![Minutes before the Activities Fair in the gym, president Abhi Gowda ‘26 prepares the stall for his club Helping Hands, Sept. 4. A relatively new club, Helping Hands was co-started by Gowda and focuses on assisting the homeless, and just last year they succeeded in raising a couple hundred donations to send to shelters. This year, they have goals to expand, with hopes to increase volunteer opportunities and take in-person trips to shelters, as well as extend their help beyond just homeless people. “The Activities Fair gives a lot of underclassmen the opportunity to really get to know the Canyon culture, and it gives them many opportunities for service and volunteering,” Gowda said. “[Through the Activities Fair,] I hope to find a bunch of new and passionate members about our club and just get our name out there and spread awareness to the cause that we’re fighting for.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-2-1200x885.jpg)
![The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Both-socal-media-nd-website-main-1-1200x846.jpg)
![April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0011-1200x900.jpg)
![Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, and it’s a holiday to celebrate the lesbian community of the world. Lesbian Visibility day was established in 2008 by many queer activists and organizations who sought to raise more awareness for lesbian history and culture. “So this is why during Lesbian Visibility [Day] we celebrate and center all lesbians, both cis and trans, while also showing solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people,” Linda Reily, in an article written by her, said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesbian-Visibility-day.jpeg)
You Can Run, But You Can’t Stay Dry
A look inside the new game that has taken Rock Canyon Seniors by storm.
media by Ben England
“Colten Martinez ‘22 and Carter Pollock ‘22 pose with their water guns in the Rock Canyon parking lot” PC Ben England.
September 2, 2021
I get out of my car on a brisk Monday morning at Rock Canyon High School. Except this isn’t a normal Monday. Senior Assassin has begun. I step onto the pebbles and rocks we call our parking lot. Then I hear a sound from behind me. BANG. I feel something hit my head. I’ve been shot. One minute into the game, first blood, I have been assassinated.
Senior Assassin is an advanced game of tag that has taken the nation by storm. Seniors all over the country are taking part in this phenomenon.
The basis of the game is that every participant is assigned a target. They have to then shoot their target with a water gun before they get shot. If they successfully shoot their target, then their target’s target is the new objective.
Rock Canyon seniors have started to participate in the game.
There are two organized games that seniors have been playing.
The first game’s so-called “captain” is Gracie Gunther ‘22. She organized 48 of her friends to participate in senior assassin.
“I got the idea from seniors last year who had a game of their own. Julia Drobish ‘21 passed it down to me to organize for the seniors,” Gunther said, “My favorite moment so far was when I handed out the invitations and everyone got really excited. It really brought everyone together.”
Their game has been a success so far as assassinations are happening almost daily and the game is moving smoothly.
“My favorite moment so far was when someone snuck into their target’s house late at night and shot him while he was laying in bed,” Grace Vaughan ‘22 said.
The second game is led by Tiffany Lahey ‘22 and has over 100 participants.
“I generated an all inclusive model for the Senior Assassin game so anybody could play. I went and created an Instagram page for participants and it blew up. We gained over 100 players,” Tiffany Lahey ‘22 said, “I am so proud and excited with how the game has played out.”
After the implementation of no-safe Thursday’s, which means you can not wear protection from getting shot, the assassination count has increased drastically.
Two of the most accomplished assassins right now are Carter Pollock ‘22 and Kyle Mackzum ‘22, each on their third target.
“I plan to play it pretty safe but also be aggressive so the game moves on quickly, but I try to get my target at unpredictable times,” Mackzum ‘22 said.
“Each target is different, so there isn’t a singular plan, but going forward, I am going to take advantage of no-goggles Thursday,” Pollock said.
Some participants haven’t had the same success as others.
Caden Tisdale ‘22 was one of the first kills of the games after he was caught in the parking lot without his goggles.
“I should’ve held on to my goggles and paid more attention,” Tisdale ‘22 said, “My favorite moment so far though has been the hunt for people and the bonds my friends and I have made.”
Even if you were first blood or still fighting in the game to this day, everyone finds their place in Senior Assassin. It is a fun game that everyone can enjoy and a tradition that will hopefully continue through the years.