Shanza Sami ’26 was voted student of the year for her commitment to both academic excellence and having a lasting impact. She’s the founder of STEM for Youth, a program with the aim of providing access to stem education to elementary students. She’s also competed at prestigious science fairs at the international level representing West High on the global stage. Her talent in journalism also earned her a spot at the Free Spirit conference this summer. Sami’s dedication, curiosity and leadership represent the best of what West values.

Sami began research her freshman year, designing a prototype to filter exhaust pollutants, an idea sparked after a trip to India where she witnessed the effects of air pollution firsthand and was diagnosed with pneumonia. That experience pushed her to act.

“I guess that just really inspired me, when something tough happens to you, it motivates you more to pursue a specific issue,” she said.

Her first major success came when she was selected as one of ten finalists nationwide in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where she presented her invention at a national conference. From there, she continued presenting at prestigious venues like the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and ISEF.

“Since then, I think my interest in science research has really taken off , and I’ve created new projects and new inventions that have really fueled my passion in science, but also other subjects too,” she said.

Inspired to bring that same energy to her community, Sami founded STEM for Youth. The organization has reached over 500 students and offers programming in subjects like robotics, engineering and chemistry.

“We’ve had a good impact and lots of teen volunteers as well. I’m grateful to all the volunteers who have put in so much work into doing these programs, and we’ve taught so many different subjects, ranging from robotics to engineering to chemistry,” Sami said. 

One of her favorite parts of the program is getting to know the kids on a personal level and watching their excitement grow.

“Honestly, all the small interactions I’ve had with kids have been the most rewarding, just seeing the joy on their faces and how curious they are,” she said.

Outside the lab, Sami shines in the newsroom. As West Side Story’s Print Features Editor and the incoming Co-Editor-in-Chief, she’s shaped some of the paper’s most thoughtful work. This summer, she’ll join top student journalists at the Free Spirit Conference. Sami was selected as Iowa’s single representative. The conference is an exclusive week-long event for high school journalists in Washington, D.C.

“I’m really excited to dive into First Amendment rights and explore all types of journalism,” she said.

Balancing research, journalism and everything in between isn’t easy, but Sami approaches her schedule creatively.

“Some tasks are breaks from other tasks. Practicing the violin is a physical challenge, so I treat it as a break from studying, which is a mental one,” she said.

Sami exudes excellence and is a role model for all students wanting to excel. Whether that’s in the lab or the journalism room, Shanza Sami has had a huge impact on maintaining West High’s high standards. 

Kate Van Waning ’26 takes the win for West High’s Athlete of the Year. She is the definition of dedication and versatility. A three-sport athlete, she dominates in cross country, basketball and track, earning varsity status in all three. Whether she’s racing across the finish line, driving to the hoop or sprinting down the track, Van Waning brings leadership and determination to every team she’s on.

Van Waning first picked up a basketball at age three, joining rec leagues alongside her brother under the encouragement of their dad.

“My dad is just a really big fan of basketball, so growing up, my brother and I were at the little kid rec league playing basketball. And he just kinda got us all into basketball,” she said.

Her love for running, however, came a little bit later.

“My parents both were runners as adults. So I just kind of always knew I was going to run in high school. In elementary school, I also did Iowa speed,” she said.

Van Waning trains nearly year-round, with summer schedules packed with workouts and practices for all three sports.

“Because I do three sports, I’m constantly practicing. In the summer, I put in a lot of hours into all of those sports as well as year-round. Making sure that you’re always trying to get better and not settling for where you’re at is what keeps me improving,” she said.

While her commitment is impressive, it’s not without its challenges.

“It definitely has its challenges. You’re not going to be able to do everything, but just trying to do the best you can while still staying healthy, that’s the key,” she said.

In junior high, Van Waning experienced stress fractures in her shins, which would’ve stopped many athletes.

“Because of the stress fractures, I never really ran in junior high. Even now, I have to be really cognizant about my training and make sure I’m staying healthy. It’s been about finding that balance between pushing myself and knowing when it’s time to pull back,” she said.

Outside of athletics, she works just as hard to maintain balance in her personal life.

“If sports become stressful for me, I like to just give myself a day and make sure I’m doing something I enjoy. That way I still have that balance and I’m still enjoying things outside of sports,” she said.

Through it all, Van Waning has grown into a leader, particularly in cross country.

“Being involved in all of these sports has kind of forced me to become a leader, even when you don’t feel your best or don’t want to be at practice, you still show up, and that sets the example for the younger team members,” she said.

When reflecting on her proudest moments, Van Waning remarks on all her successes in cross country and track.

“Probably being the number one runner the last two and a half years for cross country. As well as making it to state so all three years for track, and sophomore year and junior year for cross country,” she said.

When asked what legacy she hopes to leave behind, Van Waning didn’t hesitate to reflect on the values that define her athletic journey.

Looking ahead, Van Waning hopes to run in college, potentially for Augustana University. But for now, she’s focused on her final seasons at West, where her goals include qualifying for track state in an individual event, helping her basketball team finally punch their ticket to state, and PRing in her last cross country season

Sean Kearney ’26 was voted as West High’s Artist of the Year. Known for his unique artwork and powerful visual style, he also keeps up the artistic momentum as a key member of the drum line. Whether he’s sketching, doing photography, or performing, Kearney’s artistic talent and dedication leave a lasting impression. 

Kearney’s creative journey started early, and unexpectedly, when he watched the sci-fi horror film “Alien” at just five years old.

“There’s a scene where the alien comes out of this dude’s chest, and I was so traumatized that I just started drawing that kind of stuff, then I was like, ‘wow, this is awesome,'” he said.

Though Kearney’s main focus is painting, he is also involved in the West High drum line and experiments with other modes of expression as well.

“I mainly do painting, but I also like making music, writing, taking pictures, all that jazz,” he said.

Since then, his work has evolved from alien sketches to mixed-media pieces exploring shape, texture, and emotion. He’s especially fond of watercolor, a medium many artists avoid due to its fast drying time and difficulty with corrections.

“Most people hate them, but I absolutely love watercolors,” he said.

Inspired by artists like Picasso, Keith Haring and Salvador Dalí, and directors like Stanley Kubrick and Wim Wenders, Kearney sees all forms of art as interconnected.

“Art forms kind of speak to each other in different ways. At the end of the day, it’s all about thinking, just different ways of thinking,” he said.

Beyond painting and performance, Kearney is also exploring filmmaking.

“I’m directing a movie for my AP Lang final right now. We’re filming it at this abandoned water park, and it’s going to be really cool,” he said.

His dream is to become a film director, and he’s already taken steps by enrolling in classes like digital photography and journalism, as well as experimenting independently with high-end video gear like a camera gimbal.

Although he has sold a few commissioned pieces, he doesn’t measure success in dollars. For him, finishing a piece is reward enough.

“Probably just completing a painting feels like an achievement. A lot of people have a hard time even finishing one, especially the big ones,” he said.

To aspiring artists, his advice is short but powerful.