Today is the 2026 Greene Team’ last full day. It was bittersweet, but still there was plenty of work that had to be done. We quickly settled into the newsroom and got to it.
My group worked on the Long Island Ducks game news package, Tiny Vinyls profile, and the Greene Team Instagram post. Throughout our projects, we all demonstrated great team work and clear communication, which enabled us to make good progress.
One of the highlights of the day was when our mentor, Jamie came to help our team. His assistance was super beneficial. He helped me with parts of my script, my stand up, and provided input with editing. Then, we heard from guest speakers who gave us information on Stony Brook University admissions, and insights on the SBU college experience.
Afterwards, I spent time with friends and networked at the alumni social. There, I was able to meet students and professionals in the industry of journalism, including professionals from Newsday. I also spoke to students who gave me tips for internships. Overall, it was a productive day that ended on a high note. Looking back on this experience, I am incredibly grateful for everything I learned and even more thankful for the meaningful connections and friendships I made along the way. While I’m sad to see the program come to an end, I’m excited to carry these experiences with me into the future.
2026 Greene Team at alumni social event! Photo by Jonnae Greene
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.
Success has never been what has motivated Tiny Vinyl co-founder Neil Kohler. Instead, it’s the challenge of creating something meaningful.
“I’ve had enough wins in my life that I’m not that moved by success,” he said. “What gets me up in the morning is the challenges rather than succeeding.”
This mindset has helped Kohler craft miniature versions of items in music culture that allow fans to experience listening to their favorite artist in a new way.
Growing up in Huntington, Kohler was fascinated by miniature collectibles. He also described himself as a perfectionist. At the beginning of his career he mainly worked in the toy industry.
When his friend Daniel Donato introduced Kohler to the emotional power of music, he started collecting it. He saw an opportunity to combine his passion for small things with a culture that people connected with.
The result was Tiny Vinyl, a miniature collectible disk that plays music on a turntable that serves as a tribute to artists and their fans.
The hardest part of marketing Tiny Vinyls was explaining what it was to potential buyers.
“The convincing that Tiny Vinyl was a real thing instead of a gimmick was the hardest moment of my career,” he said.
To overcome that obstacle, he met with buyers, connected with colleagues and continued to refine his work. His hard work paid off when Target agreed to sell Tiny Vinyls exclusively. The company boomed.
“We printed and shipped our one millionth vinyl,” he related. “Our business is built on rewarding the fans of the artist. That really gives the fans something that they’re excited about.”
Tiny Vinyls is a product that helps preserve the experience of music on vinyls. Michael Houlihan, manager of RECORD STOP in Patchogue, believes that listening to music on vinyl is special.
“I always say it’s an experience,” Houlihan said. “Sometimes there’s lyric sheets inside of the album. You get to take out the vinyl and place it onto the record player. … It’s important to keep physical media alive.”
Photo by Nathan Zucker, courtesy of Tiny Vinyl and ICLS
Despite his success, Kohler remains focused on the future.
“We have ambitious plans for Tiny Vinyl,” he said. “It’s going to be good for Tiny Vinyl as a platform to get broader.”
He explained that he’s in discussion with other retailers to carry the player.
Aside from work, Kohler enjoys exercising, traveling and arranging flowers. When reflecting on his love for gardening, he said: “It’s very relaxing and therapeutic, and I get a lot of satisfaction because it’s authentic to me.”
When he thought about how family and friends would describe him, he gave three words: “playful, curious and adventurous.”
While he now lives in Nashville, Kohler credits Long Island for shaping his outlook.
“I’ve always felt super lucky to have grown up in New York for all the cultural reasons,” he said.
Asked what advice he would give his younger self, Kohler replied: “Younger Neil, don’t be afraid. If you never tried something, you never failed. Failing is normal, not bad. … I just had to learn how to dust myself off and pick myself up.”
This morning my team got two assignments for the program – a profile for Neil Kohler about Tiny Vinyls, and a news package for the Ducks game. When we arrived to the newsroom we had a motivational pep talk over Zoom from WCSC-TV Multimedia Journalist Maya Brown. Next, our group met with our mentor and team leader, Jamie Stuart. We received excellent points from him which helped our team prepare for the game.
At the game I was able to be a reporter. I also interviewed fans. Further, I got to sit in on a press conference with Michael Polak, which helped us form a strong story for our news package. I’ve never watched baseball before, so it was a new experience, and it was great to learn the plays and new terms associated with the sport. Today was a lot of fun and it was great to see the Ducks mascot, Quacker Jack!
Long Island Ducks ballpark. (Photo by Jonnae Greene)
My second day in the program gave me a new outlook on the possibilities and perspectives within media and journalism. The pep talk and lede writing lesson in the morning, and our many guest speakers in the afternoon, such as George Giokas, J.D. Allen, Frank Posillico, and Rick Ricioppo, opened a world of new insights into this dynamic industry.
One particular session that I enjoyed was the podcast with J.D. Allen. J.D. Allen is a podcaster for Higher Ground, and has worked with SBU helping aspiring journalists like me find the connections between journalism and multimedia, and how they work together to create a podcast. I also learned the factors that create an engaging podcast including characters, interviews, and background audio. This allows the audience to imagine the scenes and stories, truly highlighting the power and importance of audio.
Today was packed with valuable information, and I’m eager to put everything I learned today into practice tomorrow!
By Jonnae Greene, Baldwin High School
J.D. Allen during the podcast session. Jonnae Greene/Greene Team, July 27
The start of the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists program was so fun! As soon as I arrived, I was given a T-shirt, my badge, and a welcome bag. After checking in, I went to the lounge area where I was able to speak to my fellow student journalists. We also played games on creating headlines with cards, giving us a glimpse into the creativity required to be a journalist. Later, we visited the newsroom before ending the day with a delicious dinner.
The day was truly enjoyable. Not only did I get to spend time with those I met at the orientation in June, but I also was able to talk to to new people including our chaperones, housing staff, and student journalists who were not able to be at the orientation. Further, the introduction to a variety of media, such as blogging and points on reporting, helped me gain new information as we begin our eventful and action-packed week. I’ll make sure we capture the moments and continue to treasure them through photos and journal entries like this one.
Overall, I had a wonderful first day and can’t wait to see where this journey will take me!
Jonnae in front of the Stony Brook campus main entrance.
