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The School Newspaper of Southwest Career and Technical Academy.

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Southwest Shadow

Dribbling the basketball away from the defender, sophomore guard Alyssa Atkins-Dowd looks for an open teammate to pass to. The game was between the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks and the Faith Lutheran Crusaders. “My family supports me playing basketball,” Atkins-Dowd said. “My dad is a basketball coach, and he, my mom, and my oldest sister, Nadia, always show up to my games. In every game that I have, there's at least one family member there supporting me from the bleachers, which I’m very grateful for.” (Credit: @dbacks_wbb)

Shooting For Her Dreams: Meet Alyssa Atkins-Dowd

Johnny Tao, Staff Writer
February 24, 2025
Through her love and dedication to the game of basketball, Alyssa Atkins-Dowd hopes to one day become a professional player for the WNBA.
Posing with his student, Michael Hadobas and Razelle Antipuesto branch out their plates they submitted for their contest. The two had competed in the competition “Flavors For Life,” where high schools compete against each other to make a dish from a mystery basket of ingredients. “It was very fun,” Hadobas said. “I felt quite proud to win!”

Sugar, Spice, Everything Nice: Meet Chef Michael Hadobas

Mason Rafferty, Staff Writer
February 21, 2025
Michael Hadobas shares his journey in the culinary field
To practice for the English ACT, juniors Veronica Zamudio and Solia Carroll are trying to agree on an answer. “I think I was overthinking a lot of it, so I couldn’t really get a lot of questions right,” Zamudio said. “I was too scared to answer because then I would have gotten them wrong.”

An Hour In … AP English Lang and Comp

Hunter Rhee, Multimedia Editor
February 19, 2025
AP Lang students work on ACT practice.
Spinning her cup with the string length longer than before, senior CJ Estrellas laughs while trying to keep a hold of the cups rotation. By increasing the string length, the tension is increased as well as the risk of the cup’s water falling out.  “We have all these components and it’s really important [to get them right] because it can risk people lives,” Estrellas said. “They can risk your own life. Its like preventing risk factors, and that’s why applying it [physics] to real life is a real eye opener because I really saw what was going to happen if I make a mistake or don’t understand principles and calculations behind it [our project].”

An Hour In… AP Physics Lab

Ava Torres, Features Editor
February 12, 2025
Students in AP Physics Lab apply mathematical and physics related principles to real life
Writing calculus equations on the board, junior Michael Haley easily swifts by the questions with ease. “At the beginning of this year, I was doubting if I could do it,” Haley said. “It was mainly because of this physics class I was taking, I felt like I wasn’t understanding it, and then I wasn’t doing too well on some of the tests. But then I quickly picked it back up and started having momentum again.”

The Number One: Meet Michael Haley

Kevin Zhao, Staff Writer
February 11, 2025

3650 days, 10 years—Most would have quit or have been burnt out by now, but not junior Michael Haley. In the face of doubt, thousands of sleepless nights, and stress, he rises again and again to face...

AN HOUR IN … CULINARY III

Kevin Zhao, Staff Writer
February 6, 2025

Elijah Cruz drums for the Lohan School of Shaolin. The rest of the team lion danced to match his beat. “It’s cool to see so many lion dancers move when I hit the drum and at the speed I want them to move,” sophomore Elijah Ray Cruz said.

Heart of A Drummer: Meet Elijah Cruz

Rheyland Simon, Writer
February 5, 2025
Ever since he was nine years old, sophomore Elijah Cruz has been beating drums as loud as a lion’s heart.
LAST MONTH IN SPORTS: JANUARY

LAST MONTH IN SPORTS: JANUARY

Nino Galloway, Sports Writer
February 4, 2025
The last month in sports has been action-packed in every sense of the phrase, so let’s take a look back.
'Perfect Valentine's Day' Contest

‘Perfect Valentine’s Day’ Contest

Zelina Panissidi, Social Media Editor
February 4, 2025
Tell us your version of a perfect Valentine's Day for a chance to win.
Friends Forever: Meet Angelina Nguyen

Friends Forever: Meet Angelina Nguyen

February 3, 2025
Angelina and her friend Irene have been friends since third grade.

Podcast: Ghost Stories

Devin Uclaray, Shadow Files Reporter
January 31, 2025
Southwest Shadow Staff converse about suspense-worthy encounters
Sneaker King: Meet Andrew Aviles

Sneaker King: Meet Andrew Aviles

January 30, 2025
Sneaker collecting and reselling has became the ultimate past time for freshman Andrew Aviles