Humans of Saint Francis

by The Lancer editorial staff

Humans of Saint Francis is a column inspired by the popular photoblog, Humans of New York. Through this series, The Lancer wishes to share the stories of the humans who attend Saint Francis High School, one profile at a time.

Humans of Saint Francis: Ashton Liu

by Will Li (’23) and Kasper Halevy (’24) | March 21, 2022 Strolling into the Commons, one can never miss the energetic student sporting tinted aviator glasses, playing an assortment of melodies from Baroque sonatas to the Minecraft soundtrack on the piano.  Dubbed “The Piano God,” Ashton Liu (’22) began his musical journey at age…

Humans of Saint Francis: Ishan Pachauri

by Sophia Tran (’24) | March 21, 2022 Whether it’s binge-watching anime or answering the next question about the Golgi complex, Ishan Pachauri (’24) has always been a curious learner with an aptitude for trying something new. As a board member for the Saint Francis Science Bowl and Quiz Bowl teams, he explores his passion…

Humans of Saint Francis: Medha Mahanta

by Kasper Halevy (’24) and Will Li (’23) | February 14, 2022 Medha Mahanta (’24) began her mathematical journey in middle school with the local MATHCOUNTS and Math League competitions as a fun pastime. Little did she know, math would later become deeply integrated into her everyday life. As a board member of both the Math…

Humans of Saint Francis: Jewel Merriman

by Sophia Tran (’24) | February 14, 2022 From the thrum of the drums to the triumphant blow of the trumpet, Jewel Merriman (’22) represents the essence of the Lancer Marching Band. Marching band has always been a prominent part of Merriman’s student life, and her passion for music started from a very young age…

Humans of Saint Francis: Aashka Trivedi

by Anika Jain (’22) | February 14, 2022 Since she was three years old, Aashka Trivedi (’24) has loved to perform. Despite being an underclassman, Trivedi’s passion for theater has led her to audition for this year’s student-run musical, 9 to 5.  “This was my first in-person musical at Saint Francis, so it’s such a…

Humans of Saint Francis: Class of 2022 Homecoming Court

by Anika Jain (’22) | November 19, 2021 One of Saint Francis’s most beloved traditions is the Homecoming Court, which consists of student leaders from the senior class who best represent the school values and integrity. Only the seniors vote on the nominees, but the final two winners are chosen by a school-wide vote. Upon…

Humans of Saint Francis: Pujita Tangirala

by Anika Jain (’22) | November 19, 2021 A breeding ground for creativity and ambition, Saint Francis hosts students with a variety of aspirations from art to entrepreneurship. In the past year, Pujita Tangirala (’22), whom you may know for her eclectic talents in music and journalism, has combined her passions for art and fashion…

Humans of Saint Francis: Jake Randazzo

by Anika Jain (’22), Will Li (’23), and Sophia Tran (’24) | October 11, 2021 In the frenzy of a rally, one Lancer claims fame for performing flips in the distance. Perhaps you know him simply as “Flip Guy,” but this athlete is actually Jake Randazzo (’22). Dedicated to his craft, Randazzo possesses one of…

Humans of Saint Francis: Aidan Sanchez

by Kasper Halevy (’24), Safaa Hussain (’23), and Matthew Tran (’23) | October 11, 2021 From the Associated Student Body to the Peter Morey Spirit Award, you’ve likely heard the name Aidan Sanchez (’22) in the context of an avidly involved student in school activities. With significant pressure stemming from academic coursework and the college…

Humans of Saint Francis: Lily Arangio

by Arhana Aatresh (’23), Alexander Chang (’23), Will Li (’23), Elsa Ying (’23), Da Hee Yang (’23), Kasper Halevy (’24), and Anika Bastin (’23) | October 11, 2021 Many teenagers perceive politics as either a stream of intangible Instagram stories or an abstract mess reserved for adults. However, Lily Arangio (’23) actively combats this perception…