Louie Lopez wanted to escape corporate work as a welder, a field he worked in for over a decade, but he never quite knew how. Over time, Lopez thought about how he could have used his cultivated skills to employ himself, and it eventually came to him: a taco truck. Lopez wasn’t always a local: he grew up in Chicago, with a family who made him learn to cook. Because of this, his mother and sisters brought him up to be great at cooking authentic Mexican food with a twist: it was all Chicago street style, and he wanted to bring it to Jenks.

For 11 months out of the year, six days a week–roughly 600 hours total–Jenks JV Pom practices for their biggest competition. They persevere through concussions, broken bones, emotional breakdowns, and worse, working towards one single goal: to bring a National Champion jacket and gold medal home to Tulsa.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, plenty of broke high school students, like me, are looking for heartfelt yet affordable gifts for their partners. As hand-made gifts are the most endearing and heartfelt of all, I decided to make three inexpensive DIY gifts. I will be making Heart Gummies, a 53 Reasons Why I Love You book, and Origami Flowers, I will also include four alternative crafts. Disclaimer: I am not at all a skilled origamist, so the time it takes for me to do the craft will be much less for those with better skills. 

When I was younger, Valentine’s Day was all about cards, candy, and colorful banners. I used to love the holiday, it was a magical time of pink hearts and sparkles--you didn’t need anyone else, just the company of your heart and maybe a few extra friends.

Brennan Garrott, one of many seniors at Jenks High School, is a self-made singer-songwriter in the making. His passion for music began when started playing in the Jenks Orchestra, and what he did not yet know was that he'd eventually choose to expand his musical endeavors outside of school and extracurricular activities.

Jack Davis, a name you might not be familiar with, but someone who might be one of the most interesting people at our school. Davis has recently begun his short but already successful career in the sport of Bull Riding. Davis, a 17-year-old Junior, has his own farm where he raises cattle, and frequently works every weekend. Davis stumbled upon this sport one day when he was out on the farm with his father.

A lot of people know of him, but they don’t really know him. Meet Raymond Jiang, a senior at Jenks High School. A highly accomplished and intelligent individual that serves in the community and is a leader in and out of school.

Watch this video to learn how to make my all-time favorite snack, Patacones!

For my entire life I have stayed pure, until now, until this very moment. My brain has never been blurred by its means, and my eyes have never been burned by this form of unholy entertainment. But now, it’s all coming to an end. I am going to have to watch some Hallmark Christmas movies.

Christmas day is about giving, receiving, friends and family, but like all other days, we have to eat on Christmas (aside from advent chocolates, candy canes and cookies). But because nobody wants to spend their holiday cooking meals, I've compiled a list of restaurants that will do it for you. Included is Mexican, Brazilian, upscale and casual cuisine.

Snuggled up on my couch with the fireplace's comforting heat, I suddenly desired to turn on my favorite Christmas movie and indulge myself in a cup of hot chocolate. Christmas time is my favorite season of the year: and the best part is the festive traditions that come along with it. Watching Christmas movies, ice skating, seeing Christmas lights, and of course, drinking hot chocolate. As a certified hot Chocolate lover, I wanted to share my love and knowledge of this fantastic chocolatey drink with others. My goal is to go to stores near me to try and find the best hot cocoa to make from the comfort of my home.

Christmas is all about being merry, from the red and green lights to the families coming into town. Once we get all those family members sitting around in the living room, the temptation is to turn on the TV, but what to watch? Christmas movies are funny and original, but they're also starting to get old. Every Christmas is different and new, why not change it up this year and watch a Batman Movie instead?

Ice cream is a delicious treat that people usually enjoy on a hot summer day, but why not in the winter? In this review, I’m gonna be looking at 3 random ice cream shops in Jenks, examining their winter ice cream specials, and discussing their flavor, texture, and overall quality. So grab a spoon and let's dive into this tasty review!

Dumpling making is ingrained in my blood. The skill has been passed down for generations within my family line. What’s even more ingrained in our souls is dumpling eating. From chicken and shrimp dumplings to the new vegetable dumplings on our family menu after my dad became vegan, my family's diet consists of 30% dumplings. This past Thanksgiving, instead of the traditional meal you see in most American households, my mother’s side of the family decided to make wontons together.

There’s something about coming together around a table, carefully spooning filling into wrappers, folding each packet of edible gold into perfection, that makes a dumpling so much more satisfying than any other dish. However, this task takes time and skill. As we approach the winter season, I am in search of a restaurant that will provide a similar “homemade” factor for days I don’t feel like making dumplings myself.

On a rainy Wednesday night, I attended et al.’s weekly pop-up, Dumpling Night, at Foolish Things Coffee Downtown alongside two of the most experienced dumpling connoisseurs I know - my brother and my dad. As we tasted selected dishes off the Dumpling Night menu, I rated each dish based on price and taste.

That time of the year is here again, and you may get some Deja Vu. One of our previous Torch Staff members, Aaron Seibert, attempted the same story, and if I was the judge, he would definitely be getting coal for Christmas. Not having “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande on the list is just a shame. But, enough of the past- let's focus on the future! These songs were in the Top 15, hand-picked from the Spotify Album “Christmas Hits.” This is my recreation (in fact a better version) of the Top 15 Spotify Christmas songs. Yes, there may be some on this list that you don’t like, and I’m sorry for that I really am with all my heart….

Even though I’ve never been the most avid listener of Taylor Swift, I have been surrounded by Swifties and forced to hear of their undying love of the icon. However, the release of her new album, “Midnights,” piqued my interest, so, I decided to write a review of it, using the help of my Swiftie friend, Taryn Lahr, to give me more insight. I will rate the songs based on their lyric depth, tempo, significance, and overall vibe.

Marvel movies have been a staple in the cinematic industry for multiple decades. From Iron Man to Endgame, fans are constantly craving more from the multi-billion dollar franchise. One of the most popular movies made by Marvel, making over $1.3 billion in box office revenue, is Black Panther. After the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel created a sequel to the film. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was released on November 11th, and it’s picking up popularity rapidly.

Do you cry on your birthday? Do you wear thrifted sweaters in August waiting for the first autumn leaf to drop? Has your addiction to Pinterest started to take over your life? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Or Taylor Swift Tickets. It is Winter: every major tote-bag toting Sad Girl’s favorite time of the year!

This season, we have come out of hibernation for a chai latte and some sad sad songs. As a Sad Girlᵀᴹ myself, I have compiled a list of the best songs to add to your own holiday playlist to get your cry on. So dawn your favorite wired headphones and Converse, and follow along!

The College Football landscape has been tossed, turned, and flipped upside down since the beginning of the season in August. Preseason playoff hopefuls such as Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Michigan State, find themselves unranked four months later, only to be replaced by surprises of the season such as Washington, Kansas State, and LSU. However, the previous three teams mentioned are out in terms of a shot at the College Football playoff. As an avid watcher of football for the past decade, I have culminated a deeper level of understanding for the game. In this article, I’m going to be analyzing and predicting the current ranked Top 6 Teams leading up to the College Football Playoff.