By: Alex Minella
The journalism staff is starting the 2025 – 2026 school year with new leadership. Seniors Whitley Sway and Ayla Dickerson, junior Rosie Smith, and sophomores Maeve Rice, Meghan Runte and Alex Minella will be serving as editors, each bringing their own experience and goals. Together, they will help guide the program through another year of reporting and writing.
Senior Whitley Sway, who is a four-year journalist, is editor in chief for The Milestone for the 2025-2026 school year. “I enjoy being able to have a voice in the school through the newspaper,” Sway shared. Sway’s favorite story that she has written is “Choice reading celebrates the joys of reading ” because it “added such a positive impact of reading on students and allowed them to find the fun in reading,” Sway explained. She added that being on the journalism staff for four years has improved her writing and that her main goal for this year is “to stay ahead.”
Sophomore Maeve Rice, who is a second-year journalist, is one of six editors for the 2025-2026 school year. Rice’s favorite part about being on the journalism staff is “getting to be on the inside and to share what’s going on in the school with students,” Rice said. She loves to write features because, “they are fun, and you can be creative with what topics you write about.” Rice’s favorite story that she has written is “Skirting towards modesty” it was her first story she wrote Rice said, “It will always have a special place in my heart.” She added that being on the journalism staff for two years has helped her improve her writing abilities and that her main goal for this year is to “get more readership!”
Sophomore Alex Minella, who is a second-year journalist, is an editor for the 2025-2026 school year. Minella said she loves to write about sports and her favorite sports story she has written is “Taking a glance at womens midseason sports” because “it was an informative story to share what the players do and how their season is going.” Being on the journalism staff for two years has taught her “how to be a better writer and to be more confident when talking to people you’ve never met.” Minella’s main goal for the year is to “grow more confident and to be a better leader.”
Sophomore Meghan Runte, who is a two-year journalist, is an editor for the 2025-2026 school year. Runte said her favorite stories to write are features and editorials. Her favorite feature she has written is “The truth behind a common injury: How concussions impact students” because “it was really interesting to learn how much they impact student lives.” Being on the journalism staff for two years has taught her “to be more confident during interviews but also has helped me improve on my writing.” Runte’s goal for the year is to “to be good at time management with homework and writing stories.”
Senior Ayla Dickerson, who is a two-year journalist, is an editor for the 2025-2026 school year. Dickerson came back to journalism for her senior year for her “passion for writing and my love for interviewing.” Dickerson said she loves to write news articles because, “I love reporting on the important events going on at McNicholas and the surrounding community.” Dickerson’s favorite story she has written is “How to make this school year your academic era” because “I love academics and wanted to share with others how they could too.” Dickerson’s main goal for this year is “stay organized on my stories, learn how to be good reporter for the Rocket News Network and be a great editor for social media.”
Junior Rosie Smith, who is a two-year journalist, is an editor for the 2025-2026 school year. Smith said she loves to write features and her favorite feature that she has written is “Paper books vs. e-books: Students share their selection” because it is an “informative and a strong human-interest story.” Being on the journalism staff for two years has taught her “to always think ahead, be creative, and be open to taking criticism.” Smith’s main goal for this year is “to take more of an initiative for the staff.”
The staff is led by veteran teacher Mrs. Angie Noble, who has been the Milestone moderator for 25 of her 29 years at McNicholas. “I am excited for this staff. They grew so much last year as writers and interviewers and they work really well together. With Whitley’s leadership, we will continue to grow, especially with adding our collaboration with Mr. Freeman and the Rocket News Network. We have many exciting changes for Rocket High – to bring news for the students by the students,” Noble said.
As the 2025 – 2026 school year begins, Sway, Dickerson, Runte, Minella, Rice, and Smith will continue to build on their experiences as editors along with the new staff of Journalism I students. With goals ranging from staying ahead to increasing readership and taking more initiative, each of them looks forward to contributing to the growth of the journalism program throughout the year.
The McNicholas Milestone 