story by Shiloh Wolfork | photography by Riley Higgins Growing up, Tisha Grote-Menchhoffer (Mench) was always surrounded by politics. Her friends and family had graduated at the top of their classes from...

column by Brayden Barger | photography by Riley Higgins Turning 18 definitely comes with its perks. I don’t have any more driving restrictions, I have a lot more job options, and I can get married if...

story and photography by Mia Hilkowitz For many high school students, their biggest concern would be on an upcoming chemistry test or finding a date for next week’s dance, but East sophomores Jessica...

Video by Brayden Barger and Nicco Morello | photography by riley higgins On October 21, the Lakota East Spark hosted its biannual Lakota School Board “Candidate Night.” The candidate night is an opportunity...

story by Rachel Anderson | photography fair use This essay was submitted to the Voice of Democracy Patriotic audio essay competition under the "Why My Vote Matters" prompt. Anderson won the district level...

Column by Amy Bohorfoush | Art by McKenna Lewis After patiently waiting 18 interminable years, I took my first turn at the voting booth. I watched as all the research I’d done on candidates over the...

Story by Dani Dudash | Photo Illustration by Emma Stiefel She watches her parents go through the heavy metal doors of the school gymnasium, waiting for them to return. With curious eyes she observes the...

By Cara Satullo | Photography by Frank Satullo I woke up this morning and laid in bed for a few minutes, letting it sink in that today is the day I vote for the first time. I turned 18 in October, just...

By Emma Stiefel | Photography Illustration by Emma Stiefel She made sure everyone at the polling place knew it was her first time voting. Not even the arduously long process of filling out an electronic...