July 16 – 25, 2024 Online
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• About the Institute
• Meet the Class of 2024-25
About the Institute
SPLC is proud to host the annual New Voices Student Leaders Institute, a free online program for high school students to improve their leadership and organizing skills, develop their role as leaders within the New Voices movement, and identify the best strategy to expand student press freedom in their communities.
Participants in the all-online program will be joined by SPLC staff, New Voices leaders, and special guests to learn their unique capacity as organizers, deepen their understanding of civics, lobbying and press freedom, and expand their ability to act as advocates. By the end of the Institute, Student Leaders will identify the pressing needs in their state and local communities and the unique ways in which students can respond, as well as possess the tools necessary to combat these challenges.
Participation in the Institute is free, but students will commit to serve as student leaders in the New Voices movement during the 2024-2025 advocacy year.
Meet the Class of 2024-25
ARIZONA
Ragan Stoltz – Apache Junction High School
My name is Ragan Stoltz, and I am an incoming junior at Apache Junction High School in Arizona. I have been a part of student journalism for four years as a part of my district’s yearbook programs. My school and I previously worked towards obtaining a New Voices bill for the 2024 legislative session. After gaining three sponsors, our bill sadly died in the House of Representatives while awaiting a hearing from the education committee. After working so hard and not being able to complete my goal, it is more important to me than ever to solidify a New Voices bill for all student journalists in Arizona.
CALIFORNIA
Livia Valentine – Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton
My name is Livia Valentine, and I am a member of the class of 2026 at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. If you were to enter my house, the first thing you would notice is the shelves and shelves of books. I grew up surrounded by books and words, bombarded by plot twists and protagonists, and had a great desire to follow in the footsteps of countless authors and express myself through literature. That started off with semi-autobiographical picture books, then fantasy novels, then short stories and flash fiction. Finally, as I entered high school, problems in my community started to feel more pressing than they had before, and I turned to journalism to express my opinions. Now, I want to help protect other passionate young writers like me, and work to ensure that their voices are heard and respected.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Mahder Dereje – Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Hello! I am Mahder Dereje, a rising sophomore at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C.. My parents are both from Ethiopia, a country that has a large diaspora community in the U.S., more specifically the DMV. My community has challenges and lacks trust, mainly due to the lack of clear news and unbiased story telling. I am an author working to publish my first novel soon, and I have loved the art of storytelling from a young age; I get my love of stories and the truth from my dad who has the capacity to love greatly despite his rough childhood. I am on the debate team at my school and love the challenge that it brings, as I have to leave biases, work with facts, learn to understand possible stances, and make stances of my own. With New Voices I could better my craft and identify solutions that can help rebuild a community that is divided but one.
FLORIDA
Banks Vadeboncoeur – Ponte Vedra High School
My name is Banks Vadeboncoeur, and I am a junior at Ponte Vedra High School in Florida, where I serve as the director of the Videography Department. Besides capturing memorable student groups and local events on film, I’ve been passionate about writing for as long as I can remember. Journalism, to me, is not just a hobby but a means to create community impact. In Florida, where the issue of banning literature is alarming, I’ve founded an activist group that works to combat censorship. New Voices provides a valuable program to deepen my understanding of press freedom, a crucial knowledge base to possess.
GEORGIA
Everett Baumann – Northview High School
My name is Everett Baumann, and I am a rising junior on the staff of Northview High School’s student newspaper, The Messenger. Next year I will be a copy editor. I feel strongly about New Voices because I enjoy writing pieces that stir up my school and community, however, I am sometimes censored, and I want to advocate for further press freedom for both myself as well as the high school journalists that will come after me. I strongly believe in freedom of speech and freedom of press, and I want to preserve and advance that belief throughout my time as a student leader. In my free time, I love watching sports, listening to lots of music (lots of it) and napping.
Sudarshan Prasanna – Lambert High School
My name is Sudarshan Prasanna, and I’m a rising senior at Lambert High School in Suwanee, Georgia. I serve as the senior editor for my school publication, The Lambert Post, and have been on the frontlines of New Voices advocacy in my state over the last few months. I got introduced to the Student Press Law Center and their initiatives during the GSPA journalism conference, where I had the privilege of meeting Gary Green, SPLC’s executive director, and getting involved with New Voices work soon after. The freedoms advocated for in New Voices legislation are not only important for students but for advisers, parents, teachers and communities as a whole, as they allow us young journalists to amplify our voices and tell the stories that truly matter. I truly believe that with the right efforts, we can ensure a brighter future for those who will be the future, and that’s us students. Through New Voices, we can do our part as journalists and advocates to ensure that this vision materializes into our reality.
Mikayla Carrino – McIntosh High School
My name is Mikayla Carrino, I am from Fayette County. I am currently a senior at McIntosh High School, and I have been a part of our student journalism program, the McIntosh Trail, for three years and am currently the social media manager/editor. I am excited about putting my leadership more into journalism as, along with being a part of New Voices, I am also one of the National Scholastic Press Leadership Award Leaders!
ILLINOIS
Steven Jiang – Walter Payton College Prep
My name is Steven Jiang, and I am a rising sophomore at Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago, Illinois. I cover political news for my school newspaper, the Paw Print, and I am passionate about youth civic participation. In an election year, it is crucial that American citizens are educated and well-informed on the issues in order to foster meaningful debates. To me, no issue is too controversial to be covered. I hope my journalism and development through this program can help spark these conversations in our schools.
Karim Melek – Palatine High School
My name is Karim Melek, and I serve as the news editor for Palatine High School’s student publication, The Cutlass. In addition, I am the founder and secretary-general of the school’s Model UN team, where I have the pleasure of building up a group of motivated people, looking to change the world. I moved to the United States from the Middle East at the age of 11, and, coming from a place with a lack of free speech, I have seen first-hand the power of freedom that many people seem to take for granted in America. Being a New Voices leader would enable me to have a platform where I can stand up for the First Amendment rights of others to ensure that the founding principles of this nation — constructive dialogue and freedom of expression — never die.
INDIANA
Brynne O’Hare – Culver Academies
My name is Brynne O’Hare, and I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago, but now attend the Culver Academies in Indiana as a Batten Scholar. Advocacy and promoting a wide array of causes is at the core of what I am passionate about. My advocacy efforts include being a blogger for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s You Matter blog, and serving on the Student Advisory Council for Challenge Success (associated with Stanford University) to help students understand their classroom accommodation rights. My work has appeared in Ms. Magazine and the Boston Globe, and I am a graduate of the 2023 University of Iowa Between the Lines summer writing program. New Voices appealed to me because of the focus on the student experience and the importance of advocates being able to speak their truth unapologetically. I hope to eventually pursue a career in the legal field, and New Voices is inspiring the next generation of professionals interested in protecting the values of our country.
KENTUCKY
Jane McGill – Owensboro High School
My name is Khoa Ta, I am a rising junior at Owensboro High School in a suburban town called Owensboro in Kentucky. I am Chinese-Vietnamese-American and originally from Vietnam; I have worked alongside numerous people to aid the funding of educational endeavors within and beyond the United States. I am a member of the Kentucky Student Voice Team’s The NewEdu, Research, as well as Co-Coordinator for our Policy Team. I am a civic innovator who believes in the necessity of freedom of expression, freedom of speech and freedom of the press; an innovator who values the intentional empowerment of the voices least heard within our democracy and systems. I feel strongly about New Voices due to its nature of protecting all forms of speech and the very liberties used to express and educate all; an ability for all people to represent the flaws and successes to be shared within a community and beyond.
MARYLAND
Carina Nicodemus – Montgomery Blair High School
Hi! My name is Carina Nicodemus, and I’m a Co-Editor-in-Chief of Silver Chips Print, the student paper at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. I love being on Chips because it allows me to better connect with my school and witness how local and national governance impacts my community. I know the importance of having local news sources and believe that New Voices legislation is vital for student media to flourish and fill the gaps of fading community publications. I look forward to working with the New Voices Institute to ensure that freedom of the press has no exceptions when it comes to student journalists.
MICHIGAN
Ashley Han
Hi! My name is Ashley Han, and I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the incoming school year, I’ll be a junior and serve as the editor in chief of my school’s newspaper. As a student journalist, I hope to be an advocate for student press freedom throughout my community. I feel strongly about New Voices because a pivotal part of student journalism is the ability to express opinions and write compelling stories without the looming fear of censorship.
MISSOURI
Arti Jain – Ladue High School
My name is Arti Jain, and I’m a senior at Ladue High School in St. Louis, Missouri. I write for my school’s news site, “Ladue Publications,” and will hold the position of executive editor in chief next year, leading 50 staffers in producing the website, newsmagazine, magazine and literary magazine. I’m also a Speech & Debate competitor, a political canvasser, a Bharatanatyam dancer and a cohort member of the Emerging Journalists Program at Elon University.
New Voices is paramount for student press freedom, a right that must be granted if student journalism ever hopes to prosper. Thus, I’m committed to do all I can to get New Voices legislation passed in states across the country, including my own.
Samir Shaik – Parkway West High School
My name is Samir Shaik, and I am a rising senior at Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Missouri. Next school year, I will be one of the editors-in-chief of my school’s online newspaper, the Pathfinder. I am passionate about journalism and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome at school. Through journalism, I’ve been able to meet and learn about the people at my school and in my community, which has been invaluable to my development as a journalist but also as a person. I think learning more about the people around you and giving their ideas a voice might just be the best thing that journalism has to offer.
NEW JERSEY
Zahara Chowdhury
Hi, I’m Zahara Chowdhury, and I’m from Lyndhurst, New Jersey. I am a rising junior and co-editor-in-chief for my high school’s newspaper The Lighthouse, where I have written articles about activism, intersectionality, and national and global news. I am a part of a few Asian-centered organizations, like Dear Asian Youth and AAPI Montclair, and my Bengali identity is very important to me. For fun, I love watching sitcoms, playing my saxophone and cooking new recipes. I am passionate about New Voices because I want students to be the mouthpiece for change.
Naga Sai Dhiraj Kasam – McNair Academic High School
I’m Naga Sai Dhiraj Kasam from McNair Academic High School of Jersey City, New Jersey. I am a rising junior. And I think that New Voices would be revolutionary because it enables the dissemination of transparent news and information without the mingling of biased non participating stakeholders. Because I am aware that, even after living in a New Voices state, that school newspapers, etc. are highly censored/scrutinized or critically examined, leading to the changing of the tone of the student writer, heavily affecting how the story is changed throughout the process. There are people whose voices, even on social media, are unheard of because of the lack of opportunity or suppression of their voices by the society. Even though we live in a more inclusive society than we had previously been in, there are still changes to be made. An inclusive society is molded through the spread of awareness of correct and transparent information without the use of censorship.
Charlotte Nesevich – Moorestown Friends School
Hi, I’m Charlotte, and I’m part of the class of 2025 in Moorestown Friends School, a private school in New Jersey. At school, I’m very involved in student journalism, and I’m honored to serve as co-editor-in-chief for our school newspaper, MFS Wordsworth, for the 2024-2025 school year. I first heard about New Voices from my journalism adviser, and then again at the 2023 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Fall Conference. I think that it’s incredibly important that student journalist voices are protected, but also that these students are aware of their rights. I believe that doing so effectively protects the integrity and authenticity within the field of student journalism.
NEW MEXICO
Ava Leyba – Explore Academy Charter School
My name is Ava Leyba, and I am a rising junior from Albuquerque, New Mexico. I go to Explore Academy Charter School and am involved in Student Council, National Honor Society and my student newspaper. I am one of the editors-in-chief for our newspaper, the Wolfpack Post. Founding the Wolfpack Post has inspired me to fight for student press freedom for students in New Mexico. When I discovered New Voices, I learned that New Mexico does not have a law that protects student journalists from censorship, so I would like to help change this. Outside of school, I love to read and learn how to crochet.
NEW YORK
Micole Friedman
My name is Micole Friedman (she/her), and I live in New York. I am a writer for my high school newspaper and a previous participant in the JTA Teen Journalism Fellowship. In my free time, I tutor grade schoolers in literacy and hang out with friends and family. I feel strongly about New Voices because I believe in free speech for all and the importance of raising awareness for topics that are often uncomfortable to discuss.
Toluwanimi Oyeleye – Townsend Harris High School
My name is Toluwanimi Oyeleye, and I am a rising senior at Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, New York. Throughout my experience on my student newspaper, The Classic, I have found great value in expressing my student voice on different topics affecting the student body. I feel strongly about New Voices as I believe in the importance of advocating for the rights of student journalists to my greatest capacity. This opportunity will allow me to positively impact my community, become a solid advocate and exercise my leadership capabilities to support student voices that have been silenced or hindered.
Olivia Rawiel – United World College
My name is Olivia Rawiel, and I was born and raised in NYC. For the past three years I have gone to the High School for Environmental Studies, but in these upcoming years I am switching to an international boarding school called the United World College. In my high school, I initiated the Newspaper Club (the Eagle Eye) with a friend, which I hope to be my legacy for when I leave. I have always been passionate about writing and wish to use these talents to gain a better understanding and connection with others, which is why I’ve taken an interest in New Voices. I hope that this program can teach me more about what it means to have an impact on your community and how it changes you as an individual.
Jayleen Torres – College Academy
Hi! My name is Jayleen Torres. I come from the George Washington Campus but I attend the College Academy, which is in upper Manhattan. I am currently a junior and proudly Dominican. I am the editor-in-chief for my journalism class. I love music, art and spending time with my loved ones and friends. My favorite sport is soccer and my favorite subjects are mathematics and English. I feel strongly about New Voices because I will have the ability to express who I am in a program that connects with my career in international law and educational law. In other words, New Voices will provide me with the knowledge I need to strengthen my understanding of how laws and rights are being changed and made in our everyday lives. Likewise, this program is important to me because it is a new beginning to enhance my leadership abilities, develop new skills and most importantly express my identity as a Latina and proud journalist. Finally, I am hoping to meet you all and be ready to make a positive impact in our society and become the future leaders of tomorrow. Si Se Puede!
NORTH CAROLINA
Peggy Chen – Green Hope High School
Hello! My name is Peggy, and I attend Green Hope High School in North Carolina. I am the editor-in-chief of the Green Hope Falcon, our student news organization, and I’m passionate about expanding the work that New Voices is doing into our state. I believe that student-run journalism is an integral aspect of making sense of the world around us, and I’m excited for the tools and support that this program can bring to the Falcon.
OHIO
Lyndia Zheng – Beachwood High School
I’m Lyndia Zheng, a rising junior at Beachwood High School in Ohio and am particularly interested in reporting on the political and social issues of today. I am layout editor for my school newspaper, the Beachcomber, as well as secretary for the Ohio Scholastic Media Association Student Board. Aside from journalism I compete in Model United Nations, Speech & Debate and Science Olympiad. I’m also the executive board treasurer for student government, president of Pre-Law, captain of the girls varsity tennis team, leader of Greater Cleveland’s AYLUS branch and more. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, running and spending time with my friends and dog. I feel strongly about New Voices because having a voice has always been an integral part of my identity, and I hope to one day make a difference in the world with words, language and proper communication and learn more about the national journalism community.
PENNSYLVANIA
Grace Levy
Hi all! My name is Grace Levy, and I am a rising senior from State College, Pennsylvania. As an editor for my school’s newspaper, I am very passionate about supporting student journalism and am deeply inspired by New Voices’ dedication to increasing freedoms for fellow student journalists and publications. By understanding the factors affecting student press freedom and having meaningful conversations with other motivated student journalists, I hope to make a positive impact on my school newspaper as well as the larger student journalism community. Journalism is a powerful way to tell people’s unique stories, and I believe it is critical we continue to strengthen this right for student voices.
Addisen McDonald – Altoona Area High School
My name is Addisen McDonald, and I’m a junior at Altoona Area High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where I serve as a reporter on our newspaper staff, the Mountain Echo, and am editor in chief on our yearbook staff, the Horseshoe. I recently heard about the New Voices Student Leaders Institute from my journalism teacher, and began to wonder about all the issues my newspaper and even yearbook staff fail to cover. From threats to the unknowns unspoken in our community that have been normalized, our staff looks at these with fear instead of passion to create difference. Student journalism has overcome and grown throughout the years, but I want more. I want more for future generations; I want students to speak out, and more importantly, be protected. Through the New Voices Student Leaders Institute, I plan to protect our future journalists and provide opportunities for those to have better in the future.
Faith Zantua – Conestoga High School
My name is Faith Zantua, and I’m a news editor for my school’s student-run newspaper, The Spoke. I’m a rising junior from Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. As a student journalist and someone who has seen and experienced censorship firsthand, I fell in love with the mission of New Voices to expand student press freedom and ensure that all voices are heard in the process. Student journalists have the ability to connect with their community in a way that others cannot. I aspire to achieve our role as student journalists by accurately serving as its voice and fighting back when others strive to prevent this.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Gurjevan Bansal – Richland Northeast High School
Hi, my name is Gurjevan Bansal, and I am a student at Richland Northeast High School in South Carolina. I’m a very opinionated person, and I think that everyone should have the right to voice their opinions, as long as they are appropriate. So that makes me want to pursue New Voices because I think it will allow others to speak more freely about what they are experiencing and not have to fear administrators.
TEXAS
Poojasai Kona – Frisco High School
Hi! My name is Poojasai Kona, and I’m a rising junior at Frisco High School in Frisco, Texas. It’ll be my second year on staff at my school’s newspaper, Raccoon Rambler, where I will serve as the Managing Editor for Visual Journalism. Everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves. And student media helps with that. We are the driving force in how future generations — students — are influenced. But living in Texas, a state full of diverse communities, fighting to enforce the New Voices bill in legislation is essential, as censoring such diverse, inclusive pieces could occur. If such censorship of student journalists is present, how will we accurately represent diverse groups of students and ideas, helping create a state that is welcoming of all people, cultures and ideas?
Bethany Mann – Smithson Valley High School
My name is Bethany Mann, and I’m from Bulverde, Texas. I’m an incoming senior at Smithson Valley High School, and I’m editor-in-chief of my school newspaper. I’m interested in a career in politics, and I care very deeply about freedom of speech and student journalists’ rights. I think adults too often doubt teenagers just because they are young, but we are just as capable of leading and advocating for what we believe in as adults. I hope that we can show the older generations, and ourselves, just how competent we are with this leadership institute.
VIRGINIA
Jennie-Kate Hannis – Woodgrove High School
My name is Jennie-Kate Hannis and I am a rising junior at Woodgrove High School in Virginia. Next year, I will be an online editor on my school’s student newspaper, The Woodgrove Outlander, where we currently publish both in print and online. In my free time, I enjoy reading and creative writing. I believe students should have the ability to report on heavier matters without being suppressed by their schools and administrations. I see New Voices as necessary to ensure student journalists are able to write about and share topics relevant to their communities. In joining the New Voices Student Leaders Institute, I hope to spread awareness on censorship within student newspapers.