Hi, I'm Sophia!
Welcome to my Journalist of the Year portfolio
I'm a senior at The American School in London (ASL), where I serve as the Editor-in-Chief: Online of The Standard, ASL's hybrid student publication. In my role, I oversee The Standard's website, broadcast and social media, and over the last four years, I've progressed from reporting as a Staff Writer to leading a staff of 89. To browse all of my published online work on The Standard, view my staff profile here. In addition, I've been interning at Newsreel, an interactive news app startup, for over a year and am currently a fact-checker for MediaWise's Teen Fact-Checking Network. I have previously interned at Agência Lupa, the largest fact-checking organization in Brazil. In the fall, I'll be double majoring in Journalism and Political Science at Northwestern University, where I hope to further my journalism career.
Individual Awards
2025:
- International Journalist of the Year | Journalism Education Association
- Versatile Journalist of the Year Finalist | Private School Journalism Association (place to be announced April 26)
- Finalist in Multimedia Feature/News Package | Quill & Scroll Writing, Visual and Multimedia Contest (place to be announced April 26)
- Finalist in Review Writing | Quill & Scroll Writing, Visual and Multimedia Contest (place to be announced April 26)
- Best Reporter of 2024 | Headliners in Education
- Best School Story of 2024 | Headliners in Education
- Third Place in Online In-Depth News/Feature Story | CSPA Gold Circle Awards
- Certificate of Merit in Newspaper In-Depth News/Feature Story | CSPA Gold Circle Awards
- Certificate of Merit in Online In-Depth News/Feature Story | CSPA Gold Circle Awards
- Certificate of Merit in Newspaper Alternative Story Form | CSPA Gold Circle Awards
- Best of SNO: "VIDEO East Asian Culture Club hosts Lunar New Year celebration"
- Best of SNO: "GALLERY Boys varsity basketball plays TASIS in season’s final home game"
- Best of SNO: "GALLERY Swimmers compete in full-day meet"
2024:
- Third Place in NSPA Multimedia Feature Story of the Year
- Third Place in NSPA Multimedia News Story of the Year
- Honorable Mention in NSPA Interactive Graphic of the Year
- Second Place in NSPA Best of Show Feature Story
- Fifth Place in Feature Story | NSPA Spring Clips & Clicks Awards
- NSPA Leadership in Student Journalism Award
- JEA National Journalism Quiz Bowl finalist participant (top 16 teams)
- Honorable Mention in Feature Story by a Team | Youth Journalism International
- Superior in News Story | Ball State University National Student Media Contest
- Excellent in Print Feature/Entertainment Design | Ball State University National Student Media Contest
- Best of SNO: "VIDEO Late Cafe spotlights student creativity, talent"
- Best of SNO: "PODCAST Grade 12 students recount experiences as first-time voters"
- Best of SNO: "Tamara Smith strengthens cross-cultural ties through Olympics volunteering"
- Best of SNO: "Shadowed by sexism: How gender inequality manifests in school community"
2023:
- Certificate of Merit in Sports Features | CSPA Gold Circle Awards
- Honorable Mention in Graphic Design: Photo Illustration | 2023 JEA National Student Media Contests
- Best of SNO: "Robotics team prepares for international competition in Singapore"
- Best of SNO: "Brazilian protests spark conversation around democratic election results"
Positions
- Editor-in-Chief: Online (2024-25)
- Lead Features Editor (2023-24)
- Media Team (2022-23)
- Staff Writer (2021-22)
Relevant Coursework
- Independent Study: "Who Really Won? A Comparative Analysis of Local and International Election Coverage in 2024"
- AP English Language
- Advanced Journalism: Editors
- Advanced Journalism
- Beginning Journalism
- Introduction to Publication Design
- Video Journalism
Programs Attended
- 2024 JEA/NSPA Fall NHSJC in Philadelphia, PA (Presenter)
- 2024 Medill-Northwestern Journalism Institute
- 2023 JEA/NSPA Fall NHSJC in Boston, MA
Staff Awards
- NSPA Online Pacemaker Finalist | 2025
- NSPA Innovation Pacemaker Finalist | 2025
- NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist | 2022, 2023, 2024
- NSPA Newspaper Seventh Place in Best of Show | 2024
- SNO Distinguished Site | 2021-22, 2023-24, 2024-25
- CSPA Gold Crown Award | 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- JEA First Amendment Press Freedom Award | 2024, 2025
- JEA Excellence in Service Journalism Award | 2024
- SPA Best Website Shortlist in National Awards | 2025
- SPA Best Project or Initiative Shortlist in National Awards | 2025
- SPA Highly Commended Best Digital in London Regionals | 2025
- SPA Best Magazine Design Shortlist in National Awards | 2024
- SPA Best Sports Section Shortlist in National Awards | 2024
- Headliners in Education Best Continuing Coverage Writing Staff | 2025
My Work
Click on each image to explore my work within each section. Links to each page can also be found in the header hamburger menu.