The Spectrum

Ami Kachalia is a 17-year-old rising senior at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, N.J. She is a senior columnist for her school paper, Hawkeye. 

Ani Sefaj, a 16-year-old rising junior at Stuyvesant High School, has resided in Ridgewood, Queens since he immigrated to the United States from Albania at age three. Sefaj is a news editor and Opinion writer for The Spectator, Stuyvesant’s student paper. He also plays on Stuyvesant’s varsity basketball and lacrosse teams.

Caroline Chang is a rising junior at Tappanzee High School in Orangeburg, New York. She is a member of the Press at Columbia’s Model UN and also attends the Manhattan School of Music.

Christian Torre is a rising senior at Queens High School of the Sciences. He is involved in the school’s newspaper, Synapse, and literary magazine, Veritas. Christian is also a member of his high school’s swim team.

Gavin Huang is a 17-year-old Chinatown resident and a rising senior at Stuyvesant High School. Huang is an Opinions Department editor for The Spectator, his school newspaper, and a former president of the Stuyvesant’s Key Club chapter. Huang hopes to become a journalist and go to “interesting places where few reporters are willing to go.”

Janah Campbell is a rising senior at Bayside High School in Bayside, Queens.  She is Student Body President of her school and an assistant at her aunt’s hair salon, where she has been working since she was 14. She also participates in the Black Student Union, Film Club and Key Club.

Kaitlyn Kwan is a 17-year-old rising senior at Stuyvesant High School. Kwan, who lives in Battery Park City, is a news editor at Stuyvesant’s paper, The Spectator. She also is Vice President of Service in her school’s honor society, ARISTA, and enjoys calculus and computer science.

Katherine Simeon is a rising senior at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, N.J. She is the copy editor for her school newspaper, The Devil’s Advocate, and serves as an assistant for her elementary school’s newspaper club. She is a public relations officer for International Humanitarianism for Students and sings in her church choir. 

Khalil Commissiong is a 17-year-old rising senior at Holy Trinity High School in Westbury, Long Island. Commissiong, whose parents are from the West Indies, is a member of his school’s History Club and likes basketball, video games and writing about sports.

Matthew Joe is a rising senior at Manhasset High School. He is the captain of his school’s fencing team, co-captain of the debate team and plays the string bass in the chamber orchestra. Matthew also writes for his school’s literary magazine, The Phoenix.

Nashia Kamal is a rising senior at Stuyvesant High School. She participates in Model UN and her school’s creative writing journal. She is the president of Girls Learn International, a charity organization. She also swims competitively.

Natalie Madrigal is a rising senior at Mother Cabrini High School in Washington Heights. She is the co-Editor-in-Chief for high school’s newspaper, The Cabrini Courier, and Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook.

Nilufer Can is a 17-year-old rising senior at Brooklyn Technical High School. Can, who lives in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, is a National Honor Society student who has participated in her school’s Leadership and Government groups.

Raina Drakes is a rising junior at Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, Conn. She recently launched her own magazine, F.A.T.E. (Fashion And Teen Evolution.

Shayra Kamal graduated from Stuyvesant High School in May and will be attending Hunter College this fall. She was an editor at Stuyvesant’s school newspaper, The Spectator, and the school’s literary magazine. She lives in Woodside, Queens, where she tutors children.