Introducing the 2025-26 SRL Student Advisory Team

Alessandro De Palma

Miami Senior High School | Miami, Florida

Alessandro De Palma joined the Student Reporting Labs Student Advisory Team in the fall of 2025. Prior, he participated in the 2025 SRL Academy in Washington, D.C.

Bahara Nazari

Plano Senior High School | Plano, Texas

Bahara Nazari is a high school senior from Plano, Texas, and the editor in chief of Wildcat Tales, Plano Senior High School’s newspaper. She has been involved in journalism since the 10th grade, when she co-created her previous school’s first-ever newspaper. Outside of journalism, she advocates for education rights and works with students in Afghanistan to help them learn English.

Caroline Brandes

Richland Northeast High School | Columbia, South Carolina

Caroline Brandes is a senior at Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina. Caroline has been editor in chief of her school’s online publication, The Saber, since her freshman year. She also serves as president of her school’s mock trial team and is a National Delegate for the Girl Scouts of America. Caroline spends most of her free time reading, writing, or cooking. When she graduates from high school, she hopes to pursue a career in law. Caroline looks forward to working with the SRL team and hopes to learn more about the field of journalism.

Citlali Martinez

Westview High School | San Diego, California

Citlali Martinez is a junior at Westview High School. This is her first year working with SRL. Her passions are giving back to others through tutoring, supporting the community through volunteer work, and engaging in youth activism. For the past two years, she has volunteered for the Southern California Red Cross. Currently, she participates in the Youth4Climate organization and conducts environmental projects in partnership with the Cabrillo National Monument. In her free time, Citlali likes to try different crafts and listen to new music albums.

Crystal Quinones

Oakland Military Institute | Oakland, California

Crystal Quinones is a dedicated high school student and aspiring photojournalist passionate about storytelling through photography and writing. She joined this year’s Student Advisory Team to strengthen her reporting skills and collaborate with other young journalists across the country. Crystal hopes to pursue a career in media, focusing on fashion and sports journalism. She is known for her creativity, determination, and commitment to producing meaningful work that inspires and informs her community.

Diarra Gangazha

East Kentwood High School | Grand Rapids, Michigan

Diarra Gangazha is a senior at East Kentwood High School, and this is her first year on the Student Advisory Team. With a strong passion for journalism and video production, she is a member of East Kentwood’s Falcon News Network and also serves as a Co-President of the school’s Production Club. Diarra attended SRL’s 2025 Summer Academy and looks forward to continuing her involvement with SRL and collaborating with fellow student storytellers.

Dylan Phillips

North Murray High School | Chatsworth, Georgia

Dylan Phillips joined the Student Advisory Team because he hopes to inspire students and create engaging content for his school and community. He’s so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to serve.

Isha Gupta

Alliance Academy for Innovation | Cumming, Georgia

Isha, a high school freshman in Georgia, has a passion for problem-solving and its applications in mathematics, technology, journalism, and advocacy for youth well-being and education. When she isn’t pondering math problems, she enjoys spending time outdoors or playing board games with her older sister. Above all, she loves trying new things and meeting new people. Having previously served in local and national youth communities dedicated to mental health and well-being, Isha is excited to be on SRL’s Student Advisory Team.

Joe Book

District International School | Washington D.C.

Joe Book is a senior in high school who is passionate about storytelling, giving people a voice, and advocating for mental health. He has worked with Student Reporting Labs since 2023 and currently serves as sports director for his school’s video production program. In 2025, he and his partner won the C-SPAN StudentCam national competition, highlighting their strength in documentary filmmaking. Joe remains deeply engaged in video production and hopes to continue using media as a platform to inform, inspire, and empower communities.

Julianna Perez

Pembroke Pines Charter High School | Pembroke Pines, Florida

Julianna Perez is joining the Student Advisory Team for her first time this year. She is editor in chief of CHAT Newspaper, where she takes pride in leading her writers to report unbiased and powerful information to their audience. She holds leadership in the Florida Scholastic Press Association as Vice Chair of Communications, where she unites young journalists around the state.  After representing the state of Florida for journalism at the Al Neuharth Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C., Perez was certain of her future in journalism and couldn’t wait to continue informing the public.

Mark Li

River Hill High School | Ellicott City, Maryland

Mark Li is a junior at River Hill High School in Clarksville, Maryland. He is passionate about civic engagement, public policy, and storytelling as tools to bring communities together and give young people a voice in shaping the future. Mark cares deeply about education, equity, and how policy decisions affect underrepresented groups, and he hopes to use media to make these issues more accessible and relatable. Outside of his advocacy and academic pursuits, he enjoys playing the saxophone, performing in music ensembles, and staying active through basketball. He values creativity, collaboration, and service to others.

Nicole Lee

Independence High School | San Francisco, California

Nicole Lee is a high school student from San Francisco, California, and a 2025 PBS Student Reporting Labs Summer Academy alum. In addition to serving on SRL’s Student Advisory Team, she also works with BAVC Media Youth Programs at KQED Headquarters in San Francisco, where she continues to strengthen her storytelling and production skills. Her experiences have deepened her passion for journalism as a tool to highlight underrepresented voices and address social issues. Nicole hopes to use media to foster empathy, elevate community stories, and inspire meaningful conversations around topics such as mental health, cultural identity, and social equity

Nolan Bruno

Delbarton School | Bernardsville, New Jersey

Nolan Bruno is a high school senior from Bernardsville, New Jersey, with a strong passion for storytelling. As a half-native writer, he began reporting for the Navajo Times at 16 years old, publishing over a dozen stories. From his work there over the summer, he has received wide recognition across various social media platforms. Nolan is currently a freelance journalist and aims to break into national publications. Committed to community service, Nolan enjoys volunteering at his local food pantry in his free time. He is excited to begin his first year working with SRL. 

Quinn Wherley

Kennebunk Highschool | Kennebunkport, Maine

Quinn Wherley is a student journalist from Kennebunkport, Maine. She serves as the editor-in-chief of her school’s newspaper, The Herd. Her journalistic work surrounds the intersection between human connection and the sciences, as her primary interests involve biology and social psychology. She has studied with The New York Times to get further hands-on journalistic experience and looks forward to new adventures that the future holds. Outside of academics, Quinn is passionate about volleyball, traveling, and the outdoors. She is excited to produce journalistic media on a national scale and looks forward to meeting like-minded students.

Samantha Yee

Granite Bay High School | Granite Bay, California

Samantha Yee is a senior from Granite Bay, California, and the editor in chief of the Granite Bay Gazette. This is her second year with Student Reporting Labs. She was previously an SRL Winter Academy fellow, collaborating to produce stories exploring art, identity, and culture, including features on Salvadoran artist Beatriz Cortez’s Generosity I and early Chinese Californian history at the Chew Kee Store Museum. As a speaker at JEA NorCal, she led a workshop for student journalists on celebrating diversity in media. She is excited to support other student journalists and help Student Reporting Labs continue to amplify diverse voices.

SeMya Henderson

Kosciusko Senior High School | Durant, Mississippi

SeMya Henderson is a dedicated high school senior who is passionate about making a positive impact. She serves her community by gardening, tutoring students, and teaching beginner tennis lessons. SeMya is a committed member of several organizations, including her school’s yearbook, Beta Club, Student Council, and the Mayor’s Youth Council. She is a proud member of the Zeta Phi Beta Archonettes and has most recently joined SRL’s Student Advisory Team! SeMya is also an alum of PSJP (Princeton Summer Journalism Program) and strives to use her journalism skills to influence those around her and spark inspiration.

Serenity Gomez

Cass Technical High School  | Detroit, Michigan 

Serenity Gomez learned about Student Reporting Labs in late August 2025. Hearing about this program opened her mind to the things she could do to make the world a better place, like speaking out about people in need, communities, and world issues. In her spare time, she enjoys researching current events and seeing how they impact the world, and simpler things too, like doing crafts, practicing cosmetology, and helping others. As part of the Student Advisory Team, Serenity feels that she will have many opportunities to help others and speak out.

Sharika Dhar

Union County Academy for Allied Health Sciences  | Berkeley Heights, New JerseySharika Dhar is a junior from Central NJ who is fascinated by the world of journalism, podcasting, and literary arts. She enjoys bringing fresh perspectives to her writing and is also passionate about making science news accessible. Sharika is a public relations editor of her school’s newspaper, the Campus Chronicle, as well as an editor of her school’s yearbook. She looks forward to amplifying voices this year on the Student Advisory Team!

Siddarth Suresh

Innovation Academy | Alpharetta, Georgia

Siddarth Suresh is a student journalist, researcher, and community leader passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices in media and medicine. He is the editor in chief of his school’s newsletter, The Beacon, hosts a medical podcast interviewing diverse healthcare professionals, and serves as a statewide ambassador for the Georgia Scholastic Press Association. Siddarth is also a published researcher with experience in genetics and public health initiatives. Through Student Reporting Labs, he hopes to strengthen his storytelling skills and use media as a tool for equity and change.

Suhani Gupta

Lebanon Trail High School | Frisco, Texas

Suhani Gupta, a senior from Frisco, TX, is the host of Incoming FaceTime from Suhani, a teen-led podcast with over 11 million views that spotlights Gen Z voices on everything from identity to internet culture. As president of BPA and Student Ambassadors at her high school, Suhani leads with equal parts strategy and sparkle. Outside of her mentorship passions, you can find her dancing her heart out, watching Bollywood movies, or crocheting a bouquet instead of buying one. Her life’s mantra is that while silence may be golden, she’s here to make noise worth listening to.

Veronica Laine George

Frederick V. Pankow Center | Harrison Township, Michigan

Veronica Laine George is a sophomore at the Frederick V. Pankow Center in Harrison Township, Michigan. She loves doing digital art, cooking, editing videos, learning new things, and working out with her dad. She is excited for this opportunity with the Student Advisory Team.

Veronika Oryshchenko

Warwick High School | Lititz, Pennsylvania

Veronika Oryshchenko was born in Ukraine and moved to the U.S. in 2022. During three years of studying in an American school, she practiced her writing skills. From a young age, Veronika has enjoyed reading the news and learning about the world. In her free time, she likes writing essays on various topics, short stories for all ages, and beautiful poems in multiple languages. Veronika hopes that participating in the Student Advisory Team will be her opportunity to show her ability in writing and to meet new people. 

Xavier Martinez

Northview High School | Covina, California

Xavier Martinez joined the Student Advisory team in 2026, making many proud. He’s ready to help in any way possible and can’t wait to make his senior year his most memorable one.

Alden Walcott

South Lakes High School | Reston, Virginia

Alden Walcott is thrilled to join the SRL Student Advisory Team! She is a junior currently working with Student Reporting Labs to produce a story about indigenous identity, and has founded a broadcast journalism club at her high school. She is a three-time DC-area Cappie Award winner for her reviews of high school theater productions, and the Brandon Victor Dixon Awards nominee for Student Reporter at the Jimmy Awards ceremony. She serves as the statewide co-chair of communications for the Virginia Thespian Society, and also acts professionally in tv and film and as part of Arlington’s Signature Theatre Conservatory.

Annalise Huang

Monte Vista High School | Alamo, California 

Annalise Huang is a sophomore at Monte Vista High School. As a student journalist, she is passionate about using her voice to share diverse perspectives and inspire change. She was a student producer for season five of SRL’s On Our Minds podcast as well as a fellow at SRL’s 2025 Summer Academy. Her work represents a variety of journalistic interests, with publications ranging from Teen Vogue to sports writing for Divebomb Magazine. She is excited to continue working with SRL this year!

Avery Davenport

Blue Valley Northwest | Overland Park, Kansas

Avery Davenport is a Junior at Blue Valley Northwest in Overland Park, Kansas. She is the managing editor of her school’s yearbook, Horizon, and has published stories in the Publish Our Voices magazine based in Kansas City. She found her passion for writing as a freshman, taking a journalism class, and has a passion for sharing underrepresented stories. Her interests also reach outside of the journalism world; she participates in DECA & FBLA and hopes her future career combines journalism and business in a career she will love. Avery is looking forward to collaborating with her fellow SRL Student Advisory Team members.

Blakely Pfaff

Rockville High School | Rockville, Maryland

Blakely Pfaff joined SRL’s Student Advisory Team and Content Crew in 2025. She enjoys anchoring on her school’s morning show and managing social media for several extracurricular organizations. Blakely hopes to pursue a career as a broadcast meteorologist, combining her passion for communication and science.

Dermott Foley

Montgomery Blair High School | Bethesda, Maryland

Dermott Foley is a junior at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md. He enjoys creating short documentaries in his free time and writes features for his school’s award-winning newspaper. He attended SRL’s 2024 Summer Academy. He loves sports almost as much as journalism, and also plays soccer and runs track for his school.

Desha Madhavan 

Dominion High School  | Sterling, Virginia

Desha Madhavan is currently a senior in high school. She started working with Student Reporting Labs and attended the SRL Winter Academy in Austin in 2023. She has done broadcast journalism for four years and is part of the cheer team at her school. 

Jenny Marquez

Daniel Pearl Magnet High School | Sherman Oaks, California

Jenny Marquez is a senior at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School in Lake Balboa, California. Throughout high school, she has been involved in her school’s publications and is currently the print editor-in-chief of The Pearl Post, as well as the host of the Room 22 podcast. In 2024, she attended SRL’s Summer Academy, covered the Teen Vogue summit in Los Angeles, and was an honoree for SRL’s 20 up-and-coming storytellers under 20. This is her first year on the Student Advisory Team and Content Crew, and she’s excited to expand her journalistic skills and collaborate with student journalists and SRL members.

Mary Katherine (Kate) Evans 

Stone Ridge High School | Bethesda, Maryland

Mary Katherine “Kate” Evans is a junior at Stone Ridge High School in Bethesda, Maryland, and joined the Student Advisory Team in 2025.  Kate loves history, English, and journalism. She plays varsity tennis and plays in the United States Tennis Association’s regional and national tennis tournaments.  She has an interest in pursuing journalism as a future career.  Kate hopes to use this opportunity to help promote stories that inspire her generation to promote kindness and allow for people with different backgrounds to come together to strengthen our community.

Ryanna Robinson

The Foxcroft School | Washington D.C. 

Ryanna Robinson is from Washington, D.C. She is a sophomore at The Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, where she is pursuing academic concentrations in the humanities and global studies. Passionate about storytelling, advocacy, and leadership, she has served as the vice president of the Martha’s Table Teen Association, the OST Youth advisory council, lobbied on Capitol Hill with Global Kids, worked with the Marion Barry Youth Leadership Institute under D.C.’s mayor, and founded Best Buddy Future Leaders, a youth-led tutoring and mentoring nonprofit. Ryanna also holds a digital arts internship, creating videos for her school’s media page. She is passionate about international relations and plans to minor in communications and media in college. Ryanna is currently creating a video documentary capturing the perspectives of refugees and immigrants, highlighting both the beauty and the challenges of their journeys. Through storytelling and advocacy, she seeks to use media to amplify underrepresented voices and highlight global perspectives.

Vanessa Archer

High School of Telecommunications Arts and Technology | Brooklyn, New York

Vanessa Archer joined the Student Advisory team and Content Crew in 2025. As part of the team, each month she will review unpublished SRL content, provide feedback on how to make it better through surveys and discussion, and create content for SRL’s social media channels.