THE KNIGHT TIMES - November 2017

INSIDE 

Features 2 

Entertainment 8 

Sports 9 

Opinions 10 

Fall Dance 

Concert 

Dancers shine in 

EHS on the Town 

Grandparents 

Day 

Students welcome 

family on campus for 

Chapel and brunch 

Via Colori 

Team of three bring 

art to the streets in 

Houston event 

Page 2 

Page 3 

Page 5 

THE KNIGHT TIMES 

Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School 

November 2017 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401 www.ehshouston.org Volume 33, Issue 4 

Knights finish 

runner-up in 

SPC title game 

PATRICK BAYOUTH 

Staff Writer 

The 2017 varsity football team had a 

memorable season, finishing 6-0 in SPC 

play and a final record of 6-3, with noteworthy 

victories over rivals Kinkaid, St. 

Thomas, and St. John’s. 

The Knights ended the regular season 

ranked as the number one seed in SPC but 

ultimately lost in the championship game 

in a hard-fought contest at TDECU Stadium 

against the Kinkaid Falcons. 

In the post-season awards ceremony, senior 

Jaylen Waddle was named the team’s 

most valuable player. He finished the season 

leading the team in both touchdowns 

and all-purpose yards. Waddle is a four-star 

wide receiver and is currently committed to 

the U.S. Army All-American game. His top 

six schools are comprised of Texas, Texas 

A&M, Florida State, Alabama, TCU, and 

Oregon. He plans on committing sometime 

in the second semester. 

Quarterback Jack Grams received the 

Sportsmanship Award after a strong senior 

season. Although Grams had to battle 

though a late season injury, he remained 

one of the team’s most influential captains 

through both his words and his actions. 

The Most Improved Player Award was 

given to inside linebacker Hunter Megarity 

for his impressive amount of growth as 

a player and leader from his junior to senior 

seasons. Megarity was the voice of the 

Knight’s defense and a key component to 

the team’s success. 

Girls volleyball dominates at SPC Championship 

Team brings home title for first time in nineteen years 

Left to right, Sophia Quintanilla, Camille Hanna, Brennan Howell, Trinity Watts, Mylana Byrd, Alison Krieg, Kate Sickler, 

Lauren Bordelonn, Kathleen Johnson, Jami Rassy, Kansas Watts, and Sania Petties.The varsity girls volleyball team had a 

great season that ultimately led to winning the SPC Championship. They won the game in four sets against Houston Christian 

High School, a local rival. Photo courtesy of Coach Amanda Watts. 

The Knights run onto the field to prepare 

for the SPC Championship game. 

Photo by Teagan Ashworth. 

The Houston Touchdown Club has recognized 

seniors John Saucer, Alan Ayanegui, 

Grams, and Waddle as four of the most 

outstanding senior athletes in the Houston 

area. Next year’s Knights will miss the 

presence of each of the 19 seniors on this 

year’s squad as they look to win an SPC 

championship. 

PRESTON WITT 

Staff Writer 

The Episcopal High School girls volleyball 

team had an extraordinary Fall SPC 

weekend as they beat St. Stephen’s, Episcopal 

School of Dallas (ESD), and Houston 

Christian to win the 2017 SPC Championship 

and claim the trophy for the first 

time in nineteen years. 

The Knights dominated the South Zone, 

going undefeated in SPC play, which 

earned the girls the number one seed going 

into the tournament. The Knights received 

a bye for the first round and started SPC 

play with an impressive 3-0 win over St. 

Stephen’s. The evident energy that the girls 

brought into the game was a major contributor 

to their exciting victory. The girls 

dominated with outstanding kills from 

freshman right side/middle, Sania Petties 

and junior middle Kathleen Johnson. In 

addition, the notable passing of sophomore 

libero Alison Krieg and the tough play of 

defensive specialists Sophia Quintanilla 

and Jamilee Rassy were huge factors. 

The Knights faced a challenging ESD 

squad in the semifinals and won 3-0 with 

a remarkable effort from the whole team. 

Leading the way for the Knights was freshman 

setter Camille Hanna and right side 

Kansas Watts. Brennan Howell, sophomore 

outside was crushing the ball and led 

the team in kills and on to a SPC Championship 

appearance. 

As the Knights attempted to capture 

their first SPC title in almost two decades, 

the girls had the challenge of facing their 

hometown rivals, Houston Christian. This 

thrilling match featured the number one 

and two seeds in the race for the SPC 

champions trophy. The Knights came to 

play, winning the first two sets with ease 

while Houston Christian took the third set. 

In the fourth set, Howell, with sixteen kills, 

and senior setter and team captain Mylana 

Byrd took control of the game and would 

not be denied. 

Head Coach Amanda Watts had high 

praise for this talented and hardworking 

team, saying, “This team was determined 

to achieve their goal of winning SPC. They 

believed in themselves and their teammates. 

When they were challenged, they 

fought harder. They wanted to make sure 

their mental toughness matched their athletic 

ability. Their chemistry on and off 

the court was special to watch, and I truly 

believe it played a significant role in their 

successful season. I could not be more 

proud of this group of girls.” 

The girls look to continue their winning 

streak next year.

2 The Knight Times 

Features 

History defines Forrest Place 

ANGEL STRINGER 

Staff Writer 

As reported last month in The Knight 

Times, coming next year to the newly constructed 

Student Center is… that’s right, 

what you all have been waiting for, Forrest 

Place. Forrest Place, the coffee café 

that was first presented by alumni Forrest 

Pressler, Class of 2017. 

The origin of the name comes from 

roots much deeper than his first name, 

though. The Forrest name dates back to 

the 1800’s to his grandfather, the honorable 

Sir John Forrest who was from 

Australia. In fact, there is an actual Forrest 

Place still up and running in Perth, and at 

LAUREN PORTER 

Editor-in-Chief 

El 16 de noviembre, Enrique Iglesias y 

Pitbull interpretaron en el Toyota Center 

con el invitado especial CNCO. La noche 

fue muy divertida, y interpretaron algunas 

de sus canciones de éxito, incluyendo “Tonight”, 

“Give Me Everything”, y “Rain 

Over Me”. Durante la actuación de Pitbull 

hubo bailarines de respaldo que hicieron 

que tuviera mucha energía. Enrique y 

Pitbull también interpretaron su canción 

“Bailando”. Esa canción era un favorito 

Your Spanish Corner 

EHS on the Town kicks off Dance Program season 

ANNABELLE COKINOS 

Staff Writer 

The Fall Dance performance EHS on the 

Town held the last weekend of October 

at the Midtown Arts and Theatre Center 

proved memorable. Dance audiences of 

one of the three performances could tell 

that the dancers worked hard to perfect the 

challenging choreography. 

Dance program coordinator Frank Vega 

and dance teacher Kristina Burgess choreographed 

the dances, as well as guest 

choreographers, Migul Perez, Lynzy Lab, 

Karen Pfeifer, and Oliver Halkowich. 

These choreographers came from all over 

the country to choreograph the dances. 

The girls had been perfecting the pieces 

since September. Mostly consisting of 

contemporary and jazz style, the pieces 

the girls performed required many hours 

of work - Monday through Saturday nor- 

EHS, a legacy Forrest leaves to his grandfather’s 

name. 

The café will be for the purchase of 

coffee and will be charged to a student’s 

account. Simple and easy. 

Mrs. Peggy Haney, director of advancement, 

shared, “It was really important to 

the Construction Committee to design the 

new Underwood Student Center with the 

“students” at the heart of the building.” 

EHS desires to better enhance student 

experiences and the community as a 

whole. With this new coffee bar, EHS 

hopes many students will become closer 

and extend themselves in communication 

with other classmates. 

Who’s ready to coffee-it-up? 

mally. The dance concert included many 

dancers at EHS, and ranged in difficulty. 

The dances had a wide variety of students, 

from dancers that had never danced before 

coming to EHS and students that had 

many years of dance experience. 

Sophomore Impact dancer Katherine 

Thompson says, “I think the parents really 

enjoyed Mr. Vega’s tribute piece because 

of the classic choreography and music, 

and it was one of my favorites, too.” 

Auditions already got underway in 

November for the next dance performance 

Move It or Lose It! 

At right, Blake Ogle, Sophia Henry, 

Armani Alexis, and Anabelle Maples 

perform during the dance teaser in 

Alkek Gym. EHS on the Town was met 

with huge audiences during its October 

run. Photo by Spencer Donley. 

de los aficionados. En general, la noche 

fue muy divertido y Pitbull y Enrique 

tuvieron un gran concierto. 

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Features 

Coffee Fest? Culture House? By 

any other name, still a good time 

The Knight Times 3 

Who rocks English? Kechejian 

ELLIOTT JONES 

Staff Writer 

SYDNEY HUTCHINS 

Staff Writer 

In a change to the annual Coffee House 

and CultureFest, the two events were 

combined during both lunches prior to 

Thanksgiving Break to provide students 

an opportunity to kick back and relax with 

some fun interactive activities. Sponsored 

by the World Languages Department and 

the language clubs, the dual event featured 

traditional Coffee House performances 

from students, faculty, the Impact dancers, 

and chorale, along with two dessert food 

trucks. 

Construction of a new cafeteria to 

replace the Underwood, where Coffee 

House used to be held, and the teardown 

of old Alkek Gym, where CultureFest 

used to find its home, forced both 

events to come up with a new venue. It 

was decided that the best place for this 

extravaganza was on the Bissonnet side 

of the school in the Ellipse where there 

is enough space to seat students and still 

have a platform for the performers. 

In addition to the normal hot line lunch 

available in Crum, there was a nacho bar 

in place of the hamburger line, water bottles 

available outside, and the two dessert 

food trucks. Students, faculty, and staff 

members were able to pick up one ticket 

from a table outside for a free dessert and 

the choice of a Hawaiian shaved ice truck 

or a dessert crepe. 

Members of the EHS community 

showed their talents in various performances. 

5A Lunch talent included Gloria 

Ni who performed her choreographed 

Vietnamese dance, Trey Hernandez sang 

the throwback “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay, 

Taylor Ferguson sang “Rise” by 

Katy Perry, and for both lunch periods 

Hanna Nyberg sang “Lost Stars” by Keira 

Knightly while Payton Herbert played 

the guitar, the Impact team danced to 

“Despacito”, and the school chorale sang 

“Downtown.” 

During 5B lunch Señor Weinstein 

provided a unique twist on “Despacito” 

with his voice and guitar while Mr. Binder 

played the ukulele for extra support. The 

Bradshaw gang paid a nice tribute to the 

famous Tom Petty with “Free Fallin” and 

passed out lyrics so the crowd could sing 

along. Tyler Johnson, also known as Tymonieofficial, 

sang his own mix, “Super 

Saiyan Blue,” that can be found on Soun- 

Cloud. Another original that really outdid 

itself was Sophia Henry’s slam poetry 

reading, which got the crowd pumped up 

for the final performance, Antonio Cruz’s 

singing/rapping of “Dark Queen” by Lil 

Uzi Vert. 

Ms. Elizabeth Kechejian, one of the 

several great English teachers that came 

to EHS this year, led a very exciting life 

before moving to Houston. From her birth 

in Hawaii to teaching at a university, she 

has done more than most have done in a 

lifetime. The Knight Times sat down with 

the teacher her colleagues know as “Biz” 

to find out more. 

Would you discuss your life before coming 

to Houston? Where did you grow up 

and go to school? What is one thing that 

you miss from your old city? 

I was born in Pearl City, Hawaii, but 

I grew up in Milton, MA, attending the 

same school five minutes from home from 

kindergarten to 12th grade. 

I studied psychology at Boston University, 

thinking I might become a psychiatrist. 

Upon graduation, I reevaluated what 

I actually wanted to do and moved to 

Florida to study creative writing. 

Two things I miss about Boston are the 

cider donuts from the Farmers Market and 

the friends who get them with me when 

I’m home. 

What made you decide to move to 

Houston? 

I wanted to try a new city and I have 

family in Dallas. 

I also have a family ranch up near the 

Oklahoma border, so growing up, I had 

very positive associations with Texas. 

Have you always wanted to be an English 

teacher? If so, what sparked your 

interest? If not, what was your dream 

job and why? 

For a while I wanted to become an architect. 

All of my notebooks from middle 

and high school are covered with doodles 

of elaborate (totally structurally unsound) 

homes. 

I think I just liked customizing spaces, an 

interest which led to the downfall of my 

babysitting career because I would make 

forts with the kids. I always loved writing 

and literature, but before grad school, I 

did not consider becoming a teacher. 

How does teaching high schoolers differ 

from teaching college students? 

Teaching at a high school allows for 

getting to know the students holistically, 

whereas teaching college students isn’t 

usually as personal. 

As well, college courses are just one 

semester long. Sometimes just as I was 

settling into a groove with a class, the 

course was winding down. It was still fun 

to teach older students, and it’s very fun to 

teach high schoolers. 

What are your strategies for keeping 

your students engaged in your class’s 

curriculum? 

One simple strategy is designing a wide 

variety of assignments with plenty of 

creative options. 

I think it’s also more engaging (and 

interesting!) when students have enough 

freedom to make projects their own. 

EHS welcomes grandparents 

Story Sinex, Claire Schwarze, Jose Reyes, and Sam Holden enjoy some crepes during 

the combined Coffee House and Culture Fest day on campus. Photo by Sydney 

Bosarge. 

Garden of Edens 

Advice about 

Things that Matter 

with Will Edens 

Episcopal freshmen Gunnar Brown and Helen Young enjoy brunch with some of 

the grandparents who attended Grandparents Day. Photo courtesy by the Episcopal 

High School Facebook page. 

Welcome back to another edition of Garden 

of Edens. This month in the Garden 

of Edens we will be discussing the importance 

of having a good fantasy football 

team. First of all, everyone on campus 

should be involved in a fantasy league; if 

you aren’t already involved, head to espn. 

com to see all the action. 

Second, fantasy sports allow for smack 

talk between you and your buddies and can 

always be the topic of conversation when 

schoolwork slows down. I have heard 

of many leagues around campus where 

the looser of a league will have to be the 

SACKO for a weekend. The SACKO must 

do anything and everything the winner of 

the league asks of him within reason, like 

wear clothing that the loser wouldn’t normally 

pick out for himself. My best advice 

to you this month would be to not be the 

SACKO of your league. 

On a more serious note, remembering 

to set your lineups before Thursday night, 

checking the wavier wire for dropped 

players, and receiving push notifications 

on your phone when a player is injured 

are all ways to guarantee that you beat all 

your friends and make sure you’re the one 

smiling at the lunch table come Monday 

afternoon. 

ISABEL YOUNG 

Staff Writer 

On November 17, Episcopal honored 

Knight grandparents and special friends 

by hosting the annual Grandparents Day. 

The Chapel service celebrated grandparents 

and also functioned as a Thanksgiving 

service. 

The day began with Chapel and was 

followed with lunch. In Chapel, Head of 

School Mr. Ned Smith was the homilist, 

and the Chorale offered some beautiful 

music. 

A full team of acolytes was in service, 

readings were given by Kate Donaldson, 

Alena Haney, and James Henry Ray, and 

Ryab Fulghym, Austin McGinnis, and 

Blake Ogle led prayers. Grandparents 

Day has been a tradition since the school 

started. 

EHS always wants to give grandparents 

a special day to recognize that they are an 

important part of the EHS community. 

New this year was the luncheon in 

the new Alkek Gym in the Hildebrand 

Athletic Center. Over 400 attended the 

lunch as grandparents joined their EHS 

grandchildren. 

LeAnn Dromgoole presented a Thanksgiving 

offering of the leaves in the library. 

Payton Herbert and Mr. John Drexel offered 

their Thankfulness Statements at the 

very beginning of the service.


Features 

'SU P with Soph 

Jackson Williams creates app for Aston Martin 

SOPHIA HENRY 

Staff Writer 

Every great human being who truly 

wants to embrace the patriotic holiday of 

Thanksgiving searches for the legendary 

Golden Turkey. If you have never heard 

of this legend, then sit yourself down and 

listen up. 

Story has it, there exists a Golden Turkey 

that lives deep in the Amazon Rain 

Forest in an unknown cave, hidden in the 

depths of despair. Each person who has 

attempted to capture the succulent, juicy 

turkey has come back slightly injured or 

super cursed. 

I, Sophia Henry, come from a long line 

of turkey hunters. I would embark on a 

journey of a lifetime and not see my mother 

for over 30 years as I would have to 

train my body and mind with the Amazon 

monks. They would teach me how to fly 

with the mind and shoot lasers out of my 

eyes, but nothing could prepare me for 

what has to come (except maybe a little 

more practice). 

Before I would be able to leave my 

mentors, the Fire Nation would attack. All 

the elderly monks would look to me to be 

their savior, for I am the Chosen One. The 

prophecy of my arrival would be inscribed 

in their sacred iPhone X. As the fighting 

continues, I would glare into the pond of 

eternal life and ask myself: Who should I 

fight for, the monks or the Golden Turkey? 

With that, I would leave. 

With my newly obtained flight abilities, 

I would fly into the heart of the Amazon 

Rain Forest with only my dignity and a 

fidget spinner (great buy, by the way!). I 

would miss five Thanksgivings in search 

for the hidden cave, and I would not find it 

until I found myself, but most importantly, 

another fidget spinner. The Golden Turkey 

would be blindingly bright as it squabbles 

in darkness and sings a harmonious 

melody of love and compassion. As our 

eyes meet, a stream of tears would pour 

down my face because I would know the 

Golden Turkey was not a turkey at all. It 

was a waste of time. 

I would come back and sit through another 

mediocre Thanksgiving. FIN. 

EHS offers engineering 

GABRIELLE DUCOTE 

Staff Writer 

This year the EHS Science Department 

began offering a new Introduction to Engineering 

course taught by Mr. Eric Avera, 

who spent two of his summer weeks at the 

University of Texas training to teach the 

class. During these intensive lessons, he 

participated in activities similar to those 

the students do themselves in class. 

He volunteered to teach the class in order 

to give Episcopal students an opportunity 

to have a glimpse into the complex world 

of engineering. Without any exposure to 

this STEM field, students often struggle 

to gain a clear idea about the variety of 

engineering courses available collegiately 

and what array of work engineers involve 

themselves in. Having this experience in 

high school gives students the ability to 

discover new interests, test their abilities, 

and challenge themselves. 

As a unique, project-based course, there 

are no tests or quizzes. Instead, grades are 

composed of technical drawings, reports, 

engineering notebooks, and more. The 

class requires a creative imagination in 

order to complete the impressive assignments. 

With an emphasis on teamwork, 

students finish the course with an understanding 

of the several major areas of engineering. 

The class is currently working on a project 

with reverse engineering. This involves 

students taking apart something and reassembling 

it into working condition. A popular 

pig-shaped flashlight and keychain is 

the object they are working with now. Not 

only are they understanding the complex 

technological mechanisms, but they are 

also redesigning the flashlight to create a 

new and improved version, all based on 

research. 

Episcopal students work tediously on their detailed engineering projects. Photo 

courtesy of Ms. Tsai. 

Jackson Williams stands by an Aston Martin sports car outside of a Houston dealership. 

Photo courtesy of Jackson Williams. 

ELLIE RAGIEL 

Staff Writer 

EHS junior Jackson Williams wears 

many hats: full time student, young entrepreneur, 

certified tech-genius, avid car 

enthusiast, and stock market advisor to his 

friends… the list goes on. Starting when 

he was around 12 years old, Jackson began 

teaching himself how to code and make 

apps through YouTube videos and trial and 

error. 

Now, five years later, Jackson has successfully 

created several apps ranging from 

simple games in his early years to complex 

apps that help real life businesses connect 

with their customers. 

In his latest endeavor, Jackson has landed 

somewhat of a “dream job” after being 

Is your relationship healthy? 

CAMI PYNE 

Staff Writer 

What makes a relationship healthy? 

Is it roses and gifts or is it communication 

and dedication? Every relationship has 

itsups and downs, but is there a limit? Yes. 

When one partner becomes abusive and 

starts compensating with gifts or presents, 

the relationship has reached bounds that 

are dangerous. 

A healthy relationship consists of communication 

with both partners and a 

healthy dialogue regarding all things in the 

relationship, honesty, and trust are so important. 

Being comfortable with your partner 

is one of the most important things in 

a relationship; being able to communicate 

when you feel unsafe or uncomfortable is 

vital as well. Communicating with your 

partner includes being able to listen to your 

partner in all matters, especially in intimate 

situations and even simple ones. 

Respecting your partner’s wishes and 

not feeling pressured in a situation is important, 

too. Consent is a delicate matter 

that applies to every sort of relationship. 

Although delicate, it is also so simple. Last 

year we all watched a video in advisory. 

hired by prestigious sports car company 

Aston Martin to create a customer service 

app – allowing him to pursue his interest in 

coding and app building while enjoying his 

love of sports cars. His favorite part about 

the job? Getting to test drive and take photos 

with the cars, especially the exclusive 

supercars hidden in storage on the upper 

floors of the Aston Martin garage. 

Along with making apps, Jackson’s 

other interests include 3D printing, building 

computers, bit coin mining, investing, 

and most recently, algorithmic trading. It is 

no surprise that one of Jackson’s favorite 

classes at Episcopal is the AP Computer 

Science course, which gives him the time 

and liberty to explore these passions during 

the school day as well as improve his 

coding skills. 

Freshmen: I encourage you to watch it as 

well: Tea Consent. The video explains that 

consent is like making someone tea. If you 

make them tea once, it doesn’t mean they 

will always want tea. If you make someone 

tea, and during the middle of the experience 

they don’t want tea anymore, don’t 

force it on him or her. If someone is passed 

out, don’t make them drink tea. 

How do you decide if a relationship is 

unhealthy? 

1. Do you feel safe with your partner? 

2. Does your partner abuse you and make 

up for it with gifts? 

3. Does your partner cut you off from your 

friends or things you like doing? 

If you do not feel safe or, you need to let 

someone know. People you can contact are 

Mrs. Sam Scharff sscharff@ehshouston. 

org, Reverend Holden bholden@ehshouston.org, 

school nurse Mrs. Jane Kavanagh, 

a parent, a trusted adult or teacher, or in a 

dire situation, the police. 

Deciding this may be difficult, but know 

that EHS has a strong support system dedicated 

to helping survivors. Now you just 

have to evaluate for yourself: What boundaries 

or rules do you set while dating? What 

happens if a boundary or rule is broken?

Features 


Spector documents Harvey in compelling video 

ANGEL STRINGER 

Staff Writer 

Sophomore Suzanne Spector used her 

moviemaking skills recently to create a 

documentary on Hurricane Harvey, the 

natural disaster that devastated the Houston 

and surrounding areas. She reflected 

that originally the idea was not entirely 

hers. She was speaking with Dean of Arts 

Mr. Jay Berkeley and was inspired by his 

story. He told her about the tornadoes in 

his backyard and the terror experienced by 

his friends and family. 

Su sent the video to her family outside 

the impacted areas because she felt they 

didn’t fully understand what the event 

was like and its long-lasting effects. The 

video highlighted the grim details of what 

actually occurred and put the aftermath in 

perspective. 

Su reflected, “Some of the challenges I 

faced were acquiring footage and images 

to complement the interviews, trying to 

respect the integrity of the people I had 

interviewed, and trying to stay true to 

what the people intended to say.” 

As far as putting the video together, she 

said it was stressful. She had to find the 

right kind of videos to complement the 

people she interviewed and stay true to the 

story. Although the process was stressful, 

she was amazed by the outcome. 

If you are interested in watching her 

video, you can find it at https://vimeo.com 

/241061021?activityReferer=1. 

Be inspired and share your ideas. Stand 

out Knights! 

Mr. Isaiah Coleman, science teacher at EHS, speaks in the Harvey documentary 

about his experience. Still from documentary. 

Alumni share experiences during Leadership Day 

CAMI PYNE 

Staff Writer 

The annual Alumni Leadership Day, 

an opportunity for seniors to listen to the 

real-world work experiences of former 

Knights, was held November 8 in various 

locations on campus. Members of 

the Class of 2018 attended three different 

alumni-led panels of their choosing where 

they learned about various occupational 

fields. 

Utilizing an interests inventory completed 

by each senior, Director of Alumni 

Affairs & Annual Giving Mrs. Margaret 

Young and Kendall Buckalew Mc- 

Cord, Special Events and Alumni Coordinator 

and a member of the Class of 

2003 spend a month handpicking alumni 

with careers in various fields of interest. 

The categories for the panels included 

business, fine arts, law, communications, 

journalism, sports management, sports, 

real estate, engineering, energy, finance, 

accounting, and banking. 

During the panels, former students 

talked about how Episcopal shaped them 

and how they used the skills they learned 

to succeed in their careers and lives. They 

also reflected on past experiences, teachers 

they had, and how their jobs impact 

their lives. The alumni gave the current 

seniors advice and tips to succeed in their 

chosen careers, speaking most importantly 

on the importance of college in making 

long-term connections. 

Students who were part of a sports panel share a few laughs with alumni. Photo by 

Mr. Mauro Gomez. 

Streets come alive during Via Colori 

An alumni panel interacts with senior students. Photo by Mr. Mauro Gomez. 

SOPHIA HENRY 

Staff Writer 

The National Art Honor Society will be 

participating in Via Colori Street Painting 

Festival once again this year. The Via 

Colori allows over 250 artists to create 

eye-popping art work on the pavement 

of downtown Houston. Those attending 

the festival watch the artists create their 

masterpieces and bring it to life. The local 

and international artists gather in a sense 

of community and creativity to support 

The Center for Hearing and Speech. 

The Episcopal NAHS students will be 

drawing a 6 x 6 square foot drawing of 

the flooding and destruction of Hurricane 

Harvey against a starry night sky. The 

competition runs November 18-19. 

Sam Wilson and Emma Polaski will 

participate in the festival with art teacher 

Mrs. Sharon Willcutts leadership as the 

artists work as a team to present the most 

profound illustration of Harvey’s hardship 

on Houston families. Via Colori is limited 

to three artist per team and each participant 

will receive a t-shirt, provided food, 

and recognition. 

The piece titled “Scarry Night” after 

Starry Night by Van Gogh. The crowd 

was so impressed with the drawing that 

people began to form a line in order to get 

a photo of the Knights’ work. The girls 

were able to finish in one day, which is an 

Episcopal first, because of their prototype 

sketch and planning ahead. 

The artist panel, with senior Peyton Herbert asking a question of participating 

alumni. Photo by Ashleigh Teel. 

Sam Wilson, Katy Davidson, and Sophia Casetta are begin to create their “Scary 

Night” drawing. Photo by Mrs. Sharon Willcutts.


The Knight Times 

Dealing with Stress 

7 

CAMI PYNE 

Staff Writer 

During 5A Lunch, investigative reporter Cami Pyne took to Crum Gym to figure out why Knights are stressed. With over 50 

students participating in this in-depth inquiry, a discovery was made. The most stressful thing in a Knight’s life is…. school. Why is 

this? Will this change? Why? 

Most students claim that homework, classwork, extracurricular activities, and the bulk of it all add up to increasing anxiety over 

school and the stigma around it. Many students believe the increased stress is from the extra pressure of finishing everything in a semester 

after Hurricane Harvey; some believe it is because of the long walk from A building to B building then C building. All of the 

added stress leads to panic. How do we deal with this panic? Mrs. Sam Scharff, Choices counselor, has some advice. 

How do we deal with school stress? 

Get your work done, do not procrastinate, and talk to your teachers. 

Should I work harder and add more things to deal with stress? 

No!! That will only make you more stressed and feel out of control. The busier you are, the more you need to take time for yourself 

and de-stress. 

Are there any tips you have to avoid getting too stressed out? 

I actually have 10 tips to help with mental health and stress. 

1. Stop feeling guilty 

2. Be decisive 

3. Avoid being a perfectionist 

4. Set priorities for yourself 

5. Stop procrastinating 

6. Praise yourself 

7. Live an optimal lifestyle 

8. Eat healthy 

9. Exercise 

10. Sleep 

11. Breathe 

Where should I go if I feel overwhelmed? 

If you feel too stressed, get in contact with your grade level dean: 

9th: Mr. Lerch 

10th: Mrs. Moake 

11th: Coach Jones 

12th: Mrs. Adams 

Your advisor, your teachers, or Mrs. Scharff sscharff@ehshouston.org. 

LAUREN PORTER 


Stress affects everyone at some point in his or her life, but one of the most stressful times in life can be as teenagers. 

With changing social groups, schoolwork constantly building, and the process of growing up, students can have many 

stressors in their lives. 

Cortisol, a chemical in the brain, is the chemical that causes the body to feel stress. With increased cortisol levels, the 

body reacts in several ways. The immune system is compromised, and the ability to relax and rest is very difficult. The 

hunger hormone ghrelin is also increased, which leads to stress eating. Decision-making is also affected, as it is much 

easier to become irritable. Signs of increased cortisol include poor sleep, weight gain, a weak immune system, anxiety, 

and depression. 

There are many factors that cause these increases in cortisol, including stressors that are psychological, environmental, 

and biological. Psychological stressors include breakups, deaths of loved ones, and social changes, while environmental 

stressors can be caused by workload, athletics, and activities. Biological stressors are determined by genetics 

and how easily a person can become stressed. 

Stress can be managed in many ways, including eating healthy food, sleep management, and maintaining social 

connections. Single actions can also temporarily reduce immediate stress such as going on a walk, coloring, or deep 

breathing exercises. Showing love to a pet can also be a healthy stress reliever. 

Stress can also be a positive feeling and can serve as motivation. For example, the stress of an AP or honors class can 

be a healthy challenge and can push a student to reach higher achievement. Stress can also be the result of an exciting 

change such as college applications or moving away from home. A new leadership position can also be a positive stress 

for a student in helping him or her strive for the best effort. 

Stress can become unhealthy if it is not managed properly. Every student faces stress at some point in high school, 

and it can lead to detrimental effects if not handled correctly. 

10 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress 

It might surprise you to learn that biological stress is a fairly recent discovery. It wasn’t until the late 1950s that endocrinologist Hans 

Selye first identified and documented stress. His discoveries led to new research that has helped millions cope. 

Listen to music 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a stressful situation, try taking a break and listening to relaxing music. 

Playing calm music has a positive effect on the brain and body, 

Call a friend 

When you’re feeling stressed, take a break to call a friend and talk. Good relationships with friends and loved 

ones are important to any healthy lifestyle, and they’re especially important when you’re under a lot of stress. 

A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put everything in perspective. 

Courtesy of spencerburton.ca 

Talk yourself through it 

Sometimes calling a friend is not an option. If this is the case, talking calmly to yourself can be the next best thing. 

Don’t worry about seeming crazy — just tell yourself why you’re stressed out, what you have to do to complete 

the task at hand, and most importantly, that everything will be okay. 

Eat right 

Stress levels and a proper diet are closely related. When we’re overwhelmed, we often forget to eat well 

and resort to using sugary, fatty snack foods as a pick-me-up. Try to avoid sugary snacks and plan ahead. 

Fruits and vegetables are always good, and fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to 

reduce the symptoms of stress. A tuna sandwich really is brain food. 

Laugh it off 

Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and decrease levels of the stress-causing 

hormones. Laughing tricks your nervous system into making you happy. 

Drink tea 

A large dose of caffeine causes a short-term spike in blood pressure. It may also cause your 

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to go into overdrive. Instead of coffee or energy drinks, try green tea. 

It has less than half the caffeine of coffee and contains healthy antioxidants. 

Be mindful 

There are many lifestyle changes that can be more effective in the long run. The concept of 

“mindfulness” is a large part of meditative and somatic approaches to mental health, and has become popular 

in modern psychotherapy. From yoga and tai chi to meditation and Pilates, these systems of mindfulness incorporate 

physical and mental exercises that prevent stress from becoming a problem. 

Exercise (even for a minute) 

Exercise doesn’t necessarily mean power lifting at the gym or training for a marathon. A short walk or simply 

standing up to stretch during a break can offer immediate relief in a stressful situation. Getting your blood moving 

releases endorphins and can improve your mood almost instantaneously. 

Sleep better 

Everyone knows stress can cause you to lose sleep. Unfortunately, lack of sleep is also a key cause of stress. 

This vicious cycle causes the brain and body to get out of whack and only gets worse with time. 

Make sure to get the doctor-recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. Turn the TV off earlier, 

dim the lights, and give yourself time to relax before going to bed. 

Breathe easy 

The advice “take a deep breath” may seem like a cliché, but it holds true when it comes to stress. For centuries, 

Buddhist monks have been conscious of deliberate breathing during meditation. For an easy three- to five-minute 

exercise, sit up in your chair with your feet flat on the floor and hands on top of your knees. Breathe in and out 

slowly and deeply, concentrating on your lungs as they expand fully in your chest. 

Senior Sarah Venker. Photo by Angel Stringer 

Courtesy of heathline.com


Entertainment 

Cooking with Cami 

New series Atypical breaks the norm 

CAMI PYNE 

Staff Writer 

A Vegetarian Turkey Delight 

Tofu-giving? Umm, no thanks. Want to 

try eating vegan or vegetarian during the 

holidays? This veggie turkey substitute 

will have all the vegans and vegetarians 

in your life coming back for seconds. Last 

October, I decided to go full vegetarian, 

leaving my mother in a bit of confusion 

as to what to do for Thanksgiving. She decided 

on this beautiful cauliflower fo-turkey. 

It’s delicious! 

SYDNEY HUTCHINS 

Staff Writer 

The new Netflix series Atypical is a 

show about a senior in high school, Sam, 

who suffers from autism while experiencing 

“normal” high school experiences, 

such as trying to find a girlfriend, talking 

to popular kids, and dealing with family 

issues, all while desiring to fit in. 

The warm-hearted comedy is one of the 

few shows with a main character on the 

spectrum, and this allows viewers to understand 

how relatable everyone’s struggles 

are. Sam’s overprotective mother 

applies her authoritative umbrella over 

him when he attempts to step out into the 

uncertain world on his own. She creates 

her own side-drama as she ironically 

tries to step outside into the world once 

again herself, not as a parent but as a free 

woman...too bad her husband does not 

know, though. Sam’s younger sister Casey 

protects him more anyone else as she must 

uncomfortably decide whether to take a 

track scholarship at a school away from 

Sam. Even when the family is in disarray, 

they always come together to support Sam 

and each other. 

Sam’s knowledge of Antarctica goes 

beyond typical researchers as he always 

Taylor Swift makes a comeback with Reputation hitting the Top 10 

ISABELLA GOODMAN 

Staff Writer 

In Taylor Swift’s sixth album, Reputation, 

which hit shelves November 10, Swift 

swaps her family-friendly narratives and 

dreamy melodies for production value and 

jabs at those who oppose her. 

When she released her first single, “Look 

What You Made Me Do,” Swift infamously 

pronounced that the old Taylor was 

dead. This statement seems to ring true 

as remnants of her old music are few and 

far between. Taylor has made it clear that 

she’s trying to sound sonically cohesive, 

something she did well on her fifth album, 

1989. On Reputation, however, all of the 

songs begin to sound the same, and there 

aren’t many that can distinguish themselves 

over the bass drops and synthesizers. 

The best thing about Taylor Swift’s music 

has always been her lyrics; they’ve been 

catchy, powerful, and potent, but on Reputation, 

her lyricism takes a backseat. This 

is her second fully-fledged pop album, and 

as a result, she leans on pop clichés and 

standards that are commonplace and trite 

in today’s pop. 

In “Ready for It,” Swift tries her hand 

at rapping, and she trades melodies for a 

Young and Hungry 

ISABEL YOUNG 

Staff Writer 

This month on Young and Hungry, I 

focused on what my readers enjoy. 

Following a schoolwide survey, I determined 

your favorite place to get tacos is 

50 

Favorite Taco in Houston 

Ingredients: 

1-2 full heads of cauliflower 

Veggie stock 

Olive oil or butter 

Rosemary 

Garlic 

Prep: Clean the cauliflower and prep them 

in a large tin or pan, and preheat your oven 

to 250 degrees. Pour one cup of veggie 

stock on them and then brush butter or olive 

oil on it with a pastry brush. Add your 

fixin’s (garlic and rosemary) between the 

smaller heads of the cauliflower. Bake for 

twenty minutes. Let cool then enjoy! 

Torcheys Tacos, and your favorite burger 

place is Hopdoddy. 

The favorite fast food for EHS is Whataburger. 

Ice cream? You favored Baskin 

Robbins, with Marble Slab close in the 

running. 

Eat up and enjoy! 

50 

Favorite Fast Food 

strong baseline. “Ready for It” is one of the 

best examples of Swift trying to break out 

of the mold she created for herself because 

it is so unlike her past. Swift channels two 

of the biggest names in music right now, 

Ed Sheeran and Future for “End Game,” 

and it’s perfectly marketable, but there’s 

not much else to it. “I Did Something Bad” 

doesn’t feel genuine; it feels conventional 

and tired but plays right into everything 

that she’s been alluding to over the past 

few months. “Don’t Blame Me” is a ballad 

where her vocals shine through. “Delicate” 

is definite pop, but it feels as though something 

is missing, like it’s waiting for a 

powerful bridge that never comes. 

“Look What You Made Me Do” was the 

first single released, and if it’s true that any 

publicity is good publicity, then Taylor 

Swift should be proud. It doesn’t make it 

seem like Swift is in control of the narrative, 

despite her wish to be. “Look What 

You Made Me Do” feels like a joke that 

landed in the wrong way. 

By the time “So It Goes” comes around, 

it blends into everything else like one big 

pop amalgamation. “Gorgeous” is one of 

the catchier pieces, but it’s immature and 

finds a way to tell people random facts 

about it. In regard to her brother’s search 

for a girlfriend, Casey jokingly tells him 

to not mention penguins and to assume 

girls are not interested in them. Sam 

relates to penguins as they live life in icy 

isolation from the rest of the world, yet his 

factual knowledge sometimes allows him 

to communicate his emotions to others. 

Overall, the series encompasses comedy, 

family, and a new perspective on what is 

“normal.” 

The new TV show Atypical premired 

august 11 and has gotten great reviews 

since. Photo courtesy to IMDB.com. 

sounds like Swift is playing the relatability 

card a little too heavy-handedly. On 

“Getaway Car,” Swift’s storytelling finally 

makes an appearance. The abrupt changes 

on “King of My Heart” makes the song 

feel unfinished and confused. “Dancing 

with Our Hands Tied” is proof that the old 

Taylor isn’t dead, but it’s not alive enough 

to stand out. In a good way, “Dress” sounds 

like it belongs on 1989, and this one seems 

to understand the dynamic of today’s pop. 

“This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” 

is anthemic but cheesy at best. “Call It 

What You Want” is understandably one of 

the singles; it’s definitely a stronger track 

except some of the lyrics feel underdeveloped. 

“New Year’s Day” is definitely an 

outlier and a stark contrast from the rest of 

the album; it’s much more reflective and 

reminiscent of “Speak Now” or “Red.” 

This was definitely an experiment from 

Swift, an attempt to revolutionize and 

reinvent herself like so many artists of the 

past have tried. This album will most likely 

be one of Swift’s less memorable projects. 

Reputation is aggressive and flashy, but 

there’s not much substance or authenticity 

behind her bass drops and call-outs. 

40 

40 

30 

30 

20 

20 

10 

10 

0 

Torchey’s Taco Bell 100% 

Taquitos 

Fajitas a 

go go 

0 

Whataburger 

Canes Chick Fil A Sonic 

50 

Favorite Burger in Houston 

50 

Favorite Ice Cream 

40 

40 

30 

30 

20 

20 

10 

10 

0 

Hopdoddy Beck’s Prime Southwells Five Guys 

0 

Marble Slab Amy’s Baskin 

Robbins 

Creamistry 

Swift’s album cover for Reputation portrays her new, unique image, leaving her past 

behind. Photo courtesy of newyorker.com.

Sports 

Waddle receives national honor 

DANIEL DAVIS 

Staff Writer 

Episcopal football phenom Jaylen 

Waddle has been invited to play in the 

high school Army All-American Football 

game on January 7 at the Alamodome in 

San Antonio, Texas this year. 

This is big news for the senior because 

only 104 players in the country are asked 

to be in the special event. Jaylen had an 

outstanding career and the honor is well 

deserved. Last year Walker Little was 

invited to the same game and now plays at 

Stanford University. 

Many great NFL players played in the 

game which was instituted in 2000. The 

Army All-American committee travels 

around the country to every school to 

conduct a presentation for the player. Jaylen’s 

mother was also honored when she 

received the Dream Award for helping her 

son achieve his goal. 

Jaylen has been a major threat to opposing 

teams in his career because of his 

speed, versatility, and athleticism. This 

year he played quarterback, running back, 

slot receiver, wide receiver, and cornerback, 

making him especially unique. 

Congratulations to Jaylen. 

Knights sign with college programs 


Fall sports teams finish strong 

BOYS VOLLEYBALL 

The boys volleyball team began the 

season with a strong start and hoped to 

keep that momentum going into SPC play. 

The Knights played every game with heart 

and determination throughout the whole 

tournament but lost to the number one 

seed, Dallas Greenhill, in the first round. 

The Knights also lost in tough contests to 

St. Stephen’s and Kinkaid. 

Team captain outside Preston Witt had 

high praise for his team. 

“Even though the results were not what 

we wanted, I believe we grew as a program 

through the year and will compete 

next year for SPC.” 

CHEER 

The cheer squads performed admirably 

so far this year under the direction of 

Coach Leigh Anne Raymond, elevating 

spirit at both pep rallies and football 

games. Senior captains Cydne Herrold, 

Lauren Foyt, and Terrell Watson led the 

varsity team and served as role models for 

future cheer members. 

The EHS cheer team also competed in 

a yearly Houston cheer competition and 

returned with the first-place trophy. 

The entire EHS community always 

appreciates the girls’ spirit and energy 

and look forward to them performing for 

basketball games this upcoming winter 

season. 

FIELD HOCKEY 

believe that their SPC record does not 

fully represent their success as a team, 

success that they feel is marked by how 

far they have come in the two years the 

program began rebuilding. 

According to Coach Shelly Edmonds, 

the field hockey program is definitely one 

to watch in the coming years. 

CROSS COUNTRY 

EHS’s cross country team has a ton of 

energy. With very early mornings and mile 

after mile, this group of athletes is truly 

amazing. Cross country is not as easy as it 

seems. Not only are you conditioning your 

body to run five miles (or more), you’re 

conditioning your brain. 

Mindset is very crucial in this sport; 

eight percent of it is learning to suffer. 

Accessing strength and accomplishing a 

goal, cross country leaves a runner feeling 

pleased with what has been accomplished 

As Coach Michaes says to the team in 

practice, “Even if you die, I already told 

God what the plan is. Be strong. Push the 

limits. Go cross country and go Knights!” 

Several Knights committed to D1 and DII programs this month, including volleyball 

player Mylana Byrd (Alabama), basketball player Kansas Watts (Colorado 

State-Pueblo), softball player Sarah Venker (Ball State), and baseball players Antonio 

Cruz (Rice) and Peter Geib (Texas). Photo by Mauro Gomez. 

The 2017 edition of Knight field hockey 

finished the SPC Championship Tournament 

with a 2-1 win over Oakridge following 

hard-fought losses against Hockaday 

and St. Andrew’s. 

The girls improved greatly this year and 

Mateo Bastidas battles another runner 

during a meet. Photo by James Ray. 

EHS SPEAKS OUT 

A genie grants you three wishes. What are they? 

BLAKE BAGWELL 

Longer school breaks, 

straight A’s, and 

unlimited wishes 

CHRISTIAN HUSTED 

To be signed to a rap label, 

unlimited cabbage, and 

endless amounts of protein 

ARISA ALAEI 

Marry Harry Styles, 

direct a movie, and 

become President 

CHRISTIAN WALMSLEY 

Super strength, unlimited 

money, and the ability to 

speak all languages (specifically 

to my dog) 

MS. EDMONDS 

Power to teleport, 

unlimited Whole Foods 

cookies, and worldwide 

happiness 

COLIN CRAIN 

New set of Hot Wheels, 

new workout program 

(Wii Fit), and Nintendo 

Switch 

RUBY ARNOLD 

3 more wishes, no 

homework, and to go to 

the North Pole to meet 

Santa and his helpers 

ZACK GEORGSSON 

Unlimited eggs, colder 

weather, and a new 

kitten named Zoltar 

TERRELL WATSON 

In-N-Out Burger in 

Houston, Hot Wings added 

to Luby’s menu, to meet 

Ronald McDonald 

MR. HASBROUCK 

End world hunger, 

Bradshaw to clean his 

desk, and Giants to get a 

new coach


Opinion 

Behind social media lurk brokers selling your info 

LAUREN PORTER 


In recent years, social media applications 

have consumed almost every area of life, 

reaching younger and younger audiences 

as time passes. It may seem like a helpful 

way to connect with friends and family, but 

how much do these apps really know about 

you? 

It is not a secret that companies are collecting 

information about their users. They 

strive to provide relevant advertisers and 

encourage a sale, which is completely normal 

for any business that wants to be successful. 

However, the more terrifying aspect of 

this collection is the possible sale of that 

personal information to companies that 

have no connection or association to the 

user. According to National Public Radio, 

these companies are called “data brokers,” 

which is as sinister as it sounds. 

People using social media suddenly become 

nothing more than stocks that can be 

sold and traded, and multiple companies 

or “brokers” now know the information 

that users thought they were only sharing 

on one site. You may have noticed items 

or categories you search on one social media 

site appear randomly on a different, 

completely unrelated website. While this 

could be a coincidence, it may also be the 

work of data brokers constantly trying to 

persuade you to fall into the trap and purchase 

a product. Social media sites such 

as Facebook, the owner of other sites such 

Courtesy of FinacialTribune.com. 

as Instagram, may project themselves as 

platforms that are free and inclusive to all 

around the world; however, the motive always 

lies in profit. 

While social media apps such as Facebook 

and Snapchat may seem to be competing 

in the tight market, they are actually 

a part of a larger machine. Consumers essentially 

become employees, as they tell 

the company what works and earns money, 

and which aspects of the company are unsuccessful. 

Companies love this system, as 

consumers provide invaluable data at little 

to no cost. However, these companies forget 

that their users are not simply numbers 

in the database, but actual people. 

Now, how could this be happening? Does 

this not contrast with some basic civil right 

we hold? The answer lies in the end-user license 

agreements. By scrolling through the 

endless wall of text and checking the tiny 

box at the very end without giving much 

care in the world, you have essentially sold 

your rights to the company. 

These end-user license agreements are 

specifically drafted to cover any angle 

against the company and prevent a lawsuit, 

as no consumer wants their information 

shared against their wishes. Unfortunately, 

there are not many laws and regulations 

that limit these companies’ ability to sell 

consumer information liberally. 

Although data brokers have been harvesting 

information for years, the social media 

aspect is relatively new, which leaves 

much room for improvement in the handling 

of some of the most private information 

in user’s lives. 

So remember, next time you post on your 

“finsta” or add to your Snapchat story, 

think about the bigger picture: a company 

processing that information and harvesting 

it in a database to sell to other companies. 

Trump in Asia ... an adventure, to say the very least 

CAMI PYNE 

Staff Writer 

President Donald Trump embarked on 

an “Asia Tour” to establish unity against 

North Korea the second week of November. 

His trip included visits to many Asian 

countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, 

China, Japan, and the Philippines. In 

Japan, Trump met with criticism for not 

bowing before the prime minister, which is 

considered a great insult in Japanese 

culture. With that affront, Trump’s tour 

took a turn and stands as the longest foreign 

tour he has taken during his presidency 

to date. 

His agenda for the trip centered on diplomacy 

and trade; he was quoted saying that 

“no dictator...should ever underestimate 

American resolve,” referring to the totalitarian 

leader of North Korea, Kim Jong- 

Un. Most of Trump’s “social” responses 

have appeared on Twitter, some offering 

confusing statements regarding his relationship 

with the dictator. Trump’s tweets 

leave many observers puzzled as to his 

goal. Trump has claimed before that he 

could “totally destroy” the “rocket man,” 

referring to the Kim Jong-Un, in various 

tweets, which became part of a larger 

Trump-related controversy. 

Many controversies surrounding the 

President include a speculated relationship 

with the President of Russia Vladimir 

Putin, marring his election to the U.S. 

presidency with a potential dangerous connection 

that could be construed as treasonous. 

Trump’s speculated realtionship with 

Vladimir Putin creates much controversy. 

Trump has spoken about his hope to 

maintain or create a relationship with Putin 

very publicly on his personal Twitter 

account. 

Trump’s mysterious visit with President 

Putin put the media in a frenzy after his 

meeting with the Russian tyrant. Should 

Trump have made this bold move of meeting 

with Putin? Should he have done it at 

all? Many say he should’ve met with Putin 

because as the leader of Russia, he is one 

of the most powerful men in the world. If 

he had met with Putin in private, it would 

look secretive and reflect badly on Trump. 

The fact that they met so publicly actually 

worked in Trump’s favor in the best way 

possible. 

In Vietnam, Trump met with Putin and 

insisted that the Russian government was 

indeed not responsible for meddling with 

the 2016 Presidential Election. The election 

is currently known as one of the “biggest 

surprise upsets” in election history due 

to the results of the popular vote (Clinton 

wins) versus the Electoral College (Trump 

wins). 

The election has been challenged with 

accusations of rigging and fake voter 

registrations. Such evidence for these 

claims is disputed frequently in the political 

world and currently is purely speculative 

and used for polarizing statements. 

The overall success of Trump’s Asian 

adventure is purely personal opinion while 

political pundits continue to bicker on the 

controversial nature of Trump in general. 

That success should not be measured by 

the length of the time he stayed, who he 

talked to or anything of that nature... his 

success must be measured on truly his ability 

to make business deals. 

Trump accomplished what he came 

for, which was discussing trade, what to 

do about North Korea, and his economic 

agenda with the Asian countries for the future. 

President Donald Trump walks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Vietnam 

on President Trump’s Asia trip. Trump claims Russia’s denial of involvement in 

the 2016 Presidential Election is true. This is the first time Trump and Putin have 

offically met in person, and Trump hopes to continue their friendship. Courtesy of 

reuters.com. 

President Trump also met with the leader of South Korea, Moon Jae-In, who supports 

the U.S.’s efforts regarding North Korea. Courtesy of druge.com.

Opinion 

Is Bitcoin a bubble? Cryptocurrency could change exchange 

ISABELLA GOODMAN 

Staff Writer 

Bitcoin is cryptocurrency created in 

2009, anonymously, with the intention of 

creating a transaction process that requires 

no middle men, banks, transaction fees, or 

real identities. Bitcoin has been growing in 

popularity as more and more retailers are 

beginning to accept bitcoin as currency. 

Bitcoin isn’t a physical currency, it’s completely 

online, and while traditional currency 

has been based on precious metals, 

bitcoin is based on math and a formula that 

allows bitcoin to be mined. Bitcoin can’t 

be hacked, and there’s no central repository. 

Bitcoin’s ledger is in thousands of 

computers. Once a transaction is recorded 

in the blockchain, it cannot be altered. 

The names, however, are encrypted so 

the users are anonymous, but the money 

can be tracked, and it has a history. Some 

buyers use bitcoin to buy anonymously. 

Some, even students at EHS, buy bitcoin 

as an investment as the value continues to 

skyrocket. Since bitcoin is so new, many 

questions have been raised concerning 

the future of bitcoin, as it is basically unregulated 

and continues to grow at unprecedented 

rates. With the rise of bitcoin in 

the news, many have been wondering: is 

bitcoin a speculative bubble? 

Within the last few months, those watching 

bitcoin have seen it’s prices grow tremendously, 

and it continues to break its 

own record highs. There are, however, 

over 1000 cryptocurrencies, and bitcoin is 

just the most popular. Recently, some of 

the other cryptocurrencies have been rising 

and falling, leading many to question 

the validity that bitcoin can become a real 

currency. The government has always been 

wary of bitcoin, and the people involved 

in bitcoin have pushed back against efforts 

to regulate the cryptocurrency. Many say 

that government issued regulations are the 

reason bitcoin was even created; the inventors 

wanted a way to cutout the middlemen 

and forego any roadblocks. Many make the 

connection that since bitcoin is not government 

backed, it is unlikely to become a true 

currency. Another reason many have for 

believing that bitcoin is a speculative bubble 

is its relative instability. Since its creation, 

bitcoin has always been a bit shaky, 

from the illicit trade of drugs on the “Silk 

Road” to the fluctuation seen in September 

due to Chinese restraints. 

Despite any bad press, bitcoin has become 

increasingly popular, and meteoric 

rises in price could mean that buyers are 

only interested in the “speculative gain,” 

Regarding EHS outerwear 

ELLIE RAGIEL 

Staff Writer 

The rule concerning non-EHS approved 

outerwear has always been one that garners 

much debate from the Episcopal High 

School community. Students feel that they 

should be allowed to wear outerwear in 

non-distracting neutral colors instead of 

being restricted to ones sporting the EHS 

logo. According to the Student Handbook, 

“Any outer garment worn in the classroom 

must come from Lands’ End or an 

approved secondary supplier, and display 

the EHS logo. Any outer garment issued by 

the EHS Athletic Department or sold in the 

campus store is also permitted.” I believe 

that this universal uniform code should be 

adapted to allow students more freedom in 

their outerwear choices. 

Most students find that the jackets for 

sale in the school store are limited to mostly 

sweatshirts and athletic gear – garments 

that are great for many occasions but can 

often leave students feeling less put together 

than they would like for a day of class. 

Not only do most students prefer to wear 

their own outerwear as opposed to schoolsponsored 

jackets that often make them 

feel disheveled, it is also much more convenient 

for students to wear outerwear they 

already own instead of buying new jackets 

specifically to wear during class. 

Although the administration may feel that 

making the uniform code even more lax 

may shift focus from learning, I think they 

will be surprised to learn that the outerwear 

clause in the Student Handbook can easily 

be adapted to give students more freedom 

while still maintaining uniformity in 

the way the student body dresses. Simple 

reforms such as the allowance of simple 

outerwear in solid neutral colors without 


the belief that the prices will keep surging. 

Rival cryptocurrencies also leave 

some worried about the authenticity of 

bitcoin, as there are thousands of other 

kinds of cryptocurrencies. The bitcoin creators 

have also made several missteps in 

handling the cryptocurrency, and this has 

been shown again. Unsure how to grapple 

with the growing popularity of bitcoin and 

Bitcoin is a new cryptocurrecy that has the potential to revolutionize both the tech 

world and finanace as a whole. Courtesy of fortune.com. 

depictions of any images, words, or logos 

(other than the EHS logos) would go a long 

way in improving students’ options. Additionally, 

one reform could include sweaters 

or cardigans that are open in the front and 

still allow students to show the EHS logo 

on their uniform shirt. All out-of-school 

jackets could be restricted to neutral colors 

such as black, white, grey, cream, or navy. 

With the new Stand Out campaign in full 

force, it has become increasingly important 

to give the student body the freedom and 

responsibility to, well, stand out. Students 

should be trusted enough to express themselves 

and make themselves more presentable 

and comfortable for class while still 

being respectful of school rules. Giving 

students the opportunity to show more individuality 

in their daily looks in an appropriate, 

non-distracting, and not to mention 

more convenient way would achieve great 

progress in helping unify the EHS brand 

with the lives of its students. 

One of the most common forms of outerwear 

students would like to be able to 

wear are jackets drung the cold, wintry 

months. Photo by Hunter Megarity. 

The Knight Times 

Head of School 

Ned Smith 

Assistant Head of School 

Nancy Laufe Eisenberg 

Dean of Arts 

Jay Berckley 

Visual Arts Chair 

Kate Philbrick 

Publications Coordinator 

David Framel 

Photojournalism Instructor 

Jaime Sonnier 

Photojournalism Editor 

Miranda Greenwalt 

Episcopal High School 

4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 

713-512-3400 

no clear leadership, no one is really sure 

how to enhance bitcoin’s capacity. What 

they’ve tried has failed. This can be seen in 

SegWit2x, which was an effort to upgrade 

bitcoin that was abandoned. 

Many influential people, ranging from 

tech execs to powerful CEO’s and government 

officials, have offered their opinions 

of the future of bitcoin as well as bitcoin 

as a whole. Bitcoin can be hard to define, 

so it’s understandable how some may be 

wary about the emerging currency. Billionaire 

Warren Buffett has been critical of 

bitcoin, particularly when it comes to applying 

value to it. Peter Thiel, the founder 

of PayPal, took an opposing view and stated 

that critics have been underestimating 

bitcoin. Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs 

CEO, stated that he isn’t comfortable with 

bitcoin, but he’s open to its potential. JP 

Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon thinks 

that the emerging cryptocurrency is a 

fraud. On a similar note, Brian Moynihan, 

the CEO of Bank of America, believes that 

the traditional bank system is more adept at 

tracking money and that cryptocurrencies 

present a problem of tracking illegal activity 

because of the anonymity. 

Even if it is a bubble, some of the technology 

has the possibility of actually changing 

the way we view currency. Blockchain, the 

unhackable ledger that records and tracks 

every transaction, could understandably be 

applied elsewhere in the future of banking. 

If it is a bubble, it likely will not stop those 

truly passionate about bitcoin from continuing 

to use the cryptocurrency. Since its 

creation, bitcoin has had a loyal following 

who have remained throughout the highs 

and lows that bitcoin has faced since 2009. 

If bitcoin or all cryptocurrency turns out 

to be a speculative bubble, it will still be 

an asset in learning how to adjust currency 

to modern times. In a world that’s increasingly 

digital, it’s understandable to try and 

make the push to have a reliable digital 

currency. Many are quick to judge emerging 

technology, just like the Internet, cellphones, 

and other technology that has now 

become indispensable in today’s society. 

Bitcoin is changing at a nearly impossibleto-follow 

rate, so it will be interesting to 

see how it does in the coming months. 


Lauren Porter 

Staff Writers 

Will Edens 

Sydney Hutchins 

Ellie Ragiel 

Isabel Young 

Isabella Goodman 

Hunter Megarity 

Angel Stringer 

Sophia Henry 

Cami Pyne 

Preston Witt 

Patrick Bayouth 

Annabelle Cokinos 

Elliott Jones 

Daniel Davis 

Gabrielle Ducote 

Photographers 

Teagan Ashworth, Chris Castro Janecki, Cara Kennedy, Lane McCool, Mason Morris, Parker 

Nickerson, Julia Toups, Trinity Watts, Hannah Windle, Rohan Asthana, Phoebe Crow, Layton 

Debes, Caroline Fertitta, Elliott Jones, Robert Mason, Taylor Ranucci, James Henry Ray, 

Stockton Shaffer, Madison Stanke, Sophie Thomas, Sasha Vermeil, Rachel Boeker, 

Sydney Bosarge, Kaveinga Davis, Will Davis, Spencer Donley, Cydne Harrell-Malveaux, 

Amber Hatfield, Alexandra Herrera, Sadie Jensen, Elliott Leathers, Chloe Masterson, 

Luke Pugh, Ethan Tuckwood, Luke White, Alan Ayanegui, Christina Betti, Isabel Frasier, 

Sophia Pamphilis, Margaret Runnels, Sophia Wayne, David Bebczuk, Sydney Cooper, 

Alex Deutsch, Elizabeth Anne Charbonnet, Sophia Haugh, Sadie Jensen, Lindsey Little, 

Anna McLauchlin, Julia Nasser, Chandler Onyekwelu, Kate Peterkin, 

Lexi Sagers, Madelyn Scholtes, Amelia Traylor, Celine Waxham 

The Knight Times is a product of students in the Episcopal High School newspaper class, who are 

solely responsible for its creation and editorial content. The opinions expressed are those of the 

writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Episcopal Board of Trustees, administration, 

faculty, and staff. Published ten times a year, The Knight Times is a non-profit educational tool. 

The staff encourages the submission of letters, editorials, and story ideas from the community 

but reserves the right to edit and/or use said articles.


Knight Shift 

EpiscoMemes 

Gothic Architecture Power Rankings 

The Knight Times is bringing some comedic relief to that end of semester grind. 

#1 Flying buttresses, 

because, of course 

#2 Gargoyles 

When Mr. Framel won’t 

let you leave early on 

Chicken Tender Day. 

#3 Ribbed Vaulting, so 

beautiful, but still can’t 

beat the buttresses 

#4 Last but cetainly not 

least, the Rose Window 

Top 10 Best Slam Poetry Lines 

Crocs with socks 

10. Julia Roberts / Julia Rob-hurts. 

Hildebrand Athletic 

Center 

9. Power plugs / They’re just electric smiley faces. 

Photo illustrations by Ellie Ragiel and Isabel Young 

(Celebrity Sighting) 

8. They say my shorts are too short / Then why do they call them shorts? 

The Trumpet 

7. Munch’s The Scream / Everybody loves ice cream / I scream for ice cream 

The Homecoming 

Game 

6. The haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate / The fakers gonna fake fake fake 

fake fake / I’m just gonna shake shake shake shake shake 

Getting practice rained 

out 5. There’s cricket meat in the gravy / It’s Mike the merry cricket 

Chick- 4. SLAM fil- POETRY A for lunch / YELLING / WAVING MY HANDS A LOT 

3. She had me going crazy / Oh I was star struck / She woke me up daily 

/ Don’t need no Starbucks 

2. People open your eyes! / Now shut them / Now open them again / That’s 

called blinking 

1. The wheels on the bus / Go round and round 

Despite her amazing resemblance to Mean Girls character Regina George, we know 

sophomore Presley Zylman is a sweetheart. Unfortunately, we couldn’t catch her on 

a Wednesday, so she’s not wearing pink, but we have heard that her hair is full of 

secrets. Photos by Annabelle Cokinos and courtesy of Wikipedia. 

ehsknighttimes 

Going for a three-peat? Lillian Way ‘18 

and Arianna Via ‘18 know that the best 

duets are like fine cheeses - they get better 

with age. Here they are (above) in 2015 

performing a cover of the Hannah Montana 

hit “Nobody’s Perfect” and again in 2017 

dancing to “Juju on that Beat.” 

Highlight Reel: The Best of Coffee House 

Starting on the 

campaign trail 

early? Current EHS 

Student Body President 

Jillian Branch 

(left) won future 

voters hearts at 2016 

Coffee House by 

making them delicious 

iced lattes. 

Triple Threat - Walker Little ‘17 and Ed 

Bayouth ‘17 proved they could do it all at 

2017 Spring Coffee house. The star football 

players sang, danced, and performed 

an adaptation of Slam Poetry from 22 

Jump Street. 

Just a city boy - Spring Coffee House 

2017 official MC Michael Podsednik ‘17 

introduces Chris Castro ‘19 before his performance 

of the Journey smash hit “Don’t 

Stop Believing.” 

Tyler Johnson, 

also known by his 

stage name 

“Official Ty- 

Monie” - performs 

an original 

rap off his Soundcloud 

profile 

at 2017 Spring 

Coffee House. 

Fan Favorite and 

Coffee House regular 

Coach Bradshaw 

dons his best 

fedora and sunglasses 

combo for 

2016 Coffee House 

to perform “The 

Weight” by The 

Band. 

Is that turkey? We’re not sure if Iman 

Lloyd ‘18 is hyped up about performing or 

if she is just that excited about Spring Coffee 

House 2017. She is joined by Sophia 

Henry ‘18 and Sofia Maldonado ‘18.

THE KNIGHT TIMES - November 2017

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