2019-2020 Staff
Swetha Manimaran
Reporter
Swetha Manimaran is a junior in her first year of journalism, who is a triplet, loves coffee, and is currently obsessed with Chuck Bass.
Ariana Elahi
Reporter
Ariana Elahi is a sophomore at Mclean high school and is currently taking Journalism 2. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and binge-watching Netflix.
Shruthi Manimaran
Reporter
Shruthi Manimaran is a junior in her first year of journalism. She is a triplet and enjoys reading, debating, and binge watching Friends on Netflix.
Zuha Al-Ethari
Reporter
Zuha is in her first year of Journalism and she enjoys listening to music and doing Color Guard.
Jibrin Usman Nabilah
Reporter
Nabilah Usman is a junior at McLean High School currently enrolled in Journalism 1. Nabilah enjoys listening to music and reading people's blogs.
Pratistha Dhungana
Reporter
Pratistha Dhungana is a sophomore at McLean High School and is currently taking Journalism 1. She enjoys painting and listening to music during her free time.
Layla Zaidi
Reporter
Layla Zaidi is a sophomore at Mclean High School currently in Journalism 1. She is loving Journalism and can not wait to continue it throughout high school. Activities that Layla enjoyings doing include running, baking, and li...
Stella Keum
Reporter
Stella Keum is a sophomore at McLean high school, who is in her first year in journalism. She loves watching movies and taking pictures.
Christiana Ketema
Reporter
gmaiChristiana Ketema is a sophomore at McLean High School. She really loves her first year in Journalism and cannot wait to continue in her future years at McLean. A few things Christiana enjoys is hanging out with friends, go...
Akash Balenalli
Reporter
Akash Balenalli is a sophomore in Journalism 1. He enjoys photography, playing the cello, computer programming, "backend" software development, drawing, reading, and learning about the world.
Monica Molnar
Reporter
Monica Molnar is a sophomore at McLean High School in her first year of journalism. She is #21 on the field hockey team and is looking forward to playing lacrosse in the spring.
Taylor Staats
Reporter
Taylor Staats is a freshman at McLean High School. She plays competitive softball for Glory and plays Varisty softball at McLean.
Nyla Marcott
Reporter
Nyla Marcott is a freshman at McLean High School. This is her first year in Journalism. She enjoys traveling throughout the United States and abroad, vegetable gardening, and cooking foods from around the world. ...
Mackenzie Chen
Reporter
Mackenzie Chen is a sophomore at McLean High School and is in Journalism 1. She enjoys reading, writing, and drawing outside of school. She is very excited to learn as much as she can about journalism this year.
Jiaying Li
Reporter
Jiaying is a sophomore student at Mclean High School. Jiaying participates in Journalism 1 and she enjoys Journalism a lot. Jiaying has many hobbies such as paiting and reading.
Polina Zubarev
Reporter
Polina Zubarev is a sophomore at McLean High School and this is her first year in Journalism. She loves playing and watching ice hockey, as well as playing the bass for McLean orchestra. She also enjoys travelling and goes to...
Daniel Fimbres
Reporter
Daniel is a freshman from McLean High School. he enjoys watching table tennis and playing tetherball with the homies. Im in the middle.
Adam Baker
Reporter
Adam is a freshman in his first year of journalism. He enjoys basketball and football.
Dalia Fishman
Reporter
Dalia Fishman is a freshman at McLean High School. She is currently in Journalism 1.
Charlie Jackson
Reporter
Charlie Jackson is a McLean freshman. I like playing sports and hanging out with my friends.
David Jerzak
Reporter
He's a freshman in journalism 1. Just moved to America in August after 8 years of life in Poland, and still cannot count the improvements. He is interested in IT, rocketry and outdoors.
Cameron Tebo
Reporter
Cameron is a sophomore in Journalism 1 at McLean. Cam has numerous hobbies, such as drawing, writing, playing tennis, and above all being an absolute nerd.
Gianna Russo
Reporter
Gianna Russo is a sophomore at McLean High School. This is her first year in Journalism and she loves it. Gianna enjoys playing soccer, participating in school activities, and spending time with her friends.
Sydney Gleason
Reporter
Sydney Gleason is a sophomore at McLean. She enjoys playing soccer and basketball with her teammates. Sydney's favorite class this year is journalism and she is excited to see the years to come with this class.
Belen Ballard
Reporter
Belen Ballard is a sophomore at McLean high school. This is her first year in journalism and she is very excited for the next couple years in the class. Belen enjoys swimming, listening to music, and hanging out with friends an...
Spencer Sirotzky
Reporter
Spencer Sirotzky is a freshman at McLean High School, he enjoys playing sports like basketball and baseball for fun.
Ivy Olson
Reporter
Ivy Olson is a freshman at McLean High School. She enjoys playing field hockey and spending time with her friends
Makda Bekele
Reporter
Makda Bekele is a freshman at McLean High School who loves her journalism class almost as much as The Flash. She currently is in Journalism 1, but will continue to take the class in the coming years.
Max Irish
Reporter
Max Irish is a freshman at McLean high school. He enjoys playing baseball and participating in best buddies.
Scott Shields
Reporter
Scott Shields is a freshman at McLean High School. He likes to play basketball and baseball as well as spending time with his friends. In his first year of journalism he hopes to improve as a writer and learn proper technique.
Zach Anderson
Reporter
Zach is a senior at McLean High School. It is his second year working for The Highlander. Zach was previously enrolled in broadcast journalism, but now copy edits for the print magazine and produces the school podcast. He enjoys h...
Paarth Soni
Reporter
Paarth Soni is a sophomore at McLean High school who is now in his second year of journalism. He loves to play basketball during his free time and hang out with his friends. Paarth Soni is is excited for journalism this year as...
Noah Barnes
Reporter
Noah Barnes is a sophomore in his second year of journalism at McLean High School. He enjoys playing soccer, going to the movies, and spending time with friends.
Katie Romhilt
Reporter
Katie Romhilt is a junior in her third year of journalism. She plays ECNL soccer and often travels around the country for games. She has an active role in the community, including coaching a 6th grade girls' basketball team this...
Michelle Cheng
Reporter
Michelle Cheng is first year journalist for The Highlander. Outside of school she rows for McLean Crew, plays piano, and debates in Model UN. Michelle also enjoys painting, watching Netflix, and eating food.
Sam Naemi
Reporter
A junior at McLean High and a first timer of Journalism whose back hurts carrying the so called "veteran" Rohan Mani.
Jackson Clayton
Cartoonist
Jackson Clayton is a senior at McLean High School who is currently in his third year of journalism. He is a reporter and cartoonist for The Highlander. He loves programming and video game design.
Cc Palumbo
Online Arts and Entertainment Editor
Cc Palumbo is a sophomore in Journalism 2. In her free time she loves to hang out with her friends and go shopping. Her favorite TV show is Friends and her favorite movie is Mean Girls.
Khushi Rana
Author
Khushi Rana is a freshman at McLean High School and enjoys participating in field hockey.
Andy Chung
Design editor
Andy Chung is a Sophomore taking Journalism 2. He is a design editor for the Highlanders and a varsity golf player for McLean.
Aleena Gul
Online News Editor
Aleena Gul is a sophomore in her second year of Journalism at McLean High School and is the Online News Editor for The Highlander. She is interested in reading current affairs, following political news and enjoys writing about th...
Mae Monaghan
Online Features Editor
Mae Monaghan is a sophomore in her second year of journalism at McLean High. She enjoys soccer, reading, music, and hanging out with friends in her free time.
Cordelia Lawton
News editor
Cordelia Lawton is enjoying her second year of Journalism. She is enjoying being a news editor and is loving all her classes. She loves writing and can rarely put a book down. She transferred to McLean High School in her junior ye...
Jack Shields
Managing Editor
Jack is in his third year of Journalism at McLean. Jack will write at least 3 in-depths this year, and enjoys playing soccer and eating.
Ava Rotondo
Editor-in-Chief
Ava Rotondo is a senior at McLean High School. She is so excited to be an editor of The Highlander in her second year of journalism. She loves sailing and taking long hikes.
Nicky Varela
Chief Captain Sports Editor
Nicky is a junior at McLean High School. He is in his third year of journalism. Outside of school, Nicky loves playing and watching football, as well as eating food. Roll 'Ders.
Ben Brooks
Managing Editor
Ben Brooks is a student in his fourth year in journalism. Ben excels in many prominent sports including ping pong and spike ball. His favorite color is gray.
Josh Bass
Sports Editor
Josh Bass is a sophomore at McLean High School as well as the sports and copy editor for The Highlander. Josh has been taking journalism for two years and is interested by it, finding it viable to pursue it out of college. Athl...
Saisha Dani
reporter
Saisha Dani is a junior and is in her second year of Journalism at McLean High School. She is recently moved to the McLean community in 2018 and enjoys watching TV shows, reading and drinking bubble tea.
Grace Gould
Fact Checker
Grace Gould is a sophomore in Journalism 2. She enjoys lsitening to music, making TikToks and crew.
Sebastian Jimenez
Opinions Editor
Sebastian Jimenez is a transfer student who moved to McLean in sophomore year. He serves as an opinions editor for the Highlander, and intends to go into a field related to journalism later in life.
Skye Sunderhauf
Photographer
Skye Sunderhauf is a junior at McLean High School. She loves swimming and has been on a year-round swim team since she was nine years old. She has a younger sister and a golden retriever. Her favorite part about journalism is...
Jessica Opsahl-Ong
Opinion's Editor
Jessica Opsahl-Ong is a Managing Editor and reporter for the Highlander. She can be found reading a good book while wrapped in a sweater.
Rohan Mani
Online sports editor, Reporter
Rohan Mani is in his 2nd year of Journalism and is a junior. He is currently the online sports editor and a reporter for The Highlander magazine. He enjoys following sports, hanging out with friends and family and overall...
Kyle Hawley
Opinions Editor
Kyle Hawley is a junior at McLean High School. He likes writing in the news and opinions section regarding political matters and public affairs.
Emily Jackson
Copy/Features Editor
Emily Jackson is a senior at McLean High School. She is a copy and features editor for The Highlander and an online opinions editor for the website. Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and...
Rebeka Rafi
Advertising Manager & Features Editor
Rebeka Rafi is taking her fourth year of Journalism and is the Advertising/Business Manager and Managing Editor for The Highlander news-magazine at McLean High School. She previously served as the Advertising/Business Manager ...
Dasha Makarishcheva
Website Editor in Chief, Design Editor in Chief, Head Cartoonist
Darya Makarishcheva is a senior and has been the head cartoonist for the McLean Highlander since the end of her freshman year. She loves the Journalism Department and structures her life around contributing more to its success....