The Student News Site of McCallum High School

The Shield Online
The Student News Site of McCallum High School

The Shield Online
The Student News Site of McCallum High School

The Shield Online
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Strut your Strada

Julie Robertson
January 22, 2016
Junior Henry Pitre models in the 2016 McCallum Benefit Fashion show. This year’s benefit show benefited Kuros!, an organization that donates pepper spray to countries where women can not afford them, but domestic violence is a common occurrence.

On January 16th, months of hard work came together as this year’s fashion show, STRADA, arrived. The winner of the show was senior Ariana Freitag, whose line was based on London’s street style. Junior Victor Mata took first runner up, and senior Celeste Debardelaben received second runner up. Photos by Julie Robertson and Charlie Holden.

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SHAPING MEDIA, STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY: NEW YORK CITY—the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, celebrating its centennial, began its convention on the Wednesday of spring break on the Columbia University campus. The opening keynote, titled “The Evolution of Media & Democracy: How We Got Here, How We Might Move Forward,” featured Richard Gingras, strategic adviser and former global vice president of Google News. Gingras addressed the challenges of fragmented media on democracy, the importance of rebuilding trust in journalism, and the role of media in strengthening communities.
Knights spring about
"WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD" — The University of Texas geology department has always felt like a second home to me. Growing up surrounded by passionate discussions about earth sciences, with both my parents working there, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication that drives the department's mission to explore and understand our planet. From attending department events to overhearing exciting research stories at the dinner table, I feel a deep connection to its community and work. This longstanding relationship has shaped my love for the school and instilled a sense of pride in being part of such a prestigious institution. The department isn’t just a place of learning; it is a core part of who I am. I share this compassion with my mom, who attended the university and has a strong connection with it. “For me, the University of Texas is a full circle,” Jaime Barnes said. “I was educated here and now I am the educator here.”
Beneath the surface
LOVELY RITA: Senior designer Rita Hagerty was the lucky winner of the 2025 show. Hagerty participated in the show for her second year. “Rita has incredible dedication and her eye for detail is incredible," one of Hagerty's designer peers said. "I'm glad her hard work paid off.” Each designer put countless hours into the show, sacrificing sleep and free time for the opportunity to share their work with the community. For some of these young designers it may have been their first time participating, some say that the hardest part was finding the time to dedicate to the competition. “Of course, designing the clothes was challenging, but that's what I was expecting," first-year sophomore designer Tallulah McAuliffe said. "It was really hard to find the time to put it all together though. Between school, homework and friends. The show was always following me.” Caption by Isa Truan.
Braving the 'Wilderness' together
Sophomore Paityn Jones sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing" for the Black History Month assembly on Feb. 10. Written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was originally a poem but became the official song of the NAACP in 1919 and became even more prominent during the Civil Rights Movement. In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, the NFL made the song a fixture at its championship game. Caption by Wren Vanderford. Photo by Jasmine Aung.
Acknowledging and celebrating Black history, culture and expression
LOOMING LARGE: Sutton Hall, five stories of aged brick, stands for the University of Texas at Austin’s architecture students. It is the powerhouse of their creativity, drive, passion, and dedication. It’s a space senior student Emily Kahn has gotten to know very well over the past four years. “The first year, we were all in the attic together,” Emily said. “We hated being in the attic; we were like, ‘Why do they have us up here? Why don’t we rebel?’ but looking back, it was probably one of my favorite times. It was like, we’re all in the same space; we’re going to become friends, you know?” Four years of drawings, models, site visits and final reviews later, Emily said goodbye to Sutton Hall.
Pieces of a journey
FEATURES: This home is one of the more famous homes designed by John Saunders Chase, the first licensed African American architect in Texas. According to the National Organization of Minority Architects, or NOMA, website, he was also the first African-American student to enroll at a major predominantly white university in the South.  The house is a widely known architectural landmark. “His houses are a staple point in the neighborhoods history” a representative for the E4 youth tour said. The historic district sign can also be seen proudly displayed above the street signs, indicating the historic nature of the original homes in the neighborhood. Caption by Avital Cuevas.
Preserving history, character of East Austin
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