SHS Student Spotlights
Students at SHS share their life stories, hopes, dreams, favorite jokes, and much more.
Alefiyah Vahanvaty, Editor-in-Chief/Managing Editor
Located below are student spotlights of Stroudsburg High School. Learn about their future goals, dreams, plans, and so much more.
Student Spotlight on Emily Rafikia
What is one word that describes you? One word that describes me is ambitious. I am always pushing myself to do that best I can whether it's school or sports. What are your plans after graduation? After graduation, I plan to go to college. I'm not sure what school yet, but so far UPenn and NYU interest me. I probably want to major in finance or business. What do you like about SHS? SHS provides a ...
Student Spotlight On Jace Tutty
What is unique about your personality? I can be super quiet and to myself, but at the same time be loud and outgoing. What is the greatest experience you have ever had? Living in Arizona. What is something that you have learned in your childhood that has stuck with you? Stay true to yourself, be careful who you trust. What qualities do you value in people who you spend time with?�...
Student Spotlight on Amanda Bruckstein
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of school? Outside of school I do a lot. I love to play piano and also do sports. I do crossfit and it is one of my favorite things ever! I also love hiking and being outdoors. What is something that most people may not know about you? Most people do not know that I am a PADI certified scuba diver. I had the opportunity to dive in the shark ta...
Student Spotlight on Jake Oravec
What are your plans after graduation? I plan to go to Northampton to get my General Education requirements done, and then transfer into Penn State, West Virginia University, or a Pennsylvania state school to study social studies. I also plan to hike the Appalachian Trail in its entirety after college. Who do you consider your biggest role model, and why? Jamie Vardy, a soccer player for the tea...
Student Spotlight on Lance Jordine
What is something that you have learned in your childhood that has stuck with you? I learned that there is always going to be room for maturing and growth. It doesn’t just end when you reach adulthood. What qualities do you value in people who you spend time with? I value the respect for those around them and themselves. What movie can you watch over and over without ever getting ...
Student spotlight on Caroline Liszewski
What motivates you to come to school? My motivation for school is my desire for success. I have a very idealistic future in mind, and I believe that education has many values. I believe that you never stop learning. Your entire life is one big lesson and each day you learn something new. What are your plans after graduation? After I graduate from high school I plan to major in bio-medicine. I plan to g...
Student Spotlight on Leo Sattamini
What motivates you to come to school? My biggest motivator is that this is my senior year so I should finish strong. What is your goal for this year? I want to play in the McDonald's All-Star football game. What is the greatest experience you have ever had? The greatest experience I've had was my trip to Norway this summer. It's an amazing country and I'm convinced that I want to...
Student Spotlight on Ivana Karataseva
Is water wet? Water is not wet. Water is wet to other things like wood, human skin, and soil, but water itself can't be wet on itself. It just makes no sense. Who are your favorite teachers and why? My favorite teachers are the librarians at SHS, Mrs. Davis and Ms. Kraeutler. They are the sweetest, warm-hearted, supportive people I know. Whenever I need to vent anything out or just have a ...
Student Spotlight on Zoe Stevens
What qualities do you value in people who you spend time with? I value people that are laid back and have a good sense of humor. What's something people don't worry about that really should? The fact that the earth is dying. How do you judge a person? By their personality, it affects the way I see them. Which countries/places would you like to travel to? Everywhere, but mostly C...
Student Spotlight on Kasim Petersen
What is unique about your personality? My sense of humor is out of this world and I can be sentimental when needed. I've always been the one to go to for jokes or a shoulder to cry on. What is something that you have learned in your childhood that has stuck with you? Don’t trust anybody. What qualities do you value in people who you spend time with? Trust. What is your favorite ...
Student Spotlight on Kevin Dotel
What is your favorite thing about SHS? Definitely the fact that they allow us to carry our backpacks around. I would carry around two 20 pound binders last year, so it's literally the best thing that's happened to me. What movie can you watch over and over without ever getting tired of? Probably Forrest Gump? Honestly, it's a classic, I think I know that movie by heart. If you could have a super...
Student Spotlight on Mallory Motes
What do you want to do once you graduate? I want to go to NCU and major in nursing and Minor in psychology. What is your life motto? Fake it until you make it. What motivates you to come to school? Knowing I can see all my friends and that I get to leave at 2:20. What is your biggest struggle? I would definitely say chemistry. It makes no sense at all. What is your favorite m...
Student Spotlight on Justin Buynak
Tell me a little bit about yourself - what’s your name, where you’re from, etc.? On the outside, I’m just an average sophomore just trying to get through high school, but the inside is way more complicated. I would like to think that I am a good person who tries to give it their all with something they are truly passionate about. Currently, my name is Justin Buynak, I am 16, and my birthday is...
Student Spotlight on Shawn Michael
What motivates you to come to school? 7. What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of school? I rap and I am gr8 at it. Who do you consider your biggest role model, and why? Me. Because I’m just an amazing individual. 7 What is the greatest experience you have ever had? Releasing my first song and having my friends declare me the Big 7. What is your greatest strength...
Spotlight on Nina Goldshmid
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of school? One of my favorite and most time-consuming hobbies out of school is dance. It’s a great way to express myself creatively and get a nice work out in. I also love hanging with my friends and family, community service, makeup, and reading. What is your goal for this year? My goal for this year and every other year is to just do my best. That can mean a lot of t...
Spotlight on Donte Martin
Do you think there should be a dress code? Why or why not? Nah. Dress code is wack. People still get bullied either way fam. What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of school? I enjoy playing football for the burg. We mad nice unless there is a walker. What is something that most people may not know about you? Bro, my name is crazy. It’s Donte Delijah Messiah Martin. Wha...
Student Spotlight on Alex Bodogh
Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? I definitely feel that there should be at least basic learning like in the earlier grades (K-7) and then students can pick what they want to advance in after that. Should there be a dress code? If so, why? If not, why not? I think there should be a dress code but not in the same way its ...
Student Spotlight on Noah Cook
What weird food combinations do you really enjoy? I eat all of my food separately so I don’t really have any weird food combos. What social stigma does society need to overcome? I would say that society needs to overcome the idea that people with mental and physical disabilities are weird. They shouldn’t be outcasts and they deserve to be treated just like everyone else does. Wha...
Student Spotlight on Charles Grimsey
What motivates you to come to school? Whenever I get up in the morning, I always remember how far I've made it in my school career. Sixth grade feels like only yesterday; when I was that young, being a sophomore seemed like an eternity away. Man, time sure flies doesn’t it? Who is one of your favorite teachers? If I had to choose one teacher, it would be Mr. Zimmerman. He has a quirky sen...
Student Spotlight on Caeley Hank
What are your plans after graduation? I’ll be attending Bloomsburg University to major in Secondary Education to pursue my dream of becoming an English teacher! What is your favorite thing about SHS? Our Mountie, and the brownie ice cream sandwiches at lunch. “Sodlicious” What movie can you watch over and over without ever getting tired of it? Forrest Gump! Tom Hanks is my uncl...
Student Spotlight on Matt Redondo
Who is your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher is Mrs. Flad because she’s always here to talk to me and lets me express how I’m feeling during the day, and she helps remind me to do my homework. Do you think there should be a dress code? Why or why not? I don’t think there should be a dress code but I do feel that we should have a violation policy. I feel that students should...
Student Spotlight: Nicole Bellesfield
What motivates you to come to school? I am motivated to come to school, so I can see and talk to the close friends that I wouldn’t get to see out of school. Do you think there should be a dress code? Why or why not? I believe there should be a dress code but not as strict as it is now. We (the students) should be able to wear clothing that both makes us happy and is comfortable. Guideli...
Spotlight on Rachel Sroka
Which countries/places would you like to travel to? I’d do anything to travel to Iceland. I keep seeing photos on Pinterest with all the hot springs and the famous ice cave. It looks like something I’d photograph. What movie can you watch over and over without getting tired of it? Definitely Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell. I’ve watched it countless times and it’s still the funniest movi...
Spotlight on Melanie Santiago
What are your plans after graduation? I’m most definitely, or probably, going to a university. I want to go to Columbia. Who do you consider your biggest role model, and why? My mom, definitely, because she’s gone through a lot of stuff. She had to go to college and work all while learning a new language (English) on top of that. I’m proud of her and I love her. What is something th...
Spotlight on Sarah Bower
What is your favorite class? Current issues and the Law What is your favorite part of the school day? Putting away the chrome books at the end of 9th period What is your favorite catchphrase? "Oh, worm?" What do you think about the dress code? Enforced more fairly and strictly for EVERYONE. Maybe a set uniform like Notre Dame... What advice would you give to underclassmen? ...
Student Spotlight on Zoey Herman
What is your favorite high school memory so far? This years homecoming football game. Everyone joined together as a class and the game was intense. What is one piece of advise you want to give to the freshmen? Be mature and participate in school events! What do you plan to do after graduation? I plan to attend college and become a Neonatal Nurse. Where is your favorite place to eat an...
Student Spotlight on Kyra Davey
What is something that people don't know about you? Only the people who know this are people that I am pretty close to or they just saw me do it at some point, but I can bend my fingers backward. What is something you learned in your childhood that has stuck with you? It has been drilled into me, that everything happens for a reason whether it's something bad, there is a reason, something a...
Student Spotlight on Krysliana Gongora
What is your full name? Does it have any special meaning? My full name is Krysliana Nicole Gongora. My first name is actually my two cousins’ names combined, Krystal and Eliana. What grade are you in? I am a junior. What is the greatest experience that you’ve had? I think one of my greatest experiences was working with the kids in Dominican Republic. They really looked up to me and I wa...
Student Spotlight on Tayrn Silvernale
What is your full name? Tayrn Eve Silvernale Have you always lived in Stroudsburg? Yes What are some short term goals you have right now? I want to make it to states for track and field. Also, I would like to be accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy Camp. Do you plan on attending college? Where? What do you want to do? Yes, I want to go to either John Hopkins or Cornell. I want ...
Student Spotlight on Irianna Ortega
How have you liked your experience in Stroudsburg? Are you excited to leave or saddened? My experience at Stroudsburg was interesting, to say the least, but I definitely made the most fun out of it. Graduating from Stroudsburg is going to be a bittersweet feeling. What is your favorite thing about SHS? My favorite thing about Stroudsburg is how devoted the students are for the well being ...
Student Spotlight on Tyler Fernandez
What are your after graduation plans? I'll be going into the Pennsylvania National Guard stationed at Fort Indian Town Gap in PA. While in the National Guard I'll also be attending Lock Haven University studying Criminal Justice. What's your favorite class and why? I took Business Law in 11th grade and loved it. Mr. Miller is a great teacher and my classmates were funny. I was also interested...
Student spotlight on Eve Livingston
What do you do on your free time? In my free time I enjoy coloring, my favorite color is red. What is your favorite class? Math is my favorite class because I like numbers What is your favorite food? Steak is my favorite food and rice is a close second. Who do you look up to most? I look up to my sister Ruby the most because she is pretty and kind. What kind of music do ...
Student Spotlight on Michael Irlbeck
What school activities are you involved in? Which one is your favorite? Soccer, tennis, student gov, NHS, key club, and ping pong club. Who is your favorite teacher? Mr. Downy What is your favorite song? "Hurt to look" by Swavy What is one of your strengths? Persistence What is a weakness you have? Getting sidetracked. Have you committed to a college? Where? Color...
Student Spotlight on Erin Hunt
What is your biggest motivation? I'm a perfectionist so I always strive to do my best in everything that I do. Most times, that's enough to motivate me to do my work and to do it well. However, I do have days where that isn't enough to get me going, so on those days I set a goal for when I want my work to be done. If I reach that goal, I reward myself with watching TV or eating some ice cream. ...
Spotlight on Aahliya Rojas
What motivates you to come to school? What motivates me to come to school is the fact that I get to see people who I normally don't get to see on a regular basis because of how far I live away from them. Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? Mandatory classes are fine, but if people want to pick their classes with their el...
Spotlight on Tim Geiger
What motivates you to come to school? Being a senior, what motivates me is finishing the year off strong and making the most of my last year in high school. Do you think that there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? Yes. If there weren't mandatory classes we wouldn't have a reason to come to school. Students would not have proper educatio...
Spotlight on Keyanna Safforld
What motivates you to come to school? I am motivated to come to school because I value my education and I enjoy the experiences that I encounter each day! Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? Yes. I believe the mandatory class like Career Planning that we have here in high school is very beneficial. Although it isn't the mo...
Spotlight on Cora Smith
What motivates you to come to school? To do good in life and become a better person. Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? Yes, I think there should be mandatory classes, but I also think students should be able to pick their classes too. Should there be a dress code? If so, why? If not, why not? No there should not ...
Spotlight on Nicole Sanzi
What motivates you to come to school? I am motivated to come to school because of free education. Many people take their education for granted but I look at education as a gift. There are so many impoverished people who do not have the ability to learn. Knowledge is the most powerful weapon that exists. Do you think that there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any ...
Spotlight on Sydney Jones
What motivates you to come to school? First and foremost, what motivates me to come to school is learning. I also enjoy being involved in many activities while showing off my school spirit. Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? I think students should be able to pick the classes that they are interested in, so they can have ...
Spotlight on Saige Embley
What motivates you to come to school? What motivates me to come to school is to see all my friends and to participate in the fun activities, like the slap bracelet game going on (clue). Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? I believe students should be able to pick their own classes, because some subjects we won't need for our f...
Spotlight on Marc Smith
What motivates you to come to school? The art program, even though it is poorly funded compared to other curriculums in school. Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? Students should be able to pick their own classes for it would give them the motivation to go to classes that they think that they will enjoy. Should there...
Student in the Spotlight: Taylor Garrett
Taylor Garrett, junior What motivates you to come to school? I love the social aspect and I like to learn most of the time. Do you think there should be mandatory classes? Or should students be able to pick any classes they want? I think a few core classes should be mandatory but certain required electives get in the way and make it very hard to schedule classes that we want to take. S...
Spotlight on Jillian Timmerman
What is the most exciting part of you day? While Ms Lee tries to warm up I dance in the back. Going to choir is exciting because itai??i??s my favorite place to go. How do you get through the day? Being with friends and having nice teachers. What is the one thing you would change about our school? Add more support to the music department. What is your biggest struggle for senior year? AP calcul...
Student Spotlight on Warren Watson
Warren Watson, senior How would you describe yourself as a person? I am a blue collar kind of guy and my heart is bigger than my body. I really believe that you can achieve everything and anything through hard work, persistence, and faith in God. I just wanna be great and leave a remembered legacy. If you could go back in time and talk to yourself when you were 10, what would you tell yours...
Student Spotlight on Casie Van Why
What do you want to be when you are older? I don't know what I want to be exactly but I want to do something involving the justice system at a federal level. What made you want to serve in the army? So many things made me want to join the Army. Some of the reasons are that its been a dream of mine for a long time, it will teach me discipline and the military will also give a leg u...
Student Spotlight on Collin West
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of school? I love to make music with my best friend Ali Salama, I play the guitar, piano, and I produce music on my laptop. I also enjoy poetry and of course basketball. What are your plans after graduation? My plans after graduation are to either go to Florida State for basketball or Full Sail University(Most likely Full Sail). Who do you ...
Student Spotlight On Taha Vahanvaty
What is your biggest goal in life? My goal is to eventually become Secretary of State. What do you plan to pursue after high school? I plan to pursue politics, but I think my true calling is in foreign affairs. What is your favorite color and why? Coral. Because it’s coral. What is your favorite memory? One of my favorite memories was when I went to Arizona. I saw the sun r...
Student Spotlight on Samantha Fleitman
What motivates you to come to school? The knowledge that I will leave at 2:20. What is something that most people may not know about you? I used to run a really cringey beauty account in Instagram, don't look it up, she's been gone sis. Which charity or charitable cause is most deserving of money? AWSOM because they take in stray, innocent animals off the street, help them, and give...
Student Spotlight on Lindsey Moreland
What motivates you to come to school? I get to see all my friends, and I get to make new friends. Who are your favorite teachers and why? Mrs. Vito. She helps me with my work and keeps me on track. Mrs. Covey also because she keeps me organized and helps me with a lot of my work when I need it. Do you think there should be a dress code? Why or why not? The dress code is good because...
Spotlight on Miada Elsayed
What is your favorite vine? "Two bros, chillin' in the hot tub, 5 feet apart cause they’re not gay." What’s your favorite joke? Ravioli night. What’s your favorite TV show? Rick and Morty, it’s a life changing show. What’s your life motto? Let’s march to the citadel, it’s random but it’s inspiring for me to continue and carry on. What do you wanna do on...
Student Spotlight on Ashley Filipkowski
Is water wet? Yes. (It's water….like come on). What is ya fav vine? “Road work ahead, I sure hope it does.” What are your opinions on today’s trends, and your favorite one? Some are dumb, but scrunchies definitely saved my life. What is your favorite thing about yourself? My humor. What’s the funniest word in the English language? Bamboozled. What qualities do...
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