Category: Profiles

By Zeydi Guerra
Hempstead High School

Keren Philippe’s love for journalism started in middle school with a Peter Rabbit-themed journal.

Soon after that one filled up she moved onto a new notebook and hasn’t stopped since. 

Keren, a 17-year-old senior from Central Islip, was born in the United States to Phanol and Wilrodia Phillippe. She lived here for eight months until the family moved back to Haiti. She returned with her mother and brother when she was 14, four years ago. 

They moved from Haiti due to conditions being, as she described them, “shaky” and “corrupt.” But those  conditions had the positive result of sparking her love of journalism. 

She recalled a moment in Haiti at a teen center based on Christian values where her mother worked. A missionary named Miss Vicky grew attached to Keren and praised her for her constant note-taking. Keren said, “I would always pay attention, with a notebook and a wooden pencil in hand.” The missionary took note of this and bought Keren a small Peter-Rabbit-themed journal. Keren said, “She told me to write away, to journal anything I thought of.”

“It helped me be better,” Keren said. 

She began to write about everything and anything, especially the violence around her. She wanted future generations to see what had happened in her world. When she finished the journal, which was quite small, she decided to start a new one. 

She wrote about her experiences dealing with American stereotypes of the home she loves so much. “People need to understand what’s happening before they try to add  their opinion to it,” Keren said. “Many tend to believe that Haiti is underprivileged and that we live in huts.”

“People need to understand what’s happening before they try to add their opinion to it,” Keren said. “Many tend to believe that Haiti is underprivileged and that we live in huts.”

– Keren Philippe

Keren said she found solace in her school’s newspaper club, where she enjoys writing about all sorts of topics. Her favorite thing to write about is art. She said, “art isn’t something you look at; art imitates life. There’s all different kinds of arts, and I want to be the one covering it.”

Keren speaks French, Haitian creole and English, and she is learning Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Greek.

She said she was ecstatic about being included in the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. She said she hopes to become a better writer through the program and to get to a level where she can use her talents to help others. 

“My biggest problem in my writing is that I always felt as if I was doing it wrong. Now I’m hoping to learn better ways to plan out my ideas and write them.” 

Her mother, Wilrodia Philippe, said she is very proud of Keren. “She’s accomplished a lot. The steps she’s taking are all building towards something meaningful.” 

By Emily Soriano
Westbury High School

Lisseth Hernandez isn’t just someone who enjoys writing. The 17-year-old from Central Islip has found comfort, resilience and expression through words.

Whether it’s writing in journals, drafting a short story or helping Central Islip High School’s newspaper, writing has become more than a hobby. 

“Writing to me is my escapism,” she said, noting that “writing is another world” that allows her to seep into topics she finds important.

“Writing to me is my escapism.”

– Lisseth Hernandez

This summer, Lisseth has  joined the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists at Stony Brook University, where she wants to improve her writing skills. Plus, “I want our school’s work in writing to get more recognition,” she said. 

Lisseth will be entering her senior year as the Newspaper Club treasurer and public relations manager. She is also active in the Literary Club, women’s group, a community service and advocacy group, and runs on the cross-country team.

At first, “newspaper was just the club I joined my freshman year looking to be involved in but never imagined how much I’d love it,” she said. Lisseth edits articles, conducts interviews and writes commentaries “about school events like our cultural night, musical, club features and just about anything I find interesting.” 

She started an alumni spotlight series and shares posts and videos to social media.

Her path to the Green Institute started with two important mentors who Lisseth calls her “second parents”: Rahana Schmalacker, her former English teacher and current newspaper adviser, and Darren Ehrhardt, her tech teacher and stage crew adviser. “Without them, I wouldn’t have the confidence I have now.” 

Lisseth has overcome significant personal challenges to achieve her goals. She has lived with depression and mild psychotic tendencies, including hallucinations that once left her terrified and isolated. “I started to hear voices of people I knew calling my name or whispering things I couldn’t understand. It went on for months,” she said.

Eventually, she turned for comfort to Schmalacker, who provided her with important guidance and reassurance. That turned out to be a turning point in her life. 

“I got a new perspective: if I could work through my issues that left me unable to ask for help, I could find a way to give voice to others that couldn’t,” Lisseth said. 

On her personal social media platforms, Lisseth encourages people to speak out about their beliefs pertaining to recent social and civil rights issues. 

“Ultimately, hardship is always the biggest motivator to keep pushing forward,” she said.

Her support system includes her parents, Melvin Hernandez  and Lissett Hernandez Cruz, and two younger sisters, Allison, 14, and Genesis, 9. “They encourage me to explore my interests and are proud I’m going into this program,” she said.

Lisseth’s best friend, Kamila Sarmiento Romero,  said “writing has given Lisseth an outlet to talk about her experiences and bring awareness to issues that have personally plagued her and her community. It gives her a voice in a place and an environment where it is so easy to feel voiceless.”

For Lisseth, journalism isn’t just about reporting facts. It’s about hope, connection and finding light in the darkest moment. “If I can keep pushing through the barriers in my own head, then I know I can give a voice to someone else who feels they can’t speak up.” 

Lisseth said she’s determined to keep writing because “it’s helped me build confidence. It’s like a gateway into a lot of what makes me good in conversation, too.”

By Keren Philippe
Central Islip High School

Although she is interested in fashion, music and history, Zeydi Guerra discovered that her true path is to become a political journalist and public advocate.

Zeydi, 16, a rising senior at Hempstead High School, was born and raised on Long Island but she visits her family’s home in El Salvador at least twice a year. Her father was born there and fled a civil war, coming to the United States alone. 

Her parents are Mayra and Julian Guerra, and she has five siblings, two of whom live with her in Hempstead. The others are scattered about the globe. Returning to El Salvador is important, she said, because that is where most of her family lives.

Not surprisingly she speaks English and Spanish, but she has also studied Latin, and she is now finishing up learning Dutch through apps, conversation and texting.

Her room in the Hempstead house is also home to her chunky pet rabbit, Coco, who is five years old. Besides rabbits her favorite animals are bats, frogs, foxes and hedgehogs.

Zeydi is a big theater kid who loves meeting other theater kids. She is especially fond of musicals by Jonathan Larson, especially “Tick, Tick… Boom!” 

When it comes to fashion and decor, Zeydi leans to emo and alt styles. Her room is decorated with posters of her favorite bands. She currently favors indie rock, Spanish rock and emo, from groups like The 1975, Soda Stereo, and The Brobecks. She has a large CD collection to choose from.

“Without music I wouldn’t be here,” she said, referring to difficult times and her aspirations. “It helped me get through so many things. I always have headphones on.” 

 Her favorite band is The Strokes, which she said helped her make a self-discovery. “Writing about The Strokes,” she said, “made me realize that I wanted to write about the things I’m interested in, which is usually politics since I love history.”

Zeydi also began to write about movies instead of just analyzing them in her head. During her AP Language and Composition class, for which she had to keep a journal, she analyzed her different interests.

Zeydi is attending the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute For High School Journalists to explore a career in media. “I’ve always been interested in having a career in journalism, but I feel as if the program is going to really solidify that decision for me – to really make sure that as I am getting into the real world that this is what I want to do.”

I’ve always been interested in having a career in journalism, but I feel as if the program is going to really solidify that decision for me.”

– Keren Philippe

Besides pursuing journalism, Zeydi knows she wants a career based in public speaking. She’s been doing school announcements in Spanish and English since the second grade and sees that strength as a way to advocate for others. She believes herself to be very confident and opinionated. 

So does her choir teacher, Rachel Blackburn, who said “she expresses herself with clarity and thoughtfulness, both in verbal discussions and in her writing.”

Zeydi is sure she wants to continue to be an advocate for others in her future, standing up for what is right. 

 “I want to be a political journalist,” she decided. “I want to become an advocate for people politically.”

Gabrielle Sanders
Roosevelt High School

Although she’s 16, Araya White has found something that many people fail to find at all ages – her voice. 

For the rising senior at Uniondale High School, writing isn’t just a school requirement. It’s a form of expression in a loud world that can drown out voices and often silences them.

“I like to be able to actually create what I want in my writing,” she said, explaining that it’s a way for her to communicate with those around her.

Araya got her exposure to and love of journalism from an English class teacher, who had been a journalist and screenwriter. Writing, she said, is her safe place; a space where she can really show her feelings compared to other subjects, like science and math, that are more rigid.

Her need to express herself has inspired her to start a podcast. For her, she said, it’s not about followers, but about giving herself the opportunity to step out of her shy comfort zone and to speak out about issues in the real world, like nursing, healthcare and pet adoptions. “Through podcasts, I’ll be able to speak out about different problems around the world,” she said.  “It’ll help me because it will give me more confidence to speak out.” 

She also wants to inspire others to do the same, she said, just like she was encouraged when she saw other podcasters expressing themselves. 

Of course, at the heart of anyone’s journey is family. Her dad, uncle, siblings and other family members push her to strive and do her best everyday. “Everybody just tells me to keep going, very supportive,” Araya said. 

“Through podcasts, I’ll be able to speak out about different problems around the world,” she said. “It’ll help me because it will give me more confidence to speak out.”

– Araya White

“Araya has a great way of speaking to people and captivating people through her imagination,” her godmother Judith McLean said. “Araya is very amenable, very friendly and she loves to joke.” 

Like most people, Araya has hobbies. For Araya, it’s baking and music. She likes them because they bring people together. “They make me more relatable,“ she said. “My hobbies make me able to speak to people.” 

Araya views the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists as another opportunity to meet and speak to people. “I wanted to find something I wanted to do in high school and I really liked writing so I thought that this would be a great opportunity,” she said. She also expects to learn how to write productively so she is able to fulfill her dreams of becoming a better writer and communicator.

Whether it is through podcasting or writing in her English class, Araya will never stop striving to share her voice to the world as her story continues to unfold. “I just really like writing a lot,” she said. “It makes me happy.”

By Araya White
Uniondale High School

Growing up in the rural area of Greenport, N.Y., was hard for Faith Welch, who recalls being bullied or overlooked by others. However, everything that happened has helped shape her journey of perseverance and dedication to truth-telling.

Faith is in the 11th grade at Greenport High School, where she likes to write articles and opinion pieces for her school newspaper and a weekly community newspaper, The Suffolk Times. One of her stories was titled “Why Everyone Should Celebrate Juneteenth,” showing why Black culture should be celebrated. She also wrote an article on why preservation is important to both the environment and history, encouraging people of all backgrounds to celebrate African American culture along with her.

Faith said one of her goals for the future is a career in journalism, with a focus on showing the struggles that African Americans experience in their communities. When Faith applied for, and earned acceptance to, the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists, she said she felt “happy and surprised” that she got picked. 

“This will help in five years with jobs, and help with writing on a deadline when it gets hard,” said Faith.

She also said it will help build her résumé and show her the experience of journalists in the real world.

One of Faith’s mentors, Nicki Gohorel, the cofounder of the North Fork chapter of Coming to the Table, said she has known Faith for more than two years. “Time has gone by and Faith has  found her voice,” Gohorel said, adding that Faith is also “able to communicate well with others.”

While Faith doesn’t often say “no,” Gohorel said, it reminds her of herself. Faith “has a strong voice when she speaks in her truth for what she is passionate about,” Gohorel said.

By Faith Welch
Greenport High School

Gabrielle Sanders has always existed in the in-between, a place where creativity meets logic, where introversion meets growth, and where the sciences and the arts dance together in harmony. 

The 17-year-old rising senior at Roosevelt High School wants to use the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists to explore how her many interests can intersect and how storytelling can be a bridge between them.

“I feel like journalism is an art form that can be used in powerful ways,” Gabrielle said. “It helps people learn things they wouldn’t otherwise know. It can bring awareness, expose truth and make a difference in communities.”

That belief inspired her to apply to the Greene Institute. Though she’s relatively new to journalism, Gabrielle is already a member of her school’s newspaper club and helped develop a journalism class.

She sees this summer as a chance to deepen her skills and discover what a career in media might look like. “We don’t really learn journalism in school,” she explained. “So I saw this as an opportunity to explore something that’s not usually offered.”

Sanders has many passions, from music production to marine biology, and she doesn’t believe in putting herself in a box. Instead, she’s drawn to the ways journalism can combine disciplines and allow for creative expression. “I love that journalism can involve writing, music, science, storytelling — all of it,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be one thing.”

“I feel like journalism is an art form that can be used in powerful ways,” Gabrielle said. “It helps people learn things they wouldn’t otherwise know. It can bring awareness, expose truth and make a difference in communities.”

– Gabrielle Sanders

 Her favorite classes include music theory, biology and creative writing. Her interests spill into her free time, where she enjoys drawing, producing music and learning about the environment.

Outside the classroom, Gabrielle participates in a range of extracurriculars. She’s part of her school’s student government and National Honor Society. She even performed in a majorette event for Newsday during a local band festival. 

Despite her confidence today, Gabrielle  said she hasn’t always been outgoing. “When I was younger, I was very shy,” she said. “But being in different social environments at school helped me learn to talk to people and open up.” That self-awareness and empathy are qualities those close to her admire.

Gabrielle’s mother shared some warm words describing her daughter: “She has been a blessing. Gabrielle is kind, courageous, not afraid to attain what she wants, and I couldn’t be prouder. She’s ambitious, loving and a force to reckon with.”

While she doesn’t have a specific media figure she looks up to, Gabrielle is excited to discover new voices and perspectives during her time at the Greene Institute. She’s especially interested in cultural journalism. “Culture is something that connects everyone,” she said. “It helps us learn about each other and how we experience the world differently.”

In five to 10 years, Gabrielle envisions herself in a career that combines logic and creativity, whether that’s journalism, tech or something yet to be discovered. No matter the field, she hopes to keep learning, creating and connecting.

“If someone were to write about me,” she said, “I’d want them to say I can adapt, that I’m someone who steps out of their comfort zone and understands people.”

By Hennie England
Huntington High School

Gavin Joseph Rivera has always been interested in history. 

Eventually falling down the rabbit hole of World War II, the rising junior at Longwood High School discovered journalists and civilians who piqued his curiosity for journalism.    

At a young age, Gavin became captivated by the Indiana Jones movies. The idea of traveling around the world and fighting against evil intrigued young Rivera, particularly the fact that they were set during the time of World War II. The movies spurred him to undertake countless hours of research about the war. That became Gavin’s gateway into journalism. 

Through his research, Gavin was introduced to many journalists. Some of the most notable were Helen Kirkpatrick, who worked for the Chicago Daily News; Edward R. Murrow, who covered The Blitz for CBS; and Martha Gellhorn, who reported on the Liberation of France. These journalists became an inspiration for Gavin and helped him discover his dream career.   

“After high school I plan on being a war correspondent,” said the 16-year-old Middle Island resident. 

For Gavin, being a war correspondent is more than just writing. He also has a passion for creating images. “Photography, I suppose, is really the most important thing to me,” he explained. He grew up in a family of artists, so his creativity was supported. Gavin developed his skills by making videos with action figures and taking pictures of things deemed cool. 

At Longwood, Gavin improves his skills in a photography class. He also uses those abilities in several school activities: he’s a member of the photojournalism club and assists the school district photographer with organizing events. He’s also a member of the school’s National Art Honor Society. 

“Photography, I suppose, is really the most important thing to me,” he explained.“

– Gavin Joseph Rivera

Dean Macari, a childhood friend of Gavin, describes him as a passionate photographer and a serious and talented journalist. “He brings his camera everywhere,” Dean said. “He loves taking photos, people, landscapes, everything.” Dean describes Gavin as energetic, nice, optimistic and someone he enjoys taking pictures with. 

Gavin plans on becoming a journalist after graduating high school, and he hopes to work towards that goal using the skills he will learn from the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists. 

“I hope to gain at least an entry-level point of view on what it’s like to be a journalist,” Gavin said, “and gain a little bit of knowledge on how to better prepare myself for the journalism world.”

Gavin looks forward to using journalism to educate the American people on important matters. “My dream is to be able to bring attention and support to people in dire circumstances such a famine, genocide, etc., and bring that awareness to the American people who are either ignorant by choice or limited connection to international media.”

By Gavin Rivera
Longwood High School

At a young age, Hennie England was launched into the world of photography by her father. Now the 15-year-old Huntington High School sophomore dreams of becoming a photojournalist.

“My dad was very into photography when he was younger, and he’s given me his old cameras,” Hennie said.

When she was about seven, she discovered her father Steve’s National Geographic magazines.  “My dad had a collection of magazines that I was obsessed with as a kid. I thought they were so cool,” she said. Initially she was drawn to the pictures. But eventually she dreamed of working for the magazine and traveling. “At that time I also wanted to be a photographer, so being a photojournalist was my two biggest dreams combined.” 

Growing up with two younger siblings — Behan and Tillie — her household was loud and overwhelming. Hennie said she found comfort in the books and magazines her father had given her. As she grew up, her interest in history and photojournalism pushed her toward cinematography and directing. She enjoys watching  cult classics like “Pulp Fiction” and “Whiplash.”  

Hennie and her classmate and best friend Sophia Curley are currently making a short feature for submission to the Long Island Youth Film Festival in September.

Although interested in film, Hennie is more drawn to history. She has participated in events such as National History Day since sixth grade. Natural History Day is an academic program for middle and high school students to help build their passion for historical research through doing projects. Students choose their topics, conduct research and make presentations such as exhibits, documentaries, performances and plain old term papers. The students’ work is then judged in local and state competitions. 

Hennies topics included the Nuremberg Trials, actress and inventor Hedy Lamar, naturalist Charles Darwin and most recently, the Island Trees vs Pico Supreme Court case. In that 1982 case, students at Island Trees High School in Levittown pushed back on a book ban and were supported by the justices. For her work on that litigation, Hennie won the Mike D’Innocenzo Outstanding Entry on Long Island History Award, given by Hofstra University.

That project was especially meaningful to her. “I became really passionate about fighting censorship,” she said. “So forming my opinion about that and connecting it to current-day book bans and censorship in America were the most interesting parts to me.” 

Hennie’s passion is evident to friends like Sophia Curley. “She’s done amazing work in her school and photography class,” Sophia said. “A lot of the stuff we talk about is usually about politics and current events. She’s always had very strong political opinions but presents them in a way that’s more factual, which is what a good journalist does.”

“I became really passionate about fighting censorship,” she said. “So forming my opinion about that and connecting it to current-day book bans and censorship in America were the most interesting parts to me.”

– Hennie England

Hennie said one of her heroes is Dorothea Lange. “Dorothea is my biggest inspiration for journalism. She’s famous for documenting the Japanese internment camps and the Great Depression. I did a school project on her in eighth grade, and that’s what made me want to pursue journalism.”

Hennie hopes to learn to improve her skills in the Robert W. Greene Institute for High High School Journalists. “My dream is to bring knowledge to the people,” she said, “and learn everything I can through this program.” 

“Being big on opposing censorship, I believe everyone should be educated on what’s going on around them, and I hope to be that teacher.”

By Allisson Paz
Brentwood High School

East Hampton High School sophomore Adrie Quinn is a driven and inquisitive writer with a deep passion for storytelling, writing and uncovering the truth.  

“I see myself as a good person who always tries to do what’s right,” Adrie said. “I always want to know more and find the truth in everything.” 

At just 15, Adrie has already begun creating a path toward journalism, showing a commitment to learning and using his voice to tell stories. 

He has written articles for the two local newspapers, The East Hampton Star and the East Hampton Press. For his school journalism club, he has mostly covered campus happenings. 

His work was recognized by Christine Sampson, the Star’s deputy managing editor and co-director of the Robert W. Greene Summer institute for High School Journalists at Stony Brook University.

“Christine Sampson actually reached out to me directly, asking if I wanted to participate and offering me a full scholarship,” Adrie said.

Adrie said he has been captivated by the power of words, whether it was through reading crime books or staying up late to watch interviews and documentaries. 

“He is always curious and always wants to find the truth,” his mother, Margarette Doyle, said.

“January 6th actually sparked my interest in journalism,” Adrie said. “I remember watching the journalists on the ground reporting fearlessly, despite everything that was going on.” 

Adrie said he finds inspiration in the way journalists could make sense of complex issues and connect with audiences across the world. That early fascination grew into a desire to inform and advocate for others through writing.

Adrie said one of his proudest moments was getting accepted into the Greene summer program. 

“I feel like my love for journalism has kind of been recognized by someone, and I feel like this program can really help me in life,” he said. “I felt like this was an amazing opportunity for me. I also felt a bit nervous because I was going to be at a university with people I didn’t know, but that faded once I actually got to orientation.” 

Adrie said he wants to learn more about video journalism because he’s really interested in hands-on skills like filming, editing videos, using cameras and microphones, and trying out software for editing audio and video. He’s also eager to learn how press conferences work.

“I feel like my love for journalism has kind of been recognized by someone, and I feel like this program can really help me in life,” he said.

– Adrie Quinn

He is especially drawn to research projects, where he can dig deep into a topic and put together complex information. “In a world filled with lies, misinformation and propaganda, I want journalism to be a light of truth to inform and describe, and not be a tool for control, but a tool of knowledge,” he said.

“Adrie is smart, very knowledgeable and is good at research,” his mother said.

The part of journalism that makes Adrie feel most alive is “interviewing people and seeing my work being published.”

By Lisseth Hernandez
Central Islip High School

Emily Soriano, a 16-year-old rising senior at Westbury High School, is walking proof of resilience as she overcomes her lifelong illness to strive for more, from the world of writing to the world of sports.

Throughout middle school, Emily struggled with confidence both at home and at church. 

“I hated church because I didn’t understand what was going on and felt alone,” she said. “I used to feel alone because I had no one to speak to about my feelings, but when I pray to God, I feel an indescribable peace.”

She said being able to pray and express herself without judgment is like a breath of fresh air.

“I have four older sisters, one older brother and one younger brother,” she said. “My older siblings all being in their 30s and my younger brother being eight left me alone. Being the middle child and having such a large age gap with my other siblings always left me isolated with feelings of loneliness. As time passed by I bottled up my emotions and didn’t speak to anyone. When I got to high school and was presented with the idea of a newspaper club, it sparked my interest and motivated me to open up to new experiences.”

Emily is familiar with overcoming adversity.

“I’ve had a heart defect since birth where I have holes in my heart, not flowing enough blood through my body and my heart beat is never at a regular pace,” she explained. “I struggled a lot with doing physical activities due to this.” 

This caused Emily to cut her varsity basketball season short.

“She always found a way to look into the positive side and genuinely pushed through it,” her best friend Natalie Richards, 16, recalled. “She showed resilience and motivated me along with her friends.” 

Emily acknowledges that in the face of this she was met with community. “To my surprise a lot of people from my church came to visit me,” she said. “I never felt such love and warmth, with their words of encouragement. I felt the strength and willpower growing to not give up.” 

Entering high school during this time, she would meet her former English teacher and current newspaper advisor, Ms. Beneduce. 

“It all started freshman year when I had stellar grades in English and my teacher wanted to be an advisor for a newspaper club but there wasn’t really an active one at the time,” Emily said. “So we got the graphic design teacher to be the other advisor, and we basically just got to work with creating a website and posting stories with pictures and getting students to join even if it meant walking about the halls asking people if they were interested.”

Now she’s heavily involved in school and a great extrovert influence to her peers. 

Emily is Class of 2026 president, president/head editor of the newspaper, president of Orchestra 10-12, active in church choir, a volunteer at the school pantry and recently has been outspoken about school silence on immigration and “the involuntary removal of teachers in the district.”

“I also volunteer at the library with arts and crafts,” she added. “At Park Avenue Elementary School and the middle school I help the children with sports like soccer and basketball.”

She’s applying herself further now as she reaches new heights. 

“I applied for the Robert W. Greene Summer Institute for High School Journalists to help advance my abilities to be the best version of my writing capabilities,” she said. “I see writing as a form to express my creativity and emotions. I hope to receive knowledge, memories and bonds that I can hold on to forever out of this program.”