The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque
The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque
The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque
Ilena Peng

Ilena Peng, Staff writer

Ilena Peng is a senior with a love for tea, books and journalism. Formerly, Ilena was one of two editors-in-chief, as well as a news, entertainment and business editor.

All content by Ilena Peng
Life in the lights

Life in the lights

MVHS seniors reflect on the importance of arts in their lives
Ilena Peng and ZaZu Lippert
May 24, 2018
In motion

In motion

Step into the lives of dance team officers
Ilena Peng
May 24, 2018
The things I'll keep

The things I’ll keep

Ilena Peng
May 23, 2018
A Farewell Rally on the football field

A Farewell Rally on the football field

How holding the final rally of the year on the upper field influenced rally culture
Sara Entezar, Akshara Majjiga, and Ilena Peng
May 4, 2018
The new 2018-19 dance team includes two male members

The new 2018-19 dance team includes two male members

Incoming freshman Nikunj Shanker and sophomore Alex Yang discuss their perspectives and experiences on dancing
Ilena Peng
May 1, 2018
Ways to deal with college rejection

Ways to deal with college rejection

Ilena Peng
April 6, 2018
Three busy weeks for the Marquesas

Three busy weeks for the Marquesas

Ilena Peng
March 29, 2018
Conflicting dates for the Marquesas’ USA Dance Nationals and junior prom

Conflicting dates for the Marquesas’ USA Dance Nationals and junior prom

Ilena Peng
March 28, 2018
Academic dishonesty from students’ perspectives

Academic dishonesty from students’ perspectives

Ilena Peng
March 7, 2018
Taking the floor

Taking the floor

Ilena Peng
February 16, 2018
California’s Assembly Bill 918 provides translated ballots for more minority languages

California’s Assembly Bill 918 provides translated ballots for more minority languages

Ilena Peng
February 2, 2018
A different direction: attending a single-gender school

A different direction: attending a single-gender school

Ilena Peng
January 31, 2018
The significance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

The significance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Ilena Peng
December 8, 2017
A look back at the MVHS Marquesas’ winter showcase

A look back at the MVHS Marquesas’ winter showcase

Ilena Peng
December 8, 2017
Kolesov's dog was purchased from a breeder in Morgan Hill. The miniature schnauzer is named Mikki. Photo used with permission of Anna Kolesov.

Finding a home: breeders versus shelters

Ilena Peng
November 15, 2017
Starstruck: my experience watching meteor showers

Starstruck: my experience watching meteor showers

Ilena Peng
November 7, 2017
A student puts cheese on her plate. FHS provided crackers and baguettes for students to spread different types of cheese on. Photo by Ilena Peng.

French Honor Society celebrates the Fête du Fromage

Ilena Peng
November 5, 2017
Entangled ethics: the questions raised by DNA testing

Entangled ethics: the questions raised by DNA testing

Ilena Peng
October 20, 2017
Back in the day: records and CDs

Back in the day: records and CDs

Ilena Peng
October 12, 2017
Homecoming court represents school spirit but not diversity — and that’s okay

Homecoming court represents school spirit but not diversity — and that’s okay

Ilena Peng
October 6, 2017
Meet the Marquesas

Meet the Marquesas

Ilena Peng
September 15, 2017
Snowed in: the danger of hypersensitivity to prejudice

Snowed in: the danger of hypersensitivity to prejudice

Ilena Peng
September 13, 2017
Reputations: protests

Reputations: protests

Ilena Peng
September 13, 2017
Lessons from the Galapagos Islands

Lessons from the Galapagos Islands

Ilena Peng
August 23, 2017
Image licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyshek/18118974610)

The one dollar court case

Ilena Peng
August 18, 2017
Barron and the 2016-2017 Marquesas at Nationals. The team became national kick champions at the competition, which takes place in Anaheim, Calif.

Looking back on a decade of coaching and a lifetime of dancing

Ilena Peng
June 3, 2017
The dangers of driving down Montebello Road

The dangers of driving down Montebello Road

Ilena Peng
May 20, 2017
Review: Bill Nye’s viewers grew up — and “Bill Nye saves the world” reflects that perfectly

Review: Bill Nye’s viewers grew up — and “Bill Nye saves the world” reflects that perfectly

Ilena Peng
May 12, 2017
Cupertino holds 9th annual Earth Day and Arbor Day festival

Cupertino holds 9th annual Earth Day and Arbor Day festival

Ilena Peng
April 23, 2017
MVHS Marquesas hold annual auditions

MVHS Marquesas hold annual auditions

Ilena Peng
April 22, 2017
Washed out: walking the line between Asian and American

Washed out: walking the line between Asian and American

Ilena Peng
April 17, 2017
Memories behind the Holocaust Center for Humanity

Memories behind the Holocaust Center for Humanity

Ilena Peng
April 7, 2017
Defying gender stereotypes through a love of computer science

Defying gender stereotypes through a love of computer science

Ilena Peng
March 30, 2017
Glimpses of the food trucks at MVHS “Off the Grid”

Glimpses of the food trucks at MVHS “Off the Grid”

Ilena Peng
March 20, 2017
Breaking news: poetry brings back what repetitive headlines take away

Breaking news: poetry brings back what repetitive headlines take away

Ilena Peng
March 8, 2017
FUHSD adopts a new resolution to protect student information

FUHSD adopts a new resolution to protect student information

Ilena Peng
March 7, 2017
A chat with Student Advocate Richard Prinz

A chat with Student Advocate Richard Prinz

Ilena Peng
February 25, 2017
The Marquesas compete at the Northern California Dance Classic

The Marquesas compete at the Northern California Dance Classic

Ilena Peng
February 17, 2017
Snapshots of the booths at Club Promo Day

Snapshots of the booths at Club Promo Day

Ilena Peng
February 14, 2017
We are doing it: creating a genderless playing field

We are doing it: creating a genderless playing field

Ilena Peng
February 8, 2017
Comparing energy drinks and coffee

Comparing energy drinks and coffee

Ilena Peng
February 8, 2017
The inspiration behind the design

The inspiration behind the design

Ilena Peng
February 7, 2017
Life with a parent in prison

Life with a parent in prison

Ilena Peng
January 31, 2017
The impact of the Holocaust

The impact of the Holocaust

Ilena Peng
January 27, 2017
Changing education: the potential impacts of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education

Changing education: the potential impacts of Betsy DeVos as secretary of education

Ilena Peng
January 14, 2017
A timeline of President Obama’s time in office

A timeline of President Obama’s time in office

Ilena Peng
January 12, 2017
Taking the high road: A former student's story of substance use

Taking the high road: A former student’s story of substance use

Ilena Peng
December 8, 2016
Looking past the smoke screen: reflections on reporting about high-school substance use

Looking past the smoke screen: reflections on reporting about high-school substance use

Ilena Peng
December 8, 2016
Smoky effects: the impacts of drug use

Smoky effects: the impacts of drug use

Ilena Peng
December 7, 2016
Marquesas hold their annual winter showcase

Marquesas hold their annual winter showcase

Ilena Peng
December 5, 2016
A conversation with Stanford alumnus Donnovan Somera Yisrael

A conversation with Stanford alumnus Donnovan Somera Yisrael

Ilena Peng
November 16, 2016
Student reactions to the Presidential Election

Student reactions to the Presidential Election

Ilena Peng
November 11, 2016
Lessons from change

Lessons from change

Ilena Peng
November 8, 2016
MV Art Career Night brings alumni and parents together to discuss their careers

MV Art Career Night brings alumni and parents together to discuss their careers

Ilena Peng
October 29, 2016
Clowning around

Clowning around

Ilena Peng
October 21, 2016
Reuniting with the Class of 1976

Reuniting with the Class of 1976

Ilena Peng
October 11, 2016
Community bonds over artwork at the annual Art and Wine Festival

Community bonds over artwork at the annual Art and Wine Festival

Ilena Peng
September 23, 2016
It's jacked up: the deal with Apple AirPods

It’s jacked up: the deal with Apple AirPods

Ilena Peng
September 22, 2016
ASB seeks student support to find clarification of school dance rules

ASB seeks student support to find clarification of school dance rules

Ilena Peng
September 18, 2016
Marquesas work on new character routine for new competition season

Marquesas work on new character routine for new competition season

Ilena Peng
September 18, 2016
Statistically driving: looking at the numbers behind student drivers

Statistically driving: looking at the numbers behind student drivers

Ilena Peng
September 16, 2016
A new bill aims to create more specific ethnic categories

A new bill aims to create more specific ethnic categories

Ilena Peng
September 7, 2016
Breaking through the bubble: Crime in Cupertino

Breaking through the bubble: Crime in Cupertino

Ilena Peng
September 3, 2016
Teachers adjust to new classes as students adjust to the new year

Teachers adjust to new classes as students adjust to the new year

Ilena Peng
August 22, 2016
The Miss USA 2016 pageant begins to resemble a political debate with its onstage questions

The Miss USA 2016 pageant begins to resemble a political debate with its onstage questions

Ilena Peng
June 8, 2016
Students respond to the new UC prompts

Students respond to the new UC prompts

Ilena Peng
May 19, 2016
When every word counts: new changes in UC prompts gather mixed reactions

When every word counts: new changes in UC prompts gather mixed reactions

Ilena Peng
May 18, 2016
Campus question: Why were the A-building bathrooms closed today?

Campus question: Why were the A-building bathrooms closed today?

Ilena Peng
May 16, 2016
MV Tri-M holds benefit concert with Homestead Tri-M

MV Tri-M holds benefit concert with Homestead Tri-M

Ilena Peng
April 30, 2016
Leadership’s “Bring Your Own Banana Day” attracts a large crowd

Leadership’s “Bring Your Own Banana Day” attracts a large crowd

Ilena Peng
April 28, 2016
‘Hamilton’ awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama

‘Hamilton’ awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Drama

Ilena Peng
April 23, 2016
MV JSA Presents: A Career in Politics with Ro Khanna

MV JSA Presents: A Career in Politics with Ro Khanna

Ilena Peng
April 11, 2016
Dance team holds annual tryouts

Dance team holds annual tryouts

Ilena Peng
April 8, 2016
Campus Question: Why were there no bells on campus after announcements today?

Campus Question: Why were there no bells on campus after announcements today?

Ilena Peng
April 7, 2016
Musical Musings: Popular culture

Musical Musings: Popular culture

Ilena Peng
April 6, 2016
Made up of makeup: using special effects makeup as an art form

Made up of makeup: using special effects makeup as an art form

Ilena Peng
April 6, 2016
Students recall memorable pranks

Students recall memorable pranks

Ilena Peng
April 1, 2016
At their annual dance camp, the Marquesas have fun while improving their skills. Pictures like this one posted by the Marquesas' official Instagram include the hashtag #spicyMARQUESAdillas.

The Marquesas share their quirky team traditions

Ilena Peng
March 13, 2016
A guide to shopping for procrastinating prom-goers

A guide to shopping for procrastinating prom-goers

Ilena Peng
March 12, 2016
Musical Musings: Social justice warrior

Musical Musings: Social justice warrior

Ilena Peng
March 10, 2016
EDM genre spurs rave culture

EDM genre spurs rave culture

Ilena Peng
February 24, 2016
Junior State of America hopes to bring exposure to political careers

Junior State of America hopes to bring exposure to political careers

Ilena Peng
February 6, 2016
Black History Month: Black History Month in MVHS’ curriculum

Black History Month: Black History Month in MVHS’ curriculum

Ilena Peng
February 5, 2016
Black History Month

Black History Month

Ilena Peng
February 5, 2016
The accidental vegetarian

The accidental vegetarian

Ilena Peng
February 5, 2016
Musical Musings: More than Miss Congeniality

Musical Musings: More than Miss Congeniality

Ilena Peng
February 3, 2016
Star Wars Rally Week Dress Up Day 3: Wookie Wednesday

Star Wars Rally Week Dress Up Day 3: Wookie Wednesday

Ilena Peng
January 27, 2016
Star Wars Spirit Week and Rally

Star Wars Spirit Week and Rally

Ilena Peng
January 26, 2016
Actor who played Severus Snape dies of cancer

Actor who played Severus Snape dies of cancer

Ilena Peng
January 17, 2016
What do food-savvy students eat to survive finals week?

What do food-savvy students eat to survive finals week?

Ilena Peng
December 13, 2015
Reel school: What movies are shown in class and why

Reel school: What movies are shown in class and why

Ilena Peng
December 12, 2015
Illustration by Ilena Peng

Musical Musings: Holiday spirited away

Ilena Peng
December 12, 2015
A guilt-free Thanksgiving: an environmental and health-conscious meal

A guilt-free Thanksgiving: an environmental and health-conscious meal

Ilena Peng
November 26, 2015
Illustration by Ilena Peng

Just another Friday

Ilena Peng
November 18, 2015
Celebrities cross over into political world

Celebrities cross over into political world

Ilena Peng
November 18, 2015
Citizens of Laramie held a parade to commemorate Shepard. The actors painted their own banner to use in the show. Photo by Justin Kim

Drama’s “The Laramie Project” moves audience with the true story of Matthew Shepard

Ilena Peng
November 8, 2015
Used with permission of Apanuba Mahmood

Artists take their work beyond a traditional paper canvas

Ilena Peng
November 6, 2015
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