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Journalistic Work

My foundation in journalism began with my high school newspaper and has continued at college through our campus lifestyle magazine, yearbook and my courses at a Journalism major. These experiences have developed my skills in interviewing, storytelling and deadline-driven reporting. In this section, you'll find a collection of published pieces that reflect my variety of writing abilities, from snappy reviews and thoughtful opinion columns to long-form features and breaking news. 

Her Campus •

e.l.f.'s 2025 Impact Report Highlights Some Seriously Major Wins

For years, e.l.f. has been the go-to brand for affordable, high-quality makeup — from the viral Halo Glow Liquid Filter to fan-favorite Power Grip Primer. But there’s much more to our favorite beauty brand than their must-have, budget-friendly dupes. On Oct. 28, e.l.f. released its fourth annual Impact Report built around the theme of “the every” — a celebration of community connection, inclusivity, and what the brand calls being “bold disruptors with kind hearts.
Her Campus •

Some Neutrogena Makeup Wipes Were Recalled Due To An Infection Risk

If Neutrogena’s makeup remover wipes are your go-to at the end of a long day, you might need to double-check your stash — a batch of the makeup wipes has been recalled due to bacterial contamination. Here’s everything you need to know about the Neutrogena makeup wipes recall and how to check if your wipes have been affected. The Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes have been one of the brand’s long-time bestsellers. Kenvue Brands LLC, Neutrogena’s parent company, voluntarily...
Her Campus •

For Olympic Hurdler Jasmine Jones, Being An Athlete Was Always A Family Affair

Long before she ever stepped onto the Olympic track, Jasmine Jones imagined what it would feel like to compete on the world’s biggest stage — the crowd, the pressure, and the chance to compete against the fastest athletes on the planet. “I remember watching the 2012 Olympics on the TV in my grandparents’ house and I remember thinking, yeah, I want to be there one day,” Jones tells Her Campus in an exclusive interview. Twelve years later, that dream came true when Jones made her Olympic debut at...
Her Campus •

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 •

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...
Live Oak Communications •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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 •

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...
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