Her Campus • September 23 2025

12 Prints Inspired By Belly’s Paris Apartment To Add To Your Dorm Walls

If you were anything like me, you may have spent The Summer I Turned Pretty finale half-watching the drama unfold and half-pausing to admire Belly’s Paris apartment walls. Between the cherry and floral prints and whimsical French phrases, h...

Her Campus • September 18 2025

‘Wicked: For Good’ Soundtrack: Release Date, New Songs, & More Info

The Wicked: For Good soundtrack is officially dropping on Nov. 21, the same day as the highly-anticipated sequel hits theaters. Continuing right where we left off in Wicked part one, released Nov. 22, 2024, the follow-up will tell the story of Act II of the original Broadway musical with even more magic and emotion. And of course, one of the biggest parts of a musical is the music itself. Here’s everything we know about the Wicked: For Good soundtrack.This time, the soundtrack is extra special b...

Her Campus • September 16 2025

Coachella 2026: Lineup, How To Get Tickets, & More Info

Coachella is calling, once again. The 2026 Coachella lineup was announced on Tuesday, Sept. 16, so it’s safe to say that the countdown to April’s hottest weekend is officially on. And yes, Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter will be making their much-hoped-for appearances, alongside a stacked list of pop icons and rising artists ready to light up the desert.  The festival will run its usual two weekends in 2026: April 10-12 and April 17-19 in Indio, California, where the Empire Polo Club will tr...

Her Campus • September 10 2025

You Might've Missed This 'Sabrina' Reference In The Latest 'TSITP' Episode

Spoiler alert: Spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 10 ahead. Can you believe we’re just one episode away from The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 finale? I’ve pretty much given up on trying to predict what’s coming and at this point, literally anything could happen next. But could we be missing some sneaky hints about how it all will end? There’s definitely one thing many viewers might’ve missed — the Sabrina references in the penultimate episode of the show.In the whirlwin...

Her Campus • September 9 2025

This Tinder x LoveShackFancy Collab Includes A Limited-Edition Merch Collection

LoveShackFancy always seems to nail their dreamy collabs, but this might just be their flirtiest yet. To celebrate their upcoming fragrance Secret Crush, who better to team up with than Tinder, the go-to app for romantic sparks? This Tinder x LoveShackFancy collab is every romance lover’s dream. Complete with a limited-edition merch collection featuring pajama sets, tanks and a cosmetic bag, every detail is designed to capture the thrill of first-date butterflies and late-night texts. And, if yo...

Academic • May 11 2025

It Takes a Village: Burlington staple restaurant celebrates 40 years of community, food and family

Written for JOU2500: Journalism in a Free Society News-Feature story assignment

Live Oak Communications • April 10 2025

Less is More: How Brands are Finding Advertising Success in “Micro-Influencers”

As if there aren’t enough influencers flooding our social media feeds promoting the latest “must-have” product that promises to add shine to our hair or smooth out our skin, a new term has emerged on the social media scene — micro-influencers. Everyone knows that content creators are essentially walking advertisements, and the bigger their following, the greater their influence. However, maybe it’s true that bigger isn’t always better. Brands have recently found success in utilizing these “micro...

The Edge Magazine • December 4 2024

What it Means to be a Dreamer

Print article written for The Edge Magazine Volume 16, Issue 1: "Blurred Reality." In addition to writing my personal article, I edited all other featured articles in the issue.

Phi Psi Cli: Elon University Yearbook • May 25 2024

AKPsi: More Than a Business Fraternity

Article written for the 2023-24 Elon University Yearbook

The Edge Magazine • December 13 2023

The Gift of Wellness

Temperatures are dropping, the semester’s come to a close and the holidays are inching closer each day. Whether you’re curating your own wishlist or shopping for the perfect gifts for your friends and family who “don’t need anything,” here are some ideas that are budget and wellness-friendly all in one.

The Edge Magazine • November 23 2023

The Science Behind Facial Yoga

Gua sha, jade rolling and ice rolling are being taken to the next level with the latest face-improvement trend: facial yoga. The best part is that there’s no additional purchase needed, just time. All it takes is a few simple stretches each day, like eye circles and forehead lifts, to slowly improve circulation and lymphatic drainage and release overall tension in the facial glands and muscles, according to an article by Vida Glow. Though facial yoga as a term is currently trending, the strategi...

The Edge Magazine • November 1 2023

I'm Not Sorry: The importance of living life unapologetically.

Walking too close to someone on the way to class, taking a little too long to run up to the door someone’s holding for you, reaching for a fork at the dining hall at the same time — all minuscule slip-ups, right? Yet “sorry” always seems to slip out for all of the above. Have you noticed how our instinct is to apologize for the slightest mess-ups or day-to-day interactions? And if you’re constantly in a mindset of guilt and apology, what is that doing to you and your confidence subconsciously? W...

The Harbinger Online • February 20 2023

A Sweet, Sweet Soiree

Kate Smith Soiree, a self-proclaimed “Luxe Boutique Bakery,” opened in downtown Overland Park on Feb. 14 — a fitting date for the bakery’s pink-filled aesthetic. This marks award-winning local business owner Kate Smith’s second bakery location, her first located in the Lenexa Public Market since 2019.

The Harbinger Online • January 23 2023

Truth in Tragedy

In wake of recent sexual assault allegations against an influential director in the Kansas City theater community, actors, directors and producers alike are grieving the loss of a mentor and sparking conversations around conduct policies in professional environments.

Making national headlines as “Kansas City theatre’s worst-kept secret,” the 30 years of alleged sexual abuse, grooming and manipulation by now-former Coterie Children’s Theater Creative Director Jeff Church surfaced at the end of...

The Harbinger Online • December 7 2022

Soundtrack of the Seniors

With every Snapchat and iMessage notification that lights up his phone screen, senior Brennan Montalbano really only cares about one — Google Forms: “you received a new response to your form.” It means someone’s just submitted a song request to add to his “Legendary Senior Playlist.” And that he’s one step closer to curating a playlist featuring a song from every member of the senior class.

The diverse Spotify playlist featuring songs ranging from “My Eyes Adore You” by Frankie Valli to “Sav...

The Harbinger Online • November 18 2022

Chili for Charity

The junior class Student Council members raised $352 from their Chili Cook Off on Nov. 16 as part of the annual Can Drive fundraisers for the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. 

Six teams ranging three to six members entered their homemade chilis for a $25 competition fee. Chili tasters paid $5 to sample and vote for their favorite chili, and a jar was available for additional donations. Junior Class Secretary Emma Kuhlman estimates that around 30 additional samplers attended. Competing and sam...

The Harbinger Online • November 2 2022

Cafes with a Cause: Local coffee shops that give back to the community in various ways

Though Starbucks and Dunkin’ drive-thrus are convenient, I can’t help but feel guilty dropping a daily six dollars going straight to the big corporations. Luckily, Kansas City is the hub of local coffee spots, and it’s nice to know your caffeine indulgence is going towards a good cause, too. 

As a caffeine addict constantly on the search for the latest coffee spot, I discovered these two, new-to-town cafes with missions that go beyond building the next multi-million coffee corporation. 

Of...

The Harbinger Online • October 19 2022

Greetings from Kansas: A road trip review of unique locations in Kansas

It isn’t easy to wear the “I’m from Kansas” label with pride. Cows, tornadoes and the Wizard of Oz may not be as boast-worthy as New York’s skyscrapers or California’s beaches, but I sought out some Kansas oddities and attractions worth bragging about.

No other state has the world’s largest ball of twine, or the second largest electric shovel. And there’s definitely nowhere else with a museum dedicated entirely to barbed wire.

If you find yourself bored over the upcoming three-day weekend...

The Harbinger Online • September 22 2022

The Pressure for Prescriptions

Students and a psychiatrist weigh pros and cons of medicating mental illnesses and its surrounding stigma

The Harbinger Online • September 8 2022

Bathroom Breakdown: East’s new gender neutral bathrooms elicit mixed reactions from the student body

East’s two gender-neutral bathrooms were completed shortly before the first day of school, and have since received differing reactions from students and teachers. 

The plan for the privacy bathrooms — as well as additional seating areas in place of lockers and collaborative spaces — was passed in Oct. 2020 as part of a $264 million bond issued by SMSD to schools around the district. $4.5 million was allocated to East for the renovation. Currently, the building addition and locker replacement...

The Harbinger Online • March 9 2022

Choreographing the Culture: Grupo Folklórico Izcalli is an all-women Mexican dance group started by an East student

Maintain the pacing  — not too fast, not too slow. Watch your skirt work. Tune in to the music. Let it all flow together. And whatever you do, don’t let your smile drop. 

Junior May Valdez’s mind is a jumble of thoughts as she tightens the strap of her dance shoes and straightens each skirt ruffle, mounting the stage of that weekend’s Folklórico performance  — a highly-choreographed, traditional Mexican dance style consisting of tap and ballet with an emphasis on local folk culture.

But Ma...

The Harbinger Online • January 14 2022

The “What If’s?”: Answers to a few current and frequently asked questions in the East community

The Kansas State Legislature passed legislation last session which severely limits the ability of districts to use remote instruction. For that reason, the district office expects that remote instruction would only be used as a last resort, and not as a strategy for combating high rates of COVID-19 infection. 

Peres confirmed that he’s not aware of any plan to go back to a remote experience as the administrators remain committed to keeping students in-person. If conditions were to worsen, Web...

The Harbinger Online • November 17 2021

A Symbol for Inclusion: The Gay-Straight Alliance is now called “Plus Club”

When the bell rings every Wednesday afternoon, junior Sam Fritz and freshman Ella Weber rush to prepare to present to their weekly roll call question as nearly 30 students trickle in to room 524. As everyone shares their answers to the various questions — ranging from their favorite part of fall to least favorite state — junior Ayla Özkan keeps track of everyone’s preferred names and pronouns on a Google Spreadsheet as they introduce themselves.


Since 2010, queer and LGBTQ-allying students ha...

The Harbinger Online • October 18 2021

Don’t Mind My Shoulders

Seeking modifications to outdated and unfair dress codes, student-led protests have rippled across the country along with discussions rising in the East community. While some believe dress codes are unjust and limiting to self-expression, others view the dress code as inadequate in enforcing any regulations at all. 

East’s current dress code, adopted Nov. 24, 2014, is found under the “Student Dress and Personal Appearance” section of the SME Code of Conduct. Chains, clothing depicting gangs,...