Twenty-five high school students from 15 states logged into the Student Press Law Center’s New Voices Student Leaders Institute this summer expecting to learn about press freedom, but they say they took away so much more. After two weeks of training and collaborating with their peers, they’re now equipped with the leadership skills, advocacy strategies and confidence to lead campaigns for press freedom in their states and communities.
Myesha Phukan, a 2023 institute alumna and now an SPLC advocacy intern, helped co-facilitate the 2026 institute. She shares her experiences working with students who are following in her advocacy footsteps.
Emma Alves is a junior at John Burroughs High School in California. She shares her experienes at the 2026 Institute and what comes next for her advocacy.
Sriram Chiripurapu is a junior at Rock Ridge High School in Virginia where he serves as the Features Editor of The Blaze for the 2026-2027 school year. He shares his experience at the 2026 Institute and what comes next for his advocacy.
Bowen Darling is a junior at Little Rock Central High School, where she is the social media editor on The Tiger newsmagazine staff. She shares her experiences at the 2026 Institute and what comes next in her advocacy work.
Mira Thakkar is a senior at Lambert High School in Georgia, where she serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Lambert Post for the 2026-2027 school year. She shares her experiences at the 2026 Institute and what comes next in her advocacy work.
Emily Wilkins is a senior at Hunter College High School in New York where she serves as editor for her school newspaper, What’s What. She shares her experiences at the 2025 Institute and what comes next in her advocacy work.
Ava Kate White is a senior at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas where she serves as the print editor for her school’s publication, The Tiger Newsmagazine. She shares her experiences at the 2025 Institute and what comes next in her advocacy work.
Alex Yu is a rising senior at Middleton High School in Wisconsin. He shares his experiences at the 2025 Institute and what comes next in his advocacy work.
Alex Lieberman is a junior in Florida where they serve as the Opinion Editor at their school’s publication, The Torch. They share their experiences at the 2025 Institute and what comes next in their advocacy work.
