The Student News Site of Foothill Technology High School

The Foothill Dragon Press
The Student News Site of Foothill Technology High School

The Foothill Dragon Press
The Student News Site of Foothill Technology High School

The Foothill Dragon Press
Diana Hixon

Diana Hixon, Photo Editor

Class of ‘26 | “Grammar is a piano I play by ear.” – Joan Didion

All content by Diana Hixon
On the sunny afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, around 2,500 "No Kings" protests took place across the nation. Locally, over a thousand demonstrators gathered around the government center located in Ventura, Calif. The atmosphere was energetic, with loud music blaring over speakers and car horns sounding in support. The protests were organized in response to recent policies from the Trump administration, which organizers described as government overreach.

[Photo] ‘No Kings’ protest returns to Ventura, echoing nationwide calls for democracy

Evelyn Whatley, Rebeca Hu, and Angela Hua
October 18, 2025
Jaylene Aguirre '28 is one of Foothill Technology High School's (Foothill Tech) most consistent and dedicated tennis players. She has been on the girls tennis team for two years, however, she has been playing for nearly 10 years. Her good sportsmanship and commitment to the sport made her an invaluable part of the Dragons' 2025-2026 girls tennis season.

[Photo] Swinging into the future

Jocelyn Morales
October 17, 2025
On the evening of Sept. 16, 2025, residents and supporters of Ventura, Calif., gathered in the Ventura College Wright Event Center to witness the Ventura City Council make a decision on the Main Street Moves project, specifically whether or not to maintain the closure of Main Street to vehicular traffic. This decision brought a large crowd, with over 70 individuals volunteering to voice their concerns to the Council, with a large majority of participants being in favor of the continued closure of Main Street. After a speaker's time had elapsed, members in the audience used the American Sign Language (ASL) symbol for applause, pictured above.

[Photo] Main Street Moves debate finally settles at the Sept. 16, 2025 council meeting

Oliver Kelley, Writer
September 18, 2025
The second annual Lima Bean Festival was held on Sept. 13, 2025, in Oxnard, Calif. Organized by the Oxnard Historic Farm Park, this event serves to honor Oxnard and Ventura County's rich history in the agricultural industry, with the spotlight crop being lima beans. Starting as early as noon, eventgoers enter the park and are greeted with lively music played by Frankie and the Lima Beans, numerous local restaurants take on lima bean dishes, and a wide array of arts and crafts. Those attending were also allowed to grab a copy of a new book published by the director of the park, Jeffery Maulhardt, which covers the impact lima beans have had on California as a whole.

[Photo] Beans, beans, the magical fruit

Layla Solomon and Kellen Spears
September 16, 2025
Aug. 13, 2025 marked the official beginning of the 2025-2026 school year for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) as well as the rest of the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD). Around campus, numerous staff members could be seen showing off their school spirit, wearing astronaut attire to acknowledge the school’s theme of the year, “Chasing the Stars.” Foothill Tech's Associated Student Body (ASB) went above and beyond with decorations, covering the halls with balloons, streamers and stars with every student's name written on them, highlighting ASB’s dedication to creating a welcoming environment for new and returning students.

[Photo] Dragons begin “Chasing the Stars” as the 2025-2026 school year starts at Foothill Tech

Bailey Basurto, Angela Hua, Rebeca Hu, Evelyn Whatley, Viggo Bortolin, and Natalie St. Pierre
August 15, 2025
The 2024 to 2025 season was incredibly successful for Foothill Technology High School's (Foothill Tech) swim and dive team, with numerous athletes making new personal bests at nearly every event. All of these athletes secured their own personal bests in varying events, highlighting the variety of Foothill Tech's success. The Foothill Tech swim and dive team recieved various accolades throughout the duration of the 2024 to 2025 season, performing well at the Ventura County Swimming Championships and the Tri-Valley League Meet, both of which are hallmarks of the Dragons swim season.

[Photo] Swim and Dive

Dane Dodos, Reporter
June 7, 2025
The 2024 to 2025 season was somewhat rough for the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) girls tennis team, with the team advancing to Tri-Valley league finals, however failing to meet California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) standards to compete in the postseason. The teams league record was 1-7, with an overall record of 2-10. Despite their hardships, the Dragons showed resilience and dedication throughout the season.

[Photo] Girls tennis

Chance Leandro, Reporter
June 7, 2025
The Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) boys volleyball team did well throughout the year, with the varsity team's overall record being 17-10 for the 2024-2025 season. The Dragons won numerous league games as well as tournaments, which ended up qualifying the team for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs. The boy's volleyball team also ended up 3rd in the Tri-Valley Volleyball league, being beaten only by Bishop Garcia Diego High School (Bishop Diego) and Laguna Blanca School (Laguna Blanca). Overall, Foothill Tech had a fantastic season for boys volleyball, thanks the to entire team's continuous effort throughout the year.

[Photo] Boys volleyball

Peyton Fox, Assignment Editor
June 7, 2025
On the cloudy afternoon of June 4, 2025, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) seniors, along with their friends and families, gathered at the Ventura College field to celebrate four years of classes, homework, late nights and extracurriculars coming to an end with the most anticipated event of senior year: graduation. This event is often considered bittersweet for those involved, as it marks the entry into adulthood, where classmates begin to move across the country or beyond to seek education and work. Seen above is Hailey Hall '25, who gave the opening student speech, as she had served as the elected Associate Student Body (ASB) class president for the duration of her senior year. In her remarks, she highlighted the bittersweet notes of moving on from high school, referencing the unique experiences Foothill Tech students have faced throughout their 4 years.

[Photo] Admist the cheers of family and friends, the Foothill Tech Class of 2025 celebrates their last steps in high school

Viggo Bortolin and Oliver Kelley
June 6, 2025
A thin bike lane traces the edge of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), offering breathtaking coastal views and a scenic route for many cyclists.This beauty, however, comes with risk, as the bike lane lacks a physical barrier and is in close proximity to high speed traffic. There are also numerous sections containing crumbling pavement and sudden drop-offs, making the PCH bike lane dangerous at times. While the state of Calif. is largely in support of eco-friendly travel, real investment in safer and well-designed bike lanes is still urgently needed.

[Photo] The state of urban planning

Jane Kim, Writer
May 1, 2025
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.

[Photo] Foothill Tech falls short in five-set thriller against Ventura

Conor White, Writer
March 24, 2025
On the afternoon of March 20, 2025, the Ventura Aquatic Center became home to the Ventura County Swimming Championships. The event started on March 18, 2025, with the girls qualifiers, followed by the boys qualifiers on March 19, 2025. This annual event hosts over ten schools in the county every year, making the competition fierce. Seen above is Kylan Jaeger, holding the edge of his diving block in preparation for his heat to begin. Jaeger, along with many other Foothill Tech swimmers, performed well, earning various accolades throughout the meet.

[Photo] Swim competes in the annual Ventura County Swimming Championships

Peyton Fox, Reporter
March 22, 2025
On March 8, 2025, the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) boys' baseball team played a tough match against the Trinity Classical Academy (Trinity) team. Though they ended up losing 6-1, the Foothill Tech team remained competitive throughout the game, showing strong teamwork and resilience.

[Photo] Recap: Baseball takes their second loss of the season to Trinity Classical Academy

Ian Toreja, Reporter
March 11, 2025
Foothill Technology High School’s (Foothill Tech) annual Senior Recess event, originally scheduled for earlier in the year, took place on Feb. 27, 2025, after being delayed due to rain. The event, designed to give seniors a chance to reminisce about their childhoods, transformed the school’s campus into an elementary school-style playground. Students enjoyed various nostalgic activities, including hula hoops, an art table and other classic games reminiscent of recess during their younger years. As the school year nears its end, the Senior Recess event offers a moment of reflection for students before they head off to college or other post-graduation plans. For many seniors, the event serves as a reminder of simpler times and provides a fun opportunity to bond with classmates one last time before graduation.Thanks to the hard work of the Associated Student Body (ASB), Senior Recess has become a beloved tradition at Foothill Tech, offering students a unique way to close the chapter on their high school journey.

[Photo] Seniors bathe under the sunset of nostalgia at senior recess

Bailey Basurto, Reporter
March 1, 2025
Curren Wiggins '26 (number 13) and Elijah Haigh '25 (number 15) leap to block a spike from Bishop Diego High School (Bishop Diego) during their volleyball match. Despite the block, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) couldn’t secure a win, losing 0-3. The team played with heart and intensity, refusing to back down. While Bishop Diego's offense triumphed, Foothill Tech’s defense showed resilience and determination throughout the game.

[Photo] Boys volleyball swept in first league match against Bishop Diego

Ian Toreja, Reporter
February 23, 2025
Ventura is home to many well loved hikes and trails, one of them being Harmon Canyon. No matter your experience level in hiking, Harmon Canyon has something to offer. From beautiful local plants to a great trail for runners, this scenic route is widely popular among people of all ages and skill levels.

Nature excursions in Ventura

Shea Stevenson, Camilla Lewis, Diana Hixon, and Conor White
February 13, 2025
Here at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) students have officially finished with the first semester of the 2024-25 school year, meaning that freshmen at Foothill Tech have completed one eighth of their high school career. Moving up from middle school is a pretty dramatic change to the pressure and expectations of high school. From fun fridays and low expectation classes, to the dreaded AP test and SAT prep soon to come, the bar has been raised. Along with the difficulty of education being raised, so are the challenges of a student's social life. Through this time many friendships go through ups and downs, and people change, it is a part of the high school experience. At this time the new freshmen are going through all of these changes emotionally and physically.

[Photo] Freshmen reflect on their first semester

Emmanuel Takaya, Writer
January 29, 2025
The week of Dec. 16, through Dec. 20, 2024 marks the end of the first semester for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) students. With this week comes the pressure of finals, last-minute studying, completing projects and reviewing months of material. Despite the stress, students persevere, looking forward to a well-earned two-week winter break after their rigorous exams.

[Photo] Foothill Tech students wrap up finals with a bang before holiday break

Aubrey Alderman and Bailey Basurto
December 22, 2024
On the night of Nov. 25, 2024, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) varsity soccer players faced off against Santa Clara High School (Santa Clara). They took a clear lead from the beginning, and ended up securing a win 5-0. Conner Bursek '25 (number 19) can be seen putting pressure on Santa Clara's defense, and aiding the Dragons to mainitan their win. He looks for an opportunity to pass to his teammates further down on the field.

[Photo] Boys soccer demolishes Santa Clara 5-0 in first home game

Conor White, Reporter
November 27, 2024
Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) has built its athletics department from the ground up. Over the years, the school has been able to secure many awards, including several California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) awards.

[Photo] Growth in Foothill Tech’s athletics

Kyra Bouchard, Reporter
December 2, 2024
Saanvi Joshi '26 focuses on the ball in preparation to return the serve to her opponent. Although she lost her first and third match, she ended up winning her second.

[Photo] The 2024 Democratic candidate and running mate

Jane Kim, Writer
October 14, 2024
On the night of Oct. 4, 2024, Buena High School (Buena) and Ventura High School (Ventura) faced off in their annual rival game. These players ready themselves before the snap. Both teams fought hard, but Ventura secured the victory, 34-20.

[Photo] Ventura beats Buena in annual rivalry game

Ian Toreja and Kyra Bouchard
October 5, 2024
During the evening of Sept. 19, 2024, Norma Garcia joined her fellow teachers for Back to School Night. This Spanish teacher welcomed parents into her classroom and discussed the importance of language learning. She highlighted her expectations for students and shared numerous resources to support their academics. Parents appreciated her insights and the welcoming atmosphere of her classroom.

[Photo] Parents step into their students shoes at Back to School Night 2024

Maggie Lay and Ella Asher
September 21, 2024
During lunch on Aug. 29, 2024, Assistant Principal, Frank Davis, read a bedtime story to a group of students. This went along with that day's theme, which was "Lofi-Chill". Blankets were set up so students could relax while listening to the story.

[Photo] Students at Foothill Tech celebrate a “Year for the Records” with the first connection week of the 2024-2025 school year

Natalie St. Pierre, Reporter
August 31, 2024
Aditi Shanbhag ‘25 prepares to return the ball, hoping to win the point. She later went on to win all of her sets 6-0, securing three points for the Dragon's tally.

[Photo] Girls tennis performs flawlessly against Buena 17-1

Ian Toreja, Reporter
August 30, 2024
Foothill Technology High School's (Foothill Tech) class of 2025 gathered for a group photo marking the beginning of their senior year on Aug. 16, 2024. They gathered as early at 5:30 a.m. to celebrate their accomplishment.

[Photo] Class of 2025 dives into their senior year at Senior Sunrise

Bailey Basurto and Aubrey Alderman
August 17, 2024
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Diana Hixon