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The Student News Site of University Preparatory Academy

Aquila

The Student News Site of University Preparatory Academy

Aquila

The Student News Site of University Preparatory Academy

Aquila

Junior Trip Returns!
Junior Trip Returns!
Shibani Ghosh, Team Editor • April 16, 2023

From Feb. 13 to 16, 99 juniors visited seven colleges and saw first hand what campus life is like. The itinerary included the following colleges: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, Cal State University Fullerton, UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona and UCLA, in which students went to two per day and one on the last day. Students started the trip by arriving at UPA campus at 5:00...

Sebastian demonstrates the functionality of her jack-in-the-box costume by going in and popping out of her cardboard box, per the emcees’ request.
ASB hosts scavenger hunt and Costume Day to celebrate Halloween
December 6, 2022

With the end of Marking Period 2 on Friday, Oct. 28, the following Monday was scheduled to be the usual Data Day, a day off for students. However,...

On March 23 Jennifer Rojas led a Parent University webinar on "Emotional Regulation Part 1: Recognizing What's Wrong.” It covered why people have emotions, why emotions being too high or too low can be harmful, tools to understand students emotions and the impact of inward emotions on mental health. (Photo by Haylie Yee.)
Parent University program holds six courses to support student guardians
May 20, 2022

UPA Founder Jackie Guevara and math teacher Jaz Dhillon created Parent University in 2011. Initially called Parent Workshops until a name change...

Nahum Hinsta (12) promposes to his girlfriend Tiffany Tran (12), and all of the male pageant contestants celebrate with him. (Photo by Mariah Myers.)
Seniors raise over $1,000 during Nuit de Monsieur
April 19, 2022

Sophomores, juniors and seniors all came together to be a part of UPA’s 2022 Male Pageant, located in the amphitheater on March 25. Director...

The two exits in the student parking lot lead to a traffic jam as it is a common place where students are picked up. (Photo by Christopher Alvarez.)
Parking Situation Frustrates Students
March 13, 2022

As you walk towards your car slowly after a tiring school day, you notice the abundance of cars lined up, fighting over parking spots and parked...

Live to 100

Nikhil Pandey, Reporter
April 23, 2026

Human health plays a significant role in daily life, impacting quality of life, mood and interactions with others. Here are 10 simple tips that can help people improve their physical and mental health. 1. Get at least seven hours of sleep per night According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),...

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Alexandra Batrez, Reporter
February 2, 2026

Aside from UPA’s theater program, drama classes and a few clubs, not every student interested in theater pursues it at school. It could be daunting to risk embarrassing oneself in front of peers, or to step outside of one’s comfort zone with unfamiliar people. Contrary to popular belief, there are many opportunities outside of UPA for theater such as acting and improvisation troops and companies...

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AP: Advanced Placement or Automatic Pressure?

Dravin Krishnaprasad, Reporter
January 26, 2026

Though not mandated in the state of California, Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed to allow students to earn college credits in high schools and build strong skills and confidence through College Board’s nationally-recognized rigorous curriculums. At UPA, students must pass two AP courses...

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Pitt-nomenon

Abigail Carpenter, Reporter
May 20, 2026

Editor’s Note: The following article contains discussion of media that includes graphic depictions of violence, gore, profanity and nudity. No mention of any explicit content will be included in this review, but reader discretion is advised. “Welcome to the Pitt. Let’s go save some lives.”...

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Sorry Not Sorry

Liyana Fekade, Reporter
May 18, 2026

Across the media, people argue about whether or not cancel culture is effective, leading many to the question of, “What is cancel culture?” In my opinion, cancel culture is a term used on social media that describes how users remove, ignore or no longer interact with a creator or influencer because...

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Steered by insecurity

Sofia Alcaraz, Reporter
April 27, 2026

“How to fix negative canthal tilt?” “How to improve facial symmetry?” “How to sharpen jawline?” Within the past couple of months, looksmaxxing has become a very popular trend on social media. According to The Verge, looksmaxxing is defined as the art of enhancing your physical appearance....

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Two Sides of the Same Coin
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Aashvi Panda, Reporter • May 22, 2026

Rules and expectations are common in many households, but their effects on the trust between guardians and their children often vary. While certain households...

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Into the Berryverse
My Food, Your Food, Our Food

My Food, Your Food, Our Food

May 26, 2026

All that glitter is not gold

All that glitter is not gold

April 22, 2026

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UPA vs STM Boys Varsity Basketball 2020 Senior Night | Live Broadcast Highlights
UPA vs STM Boys Varsity Basketball 2020 Senior Night | Live Broadcast Highlights
Dylan Ziegler and Kristian Crowther July 26, 2020

Editor's Note: This video was originally published on YouTube on Feb. 18, 2020. In case you couldn't attend the 2020 boys' varsity basketball senior night on Feb. 9 against...

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