![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.jpg)
National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Announced
Seniors compete nationally, walk away with top awards
With more than $250,000 in scholarship money at stake, Emma Waibel and Sophie Passerini, seniors, won recognition for their photography in National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Waibel won a gold and an American Vision Award for her photo “Upside Down.” Passerini won a silver for a photo titled “Through the Looking Glass.”
“My photo was kind of last minute,” Waibel said. “I took it the day before I needed to turn it in for class.”
The judges, who are past winners or art experts, look for originality, technical skill and the voice or vision of the artist. Seniors who win National Medals have the chance to earn scholarship money and selected work is displayed in various magazines distributed in schools and libraries.
Passerini started her love of photography during her freshman year and took photography her junior year in hopes of continuing that passion. She was surprised to have learned she was a winner at the national level.
“I like photography because it’s instant, unlike painting, where it takes time for your finished product to be done,” Passerini said. “I didn’t know I had won until I walked into class and Ann Breyne (photography teacher) told me about it.”
Waibel has been into art her whole life and took up photography a few years ago. She soon realized that photography was her favorite art form.
“Photography is definitely my favorite medium,” Waibel said.
Although Waibel loves photography she currently sees it as a hobby. She hopes to work in graphic design and is looking for a way to involve photo into that.
Waibel will receive her awards at Carnegie Hall in New York City, June 10-12.
“My mom and I have worked it out so we will be able to travel to New York,” Waibel said.
Your donation will support the student journalists of West Linn High School. Your contribution will allow us to continue to produce quality content by purchasing equipment, software, and continuing to host our website on School Newspapers Online (SNO). Additionally, donations will go towards paying for the physical editions of our Amplifier. Donations of $20 dollars (as of Oct. 15, 2025) or more will receive a subscription to our Amplifier, which will be mailed to the donator's address (donations made with the intention of purchasing a subscription CANNOT be anonymous).
Going from soccer practice, to softball practice and then finally home to practice her trumpet, Brooke McKelvey, senior, is definitely not a lazy person....
![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-600x400.jpg)
