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The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

Junior Megha Unny and frosh Evan Stinson, as Anastasia and Dimitry, conclude "Once Upon a December". The musical is a coming of age story following a girl as she tries to reconnect with her lineage.
Under the spotlight
by Kairui Sun, Chelsea Xie, and Shreyas Karnam
Senior directors Simon Kirjner, Holly Templeton, Charlotte Ludlow, and Daniel Miao led 59 students to perform in the Student Directed Showcase (SDS) on Friday and Saturday in the Patil Theater.
Meet your staff: Solving security
by Chelsea Xie, A&E/Lifestyle Editor
“Hey, kiddo!” For many Harker students, that simple phrase brings to mind one person: security officer Josh Conti.
Point guard Caden Ruan (12) converts a layup on a fast break. Due to Menlo's stifling defense when the Eagles got into more organized sets, they had to take advantage of chaotic plays like fast breaks to score points.
Varsity boys basketball falters against Menlo 50-81
by Kairui Sun and Lily Peng January 15, 2026
Varsity boys basketball lost their first league game to Menlo 50-81 in the Zhang Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Yimo Xie (10) laughs while playing a match of Clash Royale. He was defeated by William Jiang (11) in the fifth match.
Two kings enter, one king leaves: Clash Royale Tournament Day 2
by Wenjie Zou and Charlene Li January 21, 2026
Twelve competitors played in six elimination matches as the second day of the Harker Clash Royale Tournament continued in the Nichols auditorium on Friday. 

Ethan Agarwal (’03) presents his campaign for California governor at the Harker Venture Investment Initiative in September. As a two-time startup founder, Agarwal applies a business-driven approach to his bid for public office.  (Provided by Office of Communications)
From startup to statehouse
Ethan Agarwal (’03) brings a founder’s mindset to his run for California governor
by Sam Li January 6, 2026
Ethan Agarwal (’03) is running for governor of California in the 2026 election, but not as a typical politician. As a two-time startup founder, Agarwal builds his campaign with the same mentality that drove his business career. 
Secret Santa: Hit or miss?
December 24, 2025
Now defined by online wishlists, overlapping exchanges and last-minute shopping during the busy holiday season, Secret Santa has fallen short of its original promise of adding a touch of excitement and mystery to holiday gift-giving.
Students struggle to balance the extracurriculars they love
December 11, 2025
For many students, even activities they are passionate about seem pointless when they lack the time or energy to fully commit. 
Let’s look past Black Friday, Cyber Monday hype. What do we really need?
December 8, 2025
50% Off! Buy now! You won’t want to miss this offer! Right after Thanksgiving, the annual rush begins.
I came to believe that personal growth comes from sticking with something even when it’s hard, especially when progress feels slow or unfair. I didn’t learn this from a quote or advice; I learned it from playing volleyball.
This I Believe: Journey over Destination
by Ashley Zhou, Reporter
The fast pace of class creates stress around completing assignments in time and can make it difficult to actually retain the topics. The school advocates for time management and encourages smart study habits, yet these courses contradict those values by cultivating an environment for cramming.
Summer prerequisite coursework limits growth
by Isabella Wong, Reporter
The irony is that by making advanced classes the standard, we’ve taken away what makes them special. AP and honors courses are designed for students who are genuinely excited to dive deeper and move faster, not as a default requirement.
It’s regular to take regular classes
by Dyuthi Vallamsetty, Features Assistant Editor
Friday Five: Cheeses
by Liana Barooah, Assistant News Editor
Grammy Awards Predictions 2026
Grammy Awards Predictions 2026
by Suhani Gupta and Ashley Mo January 19, 2026
“Cuphead” opens with a cutscene as the titular character Cuphead and his brother Mugman make a deal with the Devil after gambling their souls away at a casino. To keep living, they must capture the soul contracts of runaway debtors by fighting different bosses throughout the fictional islands of the Inkwell Isles, acquiring different powerups and abilities along the way.
Toons, Tunes and Tribulations: A review of Cuphead
by Elizabeth Zhang, Opinions Editor • January 18, 2026
From 2016 to 2023, vinyl album sales increased from 13.1 million to 49.6 million albums, with rapid growth starting 2020. These statistics mark a shift in consumer behaviors. In the past, people turned to rapidly-developing digital formats of music, as records were expensive and difficult to maintain.
Return to retro: the comeback of records and digital cameras
by Grace Wu and Dyuthi Vallamsetty January 14, 2026
Music Monday
Programming Club Co-Head Problem Writer Yash Belani (11) opens the meeting. "This December USACO changed their core rules for the last 15 years, so having a meeting 2 days before the contest is quite essential," Yash said.
STEM Spotlight: Programming Club gears up for USACO amid contest rules rewrite
by Claire Tian, Victoria Li • January 14, 2026
Research Club officers Lily Shi (12) and Kallie Wang (12) open the summer program workshop during lunch on Dec. 9. Officers and invitees shared their experiences attending specific programs and gave tips for applying and requesting recommendation letters.
Research Club hosts summer program workshop
by Elizabeth Zhang and Heather Wang December 13, 2025
Paik began his medical training at Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan, where he found himself in a dense medical and research hub with major medical institutions only blocks apart. He regularly crossed paths with researchers and speakers from across the medical realm. (Provided by Paul Paik)
Blooming from the STEM: Crafting Care
by Caden Ruan and Disha Gupta December 12, 2025
Feature Video