Multimedia
Multimedia
Audio Slideshows
Audio
As part of the Gargoyle's coverage of this year's commencement ceremony, we are publishing audio files of the two student speeches that were given: Micah Berman's welcome address and Zoë Schein's farewell speech. Micah's audio has already been posted. Check inside for the complete audio of Zoë's speech.
One of the highlights of the Class of 2008's graduation ceremony was the senior ensemble's performance of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Whether you first encountered this classic song in the English band's 1975 "A Night at the Opera" album or in Mike Myers' 1992 comedy "Wayne's World" or in its myriad other appearances in pop culture, you won't want to miss this rendition.
Missed this year's commencement ceremony or just want to relive some of the highlights? Check inside to listen to Micah Berman's welcome speech. He and Zoë Schein were selected by their peers to be the Class of 2008's student speakers.
[AUDIO included] Junior Malcolm Taylor became the first Uni male track athlete in 67 years to win a runner-up medal at the IHSA state track meet as he ran the 400-meter dash in 49.74 seconds to finish behind only Ben Asmus of Heyworth. Taylor and Asmus are now 1-1-1 in competitions and look to continue their rivalry next year.
[AUDIO included] For the third straight year, Alex Zhai is one of the top 12 scorers on the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad exam. The USAMO is the next-to-last step in the process of selecting the six U.S. team members for the International Math Olympiad, "the world's toughest math contest." The 12 USAMO winners will take a final test June 7 and 8 to determine who makes the six-member U.S. team that will compete in the 49th IMO, scheduled for July 10 to 22 in Madrid, Spain.
[AUDIO included] Experience working with an independent and innovative faculty is considered the most important quality in a new director/principal of Uni High, according to a survey that more than 500 members of the Uni community took earlier this year. On April 23, the Parent-Faculty Organization held its Spring General Meeting, at which Director/Principal Steve Epperson interpreted the results of the online survey. Check inside for the highlights.
[AUDIO included] Building renovations, security improvements, even higher faculty salaries: These are some of the changes likely to result from Uni's postponement of its search for a new director/principal. Alex Zhai spoke to Associate Provost Keith Marshall at the April 23 PFO Spring General Meeting about these topics and came back with this update.
[AUDIO included] Senior Shara Esbenshade scored a pair of goals in the first half to lead Uni to a Class A sectional quarterfinal victory Tuesday over visiting Monticello. Junior Joy Shapley assisted on both goals. The Illineks will play No. 1 seed Williamsville (a 9-0 victor over No. 8 Athens) in a 4:30 p.m. road game Thursday.
A new week, a new theme. "Poetry from the Gargoyle's mouth" is back with something a little different. During the next few days, we will be publishing song lyrics that we find to be particularly poetic. Hopefully a variety of genres and artists will give readers an appreciation for the poems that can be found in song.
It's very clear that a large part of the literary canon is made up of work from African-American writers. In keeping with that, this week we will feature poetry written by African-American poets. From the Harlem Renaissance to modern spoken word and rap, blacks in America have had a huge impact on the poetry world. Check out this poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the early black poets in America.
Videos
The Uni student organization United for Uganda began a personal sacrifice campaign in March to raise money for the grassroots organization Come Let's Dance. The campaign ends on Friday, but people can still donate to the cause. Check inside for details — plus watch video highlights of UFU's March 7 hip-hop benefit show.
Inspired by The Washington Post's "onBeing" video series, Gargoyle staffers decided to make their own series of brief videos that delve into aspects of students' lives that are interesting and meaningful. We continue our series with senior Eunice How, who talks about why she decided to stay behind when her parents moved to China, and what it's like to live with another family.
Inspired by The Washington Post's "onBeing" video series, Gargoyle staffers decided to make their own series of brief videos that delve into aspects of students' lives that are interesting and meaningful. We begin with senior Jake Seeley, who talks about the Religious Society of Friends, whose members are more commonly known as Quakers, and what it means to him.
Gargoyle videographers Sindha Agha and Lauren Piester were on hand Friday, Oct. 12, to capture the sights and sounds of the Uni High Cultural Fair. Watch their video and relive the West African drumming, Brazilian capoeira, and dancing in the street that made the fair such a memorable event.
The Uni girls cross country team, now ranked fourth in Class 1A by Illinois Prep Top Times, won the Tuscola Invitational on Saturday. It was the second straight year the girls claimed the title, but they improved over last year's finish by 17 points. The boys, meanwhile, were missing three of their top runners but still managed to outdo their 2006 performance by 81 points. Check inside for a video story about the girls' repeat victory.
Gargoyle Photos
- Photo essay: Life after the 5K, or Jie's walk around the block(s)
The end-of-the-year 5K run is over. So, what now? Never set foot outside again? You'd miss a lot. A walk around your neighborhood is better than just being a couch potato. And with the gorgeous scenery and fabulous weather, you could even walk a 5K without knowing it! Here are some sights that Jie Han captured on camera during a Saturday evening walk around her Savoy neighborhood.
- Photo essay: Close calls, a title for Welch, and other scenes from the girls track sectional
Senior Ruthie Welch might have been the only Uni athlete to qualify for state at Friday night's Class A sectional meet at PBL, but several other Illineks came close. Check inside for photos of the action. Welch will compete in the state finals Friday in Charleston. If she makes the first-day cut in the 800, she will advance to the championship race on Saturday.
- Photo essay: The Class of 2011's Allerton Experience
The Class of 2011's Allerton field trip took place April 17 and 18 under the direction of health education teacher Andi Phillips and numerous parent and faculty volunteers. The students spent two days of climbing, falling, running, yelling, doing geometry, and building boats out of cardboard at Allerton Park and the adjacent 4-H Memorial Camp. Check out the photos taken by freshman Ian McInerney and Gargoyle staffer Lauren Piester.
- Photos: Guest speakers continue Uni's celebration of cultural diversity
Students gathered in the stands and on the floor of Uni gym Thursday for the second multicultural panel of the year. They braved the rainy passage from Uni to hear from Cynthia Oliver, a professor in the University of Illinois department of dance, and Namsoo Hyong, a master of tae kwon do. Hyong is the head of the HMD Academy of Tae Kwon Do, located in Savoy.
- Photo essay: Uni girls soccer defeats St. Thomas More
Photographer Jason He was on hand Thursday afternoon in the rain and mud of DCR Soccer Complex to document Uni's 3-2 comeback victory over St. Thomas More. Check out some of the action as the Illineks improved their record to 2-0.
- Senior trip '08: Off to the Dells
If the Uni hallways seemed a little less crowded this afternoon, that was because most of the seniors had departed for their three-day class trip to the Wisconsin Dells. They left Uni shortly after lunch today and will return on Monday. The trip was organized by senior parents and students, with parents serving as chaperones.
- Photos & audio: Uni High's Black History Luncheon
More than 60 students eagerly made their way up to the North Attic on Wednesday for Uni High's annual Black History Luncheon. Students were treated to a dazzling dance performance by freshman Kahlilah Cooke and inspiring poetry readings by special guests Cynthia Biggers and Aaron Ammons. Check inside for photos and to hear Ammons recite two of his poems.
- Agora Days '08: Snapshots from Days 3 & 4
Agora Days '08 followed its predecessors in being a tremendous success and a welcome respite from Uni's regular curriculum. Photographers Sindha Agha and Maritza Mestre dropped in on some of the classes Thursday and Friday, and they brought back these final samples of the week that was.
- Agora Days '08: Snapshots from Day 2
[AUDIO included] Agora Days was in full swing by midweek, and Gargoyle photographers were out and about trying to capture some of the flavor of this year's classes. And by "flavor," we mean frosty cake icing and authentic Italian pasta, among other things.
- Agora Days '08: Snapshots from Day 1
[AUDIO included] This year's edition of Agora Days — Uni's annual weeklong break from regular classes — began Tuesday, and all went well according to John Garvey, the event's faculty sponsor and main organizer. Photographer Sindha Agha visited a number of classes on Tuesday. Check inside for some of what she found.
All Multimedia
- Audio: Zoë Schein delivers the farewell address at Commencement '08
- Audio: Seniors sing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" at Commencement '08
- Audio: Micah Berman delivers the welcome address at Commencement '08
- Photo slideshow: A final look at the Class of 2008's graduation ceremony
- Photo slideshow: Uni's new graduates take center stage
- Slideshow and photo essay: Backstage at Commencement '08
- Audio slideshow: Back to X-Week '08
- Boys track: State runner-up! Taylor places second in Class A 400
- Audio slideshow: Welcome to Herpeto-looza!
- Audio slideshow: Prom '08 in photos, Pt. 2
- Audio slideshow: Prom '08 in photos, Pt. 1
- Audio slideshow: A final look at Big Show '08
- Zhai one of 12 USAMO winners, closes in on third straight selection to U.S. Math Team
- Audio slideshow: Woo hoo! Uni girls soccer on the move
- And the survey says …
- Director/principal update: Search delay to bring changes to Uni
- Girls soccer: Illineks shut down Sages, move on to sectional semifinals against No. 1 Williamsville
- Poetry from the Gargoyle's mouth: Songs as poems edition
- Photo essay: Life after the 5K, or Jie's walk around the block(s)
- Photo essay: Close calls, a title for Welch, and other scenes from the girls track sectional
- Audio slideshow: Spring Flinging at the Wesley Foundation
- Poetry from the Gargoyle's mouth: African-American poetry edition
- Girls soccer: Illineks celebrate Senior Day with shutout win over Judah Christian
- UFU update (with video): Personal sacrifice campaign comes to an end Friday
- Alex Zhai makes U.S. Physics Team
