![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)
FRIDAY FACULTY FEATURE: Alexis Savas’s Travels
This week’s glimpse into the life of French teacher Alexis Savas.
media by Elsa Swanson
French teacher Alexis Savas stands in front of the 8000s pod staircase. Savas teaches both French and Spanish, and has traveled to 47 countries. “I really liked the architecture of Spain. And I liked the culture and ambiance of France,” Savas said.
November 11, 2022
Imagine traveling across the world, visiting countries with a vast array of cultures and traditions. To know what it is like to travel all around the world, and know which locations have the best food, architecture and experiences, ask French and Spanish teacher Alexis Savas.
Q: Can you please say your first and last name?
A: Alexis Savas.
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: This is my 14th year.
Q: How many years at Rock Canyon?
A: This is my ninth year at Rock Canyon.
Q: How long have you known French?
A: I started French when I was 12.
Q: Do you know any other languages?
A: I speak Spanish, and teach it.
Q: Do you sponsor any school clubs or activities?
A: I run the French National Honor Society.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have three cats. They are perfect. I have one Ragamuffin. She is 14. Her name is Nittany. Coco is the middle child. She is going to be two in November. Iris is the baby ragdoll, she just turned one in May.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: I really liked “Labyrinth.” That is with David Bowie.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: I read a lot. Let’s see. “Shadow of the Wind” is like my favorite book of all time. If you have not read it, it is a good one.
Q: I know you travel a lot. How many countries have you traveled to and what was the coolest place?
A: I have been to 47 countries. I guess the coolest place just depends on what you are looking for, like if you are looking for nature or food or history or architecture. I really liked the food in Thailand. I really liked the architecture of Spain. I liked the culture and ambiance of France.
Q: Do you have a crazy teaching story?
A: So I had this kid once, he did not want homework over the weekend. When I assigned homework, he threw a desk at me. I stepped out of the way. Later, that same child after he had graduated said that I was his favorite teacher. When he wanted a job at Walmart, he called me for a reference, and I told him that he should probably not ask for a reference from someone he threw a desk at.