the Epic

08/06/2025

CUPERTINO – Heytea, a boba chain that originated from China, opened a new location in Cupertino with a popular buy-one, get-one-free deal on Aug. 1.

The line, which folded across the lawn multiple times, represented the community’s excitement for the brand’s launch. Heytea sold over 2000 boba drinks on their grand opening day.

“A lot of people came over and the line was really long,” Anson Lam, store supervisor at the new Heytea location said. “Even before we opened, a lot of people came over to ask if we were opening soon.”

Photos by Emily Cheah and Claire Guo.
Graphic illustration and reporting by Claire Guo.

06/09/2025

Adorned with decorated caps, colorful cords and navy gowns, the Class of 2025 gathered on the football field Friday morning to celebrate their graduation.

As the ceremony began, euphonic sounds from musical triangles and flutes were flawlessly played by the band, setting a grand stage and welcoming the graduating class to their seats. Surrounding the field, friends and families gathered on the bleachers in support of their loved ones, with vibrant bouquets, decorated posters and cameras in hand to document the moment.

ASB President Calvin Zhou opened with words of inspiration, and senior choir performed the national anthem. Principal Maria Jackson — now retiring after her long career in education — followed with a reflection on the significance of this graduating class to her and the community. Seniors Colin Chow and Shefali Gokulnatha also took the stage, reminding students to remember the little moments and initiate change.

“It’s a very full circle moment for everyone,” Zhou said. “We started by walking into these hallways and now we are walking out, and I think it makes everyone reflect on how far we’ve come, how many inspirational friends we made along the way and the cherished moments.”

As the ceremony progressed, the name of each graduating student was called. Students then walk on stage to receive their diplomas from FUHSD board trustee Stanley Kou and Associate Superintendent Christine Mallery. Student Voices, Jackson’s student advisory group, also had the chance to thank her one last time.

In a heartfelt address, Class of 2025 President Dish*ta Aeron concluded the ceremony by prompting the Class of 2025 to turn their tassels and move to the end of the field, where they hurled their caps into the air in celebration before running off the field to reunite with their families.

“The ceremonies have always been beautiful, but this one is a little extra special for me,” Jackson said. “Graduating with the class of 2025 is a moment I’ll never forget.”

View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/gradphotos25.

Photos and reporting by Maddy Chang and Brian Lee.

06/09/2025

06/01/2025

Stunning leg holds, backbends and formations marked the Ravens final showcase of the year on Friday. With a lunchtime crowd gathered in the quad cheering them on, Lynbrook’s K-pop dance group brought the stage to life with dance covers of songs like ENHYPEN’s “No Doubt,” ITZY’s “LOCO” and aespa’s “Whiplash.” The performance ended with TWICE’s “CHEER UP,” complete with a surprise guest performance from Chemistry teacher Connie Leung.

As the members struck their final poses with hands framing their faces, cheers and applause could be heard from the quad across campus, ending the Ravens’ year on a high note.

Photos and reporting by Maddy Chang.

05/28/2025

On Saturday, students gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Library for a civic engagement forum hosted by the Youth Advisory Council. The audience listened as guest speakers emphasized the role of youth in shaping their communities through civic participation. San Jose District 1 Councilmember Rosemary Kamei spoke about the importance of listening across political lines and political participation, while Santa Clara County Child Abuse Prevention Council Commissioner Greg Zieman, spoke about the need for youth protection from abuse.

Following the panel, students worked in groups to create posters about issues in their communities like mental health, homelessness and housing inequality, before presenting them in front of the room. The event closed with applause as students left with a sense of inspiration to make a difference in their community.

Photos and reporting by Saavan Saraf.

05/27/2025

An “Age of Legends” descended upon the Lynbrook quad, engulfing the atmosphere in glowing light. Models confidently broke through the curtain, met with the cheer and support of their friends and family. On May 23, models braved through summer and winter, each bringing the mystique of Greek legend in the annual Indesign Fashion Show. Fabled names such as Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hades, Icarus, Medusa and Persephone were all represented on the runway, each portraying different aspects of fashion design.

Behind the scenes, designers spent countless hours this school year to craft each piece with care, while models reciprocated their passion, bringing pieces to life on the runway. The intermissions featured enthusiastic and spirited performances from Jalwa, Breakdance Club, the Ravens and the Valkyries, along with singers Shalaka Dolas and Jayadev Ghanta. In the end, officers closed with a heartfelt acknowledgement of graduating seniors, who had devoted years to Indesign, each playing a vital role.

“The fashion show went really well,” senior and Indesign president Zoey Lim said. “Our officer team, models and designers all did an amazing job thinking through every single part of the fashion show. I want to shout out 3D design and Ms. Kruk. They did a wonderful job this year creating innovative pieces using recycled materials, making this fashion show possible.”

View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at https://bit.ly/indesign2025.

Photos and reporting by Irene Hwang and Robert Yu.

05/25/2025

The sound of violins, cellos, flutes and drums resonated through the domed theater, each note guided by musicians’ hands. The annual 2-night Pop’s Concert, hosted by the music department, commenced Wednesday night. It was the last concert for this year’s senior musicians — and for Principal Maria Jackson, who was celebrated on stage on Thursday.

“It’s the dichotomy of sad, because it’s the last concert, but also super exciting and fun,” senior and head manager of marching band Helena Ho said. “This is where everyone gets to be themselves.”

On Wednesday, this year’s theme of “Wicked,” a musical and later movie adaptation, brought to the stage tracks such as “What Is This Feeling” and “One Short Day” from the choir, as well as Symphonic Band’s “Defying Gravity.” Viking Vocalists then greeted the audience with Pentatonix’s “Can’t Sleep Love,” and the choir capped off the show with three more songs from the musical. The seniors then gathered on stage for their first performance of the senior skit, complete with self-arranged soundtracks, comedic punchlines and humorous cameos.

“I think the most memorable moment for me was standing in front of the stage with all my fellow seniors, taking our bows after our senior skit,” senior and Wind Ensemble clarinetist Daphne Zhu said. “It was just a moment filled with so much emotion and a sense of accomplishment as well as community.”

Thursday began with the dramatic “Rhythm of the Spheres” from Concert Band, while the choir, Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra performed select tracks from “Wicked.” In a heartwarming moment, members of the choir gifted the song “Thank You for the Music” to choir teacher Crystal Isola. Finally, the seniors performed their skit for the last time, ending the night with an emotional slideshow of the past four years’ memories.

Photos and reporting by Crystal Zhu.

05/23/2025

VIKING CHRONICLES - Freshman Hrithikesh Kotha’s bow glides across the strings of a cello, an instrument marking a major shift in his life and one he never imagined he would play.

Originally, he played the saxophone in Miller Middle School’s band and thoroughly enjoyed his experiences there. But one night after finishing his homework, Kotha sat in sluggish afternoon light and scrolled through his YouTube recommendations in search of background music to help him relax. He saw countless videos featuring the latest pop releases. Some Anirudh Ravichandar. Some Ed Sheeran. He also saw a video of the Film Symphony Orchestra playing the Avengers theme song.

“Marvel is something I’ve loved since childhood, so I wanted to hear how they might have recorded the music,” Kotha said. “In the video, there’s a huge wind and strings ensemble. I loved how they sounded together — the wind, the strings and the dynamic contrast they had. It had a lasting effect on me.”

Read the full story at lhsepic.com.

Photos, reporting and graphic illustrations by Claire Guo.

05/23/2025

Musical hits and a scenic venue welcomed students to Senior Prom on May 17 at the Ranch at Silver Creek in San Jose, Calif. Seniors enjoyed various games, refreshments and a photo booth along with decorations matching the year’s theme, “Rewrite the Stars.”

On a shaking dance floor, the live DJ mixed both popular hits, such as “Hot to Go” by Chappel Roan and nostalgic tracks like “Night Changes” by One Direction, fueling students’ energy throughout the night, whether it was slow dancing or moshing.

Seniors dined with friends, enjoying various food options such as panko croquettes and crisp dumplings as early appetizers, followed by a buffet-style sit-down dinner and dessert bar. Flashing digital cameras lit up the night as seniors captured some of their last moments as high school classmates together.

“The food was really good,” senior Zeynep Yesilyurt said. “I also think the venue was really nice and we had a nice view the entire night.”

View the full photo gallery at the link in our bio or at bit.ly/sprom25.

Photos and reporting by Stuti Jain and Gary Pan.

05/21/2025

From the glow of the auditorium stage emerges a vivid motion picture depicting the daily life of a Lynbrook student in an honest, visceral light. An artist struggles to separate herself from the norm, a senior reflects on his past 4 years, a pianist stands outside the hallway, phone in hand. Each movement is carefully captured, each sound and angle with artistic intent. On Friday, works of aspiring Viking filmmakers were showcased in the Lynbrook Film Festival. Industry professionals also provided words of wisdom and encouragement for the audience. Selected films from submissions were played in the theatre while students watched in awe, culminating in moments of Viking pride when they saw their friends’ works on screen. Applause filled the room when winners were selected and prizes were awarded for the filmmakers’ accomplishments and efforts.

“The audience was very lively and supportive, which felt reassuring after my video was played,” senior Michelle Yang said. “The event also felt really well planned.”

Photos and reporting by Irene Hwang and Emily Pedroza.

05/17/2025

Crack! The ball whizzes through the air while cheers erupt from the stands as Lynbrook secures a third base position in the seventh inning. On Thursday, the Vikings faced Saratoga High School for their senior night game. Despite a last-minute chance at a home run, Lynbrook ultimately fell 8-0 to the Saratoga Falcons.

Before the game, players gathered to celebrate their seniors, posing for photos with family and friends.

“I’ve been playing baseball for 13 years now,” senior Monesh Ponduri said. “It’s surreal to think that this is my last home league game.”

Photos and reporting by Gary Pan, Saavan Saraf and Crystal Zhu.

05/11/2025

A ball soars in the air while players maneuver their wrists to control its direction. The atmosphere is filled with festivities and light competition. On Wednesday, the Viking Table Tennis club and the Muslim Student Association collaborated for a club meeting, where members from both clubs socialized and played table tennis. Snacks such as cookies, chips and cake were provided. This collaboration was an opportunity for members to form new connections and friendships amid the busy AP testing season.

Photos and reporting by Inaaya Yousuf and Irene Hwang.