Ella Staton
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Ella Staton, a junior, returns to newspaper for her second year, newly been assigned the role of editor-in-chief. Her love for the group stems from her interest in writing, an activity she hopes to continue for years to come. A couple of photography classes taken in the past have also helped her to succeed in newspaper. But Ella isn’t only a proficient member on The Echo’s staff; Ella also participates in cross country, where she continues to act as a role model for her peers as a varsity athlete. Outside of school activities, she enjoys watching “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
Jackson Zeunik
Co-Editor-in-Chief
Jackson Zeunik, a senior, is returning to the staff for his third year and will serve as the Avon Echo co editor-in-chief. Zeunik is a seasoned journalist and will also serve as the copy editor for the school’s yearbook. Outside of his busy interviews and captivating news stories, Zeunik likes to hang out with his friends and spend time working. At home, you can find Zeunik engrossed in the well-regarded game “Hearts of Iron IV” or one of his newer games “Stellaris”. This year, Zeunik plans to continue his journalism career and ride off into the sunset at the end of his high school journey.
Cayce Hansel
Managing Editor
Cayce Hansel is a senior, and the managing editor for the Avon Echo. Cayce keeps busy in many extracurricular activities such as newspaper, yearbook, being on the Riley Dance Marathon board for student council, National Honor Society, and is one of the captains of speech and debate. Along with her extra curriculars, she also interns at the Republican Newspaper in downtown Danville and works as a Hostess at Outback Steakhouse. When Cayce isn’t busy, you might find her cleaning her room, doing laundry, or watching Interstellar or Forrest Gump. Doing all of which with a Dr. Pepper in hand.
Sunny Smyth
Design Editor
Sunny Smyth is a loyal member of the Avon Echo, returning for her 2nd year on staff. As Vice President of National Art Honor Society and a member of Thespian Society, Smyth is dedicated to her involvement here at Avon High School. Sunny is also a violinist in Avon’s Symphony Orchestra. She aspires to study professional painting or film-writing, and when she isn’t illustrating for The Echo, she’s playing the open-world role-playing game Genshin Impact. Sunny is also a Star Wars fanatic and spends her time watching Korean dramas and anime. She intends to use her time after newspaper to break into the industry and win an Emmy.
Nikola Meissner
Reporter
Junior Nikola Meissner is a first-year member of the Avon Echo staff. She is a dancer at Infinity Dance Academy and is a part of NHSDA, DECA, and AIM, where she learns many crucial leadership and communication skills. Meissner loves to keep herself busy with several things, from teaching swimming lessons at the YMCA to late night shopping trips to Target. In her spare time, she enjoys playing Minecraft and watching the tv show Bob’s Burgers. She is planning to go to Purdue University to study elementary education and eventually become a kindergarten teacher.
Simon Klinck
Reporter
Simon Klinck, a sophomore, starts his first year at Avon Echo this year; after being recommended the class freshman year. When he is not chasing a story for the Echo, you can find him flexing his musical talent. Playing the guitar, baritone, and trombone, he also competes in Avon’s Marching band. However, when he’s at home, you can find Simon playing “NBA 2k” and enjoying a couple episodes of “The Simpson.” Whilst he may not think about the future too much, that thought process may not be all his fault, after all, his brother threw a gardening shovels at his head.
Gage Armstrong
Reporter
Among the sophomore class at Avon Highschool, you will find Gage Armstong. Armstrong is a very nice fellow with a great sense of humor and humility even though he is among the most majestic, smartest and strongest in his class. Armstong is also among some of the cast at Avon Echo, and this will be his first year; Armstrong joined thanks to his love of writing and creative freedom. Armstong is also very interested in music and his favorite band is Willy Rodriguez who he knows much about. If you ever happen to find Armstrong in his homestead, you will see him watching his favorite TV show “FLCL” or playing various video games with his many friends.
Jordan Anderson
Reporter
Jordan Anderson, a sophomore, is beginning her first year on The Echo. While Jordan doesn’t plan on pursuing a career in journalism, she believes that it is crucial to society. When she isn’t “living in a book”, she’s either volunteering or competing on the school’s wrestling team. Jordan volunteers with Four-Legged Ranch, a Mooresville dog shelter. Her love of dogs is evident from both her choice of volunteering and her ownership of five. Jordan faces the same dilemma of all pet owners, how could you choose a favorite? It might have been tough, but Bowie, an Australian Shepherd mix, wins the title. Of course, Bowie’s namesake is the David Bowie, in Jordan’s words “the best actor of all time”.
Grace Otey
Reporter
Grace Otey is a sophomore and is involved in many extracurricular activities such as speech, orchestra, and theater. Otey enjoys painting and watching movies in her free time. One of her favorite movies is Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler being her favorite actor. She volunteers at the American Legion Auxiliary and Helping Veterans and Families, HVAF, helping homeless vets reenter society. This is her first year on the newspaper staff and while journalism is not her focus for her career, she still really enjoys writing and putting stories out into the world. Her focus is business and law, specifically contract law. Otey loves school and her volunteer work, she loves arts and music and is a joyful soul
Luke Stafford
Reporter
Luke Stafford, a junior, is in his first year of newspaper, having taken journalism in freshman year and yearbook last year. He discusses his school experience, noting that it’s currently slow except for trigonometry. Luke participates only in journalism classes and has no other clubs. He’s considering majors in forensic anthropology or psychology. In his free time, he plays piano, which he started in third grade, and guitar, since sixth grade. His favorite TV shows are “Never Have I Ever” and “Yellowjackets,” with the latter being his preferred show despite “Never Have I Ever” being a comfort show for him.
Lauren Klein
Reporter
Lauren Klein is a junior at Avon High School and this is her 1st year on staff. Klein is the secretary for Avon TV and started a new club this past year called Christians in Action. Klein is also a part of Jump Rope club where she competed at Nationals over the summer and took home silver. Klein said her biggest worry for Junior year is the proximity to
graduation. Klein plans on continuing journalism past high school at IU or Ball State. Klein got her first job over the summer not long after getting her license in June at The Tie Dye Lab.
Amelia Humphrey
Reporter
Amelia Humphrey, a junior, is beginning her journey as part of the Avon Echo staff. She enjoys contributing to her cross-country team and show choir. Amelia values the team aspect of both extracurriculars and is hoping for a similar community in this staff. Her favorite TV show is Psych, and she enjoys reading science fiction. After high school, Amelia plans to major in statistics at Purdue University. Her experience with writing in high school has given her a new perspective on the skill. She wants to potentially minor in creative writing. Amelia is excited to bring her perspective to the Echo and continue growing as a writer.
Idowu Adeleke
Reporter
Idowu Adeleke, a junior, is on the Newspaper staff for her second year. She is the President of Model U.N. and is an active and influential member of crochet club, where she is a member of the executive board. Adeleke loves to read, skateboard, and crochet fun items of clothing for her large and carefully curated wardrobe. In her free time, Idowu can be found reading many types of novels, but her current favorite book to read is The Apothecary Diaries. After high school, she is planning on going to college to get a major in history, with hopes to attend college in Dublin, Ireland.
Corinne Bender
Reporter
Sophomore Corinne Bender is in her first year writing for The Echo. While it may be her first-year writing for the school newspaper, this is her second year with Avon Attraction all girls show choir. When she’s not belting in choir or writing an intriguing story, you’ll find her leading her peers in the Take a Hike Club along the trails of Hendrick County. Away from school, Corinne enjoys the thrill of horror movies and the serenity of Bluey. After high school, she wants to attend Point Loma Nazarene University in California but has not decided what she wants to study yet.
Jerica Bernfield
Reporter
Jerica Bernfield, a sophomore, decided to join The Echo due to a recommendation from Mr. Caulton. While not being sure about the class, she knew Mr. Caulton and decided to take a chance. When she’s not typing away for the paper, you’ll find her adventuring in the world of Spiritfarer or engrossed in The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Apothecary Diaries series. Besides that, she is an avid theatre member and has participated in both the fall and spring productions at AHS and plans to continue doing so. After graduation, she plans to not go into journalism or theatre but instead attend Purdue or Ohio University to become an exotic veterinarian.
Miryam Starr
Reporter
Miryam Starr is a brand-new sophomore at The Echo after being recommended by Mr. Caulton to join. Outside of the newspaper, she partakes in orchestra as a viola in Philharmonic and hopes to find another club at the club showcase. She hopes to achieve an honors diploma and is still exploring colleges for a career in the medical field. Some or her favorite hobby pastimes are reading, writing, drawing, crafting, painting, and hiking. To pass the time at home, she loves to delve into the world of Mission Impossible 3 as well as the series Psych, Outer Banks, Seinfeld, and Wednesday.
Alaina Moon
Reporter
Alaina Moon is a sophomore, participating in her first year in Newspaper! She joined because she enjoys reading, writing, and journaling. She is in the marching band and hopes to rejoin the creative writing club, which she enjoyed participating in last year. She ultimately plans to get an honors diploma and wants to go into journalism, communications, or mental health. She enjoys Pinterest and playing her alto sax. She also enjoys videogames, playing cards, hanging out with friends or family, and bike rides or walks outside when the weather permits. Her favorite book genres are dystopian or mythology. Her favorite shows are Amphibia, Gravity Falls, and Murder Drones. Lastly, her favorite video game is probably Animal Crossing.
Fred Wittman
Reporter
Fred Wittman is a senior and first year member of the Avon Echo. However, Wittman has been involved with school journalism for 3 years as a member of the yearbook staff and this year he has been given the role of Editor in Chief of the Avon Yearbook. His free time often involves being busy with cross country or Model UN of which the ladder he is the former president of the club. He looks forward to expanding his journalism skills with The Echo.
Bill Caulton
Adviser
Bill Caulton teaches English and Journalism at Avon High School and advises the school newspaper, The Echo. When he’s not editing news stories, you can find him playing chess, watching Premier League soccer, or training to someday be a ninja warrior. He’s not a spy.
Evan Rausch
Reporter
Evan Rausch is a junior at Avon High school and it is his first year as a staff member. This year, he has taken on the role of PR manager for the history club. He is also in ASCAP and participates in Yearbook. A passionate music enthusiast, Evan enjoys attending live performances and has had the opportunity to see several talented artists, including Suki Waterhouse, Faye Webster, and the iconic Cyndi Lauper. Looking toward the future, Evan plans to pursue higher education with the ambition of entering the dental field. His goal is to specialize in orthodontics,
Aliyah Surakat
Reporter
Returning to high school after an enjoyable summer, junior Aliyah Surakat has found her third year of high school immensely tiring due to the numerous AP classes she is taking, which result in a significant amount of homework. She is invested in journalism, particularly because it provides a balance to her academic workload. “I feel like it was a chill class to put in my schedule to balance out the AP classes,” Surakat said. Despite not enjoying Mr. Caulton’s English class, she appreciated the flexibility provided to her in the class, encouraging her to join him once again in Newspaper.
THE ECHO 