Something to cheer about, Redhawks win first state cheer title

Members of the Marist cheerleading team celebrate with the program's first-ever state championship trophy on Saturday. The Redhawk squad won the Large School Division title at this year's IHSA Competitive Cheer State Final after two days of competition against 25 team in Bloomington. See more photos from Saturday's competition below.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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BLOOMINGTON - Sitting in a circle with their heads down with eight other teams around them, the Marist cheerleaders had their heads down, gripping their teammates' hands nervously while waiting for the announcement of this year's Large School Divison state champion at the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals on Saturday. When their name rang out over the P.A. system at Grossinger Motors Arena, they shrieked in unison and preceded to celebrate with unabashed joy.

"We were bridesmaids but never the bride, but today we got to be the bride," Redhawks head coach Jordan Miller said after the awards ceremony. "Our team has worked so hard. They really focused on themselves, their goals, and our values we have as a team. It really showed today on the mat, and fortunately, we got a win."

It was a historic moment for the program that has qualified for state every year from the get-go. Since 2005, Marist has finished second four times (2013, 2018, 2019, 2022) and third once in 2012. Saturday's state title was the first in school history.

Jordan said the key to his team's success was the fact that the girls on the team love each other.

"They put each other first," he explained. "They really focused on our team values rather than just the skills alone."

Marist finished the first day of competition in third place after receiving a score of 93.52 from the judges. Ahead of them, Lockport Township (96.64) and Edwardsville (94.72 ) gave nearly flawless performances to take the top two spots. Also advancing to the championship round were Sandburg (93.44), Andrews (90.72), Schaumburg (90.48), and Lincoln-Way East (90.23). Huntley earned an 89.24, Maine South 88.25, and Lincoln-Way Central 88.13 to round out the top ten, advancing to Saturday's finals.

Running the last routine of the day in the division, the team saw solid team performances from Edwardsville, who finished second, and Lockport, who came in third place. The squad's performance, to their surprise, earned the division's top mark of 96.32, surpassing the Tigers' 95.90 and the Porters' 94.99.

Marist's seniors played an important role this season.

"The senior class is really special to me. They are great athletes, but even better, they are just human beings," he said. "The rest of the team has some big shoes to fill, but I know we'll make them proud in the future."

This season's state championship squad includes Jaclyn Fitzmaurice, Jenna McAdams, Katelin Carney, Kaliyah House, Emerson McGuire, Sarah Tadevich, Gianna Marciano, Carrington Anderson, Emma Summers, Anna Connor, Mya Marciano, Julia Lorenz, June Giblin-Segal, Breanna Doherty, Kelsey Weber, Abigail Osborne, Molly Ryan, Brianna Kirchner, Madelyn Gutrich, Autumn Veal, Bridget Panerese, Mia Vincent, Mia Dusynski, Kaelyn and Howell. Miller's assistant coaches includes Tiara Patterson, Mary Mckenna and Beth Piper.

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Photo Gallery

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Tinley Park cheerleading squad advances at state championship

BLOOMINGTON - Members of the Andrews High School cheerleading team celebrate after learning the advanced to the second day of competition at the IHSA Competitive Cheer State Finals on Friday. The T-Bolts finished the first day of competition in fifth place behind teams from Lockport, Edwardsville, Marist, and Sandburg. The squad takes the floor later today at 3:30 p.m. in a bid to land a spot in the top three in the Large School Division. Also making it into the finals in the division were Schaumburg, Lincoln-Way East, Huntley, Maine South, and Lincoln-Way Central.

PhotoNews/Clark Brooks

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Crushing the SAT or ACT Exam; how to prep the night before

Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu/UnSplash

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StatePoint Media - Taking the SAT or ACT exam is the culmination of months of test-specific preparation, and in truth, years of schooling. While knowing that can feel like a lot of pressure, there are steps you can take the night before the exam to calm your nerves and enter the testing site with confidence:

1. Pack your essentials: Going to bed knowing you’ve packed everything you need to succeed during the test will help you sleep soundly and make the morning less frenzied. Your packing list should include an official, currently valid photo identification, your admission ticket to the test, No. 2 pencils (be sure they have erasers), a snack and water bottle (staying fueled is essential), a sweater (testing sites are often chilly and being uncomfortable can throw you off your game), and of course, a calculator.

The best exam day calculator is one that’s easy to use and has an intuitive icon menu, such as the fx-9750GIII graphing calculator. While you won’t need all of its 2,900 functions during your test, or its programming capabilities, this Casio calculator is a great companion for high school juniors and seniors as it can support high-level STEM learning in the classroom, as well as go into exam mode for use during the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and other major standardized exams, like AP and SAT subject tests. To familiarize yourself with the calculator and its interface, be sure to use the same calculator for test prep as well.

2. Eat right: Proper nutrition and cognition go hand-in-hand. The night before your exam, fuel yourself with brain foods containing a mix of antioxidants, protein and Omega-3s. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts, beans, whole grains, tofu and lean meats are all great choices. Try to avoid food unfamiliar to you, as you don’t know how it will settle and it could cause a stomachache.

You should also forgo overly sugary or processed treats, which can lead to an energy crash. Being thirsty during your test is not only distracting, dehydration can actually impair cognition and brain health. Be sure to drink plenty of water the night before your test to keep the mental juices flowing.

3. Sleep tight: It can be difficult to settle in for a night of sound sleep before an important event. Reduce the chances of tossing and turning by putting down your devices at least an hour before bed, as blue light can suppress melatonin secretion and impact sleep. Instead, read, journal or do another quiet, enjoyable activity. On that note, avoid a last-minute study session or practice exam.

The night before the test is not the time to cram. It’s a time to relax so your mind is fresh when it counts. If you do have trouble falling asleep, don’t panic. Resting quietly with your eyes closed can be beneficial too, and may help you doze off eventually.

By checking a few pre-test tasks off your to-do list the night before, you can be fueled, rested and geared up for your college entrance exams.

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Spartans rally to Senior Night win over Rockets

ST. JOSEPH - It was anybody's ball game at the start of the fourth quarter in the Main Gym at St. Joseph-Ogden. Tied at 33-all and second-place conference standing on the line, visiting Unity came up four points short, falling 48-44 to SJO.

'You live or die by the three,' some coaches say. Last night, the Spartans thrived, finishing ten treys on their side of the scorebook. Senior Addisyn Martinie, who led St. Joseph-Ogden with a team-high 20 points, delivered five three-pointers.

The Spartans improved to 7-1 in the Illini Prairie, and 14-10 overall for the season.

Raegen Stringer led Unity's scoring effort, finishing the contest with a game-high 23 points. The senior collected four steals and hauled in four rebounds. Addison Ray contributed eight points with two three-pointers and a field goal. Lauren Haas rounded out the top three scorers for the Rockets with five points, all collected in the second half, and with six rebounds, and two assists.

Unity dipped to third in the conference standings with a 6-2 record and will put their 17-11 record on the line next week against Monticello (10-16) in their Senior Night game.

Sophomore Timera Blackburn-Kelley had her best night of the season, finishing as the second-leading scorer for the St. Joseph-Ogden with seven points. Addison Frick and Katie Ericksen chipped in six points each, along with Addison Brooks' five first-half total.

The Spartans host Paxton-Buckley-Loda (3-12) on Monday and finish regular season play with a road trip to Peotone on Wednesday.

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Area students named to Parkland College Fall 2023 Dean's List

CHAMPAIGN - In order to make the Parkland College Dean's list, students need to achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0-grade scale for the semester they are being honored. If a student class load is less than 12 hours in that semester, they can still make the Dean's list if they achieve a 3.5 cumulative GPA for 12 or more hours in the academic year. Here is the list of area students who achieved academic success last fall.

Fithian
Warren D. Durbin

Oakwood
Christopher J. Mann

Ogden
Canyon D. Alwes
Abigail M. Behrens
Hannah B. Fox

Pesotum
Claire D. Markstahler

Philo
Kristina A. Bletscher
Preston D. Bollman
Devin A.. Brocksmith
Nolan C. Decker
Marlena R. Finical
Evan J. Lefaivre
Hunter L. Olson
Amy N. Ray
Stella Ritchie
Holliston E. Thomas
Natalie A. Weller

Royal
Christian J. Schluter

Sadorus
Kaylee A. Largent
Noah J. Schroeder
Victoria L. Wells

St. Joseph
McGwire N. Atwood
Susan D. Baldner
Mason P. Behrens
Myles B. Blakley
Taylor E. Burch
Kennedi M. Burnett
Alyson P. Davis
Abigail G. Dow Sr.
Benjamin C. Dowers
Shanice S. Edwards
Grace A. Flessner
Dakota N. Franzen
Samantha R. Gonzales
Jacey M. Lewis
Elijah E. Mock
Kambry R. Orcutt
Christian F. Perez
Rebecca A. Steinbach
Alaina G. Tanner
Lauren K. Trankina
Jill C. Uken
Raegan E. Young

Sidney
Mary G. Bryant
Samuel C. Gilbert
Jodeann M. Hamilton

Tolono
Eric W. Anderson
Calli A. Chandler
Delaney M. Kamradt
Arthur D. King Iii Iii
Jolie K. Meyer
Maddie J. Reed
Sara J. Steffens
Raena A. Stierwalt
Luke I. Williamson

Urbana

Rachel N. Aders
Dilichukwu C. Agu
Luciana Alvarez
Kiana Amindavar
William D. Arana
Sabina Arthur
Audrey N. Babcock
Corben J. Babcock
David M. Baker
Ciel E. Baptiste
Angel R. Bond
Ebenezer . Boti
Audrey J. Boudreau
Chloe K. Brock
Evan J. Bullock
Chloe D. Byrd
Monica M. Carr
Ariana R. Chambers
Jason Chen
Ryan R. Cipkar
Breanna F. Davis
Tyler A. Devon
Phillip T. Durst
Meghan B. Edwards
Isaac R. Ellis
Jordan W. Ennis
Sammie L. Fair
Jordan E. Fritch
Morgan A. Frush
Veronica P. Gabel
Gildardo Garcia
Haley K. Gibbs
Santiago Gonzalez Ahuerma
Nicole K. Gremer
Jesus Guzman-Garcia
Mason Hanks
Mallie A. Hanner
Kelsey F. Hayes
Alejandro J. Hernandez
Matthew R. Horner
Amari C. Johnson
David N. Kabeya
Brandi L. Katrein
Urbana

Willow I. Keys
Lisa Kirwan
Minghao Lan
Jeffrey W. Lee
Carson G. Lewis
Bienvenue M. Lugano
Lea Antonia Mahringer
Michael L. Miller
Manuel Miori
Rebecca S. Murdoch
Ron Itzhak R. Naftali
Ashlynd F. Norvask
Katrina C. Oliva
Oscar I. Orozco
Min Young Park
Michael L. Parrish
Ben A. Pond
Hunter L. Pudlo
Matteo L. Puli
Lula C. Randolph
Paulina M. Reynoso-Ixcoy
Nibaw O. Robertson
Leire Rodriguez Najera
Carmen J. Sanchez
Collin S. Schiff
Samantha T. Schulte
Stuuti Sharma Poudyal
Abbie N. Skaggs
Adam B. Skousen
Clifton E. Smith
Jordan C. Smith
Patrick R. Sweeney
Sumaya Islam Tonney
Nathan M. Torres
Chioma P. Ugwu
Evan T. Unzicker
Dominick J. Vieira
Thao T. T. Vo
Cora R. Welch
Maurion Wicks
Lera L. Wilson
Yuxuan Wu
Qilin Xie

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Commentary |It’s not ‘Inflation’ — We’re just getting ripped off

These corporate giants have no plans to bring prices down anytime soon.

by Lindsay Owens & Elizabeth Pancotti

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Many Americans are still experiencing the sticker shock they first faced two years ago when inflation hit its peak. But if inflation is down now, why are families still feeling the pinch?

The answer lies in corporate profits — and we have the data to prove it.

Our new report for the Groundwork Collaborative finds that corporate profits accounted for more than half — 53 percent — of inflation from April to September 2023. That’s an astronomical percentage. Corporate profits drove just 11 percent of price growth in the four decades prior to the pandemic.

Businesses have been quick to blame rising costs on supply chain shocks from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. But two years later, our economy has mostly returned to normal. In some cases, companies’ costs to make things and stock shelves have actually decreased.

Let’s demonstrate with one glaring example: diapers.

The hyper-consolidated diaper industry is dominated by just two companies, Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark, which own well-known diaper brands like Pampers, Huggies, and Luvs. The cost of wood pulp, a key ingredient for making diapers absorbent, did spike during the pandemic, increasing by more than 50 percent between 2020 and 2021.

Corporate profits accounted for more than half of recent price increases. To stamp out inflation once and for all, we need to crack down on price gouging.

But last year it declined by 25 percent. Did that drop in costs lead Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark to lower their prices? Far from it. Diaper prices have increased to nearly $22 on average.

These corporate giants have no plans to bring prices down anytime soon. In fact, their own executives are openly bragging about how they’re going to “expand margins” on earnings calls. Procter & Gamble predicted $800 million in windfall profits as input costs decline. Kimberly-Clark’s CEO said the company has “a lot of opportunity” to expand margins over time.

It’s not just diapers — while many corporations were quick to pass along rising costs, they’ve been in no hurry to pass along their savings. A recent survey from the Richmond Fed and Duke University revealed that 60 percent of companies plan to hike prices this year by more than they did before the pandemic, even though their costs have moderated.

Photo: Israel Albornoz/Unsplash

Corporations across industries, from housing to groceries and used cars, are juicing their profit margins even as the cost of doing business goes down. And they’re not hiding the ball. Since the summer of 2021, Groundwork began listening in on hundreds of corporate earnings calls where we heard CEO after CEO boasting about their ability to raise prices on consumers.

Now we hear something slightly different: CEOs crowing about keeping their prices high while their costs go down.

PepsiCo raised its prices on snacks and beverages by roughly 15 percent twice in the last year while bragging to shareholders that their profit margins will grow as input costs come down. Tyson’s earnings report flaunted how their higher prices have “more than offset” their higher costs. The CFO of Hershey said last quarter that pricing gains more than offset inflation and higher costs.

So what can we do about it?

The Biden administration has taken important steps to rein in corporate profiteering and address the longstanding affordability crisis, from eliminating junk fees to strengthening global supply chains and cracking down on corporate concentration.

With the 2017 Trump tax cuts set to expire, Congress should also take this opportunity to raise taxes on corporations. Taxing profits helps disincentivize price gouging and profiteering because large corporations will have to send a greater share of their windfall to Uncle Sam.

We’ve come a long way in bringing inflation down since its peak in 2022. But stamping out inflation once and for all will require a concerted effort to rein in the corporate profiteering.

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Elizabeth Pancotti

Lindsay Owens

Lindsay Owens is the Executive Director of the Groundwork Collaborative. Elizabeth Pancotti is Strategic Advisor to Groundwork. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

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Commentary |Airbnb is driving up housing costs for all of us

In the early years, staying in other people’s houses felt like an act of rebellion against corporate hotel chains.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

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Americans have been on a vacation binge since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. In particular, the vacation rental company Airbnb is thriving. Late last year, the company posted its highest-ever profits.

Sonali Kolhatkar

Meanwhile cities are seeing rising rents, unaffordable home prices, and increased homelessness. Authorities are now linking these crises in part to Airbnb — and some now are passing strict regulations.

Just as companies like Uber were once touted as a way for working people with cars to earn a little extra spending cash, Airbnb offered the promise of supplementary income for those with an extra room or converted garage.

I’ve rented several Airbnb homes over the 15 years since the company was founded. In the early years, staying in other people’s houses felt like an act of rebellion against corporate hotel chains. The privacy, convenience, and often lower cost enabled tourists with tighter budgets to enjoy family vacations that otherwise might have been unavailable.

Now, however, the market is increasingly dominated by a small number of corporate “hosts” and professional property managers — wealthy elites and corporate entities that scoop up large numbers of properties and turn big profits by renting them out to travelers.

And that’s driving up housing costs for everyone.

Stephanie Synclair, a 41-year-old Black mom from Atlanta, recently made the news for becoming a home-buyer — not in her hometown, but in Palermo, Sicily.

In spite of having a budget of $450,000 — no small sum — Synclair had no luck buying a home in Atlanta, where properties are among the most overpriced in the nation. Atlanta’s housing market is dominated by investors and cash-rich corporations who scoop up practically every home listed at $500,000 or less, many of which are then transformed into Airbnb listings for tourists.

So Synclair now plans to retire in her $62,000 home on the other side of the planet instead.

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"Staying in other people’s houses felt like an act of rebellion against corporate hotel chains," Kolhatkar said. Affordable, off-the-beaten path rentals once had their quirky charm until corporations invaded the short-term rental market.

Photo: Theo Rivierenlaan/Pixabay

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A 2017 study of New York City by the watchdog group Inside Airbnb concluded that the Airbnb model also fuels racism in the housing market. “Across all 72 predominantly Black New York City neighborhoods,” the group found, “hosts are five times more likely to be white.” But the “loss of housing and neighborhood disruption due to Airbnb is six times more likely to affect Black residents.”

To curb such inequities, New York City, which already had strict rules about short-term rentals and subleases, passed a law in 2023 requiring Airbnb to ensure that hosts obtain permission to rent out housing. If it fails to do so, both the host and the company are hit with hefty fines.

While this means potentially higher hotel costs for out-of-town visitors, it could also free up rentals for long-term residents. According to The Guardian, this may already be happening, just months after the law went into effect in September.

While cheaper vacation stays are certainly desirable for those of us who love to travel, vacationing is a privilege in the U.S. More than a third of Americans, a 2023 survey found, are unlikely to take a summer vacation. And of those, more than half say they simply can’t afford it.

A 2019 Economic Policy Institute study pointed out that “Airbnb might, as claimed, suppress the growth of travel accommodation costs, but these costs are not a first-order problem for American families.” What is a first-order problem is affordable housing.

While regulating Airbnb will not mitigate all economic injustices facing Americans — such as suppressed wages and a lack of government-funded health care — it certainly will move the needle in the right direction.

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Sonali Kolhatkar is the host of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. This commentary was produced by the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute and adapted for syndication by OtherWords.org.

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Study finds two common types of antidepressants were safe for most stroke survivors

by American Heart Association

Researchers looked at the frequency of serious bleeding among hundreds of thousands of stroke survivors who took different types of SSRI and/or SNRI antidepressants.

DALLAS — Most stroke survivors were able to safely take two types of common antidepressants, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2024. The meeting will be held in Phoenix, Feb. 7-9, and is a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science of stroke and brain health.

Among people with ischemic (clot-caused) stroke, those who began taking an antidepressant known as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and/or an SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) for the common conditions of post-stroke depression and anxiety, did not have an increased risk of hemorrhagic (bleeds) stroke or other serious bleeding. This included people taking anticoagulation medications. There was, however, an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke among stroke patients taking two anti-platelet medications, also called dual anti-platelet therapy or DAPT.

“Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, are very common yet treatable conditions that may develop after a stroke. Our results should reassure clinicians that for most stroke survivors, it is safe to prescribe SSRI and/or SNRI antidepressants early after stroke to treat post-stroke depression and anxiety, which may help optimize their patients’ recovery,” said study lead author Kent P. Simmonds, D.O., Ph.D., a third-year physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “However, caution is needed when considering the risk-benefit profile for stroke patients receiving dual anti-platelet therapy because we did find an increased risk of bleeding among this group.”

According to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2024 Update, when considered separately from other cardiovascular diseases, stroke ranks fifth among all causes of death, behind diseases of the heart, cancer, COVID-19 and unintentional injuries/accidents. Approximately one-third of stroke survivors develop poststroke depression. If left untreated, depression may affect quality of life and reduce the chances for optimal poststroke recovery such as returning to their usual daily living activities without assistance.

The most common classes of antidepressants are SSRIs or SNRIs, and they are widely used and effective for treating anxiety and depression. However, they may not be prescribed at all or early enough after a stroke, when the risk of depression or anxiety is particularly high, due to concerns that they may increase the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke or other serious types of bleeding.

Researchers looked at the frequency of serious bleeding among hundreds of thousands of stroke survivors who took different types of SSRI and/or SNRI antidepressants (such as sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, venlalfaxine). Serious bleeding was defined as bleeding in the brain, digestive tract; and shock, which occurs when bleeding prevents blood from reaching the body’s tissues.

Researchers also investigated serious bleeding among stroke survivors who took antidepressants combined with different types of blood-thinning medications that are used to prevent future blood clots. These blood-thinning medications may include either anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications. Anticoagulants are prescribed as a single medication and include medications such as warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban. Antiplatelet medications may be prescribed as either a single medication (commonly aspirin) or two types of antiplatelet medications can be used in dual antiplatelet therapy. DAPT includes aspirin plus another antiplatelet medication called a P2Y12 inhibitor (such as clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor).

The study found:

SSRI and SNRIs were generally safe to start during the important early stages of recovery as patients taking these medications were not more likely to develop serious bleeding compared to stroke survivors who did not take an antidepressant. This included ischemic stroke patients who are also taking anti-coagulation therapy.

An increased risk of serious bleeding occurred when SSRIs or SNRIs were taken in combination with DAPT treatments (aspirin and blood thinners). However, the overall risk remained low as serious bleeding events were rare.

Among ischemic stroke patients on antidepressant medications, there was a 15% increase in the risk of serious bleeding when taking medications from classes such as mirtazapine, bupropion and tricyclics compared to SSRI/SNRIs.

“Maximizing rehabilitation early after a stroke is essential because recovery is somewhat time-dependent, and most functional gains occur during the first few months after a stroke,” Simmonds said. “Fortunately, dual antiplatelet therapy is often administered for 14, 30 or 90 days, so, when indicated, clinicians may not need to withhold antidepressant medications for prolonged periods of time. Future research should investigate the risk of bleeding associated with the use of anti-depressant and anxiety medications among patients with hemorrhagic or bleeding stroke.”

According to a 2022 American Heart Association scientific statement, social isolation and loneliness are associated with about a 30% increased risk of heart attack or stroke, or death from either. “Depression may lead to social isolation, and social isolation may increase the likelihood of experiencing depression. The current study helps answer safety issues around the use of antidepressants for treatment of mental health issues that may develop after a stroke,” said Crystal Wiley Cené, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, chair of the writing group for the Association’s scientific statement, and a professor of clinical medicine and chief administrative officer for health equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of California San Diego Health. Dr. Cené was not involved in this study.

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Unity High School announced first semester honor roll students

The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School. Congratulations to each on their exceptional scholastic effort last semester.

Seniors

High Honors: Evelyn Albaugh; Connor Cahill; Analyse Carter; Rebecca Carter; Brenlee Dalton; Taylor Drennan; Natalie Ellars; Bailey Grob; Brooklyn Haas; Madison Henry; Shelby Hoel; Margaret Ingleman; Caroline Jamison; Eden Johnson; Cassidy Keller; Caelyn Kleparski; Jocelyn LeFaivre; Reagan Little; Tatum Meyer; Eric Miebach; Lauren Neverman; Dean Niswonger; Anna Polonus; Aiden Porter; Meredith Reed; Maci Richmond; Briana Ritchie; Aubrey Sanders; Tsihon Shotton; Logan Siuts; Carsyn Smith; Piper Steele; Lily Steffens; Brock Suding; Ruby Tarr; Andrew Thomas; Darren Weckle; Erica Woodard; Abigail Woolcott; Emberly Yeazel; Ava Price; Erin Sanders; Bayleigh Jones; Isaac Ruggieri; Jeremy Wells; Madysen York; Brooke Hewing; Kendra Cromwell; Emma Plackett; Alexis Ritchie; Lynndsay Talbott; and Henry Thomas.

Honor Roll: Emma Fish; Trevor McCarter; Keaton Roether; Bailey Wayne; Caedmon Cazares; Zachary Lorbiecki; Carly Scroggins; Elianna Duo; Matthew Short; Santiago Sanchez; Rylee Richardson; Bryson Weaver; Isabel Sellers; Dalton ONeill; Aubrey Schaefer; Bridget Vazquez; Kolten Wells; Nicholas Brown; Desire De Los Santos; Ava Holladay; Raegen Stringer; Hector Jimenez Gil; Aileen Vasquez Munoz; Tanner Chilton; Kamryn Edenburn; Gabriel Pound; Jay Saunders; McKayla Schendel; Breanna Weller; Addison Ray; Aidan Ward; Sophia Wozencraft; Anna Wood; Olivia Hosley; Gillian Rice; Kate Thomas; Riley FitzGerald; Tyler Gumm; Grant Siuts; Nathan Bleecher; Kaylin Owen; and Thayden Root.

Juniors

High Honors: Avery Alagna; Noah Bryant; Elle Cheely; Madelyn Darnall; Ashlyn Denney; Kade Dubson; Chloey Duitsman; Ava Fenter; Catharine Ford; Kadence Goff; Sophia Hartke; Dallas Hollingsworth; Wyatt Huffstutler; Alex Mowrer; Camryn Reedy; Rylee Reifsteck; Lydia Rossi; Savannah Rubin; Lauren Shaw; Daniel Stein; Avery Watson; Ashely Rennels; Jenna Adkins; Lindy Bates; Paige Brewer; Faith Hall; Lauren Hellmer; Ryan Rink; Josephine Cler; Emily Decker; Maegan Rothe; Estella Dodd; and Molly Baxley.

Honor Roll: Joseph Tempel; Oscar Boldt; Gracie Meharry; Gavin Weaver; Sophia Beckett; Paige Garretson; McKenzie Hart; Nolan Wishall; Jordan Daugherty; Logan Church; Hunter Eastin; Tessah Williams; Austin Mikeworth; Logan Zumbahlen; Bentten Cain; Franke Davis; Sophia Frye; Andrew King; Brady Parr; McKinley Weller; Lindsey Johnson; Sydney Jackson; and Nathaniel DeNeal.

Sophomores

High Honors: Anna Amias; Mylie Castle; Eli Crowe; Ella Darnall; Crewe Eckstein; Callie Ellars; Camden Fairbanks; Margaret Garcier; Collin Graven; Isabel Grob; Faith Lampe; Kallista Lancaster; Mylie Loftsgaard; Claire Meharry; Harry Polonus; Dallas Porter; Mackenzie Pound; Ty Rodems; Katie Ruggieri; Vanna Schriefer; Hunter Shike; Annalise Shunk; Caden Stierwalt; Ginna Stierwalt; Madelyn Stierwalt; Emma Swisher; Carter Tiemann; Anna Vasey; Lucille Wiesbrook; Paula Wilson; Lucas Hood; Deakin Moore; Isaac Neverman; Olivia Egelston; Olivia Rawdin; Claire Zorns; Kaylee Cooke; Caden Hensch; Logan Jeurissen; Bailey Tompkins; Savanna Cruz; Chason Daly; and Kenley Harris.

Honor Roll: Chloe Cousins; Samantha Gumbel; Ian Taber; Phoenix Molina; Mason ONeill; Shelby Smith; Aria Battaglia; Maddix Buchanan; Jillian Schlittler; Andrew Ray; Dane Eisenmenger; Anna Kuhns; Analea Popovics; Shelby Zoch; Brayden Henry; Tyler Henry; Desmond Winfrey; Johanna Langley, Ethan Mohr; Heath Stringer; Cameron Kaiser; Brody Osterbur; Kyla Reed; Kamden Schuckman; Olivia Tempel; Bryan Crosby; Abram Davidson; Tanner Gallivan; and Joshua Heath.

Freshmen

High Honors: Dominic Baxley; Clare Bryant; Caleb Coy; Lillian Daly; Hudson DeHart; Danika Eisenmenger; Allison Fenter; Journey Gabbard; Bailee Gadeken; Colton Harmon; Avery Kamradt; Kathryn Knoll; Audrey McDaniel; Emily Osterbur; Adam Reedy; Allyson Shaw; Evalyn Skibbe; Piper Staley; Grace Tempel; Jacob Ward; Leah Watson; Maggie Weckle; Grace Wherley; Rylan Wolf; Broderick Irwin; Cash McCann; Elizabeth Wayne; Grace Bickers; Max Rossi; Alex Bromley; Berkley Cloud; Lucy Kleiss; Cadence Chandler; Reese Frye, Brooklyn Mumm; Kendal Zerrusen; and Aidan Ellis.

Honor Roll: Addison Davis; Olivia Hall; Madison Spohn; Paige Bradley; Braedyn Dalton; Taylor Finley; Landrey Mohr; Addison Wyatt; Alyssa Shields; Isaac Siegwald; Ethan Schaefer; Nicole Paeth; Evan Puckett; Juan Acosta Toro; Noah Conde; Sadie Polonus; Ava Wolf Rice; Natalie Haas; Nicholas Montgomery; Elizabeth Farney; and Rush Little.

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Red Dress Collection Concert kicks off American Heart Month

by The American Heart Association

DALLAS – Powerful players in music, entertainment, fashion and philanthropy joined the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, to celebrate progress towards health equity, while calling for a renewed commitment to investing in women’s heart health in a fashion-forward, musical kickoff to American Heart Month.

The Red Dress Collection® Concert—hosted this year from the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City—serves as the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women national marquee event. Every year, it builds on the iconic tradition of the Red Dress Collection fashion show founded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth® program, adding musical performances and personal stories of those affected by heart disease and stroke. This year, the event kicks off both American Heart Month, commemorated every February, as well as the Association’s centennial celebration, marking 100 years of service saving and improving lives, and positioning the Association as a change agent for generations to come.

Host Sherri Shepherd wore Ganni on the red carpet and Harbison on the runway. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host, comedian, actress, and best-selling author began the event by sharing her own connection with cardiovascular disease and spotlighting survivors and women’s health champions in attendance, before introducing the evening’s opening entertainment, GRAMMY-nominated country music star, Mickey Guyton.

The country trailblazer wore Sergio Hudson on the red carpet and Monetre on the runway. Wearing custom RC Caylan for her performance, she opened with “My Side of Country,” and performed hits “Something About You,” “Make It Me,” and “Flowers.”

This year’s concert was headlined by Award-winning musician, actor, advocate and New York Times best-selling author Demi Lovato. The Grammy-nominated artist was introduced on stage by Damar Hamlin, cardiac arrest survivor, Buffalo Bills safety and American Heart Association national ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers™. The 25-year-old experienced his sudden cardiac arrest on the NFL football field last year and now uses his platform to raise awareness of the need for CPR and AEDs.

Lovato wore a Nicole + Felicia Couture custom gown on the red carpet, and performed wearing a custom Michael Ngo suit. The set started with Lovato singing chart-topper, “Confident,” and continued with hits “Give Your Heart a Break,” “Tell Me You Love Me,” “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Anyone,” “Neon Lights,” “No Promises,” “Skyscraper,” “Heart Attack,” and closed the evening with “Cool for the Summer” alongside all of the Red Dress Collection Concert participants.

Holding true to the Red Dress Collection’s origin in fashion, red haute couture moments were served throughout the show, reclaiming the power of sisterhood and community against the No. 1 killer of women, cardiovascular disease.

Other stars of stage and screen lending their support to the event included: Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (Co-host of ABC’s The View and CNN political commentator) wearing Alexander by Daymor, Bellamy Young (actor, singer and producer; Scandal) wearing Gustavo Cadile on the red carpet and Sachin & Babi on the runway, Brandi Rhodes (Pro wrestling star and founder of Naked Mind Yoga + Pilates) wearing Do Long, Brianne Howey (actress and mother, Ginny & Georgia) wearing Reem Acra, Dominique Jackson (model, actress, author and star of FX's Pose) wearing Coral Castillo, Francia Raísa (actress & entrepreneur) wearing Goddess Exclusive on the red carpet and Maria Lucia Hohan on the runway, Heather Dubrow (actress, author, podcast host and TV personality on Real Housewives of OC) wearing Gattinolli by Marwan on the red carpet and Pamella Roland on the runway, Katherine McNamara (award winning actor, singer, writer, and producer) wearing Mikael D, Madison Marsh (Active Duty Air Force Officer - Second Lieutenant and Miss America 2024) wearing Jovani, Mira Sorvino (Academy Award-winning actress and human rights advocate, Shining Vale and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion) wearing Dolce and Gabbana, Richa Moorjani (actress and activist, star of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever) wearing Oscar de la Renta, Samira Wiley (Emmy winner for The Handmaid's Tale and producer) wearing Le Thanh Hoa, and Yvonne Orji (actress, comedienne, author; known for the TV show Insecure) wearing House of Emil on the red carpet and Jovana Louis on the runway.

As part of its commitment to supporting women and women's health, KISS USA is proud to support the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, and the Red Dress Collection Concert.

The Go Red for Women movement, sponsored nationally by CVS Health, exists to increase women’s heart health awareness, and serves as a catalyst for change in the drive to improve the lives of all women. Find resources to support women’s heart health at every age, through every stage of life at GoRedforWomen.org. 

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