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
Lillian Gray

Lillian Gray, staff reporter

Senior Lillian Gray is a second year staffer for the Shield. This year she is looking forward to telling more diverse stories, as well as capturing more of McCallums community. Over the summer she had the opportunity to cover an event where president Joe Biden was the keynote speaker, and since then has spent more time covering political issues. Since then she has attended events like the Texas Tribune Festival where she heard speakers and met people like Nancy Pelosi, Luci Baines Johnson, Jen Psaki, and more. Along with her interest in politics she enjoys covering band performances, sports events, and untold stories. In her free time she likes rock climbing, reading, and hanging out with friends and family. Gray is also involved in Link Crew and is the president of Recycling Club.

All content by Lillian Gray
We have covered a lot of Mac moments here. To celebrate post No. 10,000, we take a look back at some of the moments that made a significant impact in our collective life at Mac.

10,000 posts and counting

Shayla Allen, Evie Barnard, Elin Campana Wadman, Ian Clennan, Amaya Collier, Julia Copas, Kylie Elkow, Gaby Esquivel, Morgan Eye, Lillian Gray, Gregory James, Sophie Kessler, Delaney Lavelle, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Emerson Merritt, Olin Michalovic, Esme Moreno, Grace Nugent, Mads Olsen, Charlie Partheymuller, Adrian Peña, Lexi Ramos, Bella Russo, Sofia Saucedo, Alice Scott, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Stella Shenkman, Bela Tapperson, Isabela Tellez, Camilla Vandegrift, Lucas Walker, Kennedy Weatherby, Francie Wilhelm, Dave Winter, and many more
April 22, 2025
Marty catches the breeze on his grandfather's pontoon boat on Lake Hartwell on the Georgia-South Carolina border. Photo courtesy of Henry Winter.

The story of Marty, the family dog

Lillian Gray and Wren Vanderford
April 21, 2025
A solitary sign held aloft with the Capitol rotunda in the background expresses the central theme of those who gathered to oppose Senate Bill 2 and the voucher system it will create.

Abbott and his allies finally earn voucher victory

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
April 17, 2025
Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, speaks to the large crowd that gathered in the Capitol rotunda to reject SB2, which would establish vouchers in Texas. The sheer numbers of Texans who showed up to fight the bill encouraged Austin Council PTA advocacy chair Daphne Hoffacker even if the debate on the House floor proved frustrating.

Debate on school voucher bill rages into the night

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
April 17, 2025
Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, speaks in the rotunda on April 16 in protest of vouchers. “Our public schools are the great equalizer that no matter what your zip code, every child should have a great public education so that they can compete in a global economy,” he said. “Nelson Mandela was right. Education is the most powerful weapon to use to change the world.”

House debate underway for voucher bill, public school funding

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
April 16, 2025
A speaker from the group Education Austin makes a fist at the Save Our Schools Rally on April 5. Over 100 teachers walked from Kealing Middle School to the Texas State Capitol to start the rally.

Educators gather at Capitol—again—to urge lawmakers to increase public school funding

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
April 14, 2025
Quinceañeras Alexis Jimenez, Yami Salas, Sofia Arredondo, Valeria Barrientos, Sadie Mason and Evelyn Martinez Mercado pose for a photo outside the school. The image captures their grand entrance to their collective quinceañera. This Saturday, McCallum held the quinceañera in the cafeteria allowing students to partake in the traditional Hispanic coming of age celebration without the expenses associated. Señora Altamirano-Cancino and the Ballet Folklorico Club came together to organize the event and with help from the local community were able to cover all aspects of the celebration from the lowrider cars for the students to arrive in to the DJ and dresses and suits that students were able to rent out or have donated. Caption by Josie Mullan.

Agradecida por la oportunidad

Shila Gill, Lillian Gray, Evelyn Jenkins, Beatrix Lozach, Sophia Manos, Maggie Mass, Josie Mullan, Adele Seeboth, and Fletcher Vandegrift
April 9, 2025
Charlie Bates, a sixth-grade reading and language arts teacher at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, speaks in front of the crowd at today's rally at the Texas Capitol. “Without our public schools, our communities will not survive,” she said.

Educators rally against vouchers at Capitol

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
March 10, 2025
Among the attendees at the PTA rally on Monday there were lots of proud parents, advocating for their students' schools and giving their children a voice. Two parents and PTA members, Jenny Rasco and Ashley Baker, were fighting for Timbercreek Elementary in Lewisville ISD.  “We wanted to advocate for our kids because they deserve better,” Rasco said. “We’re pushing for raising the basic allotment for students, and to make sure that Gov. Abbott knows that we don’t want the vouchers.”  Lots of parents view the vouchers to be harmful, not just within their inner circles but across the state.  “For me personally I don’t think my kids will be affected directly; however, vouchers don’t work for all the kids in Texas,” Rasco said. “Not every parent can come out here and advocate for that, and someone should, which is why we’re here. This shouldn’t be a political issue, it should be about the kids. It shouldn't be a right side or left side issue, just wanting the best for the future of our Texas kids.”  Baker and Rasco were both proud of how many people showed up to spread the word, just like them, and seeing government officials alongside them.  “The speakers were great, especially here in front of the Capitol,” Rasco said. “I’m happily relieved that all of the government isn’t supporting these vouchers we’re fighting against. It’s very comforting to know that there are people fighting with us. There’s a lot of people here, and it was a great turnout.”  Caption by Wren Vanderford. Reporting by Mira Patel and Sofia Saucedo.

Public school advocates descend on Capitol demanding more funding and assailing proposed vouchers

Lillian Gray and Wren Vanderford
February 28, 2025
MANAGING THE TEAM: The manager of the girls basketball team, senior Lucy Cottrill, walks out with her family during Senior Knight festivities after the girls varsity basketball game on Feb. 4.  Cottrill has been a manager with the girls team for the last two seasons and participates in all of the team’s games and travels on team tournaments. Cottrill’s job starts at the beginning of the school year as she assists coaches in sorting and preparing team equipment and uniforms.  “I became a manager because I had a friend on the basketball team, and she recommended that I participate in some way,” Cottrill said. “I make sure all the stats for each game are correct and fill up water bottles during practices.” Because of her duties as a manager, Cottrill is an integral part of each practice and game.  “I’ve been able to meet new friends from my position and learned a lot about what the coaches do from day to day,” Cottrill said. Cottrill recommends others to join the basketball team as a manager because it teaches responsibility and is accessible for those who enjoy watching but not playing the sport. Caption by Nate Williams. Photo by Lillian Gray.

[Photo] Senior Knights get royal sendoff

Shila Gill, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Arwen Pelletier, Maya Tackett, Callen Romell, Fletcher Vandegrift, Nate Williams, and Josie Mullan
February 19, 2025
A memorial in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine honoring the Ukrainian soldiers who have died during the war. When a soldier dies, relatives and friends add a flag to the memorial. Over 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the war began in February 2022. Photo courtesy of Anastasiia Musiiaka's.

Left behind

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 17, 2025
Senior Chris Hernandez poses for a picture in his ESL class. Hernandez moved to Austin from Villahermosa, a city in southern Mexico, in the summer of 2023. Hernandez plans to pursue higher education and has started applying to colleges. Senior Abdiel Hernandez, and Freshman Metzi Luna did not want their picture to be used.

Moving forward

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 15, 2025
Senior Uzma Rahim left Laghman, an eastern province of Afghanistan in 2021. Her three siblings and parents, left the country after the Taliban began to take over. Not too long after, Rahim started school at McCallum.

We are all humans

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 14, 2025
A small black cat named Suertudo ("lucky one" in English) looks up at a tree in Coquimbo, Chile, the city where Larenas was born. Larenas took this picture while she was on vacation in Coquimbo and her family took her to a campo ("field" in English), that was owned by her great grandfather. The cat Suertudo was given that name because Larenas great grandfather found him abandoned in a feria. Photo courtesy of Pia Larenas.

Staying connected

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 12, 2025
REACHING FOR THE STARS: Junior Zane Shieh sings an original song while playing the guitar with his band, Spiral Maze, at the Battle of the Bands last Thursday. He sings the long note of his band’s original song entitled “Reach,” a part of a new album coming soon. “This is my second year doing Battle of the Bands and with Spiral Maze,” Shieh said. “We had a pretty tight set, but I think it went really well, and the crowd liked us a good bit.” Shieh said his excitement toward playing at the Battle of the Bands this year was being able to showcase his band’s new music. “My favorite part was performing our new song, and playing for a bunch of my friends was super sick,” Shieh said. “It was stressful at first—like a little nervous—but it all cleared up right after the first song, and the atmosphere was very chill.” While it was not his band’s first time performing in front of a crowd, Shieh said he loves playing music at his own school and performing original music. “We’ve played at the Austin Rodeo two times and a few restaurants like Tamale House and Freddo’s ATX,” Shieh said. Shieh and his band will be back performing at school at the upcoming first annual McCallum Art Party fundraiser on Feb. 22. Caption by Nate Williams.

Battle of the Bands brings Mac musicians together

Shila Gill, Lillian Gray, Maggie Mass, Sophia Manos, Josie Mullan, Callen Romell, Sofia Saucedo, Priya Thoppil, Camilla Vandegrift, Wren Vanderford, and Nate Williams
February 12, 2025
The varsity, the JV-B, the cheerleaders and the students who showed up to support the JV-A Knights on Senior Knight erupt in support the JV-A's effort on the court. The JV-A earned an overtime victory over Bastrop to close its season on a high note.

[Photo] JV-A girls go out a winner in overtime

Evelyn Jenkins, a&e editor
February 10, 2025
When Jasmine Aung was in elementary school, she started to resist her Burmese food and language at home because it made her feel separate from her school friends. “I wanted to be American. I wanted to be those beautiful blue-eyed, fair-skinned people," Aung said. "I didn't want to be myself basically.” Since then, she worked hard to connect with her Burmese heritage.

All that followed

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 10, 2025
Spanish teacher Janette Miranda-Santiago poses in her Spanish class. “I fell in love with the teaching career,” Miranda-Santiago said. “Why not let me use my talents, let me use my experience? I'm so happy with it.”

A touch of Puerto Rico

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 8, 2025
Rafael Kubala plays soccer as a goalkeeper in Sao Paulo. Soccer has always been a part of Kubala's life and he has grown up playing it. Now he plays for the varsity team at McCallum. Photo courtesy of Kubala.

Just like the movies

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 7, 2025

Lillian Gray—News Writer of the Year entry

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 5, 2025
Austin ISD made a big showing at Austin’s Juneteenth parade on Saturday. Superintendent Matias Segura (center) and school board members like District 1 Trustee, Candace Hunter (not in this photo), represented the district alongside the Austin All-Star Band, families, and staff. “Austin ISD has done much to reconcile the harm done to the Black community,” Hunter said. “Our participation in the annual parade gives us another opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to serving Black students and families well.” The district’s participation in the parade means a lot to Hunter, who has been involved with it since she was a student herself. “It’s meaningful for me because as a student in AISD my family celebrated this holiday before it was recognized by the district, state or federal government,” she said. “Now, to see every sector of the city and all the different people come and celebrate Freedom Day, it’s amazing. I feel seen and recognized.” The parade also provided a unique way for Hunter to connect with the people who helped elect her to the school board. “The parade takes place in my district, so for me a highlight is I get to shake hands and hug on our students, families and community members that I serve every day,” she said.

[Photo] Flipping through the year that was

February 1, 2025
EXCLAIMING FOR THE ECLIPSE: Freshmen Jack Wood, Arwen Pelletier and Cole Truong watch the eclipse from the softball field with their digital media class. Pelletier said she was glad she chose to experience the eclipse with friends at school. “So many kids were exclaiming whenever the clouds broke and you could actually see it,” Pelletier said. “I live really close, and my mom was at home and she was outside. She said that she could hear everyone yelling.” For Pelletier, the highlight of the eclipse was the few seconds when the clouds parted and the eclipse was visible in totality. “I'll always be able to remember what it looks like in my mind,” Pelletier said. “Some things I think about, but I can't remember what they looked like. But this was memorable enough and incredible enough that I'll be able to picture it forever.” Caption by Ingrid Smith.

2024: A year in review in photos

Julia Copas, Morgan Eye, Lillian Gray, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Sophia Manos, Katie Martin, Emerson Merritt, Josie Mullan, Elizabeth Nation, Callen Romell, Eva Sanchez, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Adele Seeboth, Ingrid Smith, Priya Thoppil, Camilla Vandegrift, Wren Vanderford, Nate Williams, and Dave Winter
December 31, 2024
NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates. “One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.” As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game. “Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”

Robotics hosts VEX tournament

Lillian Gray and Wren Vanderford
December 17, 2024
In recent years phones have become a more common occurrence and distraction in schools. According to a 2023 study by Common Sense Media, 97% of 11- to 17-year-olds use their phones during school time. The constant use of phones in school needs to be restricted, and action by legislators is the solution.

Regulating cellphone use in classrooms is right thing to do

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
December 16, 2024
AS EASY AS PB&J: At the blindfold sandwich-making station, senior Zane Wiggins and Kai Talebi attempt to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The activity allowed students to experience the mundane task without sight. Wiggins found that the simple activity turned into a challenge in almost every aspect of the process. "It was pretty rough," he said. "My bread wasn’t put together properly, and I put my jelly right next to my plate and not on the plate, it was really difficult. I was expecting it to be easier than it was cause I'd made sandwiches all my life, and I thought 'I can do this from muscle memory,' but it was a lot harder than I thought, and it makes you not take your sight for granted. Access to your sight makes things so much easier." Since students participating are used to having full sight, it was difficult to adapt to the sudden loss of a sense. "I had to kind of guess where things were and the plate was moving a lot," he said. "Every time I would reach for the plate it would be in a different location, so I kind of had to feel around for everything." Along with that, Wiggins had to work together with Talebi to communicate to communicate which ingredient he needed next. "I had to share the peanut butter and the jelly with Kai, so we had to coordinate with each other on who gets what first," he said. "I knew Kai was right next to me, but it was hard to know where her hands were. We had to find each other's arm and make our way up to pass the ingredients." Caption by Lillian Gray.

Learning to see without sight

Lillian Gray and Wren Vanderford
November 12, 2024
While parents and teachers formed a marching line with rainbow umbrellas to insulate students from the hateful messaging coming from the sidewalk, students wrote supportive messages with sidewalk chalk to express support for the same groups that the agitators were villifying.

Community responds to agitators’ return with show of support

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
November 7, 2024
People gather outside of the Dayton Street Day Labor Center in Aurora, Colorado, to get food and necessities. This center is vital to many newcomers, helping them find work and support.

The human toll of political lies

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
October 30, 2024
PINK AND BLU3: Aside from the normal Pink Week pep rally traditions, the pep rally also featured the pep rally debut of the Blu3 Dance Crew, the school's K-pop dance group. “I think overall it went really well for our first big performance, especially with what happened with the music,” junior dance major and BLU3 member Ollie Roberts said. “I think we recovered from that very well.” As Roberts mentioned, the music acted up multiple times during the troupe’s performance, cutting out the first part of the opening number, “Loco,” as well as the first half of the third dance, “Super.” BLU3 Dance Crew adapted quickly, however, jumping into the middle of “Super” in the right positions. “I think we did really well,” sophomore and BLU3 member Kate Griesemer said. “I’m very proud of all of us because we were able to get back in sync together and everyone got to their spots when they realized the sound was back.” Roberts credits part of BLU3’s ability to recover quickly from the music problems to their growth, both in experience and numbers. Since it was established last fall, BLU3 has grown from nine to 15 members and has taken on more challenging dances. “Last year, I don’t think we wouldn’t have been able to (a) perform at a pep rally, and (b) have been able to recover so fast from the music mishap,” Roberts said. “I think that it would have been a very different performance if we did it last year, and I think we’ve grown a lot.” Caption by Elizabeth Nation.

[Photo] PALS work to fight breast cancer, bring campus together

JoJo Barnard, Daniela Di-Capua, Carson Duncan, Josie Mullan, Elizabeth Nation, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Adele Seeboth, and Fletcher Vandegrift
October 15, 2024

Day of Dance debuts at Austin ISD PAC

Shayla Allen, Shila Gill, Lillian Gray, Josie Linton, Beatrix Lozach, Elizabeth Nation, Josie Linton, Beatrix Lozach, Vera Petrosky, Callen Romell, Eva Sanchez, Maya Tackett, David Winter, and Abigail Wood
October 8, 2024
Senior wide receiver CJ Forbes hydrates while his coach addresses the team during a break in the varsity football team's game against Elgin on Friday, Sept 20.

[Photo] Heat causes changes in athletics

Maya Tackett, people editor
October 10, 2024
Junior Lucas Walker, plays the bass clarinet during the finals performance Saturday night at the USBands Austin Regional Competition at the Bob Shelton Stadium in Kyle. This performance led to a third place finish and the band to be awarded best overall music.

Band takes third in finals, plus Best Overall Music

Lillian Gray and Wren Vanderford
September 29, 2024

Cowles marches back to college

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
September 26, 2024
HIPS DON’T LIE: Cheerleader Addison Summers and art teacher Jessica Garcia dance together during the tep rally on Friday afternoon. When the cheerleaders were put into formation for the teacher dance Garcia made it known she wanted to dance with Summers.  “I was in the front at first, and then I realized that I don't have a guide in front of me, and I needed someone for me to follow,” Garcia said. “Addison has been asking me to do this since last year and I finally gave in.” While Summers had originally been placed in a spot not near Garcia, she made sure to get it changed. The two have been close since last year when Garcia taught Summer’s art class. “It took a lot of convincing but I knew she would have fun once she did it,” Summers said. Caption by Piper Norfolk.

[Photo] Teacher feels the love thrice on Friday

Noah Braun, August Gleason, Hudson Hensley, Carlo Hinsdale, Evelyn Jenkins, Maggie Mass, Piper Norfolk, V Overstreet, Arwen Pelletier, Priya Thoppil, and Zev Zent
September 24, 2024
ALL ABOUT ALTOS: In the midst of the prelims performance of “Fury Road,” movement captain and alto section leader junior Liliana Escamilla, makes her way through the music and choreography with other members of the alto section by her side. This being her third year as a member of the band, Escamilla has played in the Bands of America Regional competition before and knew what to expect. “It went pretty well and most people were pretty proud of how they performed,” she said. “The competition has always been an extremely hard one as most of the bands are 6A, so we do it as more of an experience to improve, but I feel like it definitely benefited us to see what we can do better for the next competition next Saturday.”

Band sharpens its craft at first competition of season

Lillian Gray and Wren Vanderford
September 22, 2024
The ABC Presidential Debate took place on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Fact-checking the Harris-Trump ABC debate

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
September 18, 2024
THE ROBINHOOD ISSUE: Texas state Rep. Ken King, a Republican, addresses his audience on Sept. 6 at the Texas Tribune Festival about funding public education in Texas. King stated that to have Texas citizens pay less taxes to support public education, the state needs to reach 51% funding. “When I served on the committee that instated House Bill 3, it seemed to me that we were at 36 percent state funding,” King said. “After we instated House Bill 3, we were at 46 percent. The goal was to get to 51 percent by the 21st session, but we went backward. The state needs to put a huge amount of money into that system in order to meet that constitutional obligation.” Another issue King spoke to was the Robin Hood Plan, also known as recapture. The plan was enacted around 1993 as a way to provide equity in school financing. After the plan was enforced, many citizens were upset because the state took a huge percentage of their property taxes and redirected them to less property tax rich districts. King agrees that it should be overturned. “It’s been said that we need to get rid of Robin Hood, and as a representative who has watched my community pay so much in Robin Hood, I agree,” King said. “Problem is, the Supreme Court has ruled Robin Hood to be a part of equity three different times, and I think it’s gonna stay.” Caption by Sofia Saucedo.

Debates over education persist as legislators, districts consider budgets, vouchers

JoJo Barnard, Lillian Gray, Josie Linton, Tallulah McAuliffe, Elizabeth Nation, Maddie O’Connor, Callen Romell, Eva Sanchez, Sofia Saucedo, Priya Thoppil, Camilla Vandegrift, and Zev Zent
September 17, 2024
GRETCHEN WHITMER: At Thursday night’s opening keynote, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith kicked off the Texas Tribune Festival with a discussion about Whitmer’s new memoir and her time as governor. Whitmer, the second woman to become governor in Michigan, has held office since 2019 and talked about her experience running for that position and the progress she has made during her time in that position. “In Michigan we got on the right side of civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community,” she said. “We were able to get the Crown Act signed into law and feed all 1.4 million Michigan public school students breakfast and lunch every single day. We were able to get background checks and red flag laws and secure storages. We have been delivering on the agenda on which we ran, always mindful though, that it’s a one-seat majority. So where we can find bipartisan support we strive always to do that. Because in order to sustain this work we’ve got to make sure that this is what’s good not just for the Michigan economy but for all of the people that call Michigan home.” As Whitmer covered much of her accomplishments, she talked about her experience running for governor. She described challenges she faced but also advice she got from others like one piece of advice said to her prior to one of her debates for governor that still sticks with her today “The happy warrior always wins the debate,” she said. “If you can turn off the volume and just watch and see who looks like they’re having the most fun, they’re almost always the one who wins the debate, so try to remember to be a happy warrior.” With a range of different topics covered in the opening keynote, a large portion was about Whitmer’s governor race and her experience in politics. Along with that though, the conversation pivoted toward the end to cover the upcoming presidential election and what Whitmer hopes to see from Harris. “Let Kamala be Kamala,” she said. “I think so many politicians get all tied up in knots because they’re trying to be this for that audience and this for that audience, and they lose themselves. I think just showing up just as she is is incredibly powerful.”

Texas Tribune Festival offers buffet of political ideas

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
September 14, 2024
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