Kim Yeyna, Advisor
Kim Yeyna is the proud newspaper advisor who’s been steering the ship at Poly for seven years; though, let’s be honest, it’s the students who run the show. Watching them take the reins and churn out remarkable stories makes her smile (and occasionally burst with pride). As an English teacher, she’s always scouting for budding writers to join the team, armed with pens and a sense of humor. When she’s not immersed in student brilliance, Kim Yeyna is off enjoying good books, culinary experiments, precious time with her family and thrilling escapades with her husband, because life’s too short for dull moments!
Miles Watts, Editor-in-Chief
Miles Watts is a senior and has been a part of the Spotlight staff for three years. He is the Editor in Chief this year, and he enjoys writing articles on VAPA events or any random topic that interests him. He is a multi-instrumentalist who primarily plays percussion for Poly’s marching band. Next year, he plans to attend RCC for music performance and jazz while playing at gigs and live shows.
Daniel Holscher, Assistant Editor
Daniel Holscher is a Senior, heading into his third and final year on the Spotlight staff. This year, Daniel serves as an Editor for the Spotlight staff, helping staffers form their articles as well as writing his own articles on sports or mainstream Poly events. He enjoys running on the Cross Country team as well as being outside at any chance he gets. After high school he would like to go to college to major in Neuroscience, where he can use his extensive science knowledge to help others in need.
Acacia Bernier, Staff Writer
Acacia Bernier is a first-year Spotlight writer and senior. As a staffer, she endeavors to keep up with the latest news, trying to get the best scoop right now. She spends her time split volunteering wherever she can, going to the pitch to play soccer, and catching up on all the schoolwork she procrastinates on. Besides that she simply loves being with family and friends. Acacia is going into the pre-med route, first going to community college then transferring to university. Eventually, she hopes to become a pediatric surgeon.
Kathryn Burke, Staff Writer
Kathryn Burke is a Junior, joining her first year on The Spotlight staff. Kathryn finds interest in working on more school event pieces, such as highlighting club-rush or homecoming float building. In her free time, she enjoys making short films and writing scripts. She also likes to raise awareness about mental health, whether through social media or by creating posters. After high school, she hopes to travel during the summer, then go to college to major in neuroscience to pursue a career in neurology.
Allurabella Chandler, Staff Writer
Allurabella Chandler is a Junior, beginning her second year in Poly’s Spotlight Staff. She enjoys partaking in her many extracurricular activities inside and outside of school, such as running track and cross country, singing with Poly’s choir, Chamber Singers, and working with her teammates in mock trial. She is very passionate about sports and is hoping to showcase that through her writing in this upcoming year.
Ariel Connell, Staff Writer
Ariel Connell, a junior, is in her second year on The Spotlight Staff. Ariel is a staff writer that enjoys writing about sports, especially girl’s sports. She also looks forward to writing about homecoming, her favorite part of the year. At school, she is involved in Chamber Singers, varsity Tennis, and Mock Trial. Out of school, Ariel enjoys photography and working as a lifeguard. In the future Ariel plans on going to a four year university, majoring in Pre-Law or Political Science, with a minor in English. She hopes to then go to a law school and become a private Criminal Defense attorney.
Jacob Flores, Staff Writer
Jacob Flores is a sophomore, joining his first year on The Spotlight staff. Jacob mostly works on reviews and interview articles. After school, Jacob listens to music and does research on his hobbies such as comics, movies, pop culture, video games, and collecting. After high school Jacob would like to go to college and major in Architecture, Art, and Engineering to pursue a job as a Walt Disney Imagineer.
Ella Fortine, Staff Writer
Ella Fortine is a junior and a first year Spotlight staff writer. Ella enjoys writing about music, especially new releases and different artistic movements. She also covers current political events, a passion of hers that has inspired her career aspirations. She is hoping to have a career in journalism or law that focuses on government policy . Outside of school, Ella races mountain bikes and sings in a band.
Emelia Gaines, Staff Writer
Emelia Gaines is a Junior joining her first year on The Spotlight staff. Emelia prefers to work on news articles and feature stories about her community, because of her enjoyment in interviewing people. In her free time, she loves to play videogames, sing, and research significant events in history. After high school, she would like to go to college and earn her masters in Science of Nursing to pursue a career as a NICU nurse.
Emma Goad, Staff Writer
Emma Goad is a Senior, joining her first year on The Spotlight staff. Emma loves to work on opinion pieces relevant to current events as well as features. In her free time she enjoys reading and watching movies, her favorites being Little Women, Interview with the Vampire, and 13 Going on 30. After high school she hopes to major in English and creative writing to later on pursue a career in writing fiction novels.
Rachel Haynes, Staff Writer
Rachel Haynes, a Senior, is excited for her first year on the Poly Spotlight staff! She loves to work on opinionated pieces that call out the injustices in the world. Rachel enjoys taking long naps, baking, discovering new music, and watching old Spongebob episodes in her spare time. She cares about the issues women face, especially in healthcare, and hopes to benefit the medical field by becoming a PA in endocrinology, focusing on women’s hormones.
Simranpreet Kaur, Staff Writer
Simranpreet Kaur is in her Junior year and is a second year Poly Spotlight staff member.
She writes opinion pieces as well as informational articles about current events happening on campus and our community. She enjoys posting submissions of both written and video articles. She looks forward to attending more school events and providing insight on the happenings of Poly. Simran enjoys drawing and painting and loves anything that involves the arts. Her future goals are to stay on task, get good grades, and end her Junior year successfully.
Noemi Martinez, Staff Writer
Noemi Martinez is a senior, in her first year on The Spotlight staff as a writer. Noemi enjoys creating pieces that feature the opinions of Poly’s student body and debate common opinions. Some of her interests include weightlifting, listening to music, singing in Poly’s choir, and movies like Good Will Hunting and Perks of Being a Wallflower. Post graduation, she would like to go to a four-year university to pursue pre-med and become an anesthesiologist.
Samantha Reed, Staff Writer
Samantha Reed is a junior in her second year on The Spotlight staff. She enjoys taking photos and writing opinion pieces on class topics. In her free time, she focuses on photography, learning new things, and listening to music such as Tyler, the Creator and Steve Lacy. After high school, she hopes to graduate with a 4.0 GPA or higher and attend a four-year university to major in biology, minor in math and business, and pursue the pre-med track to become a general surgeon.
Nyla Rteimeh, Staff Writer
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Nyla Rteimeh is a junior, joining her first year on The Spotlight staff. Nyla loves to work on more political pieces, whether that is something as small as school politics or current world events. She is very involved in Poly High school, from participating in Theater as club co-president to competing in Mock Trial. When she’s not doing that, Nyla loves to occupy herself with singing or hanging out with friends and family. After high school Nyla hopes to get her bachelor’s degree and move on to law school, where she hopes to become a successful lawyer.
Isabelle Termath, Staff Writer
Isabelle Termath is a senior attending her fourth year at Poly. She is a new staffer who looks forward to reporting on sports events at Poly, important moments in pop culture and how they connect to a larger theme in society, and working on opinion pieces. She enjoys reading, crocheting, and riding horses in her free time. Her future aspirations are to obtain a doctorate degree and become a university professor in Southern California.
Isaac Villegas, Staff Writer
For Poly Senior Isaac Villegas, this is his first and last year on the Poly Spotlight staff. Isaac serves as a staff writer and he looks forward to writing all about Poly’s culture on campus, highlighting club activities among many other things, as well as dabbling in some pop culture and politics from all around the world. Two of his favorite pastimes are reading and writing, although listening to music also brings him great comfort. He also hopes to attend UC Berkeley to study Creative Writing and American Sign Language.
Lyle Weems, Staff Writer
Lyle Weems, a Junior on campus and a first-year Spotlight writer. As a staff writer in the club with a focus on Riverside and bigger world news, she aspires to discuss topics that can improve the well-being of the students at Poly and increase awareness on universal events and issues. Lyle is dedicated to numerous sports and clubs and loves to drive around to find good food and thrifting spots. Beyond attending college, Lyle is fairly undecided on future professions and will go where the wind takes her.