The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
An artist’s rendition of a student graduating with a three-year degree displays the differences between the traditional college route and the newer, less conventional one.
More join ‘College-in-3’ movement though most SH students, parents remain skeptical about non-traditional degree pathway
Katelyn Ahn, Business Manager & Spotlight Team Reporter • January 7, 2025

As upperclassmen and their parents start looking at college options near the halfway point of the school year, they cannot avoid the following...

Andrew Ngo (right), who graduated from Sunny Hills in 2021, holds his bachelor’s degree in business administration during his commencement ceremony at USC on Friday, May 10. Ngo earned enough college credits from passing scores in his International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement exams to help him graduate from USC in three instead of the traditional four years.
ALUMNI ARTICULATION: Some recent Lancer grads take non-traditional route of finishing college in three years
Soojin Cho, Copy Editor • January 7, 2025

The Accolade continues with its feature that focuses on those who have graduated from Sunny Hills and how they are contributing to their community...

College student and Target seasonal worker Alyssa Vasquez identifies items that need to be restocked in the produce section of Fullerton Amerige Heights Town Center’s location.
HOLLY JOLLY JOBS: Winter season brings opportunities for students
Irene Park, News Editor • December 26, 2024

For the 2024 holiday season, most Americans plan to spend the same or less as in previous years, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. At Sunny Hills, students also don't plan on increasing their budget this year because of higher prices.
FUN AT WHAT COST?: Students plan to spend less this holiday season because of higher prices
Justin Pak, Web Managing Editor • December 16, 2024

Two years ago during the holiday shopping season in December, then-sophomore David Tapia recalls walking into the Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle gift...

A Sunny Hills staff member dresses up as an elf and reads the Nov. 18, 2022, Accolade newspaper issue while sitting atop the roof of one of the campus buildings on Dec. 21, 2022.
DID YOU KNOW? Who ‘elf’ can be on that campus rooftop before winter holidays but … ?
Lauren Kang, Sports Editor • December 14, 2024
Juniors Chloe Aeum (left) and Renee Reyes, who attends Philippine Science High School, pose with a cue stick at Oxford University’s terrace cafe on Tuesday, July 30, during the Oxford Summer Courses held from Sunday, July 21-Saturday, Aug. 3.
CHEERIO: Then-rising junior travels across the Atlantic to get Oxford college experience
Caroline Shin, Staff Reporter • December 1, 2024
Class of 2015 alumnus Adrien Truong holds his phone displaying his Gradekit app at his home on Sunday, Nov. 3. Truong has been working on the app since 2014.
ALUMNI ARTICULATION: Class of 2015 graduate quits high-paying computer tech job to return to high school passion project
Kyuwon Han, Spotlight Team Reporter • November 19, 2024
Freshman Florenzo Tenazas unlocks his e-bike after fifth period on Thursday, Nov. 7, between the 20s and 40s wings. Since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, more electric forms of transportation can be seen at the two bike racks on campus.
ELECTRIFYING TREND: More SH students riding e-bikes, e-scooters to get to school
Emily Kim, Staff Reporter • November 8, 2024
To promote civic engagement, the Orange County Registrar of Voters has been setting up information booths like this one at the University of California, Irvine, on Thursday, Oct. 10. Those eligible to cast a ballot but haven't registered can still do so on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5, by visiting any voting center in the state.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: More than half of seniors eligible to vote plan on casting their ballot before or by Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5
Kyuwon Han, Spotlight Team Reporter • November 4, 2024
The Democratic donkey and Republican elephant are two political symbols representing the approaching presidential election.
HISTORY IS ON THE LINE: SH students share thoughts on presidential election
Faith Jung, Spotlight Specialty Magazine Editor • October 26, 2024
Senior Liv Chavez (second to right) receives her pink tiara upon the announcement of her homecoming queen title during the halftime of the Friday, Oct. 4, football game at the Buena Park High School stadium.
CROWNED TO INSPIRE: Q&A with 2024 homecoming queen Liv Chavez
Emily Kim, Staff Reporter • October 23, 2024
New science teacher Aaron Eide helps freshman Osama Ibrahim with opening his Chromebook to access his Biology exam during sixth period on Friday, Oct. 18.
NEW SCHOOL, NEW CHALLENGE: Ex-Troy science teacher aims to make biology fun with hands-on activities, labs
Yena Oh, Sports Editor • October 22, 2024
During fourth period, junior Melina Garcia (left) asks new English teacher Hannah Batchelor a question on Thursday, Sept. 5, in Room 33 about her Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” reading assignment in her textbook. Batchelor, who has been using Room 11 second period and Room 33 during zero, third and fourth periods since the start of the fall semester, is scheduled to move into her own classroom in Room 154 on Thursday, Oct. 17, or Friday, Oct. 18.
NEWFOUND PASSION: Environmental scientist makes the switch to help youth as an English teacher, cross country head coach
Elise Pak, Staff Reporter • October 15, 2024
Assistant principal Betty Vutang (right) assists junior Jessica Choi with the student’s schedule-changing concerns in the Lyceum during the Tuesday, Aug. 6, Lancer Day registration.
BONJOUR: New Sunny Hills assistant principal — first Asian administrator here — and former French teacher aims to support struggling students
Justin Pak, Web Managing Editor • September 23, 2024
Senior Gunnar Okerlund uses his Associated Student Body Gold Card to get a free entrance to the Friday, Sept. 6, football game at the Buena Park High School stadium against the Woodrow Wilson Bruins.
DID YOU KNOW? Associated Student Body Gold Card sales continue to provide benefits for students and school since the 60’s
Irene Park, News Editor • September 19, 2024
Despite not becoming one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians, senior Michael Amescua celebrates winning the Academic Excellence Award.
CLASS OF 2024 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER Q&A: Michael Amescua
Faith Jung, Spotlight Specialty Magazine Editor • June 8, 2024
Wearing her second-degree black belt and a dobok, English teacher Liese Wellmeyer Garcia demonstrates her taekwondo skills by separating a board in two with her right hand during the Friday, Feb. 16, International Food Fair double second period assembly in the gym.
TEACHER LEISURE: Who was that lady punching the board in half with her hand during the International Week assembly?
Aashna Dialani, Opinion Editor • June 3, 2024
Social science teacher Kristin Kosareff checks on her students' work in her fourth period Advanced Placement Human Geography class on Tuesday, May 14.
FROM RAIDER TO LANCER: Despite graduating from Sonora, social science instructor hired to teach 3 classes in 2022 embraces SH culture
Caroline Shin, Staff Reporter • May 30, 2024
Sophomore Norah Chowdhury (far right) reads out loud her essay, “Storyteller,” on Friday, March 15, at Chapman University in Orange as part of the 25th Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest awards ceremony.
Sophomore recalls own family history to win 1st place in Chapman University’s Holocaust Writing Contest
Claire Lee, Entertainment Editor • May 29, 2024
Junior Harley Kaewsamlee works with the newly purchased tools on Wednesday, April 10, with the morning engine building team in Room 131.
EXTREME MAKEOVER — AUTO TECH EDITION: Renovation moves students out of classroom and into mechanic shop itself
Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • May 29, 2024
A digital version of the Lancer Handbook, renamed “Student Handbook,” can be found under the “Students and Parents” section of the Sunny Hills website. For students to be able to pick up class schedules on Lancer Days, the handbook is one of many steps their parents have to go through on Aeries in May or over the summer.
DID YOU KNOW?: Despite transition from hard copy to digital, ‘Student Handbook’ remains obscure to Lancers, their parents
Claire Lee, Entertainment Editor • May 29, 2024
Student cafeteria worker senior Chloe Sepulveda uses the tablet while handing out food items to students during break on Friday, May 17, in the cafeteria.
SILENT SUPPORT: Student workers help maintain school environment behind the scenes
Gerald Han, Videographer • May 29, 2024
Video production director senior Melusine Tenkoff prepares to film for the schoolwide lip dub during sixth period on Friday, April 26.
Video production director of weekly, pre-recorded news video reflects on her 4-year experience at the helm
Angelina Jeong, Spotlight Specialty Magazine Editor • May 27, 2024
Senior Mei-Ling Leal takes a picture with actor and singer Joshua Bassett on June 16, 2023, while covering an event at Sweet Squares, his sister Ashley Bassett’s bakery.
Blogger flips the script and brings new voices online
Lauren Kang, Sports Editor • May 26, 2024
Science teacher Kathy Bevill points to the screen while teaching her sixth period biology class in Room 102 on Wednesday, April 24.
HEADING HOME: Science teacher retires after 39 years in the district
Faith Jung, Spotlight Specialty Magazine Editor • May 26, 2024
Graduating as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians, senior Lauren Sung committed to Smith College, where she will be majoring in economics.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Lauren Sung
Jiseong Yoo, Data Team Member • May 26, 2024
Senior Keiley Shea stands as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians. Shea will be attending Rice University, majoring in environmental engineering.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Keiley Shea
Caroline Shin, Staff Reporter • May 26, 2024
Senior Ryder Robbins stands as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians. Robbins plans on majoring in public health at the University of California, Irvine.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Ryder Robbins
Caroline Shin, Staff Reporter • May 26, 2024
Graduating as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians, senior Thomas Pennella committed to the University of California, Irvine, where he will be majoring in chemical engineering.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Thomas Pennella
Elise Pak, Staff Reporter • May 26, 2024
Senior Binny Park stands as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians. Park committed to Cornell University, where she will be majoring in English and chemistry.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Binny Park
Elise Pak, Staff Reporter • May 26, 2024
Graduating as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians, senior Aiden Park plans on attending the University of California, Berkeley, as a business major.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Aiden Park
Faith Jung, Spotlight Specialty Magazine Editor • May 26, 2024
Senior Sue Oh stands as one of the 39 Class of 2024 valedictorians. Oh plans on attending Barnard College as a political science major.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Sue Oh
Yena Oh, Sports Editor • May 26, 2024
Graduating as the top of her class, senior Mary Nguyen committed to University of California, Irvine, where she will be majoring in biology.
CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIAN Q&A: Mary Nguyen
Yena Oh, Sports Editor • May 25, 2024
Poll

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Trending Stories
1
While SoCal Asian stereotypes of going to Seaside Bakery, listening to Keshi and raving trend on social media platforms like TikTok, the cultural group’s unique identity simultaneously begins to diminish.

We're more than Seaside Donuts Bakery

2
Students pass by the new auto tech program sign – created by then-senior Cali Watson – that features two car pistons in the shape of an “X” above a black rectangular sign with the text “Sunny Hills High School” on top of “Automotive Laboratory.” A car outlined in gold splits the words “Automotive” and “Laboratory” while the ROP [Regional Occupational Program] logo rounds out the design at the bottom.

SUMMER MAKEOVER THE SEQUEL: Program logos return to exterior building walls after they got painted over in 2023

3
Seniors applying to colleges can have access to an admissions file once they start attending a university they applied to and got accepted into. The file contains notes from college admissions officers, and if students did not waive their Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act rights, they can even access teacher recommendations and notes during interviews.

DID YOU KNOW? College admissions file can be accessed to find out how your university rated you

4
Andrew Ngo (right), who graduated from Sunny Hills in 2021, holds his bachelor’s degree in business administration during his commencement ceremony at USC on Friday, May 10. Ngo earned enough college credits from passing scores in his International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement exams to help him graduate from USC in three instead of the traditional four years.

ALUMNI ARTICULATION: Some recent Lancer grads take non-traditional route of finishing college in three years

5
One of the top newcomers, sophomore Riken Ramos (left), faces off against a Godinez High School wrestler during a non-league home duel on Saturday, Dec. 14.

WRESTLING PREVIEW: Lancers aim to condition for strong start in North Hills League

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