About Us

Editor in Chief: Ivana Kosir, senior

Ivana runs cross country for Niles West. She’s acquired the skills of serving perfect ice cream cones and decorated sundaes while working at Dairy Star. When she’s not working or babysitting, Ivana is with friends or watching movies. She came back from an exciting vacation in Croatia this summer and is looking forward to her senior year.

News Editor: Gabrielle Abesamis, junior

Gabby is in WHO Club, Homecoming Committee, Lit Center Tutoring, Theater, and Freshmen Mentoring. She works at Red Mango and is also a reporter for The Mash. In her spare time, she loves doing yoga, going shopping, going to concerts, reading, writing, and spending time with family and friends.

Features Editor: Alyssa Guzman, junior

In her free time, Alyssa loves to read and download music. She is always looking for a new concert to go to, and she hopes to one day become a journalist for a music magazine, so that she could combine the two things that she loves most: music and writing.

Sports Editor: Nate Schapmann, senior

Nate’s been writing for the NWN for three years, working as a sportswriter and now as sports editor. He enjoys running, and has been a part of the cross country and track team throughout his high school career. If he’s not running or covering Wolves sports, he’s usually reading, writing poetry, or hanging out with friends.

10th Period Editor: Mara Shapiro, senior

Mara is involved in many activities at Niles West, ranging from tennis to Dance Marathon. Besides writing for the NWN, she enjoys listening to music, reading, and hanging out with friends. She is looking forward to covering West’s extra-curriculars throughout the school year.

Reviews Editor: Galina Velgach, senior

Galina loves all kinds of movies, especially the classics, so watching and critiquing them is a good fit. She also indulges her geeky side with Doctor Who Club and Tolkien Society, and spends her weekends volunteering at the VA Hospital.

Photo Editor: Izabella Swider, junior

Izabella loves to go skiing during spring and winter break. During the summer and spring, she likes to go ATV riding with her family and friends to Wisconsin. In her spare time she’s love to listen to music and go shopping with her friends. She also enjoys filming and photography!

Photo Editor: Vicky Robles, senior

Vicky loves art and photography and hopes to pursue it later in life. She is Dance Marathon executive. Follow her on Instagram @vickyroblesguzman.

Social Media Editor, Columns Editor: Isabelle Davis, senior

Isabelle loves to read, write, and watch British television. When she isn’t on Tumblr or doing school work, Isabelle is hanging out with friends and working at Edwardo’s Pizza. Isabelle can’t wait for college next fall and hopes to travel a lot next summer.

Social Media Editor: Jackie Povitsky, senior

Jackie loves to read, eat, and hang out with friends. You can find her snacking on Honey Nut Cheerios throughout the halls and talking about college that starts next fall. She hopes to have a great senior year.

Social Media Editor: Maridsa Choute, senior

Maridsa has written for the NWN since sophomore year. She participates in Dance Marathon, Track and Field, SADD Club, Homecoming Committee, and is secretary for the senior class. In her free time, she loves reading, writing, listening to music and cooking. She runs the NWN’s Twitter. Follow us @nileswestnews.

Social Media Editor: Morgan Gstalter, senior

Morgan loves writing, reading, and blasting country music. She plans to major in journalism later in life, work for a newspaper and hopes to travel to new places as a foriegn correspondant. She will be running the NWN’s Instagram for her senior year, so be sure to follow @nileswestnews.

Faculty Adviser: Evelyn Lauer, English teacher

Lauer, who worked as a reporter and managing editor for her college print newspaper and the Des Moines Register, is excited about the possibilities of online journalism. She wants NWN to represent the voice of Niles West students.

She can be reached at evelau@d219.org

Video: Eric Lueder, Broadcasting teacher

He can be reached at erilue@d219.org

Please send ALL morning announcement requests to tvwest@d219.org

REPORTERS
Angie Barnas
Alexa Bits
Breana Brill
Ally Daskalopoulos
Fatima Farha
Athena Hilentzaris
Rand Jassar
Vinny Kabet
Imran Kahan
Rachel Kossy
Connie Lay-Ngo
Paulina Michael
Merrill Miller
Beyza Ozer
Ashley Pak
Milana Pehar
Dan Poskus
Danny Thompson
Hafsa Wahid
Rebecca Yun
Giovanna Zavell

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Emily Butera
Robert Marhon
Stephanie Swanson

The Niles West News staff can be contacted at nwn@nths219.org

BROADCASTING

Video Editor: Michelle Sproat, junior

When Michelle is not scrambling around the school with a video camera, or editing videos in the broadcasting room, she can be found travelling to different schools all over the country competing on the school’s debate team. One day, she sees herself going to school and studying in the areas of broadcast journalism and film.

NWN Anchor: Carly Tennes, junior

Although she joined the NWN due to an empty space in her schedule last year, Carly has found a love for broadcast journalism. When she isn’t “making the news,” she can be found dancing with the Poms team, performing the Can Can for international night, tumbling with gymnastics, and fulfilling her duties as a thespian for Niles West Theater.

NWN Anchor: John Botonakis, junior

John has been in the NWN since Freshman year. He plans to make movies with awesome special effects. In his free time, he likes to write and listen to music.

NWN Anchor: Zayna Usman

Zayna loves watching movie and writing in her free time. She also is a huge advocate for woman’s rights. She says that one day she would love to go to third world countries and help aid young girls and woman.