As Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) is in its 25th year, it is important to reflect on the prior students, our dragon alumni. There are many amazing Dragons that have gone on to do great things in the world, but there are a couple that stand out. Ryan O’Connel ’05 is a LGBTQIA+ activist, as well as a disability activist. He praises Foothill Tech’s non-conformity. Some Dragons stayed on campus like Brianna Clark ’15 and Carlos Moreno ’15. Some other alumni went on to make music, like Anderson .Paak ’04 and others start YouTube channels, similar to William Osman ’08.

March; Woman’s History Month. What started as just a single week in March, grew into something much bigger, it’s a month that celebrates everything that woman have done for the world. It didn’t start to really take root till the 1980s where it then became widespread. March has much more to offer than just a middle man from winter to spring, it is a time to celebrate the women in your life.

Ventura’s river estuary, a marshland area that funnels into the ocean, provides a refuge for many different species of birds; from sea and shorebirds to waterfowl and songbirds. The area is adjacent to a popular path for biking or running, but despite the proximity to human activity, the wildlife thrives in their own little world.

Asian Americans have gone through a great deal of racism and bigotry throughout the course of history, but as the United States of America advances, there has been a considerable amount of improvement with uniting cultures together. The suffering and accomplishments of many individuals have completely changed people’s perspective on the Asian ethnicity, not to mention, generations of this ethnicity who battle with their identity. After so many years of fighting, it is clear that these hard working people have completely redefined what it truly means to be an Asian America.

Time will always keep progressing and with that, comes change, but just how much do things really change as time passes by each generation of individuals? The older generation and younger generation of Asian-Americans have all lived very different lives, however, there seems to be a common factor that comes along with growing up in a country as a minority. Dive into the lives of specific people expressing their own experience with the beautiful blend of cultures, generational change, and the undeniably constant factor of discrimination. Though the stories of a single man or woman’s life are often overlooked, these are stories that should and need to be told.

A display of artisan olive oils at Olive Ventura showcases a wide range of imported and locally produced oils. The shop emphasizes sustainability and offers tasting to help costumers find their perfect flavor.

The sign outside Olive Ventura welcomes customers to the boutique olive oil store, which offers a variety of locally sourced oils. Located in the heart of Ventura, the shop aims to bring fresh, high-quality olive oils to the community.

Cans of Frog Balls, spicy dill picked brussel sprouts, sit alongside premium olive oils at Olive Ventura. The shop features a curated selection of oils and vinegars, emphasizing quality and craftsmanship.

Shoppers explore the offerings at Olive Ventura, a boutique olive oil store where they can sample a variety of premium oils and learn about the production process.

Olive Ventura is a specialty olive oil store located Downtown, offering a variety of high quality oils and vinegars sourced from around the world. The shop aims to educate consumers on the health benefits and culinary uses of premium olive oils.

Ventura, Calif. is full of various types of wildlife depending on the season. Ventura’s river estuary is a thriving ecosystem supporting vastly different species and allowing them to coexist in harmony. Follow along for an overview of the various types of bird species present at the estuary.

Ensuring that every student has a safe environment to learn in is one of the greatest responsibilities of school faculty and staff, and unfortunately, there’s a reason for that. Even in the most sheltered of communities, school violence persists to rear its ugly head. On campus bullying, sexual violence, gang violence, physical fights and use of weapons or illegal drugs all fall under the mantle of school violence. According to a survey released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 2024, 67% of public schools reported at least one violent incident occurring throughout 2021 and 2022, amounting to about 857,500 violent incidents. Despite this, various sources all confirm that more and more preventative measures are being taken to minimize school violence, and violence across the nation is declining as a result.

Elijah Haigh ’25 (number 15) serves the ball to the Ventura High School (Ventura) boys volleyball team. Throughout the game, Haigh displayed strong skills both offensively and defensively, with numerous blocks to the other team and successful hits that resulted in several points for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). Despite the overall loss Foothill Tech faced, Haigh, along with his other teammates performed well throughout the game.

Max Benedik ’28 (number 12) jumps up to spike a ball over Ventura’s defense. Despite Ventura’s efforts, the ball passed by their outside blocker and hit their side of the court, resulting in a point for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). Benedik, one of the few freshman on varsity volleyball, preformed well throughout the game, helping his teammates by earning points during each set.

On the evening of March 21, 2025, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) boys volleyball took on the Ventura High School (Ventura) volleyball team at Cabrillo Middle School. Despite a rocky start, ending in a Foothill Tech loss for the first set, the team came back strong, winning the second and third set. Despite this comeback, the Foothill Tech boys’ team ultimately fell short, losing in the last two sets to Ventura. Foothill Tech performed well, displaying powerful hitting, skilled defensive plays and several well timed blocks. Seen above is one of Foothill Tech’s many skilled hitters, Styles Haley-Kettler ’28, hitting a ball on Ventura’s side of the court.

Campus supervisor, Michael “Mike” Bowen, has impacted students across the district. His empathy and support has allowed students to feel comfortable throughout their day. Bowen’s strong work ethic to make Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) a safer and more supportive environment truly makes him a hero.

On Feb. 14, 2025, the newest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe hit theaters, continuing the line of Captain America movies. As the mantle of Captain America was passed down to Sam Wilson, he now faces new but familiar villains last seen in the Hulk movies, solidifying Sam Wilson’s role as the new Captain America.

The stage has been set – and it is irreversible. From the depths of schools and children’s playrooms emerges yet another drama, one to rival the most well-known Greek tragedies, “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone”: the usurping of the pen and paper. As the sun rises on a new age of keyboards and screens, so too does it set for the era of parchment and dark velvety ink.