Even though he is quiet, it is clear that Tran truly cares about every player and wants them all to succeed. He believes that every student deserves experience and a chance to grow, so he makes sure everyone gets opportunities to play and improve. During practice, he carefully observes each player and designs drills based on what he notices they need to work on during games. This shows that he pays close attention and is always thinking about how to help his students become better athletes.

At tournaments, Tran goes out of his way to support the team. He wakes up early and drives the players to tournaments in the school suburban, showing his dedication and responsibility. While watching matches, he studies how each player performs and gives advice in a calm and respectful way. Instead of being harsh or yelling, he explains what they can do differently. Tran motivates his players in a positive and encouraging way. His coaching style makes students feel supported and confident, which helps them perform better. Because of his coaching, many students have improved quickly, and some have even won medals within their first year of playing tennis.

“When our students win medals, there is a sense of pride and fulfillment,” Tran shares. “Coaching is a job that has its ups and downs, but when a student is able to complete at his or her respective level, it validates the struggles that we’ve had together.”

Some may think he is too quiet to be a coach, but when he is coaching, he becomes much more talkative and active with the team. He is always focused on helping his students learn and grow. On a deeper level, Coach Tran does more than just teach tennis skills. He encourages his students to try new things, even if they are unsure or have an initial negative perspective.

Hunt naturally builds strong connections with students because of his passion for communication and his energetic personality. He encourages students to visit his office to talk about academics, athletics, or any concerns. “I want to create a safe space for students to communicate,” he says.

Dedicated to helping others, Hunt focuses on growth and improvement in every part of his career while always putting students’ needs first. Despite the challenges of his role, he values spending time with his family.

“Whether it’s taking my children to the Dallas Museum of Art or going to the park, I absolutely adore spending time with my family,” he shares.

As a young administrator, Hunt aims to be both a mentor to students and a present father. “I will go the extra mile and do my best to provide students with a supportive and encouraging environment to succeed.”

Ranked in the top five of her class, Hiner balances Academic excellence with athletic commitment in a way that looks almost effortless. When she steps onto the field it is clear her focus shifts entirely to the game. Playing left center back, she anchors the defensive line with composure and confidence. This is a position that demands awareness, communication, and incredible talent, all of which Hiner exceptionally excels with.

Left center back isn’t about flashy goals or crazy highlight reel celebrations, it’s about stopping plays before they develop. It is about protecting the net at all costs. One of Hiner’s favorite memories perfectly captures this mindset: Stopping a goal with a header. In a moment where everything could’ve gone wrong, she stepped up, met the ball midair, and kept it out of the net. This defensive stop showed how determined and dedicated Hiner’s passion for her sport can be.

If you ask Hiner what she loves most about paying at Lamar, her answer isn’t about personal achievements, it’s about connection. “The community you create with the girls around you” she says. For her, the late practices, the bus rides, and the matching uniforms is what makes the experience unforgettable. The bonds formed on the field carry off into classrooms and hallways, even outside of school! The support system built goes much farther than the scoreboard.

Looking to the future, Hiner is intent on being the best player that she can be, Her goal this season is to get more accurate passes when clearing the ball and to communicate better as a team. It is a reflection of who she is, always aiming for success, always improving, always thinking about ways to make her team stronger. With leaders like Hiner, Lamar JV Girls soccer are building something truly special.

With its instant responses and infinite knowledge, AI definitely feels like a genie, detached from any physical rules and ready to fulfill your wishes. However, artificial intelligence, unlike things like data storage in the cloud, AI requires physical data centers that use and process energy to run every question you ask, analyze every image you send, and comfort you every time you have a relationship issue. The energy used to run these massive data centers mostly comes from fossil fuels and the very water we drink. Major AI developers–often used by students– such as ChatGPT and Grok are privatized companies that rely on the water citizens pay for in order to run. As a result, these massive data centers parch the land they are built on dry, driving residents of often low-income and minority communities away from their homes. In addition, the rapid release of fossil fuel emissions contribute to the already worsening climate. This unfortunate result is easily represented by the recent weather change in Texas, with weather reaching an all-time high of 80 degrees in December!

Artificial Intelligence is not only wreaking havoc on our environment, but on the minds of students as well. Relying on AI teaches us to quit thinking in favor of easy solutions, destroying critical thinking and media literacy skills. Its immediate response inhibits gratification, leading us to be unable to sit still to watch a movie or read an article. This especially affects the younger generation, leading us to be unsatisfied with the rest of our lives when solutions are not immediately presented. Some on social media even joke or boast about using AI to write their essays, do their assignments, and essentially dictate their entire academic career, normalizing what should be a greatly dishonorable and easily avoidable act. When relying on AI to get you through a class, your grade may look sufficient, but if your brain hasn’t caught up, what’s the purpose?

Although some suggest Artificial Intelligence can have productive and beneficial effects when applied properly, its usage should be carefully considered and avoided within academic spheres, in order to lessen its effects and avoid normalizing the deterioration of our society and environment.

Hunt comes to Lamar from Houston, Texas, where he was an assistant principal at a junior high school.

According to Hunt, the student population on his previous campus was just 700 total students, which is of course much smaller than the Lamar student body which boasts more than 2,400 students.

His eagerness to accept the unique challenge and immerse himself into the larger and diverse Lamar student population is obvious. He really wants to be here and see the campus grow.

While Hunt will have many new duties as an AP at Lamar, he insists that getting to know the students and cultivating bonds are top priorities.

During his first few days on campus – Hunt spent a great deal of time learning the campus layout and getting to know the students and staff.

He emphasizes the importance of building relationships wherever you go, further highlighting his plan to establish beneficial relationships with the school community.

“I’m really big on positive collaboration,” Hunt explains. “Working together is the key for success in every area.”

He aspires to work with his colleagues to ensure Lamar continues to serve as a space for students to thrive and find fulfillment.

Outside of his workplace goals, Hunt is currently working towards his doctorate in curriculum and instruction, further developing his ability to instruct and motivate students.

In addition to his obvious commitment to education – Hunt expresses his love for travel in his stories traversing across 20 different countries.

From backpacking across Argentina to breaking bread in Italy – Hunt has an affinity for culture and people. He certainly brings a wealth of knowledge to the Lamar campus.

After two decades of building trust, giving support, and changing lives one conversation at a time – Flores felt something stirring inside her: it was time for a new challenge. It was time for both a new place and a new purpose.

Flores is now proud to walk the halls of Lamar, with the same boldness, passion and warmth that her former students still talk about. To some, she’s a familiar face in a new setting. To others, she’s the staff member they didn’t know they needed. But for everyone, Flores is becoming something rare: a safe person in a world where safety can seem hard to find.

In recent weeks, Flores excitedly accepted the role of Lamar’s Restorative Practice Specialist.

Students at Lamar are quickly learning what generations of Turning Point students already knew: Flores takes pride in listening to students. She doesn’t judge their stories, but she truly listens. She doesn’t pretend to understand. She truly listens.

In a building full of busy schedules, ringing bells, and the pressure to keep up – Flores offers something that feels almost revolutionary: time. She offers time to talk, time to sit, time to breathe. Her door remains open not because it’s her job, but because it’s her calling.

Ask any student who has met her, and you’ll hear the same thing: “She’s real.”

Flores doesn’t sugarcoat anything. She doesn’t pretend everything is perfect, and she doesn’t give out scripted answers. Instead, she shares wisdom earned from decades of guiding teens through fear, heartbreak, confusion, joy and growth. She treats students like human beings, not like problems to be solved. She’s the person who will tell you the truth even when it’s uncomfortable—but she’ll also be the first person to cheer for you when you start believing in yourself again. She has a way of making students feel seen, understood, and valued, even on the days they feel invisible.

In many ways, Flores’ arrival at Lamar is her own kind of fresh start. After twenty years of impact at Turning Point, she didn’t just want to continue helping students—she wanted to bring everything she learned to a new generation in a school that is ready for her voice, her presence, and her heart.

Lamar High School isn’t just getting a new staff member. Lamar is gaining a mentor, a listener, and a truth-teller – a difference-maker.

For every student who needs someone to talk to, someone who won’t judge, someone who won’t walk away, someone who understands real life – Flores is that person.

Seventeen-year-old senior Jacob O’Nan is one of them. Far from fitting the stereotype, O’Nan dedicates himself to staying healthy, active, and disciplined—habits that have transformed his daily life. 

“In quarantine, I got really unhealthy, and I knew I had to change,” O’Nan says. “I’m not the kind of person who sits around and lets things get bad, so I knew I had to do something.” 

For O’Nan, that “something” turned into a complete lifestyle shift. Today, he works out every single day, starting his mornings with 90 pushups before heading to school. 

He’s a member of both the football and golf teams, though his athletic background stretches further. In the past, he’s competed in cross-country and soccer, always looking for new challenges to push his limits. 

“Sports are always fun, and golf is nice as a way to exercise without completely exerting myself and being super sore the next day,” he explains. 

Working out every day can be a difficult task to keep up with, but with the right motivation and support, it can become a fun and fulfilling hobby. He goes on to say that his whole family, as well as his friends, continue to be his motivation, and he even got his girlfriend into working out with him. 

Starting his day with 90 pushups, O’Nan keeps a consistent workout routine going, and he and his brother bond over football, golf, and working out together to keep each other in check and the best versions of themselves in their day-to-day life. 

“Most of my friends are into swimming as well, and their workouts are fun to do, so they often drag me along with them so I’m not always working out by myself,” O’Nan says. 

With his company, he feels most productive and has the most fun while still staying productive. “My family helps me a lot with remaining the best version of myself, and I’m really grateful for that because without them, I would probably be in the same place I was five years ago.” 

He appreciates his support team because of how far they have helped him come as a person. In his senior year, O’Nan is trying to keep things low-key with all the activities he has going on in his life, while still staying consistent. 

When asked what advice he would give people who want to get into the gym or stay healthy and consistent, even his younger self, he says that you should always know when to push yourself. “You aren’t going to get anywhere if you stay within the bounds of the same three or four workouts. You have to get uncomfortable sometimes, and that’s okay.” Everyone starts somewhere, and there’s always room to improve and grow, whether it’s your biceps or your mindset; you can make it happen.”

Ranking in the top 10 percent of her class, Siddiqi is a living example of what it means to be both disciplined and passionate. Her journey is one of dedication, strategic time management and a deep love for both learning and the arts. Siddiqi’s academic achievements are no small feat. At a school as competitive as Lamar, landing in the top of her class requires more than just intelligence; it demands consistency, hard work, and the ability to juggle responsibilities without burning out. She has managed this all while being actively involved in several art performance clubs, a passion she refuses to put on the back burner.

The humble senior credits her supportive family with giving her the boost she has needed time and time again throughout her academic years.  

 “Art and performance give me an outlet, especially when academics get stressful,” Siddiqi says. “Art keeps me grounded.”

From long nights studying for AP exams to rehearsing choreography or practicing lines after school, her days are full. Her ultimate secret? A carefully planned schedule and a strong sense of self-discipline.

“I try to not burn myself out and have fun with the things I’m doing,” she explains. Siddiqi’s story is also about resilience. She admits that it hasn’t always been easy. There have been times when the workload felt overwhelming or when performances clashed with exams. But instead of backing down, she learned to adapt. Her advice to others trying to balance academics and extracurricular passions is to simply – “be honest with yourself about your limits, but don’t be afraid to push them.”

“People think you have to choose between being academic or artistic,” she shares. “You don’t. You just have to find your rhythm, if you really want it, you will put time and effort into what you love.”

As Siddiqi looks ahead to college, she hopes to continue walking that same line one foot in the world of logic and the other foot in creativity. In a society that often pushes students to choose one path, Nadia Sidiqqi reminds us that success can absolutely be multidimensional. 

The senior class of 2026 is serving as an upstanding example for the underclassmen this school year, exemplifying their leadership in and outside of the campus. Aman Tekle, senior cross-country runner and swimmer, displays his dedication to his athletic performance through his diet. He strives to prove that being a teenager doesn’t have to mean having a poor diet. 

Tekle describes having always incorporated sports into his life. While having been in sports for seven years and counting, he has observed that eating healthy and exercising has significantly improved his efforts in his teams and even the motivation behind them.

The senior’s close circle consists of a number of different teenagers, but mainly includes his fellow athletes. He explains that he stems from an athletic background, among friends and family, which mainly inspires him to eat healthy. Tekle especially mentions how one of his close friends and fellow seniors, Carson Plamondon, has pushed him to stay focused and mindful of what he fuels his body with. In more ways than one, Aman Tekle and his friends single-handedly defy popular stereotypes that shape the teenage population.