Freshman Nicole Brintzenhoff is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight.  Nicole loves to write, so she decided to try journalism to explore a different kind of writing.  Outside of school, Nicole’s hobbies include skiing, writing, archery, and playing video games.  She also loves superheroes. One day, Nicole would like to become a novelist. She has already started writing a book called ...

Freshman Taylor Marouchoc is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. She has always loved writing.  While she is considering a career in writing one day, this year Taylor is just trying to get more experience. In addition to the newspaper, Taylor is a member of the Key Club.  Outside of school, Taylor is involved in dance....

Trent Silfies was a Spotlight staff reporter for one year.  During his four years at the high school, he also played football and ran track, both earning him varsity letters.   In tenth grade, he was named all-league and all-state honorable mention for football. During his junior year, he was recognized again in football for Triple Hot Play of the Week and Special Teams MVP, and he was also rec...

Freshman Sean Welsh, is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight.  He decided to try journalism to improve his writing ability. Sean has played basketball for nine years and also plays baseball and soccer.  Outside of school, he enjoys long boarding and hanging with friends.  Sean’s greatest accomplishment to date is winning the Josh Van Kuren Award in eighth grade.

Junior Katlyn Trzaska is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. She is a member of Key Club, Varsity Club, Student Council, Spanish Club, and French Club.  Katlyn also plays field hockey and lacrosse, and she enjoys surfing. In her free time, Katlyn likes to read, write, and watch movies. She is an avid fan of “How I Met Your Mother.”  Katlyn’s favorite part of journalism is having ...

Junior Liz Shalders is first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. She hopes to try her hand at every type of journalistic writing. When she isn’t working on the paper, Liz can be found watching movies, spending time with her friends and family, or playing with any or all of her six dogs: Polly, Pixie, Pax, Penny, Pippin, and Tala. Liz dreams of one day becoming a chef....

Junior Julie Evans is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. She decided to join the school newspaper to get her opinions out there, as well as improve her writing skills.  Some of Julie’s hobbies include writing, reading, and bike riding. She also participates in winter track. Julie has two older brothers, and she is currently writing her own book....

Freshman John “Jack” Zamichieli is a first-year journalist for The Spotlight. While he decided to try journalism to help improve his writing skills, he also heard it was a fun class and wanted to join the action. At six-foot-three-inches tall, it comes as no surprise that Jack plays basketball.  He is also a member of the soccer team and hopes to join Student Council and Teen Counseling in the...

Lizzi Thom was a member of the Spotlight staff for two years. During her senior year, she took on the role as copy editor.  While she has written many articles for all sections of the paper, perhaps the most memorable are her thought-provoking opinion pieces. In addition to working on the newspaper, Lizzi is also an active member of National Honor Society and the Spanish Club. She also Lizzi ...

Trevor Musselman was a staff reporter for the Spotlight for one year. In addition, he was a member of the baseball team and the Spanish Club.  Outside of school, Trevor has many hobbies and interests, including hanging out with friends, fishing, and watching and playing sports. As a young kid, Trevor enjoyed the game of baseball enough to continue all the way through his senior in high school. As a...

Senior Emily Kasarda is a second-year staff member and current video editor for the Spotlight.  She enjoys photography, writing fiction, and playing the ukelele. Emily plays on the lacrosse team and is a member of the National Honor Society. In the future, Emily would like to continue a career in writing.  Journalism is her first choice, but she is also interested in writing fiction or writing fo...

Junior Colt Gollihugh is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. He enjoys the outdoors and writing, and has finished writing three books. Colt is very diverse in his writing, and he would like to minor in journalism. In addition to writing, he is interested in the rifle team, as well as speech and debate.  An interesting fact about Colt is that he has hypercalitosis, which means his hands have...

Sophomore Casey Asman is an eager second-year staff member and current photo editor for the Spotlight.  In addition to writing for the newspaper, Casey loves sports and was captain of his junior high football team.  Currently, he plays golf for the Southern Lehigh Spartans and is also a member of the varsity baseball team. Casey deems himself as a responsible and determined student athlete.

Ashley Donnelly was a one-year staff reporter for the Spotlight newspaper, but that’s not all. During her time at Southern Lehigh High School, she has also been involved in the Spartan Spirit Club, the Knitting Club, and yearbook. Ashley says her favorite high school experiences were working on the pep rallies and watching football games. Her least favorite experience? “The Keystone Exams,...

Senior Anna Esposito was a two-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. In addition to being on the Spotlight student newspaper staff, she was a part of the Solehian yearbook staff both her freshman and senior years. Anna loves going to school events, especially the football games she attended to support her boyfriend who was a member of the team. She really enjoyed dressing up for the themes th...

Allison Borelli graduates as a four-year Spotlight staff member. She has been a student reporter all four years, and features editor for two. Outside of the Spotlight, Allison participated in teen counseling for three years, Key Club for one year, National Honor Society, Literary and Arts Club, soccer, and winter and spring track and field. Allison’s favorite classes during her time at Southern...

Freshman Alex Huang is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight.  He enjoys playing the guitar, solving Rubik’s cubes, and practicing Tae Kwon Do. His favorite color is yellow, and his favorite sport is tennis. Alex also enjoys playing video games and reading manga. His favorite type of music is Asian-Pop, and his favorite book since childhood is “Green Eggs and Ham.”...

Chris Staller is a one-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. He has attended SLHS for three years. Following graduation, Chris will attend Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) where he is plans to major in psychology. Chris says he will miss many things about Southern Lehigh, from Mr. Gaugler’s class where there was never a dull moment, to theatre for its engagement and creativity, an...

Dana Musgnung was a Spotlight staff reporter for one year. During her high school career she also took part in winter and spring track. Dana’s favorite high school classes were science and art. Her most memorable teachers were “crazy” Mr. Walker for science and Mrs. Donald for art. After graduation, Dana will attend East Stroudsburg University where she plans to major in exercise science ...

Senior Brandyn Berean was a two-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. In addition to being part of the student newspaper, he also played on the varsity football team for all four years of high school. Brandyn loved being a part of the football team, in fact one of his favorite memories in his high school career was preparing for “war” every Friday night with his teammates. His least favorit...

A lifelong Southern Lehigh resident, sophomore Alex Albenzi is a first year staff reporter for the Spotlight. He is also part of the golf team and he enjoys playing guitar in his free time. Alex decided to try journalism because it looked interesting and he likes to write. His favorite subjects are English and history. Alex looks forward to writing many stories for the Spotlight....

Heather Thompson was a reporter on the Spotlight staff for one year. Even though she hadn’t been writing for the paper very long, she takes pride in the fact that her articles were regularly published. Throughout high school, Heather also played for the girls’ lacrosse team and managed the boys’ lacrosse team. Outside of school, Heather works at the White Orchid restaurant. In her spare ...

Jordan Burt was a member of the Spotlight staff for one year, serving as a staff reporter. She was also a member of the Spartan Spirit Club for the fall and winter of her senior year. Her hobbies include reading, writing, snowboarding, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and hanging out outside. Jordan’s favorite teacher during her time at Southern Lehigh was Mr. Castagna because while taking his creative writing class sophomore year, he pu...

Throughout her four years at Southern Lehigh High School, Talia Trackim has surely established herself as the girl who does it all. She joined the Spotlight staff in her freshman year as a staff reporter, became features editor sophomore year, and has reigned the past two years as editor-in-chief. On top of managing the Spotlight, Talia has also been a member of the speech and debate team for four ye...

Nicole Schroy graduates as a four-year staff member of The Spotlight. In her sophomore year, she was the Arts and Entertainment editor, and she switched roles to being the web editor her junior and senior year. “It is really rewarding,” Schroy said. “We get feedback from other students and [are] the voice for the student body.” This fall Schroy will attend King’s College for their fi...

After serving as a staff reporter her freshman year, then taking a two-year break from the Spotlight, Ashley Jann joined the newspaper staff once again for her senior year.  “I want to go out with a bang," Jann said. "I got to go full circle." Ashley has also participated throughout high school a member of the Key Club. Before leaving to attend Delaware Valley University next fall, sh...

Shannon Schone is a one-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. Besides being a member of the Spotlight, she is also a member of the Varsity club and FBLA. Shannon participates in competition cheerleading, as well as cheering for the basketball team and football team, and in her senior year Shannon was varsity cheer captain. During Friday night football games you can also hear Shannon anno...

Kaelee Rupell served as a journalist for the Spotlight for one year. Outside of journalism, Kaelee is a member of Key Club, Spirit Club, and WSOL morning announcements. Outside of school, Kaelee spends time watching Netflix, making jewelry, playing the guitar, singing, writing, working out, and drinking at least three cups of coffee a day. She lives by the quote, “The harder the strugg...

Peyton Robicheau was a reporter for the Spotlight for one year. During high school, she participated in Key Club and was a two-year participant in track and field and girls’ lacrosse. Outside of school, she enjoys watching Netflix, eating Thai food, and spending time with her friends and boyfriend. Next year, Peyton will be attending Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) in the fall. She...

Freshman Trevor Leposa is a first-year staff reporter for the Spotlight.  He decided to try his hand at journalism to further his writing skills.  Trevor enjoys creative writing, and his favorite stories to craft are heart-stopping horrors. His inspiration may be Stephen King, whose novel “The Stand” is Trevor’s favorite book. He enjoys photography, which he considers an enhancement to writing...

Senior Preston Amato is a second-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. He joined the newspaper staff to enhance his writing ability and contribute to the sports page. Preston has played on the varsity baseball team since his freshman year. Last year, he was named second team all-league, second team all area, and nominated for all-state. He is considering several different colleges where he would li...

Junior Alex Miller is a first-year reporter for the Spotlight. At the recommendation of a teacher, Alex decided to try journalism because it was something different that he thought would be cool. He is interested in reporting about sports, but is open to any topics. His favorite part of the process is writing about what he learns from people in interviews. Alex is also involved in soccer, volleyball, S...

McKenzie Browne was part of the Spotlight Staff for four years and an editor for three. She has made a significant impact on the newspaper as editor of the Entertainment and Features pages. Apart from writing articles and slaving over InDesign, Kenzie boasts an impressive background in the sport of inline speed skating. Since speed skating is not in the Olympics yet, she has to compete to qualif...

Katie Cole is a four-year member of the Spotlight staff. She began working as the opinion editor her sophomore and has continued in the position ever since. “Our staff is really great, so I have enjoyed working with them and interacting with them for the last couple of years,” Cole said. This fall, Cole will be attending Schreyers Honors College at Penn State University where she will study biochemi...

Cody Heffelfinger was a four-year member of the Spotlight staff.  He became the assistant sports editor midway through his freshman year and as a sophomore stepped up to claim the sports editor role, a position he has held for three years.   Cody’s four years at SLHS have been outstanding not only academically but also athletically. He earned three varsity letters for football and two letters for baske...

Anna Simoneau was a member of the Spotlight staff for two years, contributing as a staff reporter, assistant photo editor, and photo editor. During high school, Anna has also been involved in both Key Club and National Honor Society. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, playing on her intramural soccer team, and spending time in the kitchen. Anna claims baking ...

Junior Elizabeth Ruth is a second-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. She has always had a passion for writing.  She writes her own poems and stories, and some of her poems have been published or received awards.  Elizabeth also plays the piano, sings, swims, and dances. Her dance inspiration is Derek Hough. Her favorite quote is from The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “So we beat on,...

Abby Muth was a Spotlight staff member for twoyears. Throughout this time Abby has been a staff reporter and the website manager. Besides participating in the newspaper, she has also involved her time in the high school’s fall plays and spring musicals. Outside of school, Abby likes to hang out with her friends and enjoy nice weather. When she is not spending time with friends, she likes t...

Jacob Boyer was a member of the Spotlight staff for four years. Last year, he was video co-editor, and stepped up to become the sole video editor for the Spotlight his senior year. Jacob was also on the swim team and played an influential role on the morning announcements, either designing graphics or serving as director. Jacob will attend Kutztown University where he plans to major i...

Ashley Zamichieli has been on the Spotlight staff for four years. Starting as a freshman staff reporter, she progressed to features editor in tenth grade, and in during her junior and senior years, she has served as editor of both the news and the our world pages. Ashley participates in many extracurricular activities. She is a member of National Honor Society, Key Club, Student Forum, and Stude...

Kylie Schmitt was part of the Spotlight staff since she was a freshman and an editor since she was a sophomore. She is a three-year center spread editor, and also shared the role of web editor during her senior year. Outside of the student newspaper, Kylie was a member of the Varsity Club, Student Council, French Club, and the National Honor Society. She also participated in winter and spring...

Few on the Spotlight staff has been both a reporter and editor for all four years of their high school career-- this all changed when Dana DiGiovanni entered the Spotlight. With her intensive knowledge of InDesign and two-year reign as editor-in-chief, Dana has certainly set an impressive tone and standard for the remaining Spotlight staff. Dana started out her freshman year as a staff reporter, but soon...

Robyn Somers was a member of the Spotlight staff for four years, serving as a staff reporter for three years and web editor during her senior year. Throughout high school she was an active member in Young Americans for Freedom. Robyn was also a key member of the winter and spring track and field teams. She went to leagues and districts all four years and won many medals in the 100, 200, and ...