Fraise Cafe
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
Fraise Cafe
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
Fraise Cafe
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
Alexxa Berumen

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief

Senior Alexxa Berumen returns for her final year on The Accolade staff as the editor-in-chief. She has been incredibly grateful for the opportunities that this publication has given her and is excited to help further the outstanding legacy that The Accolade carries. Working to refine both her own skills and the publication itself, Berumen hopes to help produce magazines that everyone on campus can pick up and cherish.

Outside of The Accolade, she enjoys eating new foods, reading and listening to music.

All content by Alexxa Berumen
The Accolade staff of 1997 work in Room 15 for its upcoming issue. Before the staff had its home in Room 138 in 1999, the majority of the work would be done in the computer lab in the 10s wing.

DID YOU KNOW? The Accolade’s name stems from connection with school’s mascot

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • February 25, 2025

As a continuing feature, The Accolade delves into the origins of Sunny Hills culture or landmarks. This time, we take a look at our own program as we promote the Journalism Education Association’s...

Senior Zachary Cardona sprints to the ball, passing Santiago High School defenders, to look for a shot at a goal at Buena Park High School stadium on Thursday, Nov. 21.

GAME BALL: Soccer player reaches goals with commitment to Rhodes College

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • December 15, 2024

Although he started later than his peers, a future in soccer was never out of the question for center and right back senior Zachary [Zach] Cardona.  After spending the first eight years of his life...

The email California state governor Taylor Regen sent to Junior State of America [JSA] chapter presidents on Friday, Aug. 2, to inform them of the discontinuation of the organization and development of its successor, Civic Leaders of America.

[Photo] Junior State of America — its headquarters and clubs — shuts down after nearly a century of service to students

Ashley Kang, Business Manager & Spotlight Team Reporter • November 20, 2024

The email California state governor Taylor Regen sent to Junior State of America [JSA] chapter presidents on Friday, Aug. 2, to inform them of the discontinuation of the organization and development of...

New head football coach Fred Gambrell walks toward the sideline with his players during the game against Buena Park High School on Friday, Aug. 30.

[Photo] TAKING A GAMBLE ON GAMBRELL: School officials offer San Clemente defensive assistant his first head coaching job to guide Lancer football team

Nicole Park, Feature Editor • September 23, 2024

New head football coach Fred Gambrell walks toward the sideline with his players during the game against Buena Park High School on Friday, Aug. 30.

The screenshot shows what students with canceled scores saw when opening the College Board website to view their Advanced Placement test results on July 8.

CANCELED: 2024 AP scores face an increase in voided tests with an unspecified number of SH students affected

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • September 22, 2024

The College Board has noticed a slight increase in cheating on some Advanced Placement [AP] exams from last semester and has notified suspected violators — including an unspecified number of Sunny Hills...

Episode 14: A TASTE OF CULTURE — Mexican food with Spanish teacher Christian Llamas

Alexxa Berumen and Seowon Han • June 5, 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

It was a “Field of Dreams” moment for auto tech teacher Jesse Munoz.  But instead of hearing someone whisper to him the classic line, “If you build it, he will come,” from the 1989 film about...

English teacher Tom Wiegman discusses Arthur Miller’s play, "Death of a Salesman," with his fourth-period Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition class Wednesday, April 3, in Room 14. Wiegman will retire after 35 years here.

A (WIEG)MAN OF HIS TIME: English teacher of 35 years plans to restart world travels after retirement

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • May 22, 2024

From the waters of Costa Rica to the volcanoes of El Salvador to the ruins of Honduras, English teacher Tom Wiegman has seen it all. Born in Texas to Protestant missionaries, Wiegman grew up moving...

Junior Giulianna George looks toward the partial solar eclipse using special glasses to protect her eyes during her second period AP Environmental Science class by Room 112 on Monday, April 8. Science teacher Andrew Gartner was among the five science teachers by the 110s wing who let their students view the eclipse.

[Photo] Photos of the Week (4/8-4/12)

Chloe Kang, Sue Kang, Noah Lee, and Asaph Li • April 16, 2024

Junior Giulianna George looks toward the partial solar eclipse using special glasses to protect her eyes during her second period AP Environmental Science class by Room 112 on Monday, April 8. Science...

The five nominees for this year's prom king stand together after being handed their sashes during the Thursday, March 28, event in the quad.

Prom court revealed during Thursday, March 28, event in the quad

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • April 1, 2024

Nearly two weeks after the prom theme video release, the Associated Student Body [ASB] announced the 10 seniors to represent the court on Thursday, March 28.  The nominees for prom king were announced...

Juniors Olivia Ko (center) and Euree Kim stand near their chalk drawings during fourth period in Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences teacher Wesley Fairall’s class between the 80s and 100s buildings on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when the network outage first hit districtwide. While the class usually works digitally, Fairall adjusted to the lack of internet access with the activity.

A LOOK BACK: The Accolade reflects on how last November’s network outage — confirmed on Friday, Jan. 12, as a ransomware attack — impacted the SH campus

Alexxa Berumen and Seowon Han • January 12, 2024

A teacher earlier this week anonymously provided The Accolade with a letter titled, “NOTICE OF DATA BREACH,” which states the cause of the recent internet outage that all schools in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District faced last November before Thanksgiving break. Emails from The Accolade that have been sent to the superintendent asking for comment on the document and the ransomware attack were unresponsive until Friday, Jan. 12.

HACKED: Unspecified number of district employee data taken from November’s network outage, according to Friday, Jan. 5, letter

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • January 12, 2024

*The Accolade strives to follow professional journalism practices in identifying all sources in the stories it posts or publishes. However, in rare cases in which sources’ identities could risk harm,...

Senior Connor Irons (center) wears an Air Force Academy jersey while standing next to his parents and holding a California flag. The three celebrated Irons’ commitment to play football for the Air Force with a full-ride scholarship during their visit to the military university in Colorado earlier this summer. Irons has played as a defensive end on the football team for four years, being the captain for his senior year.

GAME BALL: Football team co-captain, defensive end’s gridiron journey to continue at Air Force Academy in Colorado

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • October 28, 2023

University of Pennsylvania [UPenn]. U.S. Military Academy [West Point]. U.S. Air Force Academy.  These are three of the colleges that football defensive end and co-captain senior Connor Irons...

Junior Alexxa Berumen stands in front of the SoFi Stadium billboard that projects the Eras Tour concert information on Monday, Aug. 7.

The Eras Tour experience: ‘It was rare, I was there’

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • October 18, 2023

In light of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” movie, which premiered in theaters on Friday, Oct. 13, and set a box office record for a movie concert debut at $96 million, Accolade spotlight editor Alexxa...

Art teacher Chablis Bates awards senior Camila Carriedo (left) with the Lancer LEGEND medallion to recognize her act of selflessness on Sept. 1 in Room 22.

School officials say new character-based award promotes positive self-esteem and campus unity

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • October 7, 2023

Academics, character, selflessness, resilience and leadership.  These five pillar values of a newly introduced character-based recognition program for the 2023-2024 school year.  The Lancer LEGEND...

Senior Ricardo Gonzalez and his band, ROUNDHOUSE, perform “Hypocrisy” at the Oct. 26 Conservatory of Fine Arts Fall Festival in the quad. The song is one that Gonzalez wrote.

MUSICAL VIRTUOSO: Senior Ricardo Gonzalez shares musical journey in forming his band, ROUNDHOUSE

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • June 1, 2023

A quick, muted guitar riff plays alongside low-fidelity drums leading into the chorus.  Lead singer Joe Strummer begins to sing.  “You better cheat-cheat / No reason to play fair”  These...

“Bad Habit” singer Steve Lacy will be among four others performing Friday, June 2, at the re:SET show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Tickets can be purchased at resetconcertseries.com.

‘Bad Habit’ singer Steve Lacy to headline at Pasadena Rose Bowl June 2

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • May 19, 2023

Coming off his No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single, “Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy will come to Los Angeles County along with Foushee, Toro y Moi and James Blake for a concert Friday, June 2.  Fans can see...

Pitcher sophomore Alexis Perez positions to catch a softball at the Sunny Hills field in an afterschool practice Monday, March 27.

SOFTBALL PREVIEW: Lady Lancers bounce back from their ‘short stop’ of win streak hoping to win Freeway League, advance deeper in CIF

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • March 29, 2023

Coaches: Elise Laws (head coach), Dale Lopes (assistant coach), Vanessa Moreno (assistant coach)  Top Returning Players: Gabrielle Flores (12), Madison Moreno (11),  Olivia Pedraza (11), Alexis Perez...

Two years after being featured in a 2020 Netflix documentary “Miss Americana,” American singer songwriter Taylor Swift releases a new album Midnights Oct. 21.

Swift’s latest, Midnights, worth listening ‘round the clock

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • November 29, 2022

Taylor Swift: Oct. 24, 2006. Speak Now: Oct. 25, 2010. Red: Oct. 22, 2012. Known to dominate the music charts in October with more than half of her studio albums released this season, singer-songwriter...

Freshman Christian Kim is among the few on campus who come to school with wired headphones, following a recent trend among celebrities in their paparazzi images.

Wireless vs. wired head sets: Some SH students align with celebrities who are not cutting the cord just yet

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • November 18, 2022

Nike Air Force 1’s, Dickies pants and now, headphones?  Similar to clothing trends, today’s Gen Z teens are getting a blast in their ears from wired headphones instead of Apple AirPods, which have...

Amazon Prime's new series, a prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, takes its characters on several journeys throughout the J.R.R. Tolkien world. This scene appears in the third episode of "The Rings of Power" in which one of the protagonists, the elf Galadriel, travels to Numenor, the land of men.

Amazon Prime’s $715 million “Rings of Power” shines

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • September 17, 2022

July 29, 1954, marked the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and decades later, the “Lord of the Rings” movie franchise, leading fantasy-fiction fans down a winding path of elves,...

Principal Craig Weinreich, left, accepts the giant check for $9,500 from Class of 1968 reunion committee board members, Brad Rawlins and Pat Hartunian Simonian, on July 9 outside alumna Kathy Nelson Zibulsky ’s home in Fullerton. The 54th-year reunion was held there as well.

Giant check from SH Class of 1968 means nearly $10,000 to go toward campus improvements

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • August 30, 2022

$9,500. That’s how much members of a Sunny Hills Class of 1968 54th-year reunion committee raised as their way of showing appreciation for their alma mater. And to top it off, they presented principal...

With a trash picker in his right hand and a trash container in the other, sophomore Adrian Ramirez demonstrates on Tuesday how he helps out after school.

Sophomore volunteers to clean Sunny Hills campus

Alexxa Berumen, Editor-in-Chief • December 2, 2021

Earbuds blasting music and a bucket full of trash in hand, sophomore Adrian Ramirez oftentimes gets mistaken for a student in after-school detention. He has taken a household chore to another level...

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