity basketball team was Alex Barbato. One of New Paltz’s captains, and a great inspiration to his team, he considers his final season. While Alex has spent his years since 5th grade playing basketball, football, and baseball, he finds…
NPHS Athlete Interviews: Varsity Boys Basketball
By Nora Preston, Staff Writer Photos by Nora Preston Beckett Weires What makes basketball standout from other sports? “It’s the only sport I really like and enjoy. I like football, but I wouldn’t play it. I like watching it, and watching my friends play it, but basketball is really the sport that touches me— not…
Solo Diedhiou Finds Her Voice
By Lindsey Clinton, Co-Editor-In-Chief Marietou Solo Diedhiou: A performer. A sister. A friend. Overachieving in every aspect of life, she pushes herself past any limit she is faced with. Diedhiou evolves more and more each day into the person she dreams of becoming – a person she could find herself looking up to. “I want…
NPHS Senior Artist Spotlight: Flora Pierson
By Phoebe Eis, Staff Writer Photograph by Matan Ziv After a hectic first semester of school, classes are falling into some sort of rhythm, and AP Studio Art is no exception– students’ portfolios are well underway, and every B day during third block, Room 121 is abuzz with music, conversations, and creation. Unique topics and…
Humans of New Paltz
By Eve Kortan, Staff Writer This is my interpretation of Humans of NY. I interviewed a student from each grade in the high school and told them to tell me something that their peers might not know about them. I recorded these exciting conversations and selected snippets that I thought were most interesting about each…
NPHS Senior Artist Spotlight: Rosa Savelson
Phoebe Eis, Staff Writer For three years, I’ve looked up to the high school’s AP Studio art students with wonder and amazement, admiring their creations on the school’s walls and relishing interactions with them during open studio after school. Now, to my own surprise, I am actually one of them! I want New Paltz High…
NPHS Student Profile: Laila Mach
By Kendall Lucchesi, Staff Writer From a young age, every kid dreams of growing up and becoming a star–basking in the light of fame and success. For Laila Mach, this dream has become a shocking, unbelievable reality. “It still doesn’t feel real,” Laila says. In late September, Laila began her rigorous American Idol journey. Virtual…
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