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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

Caption: A medical professional stands, wearing gloves and holding a stethoscope and protective mask.

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...

Photo of a girl with her mouth taped shut and people faded in the background.

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...

Silhouette of a man with a sharp jawline and clean haircut, photo attributed to Pexels.

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....

Man working intently on his work contemplating what is on his screen.

Passion or Paycheck

Miles Hines, Multimedia Manager April 24, 2026

The saying “money can’t buy you happiness” is often used to describe the idea that money is not everything in life. But when it comes to deciding your career, how much does money really matter?  There...

The climax of the movie where the Grabber is confronted by Finney.

Once You Answer You Never Hang Up

Shaan Benjamin, Reporter February 6, 2026

Sometimes, the scariest hauntings aren’t from ghosts; they’re from memories you can’t outrun. “Black Phone 2,” released on Oct. 17th, 2025, is a graphic sequel to the hit 2022 film “The Black...

You Only Live Once

Abigail Carpenter, Reporter February 5, 2026

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” is an age-old question that almost every child is asked at some point in their lives.   I remember being five years old, proudly telling my mom that...

Sometimes, it feels like you are pulled in two directions, in one way, your "American" side, and the other, your "cultural" side. In my case, I'm pulled between being "American" and being "Indian", illustrated through the drawing of a girl with two halves.

Bridging the Gap

Advika Singaravelan, Reporter January 29, 2026

From UPA’s diverse community to the United States’ multi-generational immigrant scene, everyone has a unique origin story, with a plethora of traditions and cultural practices from their heritage. Yet,...

The cover of the first book reviewed

Reading Between the Lines

Alana Estrada, Reporter May 28, 2025

Censorship or protection? Where do we draw the line when it comes to banned books? Some say that certain topics should not be covered in books aimed towards younger demographics, while others feel that...

From left to right: Camille Rose hair oil, Olaplex, Fino Hair Mask, Gariner Fructis, Not Your Mother's hair gel, Artic Fox hair dye, Amazon spray bottle, Amla hair oil, Patanjali shampoo.

Preserving The Ends

Aparna Ayyadevara, Publicity Manager Shadow May 28, 2025

“Pain is temporary, swag is forever”, is a motto people use when talking about piercings. But for hair, I like to say, “Swag is temporary, fried and crunchy hair is forever.” Impulse decisions...

A single window in the middle of a pink wall, Photo courtesy of A.C on Unsplash

Maturing into the Pink Mindset

Gagandeep Kaur, Copy Editor May 23, 2025

I hate the color pink. I hate the way people perceive me when I wear pink. I am not taken seriously when I wear pink. Pink is seen as a childish and immature color, pink is a “pick me” color, and wearing...

Food for Thought

Food for Thought

Lynette Tran, Team Editor May 2, 2025

Every bite we take has the potential to shape our future. But are we really aware of the consequences of our food choices? From rising global rates of heart disease to an obesity epidemic, the state of...

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