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Marcus High School's Online Newspaper

The Marquee

Marcus High School's Online Newspaper

The Marquee

Marcus High School's Online Newspaper

The Marquee

McKenna Cowley

McKenna Cowley, Opinion Editor

McKenna Cowley is a senior and although this will be her first year on staff, she has a long-lived passion for journalism. She spends most of her time practicing with the band during the fall but still manages to make time for her other four loves: reading, writing, and her two dogs. She plans to study journalism and writing in college and she takes inspiration from Queen Elizabeth, Fran Drescher and Audrey Hepburn. Finally, she is beyond excited to spend her senior year with an incredible staff where she hopes to leave a lasting impact on the community while learning about journalism and expanding her skill set as a writer.

Check out her playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/user/mhsmarquee/playlist/5fPxmMAbvJrOQzWFSkOvYq?si=JstZgOHkQPuVqWTyFzaeDw

All content by McKenna Cowley
"In the beginning, I truly felt like it would be easier to deal with missing the best three months of school if I acted like it was insignificant. In reality, I met some of my best friends. I figured out who I am as a person and what I am good at. I took advice from adults that will have a lasting impact on my life."

Senior column: What can I say?

McKenna Cowley May 16, 2020

I sat down to write my last published work at Marcus High School, my senior column, and I was at a loss. I have no clue what to say about my experience these past four years. At first I thought...

"I entered high school with excitement about new possibilities, yet within the first two hours I was reduced to the b-word by someone who had never even seen my face."

Column: The b-word

McKenna Cowley March 12, 2020

I wandered through beige hallways that never seemed to end, checking my watch and seeing the time run out. I was desperate and lost, entering a random classroom for help. Faceless strangers stared...

Posters were hung around the school to announce the game and honor golf coach Kerry Gabel. Coaches and members of the boys teams cheered on the girls during their game, and also had a game afterwards to support Gabel.

Fighting back #together

Coach honored at annual Cancer Night
McKenna Cowley March 11, 2020

Golf coach Kerry Gabel was honored for his fight with kidney cancer at the Lady Marauder Basketball game on Feb. 4. The annual Cancer Night is organized by the Lady Marauder basketball coaches. They...

The chorizo breakfast sandwich was delicious, so Eggspress Cafe definetly deserves a second visit.

Review: Eggspress Cafe

Eggspress Cafe offers delicious breakfast and quality service
McKenna Cowley March 10, 2020

Eggspress Cafe isn’t currently the most popular breakfast site in Flower Mound, but the restaurant is soon-to-be “go-to” material. Since opening on Jan. 7,  it seems like Highland Village residents...

Senior Ethan Barr performs a dance routine inspired by famous dancer Maddie Zeigler in the Mr. Marcus pageant on Feb. 20. This dance originally premiered in pop singer Sia’s “Chandelier” music video.

[Photo] February in photos

The Marquee Staff March 1, 2020

Senior Ethan Barr performs a dance routine inspired by famous dancer Maddie Zeigler in the Mr. Marcus pageant on Feb. 20. This dance originally premiered in pop singer Sia’s “Chandelier” music video.

If you find yourself single two weeks before Valentine's Day, use this guide to create your own sweetheart.

Five easy steps to creating your own sweetheart

McKenna Cowley February 3, 2020

Valentine’s Day can be difficult for single people, so much that there is even a movement to introduce a second holiday that falls on Feb. 15: Singles Awareness Day or SAD. This year, if you find yourself...

Seniors Chance Castleberry and McKenna Cowley bake cookies with juniors Anshul Gowda and Alastair Cockram in food science.

[Photo] January in photos

The Marquee Staff February 2, 2020

Seniors Chance Castleberry and McKenna Cowley bake cookies with juniors Anshul Gowda and Alastair Cockram in food science.

From left to right: Mariah Baysinger, Kristie Baysinger, Lucy Baysinger, Orrin Baysinger and Wyatt Baysinger. The Baysingers have received around $11,000 from the community donating to their GoFundMe.

Small blessings

Family finds hope after loss due to fire
McKenna Cowley January 31, 2020

Editor’s note: This story won first place for news features in the 2020 Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Circle Awards. It was also named as a superior news feature in the TAJE Best in...

Freshman Ty Cowley waits for the referee to start the match against another wrestler from Hebron on Monday, December 16. The JV wrestling team has matches on Mondays.

[Photo] December in photos

December 20, 2019

Freshman Ty Cowley waits for the referee to start the match against another wrestler from Hebron on Monday, December 16. The JV wrestling team has matches on Mondays.

Senior Carol Anne Starks (middle) holds a sign with two other students attending the High School Aerospace Scholars program at the NASA facility in Houston, TX. Carol Anne’s 10-person group was tasked with studying the geography of Mars.

Shoot for the stars

Senior participates in selective NASA program
McKenna Cowley December 12, 2019

“Can I look at this stuff?” senior Carol Anne Starks said. She had just arrived home from a long day of middle school. Only 11, she had recently began sixth grade. Starks was talking about...

The Marauder band seniors get together for a group photo during their senior night, where they were recognized for the hard work they put into the program throughout their time in high school.

[Photo] October in photos

The Marquee Staff October 30, 2019

The Marauder band seniors get together for a group photo during their senior night, where they were recognized for the hard work they put into the program throughout their time in high school.

Once she got to middle school, senior Carleigh Brand noticed that teachers referred to her as "John's sister," which played a role in her starting to compare herself to her older brother.

Battling for better days

Senior struggles to meet high expectations
Madi Olivier and McKenna Cowley October 30, 2019

Senior Carleigh Brand, then a sophomore, lay buried in blankets with tears streaming down her face. The soft melody of “Lost in You” by Kye Dreams echoed through her room. She closed her eyes tight...

"I pretended to have a life like Haley’s, but it turns out that Haley’s life wasn’t all that it seemed."

Column: A great white lie

McKenna Cowley October 28, 2019

Editor’s note: this column was named as an excellent personal column in the TAJE Best in Texas contest. It was also named as an honorable mention for opinion in the Press Women of Texas high school...

Level up

Students game for a good cause
McKenna Cowley October 28, 2019

Editor's note: this story won first place for online multimedia packages in the ILPC contest.  Over 60 students attended a video game night at the freshman campus to support disadvantaged kids in Africa....

There is a box for donations outside of the athletic training room, which is in the athletics hall between the main campus and the ninth grade campus.

Athletic trainers collect for a cause

Athletic training program hosts a drive for chemo care bags
McKenna Cowley October 25, 2019

Students have one week left to donate items to the athletic training program for chemo care bags, which will be going to patients at Baylor Scott and White Health Center in Dallas. They need items such...

The firefighting program gathered for a group photo after practicing forcible entry, which included multiple ways to pry open an almost 300 pound door jammed with pieces of wood.

Blazing the way

Firefighting program offers career jump start
McKenna Cowley October 3, 2019

Editor’s note: this story was named as an honorable mention for news in the Press Women of Texas high school contest. It also won third place for print news features in the ILPC contest.  It is 8...

Popdod is on Justin Road in Highland Village. It offers a wide range of unique and customizable drinks.

Review: Popdod

The new soda shop specializes in customizable drinks
McKenna Cowley October 3, 2019

Popdod, a customizable soda shop located in Highland Village, opened to the public on Sept. 5. I visited their store on a few weeks later to see what the new business is bringing to the community.  As...

Senior Aryel Jacques bases her style off of trends from the 90s.

Falling into fashion

Students showcase the latest seasonal trends
McKenna Cowley September 6, 2019

As fall approaches, it’s time for students to swap their shorts and t-shirts for jeans and sweaters. The world of fashion is constantly changing, so navigating seasonal trends can be challenging. For...

A mother’s story

New book reveals a graduate's struggle with depression and his resulting suicide
McKenna Cowley, Contributer October 4, 2017

Carolyn Zahnow still struggles when remembering the worst day of her life -- the day she found her teenage son dead by his own hand. She relives these memories in her recently published book, “Beautiful...