I began advising The Pinion in SY 2010-11. I was a reporter on my high school newspaper and editor of my high school yearbook. I majored in journalism at Arkansas State University, where I was editor of The Herald. I am also the state director for the Journalism Education Association. I earned the Torch of Light from the Big Island Press Club and a Medal of Merit from JEA. One of my proudest moments as a high school journalism adviser was leading my students to advocate at the legislature and board of education for laws and policies to strengthen the First Amendment rights of student journalists in Hawaii. At McKinley High School, I also teach English. I can be reached at [email protected].