Every year, a team of student journalists leads The Beacon on its mission to seek the truth and amplify student voices. Our editorial board is comprised of eight Beacon members who mentor new and returning staffers on how to write and photograph compelling, accurate and objective stories for and about the UP community. As the current editorial board passes the torch, the 2025-26 editors share a bit about themselves and what they hope to accomplish next year on The Beacon.
Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis, Editor-in-Chief
When I joined The Beacon two years ago, I didn’t know what a nutgraf was, I had hardly a grasp on the 5 W’s and an H and above all, I had no clue of the impact student journalism would have on my life. From long nights editing in the newsroom to interviewing students, faculty and staff, The Beacon has given me community, courage and consistency. But now, as next fall’s Editor-in-Chief, I’d like to give back to current and future Beacon staff and readers. I want to continue fostering The Beacon as a place of belonging for all campus community members through accurate and meaningful storytelling. Informing the UP community of relevant news, sports achievements, student highlights, campus opinions and more is everything that The Beacon is about. With a mighty pen, and even mightier story pitches, I intend to support The Beacon as a trustworthy publication by and for students. My hope is that staff and readers alike can find themselves in our coverage, and continue seeking out and telling the stories that matter most to them.
Maggie Dapp, News & Managing Editor
Maggie Dapp poses for a photo. Dapp will be The Beacon's News & Managing Editor.
The Beacon’s news team works hard to bring you, a member of our campus community, the stories that impact your life. From protests to budget cuts, policy to crime, The Beacon is a 100% independent publication devoted to bringing you accurate news you can trust. As next fall’s News and Managing Editor, I’m so excited to lead this effort. The Beacon has given me so much — some of my best friends, the best memories, stories I’m incredibly proud of and importantly, the skills to successfully give back in my new role. I can’t wait to get started.
Samantha Zavala, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Editor
Samantha Zavala poses for a photo. Zavala will be The Beacon's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Editor.
Throughout my time on The Beacon, I’ve learned valuable lessons that have helped me grow, not just as a reporter and writer, but as a person too. I know what it’s like to be in the minority and not feel my identity represented. As the next Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor I am committed to helping others who feel the same. I hope to continue the important work that my predecessors have done by cultivating a section that highlights those who are often overlooked. I am honored to be in a position where I can shine a light on others by bringing awareness to their struggles and celebrating their victories.
Kaeden Souki, Sports Editor
Kaeden Souki poses for a photo. Souki will be The Beacon's Sports Editor.
I’ve been at The Beacon for only a semester, but this semester has filled me with perhaps the greatest sense of purpose I’ve ever felt. There’s no greater feeling than forging relationships with different types of folks all over campus, shining light on the cool things they do and feeling like your writing has made an impact. My interest in journalism was sparked around a decade ago when I wrote down for an elementary school activity that I wanted to be a sports writer when I grew up, and I feel so fortunate that I’ve accomplished that without necessarily growing up. I love sports because they provide a dual purpose – they can both distract you from reality or bring you more in tune with it. Sometimes I read about the sports world as an escape from life, but sports stories also often remind me of its beauty. Moments like Dee Gordon leading off the game with his first home run of the season while wearing the jersey of his late teammate, José Fernández, Isaiah Thomas scoring a career high 53 points in a playoff game on what would have been his late sister’s 23rd birthday, or Mike Piazza’s walk-off home run against the Yankees in New York City’s first sporting event following 9/11 all remind me that sports can bring people together in times of need. I look forward to sharing with The Beacon’s readers all of the great people in our sports programs and how their motivations translate into their play.
Kaylee Monahan, Opinions, Faith, and Copy Editor
Kaylee Monahan poses for a photo. Monahan will be The Beacon's Opinions, Faith, and Copy Editor.
After a year of reporting for The Beacon, I have learned from my wonderful editors about the importance of seeking accuracy and truth in every story. And as The Beacon’s incoming Copy Editor and Opinions Editor for next year, I intend to carry those fundamentals with me when a story leaves the copy desk. In classes, I’ve listened to my peers share their stories and opinions, whether that be community grievances or quirky blurbs about pop culture, and I’m eager to see them in print on The Beacon’s website. In my roles, then, I hope for the opinions section to be a liaison between the student body’s voice and faculty alike, providing a space for candid and fair conversations happening on The Bluff.
Kalena O’Conell, Living Section Editor
Kalena O’Conell poses for a photo. O’Conell will be The Beacon's Living Section Editor.
In only my first year on staff, I have been inspired by the exceptional talent, friendships, leadership and mentorship that make The Beacon team so special. The practices I have learned from our adviser and editors will encourage greater excellence in my work as the next Living Section Editor. I believe the stories that highlight our campus as the home and social center of students are so valuable to building community on The Bluff. I hope for the Living section to be a space for everyone to engage with opportunities on campus and feel grateful for the students, faculty, events and spirit that make our community what it is.
Natalie Gordon, Multimedia Editor
Natalie Gordon poses for a photo. Gordon will be The Beacon's Multimedia Editor.
Over the past year that I have been the Multimedia Editor for The Beacon, I have loved every minute of it. I am excited to continue seeking the truth and providing valuable visuals and multimedia to our publication. I have a passion for photojournalism that The Beacon has fostered, and I am thrilled to continue my work next year. I believe photos tell an important story, and I hope to create an environment where our photos supplement our articles as well as contribute to covering our campus’s stories truthfully and ethically.
Rieve Randall, Community Engagement Editor
Rieve Randall poses for a photo. Randall will be The Beacon's Community Engagement Editor.
Since joining The Beacon almost a month ago, I have learned to embrace this loving, immensely talented team and appreciate the incredible work that they do on a daily basis. As Community Engagement Editor for The Beacon in 2025, I want to help the entire UP community experience this same appreciation. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to serve the UP community in this role. My goal is to spread the word about The Beacon to anyone and everyone who shares a love for our campus and the amazing people who make it what it is. I want to allow everyone to access our groundbreaking stories and articles with ease and to engage with The Beacon as much as they can. I’m envisioning exuberant social media posts, neat new decals and other fun ways to help the UP community share in our staff’s love for this cherished newspaper. The Beacon is for students, by students, and I can’t wait to put these words to the test as the new Community Engagement Editor.
This article was compiled by The Beacon. We can be reached at beaconeditor@upbeacon.com.
