• 2025 NSPA Pacemaker Winner
  • 2025 CSPA Gold Crown
  • 6th Consecutive IHSPA Hoosier Star Award
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Your source for CHS news

HiLite
Your source for CHS news

HiLite
Chenyao Liu

Chenyao Liu, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Hey y’all! I’m Chenyao Liu and I’m super excited to serve as one of HiLite’s Editors-in-Chief this year. In my previous years, I served as a Feature section editor and a graphic artist/photographer for News. Outside of HiLite, I run cross country and lead A5. Check out my work below!

All content by Chenyao Liu
2023 LiteBox: Semester 2 Recap

2023 LiteBox: Semester 2 Recap

Caitlin Follman, Grace Guo, Chenyao Liu, and Luke Miller
May 28, 2023

Class of 2023 Superlatives

Chenyao Liu and Joshika Sathyamathan
May 12, 2023
Banning TikTok isn’t a good idea

Banning TikTok isn’t a good idea

Chenyao Liu
April 24, 2023
Sophomore Jessica Ding practices her speech for the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition. She, along with five other students, competed at the Global Finale on April 22.

[Photo] Q&A with JADES Co. leader, members on Wharton Global High School Investment Competition

Matthew Du and Ryan Zhang
April 22, 2023
Junior Nada Dawood (right) teaches her friend, senior Claire Noggle (left), how to play salah, a hand-slapping game her mother taught her. Though the game is simple, according to Dawood, it provides a connection between her and her relatives.

Traditional games help students learn about, connect with culture

Chenyao Liu
April 14, 2023
Principal Tim Phares flips through a binder with information about graduation. Phares said graduation is scheduled on the last day of school this year. “(Seniors are) just doing something a little different (on the last day),” he said. “You’re being required to be at graduation practice. You have a senior celebration in the morning that kicks off the day...And then you also have graduation that you got to be at that nobody else has to go to.”

Administration releases ACE schedule, accounting for graduation in plans

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
March 7, 2023
Ashlyn Walker, co-executive director of Confront the Climate Crisis and junior, speaks during a climate rally at the Indiana Statehouse. Walker said, “I think climate change is a bipartisan issue...It affects everyone in the world.”

New climate education requirements may draw more students to consider their environmental impact, engaging in advocacy

Chenyao Liu
March 6, 2023
Principal Tim Phares works on his laptop. Phares said school administration is preparing for the new polytechnic department, which will emphasize project-based and experiential learning and provide alternate graduation pathways for students starting in the 2023-24 school year.

Administration continues preparations for new Polytechnic Department

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
February 16, 2023
Seniors Tanay Acharya (left) and William “Will” Kurlander (right) consider their past experiences being involved with student government. Acharya said he used to be a class officer and Kurlander said he used to be involved with student government.

Students feel unrepresented, encourage student government to advocate for student welfare

Chenyao Liu and Ayaan Nadeem
February 12, 2023
Junior Ana Mencias created these different paintings. When discussing the art of painting she said, "It’s just very creative and allows you to (create) on a broad spectrum." (Submitted Photo: Ana Mencias)

Q&A with student painters in light of American Painter’s Day on Feb. 3

Chenyao Liu
February 3, 2023
CCPL teen services librarian Caroline Niepokoj (center) talks with teen services manager Jamie Beckman (right) while preparing for the Yule Ball. Niepokoj said she is excited to see everyone's reactions to hosting the Yule Ball in the new space.

Q&A with CCPL teen services librarian Caroline Niepokoj on organizing Yule Ball

Chenyao Liu
January 28, 2023
Students, professor see social media as platform to raise awareness, build solidarity

Students, professor see social media as platform to raise awareness, build solidarity

Chenyao Liu
January 28, 2023
Students, professor debate effects of seeing violence on social media, desensitization

Students, professor debate effects of seeing violence on social media, desensitization

Chenyao Liu
January 26, 2023
Yuan "Heidi" Yue, National Chinese Honor Society (NCHS) member and junior, teaches a community member Chinese calligraphy. NCHS organized a Chinese New Year celebration on Jan. 23 at the Carmel Clay Public Library.

[Photo] Students celebrate Lunar New Year, express themselves with calligraphy

Eddie Sun
January 24, 2023
A volunteer at the Lunar New Year event on Monday’s paints a CHS student’s face. They wear red, which symbolizes the Lunar New Year in Chinese culture.

[Photo] CCPL celebrates cultural events

Pahal Sehgal
January 24, 2023
Senior Eric Yang scrolls through tik tok during his SSRT. He said that social media can lead to less personal friendships.

Students recognize social media’s impact on communication, social aggression

Chenyao Liu
January 24, 2023
Review: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is the perfect model for Chinese-American representation [MUSE]

Review: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is the perfect model for Chinese-American representation [MUSE]

Chenyao Liu
January 21, 2023
Adam Havice, health and wellness teacher, directs students with a partner activity. Havice said, “Hopefully, (the sex education curriculum) helps prevent intimate partner violence and helps young people develop healthy relationships of any kind.”

Students hope to see changes to current sex-ed curriculum

Chenyao Liu and Ella Lipnik
January 19, 2023
Principal Tim Phares stands at his new desk. Phares said the school is working to increase student safety and efficiency.

Administration considers new policies to increase efficiency

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
January 10, 2023

Student dies on Jan. 8 after car accident

Chenyao Liu
January 9, 2023
Review: The battle of the Pinocchios [MUSE]

Review: The battle of the Pinocchios [MUSE]

Chenyao Liu
December 28, 2022

Administration to meet Dec. 12, focus on future construction projects, ACE

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
December 6, 2022
Participants in the Christkindlmarkt enjoy booths selling authentic German products and foods on Nov. 26. According to Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) President Bhavi Vishnumolakala, CMYC will support the popular Christkindlmarkt through volunteer work.

[Photo] Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council (CMYC) reflecting on past events, promoting Christkindlmarkt

Marissa Finney
November 30, 2022
transracial adoption

[Photo] In honor of National Adoption Month in November, students, parents share stories, challenges with cultural identity

Lorna Ding and Pahal Sehgal
November 28, 2022
Review: “Andor” and the climb to freedom [MUSE]

Review: “Andor” and the climb to freedom [MUSE]

Chenyao Liu
November 23, 2022
Principal Tim Phares works at his desk in his new office. Phares said he will visit Allen, Texas in February for another large-school consortium meeting.

Administration returns from large-school consortium, looks ahead to construction

Chenyao Liu and Archit Kalra
November 15, 2022
Q&A: Principal Tim Phares on polytechnic courses, new pathways to graduation

Q&A: Principal Tim Phares on polytechnic courses, new pathways to graduation

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
November 11, 2022
Representation in film must go beyond actors, extend to writers, directors

Representation in film must go beyond actors, extend to writers, directors

Chenyao Liu
November 10, 2022
Greyhound Sound member and senior Carter Inskep poses for a selfie with his fellow members (clockwise from top left) junior Ethan Brown, senior Nathan Andrews, junior Aaron Young, senior Augustus "Gus" Mullens and senior Reilly Horan. Their song "Text Me Merry Christmas" was part of Carmel Choirs' Holiday Spectacular "Spirit of the Season." Carmel Choirs performed at St. Luke's United Methodist Church from Dec. 8-11.

December Litebox: Spectacular Selfie

Chenyao Liu
December 13, 2021
Review: "Werewolf by Night," a return to the classics [MUSE]

Review: “Werewolf by Night,” a return to the classics [MUSE]

Chenyao Liu
October 28, 2022
Principal Tim Phares sits at his desk. He said he is conducting classroom observations for new teachers this year. “When I go in and do a scheduled observation,” Phares said, “I’ll spend 45 to 50 minutes up to an hour in a room.”

Administration conducts teacher observations, prepares to attend large-school consortium meeting

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
October 19, 2022
Review: Does "Nope" make a spectacle? [MUSE]

Review: Does “Nope” make a spectacle? [MUSE]

Chenyao Liu
October 11, 2022
Principal Tim Phares stands in his new office. He said recently, a lot of his time has been spent discussing Homecoming plans with students and staff. Phares said he also plans to dress up for the Homecoming spirit days. “I’ve been working (on the outfits) in my mind since the (spirit) days have come out,” he said. “I’ve definitely spent more time on my Friday outfit. I came up with this idea and my mom is a wonderful seamstress, and she’s working on a little special outfit for Friday.”

Students, staff prepare for new additions to Homecoming

Archit Kalra and Chenyao Liu
September 29, 2022
Recent actions of streaming services should raise concern over film preservation

Recent actions of streaming services should raise concern over film preservation

Chenyao Liu
September 27, 2022
Principal Tim Phares sits in his office. Phares said he encourages connectedness at this school and hopes to see more student involvement in events.

Q&A: CHS Principal Tim Phares speaks on transition to this school, supporting CHS culture 

Chenyao Liu and Archit Kalra
September 27, 2022
L'shanah tovah: For a good year

L’shanah tovah: For a good year

Caitlin Follman, Kent Fujita, Grace Guo, Chenyao Liu, Jane Martens, Ali Persinger, and Arjun Purohit
September 26, 2022
Main Entrance: The Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL) is finishing up with construction. The CCPL will host a Grand Reopening on Oct. 1 at 9 a.m.

Sneak peek at newly renovated CCPL before Grand Reopening on Oct. 1

Archit Kalra, Jillian Moore, Chenyao Liu, and Raghav Sriram
September 15, 2022
A construction worker wraps plastic in the newly renovated Dale E. Graham auditorium on Sept. 1. According to Principal Tim Phares, the auditorium should reopen within the next few weeks.

Auditorium reopening soon as construction continues around CHS

Chenyao Liu and Archit Kalra
September 12, 2022
Freshmen Fears Graphic (2)

[Photo] Freshman, GKOM discuss transition from middle school to high school

Pahal Sehgal
September 13, 2022
Review: "Mamma Mia" and the jukebox musical [MUSE]

Review: “Mamma Mia” and the jukebox musical [MUSE]

Chenyao Liu
September 5, 2022
Maanya Rajesh, Green Action Club (GAC) co-President and senior, reviews her notes before meeting with Carmel City Councilor Tim Hannon. Rajesh and other members of GAC met with members of the Carmel city council to advocate for the passing of a climate action plan, set to be voted around May 16.

Students call for implementation of Carmel’s Climate Action Plan

Chenyao Liu
May 18, 2022
Hunting should be recognized as human right for indigenous, tribal people

Hunting should be recognized as human right for indigenous, tribal people

Chenyao Liu
May 17, 2022
In this drone photo, suburban houses are spread out with lots of space in between. This pattern has resulted in a rapid expansion of suburbs into rural land.

[Photo] Students, city officials discuss effects of suburban expansion on environment

Royce Brown and Sam Hawkins
May 20, 2022
composting 101

[Photo] Student, staff discuss implications, solutions to school food waste

Lorna Ding and Arya Pinnamaneni
May 17, 2022
Elsa Barron, community organizer with Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light (HIPL) and Christian, speaks at a climate rally in the Indiana Statehouse. Barron said, “The good work that is happening through things like creation care is still good work, and it is important to continue it.”

[Photo] Students, activist are inspired by religion to improve environment, engage in activism

Sumedha Kota and Claire He
May 19, 2022
FASTING WITH FRIENDS: Senior Rida Jawad talks with her friend during lunch on April 19. Jawad, a practicing Muslim, is fasting for Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In 2022, Ramadan began on April 2 and will end on May 2.

[Photo] 2021-22 Photo of the Day

August 25, 2021

Students should be more civically active, sign up as poll workers

Chenyao Liu
April 27, 2022
With 10th anniversary of “The Avengers” series, significance of hero diversity, community hero representation increasingly important

With 10th anniversary of “The Avengers” series, significance of hero diversity, community hero representation increasingly important

Chenyao Liu and Darshini Shankar
April 22, 2022
Senior Clizia Martini drinks bubble tea.

[Photo] With National Bubble Tea Day on April 30, students discuss significance, history of bubble tea in Asia, United States

Michelle Wan and Jasmine Zhang
April 28, 2022
Julia Dong, pole vaulter and junior, prepares to jump at practice. Dong said pole vault is good for strength training and exercise.

[Photo] Athlete Spotlight: Pole vaulter, junior Julia Dong steps into varsity, looks forward to track season

Saumya Somasi
March 22, 2022
With upcoming competitions, learn more about CHS Comedy Sports League

With upcoming competitions, learn more about CHS Comedy Sports League

Chenyao Liu
March 20, 2022
Seniors Jesus Andres Sanchez (left) and Daniyal Sher (right) laugh together during Mr. Carmel 2022. Andres escorted Sher at the event, dedicated to raising money for Special Olympics Indiana.

[Photo] Students with developmental disabilities, staff talk about treatment of disabled students at CHS

Caitlyn Mount and Arya Pinnamaneni
March 18, 2022
Members of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) play a trivia game during a meeting. Vanessa Rasaki, junior and president of the BSA, said, “Trying to get people educated is a big thing for us this (Black History Month).”

Students, teachers confront stigma, reflect on perception of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE)

Royce Brown and Chenyao Liu
February 17, 2022
Senior Emily Slade accepts a rose as she runs the final stretch of CHS’ home cross-country course at Northview Church one last time for senior night festivities. Slade said she hopes to continue running throughout her life, but is open to trying new activities to stay in shape as well.

[Photo] Seniors reevaluate identity during final sports season

Addison Joyce
February 17, 2022
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