Standing on (the literal) top of the world: River’s inspiring story
On May 21, 2026, River Ahmad stood on the summit of Mount Everest. At 8,849 meters above sea level, she became the first woman from Afghanistan to reach the highest point on Earth.
She dedicated the journey to mental health awareness and to the education of women and girls in Afghanistan. For her, the mountain was a platform to tell a much bigger story.
Running Start is too valuable for budget cuts
State lawmakers passed a concerning budget cutting $14 million from the state’s Running Start program. This would first cut the ability for students to take classes over the summer quarter and it would also limit the number of credits that students can take each quarter.
These cuts will make it significantly harder for students to graduate with their associate degree at the same time as receiving their high school diploma.
End of Year Celebration honors Running Start students
Whether attendees were graduating, staying for another year, a supportive friend or family member, all were welcome at the End of Year Celebration.
Featuring an awards ceremony, inspiring speeches by student speakers, free graduation-themed mementos and multiple chocolate fountains, campus swelled with an estimated 558 event-goers.
A massive study done on feline cancer reveals similarities with humans and dogs
Scientists have discovered similarities in feline and human cancer, which can help develop new treatments for cancer in humans.
A study, posted in February 2026 by the University of Guelph, genetically analyzed tumors in cats. This is the largest contribution to genetic profiling of cancer in cats. Cancer in cats has been one of the leading causes of death, but it was rather unstudied before this.
Campus

Whether attendees were graduating, staying for another year, a supportive friend or family member, all were welcome at the End of Year Celebration.
Featuring an awards ceremony, inspiring speeches by student speakers, free graduation-themed mementos and multiple chocolate fountains, campus swelled with an estimated 558 event-goers.

Highline College’s annual Global Fest was held May 26 and as usual, was a hit. The event exists for students to showcase and celebrate their culture and have it be honored in return.
Global fest covers the entire first floor of Building 8 with informational stands about different countries, homemade delicious food, and live entertainment.

John Rueben Mosby passed away at the age of 54 on May 4, 2026 in Federal Way, Washington, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, leadership, generosity, lifelong learning, and an extraordinary ability to connect with people.
Born in El Cajon, California, and raised in Sacramento, California, John’s educational journey reflected the deep value he placed on personal growth and academic achievement throughout his life.

As graduation inches closer, many students at Highline College are thinking about the next step on their educational journeys. Thankfully for potential transfer students, the Northwest STEP Transfer Fair was designed with them in mind. At this event, which took place on May 19 in Building 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., university representatives answered students’ questions about that transition.
Generally, the key to success when transferring from community college to university boils down to a few things: Make sure that coursework completed at the college is transferable to the university of choice, submit transcripts with the university application, and, once accepted, connect with academic advisors to learn about additional resources and next steps.
Community

On May 21, 2026, River Ahmad stood on the summit of Mount Everest. At 8,849 meters above sea level, she became the first woman from Afghanistan to reach the highest point on Earth.
She dedicated the journey to mental health awareness and to the education of women and girls in Afghanistan. For her, the mountain was a platform to tell a much bigger story.

Juniper Blessing was tragically murdered in the laundry room of her off-campus apartment at the University of Washington, Seattle on May 10, 2026. While much of the press circulating around her is about her murder and the horrificness of Christopher Leahy’s crime, in doing so, Juniper becomes a number, a headline, a statistic.
Juniper, however, is fondly remembered by her peers, her family, her vocal coach, and her loved ones back in New Mexico. Juniper’s legacy is one to be celebrated and remembered.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month honors the history, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in the United States.
It’s celebrated annually in May, so as May comes to a close, I find it only fitting that we review some of the contributions the AANHPI communities have made to American culture.

In the middle of heated debates on X, formerly known as Twitter, a phrase appears again and again from thousands of people from Afghanistan: “I am not Afghan.” For many outsiders, this can seem confusing. After all, Afghanistan is the name of the country. Wouldn’t “Afghan” describe everyone from there?
For people from Afghanistan, however, the issue is a bit complicated. It is tied to history, ethnicity, language, power, and identity — and to a feeling, shared by many non-Pashtun communities, that one group’s identity was turned into the identity of an entire nation.

This story is about the famous, massive, active volcano that is just chilling in our backyard, her name is Mount Rainier.
Rainier has the highest peak in the Cascade Range at 14,410 feet, and is the centerpiece of Mount Rainier National Park, which is famous for its ancient forests, subalpine wildflowers, and extensive glaciers.
Sports

The NBA Finals will see the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs face off in a repeat matchup of the 1999 Finals. The teams faced off in the 2025 NBA cup that occurred in this year’s regular season; a game in which the Knicks won out. Game 1 of this prestigious event kicked off last night in the Spurs’ home arena with the Knicks off to a winning start.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals concluded Wednesday, June 3, and the Knicks pulled off a come-from-behind win over the Spurs. The Knicks are currently on a 12-game win streak and currently have all the momentum. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs still feel confident in the series and have experience in being behind in a series.

Rookie guard Flau’jae Johnson has the Seattle Storm’s fanbase abuzz with excitement, even in her short time with the franchise. Seattle’s fanbase is one of the most loyal in the league, a community that held onto the Storm when the Sonics were taken away and built a culture of resilience and pride around women’s basketball.
The crowd that cheers on the Storm is a mix of longtime WNBA loyalists, former NBA fans searching for a home, and people who come for the sense of community the Storm creates. The energy inside Climate Pledge Arena feels like a heartbeat: steady, loud, and deeply rooted in the city’s identity. And that energy has been sparked anew thanks to the arrival of the young, promising athlete, bringing a new beat to the pulse of the Storm; which is fitting, because she is not just an athlete but also a musician, with a successful rap career.
Arts

“Euphoria” has gained notoriety over the years for its popularity and influence among Gen-Z viewers. However, much of this popularity isn’t due to the writing at all – it’s due to the distinct aesthetics.
“Euphoria” has always been known for its unique visuals, style, and sound. With a first season so heavily acclaimed for its excellent cinematography, audiences are left wondering what has happened since then. How did a show so culturally iconic lose its momentum, and how did the well-known aesthetics the show was once known for just…disappear?

In the current days of the streaming era, many people don’t keep physical media like music and movies, since those are seconds away on their phone instead. Slightly older people have developed a superiority complex because some younger folk don’t know what a cassette tape is.
Yet beneath the jokes and generational teasing lies a more serious conversation about what is lost when entertainment exists only as a digital file or a temporary subscription. Physical media is more than nostalgia. It represents ownership, preservation, and a more personal connection to art that streaming services often fail to replicate.

As anticipation builds for Ariana Grande’s upcoming studio album, “Petal”, Grande is set to release her new single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”, on May 29, giving fans an early glimpse into what could become one of the singer’s most personal musical eras yet.
Although the song has not officially been released, excitement surrounding the new single has quickly spread across social media platforms following Grande’s announcement of the track and her upcoming album, “Petal,” which is set to release July 31.

The hit show “Euphoria” recently premiered its third and final season after years of anticipation, instantly sparking multitudes of online discussion among fans. Arguably one of the most divisive pieces of television in recent years, the series has gained some of the highest praise as well as some of the harshest criticisms…but why?
The generation-defining HBO series made its debut in 2019, instantly becoming a hit among teenagers. Starring Zendaya and a majority-female cast, the struggles of drug addiction, trauma, and relationships are portrayed through a colorful and glittery lens. Numerous themes of adolescence are explored through carefully curated cinematography, instantly capturing the attention of millions.
Science & Technology

Scientists have discovered similarities in feline and human cancer, which can help develop new treatments for cancer in humans.
A study, posted in February 2026 by the University of Guelph, genetically analyzed tumors in cats. This is the largest contribution to genetic profiling of cancer in cats. Cancer in cats has been one of the leading causes of death, but it was rather unstudied before this.

Star fish are disappearing all over the north west, dying in large numbers due to a disease called Sea Star Wasting Disease.
As you walk along the Pacific West Coast beaches, you may notice something concerning: sea stars with twisted arms, lesions, or bodies that seem to be melting away. This distressing sight is a trademark of Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD). The disease has affected over 20 species of sea stars.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) officially has a new name that will hopefully help people improve diagnosis and treatment: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
This name change was brought about due to concerns that the old name placed too much emphasis on the presence of cysts and ovaries, while the syndrome is more accurately depicted as a hormonal or endocrine disorder.

In the fight against cancer, we have discovered that a protein called MYC that helps tumors grow also helps repair the tumor’s DNA when undergoing chemotherapy.
MYC plays a large role in cell proliferation, which is the division of cells into two daughter cells, and it controls the expression of about 15% of all genes. The large percentage of genes it oversees allows for it to easily turn cancerous, as cancer cells are just abnormal cells in the body, and this has been seen in its over activeness in a lot of human cancers.
News Briefs

Highline will be hosting their third annual Lavender Graduation for the school’s queer graduates. This event is meant to uplift our LGBTQIA+ graduates at Highline by celebrating their unique accomplishments and identities.
The event is happening on June 11, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be located in Building 8 in Mt. Constance/Olympus.

The 58th annual “Arcturus” launches next week, celebrating creativity across the diverse Highline community. The literary journal puts together a variety of artistic submissions from students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Founded in 1968 by a group of Highline students, the mission of the publication is to uplift the Highline community by showcasing works of art that represent this diversity.
The “Arcturus” is having their release party next Wednesday, June 3, in Building 2.
Opinion

State lawmakers passed a concerning budget cutting $14 million from the state’s Running Start program. This would first cut the ability for students to take classes over the summer quarter and it would also limit the number of credits that students can take each quarter.
These cuts will make it significantly harder for students to graduate with their associate degree at the same time as receiving their high school diploma.

Pride collections are something that corporations come out with every June, ranging from queer apparel to rainbow cat toys (yes, Target, I’m looking at you). The real question is, is it really necessary?
Some people find the Pride collections to be ways to show who they are, unapologetic and loud. Others find it as a way for corporations to earn more money. While both are valid points, I personally am one of the ones who loves to show off my identity through clothing, loud and proud.
ThunderPod

Amy Rider King works with students through communications classes and the Public Speaking Center, creating a supportive space for confidence, growth, and connection across campus.
Check out what she has to say as she sits down for a conversation with host Evelyn Rissell in the second-to-last ThunderPod episode of the year!