Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Three, Two, One - We're Done
Three, Two, One – We’re Done
As of May 2025, College Board will be changing 28 AP exams to either hybrid or fully digital tests. 13 of the school's offered AP exams will be fully digital, and 11 will be hybrid digital.
Time’s Ticking
Spring arrived on March 20 and warmer temperatures are expected in April and May. According to nbcnews.com in Spring the sun's rays are more concentrated than they are during winter, which creates warmer temperatures and less snow. “Spring is my favorite season because the temperatures get warmer but not too hot so its a great temperature,” Sienna Russo ‘27 said.
Do Not Fear, Spring is Here
From Feb. 14 through March 8 three French exchange students attended classes.
The Exchange Experience
State President Medha Kuntamukkla ‘25 gives out a backpack at the HOSA Store Feb. 18. Backpacks and water bottles were free for SLC attendees and exchanged for red tickets given to students at the beginning of the conference. Other HOSA merchandise was available for purchase and could be bought throughout the conference. “I had to make sure everything was running smoothly and be there as support for the members,” Kuntamukkla said. “If they had any questions, I would direct where to go, and also just helped out with registration, making sure all the chapters were checking in okay and they were all getting their rooms.”
Healthcare of Tomorrow
After earning a position on the State Officer team, Jonathan Duong ‘26 hugs Sen Yakandawala ‘26 following the conclusion of the closing ceremony Feb. 15. Duong will serve as the 2025-2026 State Treasure and aims to provide more resources and connections to small TSA chapters as well as improve navigation for members at events like the state conference. “I was so glad and proud to be there with him,” Yakandawala said. “It was easily one of my favorite moments of the state conference.”
Innovators in Action
The Highlands Ranch Co-op Swim & Dive team poses for a photo after competing in the Continental League championship May 1. The team secured their 12th league championship within 14 seasons, and had multiple swimmers place within the top ranks of individual events. (Media by courtesy of Melissa Krol and Erin Backman)
Co-op boys swim team Jags bring home commendations and wins
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.”
Shining and Spinning Through the Season
Graphic depicts the NCAA Tournament bracket.
The Final Four Showdown: March Madness
Varsity Guard Brooke Harding ‘25 goes up against Cherry Creek High School Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Harding finished off this season with a total of 380 points and will be attending Colorado Mesa University next year for basketball. The game ended in a 69-55 L. “Every win is definitely a team win. No game is won because of one person. We all need each other, and it’s amazing that we are all close because it definitely helps our chemistry,” Harding said.
Day in the Life of a Varsity Girls Basketball Player
During girls tennis tryouts Feb Anika Kaja ‘28 hits the ball while working on her forehand hits. “I thought the tryouts were really fun and I got to show my talents,” Kaja Said.
Girls Tennis Tryouts 2025
Graphic for podcast episode Insights Unfiltered: A Conversation with Nick Artinger
Insights Unfiltered: A Conversation with Nick Artinger
Thirty-nine French students participated in Le Grand Concors, a National French Contest sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, showcasing their skills in various aspects of the French language from Feb.14 to April 8. The annual competition evaluates participants on their oral proficiency, written expression and listening comprehension abilities.“I like to practice French outside of school and get practice quizzes, then I do the extra practice that my teacher assigns. I feel really good and proud of myself for getting first place and it's like one of my bigger accomplishments for the school,” Keren Bantshi ‘26 said.
French Students ranked nationally in Le Grand Concours
This picture depicts the symbol representing Autism Spectrum Disorder according to Autism Learning Partners.
It Really is a Spectrum
Varsity Guard Brooke Harding ‘25 goes up against Cherry Creek High School Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Harding finished off this season with a total of 380 points and will be attending Colorado Mesa University next year for basketball. The game ended in a 69-55 L. “Every win is definitely a team win. No game is won because of one person. We all need each other, and it’s amazing that we are all close because it definitely helps our chemistry,” Harding said.
Day in the Life of a Varsity Girls Basketball Player
At the 2024 AAU Junior National Championships in Orlando, Florida, Riva Linga ‘28 takes the court as a middle blocker for Relentless Volleyball Club (RVC) on the 14 Z’s Nationals team, which proudly secured 64th place out of 186 teams nationwide.
Overcoming the Struggles: How Injured Students Navigate the Challenges of School
Half night sky and half day sky with clock, cloud sun and moon.
Spring Forward or Spring Fail?
Discrete Math/Prob & Stat, Geometry and Algebra 1 math teacher Rachel Carmody grades her fourth period students’ quizzes during access Feb 11. Carmody has been teaching for 19 years in total, but she started here in 2019-2020 during the pandemic. “I don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t like math, it's not everybodys’ jam,” Carmody said.
Math, Motherhood and Movement with Rachel Carmody
Episode X covers various new hot topics, being the last episode before Summer vacation.
The Glitch Podcast Episode X: Delays, Doom, Departure
Three, Two, One - We're Done
Three, Two, One – We’re Done
This quiz makes you question which book genre you are. Take this quiz to find out.
What Book Genre Are You?
This episode covers the fine details of Mario Kart World, discussions about “A Minecraft Movie” as well as game remakes and adaptations.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Nine: Mario Kart, Minecraft and More
This episode covers the fine details surrounding the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring English teacher Peter DeFilippo
The Glitch Podcast Episode Eight: Direct Deep Dive
This episode covers the fine details surrounding the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring English teacher Peter Deflippo.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Eight: Direct Deep Dive
This image depicts the area of “Limgrave” from Elden Ring. This is one of the first vistas that players see as they start their journey through the “Lands Between”.
Pixel Perfect: By the Grace of Gold
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.”
Not My Fault
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.
Lesbihonest About Lesbian Visibility Day
This graphic depicts the stress and responsibilities of students who are taking on more than they can handle. Whether it’s a job, a sport, an activity, volunteering, school or home life, there are a plethora of things that students are expected to handle, even if it affects their mental and physical health.
How Much Is Too Much?
This is a generative AI image made by Adobe Express depicting colorful flowers emerging from a tissue box, a sunset and another tissue box.
Bring Tissues, Spring Sneezies on the Rise
Graphic depicts the student parking lot during the day April 18.
The Lot Thickens
The Note to Self column logo
Note to Self #2: More is Less
The Note to Self column logo
Note to Self #1: Application Anxiety
The Note to Self column logo.
Note to Self: Introduction
The graphic reads "PROM TIMELINE" to introduce the article.
Step-by-Step for the Special Night: A Timeline for a Night to Remember
A visual depicts a set dining spot surrounded by the words “Step-by-Step for the Special Night” to introduce part two of the three-part Prom series.
Step-by-Step for the Special Night: Cuisine Scenes
A visual depicts a tuxedo surrounded by the words "Step-by-Step for the Special Night" to introduce part one of the three-part Prom series.
Step-by-Step for the Special Night: Dress to Impress
Episode X covers various new hot topics, being the last episode before Summer vacation.
The Glitch Podcast Episode X: Delays, Doom, Departure
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.”
Not My Fault
This episode covers the fine details of Mario Kart World, discussions about “A Minecraft Movie” as well as game remakes and adaptations.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Nine: Mario Kart, Minecraft and More
This episode covers the fine details surrounding the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, featuring English teacher Peter DeFilippo
The Glitch Podcast Episode Eight: Direct Deep Dive
This episode of the Glitch Podcast covers recent BAFTA awards nominations and charitable actions by Bethesda.
The Glitch Podcast Episode Six: BAFTAs and Bethesda
This episode covers the release of Avowed, Fortnite’s Mortal Kombat Collaboration and Scopely’s acquisition of Niantic.
The Glitch Podcast Episode 4: Layoffs, Lawsuits and Launches.
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online
Rock Canyon High School's Student Newspaper

the Rock Online

awards and achievements

2023-2024

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

Journalism Education Association (JEA)

National Student Press Association (NSPA)

Student News Online (SNO)

Youth Journalism International (YJI)

 

2022-2023

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

  • Silver Crown for Online News

Continental League Journalism Conference

  • “Tools for Teams” Session Presentational Speakers – Claire Bauer, Grace Uhrain

Journalism Education Association (JEA)

National Student Press Association (NSPA)

Student News Online (SNO)

Youth Journalism International (YJI)

Other

 

2021-2022

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

Continental League Journalism Conference

  • First Place Layout: Website Layout – the Rock staff
  • First Place Newspaper Writing: Feature Writing – Matthew Fink
  • First Place Newspaper Writing: Sports Writing – Peter Leensvaart
  • First Place Newspaper Writing: Sports Writing – Ben England

National Student Press Association (NSPA)

  • Second Place 2022 Digital Podcast of the Year – Kira Zizzo
  • Fifth Place 2022 Multimedia News Story of the Year – Grace Uhrain
  • Honorable Mention 2022 Feature Photo of the Year – Claire Bauer
  • Honorable Mention 2022 Best Use of Social Media Promotion – the Rock staff
  • Honor Roll: Claire Bauer, Benjamin England, Matthew Fink, Kendall Foxworth, Jack Gianetto, Madison Loucks, Grace Uhrain, Abigail Wood, Kira Zizzo

Student News Online (SNO)

Other

 

2020-2021

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

National Student Press Association (NSPA)

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

Student News Online (SNO)

 

 

2019-2020

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • All-Colorado Award for Hybrid News
  • Second Place Best of Show Award for 5A Print News
  • Reporter of the Year – Kira Zizzo 

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

  • Gold Medalist Certificate 

Student News Online (SNO)

 

 

2018-2019

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • First Place 5A Print News
  • Award of Commendation for Hybrid News
  • Photographer of the Year – Maddie Provost
  • First Place Photo Essay – by Amanda Brauchler
  • First Place In-Depth Sports Coverage – by Alec Sutula
  • Second Place Lifestyle Coverage – by Amanda Brauchler, Emily Wilson, Rima Adepu, Julia Blanchette
  • Second Place Environmental Portrait – by Emily Wilson
  • Second Place Personality Profile – by Maddy Merritt, Reagan Davis
  • Honorable Mention Facing Pages Design – by Sam Keer, Alex Shaffer
  • Honorable Mention Commentary – by Amanda Brauchler
  • Honorable Mention Critical Review – by Brooke Andel
  • Honorable Mention Alternative Coverage Treatment – by Amanda Brauchler, Rima Adepu, Emily Wilson, Julia Blanchette
  • Honorable Mention Staff Editorial – the Rock staff
  • Honorable Mention Sports Feature – by Alec Sutula

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

Student News Online (SNO)

 

 

2017-2018

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • Award of Commendation for Print News
  • First Place Sports Feature – by Makenna Allen
  • First Place Facing Pages Design – by Emily Humes
  • Second Place Lifestyle News Feature – by Alex Shaffer, Sam Keer
  • Third Place In-Depth Sports Coverage – by Makenna Allen, Alec Sutula
  • Third Place Alternative Coverage Treatment – by Amanda Brauchler
  • Honorable Mention Critical Review – by Alex Shaffer
  • Honorable Mention News Feature – by Makenna Allen, Olivia Allen
  • Honorable Mention Editorial Cartoon – by Ryan Fincher

 

2016-2017

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • Award of Commendation for Print News
  • First Place In-Depth Sports Coverage – “Steep Prices for Sports” by Nicholas Purchase, Izzy  Daboub, Jake Adis, Kaiya Espey
  • First Place Lifestyle News Feature – “Newspaper Studying Mental Health” by Haley Lena, Sophie Martinez, Auni Smith
  • Second Place In-Depth News Coverage – “Newspaper Surveying the District” by Nicholas Purchase
  • Second Place Breaking Sports Coverage – “Newspaper Boys Varsity Basketball Advances Through Playoffs” by Lexi Brown, Marco Guillen
  • Second Place Photo Essay – “Newspaper Wishes do Come True” by Makenna Allen, Haley Lena, Christian Liley
  • Third Place Lifestyle Coverage – “The Exchange Experience, Friends From France” by Berit Erickson
  • Honorable Mention News Feature – by Haley Lena

 

2015-2016

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • Award of Commendation for Print News
  • First Place Lifestyle News Feature – by the Rock staff
  • First Place Staff Editorial – by Nicholas Purchase
  • First Place Alternative Coverage Treatment – by Emilee Nelson
  • Second Place In-Depth News Coverage – by Emily Klein
  • Third Place Facing Pages Design – by Nicholas Purchase, Rachel Rothman, Sydney Colby

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA)

 

2014-2015

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • All-Colorado Award for Print News
  • First Place Personality Profile – “Leave a Legacy” by Nikki Newman
  • First Place Alternative Coverage Treatment – “Blood Water” by Reese Wilking
  • Second Place Single Page Design – “Blood Water” by Reese Wilking
  • Honorable Mention Commentary – “CMAS? I’ll Pass.” by Sarah Crum

 

2013-2014

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • Award of Commendation for Print News
  • First Place News Feature – by Michael Shapiro
  • First Place Personality Profile – by Andrew Bohren
  • Second Place Photo Essay – by Kaitlyn Darbe, Jeremy Purchase
  • Third Place Sports Feature – by Michael Shapiro, Andrew Bohren
  • Third Place In-Depth Sports Coverage – by Michael Shapiro, Andrew Bohren, Bailey McCue, Sriya Sharma

 

2012-2013

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • All-Colorado Award for Print News
  • Second Place News Feature – “Working Against the Unknown” by Syd Charvat
  • Second Place In-Depth Sports Coverage – “From London With Love” by Kelcey Beckman, Syd Charvat
  • Third Place Sports Feature – “Unleash the Beast” by Kelcey Beckman
  • Honorable Mention In-Depth News Coverage – “What Chew Gunna Do About It?” by Virginia Vaughn, Tristan Sagar
  • Honorable Mention Breaking News Coverage – “Searching for Answers, and Finding More Questions” by Kayla Neil
  • Honorable Mention Photo Essay – “Back to Black and Gold” by Kayla Neil

 

2011-2012

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • All-Colorado Award for Print News
  • First Place Environmental Portrait – by Lauren Scheirman
  • First Place General Column – by Erin Snyder
  • First Place Lifestyle Feature – by Megan Boyles, Danielle Burrage, Maddie Whitten
  • First Place News Feature – by Megan Boyles, Allie Cole, Charlie Melbye, Kayla Neil, Mae Rohrbach, Lauren Scheirman, Maddie Whitten
  • Second Place Breaking News – by Syd Charvat
  • Second Place Editorial Cartoon – by Zach Anderson
  • Second Place In-Depth News – by Karly Hanson, Ashley Park, Lauren Scheirman
  • Honorable Mention Facing Page Design – by Charlie Melbye

 

2010-2011

Colorado Student Media Association (CSMA)

  • Award of Commendation for Print News
  • Second Place Single Page Design – by Emma Kate Fittes, Amanda Becker
  • Third Place Facing Page Design – by Emma Kate Fittes, Taylor Pettaway, Kayla Neil, Amber Cole, Lauren Posey, Lizzie Marthouse, Caley Pavillard
  • Honorable Mention In-Depth Sports – by Zach Tornabene

 

Please note that at this time this list only includes awards dating back to the 2010-2011 school year and may not be fully complete. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please email [email protected].

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