What made Northwest stand out? "It gave me the opportunity to teach the types of students that I wanted to reach the most. Those are the students that people typically find the hardest to teach –...

What made Northwest stand out? "The drive for excellence that I saw in every classroom as I walked through the halls. I have spent my career in disbelief that I am so lucky to work with so many incredibly...

Jay Black lies alone in a hospital room. The buzz of the fluorescent light above is only momentarily drowned out by each rhythmic beep of the heart monitor.  Beep, buzz. Beep, buzz. Beep, buzz.   ...

In what way do you feel you’ve been influential here at Northwest? "Just showing people that they can be themselves and how far confidence can take you." How did your clothing brand start? "During...

What are you passionate about? "My biggest passion is definitely making music, right up there with it is making video." How is music a part of who you are? "Of course I think making music is a...

Who’s your role model and why? "I'd say my role model is Michelle Obama or Nicki Minaj. Because they're just strong, independent women who made a name for themselves by themselves. And I want to be...

What is the biggest lesson you've learned in Northwest? "Probably to advocate for yourself and also just to try new things. Especially when I was a junior, I was still involved in a lot, but I was more...

What are your thoughts on graduation? “(Coach Cooper) calls it ‘life after death’. I used to think that was a really grim way of looking at it. It absolutely is, but it’s also accurate. Graduating...

Favorite and most challenging theater role? "The King in Once Upon a Mattress, I got to be really goofy on stage and do just what I wanted. The most challenging role was in middle school when I was...

What do you wish you accomplished here? "I wish that I could have helped our cross country to win a state championship. That was always kind of my big goal was to get Shawnee Mission Northwest a cross...

What’s your favorite part of Northwest?  “How many different people there are and how exposed you are to different people and different ideologies and beliefs. You may not agree with all of them,...

Clay meets the wheel with a slam. Senior Nathaniel Senteney is ready to start another pottery session. “ROCKY” by Bari plays in the background. All his materials lay out in front of him. His...