![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Biden Wins White House
Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump on Saturday, making him the 46th president; Kamala Harris will be the first female, Black and South Asian vice president.
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
Joe Biden at a march in Clear Lake, Iowa in Aug. 2019.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Associated Press called the 2020 presidential race, declaring Joe Biden the 46th president of the United States. Biden was called the winner in the battleground state of Pennsylvania Saturday morning. AP also called Nevada for Biden on Saturday afternoon.
Kamala Harris is the first female, Black and South Asian vice president-elect in U.S. history.
Trump is the first presidential incumbent to lose reelection since George H.W. Bush in 1992.
Trump released a statement while at his golf club in Sterling, Va., refusing to concede and promising legal challenges in key battleground states. During his campaign, the president declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and baselessly claimed voter fraud regarding mail-in ballots.
President-elect Biden broke the record for most votes in history for a presidential candidate, breaking former President Barack Obama’s 2008 record. The AP reported record early voting numbers which contributed to the four-day wait for a final race call — nearly 103 million votes were cast before Election Day. Mail-in ballots are still being counted across the country.
Two swing states — North Carolina and Georgia — along with Alaska have not yet been called. Trump currently leads in Alaska and North Carolina while Biden leads in Georgia.
Biden is expected to address the nation on Saturday night.
Shradha is a senior and third-year staff member of The Blaze. This is her second year as the editor in chief. When she isn't reading or writing, you can find her crafting scathing reviews of Netflix originals...
Megan is a senior and third-year staff member of The Blaze. When they aren't reading or stressing out about school, they can be found in the auditorium with tech crew, talking about their favorite TV shows...
Megan Hayes is a senior and this is her third year on staff. When she isn't stressing over homework or extracurriculars, you can catch her wasting time watching TV or becoming way too emotionally invested...
![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-600x400.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870-600x471.jpeg)
