Nico Caputo
Junior Nico Caputo is perhaps one of the most energetic and outgoing people you will meet. As he wraps up his third year at LFHS, Caputo has thoroughly immersed himself in the arts by performing in various theatre productions and taking advantage of the art classes, such as photography and new media. Despite his contributions being widespread, Caputo still manages to leave his sparkle everywhere.
“Nico is like a disco ball. He has so many moments where you look at him, and he just emanates energy,” said Jess Kavanagh.
Even during long rehearsals, Caputo always seems to lighten the mood with his infectious laugh. Whenever he has a break during rehearsal, you will likely find him at the nearest whiteboard, drawing anything from a bunny to one of his friends.
“During the winter play last year, he gave names to all the houses that were painted on the set, and that became the biggest inside joke,” said Kavanagh.
Beyond his humor, Caputo is also the biggest empath you will ever meet.
“I remember when I didn’t get into one of the plays that I wanted to; he was right there to support and comfort me while I was still upset about it,” said Kavanagh.
His selflessness towards others has become evident through his countless acts of kindness. When his mom’s birthday was approaching, he asked his friends, Blake Spezzano and Liam Sheridan, to help him create the perfect cake so she would feel loved on her special day.
“We spent the entire day together making the cake, and it ended up being a really meaningful experience,” said Spezzano.
Even with everything he does for others, Caputo still manages to find time for his plethora of hobbies. From his lengthy collections of vinyl and plants to his love for baking and playing with his dog Reggie, when you hang out with Caputo, you will never truly know what to expect.
“Last year, Nico wanted to learn a song on the guitar, and even though he had never played before, he decided to stay up all night to learn,” said Spezzano.
Despite a guitar string snapping, Caputo persisted and ended up perfecting the song just in time for his Talent Show audition.
The number of adjectives that can be used to describe Nico Caputo is endless, but none quite capture the profound impact he has on those in his life. With Caputo, even the smallest interactions instantly become unforgettable.
Mrs. Bielski
As an essential member of the art department at LFHS, Mrs. Bielski defines what it means to exude creativity.
Having Mrs. Bielski for a class is more than just having another elective; it’s an immersive and engaging experience that allows you to let your creativity shine.
Mrs. Bielski is an advisor for Frosh Student Council and helps students organize and plan activities that bring our school community together. She is an incredible teacher who teaches Graphic Design, Fashion Design & Construction, Drawing & Painting, and Art Foundations.
Junior Maddie Stell shares, “Mrs. Bielski is always so positive, and her class is always the highlight of my day. She makes sure we have fun, but she’s also very determined for us to do well in class.”
No matter your skill level, a class with Mrs. Bielski is an enriching experience. She incorporates activities for beginners and honors students, which create and maintain a positive learning and collaborative environment.
One thing that stands out about Mrs. Bielski is her creativity. Whether it be learning about color theory or playing around in Photoshop, Mrs. Bielski finds the most engaging assignments possible to allow her students the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity. She can always find an innovative way to solve problems or offer a refreshing new perspective.
Mrs. Bielski isn’t just a positive force in the classroom; she has an impact on everyone around her. Fellow art teacher Mrs. Thomas shares, “Mrs. Bielski is one of the most joyful, hard-working, creative people I know! She is someone that I always know I can go to if I am having a tough day or need someone to celebrate a win with.”
“Mrs. Bielski is someone I love talking to about life, art, teaching, anything! I always go to her for feedback on an idea because I know she will help me make it 100 times better. Working alongside her for the past 10 years has definitely helped me grow to become a better educator and artist. I am so grateful that I work with a colleague who is also my dear friend.”
Students and teachers alike admire Mrs. Bielski for her impeccable fashion sense. One of my favorite parts of Mrs. Bielski’s class was seeing what outfit she would put together for that day.
Whenever I walk into Mrs. Bielski’s classroom, I am immediately hit with a radiating sense of positivity. Her class was always something I looked forward to. Whatever assignment we were working on, she found a way to make fun of and made sure everyone was enjoying themselves.
“Mrs. Bielski is not only an incredible teacher, but a great friend. She was my mentor when I first came to LFHS, and I truly don’t think I’d be the teacher I am today without her. She has this rare combination of being endlessly hard-working while also bringing the kind of energy that instantly lifts everyone around her,” mentions art teacher Mrs. Herget.
“One of my favorite parts of the day is getting to hear about her latest lesson ideas or bouncing around new ones together. She somehow always has a creative solution or a fresh perspective, and she remembers everything. It is seriously impressive!”
No matter your skill level in art, Photoshop, or fashion, taking a class with Mrs. Bielski is a must.
Cal Makins
From the football field to the Raymond Moore Auditorium, senior Cal Makins is not afraid to take on a side quest.
Junior year, after his football season ended, Makins was seeking a winter activity. Interestingly enough, he decided to audition for the winter play Babette’s Feast.
After impressing the audience with his charismatic personality, many actors in the cast encouraged him to audition for the spring musical.
Now, a year later, Makins still remains an active and valued member of the theater community.
Lauren Hanson, who plays Makins’ love interest in this year’s musical, most appreciates his goodwill toward others.
“During callbacks for the musical, everyone was on edge because it was a very high-stakes audition. However, after Cal would perform with anyone, he would immediately give them a smile and a fist bump, which made the environment a lot less tense,” said Hanson.
At the start of his senior year, Makins was looking for actors to participate in his Senior Directed One-Act, and decided to ask his younger brother, James Makins, to audition. Despite his hesitation, Cal made him an offer he couldn’t refuse:
“He bribed me with Burger King to be in his One-Act, and I actually ended up having a lot of fun performing and decided to continue doing shows,” said James Makins.
Now, the Makins brothers will be performing in their first-ever show together—The Drowsy Chaperone—next week.
“Working on a show with my brother has been… interesting. I get to see a more outgoing and expressive side of him than what I am used to,” said James.
Cal, who was voted most likely to be an award-winning actor in the senior superlatives, sets an example for us all that trying something unfamiliar and sometimes frightening can lead to personal growth and new lifelong friends.
This fall, Makins will be taking his show-stopping talent to Sewanee, Tennessee, where he will be majoring in Psychology on a Pre-Med Track at The University of the South.
Kamila Cygan
When it comes to always being in a good mood, sophomore Kamila Cygan is always smiling. Her energetic personality is contagious towards everyone, and it makes her a human ray of sunshine. Whether she is swimming in a swim meet, skiing, or at concerts, she’s just consistently happy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a long practice or a stressful week; her energy doesn’t really dip.
Beyond just being a positive person, Kamila is someone you can actually count on. She’s focused on whatever she’s doing, but she’s even more dialed in when it comes to her friends.
“Kamila is someone who instantly lights up the room and is the life of the party. I love being friends with her, and I always know that I can go to her about anything,” freshman Ari Bag says.
She is a part of the varsity swim and water polo team and is truly dedicated to her sports. Trying to become better at both, Cygan is also involved in club teams outside of school. She enjoys both sports equally, but nothing gets her more excited than skiing.
Kamila has visited ski resorts in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah, and many more.
Kamila is also the type of person who’s always down to help you feel better about anything, whether that’s giving you pointers during a workout or just giving you good advice when you need it. She is always there for you.
Henry Mulliken
Charm and joy.
There is a difference between charm and joy. Joy is a feeling and a sensation you get when you are beyond happy. It is when you are so filled up with happiness that a new word is made up. That word is joyful.
Charm is something that you give off. It is very rare that you find someone who gives off charm in the right way. Charm can be given off by the “jock” who is a great athlete and a little cocky, but it can also be given off by the “nerd” who is sweet and curious.
It is even more rare that you meet someone who gives off both types of charm, the jockey and nerdy types, and someone who is constantly in a state of pure joy. It is unlikely that you will meet another person like Henry Mulliken.
Henry is the type of guy who not only will see him smiling as you are walking down the halls, but also makes other people smile. Henry is an extremely hard worker and brings his determination and dedication to life, also making others happy around him.
“He is one of the hardest workers I have met. He is always pushing himself beyond his own limits and motivating others around him constantly,” senior Jimmy Scheidler said.
It is truly unlikely that you will meet another person who is as friendly as Henry, too. Whether it is a quick fistbump in the hallway or a loud shout across the hall, Henry will most definitely make his presence known to you just to boost your confidence a little bit more.
Not only is he friendly, but he knows exactly how to bring the fun to wherever he goes.
“I had a great time with Henry over spring break. He is a great guy to be around and also knows how to have a good time. He always makes me smile, and he is always a blast,” senior Jack Milliman said.
It is also not too likely that you will find another guy who can do so many push-ups and pull-ups in a row.
Henry’s physical strength is impressive, but his ability to cheer up others around him is even more impressive. He should serve as an example to us all of how to treat each other.
