Month: July 2026

By Heily Sandoval
Northport High School

Northport High School Senior Alexandra Butuc has found her calling as a storyteller by observing and appreciating the fascinating people of her community.

Allie, who is 16, grew up in Astoria, Queens. She said the close, diverse neighborhood piqued her interest in the people and world around her. And that desire to grasp the different views of those in her hometown eventually led to her interest in journalism.

“Growing up surrounded by people from so many different cultures exposed me to a wide variety of perspectives at a young age,” Allie explained. “I believe that experience ultimately contributed to my passion for storytelling and journalism.”

This desire to learn more about journalism is what motivated her to join her high school’s newspaper club. She’s proud of one of the articles just published on NASA’s latest space travel program, “Artemis II Mission Successfully Returns to Earth.”

A passion to improve and tell people’s stories are the goals that shape her. 

“Something that motivates me to get out of bed every morning is my desire to prove to myself that I am capable of achieving my goals and making a meaningful impact on the world,” she said.

This quest to be better at what she loves doing is the primary reason she applied to the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists at Stony Brook University.

“I joined the summer program in hopes to gain skills that will help me in my journalism career that I hope to pursue in my future,” she said.

During the program in July 2026, Allie found a new community – 17 other members of the Greene Team, professional mentors, and faculty and staff at Stony Brook – that gave her a window into the field she will enter.

Members of Alexandra’s family said they are intrigued by her passion for storytelling. Her sister, Victoria, said she has gained a better understanding of her older sister as she pursues her journalism dreams.

“Allie is one of the most genuine, kind-hearted people I know yet finds a way to balance that between being able to speak her mind,” Victoria said. “She’s always able to get her point across. She always stands her ground and keeps her opinions clear.”

Paula and Liviu Butuc, Alexandra’s grandparents, recalled the moments they have had together that shaped their understanding of Alexandra’s character.

“Whenever we bring up something that relates to geopolitics, we always have deep conversations and debates,” Paula said. “She always wants to hear our point of view as she shares hers. She always finds a way to stand her ground and use facts to make her point get across when there is a disagreement.”

By Allie Harrison
Ward Melville High School

Noah Eichenholtz has a wide variety of interests: working out, pop culture, history, and, of course, journalism.

The rising junior at Hendrick Hudson High School in Westchester was eager to join this year’s Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists.

Noah said that not only would the program be good preparation for college, but more importantly, he was excited about “getting to work with real journalists and seeing their views on the world.”

His passion for journalism is evident in his work for his school’s newspaper, The Anchor, where he is both managing editor and arts and entertainment editor. Noah said he enjoys writing about popular culture, from album reviews of “God Does Like Ugly” by JID and “MUSIC” by Playboi Carti to video game and movie recommendations. He is also involved in his school’s music culture club, where he discusses music with other students.

In addition to Noah’s commitment to journalism, he said he’s committed to exercise. The 16-year-old lives with his parents and 19-year-old twin brothers Simon and Miles, as well as a pet cat and a pet turtle.

He started working out seriously two years ago, and his family has always held similar values of health and fitness. “My father has been very big into working out and body building my whole life,” he explained, “and my mom also likes to work out, so my whole life, I’ve been surrounded by it. In high school, both my brothers began to get into it, and it became sort of a family thing.”

He said he enjoys the activity not only for the physical benefits but also for the mental and social aspects. “It’s somewhat therapeutic and allows me to work through emotions,” he said. “Besides that, it’s a fun activity I do with my friends and allows me to be in control of my body and health.”

Nonetheless, Noah does not plan to pursue either journalism or health and fitness as a career. Instead, he wants to be a history teacher. History is his favorite subject in school, and he’s very interested in politics.

He recently got to debate John A. Sarcone III, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, who was visiting his school for an assembly. Noah said it was “a lot of fun.” He added that he enjoys talking to people about politics “if they’re willing to actually think about it.”

Noah said he couldn’t wait to live on the Stony Brook University campus for the Greene Team.

“Noah is really passionate about a lot of things,” said his school friend Matthew Smith, “and with how much effort he puts into The Anchor, I can tell that journalism is something he really cares about. This program seems like a great opportunity for him to delve into that interest and learn more about it.”

As they say, journalism is the first draft of history — Noah is eager to help write it.

By Jonnae Greene
Baldwin High School

Instead of holding onto heavy emotions, Angie Larrea writes through them.

The rising junior at Hempstead High School has lived in the village her entire life. Growing up with her parents, older sister Bianca and three pets, her family life has been marked by both love and conflict.

Angie recalled that “my older sister and my dad … did have a lot of conflict. Watching that growing up caused my mind to think certain things doesn’t make sense.”

Moreover, it caused her to become more guarded with others. “Growing up, I’ve had trust issues with friendships, relationships,” she said.

Angie also experienced a falling out with Bianca. She said after a fight, “the first four, five months of this year, we did not speak at all. I would just avoid her.”

Eventually, through letting go of the past, they were able to rebuild their connection. Looking back, Angie believes these experiences changed the way she views relationships. “It has caused me to be more appreciative of the people around me,” she said.

Since the beginning of high school, Angie has taken time to write in her daily journal and create poems. “It’s like a way for me to speak my feelings, but in ways that are as complex as I feel them,” she said.

In her school’s slam poetry contest, she entered a poem about her relationship with her father. She ranked among the top entrants. “I felt so raw and accomplished that I presented something that was so personal to me,” she said.

Angie values understanding people. She often speaks about her best friend Elisena, whom she has known since first grade. During the summer, Elisena goes on trips with her family, limiting their communication.

This enables Angie to reflect more on herself. The summers apart strengthen their friendship. “It has taught me that although you take time for yourself, that doesn’t mean you love the person any less,” she said.

Angie is involved in multiple activities, such as swimming, softball and wrestling. She also takes Advanced Placement courses such as AP English Seminar and AP World History.

In AP English Seminar, Angie faced challenges in group presentations, where she learned the importance of cooperation and time management. She has been in the top three of her class for all of sophomore year. Bianca said Angie “continues to succeed in whatever she puts her mind to.”

However, between her high academic performance, sports and family, she can become overwhelmed. Through journaling, Angie unwinds while finding clarity and peace. “I journal to calm my stress,” she said.

As for participating in the Robert W. Greene Institute for High School Journalists, Angie said: “I want to join this program because I want to meet new people. Getting to know new perspectives and new mindsets is a big aspect of my development.”

Angie is interested to see if this field fits in her future. “I hope to become more knowledgeable in journalism,” she said.

By Noah Eichenholtz
Hendrick Hudson High School

It started with the “Lord of the Rings” series.

Allie Harrison says she found inspiration for writing in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. She decided to try writing her own stories, and that has morphed into journalism. And that led her to the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists.

“As somebody who hopes to be a journalist professionally,” she said, “this program makes me excited to improve my writing skills and see how people do it in real life.”

Allie is 16 and grew up in Setauket. She lives at home with her sister, Olivia, 12, and her parents, Thomas and Kristin. Allie is a rising senior at Ward Melville High School, where she is the current opinion editor and the future editor-in-chief for her school’s newspaper, The Kaleidoscope. Allie is active in the school’s literary magazine, Cinnabar, and DECA, a club that educates students on business and finance.

Besides journalism, Allie has discovered she likes writing short stories. “For my short stories, I just love creating worlds, characters, and plot lines in my mind and bringing them to life through words,” she said.

She called the “Lord of the Rings” series “the best books series and best movie series ever.” She said these books inspired her to write two of her fantasy novels in middle school.

“I got really into reading in like third grade and decided in fifth grade I wanted to write my own books as an adult,” she said, “and in sixth grade I decided, why not just do that now?”

Mary Williams, one of Allie’s old friends, recalled reading these books. “They were pretty good considering her age,” she said. Mary described Allie as a “smart, kind, and generous person.”

It was the swordplay in “Lord of the Rings” that drew Allie to fencing, which has become another passion for her. “I first heard that my high school had a fencing team in seventh grade and I thought it sounded cool, so I joined a private club before I could even do the school team, and I’ve loved it ever since,” she said.

Fencing also brought Allie a new group of friends, but many were significantly older and have since moved on. “It’s really sad. I became friends with them when I was in seventh grade, so when they’re all gone all of the sudden, it sucks,” she said. “Of course I still love fencing, but it feels different with all of them gone.”

Allie hopes to continue fencing through college. “It’s a fun challenge for both the mind and body,” she said. “I like individual sports in general, and I met some of my best friends there.”

Like the characters in “Lord of the Rings,” Allie is embarking on her own journey — into the world of professional journalism — and the Greene Team is her first step.

By Parker Silberman
Longwood High School

Whether she’s writing, performing on stage or imagining her future as a journalist, the 17-year-old rising senior at Baldwin Senior High School is constantly looking for ways to express herself and connect with others. With a passion for writing, a busy schedule and ambitious career goals, she is already working toward turning that passion into a profession.

Briana will spend her senior year taking all of her classes at Nassau Community College. “I’m excited to step into a new environment and make the best out of my experience there,” she said. 

She lives with her parents, her older sister and her older brother. She also has a dog and a cat that are an important part of her life. “I’ve had my dog since I was five years old, and as an animal person, I love taking time out of my day to spend with Raven and Harley.”

Outside the classroom, Briana stays active playing softball, riding her bike, baking and spending time with her friends. 

This summer, in addition to attending the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute, Briana Dworsak alongside her mother, plans to visit her aunt in Ocean City, Maryland, as well as continue playing softball for Plainedge’s community league.

Her interest in journalism has been growing for years. “I wanted to join this program because ever since I was in school I have always had a love and desire for writing and creating stories,” Briana said. “That love remained all through middle school, and now as a rising senior I realized journalism and writing are a lost art that isn’t thoroughly explored and praised enough. The use of artificial intelligence recently made me want to explore journalism more and put my perspective out into the world.”

Briana hopes to pursue a career as either a psychologist or a feature writer for The New York Times. She plans to apply to colleges with strong journalism programs, including Stony Brook University and Syracuse University, where she can continue developing her writing and storytelling skills.

One of her favorite childhood memories was performing in her first school play, “Into the Woods,” in fifth grade. “I was shy, but performing in front of an audience actively helped me become more confident,” she said. The experience taught her to step outside her comfort zone and helped shape the confidence she carries herself with today.

Her mother, Erica Dworsak, has watched that determination grow over the years. “Brianna has always been extremely passionate about her hobbies and especially her main interests like journalism. She has big ambitions and will do anything to make them reality.” 

As Brianna prepares for her senior year and looks ahead to college, she remains focused on the goal that has inspired her for years: telling stories that matter. As she put it, “I have always had a love and desire for writing and creating stories.” 

By Briana Dworsak
Baldwin High School

Parker Silberman wasn’t interested in journalism until he started taking photography classes in school.

At 17 years old, Parker is preparing to begin his senior year at Longwood High School. According to his mother, Cortney Silberman, “Parker has always been someone who enjoys creating and isn’t afraid to challenge himself by trying new things.” While photography has become one of his biggest passions, she believes his “curiosity and willingness to learn are what truly set him apart.”

Growing up, Parker has always been surrounded by a supportive family that includes his mom, dad, stepmom, step-sister, sister, and two dogs, Xena and Tyson. His mother has described him as someone who has always enjoyed expressing himself out loud through different kinds of art. Whether he is drawing digitally or on paper, riding his bike, traveling, taking photographs, or spending time with friends, Parker has found ways to stay creative and active while enjoying the people and experiences around him.

His mom said that Parker’s passion for photography developed over time, and once he began taking photography classes in school, he started to take it more seriously. Parker’s teacher recommended Robert W. Greene Summer Institute, he hesitated because journalism wasn’t something he had ever considered pursuing. She encouraged him to keep an open mind, believing the experience would help him grow and figure out if journalism is for him. Parker soon realized that learning journalism could strengthen his photography by helping him understand the stories behind the images he captures.

One accomplishment that makes his mother especially proud is seeing Parker’s artwork displayed publicly. She remembers how much confidence that recognition gave him and even stated, “It motivated him to continue improving his artistic skills.” His mom has also admired the values Parker has gained as he’s gotten older. Rather than obsessing and recalling disappointments, he has learned to accept that not everything works out the way he hopes. She says his outlook can be summed up by a saying: “If it didn’t happen, it wasn’t meant to happen.” That mindset has helped him move forward from setbacks and focus on the comeback instead.

 Looking back, Parker’s childhood interests reflected the imagination and curiosity many children have. His mother laughed when she remembered career day in elementary school, most students dressing up as doctors, police officers, or veterinarians, while Parker proudly dressed as a paleontologist because of his intense interest in dinosaurs. She also recalls a phase when he enjoyed creating small comic books. Although, she says she never imagined writing or journalism would potentially become connected to his interests through photography.

As Parker prepares for his senior year, his mother is ecstatic to see where his creativity will take him next. She believes his passion for photography, artistic talent, and willingness to accept new opportunities will continue to help him grow. Whether he ends up pursuing photography, art, journalism, or a totally different path, she is confident he will continue telling meaningful stories through his work and continue learning along the way.

By Christopher Cabrera
Brentwood High School

Student journalist Maytal Bar views her work as a way of impacting the world through fearless reporting, “whether it’s through uncovering hidden policies or informing people on what is happening in the world,” she says.

May insists on expressing the ideas she believes must be heard. 

She grew up in Queens and moved to Brooklyn. An only child, she splits her time between her dad’s home in Brooklyn and Westchester, where her mother lives and where she attends Hendrick Hudson High School. 

During summers, May volunteers as a counselor at the Town of Cortlandt Day Camp, supervising children of all ages. She has committed herself to “take care of all the little kids… I have first and second-grade boys.” Beyond that, she played on her school’s JV girls’ tennis and volleyball teams, which helped her build communication skills and create an outlet of expression that has carried over to journalism.   

As a freshman, May initially joined her school newspaper, The Anchor, for fun with her friends. With the support of her advisor, Matthew Codner, she took on the role of editor-in-chief by the end of her freshman year. During this time, “I had to put together our entire last edition. And I had never done that before. So, I just had to figure it out,” May said. 

As a sophomore, May concluded her first year as editor-in-chief with a diverse portfolio of 26 articles. Her love for comedy series, such as “Blue Mountain State,” has influenced her entertainment pieces, while her knowledge of the rights of a free press has guided her in her commentary work. 

“May’s journalism is rather fearless,” Codner said. “She’s willing to take on topics that past writers have stayed away from.” While publishing an article about Project 2025 and an opinion piece about abortion, “one of the history teachers in my school had an issue with my articles and was trying to get them taken down,” May said. Through her own advocacy and her recognition on how students are free to publish their work unless they feature information that “isn’t factually correct,” she wasn’t forced to take it down. 

“I think May’s biggest stream of inspiration is her knowing that the final goal is for herself,” said Ethan Crook, one of May’s closest friends since eighth grade and a peer in her chemistry class. “In the process of her working on those goals, she doesn’t care what others think, which makes her absolutely unstoppable in what she wants to do. She keeps pushing and persevering.”  

Now, as an incoming junior, May is attending the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. The program will “bring her writing and leadership to the next level,” said Codner, which will be critical as she hopes to expand her range of capabilities before entering the field after graduation. 

“Over this week at Stony Brook, I expect to become a better journalist and improve my skills significantly,” May said.