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Journalism Fellowship

Authors

Sophie Nguyen

Rockville, MD

Advocating for the accessibility of educational equity and resources. Ensuring that the student voice is never left out in the conversation. Creating long-lasting solutions that have a true impact on future generations.

Alana Valladares

Boulder, CO

Using the power of words to advance social justice.

Belan Yeshigeta

Arlington, VA

Passionate about creating equitable school systems and promoting youth advocacy and civic engagement. Avid reader, dedicated reality TV fan and overly enthusiastic coffee drinker.

Jace Reese

Alton, MO

Lover of Jesus and all things kindness. Passionate believer that we were all made for more. Runs on all things coffee.

Yamira Patterson

St. Petersburg, FL

Senior at St. Petersburg High School. Passionate about education equity and counter-storytelling.

Wei Ni Zhang

Bronx, NY

High school senior from Queens, New York. Cares deeply about educational equity and minority representation. Passionate about using storytelling to speak on these issues and bring about social change. Enjoys exploring the city, playing basketball with her twin brother and reading.

Shreya Mehta

Richland, WA

Hopeful in the possibility of schools to support and educate self-actualized students who are deeply involved in their communities. Strong believer in passing the mic to marginalized groups to share their own stories. Usually thinking about cats.

Ore Oni

Overland Park, KS

Committed to empowering youth and being a catalyst of change in areas of need. Believes that impact starts with passion and is ready to advocate for the overlooked and underserved. Knows that the time is now for us to create the future we envision.

Norah Laughter

Bowling Green, KY

Passionate about ensuring education justice in Kentucky and the nation through storytelling. Initiating conversations about student voice, climate science and art. Avid poet with lots of playlists and an affinity for dad movies.

Michelle Amponsah

Liverpool, NY

Passionate about the impact of honest storytelling and advocacy on educational inequity. Slightly addicted to boba, cats and Toni Morrison novels.

Hannah Cluroe

Chandler, AZ

Advocate for education, empathy and equality. Organizing to create a better, more compassionate world. Lover of animals, music and travel.

Demarques Barros

Westminster, CO

Everyone has a right to be open-minded, curious and adaptable. As a student there is no reason to be limited or tokenized, and for that we are creating radical changes. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Tiffany Nguyen

Brooklyn, NY

Dedicated to using the process of storytelling to advocate for a better world for all. Passionate about including the youth in the conversation about change. Usually contemplating the meaning of life after reading a profound line in a book.

Carolyn Dorantes

Salinas, CA

Passionate about giving youth a voice and telling their stories. Hopes to inspire other youth to speak their truth and be leaders in their communities. Loves crocheting, reading, listening to Taylor Swift, and discovering small, local shops.

Gemard Guery

Milford, CT

Passionate about using journalism to help make schools a more inclusive place for all students. Usually listening to music, reading novels or watching Ted Talks. Lover of dance, orange juice and This Is Us.

Emmie Rose

Wilmington, NC

I enjoy bringing a positive attitude towards students advocating in the educational system. Through writing, I hope to inspire youth to speak up and make a difference in their community. You can find me at my dance studio or on the beach!

Sabrina Thaler

Essex, MD

Curious about how history, anthropology and everyday stories shape our political and educational landscapes. Uplifting diverse perspectives through advocacy and civic engagement. Lover of bookstore cafés, music of all genres and doodling in notebook margins.

Journey Artis

Lancaster, CA

Advocate and strong believer of long lasting socio-economical change and justice being brought to those in marginalized communities. Loves Starbucks, swimming and self-care.

Ayana Smith

New York, NY

Student Voice's Storytelling Program Coordinator, Ayana works to ensure that aspiring changemakers, journalists and storytellers can make a meaningful impact within their communities.

Vignesh Karthik

Hattiesburg, MS

Always writing, performing, and speaking to shed light on injustices within his school and state. Knowing that no belief is ever complete, he continually tests his values through Speech and Debate and Journalism. Passionate about creating a more inclusive education system and telling the unheard stories. Loves playing tennis, programming and anime.

Nyasha Musoni

Lexington, KY

Active in encouraging student voice throughout my state and within my own school looking at issues of access and meaningful communication and representation of a variety of student primarily through writing and public presentation. An advocate for real truths and active movement to ensure quality educations for all students. A lover of true crime television, swimming, and crafting.

Ria Srivastava

Folsom, CA

Always envisioning a better world. Passionate about radical politics, abolition, and liberation. Loves dogs, spooky things and Angela Davis.

Gabriella Gonzáles

Farmington, NM

High school student & activist working to identify the intersections between racial and academic equity, modern mental health, feminism, and youth civic engagement on a policy level in the New Mexico state legislature. Enthusiastic about American civil liberties, law, journalism, the political process, and West Wing's CJ Cregg. Can usually be found debating my dad in the family living room or talking about women's history.

Cody Chou

Houston, TX

Working to make STEM education more accessible in the Spring School District with my Science Olympiad team by decreasing education barriers and advocating for better funding related to resources, classroom materials, and extracurriculars. I'm passionate about social change, advocating for underrepresented communities, cooking, and reading.

Derinique Williams

Chicago, IL

Dedicated to amplifying the voices of the unheard. Lover of music, yoga and warm hugs.

Anvi Bhagavatula

Orange County, CA

Working to increase the voices of those who have the respected to do so, in order to help the world right now. Passionate about ending cultural appropriation. And adding to human right. Also continuing to make untold stories heard, and educate others about topics that most don’t know about. Ready to learn about topics I’m uneducated on. Loves writing, making music, reading and watching Netflix.

Ali Caudle

Missoula, MT

Ali discovered the power of journalism through work in her community. As co-editor of her school paper, she encourages students to read the news by prioritizing a strong digital presence. She's passionate about politics and civic engagement, and founded a project to interview candidates for local office on the issues youth care about. She's also a leader on and off the field, as captain of her school's JV soccer team and a member of the Varsity swim team. When she's not advocating for social justice or writing to amplify silenced voices, you can find her baking or dancing to Taylor Swift songs.

Cindy Chen

Caldwell, NJ

Sparking conversations about race to create meaningful change in the world around us. Passionate about writing stories to express my views, convey information, and form human connections. Loves ice skating, reading, and listening to music.

Lena McEachern

San Diego, CA

Teenage storyteller working to shed light on overlooked voices and perspectives by championing positive representation for all in the media. Loves pen-palling, biking baking and Frank Ocean.

Martine Dosa

Syracuse, NY

Excited about using values of empathy and justice to reimagine more equitable classrooms. Big fan of Carole King's Tapestry album, hikes and politics podcasts.

Mia DiLorenzo

Minneapolis, MN

Mia DiLorenzo is a junior at Edina High School with a passion for journalism and any other forms of storytelling. She works on her high school newspaper as the Head Staff Writer, works with her state legislators on various bills, and organizes with the Minnesota Youth Climate Strike. Mia's work has been published in Washington Post's "The Lily" and in Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine. When not engaging with journalism, she can be found reading various works of fiction, listening to David Bowie, or rewatching Spotlight. A writing enthusiast, she welcomes any opportunity to further practice and improve her literary skills. Mia is incredibly excited to work alongside Student Voice and other young people from around the country.

Kiyah Harris

Houston, TX

Highly invested in strengthening youth voices in every aspect of education and politics. Passionate about enhancing the education system, entrepreneurship and exploring finance!

Annika Grant Halvorson

Pelham, NY

Wants to help accurately portray the knowledge and educated opinions of teenagers in the Pelham School District by creating a platform where students can express their view on real world topics such as politics, culture, and sexual health. Volleyball player, member of her school's student council and lover of TV.

Ore James-Ayantunji

Tomball, TX

Supports creative storytelling and accessible media. Lover of pop culture podcasts and NSYNC's holiday album.

Opal Besaw

Evergreen, MT

Passionate about disability advocacy and helping others find their voice. Believes that everyone should have a chance to make friends, have access to appropriate services and go wherever they please in their community. Enjoy reading and writing fiction, collecting handmade teddy bears and listening to Taylor Swift and other artists.

Emmanuela Sepetia

The Bronx, NY

Passionate youth activist fighting for educational equity who believes in the power stories hold, whether they are known or yet to be told. Interested in psychology and science. Loves books, music and baking.

Ndidi Opara

Kirkland, WA

Chasing a change-oriented world one community at a time. Lover of all things music, journalism, and fashion.

Rahmat Adelakun

Providence, RI

A high school sophomore working to shine light on systematic racism and harassment. Passionate about gender equality, body positivity and healthy mindsets. A lover of Christ and a daughter of Zion. Enjoys singing, acting, dancing and fashion.

Jeongin Kim

Baltimore, MD

Learning to be a better ally and friend every day. Writing to eliminate barriers that make politics inaccessible to the working class. Fan of slice-of-life and surrealist movies, garage rock and eating The Rich.

Joyce Kim

La Canada, CA

A high school junior from La Canada, California. An avid reader and writer for most of her life, she's always found both solace and empowerment in the act of creating and sharing her work. Growing up in a small, mostly privileged town and observing the disparities between different racial and socioeconomic groups, she seeks to remedy those consequential gaps in the educational system, as well as uplift the overlooked voices of minority groups within her community through her storytelling. When she’s not absorbed in literature or furiously typing away on her computer, she can be found drawing, trying to teach herself a new language, taking strolls around her neighborhood, or just chatting away with friends and family.

Brandon Yam

Flushing, NY

Believes in culturally responsive curriculum, educational equity and racial and socioeconomic diversity in public schools. Sipping passion fruit green tea, binge-watching "Schitt's Creek" and devouring Chalkbeat NY after a long week of storytelling.

Purnata Subah

Brooksville, FL

Devoted to building a better future. An extrovert with a passion for social issues, music and TV shows.

Asher Gladstone

Syosset, NY

Loves history and politics almost as much as Kurt Vonnegut novels.

Arli Moyao-Ramirez

Bronx, NY

Loves to try new things and take on any challenge. Passionate about making sure voices are being heard and encouraging others to join the cause

Shreya Joshi

The Woodlands, TX

Passionate about public speaking, communicating and taking naps. I also make really good brownies.

Scott Lee

Los Angeles, CA

A big believer in the power of communication. If not writing, out exploring the city.

Mina Freeburg

Minneapolis, MN

Insinuating a revolution in our public education system, sociopolitical climate, and STEM fields. Avid lover of the arts and all things science.

Leigh Walden

Larkspur, CO

Fervent believer in meaningful conversation to provoke change. Always ready to talk politics, Parks and Rec., and ice cream flavors.

Laya Reddy

Vernon Hills, IL

Excited to create dialogue about resource equity in education. Enjoys munching on bell peppers and devouring poetry.

Kristen D'Souza

Rochester, MI

Julianna Russ

Fort Thomas, KY

The windows to the soul are not eyes, but words. Writer, reader, thinker, believer, but most importantly, storyteller.

Hawa Hamidou Tabayi

Salem, MA

Interested in educating and breaking down stigma within the public health community by communicating scientific ideas that urge for change, growth and empathy.

Fatemeh Zahra Yarali

Murray, KY

It makes me happy to see others happy. I will never stop trying to make the world a happier place — for all.

Emily Bach

Oakton, VA

Endiya Griffin

San Diego, CA

Youth storyteller and advocate who enjoys writing about social justice and identity-based issues with the ultimate intent of breaking down barriers and changing

Clara S. Richards

Charlotte, NC

Catherine Liu

Sioux Falls, SD

Seeking to improve and inform about opportunities for students. Big supporter of stationery, animated movies, and Chow Chows.

Megan Simmons

New York City, NY

Big fan of civic education, empathy, and theatre. Believer in the power of young people to change the world.

Haanya Ijaz

Dublin, OH

You’ll probably find me with a book in one hand and Krispy Kreme in the other.

Salomee Levy

Henderson, NV

Loves reading poetry and painting.

Ranen Miao

Short Hills, NJ

Passionate about amplifying the voices of young people, and getting them a spot at the table. He founded the Youth Progressive Policy Group of New Jersey to lower the voting age, and currently edits for his school newspaper’s Opinions and Editorials section.

Mary Polupan

Short Hills, NJ

If America runs on Dunkin, humans run on empathy. Hoping to catalyze connections between people in order to build strong democracies through vulnerability and openmindedness. A lover of discourse, dad jokes and delicious coffee.

Krithi Sankar

Saratoga, CA

Assistant Director for SASHA (Students Against Sexual Harrassment and Assault), Multimedia Editor for the Saratoga Falcon, first generation American, lover of cheetos and activism (not necessarily in that order)

Juliette Reyes

Parkland, FL

Proud Debater, writer, and activitst. Prefers nice long weekends with tea and the Economist

Charlotte Barron

Sewanee, TN

Deep lover of podcasts, chai tea, and Billy Joel. Trying to make an impact through the power of the written word and pun-related protest signs.

Ry Lei

Belmont, CA

As a genderqueer Asian-American, Ry is extremely passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy — especially in regards to schools — with a focus on queer Asian-American history. They’ve also been involved with local youth advocacy groups, including their local March for Our Lives chapter, and is always looking for more ways to be involved as a young person.

Krasimir Staykov

Lexington, KY

Student Voice's Storytelling Program Coordinator, Krasimir works to uplift student experiences through narrative and is a 2018-19 alum of the Journalism Fellowship. He is a huge fan of sticker collections and collaborative Spotify playlists.

Lillian Holmberg

Topeka, KS

Lover of journalism, photography, and musicals.

Sadie Bograd

Lexington, KY

Horse girl and proud of it. Has strong opinions about fonts.

Karla Sanford

Smyrna, GA

Believes writing is the most powerful mode of storytelling. Enjoys writing prose fiction and non-fiction. Hopes to be a screenwriter-director one day!

Maya Green

Charleston, SC

Passionate about educational and environmental equity. Prefers muffins to cupcakes and the original Law & Order to any and all spinoffs.

Sanaa Kahloon

Lexington, KY

Passionate about amplifying the voices of unheard students. Loves photography, advocacy, and any form of chocolate.

Chris Maximos

Palo Alto, CA

Seeking to create the next generation of student storytellers.